Chapter 57.6: Leonhart, Part Two
The Witch quietly stepped away from Leonhart and lightly flicked her fingers, as if conducting music. At once, the surrounding plants began to stir, and greenery overflowed into his field of vision like water welling up from a spring.
(This is… don’t tell me, the base?)
When she had asked if she could do as she pleased, it seemed she had meant, 「May I build the base however I like?」 As he watched walls and plant-formed buildings take shape, he felt both admiration and a faint sense of disappointment, which quickly turned into self-reproach. …What exactly had he been expecting?
The walls were not all, simple box-shaped buildings that could be used for various purposes were created as well, and even lamp-grass to provide light at night was set in place. If they arranged supplies and personnel, it looked ready to function as a base immediately.
Though the structures were made of plants, they would not wither as long as the Witch was present. They had never had time to build more than a simple outpost anyway, so this was sufficient. …No, more than sufficient.
「Witch-dono, this is…」
「If there’s anything missing, just tell me anytime.」
He had been about to voice his concern, was she not using too much magic to alter the surroundings so drastically?, but she spoke first, as though still intending to help further.
…He had been thinking he should do what he could himself, not force the burden onto the Witch alone, yet once again he had borrowed her strength. Time and again, she acted for someone else’s sake.
「No, this is more than enough. I had not intended for you to go this far… but is it truly necessary for Witch-dono to devote yourself so much to the kingdom?」
This Witch was kind. Considerate. Rather than acting for any one individual, she devoted herself to everyone. Even if her fellow kin, Nikolaus, received somewhat special treatment, she never treated anyone with contempt. She was someone who loved humans equally, who held them dear.
But that did not mean he wanted her to wear herself down. Perhaps she felt guilt for being even slightly connected to the changes in the desolate lands, yet she had already given more than enough.
He could not help but worry for her. He feared she might grind herself to dust in service to others and simply disappear. As Leonhart held such thoughts, the Witch gazed steadily at him.
「Is there something you want?」
「Something I want…?」
He had meant to tell her she did not need to do so much for everyone, yet the words she returned caught him off guard. Having lived five hundred years without interacting with people, the Witch was unaccustomed to conversation; her words were vague and easily misinterpreted. He had already realized that in this short time. …And yet.
(This must mean she’s asking about my wish. …Could it be the base-building was for my sake…?)
No, surely not. That would be far too presumptuous. And yet, it seemed the Witch cared about him more than he had thought. That alone made him deeply happy.
「What I want is…」
Even when asked, nothing specific came to mind. His eyes were simply captured by the beautiful Witch’s black gaze before him. …There was something he wanted, certainly.
(…I already decided I cannot wish for that.)
Leonhart knew that what he truly desired from the depths of his heart was something he must not wish for. Yet even knowing one must not wish for something, human desire finds a way to yearn for it all the same.
He believed it was true that it would be enough if he alone cherished the Witch and wished for her happiness. And yet somewhere within, he could not help but think, if only he might receive some measure of her affection in return. …He despised how greedy he was.
「I… if I might have more opportunities to speak with Witch-dono. Other than that, I have no particular wishes.」
Surely this much could be forgiven as a wish. He wanted just a little more time with her. If they could speak alone like today, perhaps they might at least become close friends. …And if that happened, then even after Leonhart was gone, perhaps she would remember him from time to time.
「Is there nothing else you want…?」
After hearing his wish, the Witch looked slightly surprised and asked again, as though to say there must be something more. …Could it be she saw through everything? His deeper, more selfish longing, this very feeling.
(…Surely not. …If she has seen through me, that would be mortifying.)
Yet Leonhart could not claim he had stripped away his hollow self before her. That was what he must aim for first, and for that he needed time to speak with her. He wanted to become friends, close enough to reveal his true feelings. …For now, that was likely all he could wish for.
「No, there is nothing more I could wish for at present.」
「Then next time… will you come to my house? …Alone.」
「…Yes. I would be delighted.」
Accepting his first wish, the Witch invited him to her home. She likely intended to arrange a place where the two of them could speak alone.
That made him unbearably happy. As a wish, this was more than enough. …If he were given anything more, his already strangely behaving heart might grow even more unmanageable.
Just then, the Witch suddenly looked up at the sky. Following her gaze, Leonhart saw a figure flying toward them. The person soon descended to the ground and revealed himself, it was Nikolaus.
Now the Witch would no longer be able to speak. It was unfortunate they could not remain alone, but knowing there would be another opportunity allowed him to look forward to it. Otherwise, he might have resented Nikolaus’s appearance for cutting their time short.
Whether he knew it or not, Nikolaus cast a sharp glance toward Leonhart.
(…That look…)
Understanding the emotion contained in his purple eyes surprised him slightly. What dwelled there was envy, jealousy of that sort. And it most likely concerned the Witch.
From Leonhart’s perspective, it was Nikolaus who received special treatment from the Witch, and there had been many times he felt envious of him. …Yet today, it seemed, the opposite was true.
NEXT CHAPTER
RELEASE RATE
Reincarnated as a Mandragora, Worshipped as the Flower Witch. …If They Find Out I’m a Monster, Will They Hunt Me Down?
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 80 hours
Yay Its alive.