The Witch’s Apprentice ①
This world is incomparably harsh compared to my previous life, and the value of a person is low.
Even if I happen to be someone with memories of a past life.
Still, it’s convenient to understand things that someone my current age normally wouldn’t.
But my memories from my past life can’t really change this world or anything.
I don’t even know how to make mayonnaise.
Seriously, why don’t I know?
Even though I know how to make salad dressing.
“Right then, guess it’s time to get up. Ouch…”
My bed is an old wooden frame filled with straw. It’s hard, and sometimes my back or joints ache.
I really need to do something about this soon. A futon? Yeah. I should think about it.
Also, I need to change the straw soon, or bugs will start breeding.
Actually, they’d already infested it horribly when I got back.
I dealt with it using 【Vanish】. Goodbye, straw. Hello, new straw.
It would be nice if I could make some insecticide, but I don’t have that kind of knowledge either.
Ah, but I know someone who might know.
For now, I wash my face with water collected in a barrel and look at my reflection in the cracked mirror.
“…No matter how many times I look, I can’t get used to it.”
I give a wry smile. Blue hair, silver eyes. Childlike features. Truly young.
Well, I’m actually 13, so being young is natural, I guess.
Also, I need to do something about this cracked mirror.
Maybe I should buy a proper one. I think Arifa-san’s shop had some.
“………”
Every morning, I stare until I’m tired of it. My face.
Until now, it felt like looking at some distant boy, and the sense that it was me was faint.
But now, I’m aware enough to say “I am Woff” in a small voice.
A loud voice is still impossible.
Smiling wryly, I wipe my face with a cloth and eat pan beans for breakfast.
Large beans, chewy like bread.
When baked, they become soft and have a simple taste. I don’t dislike it.
I force them down with cold tea, finishing my meal.
Today’s tea has a Citrus Scent.
The Compounding memo I got from The Witch, which even I can follow, is invaluable.
Almost every day, I’ve been making nothing but tea with the Crescent Vessel.
Oops, mustn’t forget. I prepare a plate full of pan beans.
This is for her, the one illegally occupying the Watchtower, to eat later.
She’ll complain if it’s just pan beans, so I prepare some Mixed Meat Soup too.
It’s leftover from yesterday. I heat it up a bit and pour all the rest… into a heaping bowl. There, that’s good.
Assorted Meat is good. Assorted Meat is great.
I never knew it was so cost-effective. Thanks to Hoss-san.
Next is my daily training.
Practicing and applying 【Vanish】.
During the fight with Crown, I realized I still hadn’t fully mastered 【Vanish】.
So I’m trying out various things I can do with 【Vanish】.
Besides that, becoming [The Silent One] and testing [Generous].
I found out [Generous] has an active time of 5 minutes and a cooldown of 1 day.
This is something I should have tested when I first got it.
Well, no use regretting it now. I’ll continue to handle it cautiously.
Once that’s done, I equip my brand-new Knife and leave the house.
A new Knife.
Moreover, I got this Knife for free.
He had, as expected, returned safely before me and was drinking at the tavern as usual.
Yes, Mr. Agaro.
He was in high spirits and asked if there was anything I wanted to commemorate the subjugation, and I immediately answered, “A Knife.”
Then, he gave me this Red Knife that had been sleeping in the back of Arifa-san’s shop.
He said it was a Knife he favored back when he was Tier IV.
The single-edged construction is simple, and he mentioned the sheath and hilt had been replaced several times.
Now it has a sheath made of salamander leather. And the handle is a Thunder Bull Horn.
The horn of that lightning-wreathed bull, huh?
And the blade, which has never been replaced, was tarnished like red copper, a deep crimson color.
The hamon pattern looks like raging waves.
It’s slightly curved and the longest one I’ve had so far. It’s almost like a short sword.
More than that, this Knife resembles one from the corner of my past life’s memories.
The Knife of that adventurer whose hat was his trademark and who used his dog’s name.
It had a simple design but looked cool.
By the way, this Knife is not an OOPArt.
A Knife. How grateful. How grateful.
Six days have passed since the Dungeon subjugation.
It felt fast, but maybe it wasn’t really that fast.
Our return destination was the basement of the Hydrangea Seeker Guild.
It’s called the Return Room, and there’s a large Teleport return circle installed on the floor.
This large Teleport return circle is Legendary.
The Teleport return circles Alexander-san sets up are Legacy.
Honestly, even being told that, I don’t quite understand the difference.
Legendary, I can still grasp.
But honestly, I still don’t really get Legacy and OOPArts.
That’s probably because I’m not a Seeker yet.
Speaking of Alexander-san.
He said he’d stay behind at first, but he came back with us. But then.
“Well then, everyone. If you’ll excuse me. I hope we can meet again.”
He said his farewells and left dashingly. There was a certain grace to it that was cool.
I hope we can meet again. For something other than Fishing.
Waiting for us upon our return were the Guild staff and the Guild Master.
A blond Elf man in a white shirt and trousers… wearing makeup.
His name is apparently Alance-san. He’s an effeminate man whose catchphrase is “Oh my.”
Megadia-san, as the leader, explained the situation to Alance-san, and they were guided away.
We were dismissed, but told we might be summoned again later.
Exhausted, I headed straight home, and for some reason, Mineha-san came with me.
And she’s continued her illegal occupation of the Tower ever since.
The sky today was cloudy.
The white buildings of the city looked particularly dull.
The materials of this city’s walls and buildings have Monster-repelling properties.
That’s why the city still exists, despite having several Dungeons within and around it.
The city’s name is Hydrangea. It means “water vessel.”
Indeed, its groundwater is abundant, and its ease of living without water worries makes it the best city in the frontier region.
Although, this country itself is a fertile land, called the continent’s breadbasket.
Hydrangea’s west district plaza. Next to the bell tower.
The gaping mouth of a large monster (a cave) suddenly appeared.
This cave is the Dungeon entrance. But it’s still closed off.
“Hello, Gauro-san.”
I greeted the gatekeeper.
It’s Gauro-san. A veteran gatekeeper. He has a scar on his face and looks like a bandit.
He used to be a Seeker, but became a gatekeeper after receiving the facial injury.
“Yo. Sorry, Woff. Still closed.”
The Dungeon anomaly has been resolved.
But the closure won’t be lifted until the investigation team deems it safe after their survey.
“Yes. I just came to check on things today.”
“Well, the Junkyard’s got nothing going on, so it’ll probably be usable soon.”
Since Crown completely disappeared, its subordinate Mimics were deemed uninvolved.
So the Junkyard tragedy didn’t happen.
There was some damage from the Lizardmen that replaced the Mimics, but not enough to call it a tragedy.
Mr. Agaro defeated the boss at that time, a Lizard General.
I was there too, and I also saved a girl.
“That’s good to hear.”
“Wish I could reopen it sooner, though. Got a few kids comin’ by every day.”
“That can’t be helped.”
Knowing Gauro-san, he’s probably treating the kids who come by to meals.
Because he’s treated me before too.
“Ah, right. Here, I got this during the last expedition.”
I show him the Bronze Ring.
“Expedition? Right, you were there during the anomaly subjugation. What’s up with this thing?”
“I’ll give it to you. It should fetch a decent price if you sell it.”
“H-Hey!?”
I tossed the ring to him.
It’s a Bronze Ring I found in the Lizardman nest in the Dungeon.
By induction, it’s established that I, as [The Silent One], went unchallenged in that nest.
I said “decent,” but honestly, I don’t know how much it’s worth.
But if it means more kids can eat, then that’s fine.
“Woff. I can’t accept something like… Tch, he ran off.”
It was obvious he’d refuse, so I laughed and fled.
Southwest of Hydrangea city. Deep in the second largest Forest in this area.
At the base of a gnarled, bent tree, nestled in a hollow among the roots, is a brick house.
I ring the doorbell located diagonally above the wooden door.
Chiling, chiling.
“Yes, yes. Coming now.”
Hearing The Witch’s voice, my heart pounded.
It’s been quite a while since I last saw The Witch.
After returning, various things happened, and I couldn’t see her right away, which made it even harder.
There’s something I absolutely must tell The Witch.
But before that, I absolutely have to apologize.
The door opens.
“Uh, um, Witch. It’s been a wh— Whaaaaaaaah!?”
I couldn’t help but scream. And for good reason.
The Witch was smiling, but she was completely naked.
Yes, stark naked, wearing absolutely nothing.
Why?!