A Bracelet from the Heart ⓪ – The Witch.
A week has passed since then.
After I defeated Alveld, I collapsed inside the crumbling arena.
I was unconscious for three days and three nights.
I woke up on the fourth day and, surrounded by them, focused on recuperating.
Incidentally, Alveld was out for two days and two nights. I lost (in that regard).
I ended up hitting him with [Vanish Knuckle], but that actually turned out to be a good thing.
His body was already something else entirely by the time he endured [Phantasmagoria Lore].
No, really, what in the world is up with that guy?
On the fifth day, I was told that Alveld and his group would be leaving Hydrangea.
I thought that was surprisingly soon.
Even though the Great O’Browns was over, its embers still smoldered, the heat yet to cool.
Some Tier I Seekers had already departed, but the majority were still in Hydrangea.
I greeted him and spoke with him before he left.
Alveld, in his usual mystical appearance and armor, said,
Though the mantle over his right shoulder was white, not red.
“With this, we’re one win and one loss each.”
“Yes.”
“The next time will decide the true victor.”
“That’s right. I won’t lose.”
“Neither will I, Wof.”
We shook hands firmly, vowing to have a rematch someday.
After waking up, I heard the rest of the story.
The arena hadn’t completely collapsed.
Still, the damage was severe, and the coliseum would be unusable for a while.
It was a relief that the Grand Guild would cover the repairs and other miscellaneous costs.
Apparently, the great Grand Master who had permitted everything winced when he saw the bill.
Apparently, this wasn’t the first time a battle had occurred late at night on the final day.
It was called the “Underground Exhibition Match.”
It didn’t happen every time, but supposedly about once every two tournaments.
That’s pretty frequent.
But “Underground”… man. What an exciting word.
It feels like doing something bad, yet I can’t help but admire it.
So, it was different from the daytime matches.
The “Underground Exhibition Match” was a battle where Tier I Seekers could go all out.
They were mostly held to settle scores with fated rivals. Or for revenge, and things like that.
What surprised me was that there were spectators.
Even if it was “underground,” it wasn’t a fight to the death, so there was the justification of being there to stop it if necessary.
However, unlike the public matches, the spectators were extremely limited, and they signed non-disclosure agreements.
These contracts took effect as Legendary, Legacy, or Relic items.
Depending on the content, some contracts meant death if breached.
I don’t know how strict this non-disclosure is.
I’m sure a terrifying punishment would befall anyone who broke it.
Well, that’s why we could fight without worry.
Or so I thought.
“Oh, that, that, you know. It doesn’t actually have any binding power, you see.”
“N-No power?”
The Witch said so nonchalantly as she placed a cup of herbal tea on the usual table.
This was The Witch’s House. The usual cluttered living room. The usual black and red sofa.
Somehow, it felt like I had finally returned to my everyday life.
Just in case, I peeked into the black cup that had been placed before me.
Colorless. It just reflected my face clearly, like a mirror.
Then, my reflection in the cup twisted its lips into an eerie smile.
Not a wide grin, but more of a sticky, unpleasant leer.
For the record, I wasn’t smiling.
Yep. This is everyday life. I’m definitely not drinking that.
“Yes, yes. Instead, it’s set up so that it’s instantly known who spilled the beans, you see.”
“Is that all it does?”
The Witch sat down on the red sofa opposite me.
She crossed her legs, relaxed, and used her three tails as a sort of cushion.
I looked at the Witch anew.
Long silver hair reaching below her waist. Jade-green eyes, languid and filled with nothing but allure.
She had three tails, and her figure was bewitching and voluptuous. A beauty capable of toppling nations.
She was once invited by the King to become his queen and was even fancied by the First Prince.
She favors jet-black patterned robes and jet-black patterned dresses.
Each of her three tails actually has a different fur color and texture.
The first tail is silvery-white from base to tip, and very bushy.
The second tail is flaxen at the base and white at the tip, and fluffy.
The third tail is silvery-white at the base and flaxen at the tip, and incredibly soft and downy.
Come to think of it, the Witch has several black dresses, but the lining is usually purple.
Also, I didn’t miss the way her chest swayed when she sat down. Being directly in front of her, I couldn’t miss it.
“Yes, yes. That alone is more than enough, you see. For high-ranking Seekers, Tier II or Tier I, the most basic of basics is being able to keep a secret, you see.”
“Keeping secrets…”
“Well, well, for high-ranking Seekers, most requests are nominated ones, you see. Nominated requests often have complicated circumstances and secrets. In fact, most of them do. Legally speaking, of course.”
I gave a small, wry smile.
I wondered just how far “legal” went, and then I realized.
“Ah, if you leak it, you’ll be found out. Meaning, trust will be lost.”
“Correct, correct. Such individuals would undoubtedly be stripped of their rank or disposed of, you see.”
“Disposed of?”
The Witch smiled faintly.
I guess so. If someone has a loose tongue, your own secrets might be revealed at any time. Eliminating them beforehand is an easy conclusion to reach.
“And, and, Alveld would absolutely never forgive something like that, you see.”
“I see…”
He certainly wouldn’t forgive it.
Alveld von Rootbelt would surely dispose of such a person and anyone connected to them.
But it’s strange.
“So, so, Wof-shounen. You can rest assured once more, you see.”
“Understood. Um, I have one question.”
“Oh my, oh my, what is it, you see?”
“Alveld is the boss of Koon Hunt, right? But no matter how I think about it, their terribleness makes it hard to believe Alveld is the boss.”
If Alveld were the boss, it should be like a strictly disciplined army.
And they would have become the strongest clan on earth.
“Hmm, hmm. It’s quite simple, you see. Alveld isn’t the actual boss; the reality is he’s more like a hired boss for Koon Hunt. His main role is to be their figurehead, you see.”
“…So that’s how it is. But it’s surprising he accepted such a role.”
It seemed a bit odd for Alveld to accept something like that.
The Witch smiled bitterly.
“Well, well, even Alveld probably can’t refuse a request from his relatives, you see. He originally has a principle of never refusing requests, after all.”
“Does that mean Koon Hunt is the Rootbelt family’s clan?”
“Well, well, it amounts to something like that, you see. In reality, it’s made up of several sponsoring nobles, though.”
So it’s like a conglomerate clan. There might be surprisingly many of those.
“Ah, the great noble house that Wof-shounen crushed was also a powerful sponsor, you see.”
“I didn’t crush them.”
Reold was the one who crushed them.
So, in short, it’s like a major league version of Dragon Fang Wax?
As I thought, Koon Hunt is the enemy. Nothing but the enemy.
“That’s why, that’s why he mostly left it alone, you see. He was going to Dungeons with his trusted ‘Forcut’ and their subordinates.”
“Forcut?”
“Oh my, oh my, you don’t know them? Alveld’s four loyal subordinates. All of them are Tier III or Tier II Seekers, you see.”
“Ah, I see…”
So, like the so-called Four Heavenly Kings, huh? I thought something like that might exist, and they really do. That’s kinda cool. I admire that sort of thing.
Ah, come to think of it, when I ran into Alveld in the hallway, there were some people with him. They must be that “Forcut.”
“Incidentally, incidentally, Reold is the leader of that ‘Forcut,’ you see.”
“Huh… That old guy.”
He really looks like an unimpressive, alcohol-reeking, squirrel-folk old man. But he’s strong.
To be frank, he probably has the strength of a Tier I Seeker.
And despite all that, he’s the Third Prince. I can also tell he’s competent.
Even though he looks like an unimpressive old man.
Alright, that’s enough small talk. Let’s get to the main subject.
“Witch. It’s a bit late, but I defeated Alveld.”
I came today to report my victory.
The Witch gives a tender, affectionate smile.
“Yes, yes. I was watching closely, you see.”
“Thank you for putting up with my selfishness.”
I bow my head. I’ve really caused nothing but trouble.
If the Witch hadn’t been there, I absolutely wouldn’t have been able to defeat Alveld.
Not just the Witch. Munieca-san. Chive-san. Shiro-san. And everyone else.
I couldn’t have achieved victory on my own.
“Now, now, Wof-shounen. Raise your head, you see. It’s nothing special for a master to want to do things for their disciple. Besides, Kon was happy, you see.”
“Happy?”
“Yes, yes. Even though you’re my disciple, Wof-shounen, for some reason you tried not to rely on Kon too much, you see. Lately, you’ve been relying on me, and that makes me very happy, you see.”
“…I-Is that so? Well, um, there’s something I’d like to give the Witch as a token of my gratitude.”
“Eh? Eh? Something you want to give me… you say?”
“Yes. Ah, um, well, could you hold out your hand?”
“Um, um, like this, you see?”
The Witch timidly extended her dominant hand towards me.
I take a bracelet out of my pouch.
It’s a silver circlet with a green gemstone embedded in it.
It’s the bracelet that first caught my eye at the street stall because I thought it resembled the color of the Witch’s hair and eyes.
I carefully fastened the bracelet onto the Witch’s slender arm.
The Witch looked puzzled, pulling her arm back and staring intently at the Bracelet.
“W-what do you think?”
The Witch was staring fixedly at the Bracelet.
She touched the Bracelet with her fingertip. The silver band gleamed, and the green gem sparkled.
I don’t have [Appraisal], and I don’t know much about accessories.
Even so, I think this Bracelet is a very fine item. Yes. Very nice indeed.
I’m glad I bought it from that street vendor.
“Hey, hey. Wof-boy. Is it really alright for Kon to receive this, I wonder?”
“Yes. Of course. It’s a token of my gratitude. Besides, it suits you.”
“Fufufu, thank you. Thank you, Wof-boy. Kon really likes this Bracelet, you know?”
“I’m happy to hear you say that.”
That’s good. I feel relieved.
Giving this kind of present to a woman… it was my first time, not counting my past life memories, so I was anxious.
The Witch was looking at the Bracelet with a kind and gentle gaze.
“Mm-hmm. A silver band like Kon’s hair, and a green gem like Kon’s eyes. Wof-boy’s feelings for Kon come through so clearly. I’ll treasure it dearly, you know?”
The Witch showed me a happy smile.