The Witch’s Training ④
Day 5.
“…”
The dining room had been tidied up.
A formal, gold-rimmed tablecloth was spread across the high-class dining table.
Seated there were the Witch, myself, Shiro-san, and Chive-san.
And Munieca-san was laying out the prepared dishes one after another.
“……….”
It’s the fifth day, but perhaps because it’s the fifth day, I’m struck anew. What is this lineup?
Every single one of them is a Tier I Seeker. And they’re all breathtaking beauties.
And not just ordinary beauties, either. Every single one is the kind of beauty described as nation-toppling or peerless.
“…”
“Ohoho, this brown bean bread is delicious! Is the sweet stuff inside maybe anko?”
“Indeed it is. It is homemade.”
“Seriously? Ohoho. This’ll sell! It’ll definitely sell!”
“It is not for sale.”
“Milk rice… This is nice. Such a nice whiteness.”
“Thank you very much.”
“But it doesn’t have a gentle flavor.”
“That is not a gentle comment.”
“Nom nom. Nom nom. This Frikadelle. Kon likes this. Wants to eat more.”
“Understood. Would one hundred servings be sufficient?”
“Nn. Nn. Even Kon can’t eat that much. Why are you surprised?”
“…”
“Master. Your appetite seems rather poor.”
When Munieca-san called me Master, the other three clearly twitched in reaction.
But they only reacted; they didn’t say anything or make any further gestures.
They didn’t, but… each time it happens, I feel like the air grows tense.
Naturally, it’s not a very pleasant feeling. And then the three of them look at me. And quickly look away.
“…The soup is delicious.”
Ah, it’s a gently salted soup, but why does my stomach ache?
This is strange. It’s really strange. How did things end up like this?
It’s the third day of this training today, but I feel like I’m going to fail in an unexpected way.
Seriously, why are these people, so incredible in appearance, substance, and everything else, gathered around me?
It’s true I possess Relics and rare and amazing things.
But I myself am just a completely ordinary kid. A brat you could find anywhere.
I’m just a sloppy and unseemly 13-year-old in my actions and various other ways.
The memories of numerous unidentified past lives within me are ultimately just memories.
While they might influence my actions and personality, I’m not an adult.
But they are adults. Adult women older than me.
Furthermore, every single one of them is a woman overflowing with charm, both physically and mentally.
Unbelievably beautiful people surround me.
Is it okay for me to have this kind of happiness? Why are they around me?
And why does my stomach hurt this much?
No, right now, I have to win.
I need to focus solely on defeating Alveld.
To do that, I’ll complete this training and obtain strength.
After breakfast is the morning lecture on acquiring [Auto-Move].
① Drink some kind of incomprehensible liquid called Sense Amplification Liquid.
② Defeat a Minos Doll using [Silent Move].
Repeat ②.
Then, after lunch, do the same thing in the afternoon.
The Witch said she had errands again today and left early.
That’s five days in a row now. It’s rare for the Witch to go out this much.
Shiro-san started reading a romance novel again today, accompanied by the Witch’s Herbal Tea.
Chive-san, finding something amusing about it, is intently watching my training again today.
Has she changed somehow? Also, yesterday, we ended up in the bath together again.
Of course. Nothing happened, though. Absolutely nothing.
“Hah… hah… hah…”
As usual, I collapse the moment I defeat one. Sometimes my arms and legs get injured too.
I wish I could at least remain standing.
And the one I just defeated was—Shardina.
I’ve faced her several times over these past three days, so I’ve ended up remembering her name.
(Next time… I… will win… yes.)
Eh?
“Eh?”
What was that just now…? The matter of the mysterious inner voice I heard for the first time in a while.
And I realize I was also using [The Silent One].
Well, I have an inkling based on the line… but an inkling is just an inkling.
“Is something wrong?”
“Ah, no… Do the Minos Dolls perhaps have personalities?”
“No. They do not. They do not contain pseudo-personalities. Although the Minos Dolls are based on myself, their original base bodies are Minos Units. It seems the Minos Units only contain an order for hostile action, aside from an identification code. The Minos Dolls are what resulted from making that identification code respond to voice commands from myself and Master.”
“……….I see.”
Alright. My inkling disappeared. It’s gone! It’s gone!
Munieca-san grandly flipped her skirt as she spoke.
“Now then, twenty times a day. Master. That makes ninety-nine times.”
“We’ve done it that many times, huh?”
But I don’t feel like I’m improving at all.
Will this really turn into [Auto-Move]?
“The opponent for the momentous one-hundredth time shall be myself.”
“Um, it won’t activate against an opponent I can’t beat, you know.”
“Do not worry. I simply need to adjust things so it can barely activate.”
“…’Defeat’ would mean ‘kill,’ though.”
“Do not worry. I simply need to adjust things so that is impossible, and you can only do something like push me down.”
“Adjust…”
“Master. I am an ‘Auto Doll.’ Dolls are things to be adjusted.”
Is that so? I found myself nodding, strangely convinced.
“Then why did you use the Minos Dolls?”
“That was to adjust both Master and the Minos Dolls. If it can be done simultaneously rather than one by one, choosing that option would be rational.”
Adjust… me too? My eyes widened, though I didn’t say it aloud.
Paying me no mind, Munieca-san closed her eyes, rotated her wrists, lightly rolled her shoulders, and cracked her neck.
For now, I input the action into [Silent Move].
I-It’s really only possible to push her down. Everything else is impossible. I’m getting nervous.
She means adjusting the Auto-type Relic, right?
Or maybe my body? I don’t know. But does that mean she can do that?
“Well then, Master. Let us dance. [Auto-Dance].”
The light vanished from Munieca-san’s eyes.
And I, too, used [Silent Move].
Just like always—huh? What’s this? Somehow… my body… I can see the surroundings.
Is this different from usual?
I saw Munieca-san unleash a roundhouse kick.
Despite the motion, there was absolutely no wasted movement, and as I barely dodged, her outstretched leg bent.
“?!”
No way. She took a step forward and launched a kick aimed at my face. I miraculously blocked it with my arm.
But the recoil almost made me fall. Can I even push her down like this?
What kind of victory condition is “push her down” anyway?
I only just realized! Dammit!
But how am I supposed to push her down against these fluid, efficient movements and attacks?
“…”
Still, it’s a strange sensation.
Just watching my body move on its own. I can’t do anything myself at all.
But I’m learning a lot. I can study my own movements. It’s like a fighting style that isn’t my own.
Whoa, dodged that! Ouch, that hurts! No way, it still attacked even then?!
When Munieca-san lifted her leg, my body grappled and restrained it, then pushed her down just like that.
Munieca-san’s doll-like face was right there before me.
There’s a height difference, but because I pushed her down while her leg was raised, our faces are close.
More than that, I can feel her body; it’s soft and warm.
“Splendidly done, Master.”
“…Please spare me and just use Goshujin-sama.”
Both my arms and legs hurt. As I somehow managed to stand up, I saw the Relic had changed.
[Silent Auto-Move (Half): Guarantees success exactly once for a quick, precise, high-difficulty action. Consciousness remains during the action.]
“What happened?”
“Did it change?”
“What’s the result?”
Chive-san and Shiro-san asked.
“…Half? Uh, it became Silent Auto-Move Half.”
“Silent Auto-Move? Looks like something got mixed in. By the way, Munieca. You called him Danna-sama, didn’t you? What’s that about?”
“And it’s ‘Half,’ too. Munieca. What’s the deal? And what’s this ‘Danna-sama’?”
“Relics vary widely. It is possible for them to differ from person to person.”
“What does ‘Half’ mean?”
“It is used to mean it hasn’t matured yet.”
“So my Relic isn’t mature.”
“Yes. Therefore, its effect should also be incomplete.”
“It is. Definitely.”
“More importantly, what’s this Danna-sama?”
“Munieca. Explain yourself.”
Why are these two so hung up on that?
Though I also think that term of address is questionable…
Munieca-san stated boldly.
“Regarding the appellation ‘Danna-sama,’ I shall maintain a strict ‘no comment’.”
“Ugh, you poker-face! Hmmph. W-Well, in that case, Boku will too…”
“Yes, in that case, Shiro will too…”
Ah, this feels bad.
Seeing the two of them blushing with feverish expressions, I sensed danger.
I’m sure of it. This is heading in an incredibly bad direction.
“W-Wait a minute! If you do that, the Witch will think it’s weird!”
The two snapped back to reality. They glared at Munieca-san.
“Understood. Let us stick with Goshujin-sama.”
“In the first place, I think that ‘Goshujin-sama’ is questionable too!”
“Shiro doesn’t like Chive, but I agree on just that point.”
“Because I am a Maid.”
Munieca-san coolly dodged the issue.
Is everyone more concerned about that than my Relic?
I feel like I’m getting closer to them, and I’m happy and enjoying myself too.
But is this really okay?
I feel like things are heading in a completely wrong direction.
Though I don’t know.
Seeker Guild Headquarters.
Grand Guild ‘Hliðskjálf’.
Egg King Department. Grand Guild Master’s Office.
“Abramelin-sama. It is almost time for your departure.”
“Mm. Indeed it is. Fufufufufufu!”
“What are you looking at?”
“It arrived this morning. This is the Wish Slate for the Tsukaeshi, including those promoted this time.”
“The Tsukaeshi’s… Even if you call them wishes, it’s the same every time. It’s almost always subordinates, friends, disciples, or family. Anything else is just handled by the Guild staff, though.”
“This time, it’s interesting.”
“Interesting?”
“You’ll see when you look.”
“………Wha— Whaaat!? Wh-what is this!?”
“I was just as surprised at first. I haven’t been this shocked since the Dungeon City Clusters collapsed. It’s truly been several decades.”
“What is this, really? This is impossible! Something like this… how… How did this even happen!?”
“Hahahahahahahah! So even Victorylla is surprised? I have no idea. But what do you think? Interesting, isn’t it?”
“This is completely abnormal.”
“It’s unprecedented. That’s what makes it so very interesting. Good grief, I never expected it to go this far. They’ve really done it now. I’m truly looking forward to meeting them.”
Alhazardo Abramelin looked truly amused.