Quote:Sorry for the prolonged delay, some kind of trouble happened around my neighborhood,

Will try to keep this story going, so please enjoy~

*Screeech~! *Screeech~!

Outside of the tent where a witch usually lives, two men were sitting beside it, while grinding their sword over and over again.

[True descendant?]

[Are you familiar with it?]

Rud was asking Vram something regarding what had happened to him in the past. Since it does looked like Vram was also coming from the same region as him.

[I knew some general knowledge about occult terrorism, but I rarely heard about the True Descendants.] [But judging through its name, I think it relates from the legends of our true descendant.]

There was a legend that says that the Land Dwellers, or in this case, people whom reside in this world were actually a fake. It is said that their ascendant was once coming from the sky in order to linger in this place. As day goes by, their ascendant had to return to the sky for some reasons. Before they leave the Land, they have created many populations in order to ensure the stability in the land. That is the Land Dwellers.

But one day, when the divines have returned from the sky, the Land Dwellers rebelled. This angered the residents of the sky and great calamity fall upon them. Many giant rocks splits the sky and torn the lands. The impacts from those rocks render the land unstable and become dangerous to be inhabited by normal persons. This land was known to be the Forbidden Spot.

From this day on, many people believed that the Land Dwellers, the one whom rebelled against the sky, were inferior and ungrateful fellow toward those who came from the sky, and their descendants. Thus those people were referred as the True Descendants.

[But no matter how much of the truth does apply, I often having trouble believing that they have rights to do many things toward people.] As Vram commented on the legends itself while still grinding all of his weapons.

[I don’t really care of their origin or their rights.] [I only wanted to know why they did this and how to restore me back.]

[All I could infer from your story is one thing.] [They were creating something, and you were the results of it.]

[Me? The Results?] Rud confused hearing Vram’s explanation.

[There are so many people whom wished for immortality.] [And often, the people in question never did dare to sacrifice themselves toward this one wishes.] [That’s why they need a living lab rat.] [And you’re one of the successful candidates out of it.] [Isn’t that normal?]

[That’s… true…] [But for what purpose?]

[To preserve ones position above the others.] [They demanded for themselves to be special, to be treated like that of a god, or something similar.] [A simple sentence for an idiot like you would be “world domination” I suppose.]

[Who are you calling an idiot!?] [I already knew that they were up to no good!]

Rud was having a fit while still helping grind the swords as Vram just letting out a sigh hearing Rud’s reaction.

[But that’s just my own theory though.] [There may be another reason why they did something like that.] [Though it doesn’t change the fact that you’re the results of those things.]

Both of them suddenly went silent as they keep grinding the weapons over and over again. Nobody knows how many swords and spear and axe and many weapons had they been grind. Eventually Rud snaps.

[Hey!]

[Hmm?]

[Just why do I have to grind all of these?!?] [You’re not even my master!] [In fact, you’re her familiar, the same as me!!]

[Well, you know, surprisingly, a familiar’s positions here was the same as that of a lover.] [It means, I have more than enough authority than you, a slave.] [Besides, she did tell you to help me while she’s doing something with your mouse.]

[Wait what?] [Are you saying that they having a “rendezvous” with their own familiar?!?] [You may be fine, but the other witches’ familiar weren’t even a human, let alone a male!]

[Though some familiars here have a look of a female, they do have them, you know.] [A breeding genital.]

Hearing Vram’s calm explanation, Rud went silent as he dropped the knife he was currently grinds, and just his luck, the knife pierces straight toward Rud’s foot.

[NGUOOOOOOOO!!!]

[Do take care when you’re in the middle of works.] [You may be immortal, but those weapons were still deadly.]

As Rud was squirming on the ground trying to hold the pain while Vram still calmly grinds his weapons, Josephine and Yohn finally out from the tent. In Yohn’s head now there’s a crystal, though small, that has the same texture and function as Rud’s earring, which was used for them to understand each other.

[It’s finished~!]

[For Yohn too?!?]

[Well I heard that this mouse can talk, so how do you feel, Yohn?]

[Never been better, Miss Josephine~!]

[Glad to hear that~!]

Just as Yohn, Josephine, and Rud were in the middle of having fun, Vram noticing something different.

[Hey.]

[Hmm?] [What’s wrong, Vram?] Josephine realizing Vram’s reaction though oblivious why.

[That mouse… is it just me or he look paler than before?]

[Huh?] [Have you ever looked a pale mouse before?] [Before even turn pale, they’ll be dead when confronting you!]

Said Rud with a smug face, trying to tease Vram. But Vram wasn’t even responding, no, before he even had time to respond, Yohn was already lost its consciousness.

*thud

[Eh?] [Yohn, hey what’s wrong!?] [There are naked girls in front of you, and you’re just here sleeping?!?]

Rud was shaking Yohn over and over again, but there’s no reaction coming out from Yohn.

[Eh?] [Why?] [What’s happening?] Even Josephine start to panic, being faced against an unknown situation.

{Don’t tell me…} [Rud, remove the crystal on his head now!]

[Eh?] [But…]

[HURRY!] [DO YOU WANT HIM TO DIE JUST LIKE THAT?!]

Josephine flinched hearing Vram’s voice as Rud just swallowed his saliva and quickly pulled the crystal out from his head.

[*groan….]

Color returns from Yohn’s face as he was able to squirming again though still unconscious. But after that, Rud and Josephine were confused as to what had happened.

[Master Josephine…!] [Though I may be quite rude right now, but please explain to me what was happening before?]

Though he still speaks in manners, Rud was somehow looked angered seeing his partner was in a dire situation, though it’s a mouse.

[I… I don’t know…] [I made sure that it has the same ability as what Rud currently uses…] [So why….]

As Josephine pondered of the reasons, Vram started to raises his hands.

[Master.] [That Earring, how does it work actually?]

[Huh?] [Well, the simple explanation is that it translates the languages that you understand.] [But elaborately, it synchronizes the wearer’s brainwaves with the source of the crystal itself.] [In this case, it was synchronized with Vram’s brainwaves.] [That’s why you can perceive what Vram could hear and what Vram said.]

[And how much mana would be used to uses such things?]

[Well… It is still a high-tier magic, so the cost is quite a bit… high~?] [But for us Witches, it’s not that deadly because we have a huge container and we could easily refill that much mana in the meantime….] [… EH!?]

As if lightning had struck down Josephine’s head, he looked back and forth between Yohn, whom were still unconscious and Rud, whom just looked blanked this whole time.

[For Witches, such amount might be nothing.] [But for unknown creature such as that mouse, it is almost enough to kill him.] [Yet the question is….]

Vram glared straight toward Rud.

[Why are you still fine?]

[What?] [What do you mean by that???]

***

[You’re the same as us?]

A girl with wavy red hair while in the middle of hugging a stone doll was Hildegarde, on her way toward Josephine’s house was together with another red-haired person, a male human monster in question namely Rud.

[I don’t really understand, but she said that my blood had the same condiments as witches’ blood.]

[And how in the world she does know her own blood condiments?]

[She said she often experimenting with her own blood before she had Vram.]

[That naked idiot…!!] [Still, can you elaborate what did she says regarding your condition?]

[I thought you never cared about me.]

[If I never cared for you, I wouldn’t go as far as kicking you in the “nuts”.]

Hearing Hilda’s exclamation, Rud quickly grab a hold of his “nuts”, traumatized of him being subjected toward Hilda’s torture again.

[You’re a sadist.] As Rud deliberately protested toward Hilda.

[Thanks for the compliments~❤] [Anyway, are you going to told me how Josephine was able to reach that kind of conclusions?]

After being nagged by Hilda, Rud start to speak the way he interpreted Josephine’s explanation. It seems that inside Rud’s body, exist some kind of phenomenal reaction that potentially increases his mana capacity, the same way the witches operates. About which kind of phenomenal reaction which made him to become such a thing was still unknown to Josephine. But thanks to that, it made Rud’s mana quality unusually high and his capacity exceeded those of normal humans. To be exact, it is quite comparable with the Witches’ capabilities.

[Such a thing….]

[But I’m more confused about what she explained later on.]

The difference between Rud and the Witches’ was how his body later developed on. Though he had such a high capacity of mana, Rud’s body was somehow halting the development of the container itself. That’s why Rud were unable to feel the change within his body, nor even able to use magic. It was a complete dead-lock situation which renders his potential being useless.

[Wait a minute.] Hilda suddenly putting out quite a serious air around her. [By any chance, despite you were being unable to grow, have you ever experience fatigue, prolonged pain, or the inability to move your body?]

[Uh… No, not really.]

[That means…] [You were supposed to be dead.]

[Huh?!?] Rud can only stare blankly toward Hilda. He thought Hilda’s simply teasing him, but her serious stare implied that it was a serious condition.

[At first I thought you were simply having a body that can regenerate easier.] [But after hearing that....] Hilda paused for a moment, taking some breath out of her lungs then continue to explain. [There is some kind of happening in your body and it keeps repeating the process, making your body unable to either grow nor regressed.] [Your body growth was being stunned, that’s why you can restore your own body under any kind of circumstances.]

[Then, I was….]

[You are one lucky man.] [But such luck is useless if the core of it was destroyed.] [And from what Josephine had explained to you….] [It means that inside your body, exist two different spell that let you survive up until now.]

Rud was confused from hearing Hilda’s information back and forth. Noticing Rud’s confusion, Hilda started to quicken her walking speed.

[Let’s go to that idiot’s house.] [If I’m right, she should stop experimenting on your body, or you’ll die.]

[What?!?]

Still left without definite answers regarding his body, Rud just silently following Hilda’s back.

***

[Nope.]

[Oh, come on, Vram~!] [I just need a little bit of it~!]

[Still no.] [I just let aside what had already happened, but I won’t allow anymore of it.]

[But I’m your master!]

[And I’m your familiar.]

[Then...!]

[And my priority is to keep you from any kind of harm that’s coming toward you.]

[JEEZ!] [YOU’RE SO HARD-HEADED!!!]

At the time Rud was away, the two witch and familiar was in the middle of arguing each other of something, while Yohn can only astonished watching their relationship.

[We... well you two don’t really have to shout at each other like that.]

[I’ll stop if he’ll let me do what I want!]

[I won’t.]

[But I have to do this!!]

[There should be other way than doing that.]

[But there’s no harm in trying now, right?!?!!]

[Still I won’t let you.]

[GEEEZ!!!]

As the two still bickering about here and there, suddenly Hilda comes barging in together with Rud.

[I’m coming in, Naked Idiot.]

[Wha?!] [Lady Hilda?] [Why are you here?!?] Josephine was shocked seeing Rud and Hilda come together.

[What are you two doing, if I may ask?]

A sudden straight question from Hilda made Josephine flinched a little.

[Uh... well... that is....]

[She was trying to experiment on Rud’s blood sample by using her own blood.]

[T... that’s fine, right?!] [It’s not like I was harming other people!]

[Of course it’s not fi-....]

Just before Vram finished his own sentence, Hilda rushed toward her own junior furiously.

[Clench your teeth, naked idiot.]

[Eh?]

Before Josephine could even react, she already saw an arm flew toward her face.

*BRAGHK!!!!!

As Hilda rushes past Josephine, her arm strikes right below her jaw and above her neck, making it feels like she was trying to dislocate her own junior’s neck. With quite a ferocious speed and strength, she sent Josephine flying while sticking her head out of her neck.

[M... MASTER?!?!]

Surprised, Vram quickly went running toward her already unconcious master, supporting her head and body altogether.

[Wha...?!] Rud and Yohn can only be taken aback seeing such scene happened right in front of their eyes.

[YOU... YOU’RE A WITCH YET YOU CAN USE A LARIAT?!?!?]

In shock, Rud’s first comment was regarding a skill that was quite famiiar with him. Such a move usually called Lariat and quite famous among other people who do a bare-handed battle, yet Hildegarde, being a witch, a magic-caster she is, somehow seemingly familiar enough with that move.

[Hmm?] [Is it really that weird of a move?]

[IT’S NOT JUST WEIRD!] [YOU’RE A WITCH RIGHT!?] [HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO MUSTER SUCH MOVES!?!]

[Well it actually does wonder to any enemy that was trying to ambush me from the front.]

[Wait a minute, Lady Hilda!] [Master’s not breathing here!]

Vram was totally panicked and started to raise his voice toward Hilda out of desperation.

[Umm... well you don’t have to worry about that.] [We won’t die as long as our mana container is still safe. [So given time, she should wake up later.]

Hilda somehow quite unsure how to react toward Vram’s situation, thus can only speak softly.

[I’d say, it’s actually quite a nice feeling seeing you panicked like that.] [Maybe I should tease your master more~]

[You’re not seriously thinking about that right, Lady Hilda?]

[*sigh*... Yea I know, I know.] [Well then, out of the way.] [She may not die, but I need her to wake up as fast as possible.]

Before long, as Vram moves himself out of the way, something unimaginable happened to his master under the pretense of “waking her up”.

***

[Uuu....]

Josephine can only sitting with both of her legs were being closed tight and being kept under her as she puts her hands on both of her thighs. While Hilda was sitting on a table, with both her legs crossing each other while putting her right hand on her thigs while her other hand supporting her body. While Vram, Rud, and Yohn can only standing on the back awaiting for the imminent to happen.

[I guess she’s honest when she said she did care for me.] As Rud whispering toward Vram and Yohn while the room silent still.

[What do you mean?] Yohn asked curiously.

[I mean, if even her junior being treated that way, doesn’t that mean that I still has a bit leeway toward it?]

[I’d have to agree with you on that.] [Lady Hilda somehow tends to treat her student and junior so roughly in a kind of unimaginable way.] Vram start to respond toward Rud’s critique regarding Hilda. [As a matter of fact, even both Lady Rosa and Lady Chris experienced the same.]

[Kicking in the nut is already worse enough, but Lariating a girl?] [That’s some tough love there.]

As the other three whispering to each other on the back, Josephine was already on the verge of tears, unable to imagine what had happened when she passed out nor what would happen to her now.

[Naked Idiot.]

[Yes, Senior...?]

[Do you know what are you trying to do?]

[I... I just want to help Rud restoring his own body, that’s all...!]

[I know.]

Somehow her expression become fiercer and Josephine cannot talk back at all, sensing a menace aura on her back.

[So, what are you trying to do?]

[I... I was trying to get a sample of my own blood.]

[Then?]

[I... was trying to mix it with Rud’s blood sample, since maybe-....]

*DHACK!!!!!

Hilda’s slammed her own leg on the floor, making quite a noise that made Josephine flinched. It also surprise the men behind the back. Not too long after seemingly Hilda trying to supress her own anger, she then start to cross her leg again together while taking a deep breath.

[So?] [Realizing your mistake yet?]

[Umm....] [But it’s not like it’s forbidden to use our own blood as a catalyst for doing a magic ritual, right...?] [So....]

[You stupid, idiot, dense to the core of a naked junior of mine?] Somehow Hilda ending her mocking sentence with a question tone.

[Y... yes...?]

[If it’s just that, I won’t make a fuss over anything like that.] [But rather, the experiment itself is what I’m concerned about.]

[Eh?] [Is it wrong?] [I mean, Rud and us Witches has the same trait to our body, so....]

[IS IT REALLY THE SAME?!]

[Eh...?]

Josephine somehow put on a blank face hearing Hilda’s shout. Not because of her voice, but the meaning behind her words.

[So you didn’t realize....] [Do you really sure that Rud is the same at us?]

Hilda then start to change her sitting posture from crossing her leg, to a normal sitting while swinging her hands and making gestures as if she’s about to giving a lecture.

[Listen now.] [We witches have a huge container mana that allow us to do many kinds of magic that human can.] [That’s a fact.] [Now, this stupid redhead also has it, so theoretically he should be able to do what we can do, right?]

[Umm... yes.]

[But since inside his body something is halting the progress of his own mana circuit, he can’t.] [That much is clear enough, right?]

[Right, that’s why-....]

[It’s the opposite.]

Suddenly everyone on that room went silent. They were unable to understand a single bit of the words Hilda had said.

[It’s not that something is halting his mana circuit.] [But something is attacking his mana circuit.] [And the thing that halting its progress?] [It’s actually what’s keeping him alive.]

[What....] [That doesn’t make any sense!]

[Remember one fact, Josephine.] [He was formerly a human.] [A human can’t have a mana container as big as us, or we wouldn’t be called a “witch” at all.]

Josephine was completely taken aback, shocked at the truth Hilda pointed on.

[Mixing a blood that contain something so unnatural like that with a pure blood of a witch.] [You can at least imagine what kind of disaster awaits if something were to happen, right?]

Josephine lowered her head in shame, unable to realize her own mistakes by himself.

[Though you’re stopping her for a different reason altogether, just for that, I’m thankful to you Vram.] [You’ve done your job well.]

Hilda then tilt her had gazing toward Vram, smiling solemnly.

[No... I... I never realized that such experiment was so grave.]

[Well, now that’s one problem taken care of.] [The next problem is you, redhead idiot.]

Rud suddenly tensed himself after being pointed by Hilda.

[Y... yes, ma’am?] [What is it...?]

[Now, based on my own theory....] [It’s already clear that your body cannot be restored at all.]

[EH?] [Why?!?!]

[Because of those regeneration magic inside of your body.] [It takes its source of mana from the thing that invaded your body.] [... No, that’s not even a regeneration magic.] [A healing-type magic cannot preserve your body condition that enable you to live for long.] [In any case, there seems to be many kind of variable inside of your body, that somehow supporting each other.] [And removing one of them would destroy the balance.]

[Wha... but...!]

[It’s not impossible!]

Suddenly Josephine stands up and looking straight at Hilda.

[Sure, I may have made a mistake....] [But... I can’t just give up like that....] [I want to keep finding way to do it....] [I....]

With somehow her eyes looked teary, she glared back toward Hilda. Hilda then takes a deep breath, standing and start walking Josephine. Then she put her hands on top of her head.

[I never told you to give up on him, you idiot junior.] She start to stroke her head softly as she started to smile.

[Eh...?]

[I only said that reversing his body condition is not an option anymore.] [But it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a way around it.] Then she start to put on a serious tone and expression in her face. [That’s why I need you both to stop doing experiment toward each other unless you have enough knowledge on your hand.]

[Mm... Okay....] Josephine then smiles back as if she was relieved to have one reliable senior by her side.

[Okay, so....] Vram then start to ask question toward Hilda. [About this problem that you mentioned, I don’t see anything with that, though?]

[Nope, there is a problem now.] [And for this problem, I need your help regarding this one, Vram.]

[Eh?]

***

[GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!]

[Stop running away.]

[HOW CAN’T I RUN AWAY IF YOU’RE GOING TO SWING SUCH AN AXE TOWARD ME!?!?!?]

[Don’t worry; I’ll just slash you enough that you’ll regenerate in no time.]

[YOU THINK I’M SOME KIND OF EXPENDABLE TOOL!?]

Both Vram and Rud were somehow trapped inside a barrier and Vram was wielding his giant, black axe, swinging back and forth while running toward Rud. It looked so deadly and scary that Rud had been running away all this time.

[Why are you run away, idiot!?] [This training was meant for you to control your new body until we found a way to remove it!!]

[AND HOW IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING MY OWN BODY!!?] [GYAAAAAAA!!!]

*SHWOOOOK!

A horizontal slash was aimed at Rud’s neck, and Rud, as panicked as it is, were frantically evading it by jumping and rolling on the ground.

[Because your body’s condition was more complex than I thought.] [There are various side effects inside your body, and you were unable to control it because you just treated them as a foreign object.] [And there were also a case where your body becomes unstable because you haven’t used them properly!] [At least be thankful that we haven’t abandoned you yet!]

[But I still not understand!] [Why do I have to do this?!] [Even if my body’s like this, then weren’t I supposed to stay low and not fight anymore?!]

Just when Rud was protesting a lot toward Hilda, Vram’s already reached Rud and started to swing his axe horizontally as hard as possible.

[UGH!!!]

*PRAAAAAAAK!!!

Just his luck, Rud was able to guard against the attack with the shield on his hands. But no matter, the shield quickly broke from the forces coming from Vram’s attack.

[Because we couldn’t protect you.]

[What?]

[It’s just a guess, but if words come out that you were hoarding some kind of disastrous thing inside your body, a chance you being exiled from here may happen.] [And if by any chance you were being recaptured or died in the middle, there’s no telling what kind of damage you would’ve cause to your surroundings.] [All this time, you’ve been ignorant, but now, since many lives are at stake here, I have to make sure you stop whining and improve your survival instinct and skills.]

[But I can’t even improve my ability anymore, just like you said!]

[Who said that we’re going to improve your ability?] [Your ability may be fixed, but your skills and instinct were still your own.] [And you can also learn how to control your ability.] [That’s why, from now on, Hilda will taught you about how to use magic, Josephine will loosen the bind that control your Mana flow, and I shall do my very best to improve your instinct.] [At least, until we manage to find a clue about how to restore your body safely.] [… That’s what Master would want to.]

Rud was silent for a while, and then started to wield his spear back.

[… I’ve been thinking for a while….] [You really dislike me, don’t you?]

[Took you a while to realize it, red monkey.]

[Shut up, you black monster!]

The two clashed though it was already clear whom was more superior. But nobody would’ve realized that Rud’s arrival in the Witch Village would bring forth an incident no one would ever dreamed of, and to unravel the dark, forgotten truth inside the village.