I was almost tricked by a Sea Dragon Tribe youth I met on the beach.
Once again, the quiet returned to the sandy beach at night.
“I, I’ll sign the contract. Is that okay?”
“Ah, that’s fine. Then please wait a moment while I come up with the details.”
Sharin turned to me, catching her breath.
“What was that guy? Why did this happen all of a sudden? What kind of contract is it?”
I told Sharin about my exchange with the Sea Dragon Tribe youth. Honestly, this whole thing was my own misunderstanding. I was flustered, unable to find a solution. We were all about to lose our lives.
“He said it was in exchange for vitality.”
“Ah, yes, he said resting would heal it.”
While we were talking, the youth in front of us neatly arranged the documents with practiced skill.
“Well then, what is your wish?”
“Make the contract Arisugawa made with you invalid.”
He added Sharin’s wish to the document.
“Nullifying a contract, huh? The price… let’s see. This will be quite expensive. Come to think of it, you’re a strange group. It’s good that different races get along, but I’ve never seen so many different races together. And you’re all girls.”
He said this and began to look everyone over as if appraising them.
“By the way, are you all virgins?”
Nina’s anger flared at the sexually harassing remark.
“Why do I have to tell you that? Let’s just do it all at once.”
“Ah, ah, you can’t beat us. That’s right, the price is your voice. I really want that energetic heart, though. A virgin’s voice holds magical power, doesn’t it?”
A virgin’s voice? I didn’t know why that would be necessary, but I couldn’t let that happen. This was just like a fairy tale I had heard somewhere. A witch who stole a merman’s voice in exchange for legs.
“Isn’t money okay?”
“What you have is negligible. Don’t you have something better? Blood is fine too.”
What a vulgar guy. But I couldn’t let everyone get hurt because of me. I don’t know who he is or why he’s here, but can’t I persuade him somehow?
“We’re chasing Dark Elves. If we don’t reach them first…”
“Ah, yes, yes, Dark Elves are a big problem. But it’s none of my business. Dark Elves can’t swim. And if necessary, I can just escape to hell.”
Hell? Did this youth come from hell? And can you really go there so easily?
“Who exactly are you? How do you go to hell? Aren’t there demons everywhere? We’ve fought them before, and they were tough. We even went to the Dark Religion, but it’s not that easy to go…”
As soon as he heard me, his expression changed.
“What? The Dark Religion? Hmm, I see. Well, you’ve piqued my interest a little. My name is Diepser, and everyone calls me the Witch of the Deep. I have abilities a bit different from humans, and I can grant special wishes. Like love potions, for example.”
So, in exchange for a high price, he grants wishes that normally wouldn’t come true.
“And if they can’t pay the price?”
“Of course, I take their souls. That’s the most profitable.”
The Witch of the Deep grinned.
