The Witch and the Doll Swear

The girl sat in front of the mirror and put down the lipstick in her hand nervously.

Although as a woman, I know a little bit about this knowledge, but because I didn't pay much attention to it before, when I really need to use it, I feel that I don't have enough confidence anyway.

"...That's it, it's okay."

The self in the mirror was wearing much thicker makeup than usual.

Even so, it was nothing more than putting on foundation, drawing on eyeliner and eyebrows, and applying bright lipstick for the first time on lips that usually only wear colorless lip balm. Under the lights, there is not that much difference from the girl's original appearance without makeup.

Most importantly, not too embarrassing.

I just don’t know, how would my colleagues laugh at me if they knew that I even borrowed my lipstick and foundation from my mother… Forget it.

Anyway, at the place I was about to go to, there was no friend who could say such a thing.

Ting Na, who usually only wants to apply face cream and lipstick when it comes to makeup, sighed and picked up the small bag on the bed.

"Mom, I'm going out—"

"Tingna, pay attention to safety when going to parties, don't drink too much alcohol, remember to find friends when you come back—"

"Got it, I'm not a kid anymore—"

Pushing open the door, leaving her mother's nagging behind her, Tingna walked slowly towards the street under the night sky, stepping on her high heels that were not used to it.

Today is the end-of-season dinner of the Adventurer's Association, summarizing the work of the whole spring, and distributing season bonuses. At the same time, the promotion notice is also announced at such a banquet.

Participation is mandatory unless there are special circumstances.

What kind of situation is special enough to prevent people from participating in this dull and boring party...

Walking on the road, Tina thought.

For Tingna, who was transferred to the Liaison Department just a month ago because of the receptionist's performance report, promotion and salary increase were undesired topics.

So does the end-of-season bonus. From the Sakura Twilight Moon to this year's exceptionally short First Bud Moon, the spring of the Year of Black Flowers has come to an end. During these two months, Ting Na has not made any achievements enough to get those two gold coins.

... There is one feat, and that is to evacuate the treasury of the Salt Sand City Adventurers Association.

The association's treasury is still empty.

Since that day, the association has been arguing with the city hall and the nobles who originally contracted the demolition project of the old city. So far, no consensus has been reached, even the salary of last month, the budget of this banquet and the scheduled bonus , all of which were temporarily borrowed by the association from the Yansha City Bank.

During these days, the Minister of Finance, who had recovered from his illness and returned to work, would show a ferocious expression of wanting to kill each time he saw Ting Na. When the salary was paid at the end of Ying Muyue, the former person patted his shoulders and encouraged him, saying that he had done a good job and hoped to be promoted. As soon as Ting Na walked in front of him, his face turned cold.

Seeing that kind of attitude, the girl who was prepared for this month's salary to be forcibly deducted with various reasons, realized that it would lose one-third or even half of it.

But what was pushed to Tina was a check.

Special personnel of Yansha City Bank need to withdraw the check in person.

The number above is 1.

The unit is gold coins.

It was more than double the salary when I was a receptionist at the front desk.

At that time, Ting Na couldn't help but rubbed her eyes, looked at the Finance Minister with a cold face like a ghost, and then turned her head to see where the Saigon Sun rose today.

Later, Tina learned that the salary of a liaison officer is directly linked to the evaluation of the honorary adventurer she serves.

And Liliana gave her the highest evaluation.

Thinking of the lady witch who always had an indifferent expression, Ting Na came to the north side of the terrace with red wine and looked towards the north of the city from a distance.

Hills with swaying blades of grass at night.

There stands a castle.

There are cute witches and dolls living in the castle.

"Miss Liliana, what are you doing now..."

Leaning on the railing, looking up at the moon sky through the wine glass.

Soft Diana's moon, scarlet with dark red wine.

No one responded to the girl's confided words.

Seats for the banquet are arranged according to different departments. After being transferred from the reception department to the liaison department, Tingna spent a lot less time in the association. The only person she was most familiar with was Mary who handed her the information bag every day, but she was only able to exchange a few pleasantries.

The reception round table was a bit too far away and across the front of the stage.

Now the host on the stage is randomly inviting people around the stage to perform their talents and interact with everyone. If they are called on, such an atmosphere is not easy to refuse.

Thank you very much Tina.

"……so boring……"

Therefore, in a banquet with a large number of people, one person drinks wine and one person enjoys food, and the result is.

"... Mmm..."

--Drunk.

"Let me tell you, I am really convinced that a person can drink so much wine."

The banquet is over, late at night.

The law and order in Yansha City has not been very good recently, so every woman went home together. Along the brightly lit streets and patrolled by city guards, Ai Lifu supported Tingna, complaining in her heart why her apartment To be this close to this guy.

Elif and Tingna were not particularly close when they were working together in the reception department. However, when the banquet was about to end and Alifu, who was in charge of counting the number of people, looked at Tingna who was drunk and collapsed on a chair with no one beside her, she was speechless. No one has a better relationship with this guy than myself.

"Hehehe...Ai Lifu, there are many..."

"You can still talk... Unexpectedly, your drinking capacity is amazing..."

Although she was as drunk as mud, the girl's wine taste was not bad, she didn't fall on the ground to play or make a scene, and the young body of the young man who had only grown up for less than a year was not heavy, even if she didn't support her, she could walk by herself——

But letting a drunk girl hang out by herself is never a good idea.

"There are so many stars in the sky..."

"Yes, can Miss Drunk be quiet?"

Drunk Tina talked more than usual.

And, he kept saying:

"Liliana, and, and Miss Alice, turning around in front of my eyes—"

Or.

"Miss Liliana, girls, even if you are in your own home, don't wear clothes——"

or.

"Miss Alice, today is also very cute..."

In this way, meaningless words.

"... Tina, Liliana and Alice are... the honorary adventurers that Tina is serving right now?"

Alifu was a little concerned about the two names that repeatedly appeared in the girl's mouth.

That was indeed the name of the honorary adventurer who came to Salt Sand City a year ago, Liliana Einsteins.

——But who is Alice?

"Yes... yes oh—"

Tina answered in a daze.

"Is she also the one who brought down the old town?"

"Well, Miss Liliana, it's amazing..."

"Dare to use that kind of large-scale magic in the city, it's really powerful..."

Sighing, looking at this stupid girl who had worked with her for two months, who liked to say "life first, safety first" and used such stupid reasons to push out the order in her hand, Ai Lifu was silent for a while.

"Recently, it's better for you not to run over there all the time."

He leaned close to her ear and lowered his voice.

Many of the commissions rejected by this idiot have come into her hands, which has significantly improved her performance in those two months. This information...

Think of it as paying off the favor.

"That Miss Liliana may be a very powerful magician, yes...but she has done too much. The demolition project of the old city was contracted by the engineering company of the Lyons family, and she did it on the lips of the nobles. It is a matter of thousands of gold coins and the face of the nobles. The Lyons family will not let it go... Now they are still wrangling with the association and the municipal government, but in the end the revenge will definitely fall on that Miss Liliana On your body, you kept talking about Liliana Liliana..."

Because of the alcohol, the girl supported by her was sweating a lot. Ai Lifu stretched out her hand to comb the girl's bangs on her forehead, and unconsciously raised the corners of her mouth.

This stupid girl is actually quite cute.

"It's better not to be involved in that time."

"okokokok?"

The passers-by who passed by showed uncontrollable expressions and walked past Tingna.

"Ahh, it's embarrassing to be seen by a man you don't know. I hope you don't have to meet this man in the future."

Efru tugged at the girl who was about to slide off her shoulder.

However, the girl who was completely drunk didn't seem to listen to Alifu's words. She put her head on Alifu's shoulder and hiccupped at the colleague who offered her a helping hand.

"..."

Ai Lifu, who was sprayed with alcohol on her face, was silent for a moment.

"...Forget it, let's do whatever you like."

Decided not to talk to the drunk again.

The next day, the season entered early summer.

On Kannazuki's first morning, Tina woke up from a hangover headache.

"Mom—do you have any sober medicine—"

It was as if one hundred Robins were ringing the bell, two hundred Lachesis were beating drums, and three thousand churches were chaotically playing the New Year's bell on the last day of the moonless moon. These little figures from the fairy tales she heard in her childhood jumped up and down in Tina's head, tormenting the girl unspeakably.

"Really, didn't I tell you not to get drunk?"

"The atmosphere at that time did not allow me to do this. One or two came to drink with me, and I drank too much before I knew it..."

The mother sat by the bed with the hot hangover soup and looked at her daughter with a helpless expression.

"Oh? Is my daughter so popular?"

"Of course, I'm... Gulu... Mother's proud daughter."

Taking the bowl from her mother, she gulped down the somewhat spicy hangover soup, Ting Na mumbled.

This is of course nonsense.

But if she said that she was drinking alone and ended up getting drunk, my mother would be worried.

Even if you can't get through it soon, you still have to smile and tell your parents that everything is fine and there is no need to worry. This is also the duty of a child.

"Wow, it's delicious..."

"The water is already boiled, go take a shower, and ask for leave today. Ai Lifu, who sent you back last night, also said that she is so drunk, so she won't go to work today."

Handing the bowl back to her mother again, Tina tilted her head.

——Eleph, did you say that?

She clicked and there were only five Robins ringing the bell, ten Lachesis beating the drums, and three churches dang-dang as endless heads.

Last night, it seemed that the few girls who were close to him in the association sent him back.

She also seemed to say something to herself on the way.

It seems to be...about Miss Liliana...

Miss Liliana...

"Well...that's not okay..."

Tina shook her head.

Thinking of this name, and thinking of the girl with long hair that gradually transitioned from platinum to pure white, and black eyes that seemed to always contain bright stars, Ting Na felt a slight heat in her chest.

"You can't miss work. If Miss Liliana gets angry, this month's salary will be in danger."

At the banquet last night, I kept looking in the direction of the north of the city.

Surrounded by unfamiliar colleagues and unable to blend in, what he was thinking about was the girl in the castle.

—what is she doing?

—Did Miss Alice cook the supper?

——What experiment are you doing tonight?

Tina got out of bed.

My head is still a little dizzy, maybe I have a cold, but it doesn't hinder my movement.

"I'm going to take a bath—"

Opening the bathroom door, the girl fell into the hot bathtub with a clatter.

Surrounded by hot water, the smell of alcohol on her body was washed away in a splash. In the slightly narrow bathtub, Tingna slapped her feet.

Taking a bath in the morning is a very pleasant thing, second only to feeding those cute, lazy kittens in the morning.

But the cats had grown up, and the cat litter on the roof was empty.

Want another cat? Anyway, I'm free right now... Miss Liliana and Miss Alice, what kind of cat would they like...

When lazily soaking in hot water, thoughts fly uncontrollably.

——In the association, it is not my home.

Tina, suddenly realized this.

In the bathtub covered with cheap mosaic tiles, the girl no longer swayed her feet in the white porcelain bathtub like a child.

Although you can get a good salary, the people are actually very friendly.

But no matter who it is, they don't agree with the creed they have maintained for nineteen years.

For them, work is just considered work. Most people would not care about giving adventurers a commission that might cost their lives. When adventurers choose safer commissions, they will work hard to sell the ones with higher rewards.

Because such entrusted labor unions have higher commissions, their performance will also increase.

"...There is nothing wrong with that."

Tina buried her face below the surface of the water and spit out streams of bubbles.

The morning light poured down from the window, and the white porcelain bathtub was illuminated brightly, and even the bubbles that floated to the surface of the water shone brilliantly.

The Adventurer's Association is not a public welfare organization but a profit-making organization. There is nothing wrong with choosing the direction of making money, and those adventurers are not for adventure—at least most of them are not entrusted for the romance of adventure.

So, this is an option that benefits both parties.

But ah.

"However, I can't agree."

Tina couldn't agree with it anyway.

--life.

Only once, this extremely fragile life is the most important.

Tina has never read novels about people dying, because she knows that after losing their lives, the so-called fame, freedom, love...these are just jokes.

Great sacrifice, glorious devotion, these are just words that are arbitrarily dubbed by later generations and have no meaning to themselves.

No matter how disappointed you are with this world.

No matter how boring and tiring living in this world is.

survive.

Those who live strong will one day usher in a change.

And with change, there is hope.

Tina doesn't like those who talk about death lightly. They always talk about death, and death will become meaningless.

Tina also didn't like those colleagues who argued with her and said that the adventurers had already made up their minds. Awareness is not something to be said, but something to be done.

so.

"...Although I hate it, I still have to stay."

...Even if I understand that it is not my destination, I can't leave willfully.

this is the truth.

A gold coin and time to spend with family, these two things can overcome all the unhappiness in my heart.

The water temperature began to drop, the girl stood up from the bathtub, and took a soft towel to wipe her body.

In the foggy mirror was an ordinary body.

Normal height for this age.

This age is very common measurements.

This is a very ordinary skin at this age. It is enough to be proud of the fact that it looks hydrated as long as it does not take care of it deliberately.

However, compared to Miss Liliana's white milk-like complexion and soft baby-like skin, which spreads out smoothly with a flick of the hand, and long hair comparable to high-grade silk, Tingna deeply realized that, Own ordinary.

Although the height and measurements are won by this side, but that small body is far more attractive than myself, even Ting Na who can see enough almost every day, after such a long time, she will often turn around inadvertently because of Miss Witch , blushing from the movement of bending her slender legs on the sofa.

The same goes for Alice.

Compared with them, I am really a very, very ordinary girl.

That castle, however, was able to calmly accept itself.

Hmm... my head is still a little dizzy, it seems that I have soaked for a long time.

"...Phew, then, I'm off to work—"

"Bon voyage, if you don't feel well, don't force it—"

"Know it--"

Went out later than usual.

I hope Miss Liliana is already up, right?

Thinking of the witch lady who couldn't get up every morning and turned into a little milk cat who likes to stay in bed, Ting Na smiled slightly and quickened her pace.

"Ah, Elif."

When I took a large bag of materials from Mary in the Liaison Department and walked outside the Adventurer's Association, I saw Elif smiling and talking to an adventurer with a big sword at the front desk.

"Then, the fox fur collection commission, please come and pay before the first day of next week, please sign."

Looking at the power of attorney in duplicate in front of him, the man's expression was a little subtle.

"Ah, I will."

He was silent for a while, signed his name crookedly with a quill, then picked up the space storage ring that was given to the adventurer for safekeeping, and left.

The back is a little bleak.

After the adventurers left, Tina walked to Elif's counter.

"Good morning, Elif, thank you for taking me home last night."

"...Um, ah, it's nothing, is the hangover okay?"

Elif looked at Tina who was holding the information bag with a little more effort than usual, and put the parchment power of attorney into the drawer.

"Although my head is still a little dizzy, it's fine... The gentleman just now, what kind of commission did you accept..."

Looking at Ting Na who was smiling a little embarrassedly, "As expected" - Ai Lifu showed such an expression.

This child, still don't understand why other people are so indifferent to her?

"He used to be a member of the famous adventurer team [Wind Eagle]. He injured his waist in a commission half a year ago, and now he can no longer fight as a fighter, so he left [Wind Eagle] and returned to work. As a hunter in his old profession, the only entrustment he received was to hunt brown foxes on the hills outside the city... You can’t say that the life of a brown fox is also very precious, right?”

"Although every life is equally precious... But even the most extreme goblin will not dictate to normal hunting behavior, right? I'm not a saint, I'm just an ordinary person who puts safety first."

"Yes, yes, Ms. Ordinary, Miss Tina, who thinks the academy's magic apprentices can't even deal with a group of slimes, don't force yourself? That honorary lady adventurer comes to Salt Sand City for half a year, only a handful of times. It doesn't matter if you skip a few days of work, okay?"

Elif is almost tired of hearing this stupid girl's proposition.

"Ah, by the way, those students, did they receive that commission later? Slimes are actually very dangerous monsters."

"Yes, drinking it into the stomach may suck all the water out of the body. Don't worry, they haven't been to the association since then. They are probably busy with homework in the academy. That commission..."

Elif pointed to the entrustment wall in the hall of the association.

"No one has uncovered it yet."

"That's good...ah, I really should go, thank you for telling me this, see you tomorrow, Elif."

Ting Na let out a long sigh of relief, and walked towards the outside of the association.

"... Ahh."

Alifu watched her back disappearing outside the door in silence.

She still couldn't figure out what this girl was thinking.

"...I hope stupid people will be blessed."

At this time, another adventurer came in front of Elif with the entrustment letter removed from the entrustment wall.

It looks like today is going to be a booming day, too.

Deliberately straightening out the curves that are proud of her female colleagues, the blond girl threw herself into the busy work.

……………………………………………………………………………………

Everything in the study was the same as before, obviously it was only less than a day ago, but this quiet and simple room was nostalgic as if it had been a long time.

After greeting Liliana who just got up from the bed, Tingna also devoted herself to today's work.

But, gradually, she found that her condition was a bit bad.

Not only is the movement slower than before, but even the words in front of him are somewhat blurred.

"Oops, maybe I have a fever..."

"Is it because I was sweating because I ran to the association and here...or did I drink too much last night..." Leaning on the back of the chair, Tina pressed her palms against the on the forehead.

Does not feel hot.

Probably because, now my palm is also hot, right? There is no mirror in the study, so Tina has no way of confirming her current state.

But probably, the flushed face, moist eyes, soft feeling... right?

"That's not okay...uh..."

Is it because you came to a place where you can feel at ease and relax your mind, and the condition worsened?

Tingna walked to the bathroom in the study, turned on the copper faucet, and slapped the cool water flowing from the magic circle on her face.

The water flow took away some of the heat, and the mind that was rushing all the way to the bottom in the muddy direction became clearer, and because of this, he realized that his state was really not optimistic.

"Well, this time, it's really, really bad..."

Back in the study, Tina sat on the chair for a while.

She touched her back, sweating.

"Ahaha... You must never... hangover..."

"...Go to Miss Liliana, ask for leave..."

Talk to yourself.

Tinna, who realized that her consciousness was gradually becoming less clear just like Robin and Lachesis pouring paste into her mind, stood up from the chair.

Every step, the feet seem to be filled with lead.

The girl's breathing was a bit rough, and everyone said that colds and fevers deteriorated very quickly, really...

She staggered to the door, grabbed the handle, and pulled it open.

Not at all... not wrong... ah...

It's just such a simple action.

Even the strength to stand still was lost.

The action of pulling the door became the last straw that broke the camel's back. Tingna couldn't even hold the doorknob tightly, like a puppet with a broken string, her body fell back weakly and fell——

"...Miss Tina, are you sick?"

— into a soft embrace.

Leaning his knees on the vermilion carpet in the study, he felt a cold touch in front of him.

who is it? With such confusion, Ting Na raised her head slightly.

The vision that started to blur was reflected in a pair of pupils that looked like the night sky.

"Miss Tina? Are you okay... Well, the temperature is so high."

In the corner of the field of vision, Alice, who has black hair and black pupils today, leaned over worriedly, and put her hands on her forehead together with Liliana.

The little hands are also cool and comfortable.

—Ah, is that so?

Then Tina realized.

Probably? When he opened the door and fell backwards, Miss Liliana, who happened to be at the back door, hugged him, but he couldn't stand still, so he was pulled over and fell forward to kneel on the ground.

"...Excuse me, Miss Liliana, I seem to...have a fever..."

The barely squeezed out words were extremely hoarse, saying this sentence seemed to have exhausted all of Tina's strength.

"Huh... um... cool..."

She pressed her face tightly against the chest of a girl who was much smaller than herself.

The smooth and soft skin was cooler than ordinary people, and the cool and soft feeling made the girl's breathing more stable.

"……do not speak."

The witch blinked her black eyes, and put the floating plate beside her on the ground.

"...[This is the mysterious hand, this is the power of the secret law, and this is the arm to explore the truth.]"

"—[Hand of Mage Douglas]."

chant.

Around the girl, the light of the rainbow flickered. The magic power turned into an invisible palm in the magic circle, supporting the girl's body.

"...Alice, refreshment."

Using magic to hold Tina who was much taller than herself, Liliana glanced at the doll floating beside her.

"Oh, I see."

The doll wearing a black cheongsam in an oriental style today nodded, and picked up the tray of green tea and sweets from the floor.

The two came to the sofa in the study together.

Liliana gently placed Tina on the sofa, there was no pillow here, so she let the girl rest on her lap, and stretched out her hand to stroke her forehead.

"Looks like it's a cold."

"……Um……"

The girl who was half unconscious grabbed the witch's little hand and placed it on her forehead in a daze.

"……Well……"

Then, he moved his cheeks, as if looking for an angle to enjoy the coolness to the greatest extent. "I'm sweating a lot...Lily, what should I do now?"

The little puppet was at a loss.

She will not be sick.

Of course, I don't know how to take care of patients.

"...First, lower the fever..."

For Liliana, colds and fevers...

It's too old a memory.

The body of the immortal witch is not strong, but she never gets sick.

So much so that Miss Witch frowned her beautiful eyebrows, and struggled to find out the blurred picture in the corner of her consciousness, in her memory when she was still a human being.

Or how does one's mother take care of oneself when the human being is sick?

"...take off your clothes, wipe off your sweat, change into loose clothing, put an ice pack on your forehead..."

In order to reproduce the impression in her memory, Liliana wanted to stand up.

"...Well, don't..."

However, Tingna held her hand tightly, as if she didn't want to leave this cold and soft body for a moment, so Liliana had to sit down, feeling that this comfortable ice pack would not escape the girl, although her breathing was still a little short , but the uncomfortable face was much better.

……How to do it?

The sweat and golden hair touched Liliana's skin without hindrance, and it was a little itchy.

Looking at Tina who was acting coquettishly unconsciously, Liliana tilted her head in confusion.

"..."

Then reacted.

The purpose of these two things is to prevent the patient from catching cold again with sweat on his body, and to cool down the forehead.

Wouldn't it be nice to use magic instead?

As long as the result is achieved, the process is not so important.

"...[Liliana's post-bath drying technique]."

Chanting in a low voice, she used magic to disperse the sweat oozing from the girl's body.

"...【Siwa's Frost Wrist】."

A not so cold air gathered on the hand that Tina held on her forehead.

Although she didn't change into looser clothes, the coolness and dryness made the girl's expression more relaxed.

"Oh, it works..."

"...But, the most important thing is...feed the fever-reducing medicine..."

At this time, Liliana really showed a troubled expression.

There are all kinds of alchemy potions in this castle, but there is no medicine to treat diseases.

"Um, if the fever subsides... because neither Alice nor Lily has a fever, there is no preparation in this castle... Do you want Alice to go out and buy it?"

"...would cause a commotion."

"Hmm..."

Alice sat on the round table beside the sofa, her legs in cloth shoes protruding from the short cheongsam dangling, thinking hard.

"...Ah, yes, if it's Dongguo's Chinese herbal medicine, I know how to do it?"

"...Kampo medicine is... made by simple boiling, a kind of Eastern medicine...?"

Not only power, but also knowledge can be obtained through changing clothes?

The witch looked at Alice suspiciously, this was the first time she had heard of it.

"Well, I think it's probably okay. Lily takes good care of Tina. I'll go to the laboratory to find out if there are any materials for making antipyretics."

"... let's go."

After Alice left the study, Liliana lowered her head again, looking at Tingna who was weak and panting.

...Slightly, something is wrong.

Medicine is not Liliana's specialty, but a normal fever won't become so severe in a short time.

Silently singing [Interpretation], Liliana manipulated [Hand of Mage Douglas] to take out books related to medicine and diseases from the bookshelf in the study.

The reflections of daylight and floor-to-ceiling windows gradually shorten, and the pages of the book rustle in the bright coastal sun.

"...No, no, this is also...not right..."

But no book mentions a disease that exactly matches this symptom.

—Is it a new disease?

Liliana looked at Alice who was feeding Tina the medicine.

"It shouldn't be that coincidental."

The little puppet gave an answer without looking back.

It took a lot of time to boil the medicine, and after Tingna drank Alice's Chinese medicine, the girl did calm down and fell asleep peacefully.

But the fever didn't go away.

Even after a while later came noon.

However, according to today's Alice's [knowledge], this should be a special medicine for fever, and it will take effect within ten to twenty minutes after drinking it.

You can't be wrong, the symptom is a fever, but the reason...

It must be something else.

"Well……"

In the early summer of Yansha City, the noon sun has already brought a little anxiety.

The dazzling light caused the sleeping girl to groan, and twisted her body a little uneasily. Liliana put down the book and reached out to the girl in her arms.

"【May this dark night gently embrace you to sleep...】"

The low-pitched chant was cut off abruptly.

"..."

Those starry black pupils stared at the girl's dark shadow on the sofa.

Lost in thought.

………………………………………………………………………………………

"..."

When she saw the familiar yet unfamiliar ceiling, Ting Na froze for a moment.

The dim sunset light from the open floor-to-ceiling windows illuminates the study.

The ships returning to the port sounded their whistles and followed the sea breeze, announcing the arrival of dusk.

But.

Ting Na has not yet reacted to the fact that she slept until dusk.

"...Miss Tina, are you awake?"

The calm face looking down at him, just under the warm evening, took away his breath.

"Huh? Well, yes, yes..."

Even the voice changed.

"...Is your throat uncomfortable?"

"No, although I don't know why my mouth is bitter, but my throat is fine, it should be... I, have a fever and fell down?"

nod.

"Ahaha, then I'm really useless... If I had known, I wouldn't have drunk so much."

"...Drinking, it's not good."

nod.

"That's right, well, that's right..."

Although she couldn't see her own face from those dark eyes, Tingna believed that it must be a flustered expression.

——No, if you keep looking at it like this, you will really forget other things.

So, the girl tried to prop up her body.

However, the hand that was pressing on the soft sofa was still unable to support it, and the upper body that was barely lifted, after a scream, lay down again.

——! !

this time.

The softness of the girl's thighs, the faint, book-like scent, incomparably, incomparably vivid, reflected in her mind.

"... Li, Li, Miss Liliana, I, I..."

"...The fever has subsided, but my physical strength has not recovered, and I haven't eaten at noon, so let's take a rest."

"Uh, uh..."

Sorry to trouble you...

The sound was so low that I could barely hear myself.

Mothered by so many girls younger than her (seemingly), Tina felt her face burn.

absolute! Definitely because it's so embarrassing! It's not because of other, other reasons!

——But such self-comfort, even Ting Na herself didn't believe it.

"Uh, um...is it Miss Liliana who has been taking care of me? Speaking of which, what about Miss Alice..." To get rid of this embarrassing situation—at least let Miss Witch stop staring at her face OK.

Tina changed the subject in a panic.

"...Alice is going to cook."

There was no figure of the puppet floating in the air in the study.

"Yes, is that so, have you gone to cook...Miss Liliana, haven't you eaten yet?" The topic ended.

No, there is still the possibility of continuing.

"...It's the same as Miss Tina. However, Alice and I won't be hungry even if we don't have anything to eat. Tina didn't eat lunch, so she must be hungry now."

As if in response to the witch's words, the girl's stomach growled.

"...Indeed, I'm hungry..."

Even if he wanted to hide it, he couldn't do it. In the quiet study room, the protest of the empty stomach was so loud.

"...There are still some snacks left, I'll bring them here."

"Eh, um... Miss Liliana, please..."

Being gently hugged by Miss Witch, the girl reluctantly looked at Liliana's back because of the soft touch.

The soft curves slid down from the graceful swan-like neck, and the pure white long hair, which became more gorgeous as it got closer to the tip, swayed when the master stood up, brushing against Tingna's face, a little itchy.

"Gulu..."

This was the first time Tina looked at Liliana at such a close distance.

She swallowed unconsciously, and was overwhelmed by the pure and flawless beauty of magic and watched her standing in the shadow of the setting sun, bending down to pick up the snacks on the table.

The dim soft light covered the girl's figure with a beautiful halo, just like the beauty of the painter's life. In order to reflect this scene into the depths of her memory, Ting Na stared at her deeply, deeply.

Therefore, it was also reflected in the girl's pupils that looked like the surface of the sea.

"...?"

ominous shadow.

The dim twilight falling outside the window elongated his body lying on the sofa and stretched it into a graceful silhouette, spreading on the vermilion carpet. The black shadow was deep, and it flickered like a candlelight blown by the breeze because of the movement he wanted to prop up.

In the shadows, darkness squirmed.

Originally, Ting Na just felt that she was dazzled.

But immediately, the swaying black shadow climbed onto Liliana's slender ankle.

Like a snake baring its fangs silently.

Just like in an adventure story, a monster that would drag adventurers into their lair and devour them while they were asleep.

The black shadow covered the girl's calf almost in the blink of an eye. After crossing the knee, it left the girl's skin like a swaying vine or a poisonous snake with its neck raised. The moment Liliana turned around, it turned into a Countless sharp black tentacles——

"!!!"

Tina finally realized what she had seen.

I finally understood what I should do at this moment.

"Liliana——!!!!"

At this moment, Tina exhausted all her strength and shouted loudly.

At this moment, Liliana picked up the tray full of snacks and turned around unconsciously.

At this moment, the pitch-black sharp tentacles protruding from the shadows.

—Pierce through that petite body.

The world seemed to be stained with blood at that moment.

The crimson, warm liquid sprayed out from the girl's body, like a fountain of blood, dyeing the dusk with sadness.

The nectar of life dripped down, on the sofa, on the carpet, and on Tina.

The girl shook her head and lowered her head.

—scattered everywhere, dripped everywhere.

dripping, life.

In an instant, this study room with an ancient and peaceful atmosphere was right in front of Tingna's eyes.

Turned into blood and death——

--hell.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

In hell, the girl screamed.

The strength squeezed out of nowhere from her limp body made her fall off the sofa.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!!!"

She wants to escape from this hell.

However, she hadn't climbed out of the first step, just when she fell on the carpet and was about to stand up.

"...Miss Tina, what's wrong?"

From above her head came a flat voice.

"?!"

Tina's body froze suddenly.

She raised her head timidly.

I lost my voice.

"...?"

The bewildered witch was looking down at her.

"Miss Liliana...?"

"...Yes, what's wrong?"

"Are you... all right? Miss Liliana, are you... all right?!"

Tina almost jumped up from the ground.

Embracing that petite body, Tingna held Liliana's face in her hands, and then her chest, back, and those slender limbs... what her fingertips touched was some cold and tender skin, although it was not as white as a human being. ,but.

"No……"

Scary wounds that are constantly spurting scarlet blood, nowhere.

"there is nothing……?"

The girl's somewhat rude gesture made the platinum-blonde long-haired witch tilt her head.

Ting Na suddenly let out a scream and fell to the ground again. After calling her to stop, she dragged herself around and stroked her involuntarily, with an expression on her face as if she was about to cry.

It was her who was at a loss.

"The wound... I saw, I saw Miss Liliana being hit by a black, tentacle-like thing..."

After confirming with her own hands that the girl in front of her didn't have any wounds that could kill her in an instant, the power that came out of nowhere seemed to disappear all of a sudden, and Tingna sat back on the sofa in a daze.

"From my shadow, something black came out... Wow!"

"Ah, is this what you're talking about... Lily, it looks like this also has the function of illusion."

On Liliana's shoulder, Alice in a cheongsam blinked her eyes and pointed to the thing in Liliana's hand.

At this time, Tina finally noticed.

The thing that pierced Liliana in front of her "eyes" was in the hands of an unscathed witch.

It looked like a pitch-black, headless snake, which was being held by Liliana at the moment. The iridescent magic circle surrounded it, which seemed to make it very painful, struggling constantly in the girl's hands.

"He's still a high-level Shadow Demon. After absorbing so much magic power from Miss Tingna, he's still so energetic after eating [Return to Root], hey!"

Alice waved her small fist, and the iridescent stream of magical light shattered the twisting black tip like a snake.

Although after a while, a trace of black air flow re-formed the tip, but the one who got hit by the puppet... Shadow Demon? This thing Tina didn't recognize became quiet.

"...Did you absorb my magic power...?"

But just knowing the name can't help Tingna, who has never taken a class in the magic department in the academy, to understand what happened. The pitch-black tentacles went down, down, and then.

"……Eh?"

I saw the part where the tentacles merged with my own shadow.

It was as if a piece of that dark shadow had been picked up.

"...This is, Shadow Demon, a monster that resides in the shadows and absorbs the host's magic power to grow. Miss Tina doesn't know this, but someone probably planted the [Shadow Demon Seed] somewhere."

The witch tightly held the pitch-black tentacles, and the magic circle around her wrists kept turning, changing its shape, engraving one rune after another on it. Those runes Tina didn't recognize at all, but each one was changing iridescent The runes were carved into the pitch-black tentacles, and the deep black became thinner.

"...Okay, then, it's all right."

When those magic circles disappeared, the tentacle was already so thin that it was almost invisible. Liliana shook her wrist, it shook like a dead fish, and then remained silent.

Liliana let go of her hand, and the black tentacles slid down with a tug, and then fell into Tina's shadow as if melting.

"That's it, is it wiped out..."

Watching this scene, Tina was horrified.

"For ordinary shadow demons, those runes are enough to wipe them out, but this..."

Alice jumped off Liliana's shoulders, the little puppet stomped on the floor, hammered it a few more times, and then shook its head helplessly.

"This is a very high-level shadow fiend, probably a lord-level guy who actually used this kind of monster to make a shadow fiend...Alice and Lily, are there any undead enemies around here..."

"...Those enemies of Alice and I know that we are immune to illusion and spiritual magic..."

"Is that the closest enemy? But Lily and Alice haven't made any big moves recently..."

The topic started to drift in what seemed to be a very, very dangerous direction.

"Wait, wait a minute, Miss Liliana, Miss Alice, what the hell..."

Confused, Ting Na wanted to stand up, but it was only when her waist was exerted that she realized that her waist had softened.

She had no choice but to speak a little louder, interrupting their conversation.

"In the end, what happened..."

"……Um……"

"How should I explain it...First of all, Miss Tingna, do you know [Seed of the Shadow Demon]?"

Liliana sat down beside Tina, and Alice stood on the table. The little puppet cleared its throat and asked seriously.

Tina shook her head blankly.

She knows Shadow Demon.

But what is [Seed of Shadow Demon]? Shadow Demon is not a plant, where did the seeds come from?

"To put it simply, it is a kind of assassination tool made from a Shadow Demon with the characteristic of [Lodging] through special magical treatment."

"……Eh?"

Tina was stunned by the words that came out of nowhere and were completely incompatible with [ordinary] life.

"Darkness, assassination..."

"Because [Shadow Fiend Seed] is essentially a dormant Shadow Fiend, if you plant it in the shadow of the assassination target, it will absorb the host's magic power to grow, and after it grows sufficiently, it will find a chance to emerge from the shadow To kill the host, in this case, because the traces left are ordinary monster scars, it is generally considered to be unlucky to be targeted by shadow demons, which is a very expensive and insidious assassination prop. This is also the first time for Alice to actually see."

Saying that, Alice jumped down from the table and picked up Tina's shadow.

Like twisting a piece of cloth or silk, the shadow that was also thin in the fading sunset was twisted by the doll's small hands.

Tina felt a chill stretch out from the soles of her feet, and she curled up to avoid it.

But how can a person avoid his own shadow?

"Has that shadow demon been eliminated?"

"Shadow Fiends at the level of the lord are already unkillable monsters. Even if the true god wants to erase them, it is not easy, so it is a pity that it did not die, and it is still in the shadow of Miss Tingna."

Letting go, those shadows melted back into Tingna's shadow softly.

Seemingly thinking this was very interesting, Alice pulled the shadow one after another, and Tingna quickly bent down to lift up the naughty little doll today.

"However, Lily destroyed its [Wisdom] and engraved the runes of [Serenity] and [Slavery], and now it is harmless."

"Is it really not harmful? Besides, from what Alice and Ms. Liliana said, the target of the assassination should be you, why..."

--No relationship.

These four words were stuck in my throat and I couldn't say them.

However, Alice's expression was as if she knew it.

"[Shadow Demon Seed] can be planted as long as it is thrown on the shadow of a person, and it is difficult to prevent. But Lily and Alice hardly appear, and Miss Tina is the liaison between Alice and Lily, so it is easier to attack. Let's change the target to you."

The small doll looked at the terrified girl with a gentle expression.

But there was no apology in that.

"...Probably, what trigger conditions are set, such as the perception of my magic power fluctuations... Maybe it is because the shadow demon's growth speed has accelerated because of my approach during the morning tea, which makes Miss Tingna feel so uncomfortable ……sorry."

The expression of Liliana who apologized to Tina remained completely unchanged.

"In other words, my fever... and the scene I saw..."

"It's probably an accompanying illusion effect, but Alice and Lily are not afraid of illusions at all, so Miss Tingna is the only one who got caught..."

After listening to this in a daze, Ting Na opened her mouth to say something.

No, it's better to say that there are too many things I want to say.

Complain about why this happened to me, or ask why someone wanted to kill Liliana and Alice and when they were planted with that strange thing, or ask why they made me encounter this There is no apology for such a thing——

"Liliana, are you really alright?"

But in the end that was the only thing that came out.

"...Witches don't die with bare hands."

Liliana's night-like pupils contracted slightly.

As if surprised, she said something that the girl felt vaguely familiar to her.

"That's not a knight..."

"……no."

rare.

In her pupils, Liliana revealed a look of contempt.

It's like watching a parody of a copycat.

"... [Knights don't die with bare hands] is the origin of the phrase [Witches don't die with bare hands], which means that the more sure a witch looks, the more unprepared she looks, and it's the unprepared witch who Take a staff and a weapon in your hand to deal with various situations. In the era when magic was still unsystematic, witch and magician were basically synonymous, so another meaning of this sentence is..."

"[Magic is more reliable than any weaponry]."

"Yes, is it..."

Gained interesting knowledge.

But it doesn't seem to work.

"...Besides, Miss Tingna also confirmed that I am unharmed?"

"Say, that's what I said..."

The conversation came to an abrupt end.

Thinking of what I just said can be defined as an idiot... Han? Or is it a slut? In short, it was enough to directly notify the city guards of sending her to prison. The blond girl turned her head in embarrassment, not daring to look at Liliana's beautiful body.

Probably because I used my strength out of desperation, there were still red handprints on the tender skin.

"In short, Lily and Alice probably discovered the problem after feeding Miss Tina with antipyretics that didn't help, and made full preparations. Lily was fine? Compared to this, Miss Tina should be hungry, right? It's time for dinner."

Sensing the slightly awkward atmosphere, Alice smiled and clapped her hands, changing the subject.

"Uh-huh……"

This was Tina's second time having dinner at this castle, and Alice's dishes were still very delicious, however.

"...Miss Liliana, Miss Alice, what should I do next?"

—Assassination.

I became a tool to assassinate Miss Liliana.

The daily life that has always been taken for granted seems to have become another strange world at this moment. This place is full of terrible calculations and tricks, and the shadows of killing and conspiracy are everywhere. I am like a harmless little white rabbit who is bound to a bomb without knowing it. It jumps and runs to my friendly friend around.

be terribly upset.

As a result, Tina was not in the mood to enjoy the taste dancing on the tip of her tongue at all.

Under that pretended calm expression was uneasiness and fear, only fear and anxiety.

Oh, and a few more.

regret.

Liliana and Alice easily saw through this point.

"..."

Their words made the girl unable to maintain the calmness on her face, that kind of panic, absolutely not fake——

In the eyes of the witch, it is proof of innocence.

"...Alice, have we made any enemies since we came to this city?"

"Alice doesn't know. The number of times Alice and Lily have gone out in the past six months can be counted on the fingers. Although they have played some pranks to prevent those idlers from approaching this castle, no one should hate this place..."

"...So, maybe it's the latest enemy? When I went out last month..."

Tina raised her head suddenly.

A hint of panic and despair flashed through the eyes of the blond girl, her face was ashen.

"...Miss Tina, it looks like you know something."

Liliana raised her eyebrows slightly.

"...Yeah, I guess, I get it..."

Tina stammered.

Why and who was staring at me? When I started to think about this question, a voice came out from somewhere in my memory.

——[She did this to snatch food from the mouth of the noble. 】

Tina knows.

The reason was that the old city was razed to the ground that afternoon under Liliana's magic.

The demolition work of that huge urban area was contracted by a family business of a nobleman. The cost of the demolition was a very, very large sum, even a nobleman could not ignore it.

Although I don't know who it is, but it must be a nobleman who is powerful enough in Yansha City to win this qualification in the hands of many eye-catching opponents.

"Then, the old city is the largest gray area in Yansha City. There are many nobles there, and there are also subordinates who specialize in shady things..."

The more Tina talked, the more terrified she became. This was told to her by Ai Lifu, the daughter of a declining noble family.

Some nobles who promoted the project for the demolition money and the profit of building an urban area.

Discord with these nobles, because some nobles whose interests were damaged by the demolition.

The demolition project of the old city has been slow to start, in fact, it is because of the battle between nobles and nobles under the wine and banquets.

Now, the old city, the core of the struggle between the two factions of nobles, has disappeared.

The demolition money was finally handed over to the witch in front of him by the association as a reward for the completion of the commission.

The association will definitely ask for the money from the city hall.

Then, the nobles who contracted the demolition project will definitely not let it go.

In the end, because of the disappearance of the old city, the nobles who had been cut off by the city guards one after another because of their shady forces, it was hard to imagine that they would accept it happily.

"...Worst case scenario, is this operation planned by multiple nobles?"

Liliana nodded knowingly.

Tina was completely silent.

Liliana and Alice, both of them are very powerful honorary adventurers, and they just thwarted an assassination. After they are vigilant, maybe they will be safe in the future.

But what about myself?

Just a commoner self?

What about your parents?

Tina didn't dare to continue thinking about it.

Maybe the nobles can't do anything to Liliana who comes and goes freely, but.

I was born and raised in this city, I and my family lived in the city they ruled, and those high-ranking nobles, it might be easier than crushing an ant to make them unable to survive.

"...Do you regret having anything to do with us?"

"……I……"

The girl stared blankly at the little doll sitting on the table with her chin in her hand.

Liliana was sitting next to her, her black pupils made it hard to see what kind of answer she wanted to hear.

However, no matter what the expectations of this lovely witch lady are.

My answer may not change.

When nodding, Tina even felt her neck creaking like an unoiled rusted gear.

From the bottom of her heart, she was delighted to have met Liliana and Alice, who accepted herself who couldn't find a home outside of home, and showed her many interesting things.

Even now, Tingna can say without hesitation that this is the best encounter in her not-so-long life.

But what about the future?

Because of this incident, let yourself and your family suffer something bad, what will happen in the future? Possessed by the Shadow Demon, maybe he will encounter other bad luck in the future because of his relationship with Liliana.

When she was in college, Tingna saw with her own eyes a boy in her class whose neck was chopped off by an ex-girlfriend who rushed in during class. She knew how easy it is for human love to turn into hate.

——In the future, won't I hate Liliana and Alice?

She has no confidence.

Not at all.

"...Miss Liliana, Miss Alice...You guys, please leave as soon as possible."

The dry voice, it's not wrong to say it was moaning, probably.

"Even you need food and water, and you need to communicate with society. If this is the case, they have too many ways to make you uncomfortable, but Miss Liliana is an honorary adventurer, and they can't stop it." You leave, so..."

As she talked, she couldn't even listen to herself anymore, the blond girl hugged her head in pain.

Looking at Tina like that, listening to those words between truth and lies.

Liliana stood up.

"...Yes, there is no guarantee that they won't come to harass you one after another."

"Maybe next time Miss Tinna, or even Miss Tinna's family will be involved."

The little puppet floated in front of Tina.

Two small palms were wrapped around her trembling hand, and Ting Na raised her head in a daze.

The witch who took out a gray lace dress from the space storage ring was pulling out her platinum long hair from behind.

"Miss Liliana...Miss Alice...you..."

- what are you going to do -

Liliana gently stretched out her fingers and pressed them on her lips.

"Miss Tingna doesn't have the strength yet, right? Let's rest here for a while, and we'll take you home after we come back."

Alice smiled and floated in front of the girl, gently wiping away the falling tears.

"...I don't like being asked for trouble again and again."

Opening the window, under the stage of night and starlight, Liliana checked her face and looked indifferently at the girl who didn't know what to say.

That cute and awe-inspiring figure.

"...so it will be resolved."

It seems to turn back time to that night where the stars are equally brilliant.

Overwhelmed by the beauty, her heart beat wildly, but Tina opened her mouth but couldn't say anything. It was as if that indifferent voice turned into a scorching dagger and pierced her throat.

When she finally stopped hearing her overly beating heartbeat, the extraordinarily large and round moon had quietly climbed into the night. The moon hanging high in the sky on the first day of Kannazuki is Artemis representing love, beauty and hunting. It ostentatiously sprinkles the bright moonlight on the earth, announcing to the girl in the most direct way that this night is not that night. A night of reenactment.

"...I'm...what's wrong..."

The magic lamp in the study was flickering with a faint warm light, and the girl who couldn't understand the subtle emotions that had been welling up in her heart since the witch left until now was moaning silently.

He buried his face deep, deeply into his knees.