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Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Nikolaus is going to be staying in the village for several days to hold meetings with the paladins, so I had expected him to come check on me, the suspicious one, frequently, but that wasn’t the case.

He seemed to be going back and forth between the knights’ lodging and the inn I had built, apparently just working diligently.

(I’ve already shifted my consciousness into a clone at the plant by the entrance, and I told it to move if Nikolaus-san comes, so I’ll know immediately if he goes in or out.)

On top of that, I had the green stocks keeping watch, so I could grasp his movements in broad strokes. From what I could tell, he wasn’t moving around much beyond traveling between the inns. He wasn’t wandering around the village, so I felt a little relieved.

(…But at the same time, him not moving at all is kind of scary, so maybe I should go check on them under the pretense of bringing refreshments to the knights…)

They must be thirsty after all those meetings, so bringing drinks would be good. It had been getting cold lately, so warm tea would probably be appreciated.

As I was packing my recommended set of purification-flower tea into a basket, Noel matched it by wrapping up some sweets.

It was autumn now, the harvest season. The village’s wheat fields were seeing a great harvest, and at the watermill next to our house, wheat was being ground into fresh flour. The mill was quiet thanks to the use of a sound-absorbing plant called 「Silent Grass,」 so there was no noise, and the villagers were happy to use it.

Lately, Noel had been making elaborate bread and sweets with that wheat. Today it seemed to be a cake made with fairy-candy syrup.

I couldn’t eat things like that, but they were very well received as gifts for villagers and knights, and Noel seemed motivated whenever there were people happy to eat what he made. …I wished I could eat them too, but I couldn’t absorb solid food, so it couldn’t be helped.

「We’re bringing gifts for the knights and the Great Mage-sama, right! I’ll carry them to the inn!」

(Yeah, thanks. It’s reassuring when Noel’s with me.)

And so, carrying the basket of gifts, we headed for the knights’ lodging. On the way, I noticed Ilai’s carriage parked in the plaza, so he might come by my house later. I’d just take a quick look and head back. I didn’t want to stay long because Nikolaus scared me.

(They say he sticks needles into mandragoras to extract bodily fluids… hiii, that’s so inhumane…!)

「Witch-sama, you look like you’re having fun. I guess you’re happy when a Mage-sama is around, huh.」

Seeing me trembling and smiling at the same time, Noel made that comment, and even if I wanted to deny it, I couldn’t. If it were someone of the same kind, you’d naturally be happy to meet them, and I was a monster pretending to be one of his kind.

We stopped in front of the knights’ lodging and sensed the atmosphere inside. It sounded lively, like they were chatting. When I knocked on the door, someone hurried over almost immediately.

「Oh, Witch-dono and Noel-dono. Hello, you both look well today.」

The one who opened the door with a bright smile was Leonhart. Whenever I visited the knights’ building like this, unless I happened to meet someone outside or he was out, Leonhart was almost always the one to greet me. Even though he was the captain, he didn’t leave this kind of guest reception to his subordinates, and instead took the initiative himself. That was probably one of the reasons the villagers liked him so much.

(I just leave things like that to Noel… I mean, strangers coming to visit is scary…)

I remembered the time Nikolaus, looking suspicious with his hood up, had come to visit, and the time he’d even impersonated Leonhart, and I felt scared again. Yes, I’d keep leaving guest reception to Noel from now on.

「Hello, Leonhart-san. These are gifts from Witch-sama.」

「Oh my, thank you as always for your kindness.」

「…Um, are the Demonic Wastes already that dangerous?」

「No… at the very least, we believe there’s about half a year of leeway. Monsters are less active in winter, and they enter their breeding season in spring… we expect the disaster period to be around next summer. In the meantime, we’ll put evacuation and defense plans in place, and we will absolutely protect everyone, so please rest assured.」

The way he showed not a trace of anxiety and stated firmly that they would 「protect」 everyone was reassuring. Noel looked thoroughly impressed too, gazing at Leonhart with sparkling eyes. When those who provide security act confidently, those being protected can feel at ease. He seemed to understand that well.

(If it’s next summer, there’s actually plenty of time, so part of me thinks we could just run away in the meantime… but, well, humans can’t just abandon their lives and hometowns that easily. I’ve finally settled down too, so I don’t really want to leave either.)

There were many plants around here that I’d created using diversification and clones, and it was quite comfortable for me as well. It felt like proof that I’d grown accustomed to this place, a sense that this was where I belonged.

And it seemed there was still time before real danger reached this village. If I remembered correctly, at yesterday’s meeting they’d talked about bringing in new personnel and building defensive outposts between here and the Demonic Wastes.

(I’ll help properly too. I’m a little uneasy about new people coming, but I’ll have to appeal to them as a good witch as well.)

At this point, I didn’t feel like I’d lose even if I faced most monsters, but fighting was still scary. Still, I intended to protect this village, my home, and if humans were going to stand on the front lines, I would do my best to support them from the rear.

(…It’s kind of surprising that Nikolaus-san hasn’t shown up even though we’re talking this long. Um… he’s talking with Ritter-san.)

Maybe because of his strong magical power, I could tell when Nikolaus was nearby, and he was probably aware of me too, but right now he didn’t seem interested. He liked monster research, apparently, so his attention was probably on that eccentric person trying to bond with the purple stock. He was talking with his back turned and didn’t come over to pester me like usual. If his interest in me was fading, that was great, he could research whatever he wanted.

「Would you like to rest inside for a bit?」

(I’ll pass on that… Nikolaus-san isn’t paying attention to me right now, after all.)

「Witch-sama doesn’t want to intrude. …Um, please do your best. If there’s anything I can do, I’ll help, so please let me know.」

「Yes, thank you. That’s very reassuring. …Well then, see you again.」

Leonhart saw us off with a somewhat regretful smile. He was often with Ritter, so maybe having Nikolaus take his conversation partner had made him feel lonely. I was sorry, but I was grateful for things being as they were now, so as a small apology, I decided I’d bring him something he liked next time. I’d be his conversation partner then.

(…Oh, but come to think of it, I don’t actually know what Leonhart-san likes. I’ll ask him next time.)