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Chapter 31: Side Story – Leonhart

The Holy Knight Order stationed in Bit Village had borrowed a vacant house to use as their base. It was a bit cramped for ten people living together, but it was far better than sleeping in tents out in the wilderness.

Thanks to the witch’s kindness, they had lamp plants to light their rooms at night and hygienic toilets maintained with Pureblooms. The living conditions were surprisingly comfortable.

The knights were no strangers to venturing into uncharted lands or braving the harshness of nature in order to subdue monsters, but this particular mission allowed them to relax in relative peace, free from such hardships.

The witch investigation had concluded with the report: 「The Flower Witch of Bit Village is a true demon」. Their continued presence in the village was now primarily for monitoring the nearby magic zone. If the witch was indeed genuine, then they should form a cooperative alliance with her in preparation for the disasters to come, that was the official stance of the Holy Knights.

「I didn’t know witches could do so much. The Court Magician is impressive too, but… when it comes to plants, I think Witch-sama has the upper hand. Even those moving mandragoras… I think I’m starting to get used to them.」

「Don’t drop your guard. They’re still monsters.」

「Well, yeah, but… I mean, just look at Commander Ritter.」

From the conversation between his subordinates, Leonhart glanced over at a certain fellow knight. There was Ritter, one of the witch’s most enthusiastic supporters, fawning all over one of her mandragora familiars, an expression on his face that definitely wasn’t suitable for showing to the general public.

「Purple-chan, you’re looking sexy today too… But no, just flaunting it isn’t enough. You’ve gotta have some shyness too. Like this, cover your chest with your arms and twist your body a little…」

The purple mandragora was different from the others. It had a body with feminine curves, and Ritter seemed to have taken quite a liking to it. He was so hopeless with women that it looked like he was ready to settle for a mandragora.

Today, he’d gone full-blown weirdo, striking weird poses in front of the purple one. Leonhart honestly didn’t know how to react. He really wished Ritter would stop being creepy around the witch’s familiars.

「Commander, this goes beyond creepy, it’s straight-up scary. This right here is why women avoid you.」

「…Ugh… Sorry…」

Rebuked by one of his subordinates, Ritter finally stopped his strange behavior, looking visibly dejected. Then, without warning, he picked up the mandragora and hugged it tightly. …What the hell was he doing?

「…Huh. You’re kinda stiff…」

「Well, it is a mandragora. …What exactly were you expecting?」

「N-no, it’s nothing, really…」

Even while trying to brush it off, Ritter continued to clutch the mandragora. But it suddenly began to squirm in his arms, clearly trying to escape. Ritter’s expression turned to one of utter despair as he desperately tried to hold on.

「Ahh! Purple-chan, don’t run away…! If even you hate me, I’ll never have a chance with women!」

「If you’re saying stuff like that to a mandragora, then yeah, you’re never getting anywhere.」

Watching Ritter cling to the fleeing mandragora while his subordinate looked on in complete exasperation, Leonhart noticed something odd.

…Something was wrong.

The purple mandragora wasn’t just trying to get away from Ritter, it was clearly reaching its limbs toward the door, desperate to get outside. Maybe this wasn’t just about escaping his creepy embrace.

「Ritter, something’s not right… Did something happen to Witch-sama?」

「Huh? …Is that what it is, Purple-chan?」

The mandragora nodded firmly, confirming their suspicion. Anxiety grew in Leonhart’s chest.

The moment Ritter let go, the purple mandragora darted out of the room. Leonhart quickly ran after it, shouting as he went.

「I’ll go check on her! The rest of you, stay here and be ready!」

「Got it! If anything happens, call for backup!」

Leonhart chased the purple mandragora through the village. It was incredibly fast, he couldn’t keep up, but its destination was clear: the witch’s house near the watermill.

She had never moved so urgently before. Something had to be wrong.

(What happened to Witch-sama? Did a monster attack the house? Or… maybe someone heard her voice and came after her…)

To Leonhart, the Flower Witch was the only person who truly understood him. The idea that something might have happened to her filled him with dread. He arrived at the house, panting and out of breath, and called out as he pushed open the door.

「Witch-sama, are you, …Wait, why is the Court Magician here!?」

Inside was someone he had not expected to see: Nikolaus, the eccentric royal magician who cared only about monsters, the man previously thought to be the last surviving demon in the world.

He was entrusted with a portion of the royal castle’s defenses. He wasn’t someone who could easily leave the capital. So why was he here, in this remote village?

「I came to investigate a possible fake. Obviously.」

Until the Flower Witch appeared, Nikolaus had been the only known demon. It made sense that he’d want to determine the truth for himself.

(…He’s her only surviving kin, then.)

Leonhart felt a pang of envy, and was surprised by his own reaction.

The Flower Witch had always been the only one who shared his curse. They were the only two people unaffected by each other’s presence. That had made their bond special, irreplaceable. But the same could now be said for her and Nikolaus.

Those who share the pain of the same curse, and those who share the same bloodline, which bond is deeper? Surely the latter. Though the witch would never treat Leonhart poorly, she likely saw Nikolaus as someone truly precious. …It made him feel just a little jealous.

「At this point, I can’t say for certain that she’s a fake. …But I can’t say she’s real either. I still don’t believe it. And if I find out she’s a fraud, I won’t forgive her. Until I know for sure, I’ll keep coming back.」

(Witch-sama is so kind, and yet… how can he be so cruel? Even with five hundred years between them, there’s no need to speak that way.)

Nikolaus’s words were harsh. Leonhart couldn’t help the hostility that crept into his own tone, he didn’t want this man anywhere near her.

This five-hundred-year-old demon was acting like a bratty teenager. Maybe that was why Witch-sama kept her distance, quietly watching him rather than approaching.

(She must be hurting… She had her reasons for staying away all these years. She won’t make excuses, but…)

If not for her cursed voice, she would’ve taken in baby Nikolaus herself. She couldn’t, and five hundred years passed. It was only natural she felt too guilty to face him now. She’d take any blame he threw at her with a smile.

(If he’s only going to come here to shout at her, he shouldn’t come at all. It’ll only make her sad.)

Leonhart tried to subtly express that message, but in the end, the witch handed Nikolaus a magic recovery potion, two, in fact. One for now, and one for the next time he came.

(So I was being selfish, trying to push away someone so important to her. To Witch-sama, maybe the Court Magician still seems like a child… Maybe she finds even his tantrums endearing.)

She must have been overjoyed to reunite with her kin. And if that was the case, Leonhart realized he should be happy for her too. …He didn’t want her to think ill of him.

「Witch-sama… I’m glad you were able to reunite with your kin.」

The witch gave him a gentle smile. She’d smiled like that the entire time Nikolaus was there. She must’ve felt reassured, seeing the boy she couldn’t raise grow up strong among humans.

Nikolaus still hadn’t accepted her as the real thing. But that was likely because of her silence. The 「curse「 had kept her from interacting with others, had prevented her from raising him. If she could just explain that, Nikolaus would surely change his tune. Maybe she was thinking the same.

「By the way… shall I tell the Court Magician about your curse?」

It had always been a secret between them. But if she wished, Leonhart was willing to explain. Once he knew, Nikolaus might change, might become more supportive. Leonhart offered, but the witch shook her head.

(…I see. So even her kin can’t know. …And yet I do.)

It was a secret too important to share even with her fellow demon. Leonhart had only learned of it by chance, but it seemed she trusted him to keep it.

They were the only two people in the world who shared this suffering. …How could he not take joy in that?

「…Then let’s keep it our little secret. Shall I escort you home, Witch-sama?」

With a heartfelt smile, Leonhart walked her back to her house.

This way, he could protect her secret, even from Nikolaus. He entrusted her to her attendant Noel, waiting at the house, and then returned to the knights’ quarters.

The purple mandragora had followed him back, and Ritter welcomed it with open arms.

「Purple-chan! You came back to me…!」

「…Commander Leonhart, good work. Is Witch-sama safe?」

「Yes. …The Court Magician was visiting. I suppose the mandragoras sensed it and gathered there as well.」

「Wait, the Court Magician? …Good thing Purple-chan didn’t get taken away… Right? Right, Purple-chan?」

Leonhart averted his gaze from Ritter, who had started rubbing his cheek against the mandragora again. His subordinates had apparently given up trying to stop him.

Even if they looked away, the sounds still reached their ears.

Leonhart began to worry for his colleague’s mental state.

「Oops… Touching her exposed parts drains some of my magic… But hey, if it helps nourish you, Purple-chan, I don’t mind…」

…Honestly, at this point, maybe it was fine if the mandragora sapped a little more of his energy. Might help him calm down.