"I don't think you're very thorough."
"We've recently strengthened security. So rest assured."
Chession stroked the cat's back. The touch was as warm as always. Gremory closed her eyes and enjoyed the touch, but in the back of her mind, she made a sad decision.
'I want to protect you. The people who are important to me and this estate.'
She loved the warm touch of the Chession and the warm air of the Grand Duke's residence. She wanted to protect all of this from being ruined.
Therefore, she felt strongly that she should leave. It was also Impossible to hide her identity and sit here. If she was obsessed with something important and would lose everything entirely, it was right to cut it off quickly, even if it was sad.
'How should I leave? I don't think everyone will let me go easily. Oh, can I reveal my identity? Then everyone will get sick and try to kick me out.'
Yes, it is right to leave even if it is in such a heartbreaking way. Gremory spoke calmly.
"Hey, Chession."
"Yes."
"The Witch Chase is a chase party that chases a real witch."
"Yes, I see."
Chession held the black cat in his arms. The cat blinked its eyes while being held in his arms without much resistance.
'...What is this cheerful reaction?'
I'm a witch. A witch who feeds on human misery. So hurry up and kick me out of this house."
Chession looked at the cat that was beeping in his arms and grinned.
"You're worried that the witch chase will cause trouble, so you're thinking of running away with a strange excuse? Don't think like that."
Gremory was puzzled. She exclaimed once more.
"No. I'm a real witch?"
"Yes, yes. You're a witch."
Chession, who didn't even hear the back of his ear, stroked the cat's face.
"Oh, why are you doing this to me?"
"It's just because I like you. I want you to take care of me more, to step on my eyes, to be by your side."
"..."
"You don't have to try to solve things by yourself, Mori. There are many people here who can help you and protect you. No matter who comes in, I'll stop them. And whatever happens, it's not your fault."
The cat just blinked. No matter what happens, it's not her fault. After hearing these kind words, her desire to leave melted away. It was as if she had received the answer she had been hoping for.
And honestly, it was good to be caught like this. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"Yes, let's trust Chession and stay here."
Chession put the cat back down on his jacket and sat down at his desk to finish his work.
When he finished his work, he looked at the cat again, and Mori, who had turned into a human, was asleep soundly with Chession's coat covered. Chession finished his work with a grin, then walked over to Mori's sleep and stared at her face for a long time.
And Iris, who was watching everything, screamed.
- Aaaaaaah! Why are you a witch? Why is my brother like a witch? Aaaaah!
Or not, Gremory.
"Drrrr."
Slept very well.
***
When Gremory woke up from a nap, the sunset light filled the office.
Chession woke up and asked her about the 'witch chase' in detail. Until now, he had only known about the existence of the pursuers, but since he had seen Mori so anxious, he thought he needed to investigate further.
"What? How many times have you already dealt with it by yourself?"
"Yes, so far, only the trembling beggars came, and I could handle it by myself, but I don't know when stronger ones will come."
"Don't do that next time. Handle it by yourself, hide it by yourself. What is it? Then you're going to have a hard time."
"...Not really."
"Let's not make a secret in the future. I'll trust you, so you can rely on me too, huh?"
"Rely?"
It's also an unfamiliar word. Gremory tilted her head.
Chession sat down next to Gremory and patted her on the shoulder.
"Come on, look at the leaning here."
"Why all of a sudden?"
"Wait and see."
Gremory leaned on Chession's shoulder. As her small, light body touched, the corners of Chession's mouth twitched slightly. He tried to hide his excitement.
"How about it's easier for your body and mind than sitting alone?"
"I think so."
"This is the rely on. The same goes for fighting enemies, don't try to handle it all by yourself; but lean on me. Yes?"
"...Yes."
A corner of Gremory's heart began to throb. It was as if something in her heart was mumbling something.
'It's strange. I feel like I'm becoming obedient when I'm with this person.'
Gremory was aware that she often felt strange when she was with this man. But for some reason, it was so big today. Maybe it's because she just dreamed of her mother.
In fact, she took a nap next to Chession because of her mother's dream. She feels comfortable next to this man. She thinks this man would watch over her while she was sleeping.
Gremory rubbed her head on Chession's shoulder like a cat. The more she did so, the more his face began to turn red.
Chession turned his head to the window and tried to cover his heated face with the glow of the sunset.
"Oh, the sunset is red."
"Your face is redder. What is it? Why did you suddenly turn red? Did you get sick?"
"...Oh, no, it looks red because of the sunset."
Chession thought as he patted Mori's head. After all, there are no witches in the world. If Mori were a witch, she wouldn't be so obedient to humans. She would think of sucking out the blood of a human.
***
After dinner, late evening.
Chession took Gremory to the suburbs. There was an inn there that was neither good nor bad. The first floor of the inn was crowded with travelers as if it were used as a restaurant. It was not a very desirable atmosphere.
"Why did you suddenly ask me to come here?"
Gremory frowned at the smell of alcohol. Chession took her hand and descended the stairs to the basement.
"Since we decided not to keep secrets from each other. I'm going to reveal my secrets to you."
"What's down here?"
"My Secret Intelligence Guild. All the customers in the restaurant are my informants. They are high-quality people. They don't look like that from the outside, but they're all good at it."
As she went down, she saw a vast space. The guild members gathered in the parlor-like space greeted Chession in unison.
"Oh, are you here? Is the person next to you a new guild member?"
"Yes. Mori, a warrior and mage from the northern snowfields."
"Oh, I know. Miss Mori is very famous. Haha."
It was when Gremory was thinking, 'It's a problem if I'm famous...' Chession took her hand and greeted the people underground.
"The people here will chase the 'witch chase' you talked about. They are very good at finding people, so trust them."
"What... yes."
Gremory replied without much expectation. The person you need to find is a witch, not a person.
Afterwards, he showed her around the underground facility. Most of the facilities did not pique Gremory's Interest.
However, the underground forbidden book vault was different. It contained books written by real witches and demons.
"Why is this here?"
Gremory asked, genuinely curious. Why is a book that she has only seen in the demon world here?
"These are the magic books that have not been deciphered yet. It's dangerous, so don't touch it."
"Yes, it was in my house, too. On the north tower."
So, in the north tower of the demon world.
Chession thought it was the northern tower of the snowfield.
"I am very curious to know what the people who live in the northern snowy towers are doing."
They can perform all kinds of magic, their knowledge is high enough to manufacture drugs, and their knowledge of magic books is also important. Everything was full of questions.
And he was curious about Gremory. Seeing that they have such things, it is easy to believe that there are witches in the world, so why do the people of the Grand Duke's province believe that there are no witches in the world?
Chession took out a book from the forbidden books at his eye level.
"This is a deciphered book. Would you like to read it?"
"Yes."
Gremory took the book and read The Witch's Poem.
It was a book that she had read quite a few times in the Demon World. Others said it was a rare book, but Gremory read it quite often. No, she was almost obsessed. It was because she felt a resonance in her heart when she didn't have any emotions, and only when she read this book.
Gremory turned the pages of the book. It was full of familiar passages, but Gremory read them slowly, thinking over them one by one.
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