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Chapter 45

「It’s adjusted so it won’t harm the human body, and it works fine as ordinary lighting. The controls are…」

Despite Nikolaus’s usual sour expression, his explanation was patient and precise. Once the crystal was filled with mana, its light could be turned on or off using a separate control block, something like a small square remote. You could place it anywhere and simply brush your hand across it to switch between light and dark.

In this village, such magic tools were rare, so we’d been using glow-lamps and lantern plants for light. I suppose cities must have many convenient devices like this, things that functioned almost like the home appliances from my previous world. I vaguely remembered seeing a few similar items for sale at the market.

(Magic instead of electricity, huh. I guess in the countryside, where people’s mana and resources are limited, tools like these never became common… not enough distribution either…)

I immediately put Nikolaus’s gift to use, weaving a net of vines to hold the crystal and suspending it from the ceiling. The sky was gloomy today, and with the light on, the whole room seemed brighter.

The glow was softer than sunlight, but being able to soak in something close to daylight indoors felt wonderful. It made the top of my head, my vines, feel glittery sparkling. Definitely not shiny bald.

「Wow… even the shadows on the floor look stylish!」

(Ah, he’s right. Humans do like stylish things. …Maybe if I just add a little touch here…)

Since Noel seemed delighted by the patterns cast across the floor, I grew a few yellow leaves along the supporting vines. The light filtering through them made leaf-shaped shadows dance on the floor, like sunlight flickering through autumn trees. It gave the room a gentle, human sort of beauty. Nikolaus had really given me something nice.

「…You could at least wait until I leave before redecorating.」

While I was happily adjusting the light fixture, Nikolaus muttered in his usual flat tone, sipping his tea. That made me realize how rude it might seem to immediately play with a guest’s gift right in front of him. I froze.

(S-sorry! I got carried away!)

「Well, it’s fine. …Anyway, I need to report to the knights stationed here, so I’ll be going.」

(Oh, he’s heading to the knights’ quarters? Then I’ll go too. I feel safer watching him until he leaves…)

Nikolaus might not be a bad person, and maybe this present was genuine goodwill toward a fellow 「Witch」 But that was exactly why I couldn’t let my guard down. A real demon like him was the biggest threat to my disguise. If anyone could expose me for what I truly was, it’d be him. I needed to observe him carefully, learn how he acted, and make sure he never suspected a thing.

As he stood and headed toward the door, I followed a few steps behind. He glanced back at me.

「…I knew you’d follow.」

(W-well, I just…)

「Witch-sama, looks like it’s going to rain, so I’ll bring in the laundry first. I’ll catch up soon.」

(Oh, okay. But if it does rain, just stay home, alright?)

I pointed to the sky, then touched the droplet ornament in my hair so it swayed, and finally gestured toward the house. Noel tilted his head, thought for a moment, and then said, 「If it rains, I’ll stay and watch the house?」 I nodded.

That ornament turned out surprisingly useful for gestures involving water. The bird that gave it to me had been a nuisance, but this little trinket deserved praise.

Outside, the air was damp and heavy, the thick clouds smothering the sun. Rain would start any minute. Under that dark sky, Nikolaus walked toward the village, and I followed several paces behind, close enough to keep up but not beside him. If I didn’t walk next to him, maybe he wouldn’t talk to me…

「That child is sharp.」

—so much for that plan. He didn’t even turn his head, but the words were clearly meant for me.

I can’t talk, and he knows it, so what was I supposed to do? Still, I listened silently.

「I figured you only took that kid in because you couldn’t abandon someone pitiful. But he’s actually competent… or maybe that’s your influence.」

(No, not at all! He’s just naturally good!)

Noel was clever, honest, and hardworking all on his own. All I’d done was make medicine when he was sick, sew him clothes, and grow edible plants for him. The rest was all him.

「…Who raises you, what kind of adult you grow up with, it makes all the difference. That boy was lucky to be found by you.」

(Noel lost his family, so I don’t know if 「lucky」 fits… oh, wait, Nikolaus lost his kin too, didn’t he? Maybe that’s why he cares.)

All his kind had perished in the dragon disaster, and he’d been raised among humans. Losing one’s people and living among another race, he and Noel really did share something. (Well, I’m not even human, but still.) Maybe that’s why he sympathized with Noel.

(Don’t worry, I’ll take care of him till he grows up. I’m a good Mandragora, after all…)

I made sure to look serious and sincere. Nikolaus glanced back.

「…I know. I’m not blaming you.」

(Eh? What…?)

「Staying angry forever is stupid anyway. I’m not mad anymore.」

(W-wait, you were angry…?! About what!…?!)

I had no idea what he meant, and panic churned inside me. Outwardly, I could only keep smiling. I prayed that expression wouldn’t make things worse. Nikolaus faced forward again, saying nothing more as he walked.

(What did I even do? Tell me, please! Don’t just go silent…! It’s scary…! C’mon!)

Was it because I’d played with the gift right away? Since then, the whole way to the knights’ lodging, Nikolaus hasn’t said a word, while I followed him quietly, my mind full of unanswered questions that weren’t given voice.