VIP Chapter 432: This is… the Witch of Five Hundred Years Later? (4k)
“If I have to tell you the truth, the Witch… was merely a life I created for a long and arduous experiment.”
“Experiment!?”
Of the three people present, Iaar was the most shocked to hear these words.
Conversely, Ya’er observed the expressions of Will and Liya. Liya, whom she expected to be extremely shocked, even disappointed to the point of rejection, was surprisingly “calm” at this moment.
Will, on the other hand, stood aside as if this matter had nothing to do with him.
“Yes. It was indeed an experiment, and an experiment whose results are difficult for even me to predict at this point. *Hmph hmph*, you two seem to find this quite ordinary.”
“If it’s you, it doesn’t seem like something you wouldn’t do. To be honest, in the legends of ordinary humans, Witch Ya’er has done too many outrageous things.”
Will spread his hands and shook his head.
“Then, what about you, who has always called yourself ‘junior’?”
Ya’er acknowledged Will’s answer and turned to Liya. Liya lowered her head, as if deep in thought. Finally, after much hesitation, she spoke—
“Perhaps, for us now… the current Witches, are no longer a race that necessarily needs to exist because of Ya’er. So, hearing this doesn’t make me feel too sad.”
She spoke softly.
“It’s just, Ya’er. If it was an experiment— as a Witch of today, the race that is most fervent about magic research, most enthusiastic about magic experiments, and most interested in magic history, I want to know…”
Her red eyes met Ya’er’s.
Ya’er’s eyes five hundred years ago were not red. In that aged portrait, her small eyes hidden within thick wrinkles were a very ordinary, bright blue, even clouded with age.
But…
The current Ya’er, having been infected by the Fire Dragon and turned into a “Dragon Girl,” had eyes the same red as the Fire Dragon, beneath her pair of dragon horns.
The two pairs of red eyes met, like a fated encounter five hundred years later.
In this gaze, Liya spoke:
“What was this experiment for? As a Witch, after hearing it, all I want to know is the result.”
“Eh eh eh?! Liya, you actually think like that?!”
Iaar was extremely shocked by Liya’s question.
“Wouldn’t it be more apt to say, as expected of Liya?”
Will, standing beside them, showed a relieved smile.
“Instead of lamenting your identity as an experimental subject, you’d rather know the experimental results? This makes me feel that you are indeed somewhat like my descendant.”
“What’s wrong with being an experimental subject? Although I rarely conducted experiments on living subjects, every experimental subject in a potion is exceptionally important in its bottle and must be treated well.”
“Just as Goddess Reviers created the God-Attuned to perpetuate the personalities within the Dungeon. I merely wanted to create a race that could uphold my dream, one that would defeat me again and again, and thus obtain the contents of Ancient Magic.”
“…!”
Liya’s eyes widened as she listened, as if suddenly enlightened.
“As for why it’s you people now, it’s because at that time, I was trying to create creatures similar to Dungeon monsters. So, I dragged out a certain monster from a Dungeon, dissected its Magic circuit a bit, and then tried to fuse it with the child I was cultivating with my own body…”
“…Ah?!”
Liya regretting her earlier enlightenment, felt a hint of nausea. She covered her mouth.
“No wonder… this person was universally hated five hundred years ago… as a Witch.”
Iaar’s mouth twitched.
“The first red-eyed little girl I created, imbued with the advantages of that monster’s Magic Circuit, seemed to not age. However, considering that this bloodline might weaken with each generation of reproduction, I ultimately decided it was best for her to maintain a juvenile form and added a layer of age lock. After all, humans don’t have sexual desires as children, right?”
“Er…”
Up until now, Will had felt detached, but now he felt like he had been shot by Ya’er’s words.
No wonder in legends, Ya’er was still “young,” but in modern times, all Witches had become short stature— it was this original Witch’s doing!
“Then, I tasked those initial ten people— with their varied magical attributes, it should have been difficult for them to encounter a troublesome Dungeon Emperor. I left these ‘Witches’ a mission: to find me, kill me, obtain the next coordinates, and then repeat the cycle.”
“I… I kind of regret you telling me this.”
Liya’s face was a little pale.
Even though she was properly born now, the thought of her ancestors being born in such a manner made her feel uneasy.
“Mmm… that kind of monster, wouldn’t it be… one that particularly likes to eat Blood… Blood Mint?”
Will raised his hand, cautiously posing the question.
“Eh? How would you know? At that time, we called it… called it ‘Chong Chong Ma’. It especially liked to eat Blood Mint— and this stuff was everywhere. This monster had very high magic adaptability; whatever you used to attack it, it would take on that attribute. It was troublesome as a monster, but quite excellent as an experimental subject.”
Will glanced at Liya.
He thought, “Case closed.”
It’s just that his own bloodline being that of a herbivore always felt a bit strange.
“Then… it’s my turn to ask the third question, right?”
Will raised his hand again.
“Yes. Ask away.”
“…If you can’t answer, don’t force yourself. I… what I want to know is… what is at the very depths of the Dungeon?”
“…”
Unexpectedly, Ya’er fell silent at this question, unlike before, not giving an immediate answer.
“As expected, it can’t be answered…”
“No, rather than saying it can’t be answered. It’s more like, I’m contemplating the meaning of this question.”
“…Eh?”
“Because, knowing what exactly lies at the deepest part of the Dungeon might be meaningless.”
“Isn’t the secret of the Dungeon’s depths something every Adventurer, no… not even just Adventurers, but everyone in this world wants to know?”
Iaar spoke up.
Although she was the one with the lowest level of education among them, having not undergone systematic learning and not having mingled with the proper circles of Adventurers, she was well aware of how great a “temptation” it was for Dungeon exploration to know the secrets of its deepest levels.
“…”
Even Will, who had always thought he understood this basic setting perfectly from reading the original work, fell silent.
“If I had to say, it’s because of something in a book that has existed with me since my birth… but there are some things in it that I really want to share with… my juniors.”
Ya’er paused slightly.
Compared to her earlier belief that Witches couldn’t have descendants, and that the current Witches were definitely not her descendants, it seemed she had slightly changed her mind after talking with Liya.
“What kind of book is that?”
“Let’s get out of here for now, and I’ll show you.”
“Wait, didn’t you say there was a certain probability of disappearing if you leave—”
Before Will could finish speaking, Ya’er had already pushed open the door, her hand extending outside.
As she expected, there was no sign of her disappearing, nor any adverse reaction.
“I should have remembered. When I first conducted experiments, I captured live monsters from the Dungeon. And… even after that Dungeon disappeared, the monsters didn’t.”
Ya’er, somewhat annoyed, twirled her hair.
Her long, curly hair was a bit of a nuisance.
Then, lifting her slightly long robe, she stepped through the door.
“Perhaps, in the first place, the Dungeon and the outside world are not as ‘distinct’ as everyone imagines. Taking this step… there should definitely be no problem.”
“Dear… um, should we follow as well?”
Iaar leaned on Will’s shoulder, poking her head out to look. She had never been to a Witch’s territory and seemed a bit worried.
“It’s alright, follow her.”
“Yes. Besides… this is my home, don’t act like you’re entering a demon’s den and are scared!”
Liya patted Iaar’s back, as if pushing her forward, and nudged her toward the door.
“Hey, hey, hey, a Witch’s lair is itself a demon’s den—!”
Iaar, who had come out of the door, was naturally unharmed.
She was still shouting from where she stood.
“Speaking of which, didn’t you guys tell me before that this was a door only Witches could pass through, and that it was because I had Witch blood?”
“That doesn’t seem to be the case now. Rather than a door only Witches can pass through…” Liya looked at the scratching Iaar, “It’s more like, before her, no one outside of possessing Witch blood had ever walked through it.”
The three returned to the Witch’s lair in the “mezzanine” located somewhere in the middle of an unknown Dungeon, standing before the mushroom hut.
And the fourth person…
Ya’er, who had entered first, stood in the very center of the entire lair, turning her head, constantly surveying the mezzanine space.
She didn’t show particular surprise, but she did seem somewhat “excited.” She kept turning in the space, observing the entire panorama of the place.
Then…
On her face, which rarely showed any strong emotions due to having experienced too much, a rare smile appeared.
“…Filled with the aura of magic, and not just Ancient Magic. Modern magic… fusion magic… all sorts of magic are present.”
“Hmph. And various items created based on your interpretations of Ancient Magic that you gave us.”
Liya walked forward and patted her ancestor’s back.
When she was still that dragon, she had already become good friends with Ya’er. Now, she was more willing to act as a “friend,” treating her as casually as bringing her home.
“This is… the achievements of Witches over the past five hundred years?”
“More than just that.” Liya quickly interrupted her感慨, “Lis has almost all the Ancient Magic you interpreted. I can take you to see it now.”
Liya smiled.
“Hmph hmph, isn’t this quite like… uh… when a student under a teacher completes their project and submits it for review, only to find… wow, this graduate student is incredible, achieving something far more impressive than I originally expected?”
As she spoke, her eyes kept drifting towards Will.
“Heh, right, Teacher Liya, isn’t that exactly me you’re talking about?”
Will stepped forward, snapped his fingers, and shamelessly admitted it all.
“Yes, yes… that’s you. Of course, the achievements our Witches have created in these five hundred years are far greater than your graduation thesis back then!”
“Hey, hey, you were the one who said my graduation thesis could be directly used as part of the research on Witch Ancient Magic, weren’t you?”
“Exactly, exactly! Dear, your thesis is definitely the best!”
“Hmph, if you’re willing to work here at the Witch’s for another hundred years and obsess over your graduation thesis, then you might indeed reach that achievement.”
“A… hundred years…?!” Iaar looked at her fingers, did a quick calculation, and then grabbed Will’s arm, “Then… that’s definitely not possible!”
“Ahaha, perhaps it’s not impossible.”
“…Five hundred years. Yes, five hundred years have passed. Although for me it was almost a blank slate, for you it was… a very long time.”
Ya’er was still examining this small space.
For the era she lived in, creating such a space within a Dungeon was extremely rare.
“You don’t have five hundred years of memories?”
Will inquired.
“As a BOSS, my memories are mostly fragmented. Not to mention the memories of the various Loot I’ve given away, those are non-existent.”
Ya’er shook her head.
She slowly recalled.
Actually, when she was on the verge of death, driven by the desires of the “God-Attuned,” she had jumped into the Dungeon just to gamble on being reborn here…
She never imagined that this “experiment” would reach this point.
This vibrant “world” of Witches, built by her unintended experimental subjects, was like a willow branch she had casually planted, now flourishing.
“Ya’er… senior.” Liya leaned beside her, seemingly sensing her distracted thoughts, “As said before, this is all thanks to you.”
“My…”
“Without you being defeated time and time again, having your personality reset repeatedly, and reappearing as a BOSS, there would be no later generations here.” Liya smiled, “In a sense, this is also the charm of the Dungeon… isn’t it?”
“So, Miss Ya’er, what was it you were going to show us earlier?”
Iaar came closer, still focused on her initial curiosity about this matter.
“Oh, speaking of that, it’s something quite simple.”
Ya’er rummaged inside her sleeve. To everyone’s surprise, she finally pulled out a black-bound book.
This book had a cover that looked like those of various Ancient Magic tomes, but it didn’t quite resemble them. Perhaps it was because it was so thick; even the most profound Ancient Magic rarely had such thickness.
“This book, in fact, is the only book I could partially decipher its contents when I cleared the Dungeon called ‘Library’.”
She held up the book.
A book that seemed to have been with her for a very, very long time, even somewhat worn, she protected it dearly.
“It was with the content of this book that I found the corridor, understood the meaning of the portraits within the corridor, and began the most insane experiment with my own death as a variable.”
“With it… found the corridor?”
Will murmured the word.
Then, he looked up at the book.
Its title was unadorned…
“With each instance of becoming a BOSS, the readable portions of this book also increased bit by bit. And it also told me how to calculate the next Dungeon appearance. Until now… it is fully readable.”
Ya’er paused and flipped open the first page.
The black cover removed, its title was even more prominent and unhidden—
*Dungeon (Tentative) Construction Plan*
Authored by: Reviers.
