I Became the Strongest With The Failure Frame 【Abnormal State Skill】As I Devastated Everything - Chapter 161: The Stony Witch
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Chapter 161: The Stony Witch

There wasnt any signal from Seras.

When the Witch tells a lie, clear your throat.

She didnt do that, so she meant what she said huh.

The Witch isnt on the Goddess side.

I guess you can say that its almost certain.

This eliminates any concerns that might arise.

It appears that I could still keep negotiating with her as we are doing now.

There arent any signs that Seras and the others would speak out.

Im in charge of all negotiations with the Witch.

I cant make any blunder here.

[Well then, lets go back to my previous question.]

Saying so, the Witch repeated her question.

[Whats your purpose for coming here, in Erikas abode?]

[I have two purposes for coming here.]

[Two? Youre quite greedy, arent you?]

[Its because Im human.]

[Funnnn. Then, why dont you say it? I guess Ill at least hear you out.]

[The first one would be to shelter the Leopardkin and the Dark Elf behind me.]

Clack

The tip of her staff slightly jumped up.

[Hmm Continue.]

[They are being chased for some reasons. If they werent allowed to take shelter in here, they wouldnt have any choice but to continue living like a hopeless fugitive outside.]

As if shes ascertaining it, the Witch turned her gaze towards the two of them.

[Arent you and that High Elf over there sheltering them enough?]

[Id also like to request if you could temporarily shelter me and Seras. However, if you could help us out with our other purpose for coming here, the two of us will be out of here in no time. And for the record Im not going to divulge any information about you to anyone. Disseminating your information to anyone wont benefit me at all.]

Eve and Liz looked a little agitated.

Its probably because

The two of us will be out of here in no time.

They probably reacted to this part of what I said.

Propping her body on her staff, the Witch slouched forward.

[YouYou seem like you have quite the confidence in your conversational skills, dont you?]

[Well I wont say that I dont have confidence in it. Thats also the reason why Im the leader and negotiator of this party.]

[So, your self-confidence isnt just papier-mch faade huh. It also doesnt look like the bravado of a fool who doesnt know his place. Fuuuunnnn I guess my impression of you isnt that bad so far.]

[Im just being careful not to offend the Witch that may shelter them from now on. Im being careful about that.]

[Dont make me laugh.]

Ive been feeling it a little bit earlier but

It seems like that Dont make me laugh. is her favorite phrase. (T/N: / Shoushi)

However, Dont make me laugh would normally be said

When you feel like laughing.

When you feel somethings amusing.

Those words were used in such cases.

However, shes not smiling at all.

Thats right The Witch hasnt shown a smile even once.

She didnt show a smile even in reaction to emotions other than happiness.

Whether its a smile of ridicule

A wry smile

An ironic smile

Or even a self-mocking smile

Theres none of that.

The Witch who doesnt smile asked.

[Then, whats your other purpose?]

I take out three paper canisters from my backpack.

[Its these things.]

[What are those? Are those maps or something?]

[These are spellbooks.]

[What do you mean by showing me that? Do you want Erika to teach you how to read those spellbooks? And you went to all the trouble of going in a place like this, just what kind of spell do you want me to teach you?]

[Forbidden Curses.]

In that moment, the Witchs complexion changed.

[Hehhh]

[Im looking for someone who could read these. I suppose if its the Witch that knows too much that shed be called a taboo, she should be able to read these.]

[And you have these three That means, you]

The Witch looks like she already guessed it.

[You wanted the power of these Forbidden Curses to kill Alions Goddess?]

[Thats right.]

The Witch shrugs her shoulders.

[Thats impossible.]

The way she said it just now.

Its not- that she doesnt know.

She knows, but she will not teach me.

The nuance of her voice is closer to that.

Seras also didnt give any signal.

I could only feel hesitation and confusion coming from her.

It looks like shes not sure whether she should give the signal or not.

Thats what I felt.

Thats impossible.

This sounds like

I cant do it so its impossible.

rather than

I personally dont want to do that.

If thats the case

The Witch words were indeed not a lie.

Moreover, she said about being having these three.

She definitely has some kind of information about them.

If she doesnt have it, she cant talk like that about such things.

[You look like you know about these.]

[Thats correct. Well-]

Still in her slouching posture, the Witch squinted her bluish purple eyes.

[I dont know if Im the appropriate person who should teach you about the knowledge in Forbidden Curses.]

[How do I get anyone to teach me this?]

[I dont know?]

[Understood.]

The Witch snorted.

[What is?]

[In that case, I want to go back to talking about sheltering the Leopardkin and the Dark Elf first.]

As for the Forbidden Curses, I dont think I could get ahold of them yet.

Then, Ill go negotiate about this first.

Ill just go and take ahold of my other target.

[Whats the reason why Erika should shelter all of you? What would Erika get for sheltering all of you? But well, I would have usually cut you all off about that topic from the start.]

Closing her eyes, the Witch started contemplating.

Before long, she opened her eyes.

Her cold purple eyes drifted towards Eve and Liz.

[That Leopardkin over there, are you a child of the Speed family?]

[No other than me. I am-]

Eve takes a step forward.

[Eidim Speeds daughter, Eve Speed.] (T/N: / Eidimu)

Im the negotiator, but that doesnt mean Im forbidding the others from negotiating with others.

Thats what Ive told all of them before.

Theyre free to speak their thoughts out.

[Eve Speed]

The Witch

As I thought

had an expression like that.

[What about Eidim and Paqui?]

Eves answer delayed a beat behind in response to the Witchs question.

[My father and mother are dead.]

[Im sorry that Ive asked something painful.]

[No, its a fact after all.]

Eve raises her arm as if to show it to her.

[This map you gave to my family. I followed it and came here. If you ever need the power of the Witch of Taboos, use this map and rely on the Witch. My father Eidim instructed me that.]

[Its because Ive been in the care of the Speed family before. But, I see so Eidim and Paqui died huh]

Its nothing but a tinge, but I could see some sadness on the Witchs face.

Her expression just now.

It seems like she had a good relationship with Eves parents.

[That means youre that young girl at that time huh.]

[Did I already meet you back then?]

Eve said she didnt know of her though.

[So, you dont remember huh. Well, I would have guessed so. Ive only met you back when youre still an infant.]

[So thats what you mean.]

[I havent heard of the Speed family since that time huh]

Eve clenches her fist.

[One day, our tribe was suddenly raided and annihilated Im the only one left behind.]

Immediately after

[By whose hands?]

I could feel a gloomy, quiet violet flame imbued in the Witchs voice.

Theres a sudden change in the tone of her voice.

On the other hand though, Eves voice sounds dejected.

[I remembered that the marauders were still young children but]

[Name.]

The tone of her voice sounds more of a command now.

Say the name of those children.

The Witch urged her to do so.

[No, I dont know their names. I only vividly remembered that they were unusually strong for their age but]

Eve heaves out a sigh.

[Thats all the things I know, so I couldnt exact my revenge even if I wanted to Their faces would have completely changed by now.]

The Witch softly clicked her tongue.

She seems to be a more compassionate type than I thought.

If you could get angry for someone that youve been close to, you could say that youre compassionate.

[After that, I, the only survivor, was wandering around this continent. And then I met Liz, who was just like me and was wandering alone.]

Eve placed her hand on Lizs small shoulder.

[We began our journey together in search for a place to rest in But one day, we were discovered by a group of slave traders. There was no way for us to run away from them when they outnumber us. Thereupon Trying to hang unto the final thread of hope, we tried to take refuge in the Demon Zone. However]

Eve weakly shook her head.

[The monsters in the Demon Zone are far more terrifying opponents than the group of slave traders. We dont have any choice other than to return back outside, but the slave traders who were waiting in ambush attacked us and we got caught.]

Eve told the Witch what happened since then.

Being sold as a slave in Monroy and then, becoming a Blood Champion.

That he desperately fought so that she could buy Lizs and her own freedom back.

After being betrayed by the Duke who runs the Blood Colosseum, they were then saved by us

The Witch listened in silence.

When she finished listening to Eves story, the Witch shifted her gaze to Liz.

[You, whats your surname?]

[Im sorry Ive only known my first name, Lizbeth.]

[Then, what about your par-]

The Witch stops her mouth before she could finish speaking.

She probably thought that it was a terrible topic to ask.

[I Before I met Big Sister, I lived in a Dark Elven village hidden in the middle of a forest.]

Pausing for a bit, Liz continued speaking.

[I was still just a child back then, so I didnt know who my real parents were. I dont have any memories of them at all I learned later that the name Lizbeth was the name of the deceased daughter of the one who took custody and raised me.]

Then, a streak of fear ran across Lizs face.

[One day, that village It was annihilated by Humans claiming to be Alions cavalry I didnt know the reason why they attacked though]

Alion.

The country where that f*cking goddess lives in.

Its a country with a really bad image

Peeking at her with irritation, the Witch speaks.

[But you managed to survive, and after that You wandered off on your own. Then, you met Eve while youre wandering about.]

[Yes. And then]

Liz looked towards me.

[I was in a dangerous situation but Touka-sama saved me. As for how he saved me, it was exactly as Big Sister said.]

The Witch finally has blatant irritation on her face.

[I wouldnt say that all Humans were this vulgar but the way they look and treat the Elves and the Demi-Humans were something I could only frown upon. No matter how many years have passed, it seems that their stupidity still remains. In that sense, I was correct to distance myself from their vulgarness. However, well..]

The Witch looks down.

[No, I would have normally turned you away but this is quite troubling. One of them is Eidims daughter while the others a girl of the same race who lost her home]

Weakly shaking her head, the Witch began to ask herself.

[No no no, wait a second? In the first place, how much of what were talking about now were believable? However she wouldnt know about the story with Eidim if shes not from the Speed family Now that you mention it, I could see traces of Eidim on your face]

It seems that shes conflicted.

I think I can afford to use my skill now that shes like that.

Not that I would though.

[..]

However, this plan could be considered a success.

A Leopardkin with connections to the Witch

A girl of the same race with an unfortunate past

If it was just me and Seras, it probably wouldnt be like this.

I probably wouldnt be able to draw away from conflict either.

For instance

I wont teach about the Forbidden Curses. Im sorry, but I dont trust you, so leave.

Its possible that we would end up being kicked out like that.

She may seem sympathetic to others, but the realist side of her seems to be stronger.

Unless theres a good reason, we wouldnt be able to draw her emotions to our side.

So that we could draw her emotions to our side, you could say that Eve and Liz would be the necessary factor for that aspect.

[Fine.]

Looking like she finally made up her mind, the Witch looked up.

[For the time being, I guess Ill compromise with that.]

However, she looks like shes somehow unconvinced with something.

[But can I just say one thing? No, its not like I need your permission to say it anyway, right? Eve and Liz You do understand that Touka-sama over there might have used the two of you just to bring me unto his side, right?]

It seems that she has already thought about it that far huh.

As I thought, the Witch is quite perceptive.

However

[I dont care.]

Eve emphatically said.

[Even if that were the case, I dont care if Touka was using me. This man has done more for me compared to what I think I could do for him. Most of all, this man has put himself in danger to safely bring us here. In that case, you could say that we were just using Touka ourselves.]

[I- I also]

Liz continues.

[I- I wouldnt mind if its Touka-sama that were using me! Umm It would be a good thing if I could be of use to Touka-sama though]

[How long has it been since the two of you met Touka there?]

The Witch asked.

Eve honestly told her how long weve been travelling together.

[Fuuunnnnn Youve built quite a rapport with them with just those few days. In that case Its either that guy Touka over there is quite the softie Or one hell of a swindler.]

I snorted.

[I think its more like the latter.]

[Dont make me laugh.]

The Witch taps the floor once with her staff.

[It seems that youre quite the shrewd man huh Not bad.]

The Witch turned on her heels.

[Well, you also didnt unreasonably destroy my golem No, that could also be according to your calculations but Yes, its so that you could acquire the trust of this mistress]

Peering over her shoulder, the Witch turned towards us.

[However that Human Touka over there, is quite an interesting person. It might not be a bad idea for me to interact with you for some time. I was getting a bit bored lately anyway.]

The Witch spun the staff in her hand once.

[Fine. Ill invite all of you into Erikas home.]

Alright.

This clears up one of our two objectives.

Thats not a bad start.

Or rather, you could say that this is actually quite good.

Well It seems like the Witch has seen through our aim and dared to accept it though.

In any case, we succeeded in getting hold of a path.

All thats left for me to do is make use of that path to gain the trust of the Witch and well be able to achieve our goal here in the Golden Demon Zone.

Thats right

Its so that I could get closer to those incantations that that f*cking Goddess prohibited.

Whats more, the Witch has already revealed one important piece of information about the Forbidden Curses.

I dont know if the person herself is aware of it but

From what I could tell, that wasnt confirmed yet.

It seems that Seras also doesnt know about that.

It has always just been probably until now.

I conceal my mouth with the palm of my hand.

Thats right.

The Witch asked me before.

You wanted the power of these Forbidden Curses to kill Alions Goddess?

I almost involuntarily grinned again.

Those words could also mean that

If its the Forbidden Curses

I need to understand that so that I could defeat that f*cking goddess, right?

A door at the top of a wooden staircase opened and the Witch emerged from it.

[Come in.]

Holding Lizs hand, Eve looked towards me.

Her eyes look like shes asking for permission.

I nod back and the two of them start walking towards the stairs.

Thereupon, Slei followed behind them.

[Lets also go, Seras.]

[Yes.]

Seras replied. She then trotted off and leaned her body close towards me, hiding her voice as she whispered.

[It seems that we somehow managed to get into her pocket.]

[Yeah. For the time being, I think weve been able to get her to shelter Eve and Liz- So, you could say that were off to a good start.]