Chapter 66.5 – Noel

Noel, whose life had been saved by the Flower Witch, took pride in living as her attendant. He wanted to support her and repay his debt for the rest of his life.

Though she possessed immense power, the witch had lost her voice in exchange and could not speak with others. However, Noel could somehow understand what she wished to convey, allowing him to serve as an intermediary.

(This is probably thanks to a beastman’s keen instincts. I’m glad I was born a beastman.)

Beastmen were a race that often became attendants to demonkind. Perhaps because of their shorter lifespans, demonkind tended to live in ways that often strayed from human norms, and beastmen, as a race, were better able to intuitively understand such behavior.

(I’ll stay by Witch-sama’s side until the day I die and be useful to her. …Isnt’ that fine?)

That was Noel’s only wish. However, as possibly the sole survivor of his village, he also carried the role of leaving behind descendants to carry on his bloodline.

Because beastmen had short lifespans, they rarely married other races. There were no others of his kind in Bit Village, and someday, he might have to go out and search for fellow beastmen. …Leaving the Flower Witch’s side.

(The time I can remain a child probably won’t last much longer. …I don’t want to grow up.)

His body was steadily growing larger. It made him happy to become stronger, able to be more useful to the witch. But becoming an adult also meant having to think about responsibilities and roles different from those of a child.

At night, alone in his room, he found himself thinking in circles more often in front of a statue of a goddess that resembled the witch.

「Goddess-sama… what should I do?」

The statue, modeled after a deity, bore a gentle smile much like the Flower Witch’s, yet it neither moved nor spoke. …This was something Noel would have to think through and decide for himself.

One day, the witch began increasing the number of purification flowers at Nikolaus’s request. He had heard from Daon that these flowers could not multiply naturally, instead requiring vast amounts of magic power.

It must be a burden for the witch as well, yet she showed no sign of reluctance and continued growing the flowers for the sake of people in a neighboring country. Watching her, Noel thought he wanted to become a fine adult who could devote himself to others like she did, and he worked diligently at his tasks.

The area around the witch’s house was full of plants, and the scent of greenery was strong. That was why he could immediately tell when a 「person」 approached.

(Soap… and disinfectant. And a bit… of blood, maybe even the smell of animals.)

Many people carried the scent of soap, but those who smelled of disinfectant or blood were few. Someone who cared about cleanliness, yet was prone to injury, most likely a member of the knights. And if it was someone visiting this house, it could only be Leonhart.

After calling out to the witch, Noel headed to the front of the house. Just as he did, the guest, who had been about to knock, turned around. As expected, it was the one-eyed knight, Leonhart.

「Noel-dono, hello.」

「Hello. Are you here to see Witch-sama?」

「It’s nothing important… I happened to catch a wild bird this morning, so I thought I’d share.」

「Wow, that’s a fine duck. Thank you very much.」

The smell of blood had apparently come from this gift. Leonhart himself might have had minor injuries, but as always, he smelled clean and fresh. The only time he had carried a foul odor was when Noel encountered him after he had been exposed to a monster’s poison.

People all had their own particular habits, and their scent changed depending on how they lived and what they ate. Among all the humans Noel had met, Leonhart was the one whose scent was the faintest. He must have lived an extremely disciplined life.

As Noel received the duck, the witch returned from the river. She carried only the scent of flowers, sometimes it even felt as though a flower itself had come to life and was walking. …Though that couldn’t possibly be true.

「Witch-sama, Sir Leonhart brought this as a gift.」

When Noel held up the duck, she smiled happily. Though she did not eat meat, she would drink the broth from it, and Noel would have the chance to cook.

「Witch-dono, hello. …I’m glad to see you’re doing well.」

When Leonhart spoke to the witch, his expression changed ever so slightly. It was hard to say how many others noticed this, but it was clear that the witch was special to him. …Just as she was to Noel.

At Leonhart’s invitation, the witch smiled and nodded. Accepting tea in the middle of work meant that, for her, this took priority.

(Could it be… that Leonhart is special to Witch-sama too?)

A sharp, prickling feeling pierced Noel’s chest, and he left the scene as if fleeing. Perhaps working would distract him.

But even after carefully preparing the bird, wrapping it in preserving leaves, and resuming the task of transferring purification flowers into pots, his mood remained heavy.

(I don’t want her to be taken away… that’s childish, and I shouldn’t think that. Witch-sama doesn’t belong to anyone. And besides… I’m a beastman.)

To Noel, the witch was someone special. His savior, his respected master, and the person of demonfolk he admired. That was precisely why he could never stand beside her as an equal.

…Beastmen were a race with short lifespans among humans. They could not live as long as demonkind. The adults had always said that beastmen must never fall in love with demonfolk.

(If I weren’t a beastman… no, there’s no point thinking about that. Because I am a beastman, I was taken in as her attendant and can be useful. I won’t forget the pride of my race.)

But feelings were not so easily controlled. His body was growing, and before long, he would no longer have to look up at her, he would be tall enough to look down instead. The thought made his heart race a little. Yet it was also proof that his flow of time differed from hers.

…So this feeling must be temporary, like a passing illness. Someday it would fade, and he would be able to swallow it down.

「Noel-dono, thank you for your hard work. …Before I take my leave, I thought I’d greet you as well.」

「Sir Leonhart…」

After spending some time with the witch, Leonhart came to say a word before leaving. His sincerity, even toward a child, was why he was respected by villagers and fellow knights, and likely why, among humans aside from Nikolaus, the witch was closest to him.

「I thought so earlier, but you’ve grown again.」

「Yes, I’m a beastman… I think I’ve entered a growth spurt. I’ll grow quickly… and before long…」

Noel trailed off and lowered his gaze, thinking that his lifespan was probably shorter than even Leonhart’s. The knight stepped closer and crouched in front of him. Before, their eyes would have met at that height, but now Noel was looking down at him. That alone proved how much he had grown.

「Witch-dono is demonkind, so she is different from us. …Even so, she must treasure the time she spends with you now. And besides, it seems she would be troubled without you, Noel-dono.」

「…Without me?」

「Yes. She tried to prepare tea, but she seemed a bit flustered.」

Normally, Noel handled tea and meals, and the witch never used the kitchen. She probably didn’t even know where the utensils were.

Imagining her tilting her head in confusion, a rare sight for someone who always carried herself with calm composure, Noel smiled a little. …It seemed he had become part of her daily life.

「I’m glad. It looks like you’ve cheered up a bit. …I was worried I might have caused a misunderstanding earlier.」

「…Um…」

「I’m the same as you. I simply wish to devote myself to supporting her. …I may not always be able to return, but I intend to do what I can as a knight until the very end.」

…It seemed Noel had misunderstood. He had thought Leonhart was someone special to the witch, after all, they had arranged to share tea despite her inability to speak. But that wasn’t the case. Because from the witch’s perspective, neither Leonhart nor Noel could share her time.

And above all, as a knight, Leonhart might lose his life at any moment. Perhaps even sooner than Noel. That was the meaning behind his words.

「…I’ll do everything I can for Witch-sama too, until the very end.」

「Then we are comrades. …Let’s do our best together.」

Leonhart stood and gently extended his fist. Noel lightly bumped his own against it, and as motivation welled up inside him, his tail began to sway.

「Then I’ll head back to Witch-sama!」

「Yes. Until next time.」

He was seen off with a smile and returned to the house with light steps. When he opened the door, the witch was holding a pot and tea leaves, smiling warmly at him. …Perhaps she had been waiting, hoping Noel would come back and make the tea.

「Shall I brew some tea?」

She nodded with a gentle smile. …It seemed Noel was needed by the witch. And that made him feel proud, and happy.