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Chapter 10

Of course he’d find it strange that I hadn’t spoken a word all this time. It was suspicious, no doubt. I kept my face smiling, but inside I was panicking, scrambling to come up with an excuse.

「Is it… because of a magic cost? That’s what it is, isn’t it?」

(Wait… what?)

「I heard it from the elder once. That Witches and sorcerers sometimes sacrifice something of their own to push their magic to its limits. …Did you give up your voice, Witch-sama?」

Apparently, Witches and sorcerers, people who use magic, sometimes give up a part of themselves in exchange for power. That’s terrifying. I couldn’t help letting my expression darken a little. I’m really glad I’m a monster who can grow stronger using evolution points, without giving anything up.

「O-oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to bring up something painful…」

It’s not like I lost my voice for real, but Noel had misunderstood my silence, and now he was bowing his head in a panic. I hadn’t actually lost it, it’s just that using it could kill people, so I don’t say anything, but the result is similar. Still, it’s not like I lost it completely, and it is also not something one has to be sad about. To show that he didn’t need to worry, I patted his head.

「You’re so kind, Witch-sama… Um, if you can’t speak, then I’ll talk to people on your behalf.」

(Oh, that’s a big help. You mean when we get to the village, you’ll explain I’m a nice Witch-sama, right?)

If things went on like this, I wouldn’t be accused of kidnapping, surely. I smiled and took Noel’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. It was a silent gesture asking him to help me win over the people of the settlement.

If Noel introduced me as a 「Kind Witch-sama」, maybe I could avoid being seen as suspicious. No one would ever guess I was actually a plant monster, just a mandragora shaped like a human.

(This way, I’ll totally be able to live among humans!)

—or so I thought. But then something unexpected happened.

Just before our meal, Noel began to look unwell again. Thinking the potion hadn’t fully cured him, I had him eat some meat laced with the restorative elixir. After that, I took him with me to visit the village, but what greeted us was an eerie silence.

Despite it being broad daylight, not a soul was in sight. Last night, I’d seen lights on, so the place shouldn’t be abandoned. Then why was it so quiet?

(Don’t tell me… Everyone’s hiding because they’re afraid of a suspicious person?)

Small villages like this can be closed off and wary of outsiders. Maybe they saw me, a stranger, and decided to hole up indoors.

Still, I figured at least one person might be out and about. We entered the village and walked down the path. That’s when Noel gripped my hand tightly, his expression troubled.

「…This smell… Witch-sama, this is…」

(You smell something? …I don’t really have much of a sense of smell…)

Noel was a wolf beastkin, canine, with a sharp nose. I, on the other hand, am a plant. I probably have worse-than-human olfactory ability. I couldn’t pick up whatever scent he was noticing.

「Ah—」

(There’s a child. …Lying there… not moving… Are they… dead?)

In front of one house, I spotted a young girl collapsed face down. Vomit was splattered around her. I rushed over and picked her up, thankfully, she was still breathing. But her skin was dry and limp, dehydration.

「…It’s the same illness as in my village. I’m sure the others here are all…」

It seemed the disease had spread to this place as well. Most of the villagers might be infected and too weak to move. If that’s the case, living here isn’t going to be an option. I wonder how many people are even left…

(Wait… what if everyone dies…? Won’t people start saying that the village perished because of the witch’s curse?)

I still don’t know how Witches are perceived in this world, but in most fantasy settings, they’re usually treated as villains. If I’m misunderstood before I can prove I’m good, I may never be able to clear that stigma. That would be bad. Very bad.

(Since it’s the same illness Noel had, then the full recovery potion should cure it too. The question is… how do I give it to her?)

With Noel, I’d thought he was a dog, so I’d used a straw to deliver the potion mouth-to-mouth. But I can’t exactly do that with a human girl, especially not children, the elderly, or strangers. It would look like I’m spitting into their mouths. If word got out, people would say, 「What a disgusting thing to do!」 and I’d be shunned, or worse. If I end up having to move to another village, I don’t want to carry a bad reputation with me.

(Let’s see… the potion comes from the holes in the root part…)

In other words, eyes, ears, nose, mouth. But no matter where it comes from, it’s going to look like body fluid. And if people know it comes from my face, they’ll be too grossed out to drink it. Maybe I should make a new opening somewhere else for it?

The real question is – where should the potion-dispensing hole go? As I was thinking, the girl in my arms grew noticeably weaker. I didn’t have time to hesitate.

(Oh, no. I don’t have time to deliberate. For now, I’ll use tears, like I did with the knight…)

Holding the girl close, I let a tear fall from my eye, carrying the potion down a vine grown from my hair and directing it subtly toward her mouth. If even a drop touched her lips, it’d be enough. I adjusted the angle to keep Noel from seeing too much, carefully maneuvering the vine so the potion dripped onto her lips. Her complexion visibly improved. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open.

「…Are you… a goddess…?」

「A miracle…! As expected of the Witch-sama…!」

At least Noel was singing my praises, so it seemed I’d pulled it off without him noticing the vine. These tendrils are incredibly versatile, I can manipulate their shape, thickness, and direction freely. They’re a real lifesaver.

And just then, as I was administering the drops, an idea hit me.…That’s it, what if I made the potion come from the vines themselves instead?