Chapter 1 (1/2)
Chapter 1: A Country Of Magicians
Part 1
There existed a quiet country on savage mountains
Because it was surrounded by tall walls, it was not possible to examine it from the outside
At the top of the stone surface hot froh the lukewarm atmosphere as it advanced
The one irl Clad in black robe and a tricorne, her ashen hair was shaking in the wind
If there were people there, certainly anyone would turn their head wondering who in the world was this breathtakingly beautiful girl
That's right, It’s me
Just kidding
”Just a bit is left”
The tall walls appeared to be constructed by shaving off as originally a ht down, a gate can be seen I a my broom towards it
Well, it seems like a troublesome place for a country, but, this is their consideration──To not make a mistake and carelessly enter it After all, unless circumstances called for it, no one would ever come in a country built in such a place
After arriving at the gate, I descended with the broo the country careet
After slowly exaaze at the brooch on my chest and showed a wry smile
”Welcoicians Please proceed inside, Witch-sama”
”? Eh? That exaician?”
I asked that kind of question All visitors should show a Magic to pass If there is not even a single ability, it's not permitted to enter the town
”It's because I saw you flying here Besides, that brooch undoubtedly belongs to a Witch Please proceed inside”
So that's it That's what it was Looks like properly flying on the broo about it, ate So e
After giving a sh the gate
Here is the country of Magicians Mages, Apprentice Witches, Witches──In short, it's a country with a strange rule of not letting anyone other than icians enter it
After passing through the gate, I got puzzled
There were two signboards lined up together
One of the signboards was an entirely concealedsoldier surrounded by a triangle
What are these signboards
But I immediately understood the answer as I looked above──Above the crowded brick houses, or perhaps below the sun,about
I see - I got it
It seeicians to enter Everyone was flying in vicinity, and only a handful of people walked on the ground
Understanding the n, I took out round, I started to gently float
If you want to express the n with simple words:
”It's an endorsement to fly in the air, isn't it──”
And thus, the country of icians truly appeared
Magicians were flying above the reddish brown roofs that were spread out like a withered land
Starting from people who stopped brooe to brooms, an old woures of children who dashed in the air having a contest of speed - They see a life in the sky
It's a very warness
Blending with the about, I suddenly caught a sight of a signboard that was put above a roof ”Inn” it seerocer” Aside fros like ”Butcher” and ”Jewelry” As expected, they were for the life anboard above the rooftops see
Looking closely, there was athat could pass people one by one eazed at it blankly, a ap, and got on his broo like that
I leisurely flew about, enjoying the scenery of the country
Soe occurred after a little while
”Nooooooooooooooooo!”
A scream from behind
I held the broom with one hand and looked back as I held my hat down so it wouldn't fly away
And then, ”T-Too late” I thought
”Aaaahhhhhhhh!”
So and scattering the tears, but the moment I saw that, there was only one roof distance between us
Avoid it? Impossible
Although I instinctively bend my upper body, as expected, the clash was unavoidable With unladylike screaled and fell towards the rooftop We peeled away so, we stopped just on the verge of falling froround It's fortunate that there were no pedestrians there
Because of the inadequate angle, I avoided the head-on collision, and thanks to this e from collision with tiles, I haven't sustained injuries
I stood up while brushi+ng off the reddish brown fragments attached to my black robe
””
”Ugogogogo”
Leaking a strange groan with closed eyes was a teenage girl that seee features and evenly-cut, short black hair She wore a white blouse and checkered skirt under the black ot splendidly torn apart
Since there was nothing like a brooch attached on her chest, perhaps she is a e
”Uht?”
As I touched the shoulder of the collapsed girl, she opened her eyes
”…………”
””
And, silence
Even though I don't understand the circu of a broom, eh?”
I think it's cynical Yes
”Ah”
”It see face
”Aa” She once again closed her eyes ”W-hat to do What should I do? I can't fix so many roof tiles alone”
Oh?
”Before that, shouldn't you apologize?”
”Ah, I-I'm Sorry! It was not on purpose! I swear!”
I can see that
”By the way, you, are you alright? Given that you flew so splendidly”
”Ah, I'ht! I look this lively after all!”
That
She was saying that while red fluids spilled fro with clear, unwavering eyes
”Blood is co out from your head”
”This is just sweat!”
”There's a sith such Iron smell?”
”Errr, well, errr It's a sweat!”
”I got it already, so please come down a bit”
”Yes!”
””
Why did this happen? I' blown off all of a sudden
After the scolding, there's a need to fix the roof tiles… oh I've had enough already I would be a deerous circumstances do it
I took out a handkerchief from my pocket
”Here, use this Hold it down on the head”
”EehBut”
”Also, while I repair the tiles here, please go and rest somewhere for a bit”
”No, I will also help out!”
”In such condition, rather than help, you'll be a hindrance Please go and rest” I clearly declared it
”But──”
”You Are A Hindrance”
”Okay”
After that, she sat at on the rooftop and held down the handkerchief on her head while feeling despondent like an abandoned cat Although she was looking lively, it was unreasonable to let her do it, after all, as soon as she sat down, she lost her strength
Let's put her aside for now That degree of injury won't cause death
Now, let's do soical power instaff appeared in my hand
This is a special privilege of ic Tools like a brooic
Putting ic
Tiic
As its naic to reverse the ti injuries, however, it's a Magic that requires a slightly high skill But if it's the Witches of this country, then probably all of theht've been difficult for the collapsed Mage behind me
After getting showered with Magic, the tiles startedone by one, and just like a pieces of puzzle, they returned to their original state
Then the frag also coht, and at that point, I stopped releasing the irl's turn
”Well then, you are next”
”Umm, Err”
After approaching the nervous girl who raised her body while holding her head, I started casting the Magic Wrapped up in a tender light, her injuries along with her clothes started to heal up
”Uwah”
A - I heard her mutter
No, if one is a Witch, then it's normal to be able to do this much
After confirinal appearance, I hurriedly went to pick up ood plan to escape froets noisy
”H-Hey!”
Partly ignoring her as trying to say soot on my broom
”Thanks is enough It's not good to disregard the surrounding when flying on the broom you know?”
”Please wait, I want to soize──”
”No need Because, I'e-san whose name I don't know”
Then I fleith broom
Part 2
Speaking siic Not everyone can use it, and in es
Apprentice Witch ranks above the Mage and is one step below the Witch Just like the naiven only to women For what reason is it like that? It's because, the ability to create er in women than in men Because of that, only woe
There's just one way to become an Apprentice Witch: it's to pass the exae that is a proof of Apprentice Witch But this is not all Having said that, there are ive up in thedeadly injuries
After beco for the sake of becoenuine Witches, putting in a great effort day after day until you get recognized That can happen in a day, or it could happen after a decade It all depends on personal effort and the consideration of the Witch-sama that becomes your teacher
If you are recognized as an official Witch, you will get a star brooch with your naifted from the teacher In my case, it's ”Witch of Ashes”
To end the long explanation: in short - I as in this country In other words, I am a Witch
When flying in the skies, people would look with envious gazes, or in the restaurant they would say so like ”Witch-sama! You have a discount on every cuisine of this store! Please choose whatever you like!” and things like that at least that was the expectation
”Eh? Discount? There's nothing like that Perhaps you have no money? Ojou-chan?”
”…………”
Well, It's that, huh? If they treat every Witch with special treatment, it would turn out bad for the store
Leaving the restaurant, I went towards the jewelry store I wanted to sell the jewels that I gathered fro that I'd get a splendid price for them, I entered the merchant's store
”Ah, these are complete imitations I can't offer any price for them”
”That's absurd! Please look properly, once more!”
”It's the same no matter how much I look at it What will you do? If you don't need it, should our store deal with it?”
”For you to be saying so like that, you actually have ulterior motives to snatch it from me, isn't it?”
”Of course not, Ojou-chan There's no way I would do that So, ill you do?”
”Please return it”
I was very angry as I left the jewelry store
But, well, even if that shopkeeper see to be despised by ht?
While feeling anxious, I went towards the inn after all, It would get dark soon
However
”Aahn? This place is not for the brats like you Now, scram”
Huuh?
Why?
Maybe this inn is for the rich adults only? Mhmm
There's no choice I'll choose another place
And so, I descended with the broonboard This one should be all right I guess
Fro to the inside But on the way down, I got carried away, and jumped thud, a sound as if an iron ball was dropped reverberated Of course, I'm not that heavy How rude
The place down there turned out to be the reception
The wo me──
”Welcome”
Became stiff
She, as well as me
Evenly-cut black hair Average features that were siirl that ran into o
””
””
The one who broke the frozen atmosphere between us first was her
”Hi-Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-! I-I-I'e isn't it! I' but my liiiiife!”
”No, um”
”Uwaaaaaah! I don't want to dieeeeeeeee!”
”Errrr”
You don't have to be frightened that much
”Please anything buther head on the counter, I gently touched her shoulders
”Heeeeeeee-! You intend to start by tearing off my shoulderrrr! Nooooo-!”
”Please quiet down a bit” Ah, that caht? I just came here to stay for a day”
”Nooooo──oh, is that so So that's what it was Then, please fill out these forms~”
””
There are a lot of things I want to say, but I must endure I don't want to cause more racket
I accepted the blank for on the counter There were sis like number of people, amount of days and the na a traveler, this form is already familiar to me
As I glided the quill across the paper, she said with a very cheerful voice:
”I' in theto fly skillfully”
”I see”
In short, she is clu, eh?
”I wanted to properly thank you but you suddenly headed somewhere else──Ah, so your name is Elaina? I'ht smile
As I riting, ”Just thanks is enough Besides, it's coic” I said
Coot scolded by parents when I was trying to light a candle and set the house on fire Ahh, so nostalgic
”But don't you want anything froetting you in such trouble and evenyou heal my injuries”
”It's nothing h”
”There ! Please! Elaina-san!”
I shook ratitude It's quite an odd scene
Well, there's nothing in particular that I want, but there's no need to refuse it unreasonably like that either I thought a bit as I kept writing
”HmmIs that so, then──”
Can I get a lodging discount?
Is what I wanted to say, but I stopped
An entry on the forht) - ritten there
Hohou Look e have here
”Ah, that, that's a reduction not covered by those who are Witch-saeneral prices” She declared while knitting her brows
”I see”
I circled the Witch-sama exclusive discount (half price)
”Eeh? Eh, umm, uhhー?”
What's with that strange reaction? So rude
”It's because I'm a Witch”
”But that's You are joking Ah, no, I caused you trouble after allYes! Then, you should get the discount!” She clapped her hands as she declared that Because the conversation drifted to a delicate thing, or perhaps because I re, I shook my head
”No no no no, that's not it It's because I'm a Witch That's why I have this attire”
”Eeehー?” She uttered Then pointed at my chest
”But, there's no brooch of a Witch-sama”
”Eh?”
I dropped aze to my chest
The brooch that was supposed to be there has vanished
Part 3
The brooch of a Witch, so to speak, are their identification documents Without it, I'ic
That's why I was treated like a child in the inn froo I see, I see
More ih the Witches are not rare, if I thought about it a bit more, I should've noticed faster Aht? I should just die
As I cursed at myself, I immediately left and went to search for it…However
”It's nowhere”
It wasn't seen anywhere
I searched around where I clashed with Saya-san, but it was already dark outside, and the object in question was a tiny brooch that could fit in-hand It wasn't so around for a bit
”Uhh”
Afterthe cracks, I descended towards the ground and started searching around the houses
But, just like before, I couldn't find it I want to cry
”It's no goodー! Elaina-san, it's not here eitherー!”
From above the rooftops, quite a loud voice ca up, there was a figure of Saya-san illuht
I, she said ”I'ether!” and after insisting on it, we caether
I somehow entrusted the side of the merchant's home to another person
As I walked down, she was in charge of searching above There was a possibility ofit
However, it seems that the outcome was the same
I floated up to the roof with broom
”Not finding it after all this searching means that there is a potential that someone picked it up”
I leaked a sigh without thinking
”I think itdark Wouldn't it be better to search here once ?”
As I dropped my shoulders, she called out to rateful
”Let's do that”
As I meekly nodded towards her, I decided to return back
I'ician with clu nearby, I ht have crashed into them
That brooch is so I obtained after a lot of trouble, and it also contained theit is uniinable
If it was the time when I beca it
But now, because I carried it for two years, it beca that I had on me
”Haah”
Anyhow, I feel down
After that, I returned to the inn and ate a meal in a half-fainted condition, took the key fro that I haven't taken a bath, I quickly went towards the large public bath
Absentmindedly I immersed myself in hot water Ahh, either way, I can't think of any other place where it could've dropped except where I crashed into Saya-san There's no other explanation It's such a hin the bath (Just edin the water
Then
”Ah, helloー”
After returning to ure of Saya-san for some reason
I closed the door
Taking a step back, I confirmed the room number Hme
Maybe I iined it?
I opened the door once more
”Ah, helloー”
It would've been good if it was a bad dreaure of Saya-san inher hand from above the wooden bed
”Why are you in my room?” - I asked as I closed the door with my hands behind my back
”I thought I'd talk to Elaina-san for a bit, so I aiting”
”But it should've been locked”
”Fufu, I' at this inn you know?”
Saying that, she proudly showed off the ring with a bundle of keys on it
Staying silent, I walked towards her,
””
And pinched her cheeks with both hands
”I-ish hurts! Ish hurts!”
”Going in other's roo idea Ah?”
Guriguriguriguri
”Shey will be shorn! my sheeks will shear off!” - They will be torn,to say
”Ah? What was that? I didn't hear it”
”Aah”
After I got tired fro with her soft cheeks, I decided to release her As she covered her slightly reddened cheeks with both hands, ”How terrible” She said, but which one of us is terrible I wonder
”So, what business do you have? Since you sneaked in ht?”
Saya-san started speaking as she stroked her cheeks
”Elaina-san, you really are a Witch right?”
”Yes I guess” I consented to answer ”Brooch is , but I really am a Witch”
”Then, that means you successfully passed the Apprentice Witch exaht?”
”That’s right”
I still re it
After Saya-san stared at s on the bed, and then touched the bottom of bed's headboard with both hands
”Please! Somehow, please teach me the secrets of examination!”
”Umm, What's with that posture?”