Chapter 24.5 – Leonhart – Part 1

Chapter 24.5 – Leonhart – Part 1

Currently, the Holy Knights are staying in Bit Village, listening to the villagers, and investigating the local plants, how they’re used, how dangerous they are, and so on. None of them have harmed the villagers; rather, they’ve only brought benefits. But the plants are so deeply woven into village life that one could argue they’re 「causing complacency and aiming to dominate」.

「I’ll go check how far the purification flowers along the river have spread.」

「Alright, I’m counting on you. …Will you be okay going alone?」

「No problem. …Ritter, just make sure you stay away from Witch-sama’s house, alright?」

「Yeah, yeah, I know…」

After the indecent remarks he made when he caught a glimpse of the witch bathing, Ritter is under strict orders not to approach her.

Other squad members take turns standing watch, but the witch mostly just plays with children and helps villagers with various tasks, too kind and well-behaved for suspicion. She even shows up with the children to bring rare fruits like 「fairy candy」 as gifts. The knights came ready to be wary, but everything she’s offered has been genuine, without a hint of deceit. They’re starting to feel guilty about doubting her.

「I get it, it does seem suspicious. But the more you look at her, the more she really does seem like a genuinely beautiful, kind, gentle person. If that’s truly what she is, then it feels awful to keep doubting her…」

「Calm down. Doubt is part of our job…」

「Even from talking to the villagers, all you hear is that Witch-sama is a good person. That in itself might be suspicious, sure, but it just makes you want to believe in her… Didn’t our former captain, Daon-senpai, say the same thing?」

「…Yeah. Daon-senpai really means it…」

Daon, trying to convince the others, has been carefully explaining the witch’s character and her contributions, speaking of how deeply he believes in her. His words seem to stir the conscience of the other knights.

「So, it’s pretty much confirmed she’s a witch, right? She’s definitely not a fraud.」

「If someone can make plants grow that easily, without even chanting a spell, that’s not something a normal human can do.」

「Then shouldn’t this investigation be done already? She’s clearly a witch.」

「We still have time left in the investigation period… At least until then, stay vigilant. …Once it’s over, we’ll apologize.」

That’s how widespread these conversations have become. From what the knights can see, the witch is simply kind, so much so that it seems suspicious only because of how excessively virtuous she is. Rather than calling it a village dominated by plants, it would be more accurate to say it’s a village living in harmony with them.

Meanwhile, Leonhart remains unshaken. As he walks upstream along the river blooming with purification flowers, he recalls his encounter with the witch.

(She’s definitely a good person, no fraud. She even saved my life… But still, why doesn’t she speak?)

Leonhart has heard her voice before. But none of the villagers have, and they all believe she’s incapable of speech.

There must be a reason. He wants to ask her directly, but opportunities to be alone with her are rare.

(Now that I think about it… she wasn’t affected by my cursed eye. Could it be…?)

Leonhart’s curse is powerful. Anyone who looks into his eye should be filled with hatred toward him. And yet, when the witch looks at him, her gaze is no different than the one she gives the villagers or that young servant boy, gentle, smiling. There’s never been a trace of hostility. …The curse doesn’t work on her. Maybe she is immune to curses. Or perhaps—

(…These flowers stretch pretty far upstream. If I go any farther, I won’t make it back before morning.)

The purification flowers, which the witch supposedly planted to cleanse the river’s pollution, extend much farther than expected. Leonhart had assumed they were just around the village, but even once the village is out of sight, the flowers continue.

Apparently, she planted them not just for the village’s sake, but to support the entire mountain’s ecosystem. The demon forest is full of undead monsters. If they enter the river, they’ll contaminate the water. If polluted water flows downstream, it affects everything below. The purifying flowers are preventing that.

(…She’s sacrificing too much. This goes beyond mere kindness…)

With that thought, he begins the journey back. Tonight is a full moon, and its light, combined with the shimmering white flowers and the reflection on the river, makes even a lantern unnecessary.

And then, from somewhere nearby—a scream.

Leonhart immediately reaches for his sword, suppressing his presence as he heads toward the sound. That’s when something strange flashes across his vision.

(!? A running Mandragora…!?)

A small, humanoid figure darts past. The flower on its head is unmistakably that of a Mandragora. That must be what screamed earlier. Tracking it with his eyes, he sees someone pick it up in the distance.

「From now on, you mustn’t make a sound. You mustn’t ever hurt anyone. Other than that, you’re free.」

That voice, he knew it well. There was no way he could forget it. Struggling to keep his emotions in check, Leonhart moved closer to confirm the speaker.

(…As I thought… the Flower Witch-sama.)

Bathed in the faint moonlight, the flowers adorning her body glowed softly. Her figure, lit by the moon, looked as beautiful as a blooming flower in full glory.

He stepped forward, as if drawn toward her. A dry twig cracked underfoot, and the witch turned toward him.

A smile floated on her face. She was always smiling like that. And once again, there was no hint of malice toward him. …His hypothesis edged closer to certainty. He wanted to prove it.

「Witch-sama… you can speak, after all.」

The moment he said it, her smile turned faint, almost resigned, and she quickly looked away, trembling slightly. Though she was holding a Mandragora, she clung to it as if for support.

It was the first time he’d seen her look frightened. This always-smiling, gentle witch, he could feel her fear now. …He hadn’t meant to scare her.

「Please don’t worry. …It’s alright.」

He softened his voice, trying to soothe her as he approached. He peeked at the Mandragora in her arms. Dressed in clothes, it didn’t look very monstrous. Mandragora roots can drain a little mana, so the clothes were probably to block that.

A running Mandragora. It was certainly abnormal and dangerous. But if it could be controlled, it would be a valuable source of medicine.

(So it really exists, running Mandragoras… But this one’s different from the one Ritter saw. Are there more of them?)

Mutated monsters, Leonhart recalled that even Royal Court Magician Nikolaus had conducted similar research. Was this one created by the witch? Or had it evolved naturally?

But when the witch came to the village, she hadn’t brought this Mandragora. If she’d created it and could command it, she should have brought it. That made natural occurrence more likely.

「…My voice, doesn’t affect you?」

Suddenly, the witch asked in a trembling voice. Her expression, tinged with confusion, confirmed Leonhart’s theory. …She was like him.

「Ah, just as I thought. You bear a curse much like mine, don’t you?」

Hearing the word 「curse」, the witch hastily covered her mouth. Her voice must indeed be cursed. That’s why she never speaks. Why she can’t.

She must have cried out instinctively when she saw someone near the edge of the demon forest, surprised to see a person there.

(…To think there’s someone else in this world with a curse like mine… What a miraculous meeting.)

Leonhart can never show his true self to anyone. His cursed eye turns all people against him. But now, he’d found someone, the only one, who wasn’t affected. …And surely, the same must be true for her.

(If I speak to her, I’m sure she’ll feel at ease. …Because her curse doesn’t affect me.)

He removed the eyepatch that usually hid his cursed eye. Even when he looked at her with both eyes, her reaction didn’t change. All she seemed concerned about was whether her own curse had taken effect or not—that, and nothing more.

So first, he explained the curse that afflicted him. And then, seeking confirmation of what he already felt certain of, he posed a question to the witch:

「Your voice, is it cursed to make people feel hatred?」