Volume 3 Chapter 32 The Messenger From The Port City Châtillon II
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Are you talking about a sister named Renaud?”
Speaking of Renaud, one envisions a towering figure with dark hair and a bushy beard.
Even if he were to don women’s attire and sport 2 braids, he would hardly be mistaken for a lady.
Next to him, Natra furrowed her brow, confusion etched across her features.
”Has Lord Renaud undergone a transformation? What a surprise!”
”No way! Are you serious, milady?”
”Of course, I’m just joking.”
”Then quit with the unnecessary theatrics. It’s far too confusing. Hey Master, that’s not our Lord Renaud coming through the door.”
Rufna, who was hunched over the table shuffling cards with a rapid clatter, perked up her pointed ears.
Being a dark elf, she could detect the magic power and scent of the visitor brought by Moimoi.
(Then who on earth has arrived…?)
Lost in thought, he stood and waved at the petite server, Moimoi.
Her youthful face brightened beneath the hood as she exclaimed, “Oh, there she is!”
”Kian is over there at that table!”
”Thank you, adorable server.”
She responded to Moimoi, who had looked back over her shoulder as she spoke.
A moment later, the sharp sound of heels striking the cobblestones echoed through the air.
”────”
”…?”
The patrons boisterously drinking at nearby tables and the men engrossed in their card games turned their gazes toward the entrance.
The figure that emerged exuded an unmistakable aura of otherness.
”Good day to you.”
The voice, calm and resonant, belonged to a woman standing in the doorway.
She was clad entirely in a black dress, her face obscured by the wide brim of a pointed hat.
Only her silvery hair and a beautifully framed youthful visage peeked out from beneath.
Her lips, lightly stained with rouge, possessed a stunning beauty that could steal one’s breath.
(A witch.)
It was obvious at first glance; the guest was sophisticated and enticing in appearance.
She thanked Moimoi once more and lifted the brim of her hat as she approached their table.
The moment Kian caught sight of her face from below, he was reminded of his recent audience with Maribel just days prior.
(This woman… I almost bumped into her on the way to the old Oswald manor, didn’t I?)
’That’s the one who was using dragon magic to summon a familiar, right?’
Long, white hair, and eyes as dark as night.
He’s got a feeling he’s seen this witch’s dress before, this ebony gown like mourning clothes.
It’s almost identical to the one she was wearing before.
She removed the hat that had been pulled low over her eyes and gave a graceful curtsy to Kian, who was already standing.
”Greetings. I am the witch sent by the acting lord of Châtillon to fetch you. It’s the first time for me to meet the two of you, but this is our second meeting, Lord Kian.”
”So it was you, from the old Oswald manor…”
”I’m glad you remember. I was on a tour of the fortress with the acting lord back then.”
”Sir Kian, do you know her?”
”No.”
Kian glanced at the white-haired young Head magician (who looked to be about the same age as Christy, at least) and shook his head.
”We almost bumped into each other at a corner, that’s all. What a coincidence to meet again like this.”
”I don’t think it’s a coincidence. I volunteered to be the one to come and get you this time.”
”What a weirdo, offering to be a guide just to meet Master again. I’m Rufna, Sir Kian’s party member. Nice to meet you!”
”I’m Natra, also a party member. We will be accompanying you on this mission. Pleased to meet you, witch.”
”Priscilla.”
The white-haired witch replied in a clear voice.
She put her hands on her slender waist, puffed out her flat chest, and gave a confident smirk.
”My name is Priscilla. I’m a rather eccentric Head magician who manages the forbidden books in Châtillon’s library.”
* * *
”May I join you?”
”Of course.”
”Thank you.”
The white-haired witch, who introduced herself as Priscilla, curled her red lips into a delicate crescent and snapped her fingers.
From the flowing sleeves of her dress, dark-colored bone fragments tumbled out, clattering against each other as they assembled into the skeletal frame of a bipedal lizard.
The lizard golem pulled out an oak chair that had been tucked beside Rufna.
As the white-haired witch took her seat, the creature retrieved a white feathered fan from a suitcase it had seemingly produced from nowhere and began gently fanning its mistress’s face.
Still caught off guard, Kian and the others sat down as well.
Priscilla propped her elbows on the table, resting her chin on her hands, and watched Kian’s every move with an amused smile.
As he settled into his seat, a fresh, citrusy scent—like lemons—drifted toward him.
It was likely the perfume Priscilla wore.
The fragrance was subtly diluted, perhaps out of consideration for any feline Beastmen that might be among her party.
”By the way, why did you introduce yourself as ‘Renaud’? It’s only a matter of time before it becomes clear you’re not that person.”
Rufna asks this while putting her card game deck back in her backpack.
It’s a relief to have her take the lead in conversations instead of the quiet Natra and ‘glasses-less’ Kian, as she makes negotiations much smoother.
Priscilla looks away from Kian, directing her gaze to Rufna’s face.
”It’s just a solitary journey of a delicate maiden. I merely used a man’s name for self-defense.”
”Delicate, huh? That’s quite the statement for a witch who commands a familiar created with dragon magic. Right, Master?”
”Hmm? Ah.”
Now that he notices, one side of her hair is braided with a black ribbon tied around it.
The ribbon shares a lace-like design with the sleeves of her dress, appearing from a distance like a butterfly.
”Sir Kian, I have no objection to you being captivated by Lady Priscilla, but are you paying attention to our conversation?”
”It’s not like I’m captivated. I was staring a bit, but──oh, pardon me, Ms. Priscilla.”
”No, I’m honored. Sadly, I rarely leave the library, so I seldom have the opportunity to dress up beautifully like this. I was a bit nervous about how well I applied my makeup, but if the renowned Lord Kian is captivated by me, it seems I must have done a bit better than usual. It gives me a little confidence.”
With a quiet click of her tongue and a wink,
her white bangs neatly parted in the middle revealed a tantalizingly fair forehead.
Without even trying, her alluring smile made his heart skip a beat.
If she had breasts as bountiful as Christy’s, he might have been harder than the castle walls.
(Seems I’m blind when it comes to witches.)
’This means only the guy with his brain in his pants──’
The word ‘glasses’ echoed in his mind.
Ignoring it, he opened his mouth to speak to Priscilla when Melissa, who should have been hiding in the kitchen, timidly returned.
”…Um, Kian? Speaking of which, I forgot to take your order and Lady Natra’s. Ah──”
Her serving girl eyes locked onto Priscilla and she froze.
Next, she caught sight of the dragonewt golem flapping its fan beside her, and Melissa’s mouth dropped open.
But, accustomed to serving adventurers, she quickly regained her composure.
With a deep breath to steady her pounding heart, Melissa addressed Priscilla with a tremulous voice.
”Excuse me, miss. We don’t allow pets in here──”
”Pet?”
”It doesn’t look alive, and it’s a golem. I mean, it might get in the way as more customers come in.”
”I apologize. I’ll put it away right now.”
No sooner had Priscilla spoken than the familiar crumbled back into bones.
Instead of returning to the witch’s sleeve, it clattered into a suitcase at her feet.
Melissa’s eyes widened in astonishment, but she managed to gather her wits and approached the table with paper and pencil in hand.
”What will you have?”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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