We ascended the stairs and went inside.

A spacious room.

I could see a candlestick lamp lighting up the room.

The way it glows

I guess theyre using magic energy as an energy resource.

In the center of the room is a wooden low table.

The majority of the furniture and furnishings appear to be wood-based.

Their appearance feels like those stylish Nordic antiques.

As for the Witch, she sank deep on her sofa with her staff leaned against the side table beside her.

[Wait a little bit.]

Waiting for a while, a golem appeared from the back of the room.

Its holding four chairs in both of his hands.

The golem quickly puts the chairs down at regular intervals.

[By all means. Please sit.]

She urged us to sit on the chairs.

The Witch held up a silver cup from the table beside her sofa.

[Do you all want something to drink?]

Seras asked with her gaze.

What should we do?

I

[Then, Ill gratefully accept it.]

replied so.

Perhaps, what Seras was worried about was the Witch mixing in sleeping pills and the likes in our drinks.

However, I want to show to them that I trust the Witch.

Of course, if I feel like somethings fishy, I intend to deal with it myself.

The golem arrived again, carrying silver cups on a tray this time.

These golems could also act as waiters huh.

Theyre quite dexterous.

It appears that it served us herb water.

Bringing the cup close to my mouth, I unceremoniously smelled it.

Its a scent that I know.

Its the same scent of the herb water that I drank in Monroy.

They must have used the same type of herb huh.

Acting as if Im gulping down the contents of the cup, I licked a little bit with the tip of my tongue.

At this angle, the Witch on the other side shouldnt be able to see my mouth.

Therefore, she shouldnt be able to think that Im just testing for poison first.

[.]

Theres no difference in taste from that herb water in Monroy.

It seems that its alright.

[I didnt put any poison in there, you know? Well, but its natural for anyone to be wary.]

Combing her glossy black hair with her hand, the Witch urges us.

[Its not like I want to offend you, so feel free to drink it. Well, feel free to test that for poison until youre satisfied.]

Her gaze was focused on Seras.

[Ah- Umm Excuse us for our rudeness]

Seras shrunk on her chair as she wrapped the cup in between her hands.

It seems shes also acting suspicious towards the Witch as she tested the cup if its poisoned.

On the other hand though, Eve and Liz just directly drank their cups without acting vigilant.

With her chin propped on her hand, the Witchs gaze sharply shot through Seras.

[You Youre Seras Ashrain, right?]

[You know me?]

From the information Ive been able to gather so far

The Witch must have been in a life of seclusion from the outside for at least a decade.

Even if she had started secluding herself ten years ago, Seras should be just around 9 years old at that time.

Even if she knew Seras at that time

How could she look at her grown-up appearance and immediately know that theyre the same person?

[..]

I thought of one theory why.

The way the Witch spoke

It doesnt feel like she has been isolated from the outside world for a long time.

In short

[You have some kind of means to know whats going on outside the Demon Zone?]

I asked a question that sounds vague enough that you wouldnt know if its really just a question or something that Ive concluded.

The Witch turned her body and crossed her legs.

[Thats right.]

And she readily admitted it.

The Witch then turned her gaze towards Slei for some reason.

[Well, its an ancient power that has been lost for a long time ago-]

[Like, a familiar?]

One of the Witchs eyebrows twitched.

[Im surprised that you know about familiars.]

[Im not entirely sure, but I have some hunch.]

Or rather, its actually just a guess.

Its just some random thought that popped out of my mind when I thought about those literary works with the fantasy genre.

In the world where Im from, there are lots of those literary works where those familiars were mentioned

[]

If I were to add one additional factor, it would be that the Witch looked at Slei just now.

Looking at the monster Slei

That smart girl must have learned of an ability to make use of monsters.

Thats what I read from her expression.

Snap!

Erika snapped her fingers.

[Its just as you said, this mistress is making use of familiars to gather information from outside the Demon Zone. I dont want to get involved with them, but there are some interesting things I could find out there too. Therefore, Im getting my familiars to gather information on a regular basis. By the way]

The Witchs gaze on my face fell down towards my robe.

[That monster under your robe must be your familiar?]

As I thought, shes aware of him.

[Hes my slime partner. I dont exactly know about familiars, but I dont know if I could even call him a familiar.]

[I see So, you dont know their exact definition nor how to use them huh.]

It seems that she was also trying to gauge how much knowledge I have.

She really is a shrewd Witch.

[Well, listen. Ill specially teach you Familiars are animals or monsters that were binded with a magical contract with its master. Not only do these familiars follow their masters orders, their master could also borrow their eyes and see the things that the familiars see. Its also possible to talk to someone in another place through the familiar but Thats pretty exhausting for both this mistress and my familiar, to the point that I think that using that ability cuts away our life span.]

The Witch shrugs.

[Therefore Well, I dont want to use something like that as much as I can. Im so tired after using that ability that I end up sleeping for a few days, you know?]

Then, Pigimaru cant be categorized as my familiar huh.

[I didnt make that magical contract with him. Its not that hes my familiar though, its just that hes my very important partner and my precious comrade.]

From inside my robe

[Pinyyuuu~]

He happily purred.

[Fuuuunnn Then, what about the horse over there with the Intermediary Crystal on it?]

Intermediary Crystal?

Does she mean that thing on the back of her neck?

[Do you know anything about Slei? We found her egg back in the Mills Ruins, and she hatched out of this egg after we entered the Demon Zone]

Yes, I was originally planning to ask her about Slei as well.

Since an opportunity to ask appeared, lets ask her now.

[I dont know if its a Divine Beast or a Magical Beast, but that child is a monster that even this mistress doesnt know. Say, do you mind if I examine her a bit later?]

[As long as Slei doesnt mind and she isnt in danger.]

With that, the Witchs mood got a little better.

She crossed her legs again.

[Thank you.]

She seems to be in a good mood, but shes still not smiling.

[Ara?]

The Witchs gaze turned to the side.

Her gaze shifted towards Liz.

[Ah My bad.]

It was the Witch who apologized.

[Even though you came from the south, all of you still went through the Demon Zone. You must have been tired, both physically and mentally.]

Liz nervously shrank down her body.

There were some tears blotting out from the corner of her eyes.

I see.

The Witch noticed that Liz is trying to stifle a yawn huh.

[Ah U- Umm]

[You dont have to apologize, Liz.]

I interrupted Lizs words.

[Youre just trying to stifle a yawn after all. Youre not being rude. Also, well I guess youll have to work on that apologizing hobby of yours too.]

With her legs completely stretched out, the Witch nodded.

[Thats right. How pitiful That child has become so sensitive that she has become more likely to listen to other people.]

With both of her hands, the Witch lifted her body from the sofa.

[Her self-esteem and self-affirmations are pretty much brought really down Its disgusting to imagine how she must have been treated.]

[For this reason, I wanted her to take some time in this place and heal herself.]

With her body still half-rising, the Witch stared at me with her half-closed eyes.

[Somehow, the way you speak makes me feel like you are leading my thoughts without me realizing it]

[You just feel so, right? Then, it may have been that its simply your imagination.]

The Witch pouted her lips.

[Do you mind if I ask something? How old are you now?]

As I honestly answered her question, the Witch frowned in response.

Incidentally, shes still in her half-rising posture until now.

[Are you kidding me?]

[In that case, how old are you?]

[This mistress has lived multiple times as long as you do.]

[Then, should I respect you since youre many times my senior? In that case, if you want me to speak with you with honorifics]

[Dont make me laugh, theres no need for that at all. Listen here, Touka. Even if someone has lived for a long time, those amount of years youve been piling up werent that great at all if you had wasted it on pointless things, right?]

Thats what she thinks huh.

Fuunnn I snorted.

[Im glad to know one of your thoughts. Now then From what you said earlier, is it alright for us to assume that youve arranged for a place we could sleep in for the time being?]

[Its as you say Alright then. All of you should get some rest too.]

The Witch finally shifts her half-rising posture and sat upright on the sofa.

Then, she called a golem and gave it some instructions.

[Ah, just so you know, this mistress cant provide a single room for each of the four of you, okay? I only have one guest room. One pair could clean up another room Erika used to rest in and use that room for yourselves.]

[Thats already enough for us.]

[After that-]

The Witch raises her index finger.

[Both of those rooms only have one bed. Therefore, you can decide among yourselves whether youre sleeping together or one of you wants to sleep on the floor.]

As expected, it would be better if Eve and Liz were to sleep together.

In that case

[]

I glanced towards Seras.

Nod, nod

Seras nodded twice towards me.

I guess I could consider that as an acknowledgement.

[Then, Seras and I will be sharing your old room.]