Chapter 20: Witch Association
“Fishing for Liya… fishing for a small, soft Liya…”
With the main conflict clarified and the main goal set, Will began to ponder how to proceed.
How could he lure out a tsundere, reclusive, and possibly timid witch-cat like Liya?
Most importantly…
The bait!
He needed to find something that would make Liya seek him out personally.
Will looked back at Mr. S’s reply letter.
The thing mentioned inside…
“Witch Coin.”
He took out the coin he had picked up from his coat pocket – the thing looked valuable, so he carried it with him to prevent it from being stolen.
Upon closer inspection, the coin’s material was indeed unusual. It was light, but its feel and weight were close to that of silver coins issued by the Empire.
The carving of the witch wearing a large hat was lifelike. Even though it had been burned, it remained undamaged. It was clearly imitating the king’s head on the Empire’s coins, almost identically.
Except for that mocking smile.
Although its origin was obvious, it was still a thing he found on the ground. To be safe, Will decided to query Mr. S – as if he were an AI that answered every question.
“So that’s how it is, it indeed originates from the Witch Association.”
The Witch Association… this matched Liya’s background in the original work, confirming that this coin was highly related to her. It must have been something she left behind when she unleashed the Extreme Flame Meteor.
The Witch Association was founded five hundred years ago by Iaar, a witch skilled in many Ancient Magics. She had cleared countless Dungeons, causing unrest even outside the Dungeons. It was even said that she had transformed herself and her descendants to be immortal. In today’s world, she was a legendary figure.
In modern times, many people impersonate members of the Witch Association. For example, some claim they can solo a BOSS in a certain Dungeon floor, only to ditch the Adventuring Team when it’s time to raid. Others, who don’t know Ancient Magic at all and haven’t even seen Ancient Magic books, actually hold classes to teach knowledge and Experience, only to be discovered later that the Ancient Magic they taught was just modern magic recited in the Toumei language from the other side of the sea. Some claim to be descendants of witches, their children not aging, and engage in fraudulent marriages. Decades later, they face the sorrow of an elderly parent outliving their child – well, in this world, there aren’t many with black hair anyway.
These impersonators have given the organization a very bad reputation.
But Liya… she was the genuine article!
She was a descendant of that legendary witch from five hundred years ago, eternally youthful, with strong adaptability to Magic. Her mother also possessed a large number of ancient books containing much Ancient Magic.
They would not normally appear in the Human world.
Generally, they would find a mushroom house in the deep forest, live in seclusion, and practice their own Magic.
They possessed long lives, significantly higher magical talent than ordinary people, and their own unique set of Ancient Magics.
Therefore…
They were somewhat fearful of interacting with Humans. Interaction meant separation, fear of demands, demands meant bonds, fear of promises, promises meant returns.
But!
All these seemingly immortality-driven settings, when applied to Liya…
Only left her with tsundere tendencies!
In the original work, the male protagonist Xiu, as the support, showed her all sorts of care. Although she had a lifespan of over a hundred years, she had lived in the forest with her mother for so long that she had almost no contact with people and lacked common sense. She didn’t understand human common sense or financial management, and was constantly in a state of lacking money or being extremely short on cash.
The male protagonist in the original work cleaned her clothes and cooked her home-cooked meals.
—”Hmph, a support’s job is to do these things. I, I won’t thank you! Just do your work properly!”
He took her, who had no sense of direction, shopping and bought her suitable clothes as she grew a little older.
—”You don’t think I’d fall for you just because you did these little things, do you? You’re just a small support, and you expect the favor of this witch?”
He helped her see through scams and provided her with food and lodging when she was penniless.
—”Is that all? If they weren’t so cunning, I wouldn’t need you!”
Just like that, a classic tsundere, when encountering someone she actually liked, would subconsciously avoid them, even going so far as to verbally abuse them to make them stay away.
When the male protagonist first saw her, he thought she looked small and took care of her like a younger sister.
As their interactions continued, the male protagonist, who was somewhat slow and didn’t understand girls in the original work, naturally assumed she disliked him and thus distanced himself.
See, a potential loser, wasn’t he?
Returning to the present, why was Liya, who lived in the deep forest, at Entak First Academy?
According to the timeline of the original work, two years prior, Liya’s mother left without saying goodbye. After several years of letter exchanges, she disappeared. Liya was forced to take the few belongings from her mushroom house and embark on a journey to find her mother.
Liya was at Entak First Academy, also following some clues left by her mother – for example, an ancient book her mother had gifted to Entak Academy…
That’s right, that ancient book was “Ice Array (Attack).”
She wouldn’t be leaving Entak Academy anytime soon, giving him ample time to “fish.”
But… this Witch Coin, as “bait,” was too poor. It could only be used once, and it was too small and easily stolen.
Will’s gaze returned to the letter and the essential oil beside it.
“Blood Mint… Wait, Blood Mint, I remember now!”
Will had a crucial line of thought.
“Young—Master—!”
—Then, he was angrily interrupted by Iaar from outside the door crack.
“Ah… Iaar. G-good evening?”
“Look at the time! You’re still not asleep!”
She wagged her tail and walked in.
Then, she stopped, her eyes shifting between Will’s exquisite small leather satchel and back.
“Tomorrow, you’re… you’re going to school! You won’t be at home anymore, with a devoted maid serving you tea and water! So… treat yourself well.”
Why did Will feel like she sounded a bit sour?
“Mm. That’s right. If I can’t drink Iaar’s black tea, I won’t be able to study.”
“Huh?!” Iaar’s tail wagged even more happily, and her ears perked up. “Th-th-then… every day after school, Iaar will prepare black tea for Young Master.”
“Alright, alright.”
“And, at school… b-behave yourself, okay? Don’t… don’t seduce female classmates like your older brothers did and have them come looking for you!”
“There was such a thing? Don’t worry, I, Will, am dedicated to my studies, with a pure and clear heart, unswerving.”
“Th-then that’s good!”
Will raised his right hand, intending to pat Iaar’s ear, but found his right hand covered in bandages. He reluctantly switched to his left.
“Iaar, remember to train every day too?”
“Mm!”
Her tail wagged even more vigorously, and her ears twitched twice.
Will felt that ever since she blocked an attack from the Extreme Flame Meteor, she had become even more clingy to him. Peeking through the door crack like this had become more common.
Truly…
Truly…
It was great!
These skills were meant to be learned, ingrained in the heart, deep in the soul, becoming a conditioned reflex!
It’s just that next time, don’t make a sound when you peek. If you’re peeking, how can you be discovered?
“Then, Young Master, sleep early. If you need anything else for school, tell Iaar, and Iaar will prepare it for you.”
Tomorrow was the first day he would attend Imperial First Academy.
It was clear that it would also be the first day he could cast his fishing line and bait.
Will looked at the Blood Mint essential oil Mr. S had given him, snapped his fingers, and opened the drawer.
“Fortunately, I realized the coin was unusual early on and was prepared.”
Inside the drawer, a drawer full of…
Coins.
All of them were Witch Coins, identical to the one in his hand!
The witches wearing large hats lined up in the drawer, all baring their mocking smiles at Will.
Looking at these coins, a smile crept onto Will’s lips.
He took out a pen and made a series of modifications on Mission 39.
This was the advantage of writing his own system; if a mission was difficult, he could just change it.
“Hehe, Liya, that ‘clever little thing,’ will definitely come up following the coin. Little does she know, this master of fishing works in a tightly woven chain.”
He picked up a coin and then opened the bottle of red essential oil that came with the letter.
“…This is going to be interesting.”
