I could understand it. Even without Myungho translating by my side, the words were clearly audible. Yet, they were different from what Mother had taught me. How could this be?
“Someone’s asking a question, aren’t they? Did I make it too easy for you? In that case, I should make it a little uncomfortable for you. Hey, child with dragon bl**d. Was it you who ruined my creation?”
Her casual tone left me momentarily frozen as I tried to comprehend her words. The woman gestured in the air and lined up several swords in front of me before asking again.
“Excuse me for a moment. I don’t know who you are, but are you the one who buried bodies in this swamp? If so, were those bodies… legally obtained?”
“I didn’t ask you a question. And you haven’t answered mine yet. Follow the order. Once this child answers your question, then you can have your turn.”
Myungho attempted to inquire about her identity, but the mysterious woman swiftly placed a sword at his throat, silencing him.
Only then did I realize the situation we were in. Without any mages or archers, we were facing something absurd.
There was no warning, and her speed was incredible. Moreover, the soggy ground made it hard for me to process things quickly. In short, I couldn’t block her attacks with my abilities.
…I might be able to protect myself, but protecting Myungho as well is uncertain. If I rely solely on physical strength, I doubt Myungho could handle either me losing consciousness or defeating the woman alone.
“Answer. Someone’s waiting, you know. Or is this level not even dangerous for you?”
She hadn’t moved all her swords yet—just around eight of them. I don’t know their full power since I haven’t been hit by them yet.
d*mn, this is frustrating. I understood that I needed to answer her question first. It annoyed me that I couldn’t do anything, but I had someone to protect right now.
“…I destroyed it. Why? Are you upset because your cherished doll broke?”
Still, I didn’t want to just take it lying down. To draw all her attention to me, I provoked her.
Did it work? Her face showed no change, but all the swords aimed at Myungho now pointed at me.
“Why did you destroy it?”
Judging by the slight chill in her voice, my provocation succeeded. I prepared the earth with magic swirling around my horn, ready to intercept her blades anytime.
“Just because it wasn’t dying properly. The fault lies with whoever couldn’t k*ll it correctly in the first place.”
That seemed to irritate her enough that the swords flew toward me. As soon as I sensed them, I erected a wall of rock to block them. One blade I couldn’t stop with the wall, I caught with my hand.
Good craftsmanship. The refinement was perfect. But fundamentally, the power was lacking. My palm was slightly cut, but this barely counted as a wound.
“If you’re going to attack, do it properly. A baby would laugh at this.”
“You’re quite disrespectful, aren’t you? I’ve never tried making an artifact using dragon bl**d, but how about we give it a try?”
“If you’re confident, go ahead.”
I floated a few stone spears and drew my greatsword, assuming a stance to counter her. Initially, I was tense, but if this is all she has, maybe I can handle it.
Just as we were about to charge at the slightest movement, Myungho intervened to mediate.
“…Hold on! Didn’t you agree to listen to my question after hearing Alterra’s answer?”
He took back all the attention I’d managed to gather. Though I was annoyed, it seemed to work as the woman looked at Myungho and replied.
“Oh, that’s right. So, what was your question? I’ll hear you out since you waited politely.”
“First… Are you the one who buried bodies in this swamp? If so, were those bodies… legally obtained? I’d like to ask. And please lower your swords aimed at Alterra. Strictly speaking, the reason the bodies were disturbed lies with me.”
What is this idiot doing?! How does he plan to deal with her…?!
“Yes. Not all of them, but at least the ones I stabbed were done by me. And regarding legality… Yes. At least, I didn’t k*ll anyone alive or dig up someone else’s grave.”
“That’s good news… Thank goodness I worried unnecessarily…”
Though Myungho sighed in relief, he soon gulped as the slowly turning swords returned to him.
“In that case, explain what you meant by saying the destruction of my work was your fault. I’d like to hear the details.”
As I tried to step in to pull Myungho away, several swords appeared instantly, shattering the stone spears I had prepared.
“…Out of foolish curiosity, I approached the pool where you were creating your work. Something came out of my sword and possessed your creation, bringing it back to life. That’s why Alterra had no choice but to destroy it. Please forgive her.”
“A sword? What nonsense is this? What kind of sword do you have… Ah, are you talking about that sword-shaped thing?”
“What do you mean ‘sword-shaped thing’? Is it not a sword?”
“It wasn’t made from a sword. An object holding a soul can’t possibly be a sword, can it? Someone must have disguised it. By the way, did you say Alterra? That hair… Dragon bl**d… The name Alterra… And that necklace. It seems everything fits. Ah, so you really did fuse with the dragon.”
“…You, did you know Mother?”
Listening to Myungho’s desperate explanation, for some reason, this woman seemed to know Mother.
The woman, who had withdrawn the swords embedded in the rocks and stopped threatening us, looked at me with a relaxed expression unlike before.
“Of course, I knew her. We exchanged blows often enough to be considered close friends. She was one of the few witches whose words I could understand among the eccentric ones. She named the girl here Alterra, didn’t she? Come here for a moment. I’d like to see that necklace.”
A witch? Mother was a witch? I was confused. While she did study magic, I never saw her use anything typical of witches.
“…Don’t let me call your real name.”
“How did you…!”
“We’re friends, aren’t we? Close enough to know the names of children she planned to have. Though I didn’t intend to have any, so she didn’t tell me.”
Since I couldn’t reveal my real name to Myungho, I gritted my teeth and reluctantly walked over, carefully handing her the necklace.
The woman slowly extended her finger to touch the necklace, infusing it with a blue glow.
“Indeed, this is worthy of Altina’s dream. Hmm, she kept her promise until the end, didn’t she.”
While stroking it in an annoying manner and muttering to herself, I thought this was truly the image of a witch. It was hard to believe Mother was friends with someone like her.
“Thank you for showing me something valuable. Now, go on. Your rudeness will be forgiven. You must have suffered a lot at such a young age. And you there, pay the price for your foolish curiosity.”
As I was lost in thought returning the necklace, suddenly a sword flew like lightning and struck Myungho’s forehead with its hilt.
“Myungho!”
“Originally, I should have turned you into another work… But since you gave me some fun, I’ll let it slide this time. Don’t interfere with my work again. And when a sign says not to do something, don’t.”
Staggering to his feet, Myungho apologized, promising not to do it again.
“Alright, if it says not to do something, then don’t. I don’t know what you’re looking for in this gloomy giant’s tomb, but I hope you find what you seek.”
After finishing her speech, the woman stuck her sword back into the pool and disappeared into the forest.
“My head is ringing… Ugh, Alterra, are you okay?”
“That’s what I should be asking! Are you alright?! Maybe your skull cracked?!”
Considering he got hit by the iron hilt of a sword, it wouldn’t be strange if it cracked. I was anxious about what to do if that happened, but Myungho, feeling his forehead, replied that he seemed fine.
“…I’m fine except for the headache, but I think I’ll rest a bit. Alterra, let’s go back. I’m worried about… Ouch.”
When he tried to take a step, I supported the wobbling figure. He didn’t look fine at all. When I asked, he admitted it straightforwardly.
“I can’t stand. My ears are ringing too. I’ll be fine if I rest for a while…”
Seeing him lean on my shoulder immediately made me worried. Could he have injured his brain?
No matter how skilled, carrying two and a half people’s weight while walking steadily through sinking mud wasn’t easy. The bandages wrapped around my legs also got wet, worsening my mood.
If only we had stayed home and eaten quietly. Despite that thought, recalling that they were searching for us sent shivers down my spine.
Even though there were no signs of strange magical flows.
While retracing our steps to where we originally came from, Myungho lost consciousness and collapsed.
“Hey, are you alright?! Hey!”
But soon, I forgot about that. His arm had accidentally touched my chest while falling.
Startled by the unfamiliar sensation, I tried to wake him up, but he was completely unconscious.
“Hey, wake up! What are you touching?!”
Ah, really. Since shaking him awake didn’t work, I eventually gave up and trudged forward.
It’s not good to forcefully wake an injured person anyway… What else can I do?
When we finally returned to where Akashi and Yuna were, they rushed to us as soon as they saw us.
Yuna was the only one in a hurry, it seemed.
“MYUNGHOO?! Alterra, what exactly happened… Oh, right. You can’t understand what I’m saying…!”
“Let’s lay the injured down first. We can hear the story later.”
