Chapter 66

「We do seem to get along. With you, Witch-dono… we even share a common concern, and I feel you’re easier to talk to than anyone else.」

That shared concern must be the 「curse」. Leonhart was under the impression that my voice was cursed to invoke hate for myself in others. Since I couldn’t let anyone hear it unless they were immune to curses, I didn’t deny it.

「Because of this eye, I don’t have anyone I can truly be myself with. So I have no one I can call a friend.」

That was unexpected. Leonhart was well liked. Not only by the knights, but by the villagers as well. Even Noel, who had been wary of him at first, now accepted him and seemed attached to him.

Kind, gentle in demeanor, and polite to everyone. A model knight who willingly throws himself into danger to protect others. That was how everyone saw him.

(Ah, but I see. Everyone respects him, but they’re not his friends. …Come to think of it, I don’t have any friends either…?)

Thinking about the people around me, I realized I didn’t have anyone I could call a friend. Noel, the closest to me, was my attendant, and the villagers revered me as 「Witch-sama」 but that was respect or worship, not friendship.

As for Nikolaus, it goes without saying. His attitude toward me had softened recently, but I was still someone he needed to be wary of. After all, it would be disastrous if he discovered my true nature.

In other words, I was floating alone. …That might be a problem. It was like I wasn’t grounded, like I wasn’t properly blending in among humans.

「And so… the reason I asked to spend time speaking with you like this… is actually because I wanted to become your friend.」

「…A friend…?」

「Yes. …There’s no one else I can confide my troubles in. And I thought that you, too… might be able to speak with me.」

He gently touched the eyepatch covering his left eye. To Leonhart, I was someone who shared his curse, so it was easier for him to talk. If he was hiding his curse while interacting with others, it must have been difficult.

So it was only natural that two people with the same burden would want to become friends who could share their true feelings.

(In reality, my 「curse」 is a bit different… but this offer isn’t bad.)

Between a suspicious witch with not a single friend, and a witch who even a knight would befriend warmly, the latter was clearly more human.

For such calculated reasons, I decided to accept Leonhart’s proposal.

「I’d be… happy to be your friend.」

More than happy, it was beneficial. By all means, I wanted him to spread the word that I was the friend of a harmless, kind witch with nothing to hide.

Hearing my answer, Leonhart let out a relieved breath and smiled.

「I’m glad. …From now on, please treat me well as your friend, Witch-dono.」

(Good… I’ve escaped being a lonely witch. Rather, thank you for suggesting it, Leonhart.)

I had been focused on blending in with humans while hiding that I was a monster, but the idea of making friends had completely slipped my mind. I had thought I was fitting in, despite having no friends at all, so I was glad he made me realize it.

Well, perhaps I was being a bit too calculating, but Leonhart was kind to me, and I wanted to be kind to him as well. Since this was a friendship between a human and a plant, it was only natural that it would differ from human friendships, that’s what I told myself.

「I intend to keep the four-leaf clover you gave me as a charm. …Having a friend wishing for my happiness, I feel I can return alive from any battlefield.」

(So a four-leaf clover has that kind of meaning? It’s kind of like a good-luck charm… like a frog amulet or something.)

I had given it to him without much thought, but apparently it served as a charm. However, it was just a normal four-leaf clover, it would wither soon. Wouldn’t that mean the luck would fade as well?

As I tilted my head, Leonhart hurriedly explained that he had pressed it into a dried flower and was carrying it with him.

(Even as a pressed flower, it’s still fragile… Ah, I know.)

Then I could coat it to make it sturdier. If I encased it in something solid, it wouldn’t tear.

「Do you still have it?」

「…Yes.」

「Give it to me for a moment.」

Though he seemed a little confused, he took out a small pouch from his chest, then unfolded a piece of paper inside it. The pressed four-leaf clover was stored within, but as expected, it looked fragile enough to break easily. That wouldn’t do for a charm.

(Resin… and a hardening agent…)

It was the same material I had used when making the table for Nikolaus’s inn. It would form a lump with properties similar to amber, so it should become durable.

I cupped the pressed clover in both hands, encased it in resin, and then handed it back to Leonhart.

「Should be fine now.」

「…I see. Thank you, Witch-dono. I will return to my friend, no matter what.」

He received the clover sealed in amber-like resin, closed his hand tightly around it, and held it firmly. I felt a little nervous that he might crush it with that grip, but he safely placed it back into the pouch and hung it around his neck beneath his clothes, which reassured me.

(Giving a charm to a friend who works a dangerous job… that’s something very human. And now I’ve made my first friend… today really feels like I’ve done something human-like, yes, I’ve lived like a human!)

Surely, I had taken another step toward becoming a kind, human-like witch. Satisfied, I took a sip of the tea Leonhart had brewed. …Noel’s tea tasted better.