Seventh – Part 01

[previous_page]

[next_page]


Translator: Kell


Interlude: Solena’s Doll

The morning after Zero’s party left the castle, Albus was holed up in Sorena’s lair, as usual.

There was only one reason for this.

She was sick of everything. When she woke up this morning, Holdem gave a report as to the assassin’s identity.

The culprits who stole the key to the dungeon and threw it into the snake cage were the apprentices that Albus had denied permission to use Magic. They thought that if Albus died, the ward would disappear and they would be able to  cast Magic freely. They also said that even if Albus didn’t die, if she made a huge blunder at the ball, she wouldn’t be able to act like a big shot anymore.

It was utterly ludicrous, yet completely understandable. They were jealous. They wanted to vent out their frustration.

They didn’t respect her as the Chief Mage.

You have taught yourself an easy excuse.

Zero’s cold eyes and spiteful words flashed in her mind.

Albus bit her lips. I hate everything.

I’m trying so hard. I’m doing my best.

No one showed her any sympathy—not Mercenary, not Zero, not even Holdem.

Her lip split and blood dripped on the table.

“You’re bleeding, sweetie,” the doll on the table said. “You shouldn’t hurt yourself.” Her voice was soothing.

Albus lifted her head and pulled the doll close. “Grandma! I’m so glad you’re here. You weren’t responding, so I thought you disappeared.”

As soon as she received the report from Holdem, Albus immediately rushed to the lair and poured her problems out to the doll.

However, the doll did not move. Nor did it respond.

It didn’t always move, of course.

Souls of the departed were terribly unstable to begin with. You’d never know when they would disappear. It was a miracle that she could hold a conversation with the doll.

A soul with ties to this forest and was able to preserve its mind even after death was unthinkable.

But that’s why Albus was convinced that this spirit was Solena.

She had lost her memory from when she was alive, but she understood Albus better than anyone else. She was kind, intelligent, and always willing to help her granddaughter if she had a problem.

“I heard you calling me, but there’s a malignant spirit wandering around interfering with me,” the doll said.

“A malignant spirit?” Puzzled, Albus searched for signs of anything unusual in the immediate surroundings.

The forest was as refreshing and soothing as always. It didn’t feel like there was anything unpleasant about it.

“I can’t sense a thing,” Albus said. “I’m not good at Necromancy, and I’m scared of ghosts. Oh, except for you, of course! You’re my grandma, after all. And you’re nice.”

The doll reached out its small hand and patted Albus on the head. “Listen carefully. The world is full of fools. They sugarcoat things and never look at reality. Those people will continue to torment you. But in order to protect this nation, you must obtain the power to fight such people.”

“Okay…”

“Don’t let the Murky Darkness’s words get to you. A gifted witch wouldn’t understand the troubles of the powerless. You just do what you think is right.”

“But I don’t know what’s right.” Albus plopped down on the table. “Grandma, what would you do?”

What would the great Solena do?

She would easily find the answers to all the problems tormenting Albus. That’s how Solena lived her whole life. She listened to the troubles and pains of humans, and told them the best means to get rid of them.

If Solena was alive, how would she run this kingdom? When Albus asked Holdem about it, he just said, “I’ve never once been able to understand Solena’s thoughts.”

Deep inside, he probably wished Solena was still alive.

“Well, I have some of ideas.”

“Really?” Albus bolted upright.

“Yes, but I’m not as nice as you, so it might not help. All of them requires blood.”

“Blood?”

“I’m the kind of witch that believes a single sacrifice can save a hundred.”

Indeed. She was that kind of witch. By sacrificing her own life, Solena saved many. Albus was proud of her for that. She wanted to be strong like her.

“Me too, Grandma.” Albus straightened up and looked the doll straight in the eye.

“Can you be the bad guy? Everyone will condemn you and say you’re a horrible witch.”

“I’ll be fine. If I can protect this kingdom… If witches and humans can live in peace…”

I’m willing to make sacrifices.


In order to find Thirteenth, we headed towards the rural town that was destroyed a year ago, Latette.

The town was about half a day away from Fomicaum, the center of the kingdom of Wenias. It took half a day by carriage from the royal capital of Plasta to Fomicaum. On foot, it would take a day and a half.

Since we set out at night, we should be able to reach Fomicaum by the following night. However, the gates of Fomicaum closed at nightfall, so we wouldn’t be able to enter the town at our arrival.

So we decided to set up camp for the night and go directly to Latette the next morning without stopping at Fomicaum.

On the way, Lily was wondering what to ask the priest for saving his life, but she eventually forgot and started picking berries and flowers like usual.

The priest let out a sigh of dismay and resignation, and muttered, “It would be easier if I just thanked her.”

No one was actually expecting anything from the priest. He just had a strong sense of obligation.

And so we arrived at Latette in record time.

The sun was almost at its zenith, and it was incredibly sunny. It was a beautiful day for a trip, but I couldn’t get into the mood when the town we were headed to was basically dead.

“A wreck,” Lily said.

The houses and streets of Latette were in a horrible state of disrepair. The corpses had all been taken away, but there was no sign that anyone had tried to live in the town again.

“An inhabited town will immediately turn to ruin,” I said. “Thieves and wild animals will lay waste to everything.”

“But there was a witch lair here in the past, right?” the priest said. “There should at least be some signs of human touch.”

“It’s a little complicated,” said a woman’s voice.

Astonished, we all looked up simultaneously.

A woman stepped out from behind an abandoned house, as if she’d been waiting for us. A captivating witch with red hair down to her waist—Thirteenth’s subordinate.

“The Coven of Zero was born here, and it resulted in the deaths of ordinary folks. The Coven itself was destroyed by Thirteenth. It’s an abominable town for both witches and humans. Leaving it like this is better for both sides.”

“This woman again! I didn’t even notice her presence.”

It was the same when we were ambushed in the carriage. It was only when she called out to us that I noticed her.

I winced. Beastfallen have sharp instincts? Yeah, right.

The witch gave me a friendly smile. “You look terrifying,” she said. “You’re ruining your good looks. Skilled sorcerers are good at masking their presence. Despite her looks, Zero’s presence seems weak, doesn’t it?”

I remembered when I had just met Zero. I’d get startled whenever she called at me from behind.

“From my point of view, you are not what I would call a skilled sorcerer,” Zero said. “It seems that you are good enough for Thirteenth to favor you, but if a skilled sorcerer masked their presence, they could sing and dance in the open without being perceived. I am proud to say that when I played hide-and-seek with Thirteenth when I was child, he never found me. After seven days, he finally begged me to show myself.”

Zero threw out her chest, and the red-haired woman was shocked for some reason.

“Wait a minute. Thirteenth played a childish game?”

“Yes. If my memory serves me right, he was on the verge of tears.”

“Stop spouting nonsense to my disciple!”

An angry voice came from close range, and I got hit on the back of my head, pushing me forward a little.

I rubbed my head. “What the hell are you doing?!” I turned around, then my jaw dropped.

A man dressed in all black was standing within arm’s reach. He held a familiar staff in his hand. I knew right away that he used that to hit me.

“Th-Thirteenth!”

Even without seeing his face, I could tell who it was just from his voice and the air around him. The problem was that none of us had noticed his presence until I was hit.

At the sound of my voice, the priest leapt back a moment too late, his scythe at the ready. Thirteenth could’ve killed him if he really wanted to.

Lily’s fur bristled at the sudden appearance of the creepy guy, and she immediately dove behind a nearby tree.


[previous_page]

[next_page]


Novel Schedule

Grimoire of Zero

Grimoire of Zero Volume 1 Cover

Schedule will be reduced when the goal is reached

Balance: 0

Comment (0)

Get More Krystals