The rest was nothing but horrific. Catherine tried to kill Marvas several times, but failed. Marvas treated Catherine like a toy. He said she was noisy and even burned her vocal cords.
Seeing everything, Chession groaned as he pointed at his brow. Catherine held out her notebook in front of him.
"I don't know exactly what's going on, but I felt like Mori was being targeted, so I thought I had to tell you. Was there anything useful?"
Chession nodded slightly.
"Yes. She was chasing a witch who was a friend of Marvas. I was frustrated because I couldn't see the spirit, but now I know roughly what happened."
When he said that it was helpful, Catherine's shoulders, which had been shrinking a lot, loosened slightly.
Gremory quietly thought about the current situation. The fact that the demon god is eating the souls of other witches is probably because of the Demon God Worship Ceremony that has not yet been completed.
'The Cult of the Demon was to eat the soul of one of the strongest witches, or as many souls as the strength of the strong witch. So, does the demon god eat as many souls as I have?'
The demon god was eating the souls of witches as soon as she could, and she would eat the souls of the highest-level witches, Etna and Lace. Gremory asked.
"Is my strength that strong?"
She looked back at herself.
'I don't think I'm that strong. I think there must be some other reason.'
It was a time when Gremory was thinking about it, Catherine quickly wrote in her notebook and presented it to the three of them.
"I've told you everything, so I'll just go. Thank you for helping."
Catherine stood up and bowed her head. If she stayed longer, it would only make them uncomfortable, so she was going to leave in a hurry.
As she headed to the entrance door of the drawing room, Gremory's voice held her.
"Wait."
Catherine frowned and stopped. She flinched as she saw Gremory striding towards her.
'What is it? Are you trying to slap me?'
Catherine, who accepted her fate, humbly closed her eyes. But something worse happened than being slapped in the face. Gremory grabbed Catherine's neck.
"...!"
Catherine trembled as she expected her throat to tighten. Gremory emitted black magic with a trembling face.
"Why are you so scared? I was trying to make you speak."
"...?"
"I'm not treating you in the sense of forgiving you. You gave me useful information, so I'll just pay you for it."
After the treatment, Gremory cut Catherine's neck.
Catherine touched her neck and tried to speak out.
"Oh...! Thank you."
Thrilled, Catherine fell to the ground. Gremory clicked her tongue at Catherine, who was overly polite. She passed the threshold of death and became as polite as a stranger.
"From now on, be careful about your behavior and live a good life. And the worn mental power will come back on its own in time. If you want to recover quickly, eat well and exercise hard. Don't just be stuck in a corner."
"Yes, thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Now that it's over, go."
Gremory hurriedly kicked Catherine out. And Isolene went straight to Gremory.
"Hey, tell me the truth. Did you turn off the relic shield with the intention of treating her from the beginning?"
"No, I tried to get some information by trying to trick her into treating her, but she just told me everything."
Gremory sat down on the sofa, looking at the distant mountains. And she focused on the main topic.
"So, is it because the demon god ate their souls that Etna and Lace suddenly became quiet?"
Chession thought of other possibilities.
"Didn't they say that they could freely enter and exit the demon realm? If so, I think they would have fled to the human world before being eaten by the demon god."
"Then maybe they hid in a remote place in the human world where my eyes can't see them."
Isolene expressed a different opinion.
"They may have been eaten by the demon god. The demon god may have the power to force the two of them into the demon world."
Chession agreed.
"Anyway, it seems certain that there has been a split between the demon god and the witches. I think I've bought time to find out where the third Soul Fragment is."
After a while, Isolene hung down on the sofa.
"Hah. Now you can relax a little. I haven't shown it so far, but I hardly slept last night. Because I'm anxious."
"Isn't it because you don't like short hair that you can't sleep?"
Gremory raised one corner of her mouth slightly. Isolene glared at Gremory with a serious expression.
"Oh, I don't like short hair. Even if I look just like you. I don't hate it anymore! Is it okay?"
"Come to think of it, I think I was able to use the magic to grow your hair quickly."
"What? Really?"
"Seeing that you like it. Indeed, you don't like short hair."
"I don't hate it. It's just that long hair is better. Stop arguing now!"
"Your reaction is so funny that I can't stop."
Chession was relieved to see the two fighting childishly. Being able to fight so comfortably means that you have more room in your heart.
"Now all that's left is to wait for the Severian to find the clue to the third Fragment Soul Fragment.
They were able to relax for the first time in a long time.
***
That evening. The atmosphere of the Grand Duke's residence was relaxed.
Gremory, who was always busy poing on patrol with a full stomach, enjoyed goat meat leisurely for the first time in a long time. After eating apple pudding for dessert, she even ate beef jerky and enjoyed a walk in the garden with Chession.
Gremory strolled through the garden with a refreshed face. Chession looked at her with pride, who looked so cute today.
"Mori, you look good today."
"It's been a long time since I've had a proper break. It's nice to have a breeze, and the flowers look beautiful. What you say sounds prettier today."
"...Does what I say sound 'more pretty?' Does that mean I usually sound pretty?"
"Yes, you tend to be pretty."
Chession's face turned pale pink. Seeing this, Gremory smiled brightly.
"...Mori, I think your emotional expression has become much clearer than when we first met."
"I feel that way too. It's because I've had a lot of good experiences since I met you."
"Really? What kind of experience did you have?"
"I've seen a lot of beautiful things, I have friends and family, and I have people to trust and rely on. When I didn't have anything, I didn't know if those things were good, but now everything is precious."
"Huh, is that?"
Chession scratched the back of his head in style. He didn't expect such a cute and honest answer to come out.
"Chession. Thank you for saving me. Both when we first met and at Forquint Castle. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have felt such a good feeling."
Gremory looked at Chession's face and smiled brightly. It was the brightest smile Gremory had ever made.
Chession's heart began to beat wildly, losing its control.
"Mori, every time you're so honest, my heart is about to burst."
"Really? If your heart bursts, you'll die. Calm down. I still have one more honest word left."
"I don't think it's going to explode yet, so tell me. What is it?"
"My new name you gave me, 'Mori'. I like it."
"...When I first made it, you hated it so much."
"Now it's good. Because it's the name you gave me."
Gremory burst into Chession's arms, his eyes widening.
At the same time, Chession's face turned bright red. Is it okay for a witch to be that cute? There was no expression to capture this crazy cuteness, so he was on the verge of being amazed.
"Yes, I'm glad you like it."
"When a witch receives a new name from a human and recognizes it, it is tantamount to a declaration that she will not use the power of a witch for the rest of her life."
"What? Then go ahead and cancel! There may be things that you need to work on later, but what if you admit it now?"
"Later, when everything is over, I don't plan to use my strength from then on; I want to live by your side like a normal human for the rest of my life."
"!!"
Chession was so happy that he almost fainted. My cute Mori wants to live with me for the rest of her life. If this is not a marriage proposal, what the hell is it?
"Chession? Why are you doing this all of a sudden?"
"..."
"Are you broken?"
"..."
"Chession?"
"Mori, I love you."
Chession hugged Gremory tightly and kissed her on the top of her head.
"Let's live together for the rest of our lives. Normal, while seeing a lot of beautiful things."
"Hmm."
"I'll protect you no matter what. If you disappear somewhere again, I will definitely find you. That's how you will stay by my side for the rest of your life."
Gremory tilted her head and made eye contact with Chession. And she smiled, happier than ever.
"I love you too, Chession."
"!"
"What is your head really broken? Why is your expression... Eup."
Lips overlapped. Gremory fully embraced the feeling of jumping and matched his movements.
The kiss became much longer. It was a peaceful evening.
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