“Um, um, um, Sesh-chan. I’m really not good with Dungeons, especially Undead.”
“Ah, ah, I see, I see, nee.”
“Of course she’d refuse, right?”
So Sesh-chan doesn’t like scary things, huh? I’ll keep that in mind.
“So, that means the young lady over there is the representative of the Marquis Tasan Family, is that right?”
“Um, um, um, yes! I’m the representative of Tasan!”
Juicy-san raises her hand high.
Ignoring Juicy-san raising her hand like that, I voiced my complaint.
“Witch. That representative of the Marquis Tasan Family is afflicted with the curse (Relic) of the [ Offering of Death ]. I really think that’s going too far.”
“Wafu!”
“Well, well, it seems even Kon didn’t know such a curse could be applied, nee.”
“Witch, have you never entered the Dungeon of Death?”
“Of course, of course. I have, nee. But the Castle of Death that Kon entered didn’t inflict a curse like ‘you’ll die in 4 days’ the moment you stepped inside, nee. That old geezer Abramelin probably doesn’t know about it either, nee.”
“Is that so?”
“So it’s specific to the Grave of Death? Or is this Grave of Death special?”
“Well now, well now. But, but, if you defeat the King of Death within 4 days, there’s no problem, nee.”
“It’s already down to 3 days, though. Can we really defeat him? With this group?”
Mr. Agaro’s doubt is understandable, but the Witch wouldn’t make a move without being sure of victory.
It’s because she has a definite chance of winning that the Witch accepted the liberation request she had been putting off for so long.
“Of course, of course. We can defeat him, nee.”
“…Well, if that’s the case, fine.”
Mr. Agaro pinches something and then chugs his Gourd Flask.
“Um, um, um, Witch-sama. I have a question.”
“Oh my, oh my, what is it, nee?”
“Um, um, why didn’t Abramelin-sama try to resolve this himself? He should certainly have the power to do so.”
“Indeed…”
It’s strange that he’d do something so roundabout and then just leave it alone.
The Witch hesitated as if slightly unsure, closed her eyes, and spoke slowly.
“Well, well, nee. It’s because that old geezer made two mistakes, nee. One was incorporating his son, who died in a large-scale subjugation campaign, into the defense mechanism, nee.”
“His dead son?”
“Yes, yes. That’s the Dungeon Monster and anomaly that has been burying intruders, offering them to the Chalice of Offerings, and maintaining the defense mechanism. The Phantom Lord, nee.”
“A Dungeon anomaly… huh.”
Mr. Agaro tips back his Gourd Flask.
The Black Knight I fought and lost to. He was the Grand Master’s son?
“And, and, nee. The other mistake was that the Tier I Seeker he ordered to subjugate it after much anguish never returned, nee. So, partly out of remorse, and because the defense mechanism was still maintained, he just left it alone all this time, nee.”
“……”
“…Is that how it was?”
“Besides, besides, he’s also in a position where he can’t just move about freely as he pleases, nee.”
So he used his own son, even though he was dead, for the greater good, and then ordered his subjugation, only to fail.
Somehow… that’s sad.
But he fought and won against a Tier I Seeker? No wonder I couldn’t win.
“Um, um, um, I’m sorry.”
Juicy-san looks dejected.
It seems she felt she shouldn’t have asked. The Witch laughs.
“Fufu, fufu, there’s no point apologizing to Kon, nee.”
“Na?”
Dagaa sits up and licks Juicy-san’s cheek.
“Um, um, um, Dagaa-chan. I’m okay!”
“Well now, well now, perhaps Kon should wash up, nee. Wof-boy, how about joining me, nee?”
“Eh? No, I’m fine.”
Wash up?
“Oh my, oh my, then how about you join me, puppy-chan, nee?”
“Um, um, um, wash up… there’s no bath here.”
“Fufu, fufu, if there isn’t one, we just need to make one appear, nee.”
Saying that, the Witch stands up, and Juicy-san follows, still holding Dagaa.
The two head to the back room. There was nothing but lumber, pots, and farming tools there!
“What’s going on?”
“Who knows. Well, just leave her be. It’s the Witch’s doing.”
I guess that’s true.
Mr. Agaro stares at the bonfire, drinking alcohol intently. Occasionally, he chews on some dried meat.
I drank some tea from my water bottle, the Crescent Vessel. Phew, it’s warm. It calms my heart.
Immediately after, I heard surprised voices from Juicy-san and Dagaa coming from the back room.
What’s that? Huh? A bathroom suddenly appeared?
Isn’t that overkill, Witch?