CH 113

Witches' woe

Translated by SoundDestiny

Edited by Zil

“Witches ……?　You mean the Six Witches of Doom?”

The emperor’s words made Raidorl nod his head.

The six witches of doom are the monsters that caused the “Great Calamity” three hundred years ago, and drove most of the prosperous countries to ruin.

Even after the Great Calamity, the witch’s infamy has become the stuff of legends and fairy tales. It has become a legend and a fairy tale, and is even used to train children to say, ‘If you tell a lie, the witch will take you away and eat you from the head.’ 

“I’ve heard that most of the Six Witches of Doom have already been defeated.　Akasha of Fire, Carmelan of Water, Hoofle of Wind, Osman of the Earth, …… and Neimilia of the Dark. Even the “light” Graslead, whose defeat has not been confirmed, but has not appeared in history for over a hundred years. Isn’t the plague of witches already over?”

“Oh, you know a lot about witches, don’t you?”

“It’s……I’m a holy sword holder myself. I’ve at least looked into the lore of the past that has something to do with the Holy Sword.”

Of course Raidorl doesn’t say that it’s because he has one beside him – he just shrugs his shoulders and says something deceptive.

Zacharias raised his eyebrows slightly, but continued without pursuing the matter.

“You’re right. Most of the witches who have caused so much trouble since the great disaster three hundred years ago have been defeated. But they will return in the not-too-distant future.”

“Ha?! What do you mean?”

“The Alsatian Empire was one of the first to recover from the Great Calamity, and since then it has made the defeat of witches a national goal. We have traced the history of the fallen country to find out the history before the appearance of witches, and we have also traced the location of the Holy Sword, the weapon to defeat witches. And then I came across a one terrifying/daunting fact……. It’s not the first time a witch has wreaked havoc in the past three hundred years. It has been occurring many times in a regular cycle.”

“…………!”

Raidorl gulped and fell silent.

The history of this continent was cut off by witches three hundred years ago, and there is little record of what happened before that. There is no one who knows what it was like before the witch came along.

Even Raidorl, who knew a witch called Neimilia, had never heard of her sisters’ resurrection.

“Once every three hundred years or so, a cursed night called the Resurrection of the Witches comes to this world. There comes a cursed night called the Resurrection of the Witches, when six witches are resurrected to bring misfortune to the world.”

“…… You’re saying that resurrection is coming soon?　How can you be so sure?”

“The signs are in front of us. The activation of the Holy Sword.”

Zacharias picked up Durandal, which was propped against the wall.

The holy sword of fire pulsed loudly in response to Zacharias.

The three holy swords of Durandal, Claíomh Solas, and the Gjallarhorn…… the Empire are destined to be their owners. So is your Dáinsleif. In the past, several holy swords have had their holders in the same period, as we know from the discovery of history books before the great calamity. It’s always just before the resurrection of the witches.”

“So you’re saying that…..the holy sword needs a wielder to confront the witches?”

“That’s the way it is. In the north of the continent, in the teachings of the holy religion, it is said that the holy sword was given by God to confront the six witches of ruin. So it stands to reason that they would be active at a time when the witches are coming back”

“I see…..”

Raidorl nodded with a mysterious look on his face.

He doesn’t know how much he can trust what the emperor has said. But it seems to make sense if he connects all the clues.

The Empire’s hegemony to date has not been motivated solely by ambition. It was the result of a desire to save the world in Zacharias’ own way, in anticipation of the return of the witches.

“Did you let me go without killing me because you knew I would lose the duel so that you could use me against the witches?”

“Partially correct. If you were useless, I would have killed you……. Well, that’s about as good as it is. I’m going to keep you alive for future growth”

“Ahhh………. I’m so grateful, I could cry”

Raidorl sniffed disapprovingly and crossed his arms.

He doesn’t like to be talked down to, but it’s not a bad feeling to be recognised by Zacharias, who is by far the strongest man in the continent.

With his brow furrowed with conflicting emotions, Raidorl looked away from the emperor who was sitting directly across from him.