Volume 6, Chapter 1 – The Young Girl’s Watcher

Located in the western Silvar Kingdom, adjacent to the Lesser Aleian Sea, the city of Blossom was a metropolis with a population of 1.2 million. Although winter arrived earlier here than in other places due to its proximity to the Frostlands north of the World Tree Continent, for some unknown reason—which most attributed to the blessing of the elf gods and the protection of the Holy Tree—spring also arrived earlier.

Blossom was already brimming with the feeling of spring. Streets and rooftops were lit by the warm sunlight, and tree branches were adorned with tender green buds. People were airing out their clothes and bedding. Elf towers, pedestrians, and carriages could be seen everywhere in the city. In the distance, the Holy Tree—formed by countless giant, intertwined vines, soaring into the clouds with a green canopy stretching for several kilometers—completed the lively scene.

It was worth noting that while the trunk of the Holy Tree was still golden, its canopy, which formed the shade, gradually shifted from gold to a greenish-blue as it extended outwards. Coupled with the fact that the Holy Tree itself was translucent and did not block the sky or the sun, the current Holy Tree felt more natural and approachable, possessing less of the awe-inspiring solemnity of the original.

In the eyes of the nobles, this was a worrying change. But for the common elves, it made them feel warmer, creating a fantastical scene rich with a magical aura.

“Ugh…”

The moment her floating feet touched the ground, Nola’s face turned pale and she clamped a hand over her mouth. If not for her extreme self-control, she would have thrown up. Not everyone could withstand the characteristic disorientation of teleportation magic.

Although Nola had a good constitution, this was her first time experiencing teleportation magic. Furthermore, the teleportation distance was vast and the duration was quite long, which is why she was experiencing motion sickness. The feeling was just like someone who had never been on a boat stepping onto an ocean liner for the first time, only to immediately encounter a violent storm in the open sea that rocked the ship—getting seasick was only logical.

In fact, she was already handling it relatively well. Tilulu and Liti, on the other hand, were already vomiting profusely, holding water cups and handkerchiefs amidst the wry smiles of Claire and Anastasia.

“Ooh… So this is Blossom, the premier metropolis of the Northern Continent. A great city of 1.2 million people indeed, even the air feels so lively. Hmm—I smell the aroma of many young maidens. Dare I ask, Lady Calamity Witch, did you set the teleportation point in a women-only room?”

The Watcher, already accustomed to the feeling of teleportation, took a deep breath as she walked slowly around the room. Although her eyes were covered with a black veil, her movements were natural, as if she could perceive her surroundings through other means.

“No, this is my bedroom. The reason you smell so many women is simply because everyone living here is a witch. Anastasia, once Liti and Tilulu are feeling better, take them directly to the royal palace. I have to go talk to Friede and the others first, get a place arranged for the Watcher, and check on Laplace.”

“Yes. Your subordinate will go find a guard at once to inform His Majesty that you have returned to Blossom.”

After Anastasia’s confirmation, Fia looked back at Claire and Nola. Claire’s reason for returning was self-evident. The reason Nola had also come to Blossom was at her own request. Her own territory could function with just Ying, and in terms of military strength, there was no problem with the Wandering Knight present.

Regarding the pendant, ever since the Demon General of Absolute Death died, the Wandering Knight had been deliberately avoiding Fia. Fia, in turn, hadn’t immediately sought to settle accounts with the knight, as the pendant itself had no direct negative buffs.

First, the pendant had done her a great service by allowing her to discover Tilulu’s anomaly early. Second, if the Wandering Knight truly wished Tilulu harm, there were other, simpler, and cruder methods, such as assassinating Tilulu when she wasn’t paying attention. She planned to find the Wandering Knight alone after the Saint Alexia Festival and ask him point-blank what his purpose was in giving the pendant to Tilulu. Although she had already tested the Wandering Knight’s strength, this incident made her begin to feel that he was not so simple.

As for why Nola had to come to Blossom, it was mainly for two things.

First, to find merchants in the Silvar Kingdom who sold grain. Cold Night had just passed winter, and the people’s winter food supplies were mostly depleted. Due to the recent war between Cold Night and the Silvar Kingdom, the merchants who originally sold grain between the two countries had all raised their prices, with the export price for grain becoming more than ten times the original.

To resolve the food crisis, she had to find new merchants. Otherwise, relying solely on the grain production from the barren lands of the Fire Cat Tribe, people would starve to death by the time spring turned to summer.

The second reason was to seek an audience with the Elf King, hoping to hire a group of magic casters proficient in nature and earth magic at a high price.

Hiring magic casters proficient in nature magic was to improve the soil quality in Cold Night, making it more suitable for cultivation, and to accelerate crop growth. No race was better at this than the elves. In the past, the elves often sent novice magic casters to Cold Night, allowing them to see the world while also giving these poor novice magic casters a chance to earn money.

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As for the earth-element magic casters, that was for defense against magical monsters. Nola had previously told Fia that if not for Chazo’s scheme, she would have already mobilized soldiers to the region south of the Fire Cat Tribe, near the Weeping Mountains.

An unknown change had occurred in the Weeping Mountains. The monsters within had begun to riot frequently, harassing villages and even small cities. Because nothing like this had ever happened before, no one had built a defensive line there. She urgently needed earth-system magic casters to help construct defensive fortifications like city walls and deep trenches. Otherwise, relying on the beastmen to build brick by brick would simply take too long.

If the Silvar Kingdom’s earth dragons weren’t unavailable for rent, she would have even wanted to lease them to assist in battle. Of course, whether she had that much money was another matter entirely.

Nola’s gesture of covering her mouth made Fia raise an eyebrow slightly.

“Are you all right? If it’s too much, you can stay here. Go to the Royal Castle with Anastasia after you’ve rested.”

“No… No need. I have to quickly find a reasonably-priced merchant.”

“As long as you go to the palace with Anastasia, I will naturally take you to see my Father. At that time, forget reasonably-priced merchants; getting the magic casters you want won’t be a problem either.”

“Thank you for your kindness, but I… ugh… I don’t like the feeling of being given things…”

As she spoke, Nola, her face pale, almost threw up again. She knew Fia’s suggestion was reasonable, but she had her own considerations. Fia was helping her for Claire’s sake. She didn’t want Claire to feel indebted to Fia because of her affairs; it would only make her own sense of indebtedness stronger.

What Nola didn’t know was that Fia hadn’t thought that deeply at all. Fia and Yelido’s relationship was already so good they could gift the throne to each other; there was no sense of distance. This favor wasn’t even a trifling effort. Helping a beautiful girl just put her in a good mood.

Nola definitely qualified as a beautiful girl. Her lovely features, paired with fiery red cat ears and bewitching vertical pupils, made her the type to stand out in a crowd. It was cruel to say, but if an ordinary-looking person encountered difficulties, passersby might just spare a glance. But if it were a beautiful girl, people would fight over each other to help.

Fia shrugged.

“Suit yourself. I’ll have Friede arrange a place for you to stay here. They are all poor people with good personalities. They wouldn’t have become witches if life hadn’t forced them to. Don’t start any trouble with them.”

“It’s not like I’m some villain who can’t tell right from wrong. If all witches were like you, it would indeed be hard to hate them.”

“Oh? I’m surprised to hear such an evaluation from your mouth.”

Fia’s eyes widened in surprise.

Nola clicked her tongue, her voice laced with an unfrank impatience.

“I’m referring to things other than Claire.”

“That’s still surprising enough.”

After all, not everyone could compartmentalize. Hating someone’s habit or something they did, and then negating them as a whole—that was the normal reaction.

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“Well, I’m going to find Friede with the Knowledge-Seeking Demon General and the Watcher. Claire, say hello to Mother Yulisha and my other mothers for me in a bit—wait, I forgot to prepare gifts!”

“I prepared some in advance. We can just say they’re from both me and little Fia.”

As she spoke, Claire took out a gift box in a paper bag from her storage magic. Although it was impossible to tell what was inside, the exquisite packaging alone made it clear that it was not cheap.

“Th-That’s good.”

Fia, who had broken out in a cold sweat, instantly relaxed. She really didn’t want to return empty-handed, making it seem like she hadn’t given Mother Yulisha and the others any thought.

These gifts were either things Claire had brought back from Dragonfall, or things she had bought in Cold Night after selling items from Dragonfall. Fia had once asked Claire just how much money she had. Claire’s answer was that if she sold everything, she would be wealthy enough to buy a kingdom. Many of her possessions were priceless treasures that couldn’t be measured in money, like the [Cloud Moon of the Illusory Sea] she had given Fia at the beginning, which was just one of them.

…

After just a few steps down the corridor, Fia ran into a trainee witch in a white uniform. Upon seeing Fia, the trainee witch first trembled all over, then, as if she had seen a goddess, she screamed Friede’s and Lianne’s names and ran off, her footsteps pounding. It almost made Fia think she had something dirty on her face that had frightened the little witch.

And thanks to this rather energetic trainee witch, Fia’s group of three soon met with the black-mist-form Lianne. According to Lianne, Friede had gone to Byrne City to supervise the transport of supplies from Byrne City to Blossom. The Witch Sanctuary had deep foundations, and moving everything over was a massive undertaking.

“Lady Fia, have you just returned from Cold Night?”

The black-mist-form Lianne asked impatiently, just as she had invited Fia to sit on the sofa in the reception room. Even though Lianne had no expression, Fia could sense her joy.

The Witch Sanctuary must be doing well recently.

Fia didn’t actually know what the Witch Sanctuary had been doing lately. She only remembered Lianne saying she wanted to develop it into a complex that combined the functions of a merchant guild and a place for completing commissions.

“Ah, things in Cold Night aren’t over yet. I just came back to check on the situation and, while I’m at it, fulfill my duties as a princess.”

“I see.”

“On another matter, I have a favor to ask you.” Fia pointed to the Watcher standing quietly beside her. “This is the Watcher, one of the Seven Demon Generals. Like the Knowledge-Seeker, she has promised me that as long as no one attacks her first, she won’t harm anyone. She wants to see the prosperity of Blossom, and I can’t very well have a Demon General stay in the Royal Castle, so I was thinking of placing her here with you.”

“Another Demon General…”

Lianne made a swallowing sound. She quietly observed the Watcher, who was tall, buxom, and dressed in a white priest’s robe. Despite being a Darkborn, the Watcher, holding a divine staff, exuded a faint sacred aura. Her skin was snow-white, her nose delicate, her lips ruby-red. Her tranquil posture instinctively made one imagine her pure figure, hands clasped, offering a prayer to the gods.

“I can feel that Miss Watcher’s aura is much stronger than mine. But, Lady Fia, is Miss Watcher truly a Darkborn? Why does she have such a strong sacred aura?”

“Ahh~ That is because I cast aside my own tainted heart and offered my body and soul to the God of Benevolence! The Goddess was moved by my devotion and bestowed upon me pure magical power—!”

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As if singing the praises of the Goddess’s virtue, the Watcher, her eyes covered by the black veil, suddenly clasped her hands to her chest and replied with an exaggerated expression, her voice high-pitched and full of gratitude.

“The God of Benevolence… The Goddess was moved?”

Lianne was full of questions. If this hadn’t been a guest brought by Fia, she would have definitely thought this was a lunatic with mental problems.

The Knowledge-Seeking Demon General, standing to the side, coughed in extreme embarrassment.

“Ahem, Lianne, pay her no mind. She is not mentally sound. I can guarantee the Watcher is harmless. Her faith in young girls is… devout. After you and the trainee witches spend some time with her, you will understand what I mean. Your Highness, I suddenly recall I have something to tell Laplace. Please allow me to take my leave.”

Fia had a hunch that the Knowledge-Seeking Demon General probably couldn’t stand his companion’s performance and felt utterly humiliated. She waved her hand, allowing him to flee.

Lianne, who still didn’t understand, continued to ask.

“Is it because Miss Watcher offered her eyes to the Goddess as a sacrifice that she must keep them covered? Just like the blind women…”

“No! My eyes can still see!”

Still maintaining her hands-clasped pose, the “older sister”-looking Watcher denied it forcefully.

“You can see, but you keep your eyes covered—”

“That is because… That is because…!”

As if brewing emotions, the Watcher began to squirm. A blush appeared on her skin and cheeks, her breathing became abnormally loud, and her entire being entered a strange state. If Fia were to evaluate it later, she would say it was “being in heat.”

“It is to engrave the figures of adorable young girls into my heart! Ah~ God, please forgive my sins! In such a short time, I have witnessed all the beauty in this world! So many innocent, delicate flowers gathered together, protected by such a cold and powerful young girl! If one must endure enough suffering in life to go to heaven after death, then I am surely bound for hell, because I have already experienced all the beauty there is!”

“Ah… Ah…”

Lianne made an incomprehensible sound of agreement. If she had an expression, it would surely be a subtle one, her brow twitching wildly.

Seeing as the Watcher was a guest, and stronger than her, she still tried her best to continue the conversation.

“S-So… in other words, you cover your eyes to prevent yourself from seeing Lady Fia and her family, to ensure you go to that place called hell after you die?”

“How could you possibly reach such a conclusion!”

With a speed Lianne couldn’t even see, the Watcher instantly appeared in front of her. If she weren’t incorporeal, Lianne felt the Watcher would have grabbed her by the shoulders and interrogated her, staring into her eyes with a terrifying gaze.

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“I cover my eyes only to prevent impurities from entering them! As long as I cannot see other things, my heart will only retain the figures of young girls! Elves, beastmen, and Stellacryst Beasts—what a beautiful, wonderful picture! If they all slept while hugging each other, aaaah~~ Just thinking about it is enough to make me die from suffocation!”

Clutching her chest tightly, the Watcher fell back against the sofa, her face flushed, panting excitedly. Her whole body emitted a strange, honey-sweet fragrance. She was completely oblivious to the fact that her rounded buttocks, outlined in an alluring curve by her long priest’s dress, were pointed right at Fia. And not just pointed—because of the Watcher’s squirming, her hips were also swaying slightly, making one want to grab a wooden plank and spank them hard.

No wonder the Watcher had suddenly put on a black veil. It was because she heard they were coming to Blossom and would see many people.

This person is a true, undeniable lolicon.

Fia began to envy the Knowledge-Seeking Demon General. She should have left with him. Having such a companion was just beyond embarrassing.

In Fia’s defense, she couldn’t be blamed for being careless. For the past week, the Watcher hadn’t made a single disrespectful move. She either followed Fia around all day or followed Liti, Milu, or Tilulu. And as long as no one spoke to her, the Watcher would remain absolutely silent. If asked to leave, she would leave. So Fia had truly believed the Watcher was, as her name suggested, a watcher of young girls.

Now her true colors are showing. I have to make Liti and the others stay far away from her.

“Ha… haha… Lady Fia, you’ve certainly brought back an… interesting Demon General.”

“Lianne, I’ve decided not to have her stay here. I’ll hide her in the Twilight Palace, where no one will know.”

Letting this kind of person live with the trainee witches… I’m truly worried they’ll fall victim to her, one by one.

“Understood!”

Lianne replied with more decisiveness than ever before, as if afraid Fia would change her mind. She immediately changed the subject, clapping her hands to summon a trainee witch from outside, who entered carrying a silver tray.

On the smooth, square silver tray sat a round bowl. It contained a dessert covered with a layer of fruit and cream. At first glance, it looked like a cake, but Fia could faintly sense a chill emanating from it. Beneath the fruit and cream, there seemed to be ice.

“Lady Fia, this is a brand new dessert that one of our trainee witches discovered on the street the other day. We find it very novel. Although the production cost is high, we believe that with a slight improvement to the taste and targeting nobles as the customers, it will definitely be a stunning new product when summer arrives in Blossom. I want to launch this as the Witch Sanctuary’s first signature product, but I’m not clear on any taboos the elves might have, so I’d like to hear your opinion.”

While Lianne was explaining, Fia picked up the wooden spoon beside her and scooped a small amount. Just as she had thought, beneath the cream and fruit was a sweet shaved ice with honey and fruit juice.

Isn’t this the exact idea I gave to that street vendor back in the Milcandis Holy Kingdom?

Fia asked subconsciously.

“Where did this idea come from?”

“It was from a down-and-out poor boy. He heard this product was popular with nobles, but the nobles in the Milcandis Holy Kingdom have mostly gone bankrupt because of the war, so he couldn’t sell his product. He had no choice but to use all his savings to cross the sea and try his luck here in Blossom. We bought this recipe for five gold coins. It belongs to us now!”

Lianne puffed out her non-existent chest, speaking in a proud tone as if seeking praise.