The Stagnant Witch’s Survival Method

Even though Silver Wand’s arm had been blown off, he still had some strength left.
The true value of a werewolf is when they fully transform into a wolf.
That’s the true source of their power and the strength of the werewolf rank.

But he didn’t even think of revealing that.
The golden barrier.
Although Silver Wand was a fool, he could discern the situation.

He felt at least a mid-rank presence, and among mid-ranks, one at the very top.
It was like the feeling of standing before his father.

Silver Wand felt his breath catch in his throat.

As if that wasn’t terrifying enough, when the witch correctly guessed his hometown and how he came here, he completely submitted.

‘Of all things, to encounter such a being!’

Silver Wand felt incredibly wronged, but there was no one to sympathize with his grievance.
After all, 90% of this situation was his own doing.
Standing before Silver Wand, who had bowed his head, Grace took the heart and looked at the werewolf.

‘How should I use this werewolf?’

There were various ways.
One way or another, a Rank 8 werewolf was a powerful asset.

He would be useful as a vanguard.
Ending her deliberation there, Grace asked for the werewolf’s name and then gave instructions.

“Silver Wand, you can act as you wish, but there’s one thing you can’t do: don’t harm innocent people recklessly.”
“…Why shouldn’t I harm those insects?”
“This is why evil-aligned beings meet bad ends.”

Grace smiled at Silver Wand, who clearly couldn’t understand, and turned away.
Now that she had gathered all the necessary materials, it was time for the promotion.
Her eyes sparkled.

**

Alright, I’ve finally gathered all the materials.
So I need to promote to Rank 8, but finding a place was quite difficult.

If I said a few words to the merchant guild, they could find a place right away, but I didn’t trust the merchant guild that much.
Probably every move of mine would be reported to the Witch Society… to Elder Elune.
Purchasing items might be fine, but conducting the promotion ritual was a different story.

Why is purchasing materials okay, you ask?
Because even the Witch Society doesn’t know the optimal materials for Rank 8 promotion.
Rank promotions often fail without knowing the cause, so there’s usually waste in materials and rituals.

They probably can’t even imagine that just a shining lily and a ghost’s heart are the most efficient way to promote to Rank 8.

This is something only someone like me, who knows all the promotion information for every rank in the game, can do.

“Well, I’ll have to do it in a more secretive place.”

Since I couldn’t use the merchant guild, I had to select a place that wouldn’t catch the Witch Society’s eye, even if it couldn’t guarantee safety.
The reason for avoiding the Witch Society’s gaze is that attempting promotion individually within a group is considered an impure act, and revealing information about better promotion materials was dangerous.

Knowledge itself is power and authority.

So I found an abandoned house on the outskirts of the city and tried the promotion there.
I stationed Silver Wand outside to chase away any vagrants.
I didn’t trust him, but I trusted the shield I possessed.
Even if he suddenly attacked while I was in the middle of promotion, I would have the leisure to wake up and counterattack.

Sitting quietly in place, I placed a single lily that actually reflected light and a ghost’s heart across from me.
Then, I contacted the demon.

-….

Soon, ‘it’ awoke.
That which harbors over a thousand malices.
That which contains over ten thousand pains.
The demon that holds over a hundred million despairs.

It opened its eyes and faced me.

“…”

Looking around, an indescribably bizarre space appeared.
Ah, so this is how it is.
In the game, it just showed an alert message and proceeded, but now that the promotion process had become reality, I could observe it in great detail.

A witch’s Rank 8 was a stage that opened up one possibility.
It allows closer approach to the demon, sharing more powers.
The risk of invasion increases, but there’s much to gain.

The fully awakened demon’s eyes turned to me.
That gaze contained malice that would have made any normal mental fortitude crumble and lose sanity.

I chuckled at the sight.

“What, you want to fight already?”

Actually, demons are somewhat noble beings.
Beings who once reached high ranks but went mad or fell for various reasons, dropping to this bottom level.

They try to invade witches through the limited method of contracts, barely stealing bodies.
And even those bodies are damaged, unable to attempt proper resurrection. Losers.
That’s the true nature of demons.

There’s no need to revere these fools as great beings.

As if sensing my thoughts, the demon writhed ominously.

-You are impure.
“Look who’s talking, causing trouble in my house? Just serve the owner properly instead of making a fuss.”
-…

Hearing that, the demon looked perplexed.
It’s expression seemed to say, ‘What on earth is she relying on to act like this?’
But I have plenty to rely on.
These demons can’t directly steal bodies anyway, they can only gradually corrupt the mind to barely take over.
Why should I tremble in fear?

But perhaps because I treated the demon too lightly.
It counterattacks.

Stab- Stab stab stab-!

“Kyaa!”

Black tentacles piercing my body.
I trembled at the sudden pain.
Is this possible because we’re meeting directly inside the barrier, not beyond it?
I didn’t expect the demon to try torture, this was unexpected.

Stab- Stab stab stab stab-!

Terrible pain pierced through my entire body, but I was still standing.
My mental fortitude was too noble to succumb to this.
Even if I were subjected to real torture, not this ‘fake’ torture, my mental fortitude would likely endure.
Not that I want to experience such a thing or plan to.

The demon was dumbfounded by my appearance, not letting out a single groan or averting my gaze.

-Damn bitch, so that’s why your mental barrier wouldn’t crumble.
“Ah, you mean that crazy pounding? Thanks to that, I was a bit tired.”
-No one but you would express that as just being tired.

I considered irritating the demon that was showing an increasingly bored reaction towards me, but gave up.
It would only tire me out if it suddenly throws a fit and rushes to settle things, forgetting about the contract and everything else.
Even knowing this torture is fake, pain is still pain.
Of course, the demon must have nearly reached its limit too.

As if confirming my prediction, the demon took a step back first.

-Young witch, I know you came to me for a higher rank.
“So?”
-Submit to me, and you will reach unimaginable realms.
“Why should I? I can go on my own. Stop talking nonsense and quickly promote me to Rank 8.”
-…

Can the demon read my thoughts?
As if it had discerned the sincerity in what I just said, the demon’s form writhed a few times and then began to engulf me.

-Young witch, your wish shall be granted.

As the demon’s form poured into my body, I soon lost consciousness.

**

I opened my eyes in the same place I was sitting.
This time too, I was drenched in cold sweat.
Should I carry a towel around normally?
But at the same time, I felt refreshed.
It must be the effect of my body being strengthened as I rose in rank.

As I shook off my sweat-soaked clothes, I recalled what had changed as I rose to Rank 8.

First, the basic granted powers are strengthened.
In the case of , I can now use up to Rank 8, and if I take more risks, I can even use up to Rank 7 in my case.
Similarly, has doubled in speed, can reach higher altitudes, and gained enough agility to fight while flying on a broom.

As for , there’s no need to consider it since it’s essentially a self-destructive skill.

I recall the new power unique to Rank 8 witches.

A power that reverses life.
From the time this exists, aging slows down dramatically.
Moreover, if one is already old, it even makes them younger.
As one rises in rank, the power of disharmony strengthens to the point of reversing age.

Right now, Agrasha and Elender had the appearance of late 20s, early 30s ladies, while Elune had the appearance of a woman in her 20s, didn’t she?
Moreover, due to not aging, theoretically from Rank 6, one could achieve immortality.
Of course, that’s just theory, as witches have to constantly struggle with demon invasion, so they’re not destined for longevity.

“I might have some side effects though.”

If I rise in rank too quickly, there was a high possibility that I would maintain this girl’s appearance due to the power.
Well, it wasn’t particularly important. I had no desire whatsoever to become a mature woman with this body.

Next, the power granted through proper dialogue with the demon.
Actually, it wasn’t a dialogue but a one-sided torture, but the demon had to hand over power as a price for attempting torture in violation of the contract terms.

However, the name of the granted power is somewhat unexpected: .
In other words, the power to cut through something with a sword.
The fact that this is a demon’s power, does it mean that the demon inherent in my body was a swordsman before falling?

“Shall I try it out?”

This was an abandoned building anyway, so it didn’t matter if I cut anything.
When I used the Flash Sword power towards a random piece of wood, it was cleanly cut.

-Slice.

Seeing this, I then used it on a scattered stone.
This too was cleanly cut.
Judging by the casting speed, reaction, and power…

“This is quite a good power, isn’t it?”

It could be used for one-sided attacks, and it could also be useful if there’s something to cut in daily life.
Seeing the demon’s form, I thought it would give some grotesque power like , but I received quite a good power.

After checking the newly acquired powers, I came out of the abandoned building in a refreshed mood.
Now I should be able to use Rank 8 magic without burden, and naturally, my body’s strength has increased as I rose to a higher rank.
I should be able to withstand the recoil of more powerful magic.
From now on, I should read Rank 7 magic books.

“Have you come out?”
“Yes.”

As I came out, Silver Wand greeted me.
Fortunately, or perhaps he’s still hiding his intentions, he didn’t take any action during my most vulnerable period.
There’s no need to particularly trust or distrust based on that, but I guess I could give him one task.

“I’ll give you money, so find a suitable large open space and building.”
“Pardon?”
“No need to think too hard, it’s just finding a place where multiple people can train.”

Hearing this, Silver Wand made an expression of even greater incomprehension.
Seeing his dumbfounded face made me want to find it myself, but then again, all my movements would be detected by the Witch Society.
It was better to indirectly find a place through this guy to avoid problems.

“What are you doing? Not moving?”
“I, I understand.”

After sending Silver Wand off, I mounted my broom.
Other witches would still think I’m Rank 9, so I shouldn’t fly around too fast carelessly, but I wanted to try a bit of speed.

Whoosh-!

I could fly through the sky so fast that the surroundings were barely visible.
Before I knew it, I had arrived at the lodgings where the witches stay.

There, I could face a not-so-welcome face.

“Kayla.”
“Nice to see you, Grace.”

The dirty smell of blood reaches here.
She said that while licking her glistening lips.

“I’m sorry about last time, it was something we did because our hearts were way ahead of us. As an apology, if there’s anything you want, we can grant it. Like promoting to Rank 8, or if you need more human sacrifices.”
“Sigh…”

I sighed.
Does she think this can be overlooked with just one apology?
And all the things she offered are meaningless.

And, as I rose to Rank 8, I instinctively knew.
That I had no need to fear her.
You might say, even if I’m not afraid of Kayla alone, what about Carmia? Would she dare to intervene recklessly when Elune promised to protect me?
There was a high possibility that conflict with them would intensify, but they’re not allies to be with anyway, and they’re enemies that need to be rooted out.

So I spoke firmly.
To this dirty, disgusting witch who kills humans, extracts their blood, and bathes in it.

“Get lost.”