Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 153

Chapter 153. Witch Hunt (2)

The witch of the Blizzard Forest.

I had already known that she was watching over us. Or rather, it was more of a certainty than a mere guess.

The 'witch' had the ability to prevent unexpected actions and observe us from a distance.

"Eek..."

With her eyes sharply narrowed, the witch blinked at Zahard and me before shifting her gaze to Felkhor.

Why did she do that, I wondered.

Probably because Zahard and I had eyes that couldn't see properly.

Zahard's blind eyes revealed nothing, and I had slit eyes.

She seemed to have shifted her gaze to Felkhor, whose eyes were at least visible.

But still, this feels like eye discrimination, doesn't it?

"If you know what you're trying to do, you should... Urk."

The witch, about to speak, had to close her lips when the sharp blade approached her.

Even she only had one life to spare.

"You better shut up. If you know who's holding the threads to your life right now,"

Zahard spoke apathetically, his words piercing through her.

"Damn blind bastard, you have the same ability as that demon you killed, huh? Is that how you found me!?"

"Didn't I just tell you to shut up?"

Swoosh.

As the blade touched her slender neck, a stream of bright red blood trickled down the witch's skin.

Nevertheless, the emotions reflected in her eyes didn't seem to subside.

"I'm here on the orders of the Imperial Prince! The prince you all serve and follow!"

Felkhor hesitated slightly at the witch's voice, which seemed to be trying to bluff.

He still seemed to shrink when the prince's name was mentioned.

...... What a coward.

"Do you think that the person who carries the blood of your sun-like, all-knowing emperor can keep your life safe right now?"

Unlike Felkhor, Zahard calmly opened his mouth, even when the 'prince' was mentioned.

Understanding the sincerity of his attitude, the witch bit her lips hard.

"I'm curious how a sinister witch could come to work with Kaldrach, but that's not the point right now."

Briefly glancing at me, Zahard asked, "What should we do?"

What should we do?

The reason we captured the witch was to have a cozy chat with 'Kaldrach' in the first place.

Back at the 'North Pole' barrier, we couldn't have a conversation in an equal environment, but knowing I've captured the witch, 'Kaldrach' wouldn't easily make a move.

Especially if he came from the future.

This witch would surely know that she's needed to 'see' beyond the northern reaches.

I approached the witch.

As I approached her slowly, she glared at me with a furrowed expression.

Though her expression showed defiance, her emotions couldn't hide.

The 'haze' visible above her head was tinged with the color of 'fear', no matter how hard she tried to conceal it.

"Please inform Kaldrach that I wish to meet at the hut we saw before."

"... How do you expect me to inform him like this? I need to be free to go!"

The witch shouted, trying to intimidate once more, but despite the blade against her neck, she showed no signs of fear.

'Her nasty personality hasn't changed.'

The 'witch' could convey her 'voice' to distant targets using her learned magic.

The magic of transmission.

Even if the direct distance wasn't great, using magic tools to communicate could significantly extend the range.

Kaldrach likely had one.

The witch, assuming I wasn't familiar with the magic, continued her sarcastic remarks.

"You fools! Did you capture me without considering that? Is what's inside your head merely decoration... Guh..."

Perhaps tired of hearing the witch's words, my body moved instinctively.

After grabbing her head with my right hand, I leaned in closer.

The darkening color of 'fear'.

Sensing the scent of death even the 'savages' could detect, the witch's pupils trembled as she lost her composure.

"Isn't it just a matter of using the transmission magic? Do I look like I'm 'asking' politely right now?"

Squeeze.

Unintentionally, strength went into my right hand, and the witch began to show signs of pain.

"I-I'll do it."

***

Returning to this place, the hut in the familiar Blizzard Forest, I found myself thinking.

'Well, at least with this, I can leave the North.'

Though Yulian's body had adapted to the cold, as if with an extra layer of skin, it didn't mean I was completely unaffected.

The accumulated damage from the cold would surely affect me.

Perhaps the only one who could remain unaffected by such harsh cold for an extended period might be the 'witch.'

"Damn it, damn it... Those cursed Imperial bastards..."

That 'witch' was glaring at me from a corner of the hut with a resentful expression.

"Do you think Sir Kaldrach will come alone as expected?"

Since the transmission, Felkhor had been stricken with fear. It seemed he was worried about the consequences of involving the 'prince'.

I wordlessly glanced at Zahard.

After all, if Kaldrach were to mobilize the 'Wedge Knights', Zahard would notice.

'I have an unwavering certainty that he'll come alone.'

I felt certain of it.

It would take time for Kaldrach to arrive here after receiving the transmission, and until then, I needed to kill time.

"For now, let's just entertain ourselves with some conversation."

Fortunately, I thought of something to distract myself for a while.

"Do you think I have anything to talk about with someone like you?"

"This witch blabbers on and on..."

As Felkhor erupted, I gestured him to calm down and turned my gaze back to the witch.

"Do you happen to know a woman named Milena?"

I asked, thinking she might be familiar with her, as the witch was part of the 'savages' category in the northern part of the continent.

Yulian's mother.

Since she came from the northern continent, I wondered if she was proficient in 'sorcery' that manipulates 'demonic energy'.

A witch, a master of sorcery.

If Milena, Yulian's mother, had enough talent to handle the 'Soul Stone', there must have been some connection.

"Who's that?"

"She is a resident of the northern region like you. She uses sorcery and has silver hair like mine."

"... If that's the case, her hair must look ragged and her face is probably unappealing."

Hearing her insult Milena, I clenched my fist for a moment but held back.

Oddly, I felt a sense of detachment.

Milena is 'Yulian's' mother, so I shouldn't care much, but...

'Asking such questions is strange itself.'

I was trying my best to distance myself from Yulian's instincts, yet here I was, asking such questions.

Anyway, it seems she doesn't know, so let's move on...

"Wait a minute, did you say Milena?"

The witch, who had been muttering to herself, suddenly glanced at my head.

"That silver hair... Could you possibly know Milena!?"

Judging by her reaction, she seemed to know something.

"Are you a brother? An uncle? Or maybe..."

"I'm her son."

"Her son!?"

The witch looked at me with surprised eyes.

"I know that damn woman had a fling with a noble from the Adratan Empire and left the tribe, but she already has a son...!?"

Damn woman, huh.

Well, calm down. Listening to the story comes first.

"Hey, did you just refer to Sir Yulian's mother as a damn woman?"

I'm trying to stay calm, and you're getting angry here?

"Watch your tongue. I told you not to speak recklessly."

Zahard also expressed his annoyance along with Felkhor.

Hey, I'm okay with it.

Gesturing for them to calm down, I returned to the topic.

"So, what happened to her?"

What happened to her? Did she not hear the news?

"She passed away."

"... Passed away?"

The witch's face twisted as I delivered Milena's news, various emotions flickering across her pupils.

They were indescribable feelings—too fast to catch onto, even with the Color of Negativity.

I was about to ask what had occurred between her and Milena when the witch suddenly tilted her head back.

"Hehehe, isn't it a sight! Milena. The one who was called the 'Queen of Thorns', leaves the north and ends up like this!"

With spiteful sarcasm, the witch burst into laughter.

The malice within her was so intense that anyone watching would frown.

This time, I wasn't particularly angry.

More important was the fact that the witch knew 'Milena' quite well and that there was some 'relationship' between them.

"She's probably in hell now! She was such a wicked woman!"

But this woman, who I'm trying to let be, keeps stepping over the line?

Just as I was about to open my mouth to suggest she quiet down, Felkhor abruptly stood up.

"What, what will you do if I get up!?"

Approaching the witch with heavy strides, Felkhor slapped her cheek with his rough hand.

Smack!

The sound of something like bamboo splitting echoed faintly in the hut.

"Geez, it's so noisy! There's a degree to everything, you damn woman!"

"Felkhor, it's not worth getting so worked up about... Hm?"

When no movement came from the witch who'd been struck, a sense of unease crept in.

Indeed, Felkhor's slap was formidable.

If it were a normal person, you'd question if their neck wouldn't have snapped from it.

Fortunately, her pulse still seemed alive.

Her midriff moved with her inhalations and exhalations, proving it.

"Look at her... I thought a witch would not be fazed by this level of force..."

"Felkhor, you, someone equivalent to a senior knight, slapped her; who wouldn't be affected?"

"St-still... I used my left hand, Sir Yulian."

Why are you saying this now? Someone almost died!

Swallowing my disbelief, I inspected Felkhor's left hand.

That rough hand. It's closer to that of a gorilla than a human.

'... Did he hit her with that?'

That left hand is bigger than her face. She'd hardly be unscathed!