The Witch’s Training ①
When I woke up in the morning, Mineha-san was there. She called me a sleepyhead and flicked my forehead.
We ate breakfast together.
While we ate, she told me how worried everyone had been.
I apologized for causing so much trouble.
I also heard that the Koon Hunt main headquarters had been attacked and was half-destroyed.
When she learned it was the work of the Witches, Mineha-san gave a wry smile.
She said that while worrying about me sleeping for the past four days, she had also made progress on the investigation request.
Apparently, they’re close to making contact with the Chimera subspecies.
Also, the day after I was almost kidnapped, they took a day off from the investigation for my sake.
I felt truly sorry about that.
Juicy-san, Rell-san, Ax-san, and Hoss-san came by yesterday.
The Mixed Meat Soup this morning was made ahead of time by Hoss-san. It’s delicious.
Juicy-san had been coming every day, but apparently couldn’t come today because she had work at home.
Sorry for breaking our promise about archery practice.
“Still, putting me aside, I can’t believe you almost got kidnapped.”
“Haha… Yeah, right?”
“And by the ‘Breaker of Destruction,’ no less. So, what are you going to do now?”
“It’s been decided that I’ll be staying at the Witch’s place for a while.”
“I see…”
It wasn’t safe here either. There was a chance Alveld could attack.
At the Witch’s House, they could at least handle an attack if one occurred.
“I’m sorry. Can I leave things here to you?”
“Sure.”
“And please look after Dagaa too.”
“Right.”
“Na?”
“Hold on. Don’t just casually ignore me.”
“…Sorry. He’s like this.”
“Hmph, really now.”
“Hey!?”
Mineha-san looked at me. She stared intently for a moment, as if wanting to say something.
“You. Get stronger.”
“Yes.”
Just as I finished breakfast and packed my things, my escort arrived.
Instead of the Witch, it was Munieca-san who came to guard me.
As always, she wore a standard black and white maid outfit without a single wrinkle.
Combined with her exceptionally beautiful features, she looked nothing short of perfect.
“Well then, shall we go?”
“Yes, please.”
We headed towards the Witch’s House.
“Well, you needn’t worry. That prideful man will never attack again.”
“Do you know him?”
“Only as a fellow Tier I Seeker, Master.”
Munieca-san is the Tier I Seeker ‘Autodoll’—wait a minute!?
I glanced around.
Countless men’s gazes were fixed on Munieca-san, but my realization hadn’t been noticed.
“Wh-wh-what’s with the ‘Master’!?”
“I am merely a Maid, sir.”
“I-Is that… so?”
“Why the question mark? From any angle, I am clearly a Maid.”
“…Outwardly.”
“Inwardly as well,” she stated, her silver eyes gleaming.
She’s an Edda. So her eyes should originally be purple.
But she’s using a Legendary item to change her eye color.
Apparently, there’s some issue with an Edda, who are invariably nobles, working as a maid.
Incidentally, there’s a Sister working at the Orphanage who is an Edda.
But she keeps her purple eyes, so it doesn’t seem to be a problem.
Or maybe Munieca-san just doesn’t like working as a maid while being an Edda?
“…So, why… ‘Master’?”
“Initially, I considered addressing you as ‘Young Master,’ but it didn’t quite feel right. Also, ‘Master’ was actually the second choice that felt right.”
“Second place? What was first?”
“It was ‘旦那様 (Danna-sama)’, sir.”
“Please, absolutely never call me that.”
“Understood.”
My head started to hurt. Even so.
“You called Reold by his name normally, right?”
“That felt the most fitting for him.”
I kind of get that. I call him by his name too.
“Ah, speaking of which, is Reold’s protection detail over?”
“Yes. Yesterday, I sent a massive contract termination notice to the Koon Hunt main headquarters.”
“…Ahaha…”
“I cannot forgive such despicable actions. However, it seems Reold knew nothing about it.”
“Alveld did say it was a nomination request.”
“There are various things about Alveld’s actions that concern me. For him, this attempted kidnapping was remarkably sloppy and impulsive, quite unlike him in many ways.”
“—Now that you mention it, it doesn’t quite sit right, does it?”
That part bothers me too.
Alveld von Ruthbert.
It’s frustrating, but as the one who lost, I have to wonder.
Is he really the Clan Master of Koon Hunt?
It’s incredibly frustrating, but he… sigh… I don’t want to praise him, but he’s close to perfect.
The same type as Munieca-san.
Perhaps that’s why she felt something was off.
“By the way, Master.”
“Y-Yes?”
I’m not used to this.
“I have heard from the Witch. That you possess an Auto-type Relic.”
“Yes. I do.”
“I also heard it’s an Unconscious-type.”
“Yes. It’s difficult to handle.”
“Indeed. [Silent Move]—as it happens, I myself possessed it once.”
“Eh? You did?”
She did too? No, wait, she used the past tense.
“Yes. It has now evolved into [Auto-Move].”
“…[Auto-Move]… Evolved… you say?”
“[Relic: Auto-Move] is not unconscious.”
“Does that mean!?”
My eyes widened.
It meant there was a possibility for my [Silent Move] too.
Munieca-san touched a finger to her crimson-painted lips and smiled faintly.
“I heard that you wish to become stronger, Master. If I am suitable, I shall offer my cooperation.”
“Y-Yes, please!”
“Understood, Master.”
I blushed, still not used to it. Munieca-san chuckled softly.
Am I being teased?
The Witch’s House.
I thought the Witch would be here, but she was out.
I put my luggage, just a single backpack, in the living room and went out to the courtyard.
Munieca-san was already waiting.
Hm? What’s that… floating… white sphere?
“Well then, Master. Allow me to explain the curriculum. First, you will use [Silent Move] a minimum of ten times every day.”
“Ten times or more!?”
“Yes. Your opponent will be…”
Snap. Munieca-san snapped her fingers, and the side of the floating white sphere glowed red.
A blue Minotaur appeared.
“!? A Minos Unit?”
“As expected of you, Master. An astute observation.”
“That sphere, c-could it be… the Infinite Multiplication… Core System…?”
“That is correct. I requested its creation from the perverted rabbit, I mean, Hayyarn-sama. This is the Minos Doll’s Finite Multiplication Core System.”
“Minos Doll?”
“Yes. This is merely a sample. The real thing is…”
Snap. She snapped her fingers again. The blue Minotaur vanished, and next, a Maid appeared.
“…Um.”
She was a woman with pure white skin, long golden hair, and a face resembling Munieca-san’s.
She had blue bull horns and wore the same black and white maid uniform as Munieca-san.
“This is a Minos Doll. I served as the base model.”
“…Did Hayyarn suggest this?”
“No. I had it created entirely according to my instructions.”
“A-Am I fighting that?”
“Of course. The Minos Doll’s strength ranges from a standard Minos Unit to the latest model Minos Unit, and even up to the ancient type Minos Guardian. In terms of Monster threat level, that’s up to high Silver Rank. The latest model Minos Guardian enters Gold Rank.”
“…High Silver Rank.”
“It is nothing to be surprised about. Alveld, whom you intend to subjugate, Master, is comparable to mid-Jewel Rank in terms of Monster threat level in his normal state.”
“I don’t exactly intend to subjugate him.”
Is that guy even a Monster?
Is he really that strong? I had braced myself, but is he that powerful?
Hm?
“Normal state?”
“If he were serious, I believe he could reach high Jewel Rank.”
“………Isn’t that basically inhuman?”
“Indeed, it is.”
Am I trying to win against something like that?
No. I will win. That’s right. Maybe Munieca-san knows.
“Um, Munieca-san. There’s something that’s really bothering me.”
“What might that be?”
“Alveld said something. He said my Relic and his Relic are the same type, and that I probably shape my Relic, not using my gaze or invoking it… That’s what he said.”
“It sounds like a riddle, doesn’t it?”
“That’s what I thought too. It’s frustrating, but I think this is probably a hint.”
My Relic [Vanish] was nullified by his [Crash], but he didn’t do anything. He just chanted, and just like that, [Vanish] was erased.
If they’re the same type, then I should be able to do the same thing.
And I feel like if I can’t master that, I won’t be able to stand on the same stage as Alveld.
In other words, if I don’t figure out this hint and master it, I can’t beat him.
That’s why I’ll definitely figure it out and master it.
To fight him, and win!