Murky Darkness – Part 07

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Translator: Kell


“H-Hey!” I half-rose to my feet, afraid that she was going to fall into the river.

Zero then lifted her head back up, her long hair spraying water everywhere. “The lass should know who killed Thirteenth. If they are strong enough to come after her life and kill Thirteenth, then we have a powerful enemy on our hands. So powerful that Sanare does not even matter at all.” She had completely regained her usual attitude and dignity.

Her eyes were no longer bloodshot, and her eyelids were not swollen anymore. The great extraordinary witch had returned.

With the usual snap of her fingers, her wet hair dried in an instant. The silver strands of her hair, blown by the night wind, glittered under the moonlight. Standing majestically against the full moon, she looked even more beautiful than when I first met her.

“Let us go back to the others,” she said. “I have grieved enough, and Thirteenth’s death is not a tragedy.”

“Gotcha.” I stood up.

Then suddenly, the temperature dropped.

My breath turned white. Not only that—the river froze, the full moon reflected clearly on its icy surface.

“What the hell?! Hey, witch, what’s goin—”

“I know now, Mercenary,” Zero said.

“Know what?”

“Who killed Thirteenth.”

It was all too sudden. I had so many questions. How did she know that immediately? Why was it so cold?

But as I turned my gaze to the direction Zero was staring at, all my questions froze in my throat, then melted.

“That guy, huh?”

“Yes. My master.”

Zero’s supposedly dead mentor and the previous Murky Darkness Witch.

I couldn’t just laugh it off as some kind of nonsense. She looked too much like Zero. And Thirteenth.

She possessed breathtaking beauty, with silver hair that almost reached her ankles. Her red eyes, lording over the world, seemed boundless, watching the vast forest.

Her gaze shifted to Zero. “A lovely night, wouldn’t you say, Zero? A magnificent moon hangs in the sky, as though demons are giving their blessings to witches.” Her tone was casual, as if she was talking to a friend she found along the road.

The witch spread her arms wide towards the moon. “On this day, this night, the endless debate will finally end. Every hypothesis will be proven. Does it not make your heart tremble?” Red eyes looked at me. “You will join me in celebration, yes?” Her smile could destroy one’s sanity.

But I managed to get a hold of myself. “Never!” Fortunately, I had some immunity against extraordinary beauty now.

The witch raised an eyebrow, seemingly displeased by my reply. “I was not talking to you.”

“What?! You were clearly—”

“Zero! Mercenary!”

Albus’s urgent voice and the sound of several people’s footsteps came from the woods. Sensing the sudden change in temperature, they came to check on us.

Albus came running out of the forest. Her breath caught as soon she saw the witch facing us. “Zero! She’s—”

“I know,” Zero said. “She is alive. Thirteenth is dead. Cestum’s ideology, and their actions until now. Taken together, the answer is obvious.”

“Even I can piece it together,” I said. “Should I take a guess?”

It was already obvious to everyone present. This witch was the boss that Sanare was referring to. As the leader of Cestum, she incited the conflict between the Church and witches, used Sanare to deceive Albus, and killed Thirteenth.

“Zero. I can fight.” Albus took a step forward.

Without saying a word, the priest transformed his staff into a scythe and poked Lily with his foot, forcing her to step back as she tried to step forward.

Raul carried the princess on his back, spear in hand, trying to assess the situation.

Zero’s violet eyes watched the witch warily, and I clenched my sword so I could unsheath it any time.

Even in such a tense situation, the witch seemed unwary. “No need to be so rash,” she said. “I am not here to kill you. I simply wanted to invite you, my dear audience, to first-class seats.”

The witch raised one arm flamboyantly. Then like a storyteller on stage, she bowed deeply.

“Thank you all for coming,” she began. “Zero, my dear apprentice. You have chosen the best beast warrior a witch could ever have. As your mentor, I am very proud.” She spoke in an extremely relaxed tone.

Her gestures were all sluggish, but her eyes burned with excitement.

Her gaze caught Albus. “Young Mooncaller, whose life was spared by Thirteenth’s sacrifice. Your existence is like a miracle. You ate Thirteenth, yes? How repulsive. Absolutely wonderful!”

She turned to Lily. “Oh, little rat warrior. She who secretly carries death. I cannot help but shiver at the sight of you. The most hated and hunted of all by the Church and the masses, still exists after five hundred years.”

Next was the princess and Raul. “The only pupil of the short-lived Argentum, princess of Black Dragon Island, blessed with an exceptional gift in Magic, and her bizarre-looking attendant. You could have been mine. What a shame.”

Finally, she licked her lips and looked at the priest. “The best part is you, adjudicator from Dea Ignis. Your presence here arouses me. I have been watching you. When will you betray Zero? When will you die? Yet you are still here, on their side.”

Her ghastly aura threatened to devour me whole. Even the priest turned pale, his body shivering from the cold.

“I don’t know how to say this, Zero,” the priest said. “Your mentor is a bit… No, quite revolting.” His voice sounded a little shrill from nervousness, his usual composed self nowhere to be found.

Zero gave a bitter smile, sympathizing with the priest’s impression. “She is an old witch who survived the war five hundred years ago. She is an enigma, even to me. She mated with a demon, had a child with it, and then offered it to the demon.”

Her story was like a dark fairy tale. She was just like those horrible evil witches heard of in the Church’s sermons. What would such an evil witch show us by inviting us to first-class seats?

The witch closed her outstretched hand and opened it. A dark red clump appeared on her palm.

A human heart, so fresh that it seemed like it could start beating any moment.

“Thirteenth’s heart…” Albus’ lips quivered.

Zero’s expression instantly changed. Disregarding the fact that she was facing her master, she fired chantless Steim towards the heart.

“Idiot!” I shouted. “What are you doing?!”

Ignoring me, Zero unleashed Lamant, Flagis, and Kudra in rapid succession, destroying a part of the forest.

When the cloud of dust settled, the Murky Darkness Witch was still there.

“Wh-What the hell?! She’s too tough!”

“It is not her real body!” Zero said. “I knew she would not be foolish enough to put her life in danger. Lass! Strengthen the ward around Wenias! You should now be able to use the most basic and best protective circle that witches use to protect themselves from demons.”

“Huh? What? Now?!”

“Yes, now!”

Zero was the only one who sensed the danger. She was displaying unusual urgency. The rest of us could not comprehend the situation at all.

“Why are you panicking?! Calm down!”

“A demon,” Zero said. Naturally, I had no idea what she meant by that. “Do you remember the time I summoned a demon to your body?”

“I do.”

“Then you should understand. The body of a beast warrior is not only useful as sacrifice for Sorcery and Magic, but it is also extremely suitable as a demon’s receptacle. This is because a beast warrior is extremely similar to that of a demon in form. That is why their bodies are useful when wielding demonic power. My master, the Murky Darkness witch, is going to use all the beast warriors on the continent as vessels to summon countless demons!”

Okay. I finally realized that the world was doomed.

The Murky Darkness witch opened her mouth slowly.

“I will now destroy the world.”


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