CH 12

“Master, I’ve collected the donations from the bathhouse for this week. Take a look!” Lara spread the donations out.

On display were several articles of lustrous fur, sparkling magic stones, fragrant tree barks, carefully woven braided twine, and many other things. All of these items are high quality and seem overkill for the price of a hot spring. I was imagining vegetables, nuts, and stuff of that level.

“… Are you sure? You didn’t collect these by force, right?“ The was really entertaining the notion that Lara forcibly collected these from the villagers.

Perhaps the notice about the public bathhouse was so coercive that it caused all the villagers in the territory to donate out of dear.

I was doing this out of the goodness of my heart but this is making me look like a corrupt lord!

“Fufu, no need to worry, master. Thanks to the hot springs, the residents of the territory are much healthier which means they get to hunt more monsters and do a lot more work.” Based on Lara’s accounts, the hot springs improved the villagers’ health which also affects their hunting and farming activities. Because of this, they have an abundant harvest.

(T/N) the author loves repeating the same things in the dialogue and then the descriptive narrations help

Hmmm, should I accept these?

“But still, the magic stones are amazing…”

Magic stones have a variety of uses in everyday life, they’re indispensable. They can be used to light up magic tools or as a source of energy to repel demons.

“Master, look at these magic stones!” Lara said, holding up a sparkling magic stone.

It was palm-sized, which is quite large. 

“Magic stones this big are rare! If we sell this at the royal capital, it could cover a month’s worth of expenses.“ Lara’s eyes sparkled as she shared her analysis of the donation from the villagers.

“I heard that demons at the border had much larger magic stones but doesn’t this mean that they’re way bigger than usual?”

But thinking about it, I’ve seen magic stones of this size.

“It looks like something my parents would carry at home.” (Yuo)

“Hmmm, that’s right. The Reinhardt family is known for buying and selling magic stones for generations!” Lara gives a high-tension reply.

Our household has a territory at the edge of the map where they have to kill monsters to collect magic stones. It’s the reason why magic decides our status in the family because magic aids with monster hunting. Magic = money, basically.

“If the Reinhardt household saw this, they’d be speechless,” Lara said with a smirk.

For sure, magic stones the size of the ones in front of us are quite rare. If father knew that another person had a steady supply of magic stones this size, he’d panic. I would love to see my arrogant father panic, actually.

“Even so, village chief-ojiisan and Hannah are surely doing a great job.” (Lara)

“They are!?” (Yuo)

“Yes, they are. They’re an unexpected talent discovery!” (Lara)

It was very surprising to hear that those two are the main monster hunters. Village chief-ojiisan was barely able to move on his own until recently and Hannah was a malnourished, pretty girl. I couldn’t imagine a feeble old man and a pretty girl cutting down monsters so quickly.

“Seeing is believing, master. Look outside!” (Lara)

"Hieeeee, what’s that?” (Yuo)

Lara pointed outside the mansion, there sat a head of a dragon about the same size as mine (head). It was glaring at me which made me scared.

It’s not alive, is it…?

“It’s an arch wyvern. A small, flying dragon.” (Lara)

(T/N) I’m assuming アークワイバーン /aakuwaibaan/ is arch wyvern like the arch in archduke. Also note that the word dragon doesn’t mean true, legit dragons but a word for the entire species. Correct me if I’m wrong.

“Don’t just calmly say that it’s an arch wyvern! By the way, who—” (Yuo)

“It seems the Village chief-ojiisan and his granddaughter, Hannah, hunted it down.” (Lara) 

Apparently, they killed an arch wyvern that appeared near the village. Though it was small, a dragon is still a dragon. I hear that only excellent adventurers can handle an extermination of this level. It’s hard to believe that an old man and a village girl could defeat such a dragon.

But also, it’s pretty odd to put a dragon’s head in someone’s garden.

“Yeah, apparently the village chief tossed Hannah, and the momentum when Hannah’s head hit the dragon knocked it down. As expected of the [Sword Saint], Sunrise-san.”

“Haa? Sword Saint?” (Yuo)

Lara calmly shared with a smile but my expression instantly froze. After all, the title [Sword Saint] isn’t suitable for someone who lives in such a dilapidated village.

“You mean village chief Sunrise is THAT Sunrise!? As in the Dragon Slaying Sunrise!? [Sunrise of Twilight]!!?” (Yuo)

“He’s introduced himself as such from the start, master.” (Lara)

“Well, touche but… No one would’ve ever thought such a legendary figure would live in a village like this. Would you? I thought he was just a normal old man.” (Yuo)

When I first met village chief-ojiisan, he had uncontrollable tremors due to old age and injury. Who would’ve thought that he was a legendary knight renowned for slaying dragons?

If you had known this, you should’ve told me as soon as possible, Lara.

By the way, Sunrise of Twilight is a vague title. It could either refer to the morning or the evening. 

(T/N) twilight in the morning is called dawn/sunrise while twilight in the evening is called dusk/sundown

“I also heard that Hannah-san is rapidly improving her sword skills.” (Lara)

Ever since she started bathing in the hot springs, Hannah’s physical ability has blossomed and she has become a monstrous master of the sword. I’m sure she’s naturally talented since she is the [Sword Saint’s] granddaughter, but mixed emotions since my hot springs might have given birth to a monster. That girl has a lot of (wrong) impressions (about me) so I have to keep an eye on her.

(T/N) All of her assumptions were fueled by Lara too lmao

“Anyway, it is an offering… of gratitude and awe for master. Or rather, it is a donation, so let’s accept it humbly.” (Lara)

“Hmm? Didn’t you just say offerings?” (Yuo)

An offering is one to be given to God. It is not the kind of thing you give to the lord.

“I told the villagers that the money they were giving was donations for the bathhouse, but they got excited and insisted it was offerings to Witch-sama rather than donations. They’ve been treating the bathhouse as a temple for you, master. The bathhouse’s name was unanimously decided upon: [Those who defy Witch-sama go to hell, comrades go to the hot springs of heaven]…” Lara suddenly said something outrageous.

(T/N) Honestly, idek anymore you guys

Ah ha ha. This can’t be real. The same thing happened with the salt, which they named after me without permission. And why is the name so long? 

“What was that? The mention of heaven or hell or whatever sounds odd!!” (Yuo)

“Well, it was village chief-ojiisan and Hannah who insisted on the name…” (Lara)

“You shouldn’t have been a pushover about the name though!” (Yuo)

“I also think [hell] has a nice ring to it so I personally agree with the name!” (Lara)

“Gmmmmm~” (Yuo)

(T/N) sound of grumbling out of frustration, basically

This is a serious situation. I’m not sure when they decided on the name, but it sounds incredibly ominous. Saying that those who defy me will go to hell is just too ominous. I would have preferred something like [Spring of Beauty], [Beautiful Women’s Hot Spring], or [Beautiful Spring Hot Spring].

“Then, let’s just change it to [Spring of Cursed Paradise].” (Lara)

(T/N) If anyone has a better translation for 魔地天国の湯, it would be greatly appreciated. But as of now, this is the name I felt aptly describes the contrast between the heavenly and hellish adjectives used.

“You didn’t even change it you just shortened it!” (Yuo)

“It sounds good though, right? [Spring of Cursed Paradise] sounds even better if you say it with emphasis. After all, these sort of things are important, right?” (Lara)

After I got used to the idea of it, the village in my territory was officially named [Spring of Cursed Paradise]. It’s a little better than the really long name they thought of but still…

I really think it’s time for all the villagers to stop calling me Witch-sama. The joke has gone on for far too long. No witch with zero magic power exists in this world!

“Also, I definitely don’t want to be worshipped as a temple god!” (Yuo)

“It’s not to that extent, master. They just idolize and rely on you but they still see you as human. They treat you as a witch-like existence who can make fishes explode and extract salt.“ (Lara)

"A witch-like existence? So they at least aren’t treating me differently from a human…?” (Yuo)

“Exactly, that’s why it’s fine. Just think of it as their way of respecting your lordship.“ (Lara)

“Gmmmm~ That’s true…” what Lara said made some sense so I hesitantly agreed.

It would be wonderful if the territory could prosper thanks to the hot springs. In any case, the donations should be used properly for the village’s development. We still have to build a lot of amenities like roads, communal spaces, and schools.

“Let’s do our best, master!” Lara encouraged me with a mischievous smile.

But I was still a bit unsure. There’s no way you can stay calm when you’re called a Scorching Witch!

◇ Meanwhile, the villagers were saying:

“Witch-sama’s hot springs are the best! I haven’t been as fatigued as before which makes it easier to kill monsters.”

"Ah,” said another villager, “the hot springs are great! It also makes farmwork very much easier!”

“I was so satisfied that I offered a green magic stone.”

“I also offered the skin of a Jewel Lizard. I hope my offering makes Witch-sama happy.”

“I offered rope that I braided myself, too!”

“That’s great! Let’s work together for the development of Witch-sama’s village!”

The villagers chatted amiably while soaking in the hot springs. They were looking forward to what they could offer next in the donation box at the entrance of the hot spring.

<<Scorchin Witch’s Recent Gain>>

Villagers’ offerings

<<Scorching Witch’s Personnel>>

Sunrise, [Sword Saint of Twilight]

Hannah, [Sword Saint]’s granddaughte