CH 71

“For the sake of survival?”

“Yes.”

“I told you before. If you confront that, death is waiting.”

“There is a lot of death waiting for us, even if we overlook it.”

There are people suffering.

There are those who have fought against unknown diseases and lost.

The remaining people shed tears, and the wet ground will eventually dry out.

Yet, the sorrow remains for a lifetime.

“Because of that monster, everyone is suffering. Until now and even today… Many people are dying.”

“That is a sad thing.”

Yes.

In order to break the chain of sadness, we stepped into this forest.

We knew it was dangerous.

We cannot stop now that the cause is right in front of us.

If even I, who is easily frightened, think that way, Yuren-kun and the others will definitely not stop.

“So, I’m sorry. I can’t take that warning.”

“…I see. You are firm in your decision.”

“Yes.”

I answered clearly.

Then she let out a small sigh, as if in exasperation.

“Sigh, no matter the era, people are stubborn.”

As she muttered those words, there was a clanking sound from behind her back.

When I looked back, the door had opened by itself.

“I won’t stop you anymore. You may do as you please.”

“Yes…I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize. I gave you a warning, but it doesn’t matter to me which way you choose.”

‘Now, go,’ she gestured to me with her eyes.

I walked towards the door as she instructed.

But I couldn’t help but be curious.

I stopped and turned back to ask her.

“Nebel-san, why are you here?”

“Why what?”

“In such a dangerous place, with a monster in front of you. If the miasma is the cause of illness, you might get sick too someday.”

“Fufu, are you worried about me, The Witch?”

She smiled happily.

Her smile was innocent and childlike.

Even though we were both girls, I felt a little flutter in my heart.

“But there’s no need to worry. I don’t get sick. Even if it’s toxic to humans, it doesn’t affect me. The monsters is a bit of a nuisance, but as long as I have this mist barrier, it won’t come near.”

“I see… In that case, a mist, a barrier of mist…”

It suddenly came to mind.

Yes.

There was one big concern I had.

I could say that I stayed in the room to confirm it.

“Is this magic too? Can you really use so much of it without any problems? Using magic reduces your lifespan, doesn’t it?”

“Lifespan? That’s something that only applies to humans, isn’t it?”

“Eh?”

“Us witches are different. We have magical power, after all.”

I couldn’t keep up with the understanding and tilted my head in confusion.

So, is it okay because they have magical power, which is the energy for using magic?

So, witches are different from humans because they are creatures that have magical power?

“To create something, there is always a price to pay. Just as the Transmutation Art consumes materials, magic consumes magical power. Humans without magical power consume their own life force instead. That’s the only difference.”

If that’s the case, why do humans who can use magic exist?

It would be much better if there was no terrifying power that would cut their lifespan if they used it.

“Is there any meaning to the fact that magic still exists in today?”

“I don’t know. If anyone knows, then it must be only god knows.”

“Gods… Are there really gods?”

“Yes, there are. You’ve already met one of the gods, haven’t you?”

“Huh…”

With unexpected words, my thoughts suddenly stopped.

The surprise of there being a character from a fairy tale called a god was overwritten by the even greater surprise of him being near me.

“T-That means…”

“I can’t say anymore. It’s something I’m not allowed to say.”

Before I could ask who it was, she refused me.

She looked sad for some reason and advised me while looking at me.

“Well then, go now. I’ll get rid of the fog for a while. If you leave the house and go straight, you’ll meet your companions.”

“O-Okay. Thank you for teaching me so much.”

“Alright. And I can’t continue the conversation from earlier, but I’ll teach you one thing in exchange. No matter what, there are limits to a human. The way to exceed those limits is through magic… The phrase ‘inhuman’ might not be a metaphor, you know?”

“What kind of——”

I tried to ask for clarification, but when I saw her expression, I realized that she was urging me to think for myself from here on, and I withdrew the words that were about to come out.

And so I turned my back on her and slipped through the open door.

“Goodbye, kind Transmutation Master. When you come again, let’s have a more enjoyable conversation.”

When I looked back, she was nowhere to be seen.

The house was covered in thick fog, obscuring my vision.

It was as if everything I had seen up until now was an illusion.

But I could still feel her presence, in front of me.

“…Yes.”

She said “next time.”

So there must be a day when I will visit here again.

If that’s the case, then I’m happy.

There are still many things I want to ask.

Above all, the fact that there is a future means that it is so.