Chapter 9
Cheshion chuckled, as if all her emotions were written plainly on her face.
“So? What do you think? Not bad for my territory, right?”
“…….”
“Let’s start with the boutique. You’re part of the household now, so you’ll need plenty of new clothes.”
Cheshion took Gremory around—boutiques, a master jeweler’s shop, famous eateries… (though they skipped the last one).
As evening fell, the streets were lined with crates of seasonal fruit, their deep red hues a stark contrast to the eerie crimson of the demon realm. This was the soft, tranquil red of the human world.
The calls of merchants blended together, filling the city with life even as night approached.
Gremory found she didn’t mind it.
They headed to a park, where picnic tables and benches were set up. Sitting across from each other, they ate a light meal—Cheshion with his sandwich and peach juice, Gremory with diced beef tenderloin. Passersby stared, but she paid them no mind as she chewed on the raw meat.
“Hey, Mori.”
“?”
“Do you think my sister hates me for rescuing and caring for people accused of being witches?”
“??”
“Iris probably thinks, ‘Why couldn’t he save me like that?’ I bet she resents me.”
Gremory swallowed her meat in one gulp. Why ask me? The mansion was full of people he could talk to—though, apparently, none of them were as silent as a bamboo forest.
She scribbled in her notebook.
「You’re a good person.」
“…Yeah? That’s a relief.”
Cheshion smiled bitterly. She added another line.
「Iris is right next to me. She says she doesn’t hate you.」
“Huh? Pfft—ha! Mori, are you joking to cheer me up? Thanks.”
He laughed, clutching his stomach.
Gremory shook her head at Iris. He won’t believe me even if I explain.
Finally, she wrote one last thing.
「Your territory is pretty.」
Still chuckling, Cheshion beamed.
“Thanks, Mori. For everything.”
She had no idea what he meant by everything, so she let it go in one ear and out the other.
“Mori, let’s head back. Isolen and the maids prepared something special for—”
Then, he froze.
A monstrous presence—far stronger than usual—was racing down from the volcano.
His expression darkened. By the feel of its mana, this was a high-level mutant. Even a full extermination squad might struggle against it.
He had no choice. He’d have to buy time alone.
“Damn it! Mori, can you get back to the mansion by yourself? Tell the butler a mutant’s woken up—”
Gremory grabbed his shoulder and shoved her notebook in his face.
「I’m coming. I fight well. I’ll help.」
She’d decided to help him—not out of any witch’s contract, but simply because he’d shown her the beauty of this world without asking for anything in return.
After a hesitant glance, Cheshion agreed. Even if Mori was frail, she could at least relay information to the squad.
He ordered the coachman to deliver the message: A high-level mutant has awakened. Mobilize the extermination team immediately.
Then, he freed one of the carriage horses, mounted it with Gremory, and galloped toward the volcano.
The two—no, one human and one witch—reached the village closest to the volcano. Thankfully, the monster hadn’t descended yet.
The evacuation alarm had worked; villagers were already packing up and fleeing.
“Mori, we’ll intercept it on the mountain. We can’t let it reach the village.”
Gremory followed as Cheshion sprinted ahead, not slowing for her.
But when he glanced back—
“Huh?!”
—she was right behind him, wielding a massive axe she’d apparently picked up from the roadside.
Shaking off his shock, he rushed toward the monster’s aura.
They found it just inside the mountain—a spider the size of an elephant, gnashing its fangs.
Cheshion summoned a magic sword and stepped in front of Gremory.
“Spiders have bad eyesight. Stay quiet, and if things go south, hide behind a tree.”
The moment it spat green venom, he scooped Gremory up and dodged, pressing against a tree.
She frowned. I came to fight, not to be protected.
“Stay here.”
Leaving her behind, Cheshion moved silently, luring the spider away. His goal was to stall until reinforcements arrived.
Ten minutes later, the enraged spider sprayed venom wildly. One drop hit Cheshion’s right leg.
“Guh—!”
The venom seared through his skin, numbing his entire leg.
The spider zeroed in on the scent of burning flesh.
“Mori, run!”
She snorted. So much for the mighty Grand Duke.
Then—
She teleported behind him, covering his eyes.
“…Stay still.”
At her whisper, his body stiffened. She channeled mana into the axe and hurled it.
A crimson flash—then a thud as the spider split in half.
She uncovered his eyes. Good thing I shielded him—that would’ve blinded him.
“W-What just—?!”
Cheshion blinked. The spider was cleaved in two. In three seconds.
“Mori, what did you do?”
She pointed at the axe.
“That’s impossible! You expect me to believe a regular axe did that?!”
Humans couldn’t sense a witch’s mana. To him, it looked like she’d killed the monster with sheer strength.
She decided to clarify.
“Witch’s power.”
“Huh? What do you— Wait, you…! You can talk?!”
“I can. Just didn’t feel like it.”
“That’s—! A-Anyway, are you from the Northern Snowfield combat corps? I heard their warriors have incredible techniques.”
“Think what you want.”
While he rambled, she placed a hand on his paralyzed leg, infusing a bit of healing energy. The burns and numbness would linger, but the mansion’s healers could handle the rest.
Then she turned her back to him.
“You’re so troublesome. Get on.”
“W-Wait, Mori. Are you sure? I’m pretty heavy—”
“Venom’s spreading. Either let me carry you or melt here.”
Her annoyed glare made him cave.
Being carried was a first for Cheshion—he was always the protector. And despite her small frame, her firm muscles felt surprisingly sturdy.
‘My heart’s racing… Are all Northern warriors this strong?’
After the healers treated his leg, they returned to the Grand Duke’s mansion.
Anna rushed out.
“I heard about the mutant—! Your leg!”
“I’m fine. Take care of Mori.”
Cheshion nudged Gremory forward.
“We were actually stalling to prepare a feast for you. Didn’t expect a mutant to show up. Anyway, follow Anna.”
A feast? For someone who only eats raw meat?
Puzzled, she let Anna lead her to the dining room—where an extravagant spread awaited.
Isoelen spotted her and ran over.
“There you are! We made this for you. There’s gotta be something you can eat here. Go on, try everything. You can skip what you don’t like—the maids and I will finish the rest.”
The maids and Isoelen had spent the entire day preparing this feast… just for her.
