We ascended the stairs and went inside .
I could see a candlestick lamp lighting up the room .
The way it glows...... Thɪs chapter is updated by N()velFire.net
I guess they’re using magic energy as an energy resource .
In the center of the room is a wooden low table .
The majority of the furniture and furnishings appear to be wood-based .
Their appearance feels like those stylish Nordic antiques .
As for the Witch, she sank deep on her sofa with her staff leaned against the side table beside her .
[Wait a little bit . ]
Waiting for a while, a golem appeared from the back of the room .
It’s holding four chairs in both of his hands .
The golem quickly puts the chairs down at regular intervals .
[By all means . Please sit . ]
She urged us to sit on the chairs .
The Witch held up a silver cup from the table beside her sofa .
[Do you all want something to drink?]
Seras asked with her gaze .
[Then, I’ll gratefully accept it . ]
Perhaps, what Seras was worried about was the Witch mixing in sleeping pills and the likes in our drinks .
However, I want to show to them that I trust the Witch .
Of course, if I feel like something’s fishy, I intend to deal with it myself .
The golem arrived again, carrying silver cups on a tray this time .
......These golems could also act as waiters huh .
They’re quite dexterous .
It appears that it served us herb water .
Bringing the cup close to my mouth, I unceremoniously smelled it .
It’s a scent that I know .
It’s the same scent of the herb water that I drank in Monroy .
They must have used the same type of herb huh .
Acting as if I’m gulping down the contents of the cup, I licked a little bit with the tip of my tongue .
At this angle, the Witch on the other side shouldn’t be able to see my mouth .
Therefore, she shouldn’t be able to think that I’m just testing for poison first .
[.................. . ]
There’s no difference in taste from that herb water in Monroy .
It seems that it’s alright .
[I didn’t put any poison in there, you know? Well, but it’s natural for anyone to be wary . ]
Combing her glossy black hair with her hand, the Witch urges us .
[It’s not like I want to offend you, so feel free to drink it . Well, feel free to test that for poison until you’re satisfied . ]
Her gaze was focused on Seras .
[Ah—- Umm... Excuse us for our rudeness......]
Seras shrunk on her chair as she wrapped the cup in between her hands .
It seems she’s also acting suspicious towards the Witch as she tested the cup if it’s poisoned .
On the other hand though, Eve and Liz just directly drank their cups without acting vigilant .
With her chin propped on her hand, the Witch’s gaze sharply shot through Seras .
[You...... You’re Seras Ashrain, right?]
From the information I’ve been able to gather so far...
The Witch must have been in a life of seclusion from the outside for at least a decade .
Even if she had started secluding herself ten years ago, Seras should be just around 9 years old at that time .
Even if she knew Seras at that time......
How could she look at her grown-up appearance and immediately know that they’re the same person?
[..................... . . ]
I thought of one theory why .
The way the Witch spoke...
It doesn’t feel like she has been isolated from the outside world for a long time .
[You have some kind of means to know what’s going on outside the Demon Zone?]
I asked a question that sounds vague enough that you wouldn’t know if it’s really just a question or something that I’ve concluded .
The Witch turned her body and crossed her legs .
And she readily admitted it .
The Witch then turned her gaze towards Slei for some reason .
[Well, it’s an ancient power that has been lost for a long time ago—-]
One of the Witch’s eyebrows twitched .
[I’m surprised that you know about familiars . ]
[......I’m not entirely sure, but I have some hunch . ]
Or rather, it’s actually just a guess .
It’s just some random thought that popped out of my mind when I thought about those literary works with the fantasy genre .
In the world where I’m from, there are lots of those literary works where those familiars were mentioned......
[.....................]
If I were to add one additional factor, it would be that the Witch looked at Slei just now .
Looking at the monster Slei...
“That smart girl must have learned of an ability to make use of monsters . ”
That’s what I read from her expression .
Erika snapped her fingers .
[It’s just as you said, this mistress is making use of familiars to gather information from outside the Demon Zone . I don’t want to get involved with them, but there are some interesting things I could find out there too . Therefore, I’m getting my familiars to gather information on a regular basis . By the way—–]
The Witch’s gaze on my face fell down towards my robe .
[That monster under your robe must be your familiar?]
As I thought, she’s aware of him .
[......He’s my slime partner . I don’t exactly know about familiars, but I don’t know if I could even call him a familiar . ]
[I see...... So, you don’t know their exact definition nor how to use them huh . ]
It seems that she was also trying to gauge how much knowledge I have .
She really is a shrewd Witch .
[Well, listen . I’ll specially teach you...... Familiars are animals or monsters that were binded with a magical contract with its master . Not only do these familiars follow their master’s orders, their master could also borrow their eyes and see the things that the familiars see . It’s also possible to talk to someone in another place through the familiar but...... That’s pretty exhausting for both this mistress and my familiar, to the point that I think that using that ability cuts away our life span . ]
[Therefore... Well, I don’t want to use something like that as much as I can . I’m so tired after using that ability that I end up sleeping for a few days, you know?]
......Then, Pigimaru can’t be categorized as my familiar huh .
[I didn’t make that magical contract with him . It’s not that he’s my familiar though, it’s just that he’s my very important partner and my precious comrade . ]
From inside my robe...
[Fuuuunnn...... Then, what about the horse over there with the Intermediary Crystal on it?]
Intermediary Crystal?
Does she mean that thing on the back of her neck......?
[Do you know anything about Slei? We found her egg back in the Mills Ruins, and she hatched out of this egg after we entered the Demon Zone......]
Yes, I was originally planning to ask her about Slei as well .
Since an opportunity to ask appeared, let’s ask her now .
[I don’t know if it’s a Divine Beast or a Magical Beast, but that child is a monster that even this mistress doesn’t know . ...... Say, do you mind if I examine her a bit later?]
[......As long as Slei doesn’t mind and she isn’t in danger . ]
With that, the Witch’s mood got a little better .
She crossed her legs again .
......She seems to be in a good mood, but she’s still not smiling .
The Witch’s gaze turned to the side .
Her gaze shifted towards Liz .
It was the Witch who apologized .
[Even though you came from the south, all of you still went through the Demon Zone . You must have been tired, both physically and mentally . ]
Liz nervously shrank down her body .
There were some tears blotting out from the corner of her eyes .
The Witch noticed that Liz is trying to stifle a yawn huh .
[You don’t have to apologize, Liz . ]
I interrupted Liz’s words .
[You’re just trying to stifle a yawn after all . You’re not being rude . Also, well...... I guess you’ll have to work on that apologizing hobby of yours too . ]
With her legs completely stretched out, the Witch nodded .
[That’s right . How pitiful...... That child has become so sensitive that she has become more likely to listen to other people . ]
With both of her hands, the Witch lifted her body from the sofa .
[Her self-esteem and self-affirmations are pretty much brought really down...... It’s disgusting to imagine how she must have been treated . ]
[For this reason, I wanted her to take some time in this place and heal herself . ]
With her body still half-rising, the Witch stared at me with her half-closed eyes .
[Somehow, the way you speak makes me feel like you are leading my thoughts without me realizing it......]
[You just feel so, right? Then, it may have been that it’s simply your imagination . ]
The Witch pouted her lips .
[......Do you mind if I ask something? How old are you now?]
As I honestly answered her question, the Witch frowned in response .
Incidentally, she’s still in her half-rising posture until now .
[......Are you kidding me?]
[In that case, how old are you?]
[This mistress has lived multiple times as long as you do . ]
[Then, should I respect you since you’re many times my senior? In that case, if you want me to speak with you with honorifics—–]
[Don’t make me laugh, there’s no need for that at all . Listen here, Touka . Even if someone has lived for a long time, those amount of years you’ve been piling up weren’t that great at all if you had wasted it on pointless things, right?]
That’s what she thinks huh .
“Fuunnn...” I snorted .
[I’m glad to know one of your thoughts . Now then...... From what you said earlier, is it alright for us to assume that you’ve arranged for a place we could sleep in for the time being?]
[It’s as you say... Alright then . All of you should get some rest too . ]
The Witch finally shifts her half-rising posture and sat upright on the sofa .
Then, she called a golem and gave it some instructions .
[Ah, just so you know, this mistress can’t provide a single room for each of the four of you, okay? I only have one guest room . One pair could clean up another room Erika used to rest in and use that room for yourselves . ]
[That’s already enough for us . ]
The Witch raises her index finger .
[Both of those rooms only have one bed . Therefore, you can decide among yourselves whether you’re sleeping together or one of you wants to sleep on the floor . ]
As expected, it would be better if Eve and Liz were to sleep together .
[........................]
I glanced towards Seras .
Seras nodded twice towards me .
......I guess I could consider that as an acknowledgement .
[Then, Seras and I will be sharing your old room . ]