CH 12

“– So, the witch wasn’t a bad person. It was Verna-san who saved me, my brother, and Nord.”

“Hmm. I’ve heard that’s what Nord said, but I don’t think you guys should go deep into the mountains alone ……”

“Dad, I want to use magic too.”

It’s been three days since we found Nord.

My parents were angry enough to fist-bump us, so my brother and I agreed to wait a bit before talking about Verna-san, and we told them what happened today.

As I expected, they listened to me quietly, and my father pondered …… Well, since my brother told them about the bear attack, I guess my parents wouldn’t want me to go to a dangerous place, so I had no choice.

It seems that Nord also told the townspeople about Verna-san’s story of how he was saved, and unintentionally, the existence of witches became known to some people.

I was worried that people would say that witches are dangerous and start hunting in the mountains, but no one cared because Nord came back safely and there had been no damage so far. I was happy to see the kindness of the townspeople, even if they didn’t take it seriously.

This is why I’m worried about my Mom and Dad, though.

So, I’ve been begging to go visit Verna, but my Dad won’t shake his head, and my Mom, who had been listening quietly, opens her mouth.

“I want to thank her for saving your life, and I should go and say hello. Since I’m a woman, I’ll go with them. Is that okay with you?”

“Yes, we should thank her. Then, Marianne, can I ask you to do it?”

“Of course! Then, I have to get something ready. so we’ll go tomorrow.”

“Yay!”

“Magic, magic, magic!”

We were all jumping for joy when Nina walked into the living room.

“Nord-chan is here. Are you training again today? You never get tired of it.”

“There’s not much for the three of us to do, you know. It’s fun to just chase each other around, you know? Fighting with brother and Nord with a wooden sword might become useful one day.”

“Hmmm …….”

With Nina’s mouth hanging open, I get up from the couch and ask Mom. Of course, it’s about Nord.

“Can Nord go with us?”

“Yes, of course. He’s your friend.”

“Yes, yes! I’ll go first, Lars!”

My brother hurried out of the living room and headed to where Nord is. I also rushed out of the living room and the three of us trained together again today.

I told Nord that we could go to Verna-san’s with Mom, and he was quite happy. Since he doesn’t have a mother, he’s very fond of my mother.

By the way, he is now completely clean since we do the laundry at home, even in those bulky green clothes. He won’t let us cut his hair, though, because he’s ashamed of it.

So on the day of our visit to Verna-san’s house, we headed for the mountains in the mood for a picnic. My mother baked a cake as a souvenir, and Nord was carrying the basket with the cake in it.

“Don’t fall down.”

“Yes! Thank you, Delaide-kun.”

My brother was walking behind me, calling out to Nord, who was walking beside him. Mom and I walked side by side. My brother seems to be taking care of Nord a lot lately, but I guess he wants to take care of his first friend. It was worth the effort to introduce them.

“It was worth introducing them. Are you okay with it, Lars?”

“What? With what?”

“Hmm, Lars doesn’t know yet, does he? Well, don’t get into a fight, okay.”

“?”

Mom said something I didn’t understand, and I tilted my head. We walked through the forest and arrived at Verna’s house. The field of flowers was not a dream after all, and there was a nice scent of flowers in the air.

“This is amazing …… Is that herb cultivation over there? Let’s say hello for now.”

“Heh, isn’t it great!”

It wasn’t really about me, but I felt a little uplifted that we were surprised to find it. I looked at the two people behind me and they were laughing as well.

“Hello!”

“We’re here to play!”

I and Nord called out to the entrance. My brother was still a little scared, but he stood behind us, watching us. But there was no answer from inside.

“…… Huh? There’s no reply ……”

“I’m going to try again. Hello!”

Nord said in an unusually loud voice, but there was still no reply.

“Don’t tell me ……”

I had a bad feeling and hurriedly opened the front door. My brother, noticing my unusual appearance, slipped past the Nord and came in.

“Verna-san!”

“Uhhhh …… You said you’d come to play …… you said you’d come to play ……”

“Ehhh ……”

She was on the other side of the living room, which had been slammed open. She was fiddling with the table in the living room with her fingers and crying inconsolably. You’ve been looking forward to it so much!? I mean, it’s only been four days ……

I shook Verna-san’s shoulder and called out to her.

“I’m here to play, Verna-san!”

“Fueh ……? Ah, ahhhhh! You’re here!”

“Uwah!?”

“Whoa!?”

As soon as she saw me and my brother with tears and snot all over her faces, she hugged us. Her clothes are tattered, but this person’s breast is quite …… 

“W-Will you please calm down!?”

“Thank goddddddddd!”

She didn’t stop crying for a while, so I decided to wait until she calmed down.

“I-I’m sorry, …….”

“It’s okay. I didn’t know the witch was such a pretty young lady.”

After noticing Mom’s presence, Verna-san’s body shrunk and her face turned red, as if she was embarrassed. From Mom’s perspective, she looked joyful at her friend’s arrival, saying it was cute and laughed.

“Right. This is the cake we baked.”

“Wow, it looks so good! I’ll serve you some tea.”

Just like last time, Mom’s eyes widened as she took a sip of the tea and asked Verna a question.

“……, isn’t this tea from the neighboring country? Why do you have it when you live so deep in the mountains?”

“Oh, you know, I’m so glad. I’m growing the seeds I brought from my hometown deep in the mountains. At that time, I ran away from …… Ah, eh, no, I thought I wouldn’t be bothered in the mountains.”

“…… I see.”

“?”

Mom seemed to be thinking about something, but then she smiled and said to Verna-san 

“Alright, I won’t ask about it! I’m sure you wouldn’t do anything to a child, and the kids want to learn magic, so I’m asking you. Do you mind if I cut a little path to get here? It’s just behind our house.”

“Yeah, well, I’ll leave it to you. I’m better at attack magic, but I’ll teach them how to use it properly. The mountain doesn’t belong to me, s-so I can’t say anything about it. ……”

“You’re right, too. I’ll ask Roen to make a path for me. Oh, and can I come visit you too? I have some medicinal herbs I want to sell.”

“Yes, yes, yes! Of course! I’d be happy to give them to you.”

“No, there are so many valuable herbs, so we’ll buy them.”

“It’s like Mom will come to visit you more than us.”

“It’s all right, I guess. We’re welcome to come anytime, too.”

“Yay!”

That’s how Verna became friends with Mom. She seems to be a good match for my mom’s [Hospital] skill.

Anyway, we decided to listen to what they had to say about magic. 

(T/N: Sorry, I wrote the wrong skill for the Mom before. “Hospitality” means friendly and generous entertainment to a guest, so it’s not close to the Mom’s “Hospital” skill that is about herbs and is for herbs.)

Verna-san, the cute witch!

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“*Grinding sound* ……!”

Why the tears of blood ……

“I’m prettier than the bewitching witches, though ……!”

That’s a lot of confidence, huh!? …… If you say so much ……

“Eh? What?”