A Witch That Is Good at Hunting

Chapter 24: Final Test (7)

“Nike!”

Among the witch hunters gathered to strike down the intruder, Rowen was there too.

Of course, the one who drew her eyes first was Nike.

But unfortunately, she saw it happen.

Nike lay dead, with a hole through his head.

She rushed to check, but his heart did not beat. He wasn’t breathing.  

He had died like any ordinary human pierced through the head.

“…He died? Nike?”

It was unbelievable.

Hadn’t Nike been the monster of monsters, the one who lived even when his skull cracked, his heart was pierced, or he burned in fire?

She had always suspected him, always refused to trust him, and even thought of him as a witch. But she had never wanted such a futile ending like this.

It felt somehow as if her mistake had killed him.

‘NonoNonoNonoNonoNonoNonoNonoNonoNonoNonoNono.’

Over there, the Witch of Distortion clashed with the veterans of the Silver Blades. Rowen should have joined the battle, yet her body would not move. She had never felt so weak like this.

“Rowen.”

Beside her, Morgana appeared quietly, wearing the body of the condemned.

Rowen wiped her tears and raised her head. Panic shone in her eyes.

“…C-Captain. Nike is…”

From the prisoner’s mouth, a black snake slithered forth to inspect Nike, tongue flicking without rest.

‘As expected, it’s still too early for him to fight such a witch.’

The prisoner spoke without a trace of emotion.

“Rowen. Take out his heart. The witch is twisting Nike’s mana to block his recovery.”

What.

Did she.

Just say.

“…What?”

“Nike’s heart. Take it out.”

“Wha- ”

“If you take the heart out, I can try something.”

Rowen blinked. Such words were unbelievable.

“You mean… you can save him?”

“Yes. But you must hurry. A very dangerous witch is targeting Nike right now.”

Kwagagang!

She looked up to the sound, but the witch had already vanished. In her place a summoned familiar fought the hunters.

It was a monster written in records, the Distorted Beast.

The witch had called forth a familiar in the form of an octagonal eye. Eight huge eyes glared as it attacked the hunters.

The forest split apart. The ground tore.

Space warped, bent, and twisted.

Even with veteran hunters together, the monsters weren’t going to go down easily.  

And in this worst of moments, the worst possible enemy appeared.

“You were hiding something amusing huh, Morgana.”

While the familiar drew the attention of hunters, the Witch of Distortion herself drifted near.

Her true target was clearly Nike.

“It has been a while, Sestria. I am glad to see you are well.”

The Witch of Distortion and the Captain of the Silver Blades faced each other.

The intruder’s expression twisted. The prisoner remained expressionless as always.

Sestria’s lips curled in scorn.

“Morgana Roxana. They said you became the Order’s dog… and it was true. How disgusting.”

Her contempt was genuine. Morgana did not rise to the taunt though.

She answered calmly.

“Sestria. I no longer wish to sin.”

“Ahahaha—!”

Her mad laughter rang through the forest.

With her head tossed back, she laughed, then snapped into seriousness like one manic.

“What non~sense? You? You say that of all witches? You lunatic. You really have gone insane.”

“…”

The prisoner did not reply, and only stared back.

“...Some things never change. You were lame to talk with back then, and it’s no different now. Enough with your filth and move aside.”

The prisoner stepped forward, shielding Nike.

“Why are you after this child?”

“…Not sure? He is cute, isn’t he?”

Sestria smiled crookedly, her eyes and lips bent in unnatural ways.

But it was obvious that smile of hers meant danger.

Morgana judged swiftly. Why Sestria had come and what her purpose couldn't be known yet.

But what was certain was that a fifth-rank witch wanted Nike. And at this rate, the hunters would be annihilated. Nike would be taken.

Vigo was absent, and Morgana couldn't use her true body. It was the worst situation.

‘At this rate, the Order will fall…’

In the end.

Though not fully trustworthy yet, there was only one card left to turn the tide. The strange boy named Nike.

‘As Vigo said, I will gamble on you, Nike.’

The prisoner lifted her head.

“Rowen. I will buy time. Hurry and take out Nike’s heart.”

“…Huh? Ah, understood!”

“I cannot last long. You must hurry.”

Shhk!

The sound of flesh splitting echoed. It was a hidden strike. The prisoner’s arm fell to the ground.

“You? You think you can face me, you, a dog of the Order?In that body?”

The witch looked as if she was truly insulted, as she poured her killing intent to the prisoner.

“As Captain of the Silver Blades, I will stop you.”

“Ha! Aha, ahaha… that was a joke, right?”

“I am always serious.”

“Die, bitch.”

The prisoner tilted her head strangely.

“Do you think it will be that easy?”

* * *

“Hah, haa…”

Clang, clang! Boom! Rumble-

In the forest’s depths, the hunters fought desperately.

“Danger, Hans!”

Swoosh!

A distorted tentacle-like appendage from the octagon-eyed familiar seized Hans’s shoulder blade and shook him.

“Aghh!”

Maximilian’s arrow managed to cut it away, but Hans’s left arm was already torn off.

“Hyaap!”

Carlton roared and charged. But his strike bent and slipped through empty air. He tumbled with the already severed tentacles.

“Damn it…! If only we had more potions at the very least…!”

Maximilian dragged him up. The three hunters fell back as the beast closed in.

“This is bad.”

“Indeed. Fighting a fifth-rank familiar without preparation is too much as expected.”

They had been thrown in with no preparation.

The trainees Lou Gehrig and Hestia were sent to recover Ginter’s body. The veterans held the line until the main force arrived.

But their foe was far worse and dangerous than expected.

A fifth-rank witch who twisted reality itself.

Even with three veterans present, they couldn't slay her familiar unprepared. It was actually close to suicide if anything.

This monster was difficult even with full preparation, but they had only basic gear and a single potion each, which was nearly spent.

And the true witch was elsewhere. It was truly the worst of situations.

‘We must kill it fast and regroup…’

Yet even together, they had no answer.

Had they known beforehand, they might not be so helpless like this.

“Kgh…!”

“You alright, Hans!?”

“Ahaha! Do I look like a child? Worry about yourself, master. Kghehe!”

“Judging by your yapper still running, at least you won’t die here.”

The three fixed their eyes on the beast.

“Do we have a way?”

At Maximilian’s calm question, Carlton scowled.

“If we don’t, we have to make one.”

He downed his last potion and muttered words unknown.

At the same time, Hans and Maximilian’s eyes widened.

“Wait, are you…?”

“Damn old man. Since when did you touch ‘that’ forbidden thing!?”

Shortly after, Carlton’s eyes turned bloodshot, bleeding red tears.

“Shit. Just retire in peace! Don’t do this! What are you doing, Max! Stop him!”

“…”

“Shut it, Hans. I will not watch my juniors die before me again.”

All around them warped. Trees flipped. The sky lay beneath their feet. Eyes of the octagon beast glared from twisted space.

Carlton smiled, with black veins spreading over his body. He no longer looked human.

Sssshhh!

Dark energy rose around him, ominous and devouring. It looked as if it would engulf anyone near it.  

“Fucking hell, this old man! I’m telling you to stop! Don’t do it!”

“…Master. You really mean to do this?”

With the last shred of reason left in him, Carlton answered.

“It’s been too long and I’m tired of being an instructor anyway. Hans, you are my successor. Now, stand back! Both of you!”

With those words, Carlton charged at the beast at full speed.

* * *

Kwaaang!

Far away, a black explosion rose. A storm tore through the forest. The Captain and witch dueled in fierce magic.

Meanwhile, Rowen still held Nike’s lifeless body, with her hands shaking.

He was dead.

His heart did not beat.

He did not rise again, shouting “Witch, hunt!” with a grin like last time.  

Nike was truly dead, and he wasn’t reviving.

Only Rowen could save him now. His life rested in her hands.

— Rowen, use this blade, and pierce Nike’s heart.

In her hand was the ritual dagger Morgana had given her. Its violet glow was ominous. They said it could break the witch’s seal.

However, she did not move right away. Something troubled her.

If she stabbed his heart now…

Nike might truly die.

That thought haunted her and made her stop.  

Morgana Roxana was Captain of the Silver Blades.

Obedience to her was duty as a hunter. She was also fighting with all her strength against the intruder to save Nike.

Yet, doubt grew even in this urgent moment.

— Rowen. You must believe me.

Vigo’s words echoed in her mind.

‘Never trust the Captain’s words completely. Rowen. In the end, she is a witch at her core.’

The dagger too had come from Morgana. And if she harbored some other intent…

What if all of this was her scheme, and that this was a betrayal to deliver Nike to the witch?

If Rowen stabbed him now, he might just be lost forever, instead of being saved.

Without Vigo in this situation, Rowen did not know what to trust or do.

— Rowen, quickly.

Morgana’s voice whispered in her ears.

— Rowen, take his heart out.

A witch’s whisper.

A poison that clouded the mind.

Rowen stared at Nike’s pale face. All warmth was already lost from it.

Rowen.

Rowen.

Rowen.

Rowen.

Rowen.

‘No. Now is not the time to hesitate.’

She shook her head hard.

Nike still showed no sign of waking up.  

Far away, the three hunters had slain the beast, but they too had fallen.

The Witch of Distortion at last had struck down the condemned, and was dragging the body towards her.

The witch was right in front of her. The condemned’s body rotted away into decay.

Morgana was no longer able to act.

And Rowen couldn't resist the witch either.

The Silver Blades’s main force was gone.

All would die at this rate, and Nike would be taken.

The only person that remained in this situation was her weak and powerless self.

Only she could save Nike.

She had to choose.

Stab him. Or leave him.

The answer was clear from the start.  

Even if it was Morgana’s plan…

With Nike already dead, she had to try something.

If she disobeyed the Captain’s order, Nike would be gone forever. But if she gambled, there was still a chance.

— Rowen, trust me. Stab him.

Rowen shut her eyes tight against the voices, slapped her ears, shook her head.

When she closed her eyes, she saw something in the darkness.

It was the Captain bound to the Sun Cross, beautiful and grotesque, ruling as head of the Order.

‘If she truly were an ally, she would not need such bonds. There is rot in her. The master always cursed her, and despised her. It almost felt like hatred. Could I trust her? Should I? What would he say if he were here? Think like him, think like him, think like him, think, think, think, think, think…’

“Haa, haa, huff…”

Her breath came ragged.

It gradually became harder to trust anyone.  

Her mind reeled. Her thoughts blurred.

“Huff, no, no. Focus.”

When she couldn't decide, she always had one rule.

Trust only her own instinct.

— Rowen. Above all, trust your instinct. Even if it is my command. If you feel it is wrong, do not obey.

That had been Vigo’s teaching too.

And her instinct said to her.

‘Follow the code.’

Law and order were her gospel.

Even when her reason faltered, law and order stood firm.

And law and order now, meant the Captain’s command.

Rowen gripped the dagger with resolve.

“If you really aren’t an evil witch…!”

This was her last hope.

“Rise and fight, Nike—!!!”

Squelch—!