“Nichika, this is the Miss Charlotte I was telling you about yesterday. She’s a witch like Master, but she does sky deliveries because she loves flying on a broom.”
“Hi, Nichika! It’s nice to meet you! I’ll accept any job requests you might have! For a girl as adorable as you, I’ll even give you a special discount!” Charlotte swooped in and excitedly reached for Nichika’s hands.
“U-Uh, okay?”
Was she just imagining that the heat in the witch’s green eyes appeared to burn as ferociously as a forest fire?
“Oh my word! I seriously have the urge to sweep you off your feet and kidnap you right here and now…” She panted heavily. “Hey, do you have any interest in becoming my apprentice?”
“No, I’m—”
“Don’t touch her, perverted woman.”
Before they knew it, the man had approached them and was now slapping Charlotte’s hands off of Nichika. Charlotte squirmed theatrically under his piercing glare.
“Owwie! What’s your problem? I bet you plan to keep this cutie pie all to yourself and do this and that with her! Perv! Mega Perv! Shut-in magic nerd!”
“HUH? Who’d do such a thing?!”
“C’mon, it’s the truth, and you know it. You don’t have to pretend to be offended!” She playfully grinned.
“You little—” Enraged, the man hooked an arm around Nichika’s neck and yanked her to him, almost as if to embrace her.
“Ow! Ow!”
“Did you seriously think for even a second that I’d consider some little girl without any sex appeal, who stupidly went and got herself parasitized by Fake Lover?! Like some kind of brain-dead rodent,” he huffed angrily, “Huh?! Sorry, but I’m not in need when it comes to women. Why would you think I’d want to keep some petacolon-like girl with me?!”
“Excuse me…?” Nichika muttered.
Horrible. I can’t even begin to guess what a “petacolon” is, but he’s definitely mocking me. I can tell that much at least.
“Let go of me!” Nichika protested, “I haven’t done anything deserving of your mockery!”
“YEOW! Don’t scratch me!”
Charlotte’s snicker vanished into a serious frown as she watched them. “‘Fake Lover’? The antiquated slave potion? They say if you leave it be, a person will transform into the rose’s seedbed overnight. Is that true?”
“Yeah, seems to be,” Nichika managed to answer, still struggling in the man’s hold.
“This is serious then. I’m surprised you’re still alive.”
“Um, well, I had him…provide the stopgap treatment.” Nichika turned red and averted her eyes.
Charlotte put her finger to her chin as she contemplated what Nichika had said. “What’s the stopgap treatment?”
Wolfie jumped at the opportunity to answer. “Guess what? Guess what? Nichika and Master came close and—”
“GAAAAAAAAH!” Nichika leapt out of the man’s arm, quickly smothering Wolfie’s toothy mouth with her hand. This wolf was so innocent to the point of causing problems!
“Then, the rose seed is still inside you?”
“Unfortunately… He didn’t know how to remove it…”
Charlotte clapped her hands together once as if all the pieces had fallen together for her. “Oh, I get it now! That’s why Osy woke up so early. You’re setting off on a journey to remove the Fake Lover seed, right?”
“Come again?”
“We’re WHAT?”
Nichika’s surprised question and the man’s exasperated groan came out simultaneously, but Charlotte paid them no heed and began jubilantly pulling various items out of her heavy pack of bags.
“Then you’d best prepare for the trip! Oh dear, Nichika, what happened to your shoes, girl? And you won’t last on a long journey in such thin and flimsy clothing. Wait just a moment. I’m certain I have a thick mantle and sturdy boots somewhere in here.”
“…Oi.” The man’s low growl cut into her humming. “Don’t you try and sell me a bunch of junk with this situation as an excuse.”
“Don’t be silly! I’d do no such thing. By the way, Osy, you aren’t planning on going out in that witch’s robe, are you? I have the perfect coat for you.”
“You’re not even trying to hide your attempt at hawking your wares!”
Behind the yelling man, Nichika’s heart was pounding out of her chest. It’d be much more reassuring if “Osy” and Wolfie were to come with her. Much, much better than being left all alone in a world she knew absolutely nothing about.
But he wasn’t for the idea at all.
“I refuse. What’s in it for me? My troubles will be over once I erase her memories and leave her in some town.”
The world wouldn’t be that kind to me, would it? Nichika’s shoulders slumped, but Charlotte cackled, covering her mouth gleefully with her black sleeve. Then, placing a firm fingertip to her plump lips and changing her tone of voice to a whisper, she leaned in as if to signal that she was about to reveal a secret.
“Then why don’t I give you a piece of information that’ll make you want to leave here on a faraway journey? It’ll be on the house, since you’re a regular patron.”
“Oh? Just try it. I’ve no intention of budging, no matter what you have to say.”
“The Witch’s Council has moved for real this time—and a full-scale move, at that.”
The man’s cocky smile withered instantly into a severe scowl. “What did you just say?”
“Of course they had to! Something about the witch’s tools you’ve made causing nothing but pointless trouble, bringing them a rush of grievances… Well, since even before that, they’ve been acting suspiciously lately. Seems like they’ve been arresting unregistered witches without official licenses left and right.”
Watching the conversation unfold as an unrelated third party from a distance, Nichika observed that the mood was turning grimmer by the moment. The two witches exchanged information in heated whispers until they abruptly broke off and walked over to her.
“Your average person is one thing, but this barrier doesn’t do much to witches. It’s not inconceivable that the councilor might drop from the skies into your backyard at any moment.”
“This location’s been exposed? Tch. Persistent bunch.” Completely awake now, Osy walked right over to Nichika and clearly called, “Wolfie!”
“Yes, Master?”
“I’m leaving home for a while. You coming?”
“Of course, Master! I will accompany you anywhere!” Wolfie sat down neatly in perfect form as if at attention—he could’ve won a dog show, if he were a dog. Evidently, he knew when to set his playful personality aside to properly carry out his role in the master-servant relationship.
“We’ll leave in an hour as initially planned. Be prepared to leave at any time. Same goes for you too, Nichika.”
“Roger!” Wolfie barked.
“O-Okay?” Nichika replied.