So I Became a Witch and Started Doing Daily Quests

Chapter 147: The Might of Allure

A familiar system notification sounded in Kana’s mind, but as she glanced at the task panel, her expression froze.

“To take first place in this assessment? And it’s only a blue-tier quest?”

After just a brief pause, Kana quickly closed the character panel and refocused her attention on Lowe-Haig.

"First, no disposable witchcraft tools or witchcraft equipment exceeding regular mana limits are allowed—if you wish to store items, you may use the badge on your person as a temporary spatial device."

"Second, the assessment lasts forty-eight hours. If anyone wishes to withdraw during the process, simply activate your badge."

"Third, apprentices may attack one another without restrictions on witchcraft. In life-threatening situations, say the two key words 'I surrender,' and the secret realm will automatically eject you."

"Fourth, each Swamp Demon Toad tongue counts as one credit; badges dropped from other apprentices count as ten credits."

"Fifth, for every additional hour spent in the secret realm, fifty credits are awarded."

"Beyond that, the other rules within the secret realm are for you to discover on your own. And—if you don’t want to die in there, make sure you’ve practiced the password. Don’t let yourself die without even saying it."

After Lowe-Haig finished explaining all the rules, the atmosphere on-site turned heavy.

After all, this was an assessment trial where people could easily die. Though saying the password would allow one to exit the secret realm, it also meant forever forfeiting the final reward of the trial—

“If there are no other questions, then jump in.”

Hearing such a direct start, everyone was momentarily stunned. But Kana, who had prepared in advance, immediately leapt into the mercury whirlpool. Vivian followed right behind her.

Not only the two of them—apprentices from the Black Bone Forest, having home-field advantage, also reacted swiftly, turning into fleeting shadows as they plunged into the seemingly bottomless mercury whirlpool—

“Splashhhh—”

With rushing water, the pervasive silver-white surroundings, and the stench of rot filling her nose, about ten seconds passed before Kana, the first to dive into the mercury whirlpool, could finally see the scene within the secret realm.

“So this is the Swamp Secret Realm—”

Endless green shrubs and rugged trees of varying heights stretched before her. As her feet began to sink into the muddy terrain, in an instant, a pair of green butterfly wings spread swiftly from her back.

With a gentle push of her toes, Kana fluttered her wings and easily escaped the swamp’s pull, landing atop a relatively thick tree.

“I command you with my will, summon—the Celestial Sparrow.”

“I command you with my will, summon—the Hundred-Eyed Mirror Demon.”

As the contract magic circle emerged before Kana, the Celestial Sparrow and the Hundred-Eyed Mirror Demon, already following her mental command, swiftly flew to her side.

With a flash of milky-white light, a ray imbued with purifying power, “Sacred Blessing,” shot out from the white jade on the Celestial Sparrow’s forehead and entered Kana’s body.

Next, the Celestial Sparrow carefully deployed a purification barrier, enveloping both Kana and itself.

The Hundred-Eyed Mirror Demon didn’t idle either. It cast a mirrored illusion, transforming Kana’s presence into that of an ordinary tree—perfectly blending into the Swamp Secret Realm.

“Master, this place reeks of curses and pollution. If we don’t find a way to leave soon, Afu’s purification barrier won’t hold for long.”

“Curses and pollution?”

Upon hearing this and recalling the sacrificial apprentice incident in the Black Bone Forest a few months back, Kana’s instincts were immediately alert.

“Is the pollution you’re sensing from the Dim Sun?”

“No, it feels more like an artificial contamination simulated using dark-elemental mana.”

“What about the curses?”

“Also artificially cast, and all chronic curses.”

After hearing the Celestial Sparrow’s explanation, Kana was somewhat relieved.

Since the pollution had nothing to do with the Church of the Dim Sun, then it was surely a deliberate setup by the Black Bone Forest.

As for the reason, Kana surmised it was a method to raise the difficulty of the assessment.

“Silver Mirror, keep the illusion up at all times. Don’t let anyone discover us.”

“Understood, Master. (Serious face.)”

With a light flutter of butterfly wings, and seeing that no other apprentices had been transported to the same area, Kana concluded that her current location was relatively safe.

According to Richard-Eva, during the “Joint Examination of the Three Schools,” each apprentice’s location in the secret realm was completely random.

Thus, to avoid ambushes, Richard-Eva had advised Kana to enter early. This would allow her to familiarize herself with the environment and reduce the risks of the trial.

Determined to develop cautiously in the early stage, Kana, concealed by the Hundred-Eyed Mirror Demon’s illusion, began scouting the area.

After all, to earn more credits, she needed to find where the Swamp Demon Toads lived and begin the hunt.

“Swamp Demon Toads usually inhabit watery environments, so locating a swampy water source is key—”

Boom—Just as Kana, veiled in the mirror illusion, carefully searched for a water source, a black shadow suddenly pounced toward her.

“Whoosh—”

With a flicker of light, the Hundred-Eyed Mirror Demon instantly activated **Short-Distance Teleportation**, taking Kana five meters back and to the right.

“Pretty fast escape.”

With the black shadow now exposed, Kana could finally see the assailant clearly.

“It’s a Black Bone Forest apprentice.”

Nearly 1.9 meters tall, bald, flat-nosed, eyes shaped like inverted triangles, and the left half of his face nearly covered in bizarre black tattoo totems—a fiercely savage-looking male apprentice was glaring at Kana.

Thump-thump-thump-thump—A barrage of iron fists, reeking of earth and blood, came crashing in. Without hesitation, a green protective barrier, **Flourishing Guard**, formed instantly in front of Kana.

His fists struck the barrier. Though it looked fragile, it didn’t even crack upon impact.

However, the sheer force behind the strike sent Kana flying like a kite with a broken string.

What a tough shield.

Though he could see through illusions, the Black Witch Apprentice couldn’t clearly discern Kana due to the Hundred-Eyed Mirror Demon’s powerful concealment. But his sharp senses warned him—despite taking a punch, his opponent remained completely unharmed.

Thud—

Kana flew back about ten meters before crashing into a thick tree, finally dissipating the immense force from the blow.

Though her blood surged slightly, her defense held firm under the protection of **Flourishing Guard**, which had already reached the maximum level for a Tier 3 Witch Apprentice.

“Silver Mirror, no need to maintain the illusion anymore.”

Gazing at the male apprentice’s arms, thicker than Kana’s waist and covered with deep black triangular scales, and his pair of deep green gemstone-like vertical pupils—combined with his uncanny ability to pierce illusions—Kana quickly deduced that he must be a bloodline-oriented witch apprentice with the **Barrier-Breaking** ability.

Such an ability was a natural nemesis for illusion-magic creatures like the Hundred-Eyed Mirror Demon.

“Hm? So you’re a female apprentice? Interesting.”

As the illusion finally faded, revealing a slender figure under a wide wizard’s hood, the Black Witch Apprentice got a full view.

Seeing this, Watson—known as “The Butcher” within the Duling Mercenary Guild—showed no mercy. He unleashed the bloodline power of the **Barrier-Breaking Blood Crocodile**, raising his massive, black-scaled fist to launch another full-force attack at the seemingly delicate figure before him.

“My favorite prey is weak little female apprentices like you—”

His fist moved like the wind. Watching his closing figure and the cruel, twisted smile on his face, Kana’s eyes narrowed. While continuing to channel **Flourishing Guard**, her slender hand gently removed her wide wizard’s hood.

In that instant, her smooth black hair danced in the wind, and a face as exquisite as one carved by the gods appeared before Watson’s eyes.

“Mind... Allure—”