Reasons to Protect the Witch's Son

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It was a sunny day without a single cloud in sight.

Marie, a resident of Killiard, was busy carrying out an order of food. She was a waitress helping out at a restaurant at an inn downtown. The inn was always crowded with customers as the food was good and the atmosphere was not bad.

“Did you hear? They say someone died yesterday in the next village over.”

“What? How did it happen?”

“It looks like a murder. I heard they’re looking for the culprit…”

“So that means they haven’t caught them yet. Ugh, I’ll have to go home early today. How am I going to get around when I’m scared to go outside?”

“That’s right.”

Marie, who was clearing the table next to her, heard the chatter of guests talking. She didn’t pay much attention to their conversation and turned around after clearing the table. As she was about to return to the kitchen, a hooded customer stood up from the corner table. She kindly said goodbye to some other guests heading out.

As the hooded customer passed by her, they spoke in a whisper.

‘I like your hair.’

It was a casual remark, but it stuck with her for some reason. The man left the restaurant without looking back

Marie’s hair, braided into a single strand, was pink, like cotton candy. She’d often been complimented on how pretty her hair was, so she didn’t question it too much.

After that, customers kept coming and there was no time to think about anything else. While she was busy working, time flew by. She straightened her aching back and looked at the clock and saw that it was time to get off work.

It was pitch black outside by the time she took off her stained apron and left the inn. She walked through the busy streets and down the alleyway toward her home. It was late, and the pale moon was the only light on the deserted streets.

She took the same way home from work as usual, but strangely, the alley felt more eerie today. The eerie feeling made her walk faster, as she remembered the conversations she’d heard during the day.

And just as she turned the corner, she bumped into someone.

“Ah!”

A soft voice spoke and she reflexively looked up in surprise.

“Oh, are you okay?”

The voice and hooded figure seemed familiar. It was the male customer she saw at the inn earlier that day. The one who complemented her hair.

‘What, I was freak out for no reason. I… again…’

As she thought about this, relieved, she saw the man’s face reflected in the moonlight. A mane of silky hair fluttering over his pulled-back hood. Eerie blood-red eyes, like those of a demon, melded into the darkness.

“Uh…”

She stared at him blankly, then lowered her head at the pain in her abdomen, where his hand had dug into the skin of her stomach. Hot blood flowing from the wound soaking the man’s hand and dripping down his forearm.

“Ugh, kuck, ah…!”

“…”

“Demon, demon…!”

Her eyes shook wildly. In an instant, her face became one of horror.

The man closed his red eyes and smiled softly. Blood and flesh splattered on the quiet night street.

 

* * *

 

“Wow, it’s huge! Is this Killiard?”

An excited voice shouted. The streets were bustling, with pedestrians coming and going, and shops lined the streets. The boy’s eyes sparkled as he looked around in wonder at everything around him.

“Jody, you shouldn’t walk too far ahead. What if you get lost?”

Elaine said, walking behind Jody. However, the red-haired boy couldn’t take his eyes off the street, not even for a moment, after arriving in Killiard.

 

‘Wait!’

‘Take me with you! Please!’

 

After visiting Ghost Mountain, they took a day of rest for Ash to recover then decided to leave Maltaigne right away. As they were leaving the inn they were staying at, Jody suddenly came out chasing after them. He cried out desperately.

 

‘Even if an orphan without a guardian like me had this much money, it would soon be taken away.’

‘If that’s the case, you don’t have to give me the money, just please take me with you!’

‘I’m smart, so I’m sure I’ll be useful! Well, it’s okay even if you just ask me to do chores…!’

 

Elaine, who’d lived as an orphan at the bottom, understood those words better than anyone else. Ash was also not completely unaware of the circumstance’s orphans had to face.

 

‘Okay. I’ll allow it.’

 

In addition, Jody, who had an extraordinary memory, was a talent with outstanding potential. Ash decided to sponsor Jody. So, the three returned to Killiard together.

When Elaine once again urged him not to move too far away, Jody grumbled.

“Chee, what am I, a child? I’m not in danger of getting lost.”

“Fifteen is still a child.”

Ash, who was walking alongside, smirked. In fact, fifteen wasn’t that young, but no matter how you looked at it, Jody looked younger than that because he was very short and had a young face.

Besides, Jody was new to Killiard, so if he lost sight of them, he could get lost.

“Isn’t that right, Elaine?”

He glanced at Jody, who had an exasperated look on his face, then turned to look at Elaine. Elaine, who’d been smiling slightly, inadvertently looked up at the call. The moment her gaze met his purple eyes, she was unable to come up with an answer right away.

His hair was as black as the night itself, and his violet eyes were as beautiful as an amethyst crafted by a master. He was tall enough she needed to look up quite a bit to meet his gaze and has shoulders were broad. He looked handsome no matter what he wore. His attractive face made her heart skip a beat just looking at him.

It was no surprise that Ash was handsome, but once she became aware of her feelings, this fact became even more evident.

‘I should be used to it…’

It didn’t work out that way. Just looking at his well-made, sculpted face made her heart flutter. Why was his voice so nice to listen to? The low, resonant voice was soothing, like sweet candy rolling around in her mouth

‘Wake up.’

But the rush of excitement soon turned into a sinking feeling of guilt pressing down on her heart. She told herself that she shouldn’t feel this way, that she shouldn’t show it. If she didn’t show it, she’d never be found out.

“Elaine?”

Ash called out to her curiously when she didn’t answer. Elaine bit her lip and released it, then smiled and answered, trying to look unaffected.

However, her mind was still troubled as she continued to walk. Soon they entered the large downtown area. There were more people than before and the buildings were bigger.  But, somehow the atmosphere on the street seemed different from usual. Was it because of her mood? There was an air of chaos and confusion.

In fact, she’d noticed a subtle change in the atmosphere even before entering the downtown area, and now the feeling had become even stronger.

‘…What?’

Elaine walked on, quietly looking around. Ash seemed to sense something as well and narrowed his eyes. They passed through the downtown area, then the square and arrived at the Duke’s residence. As soon as they arrived at the mansion, Ash ordered the employees to prepare a room for Jody to stay. He was only staying temporarily until they found somewhere else for him to live.

After the employee led Jody away, they entered the office together. It wasn’t long before they were greeted by those who’d been waiting for their return.

“Your Grace, Dame Elaine! You arrived safely!”

It was Lowell and Hillarie. When permission was given, Lowell, who hastily entered the office, shouted, and Hillarie politely bowed.

Hilaire looked up, and Ash’s eyes met hers. Elaine stepped aside, and Hilaire approached him, her face calm, but her voice tense and trembling.

“The trace… What happened?”

Hilaire was on a mission when he received the letter informing him that traces of Walter had been found. She probably heard the news right after her return. Perhaps she felt like rushing over as well, even if she was late. But she’d waited patiently.

“I have something to return to you.”

Instead of answering, Ash took an object out of his pocket. An old and faded silver pendant. Hilaire’s expression wavered as she took it.

“Is it really… my father’s…”

“This is all for now, can you wait a little longer?”

Hearing the low voice, Hilaire looked at him with shaking eyes. He made eye contact with Lowell, Elaine, and finally Hilaire, and opened his mouth calmly.

“I have a long story to tell.”

 

* * *

 

Ash and Elaine told the two about what had happened in Maltaigne.

Walter’s pendant, the boy who remembered him, and even the story of Talos Asgar and the cabin.

“…So that means that Talos Asgar is involved in Sir Walter’s disappearance.”

Lowell, who’d heard the whole story, spoke with a serious face.

Hilaire asked.

“Is the crystal ball you found in the cabin also his?”

“Yes. I asked the boy, and he said it was.”

“He said there was a crystal ball among his belongings.”

“First, find out everything you can about Talos Asgar, and then examine the mana in the crystal.”

“Understood.”

Lowell took the crystal ball and bowed his head. After the story was roughly concluded, Lowell pursed his lips as if he had something to say. Suddenly, Ash tapped the armrest as if remembering something.

“Now that I think about it, the atmosphere on the streets seemed a bit strange. What happened?”

“Ah… Yeah, I was just about to tell you about that.”

Lowell nodded, his expression hardening.

Elaine turned to look at him, curious about the same thing, and realized that the papers in his arms had something to do with it.

Lowell slid the papers across the desk and spoke heavily

“So, uh, actually, recently…”

Just then, there was a quick, sharp knock on the door. An urgent voice said.

“Sir, I have something to report to you urgently.”

When permission was given, the door opened. A knight came running in, drenched in sweat. It was a member of the unit in charge of street security. He spoke without even having time to catch his breath.

“A victim, another victim, has been found.”

“What?”

“It’s the serial killer. A seventh victim was just found on Thesis Street!”