A week has passed since Severian left.
The barbarians were executed without excuses. The black magic tools they had were all destroyed by the priests of the Great Priesthood.
Gremory has been searching the empire diligently. During the day, she turns into a cat, and at night she spreads her wings.
That morning, Gremory turned into a cat and roamed the market of other estates.
'The world is so quiet. Nothing happened, so it's more ominous.'
Since the sandstorm in the Countess of Shien, the witches have been quiet. Did the demon god destroy two fragments of the original soul and get it stuck? Isn't Etna and Wraith also being called back to the demon world to save themselves? Seeing that the two of them couldn't see each other like this, it seemed like that.
"It would be great if I could go to the demon world and check the situation for myself."
It's good, but the moment she goes to the demon world, she may never be able to return to the human world again. Without human summons.
'I'm not connected to the human world by human summons right now. It's dangerous to go to the demon world.'
As she passed by the fish stall, thinking about this and that. The stall owner slammed Gremory's front with a fly swatter.
"You damn thief cat! It's off!"
Surprised, Gremory looked at the stall owner in astonishment.
"What are you looking at? Turn it off right away!"
The stall owner scolded the black cat that wouldn't go out. Then he went behind the stall and started rummaging through the bucket.
"Damn, that white cat must have made a rumor again! That's why I don't give fish to stray cats!"
Then he took out a small fish and threw it in front of Gremory.
"Well, you're really the last. Eat it and go tell the other cats. Even if you bring a friend now, I won't give you fish!"
Gremory shook her head and left suddenly. Behind her, the stall owner shouted.
"..."
"A cat without morals!"
She heard a grumbling sound. The fish that fell to the ground was bitten by a gray cat that appeared from somewhere.
***
Gremory returned to the Grand Duke's residence around 3 p.m. The first person to greet her was Isolene. She walked down the hallway, combing her hair with a comb.
"Mori! Can't you use magic to grow my hair?"
"I can't use anything like that."
"I don't like short hair. I want to raise it quickly, but you can't use similar magic?"
"I can't use it."
"Why can't you use it? Why can't a top-notch witch who can stop sandstorms, catch monsters, and transform into cats grow hair?"
Gremory poked her ear holes and looked at the mountains in the distance.
"That's something no demon can do. That's why the bald ones can't even summon demons. Sometimes, the bald people will give their souls, so they will beg for hair, but we can't listen. That's why it's so sad."
"Hah... Yes. Over time, it will grow on its own. I'll be satisfied that I'm not bald. Let's go to the tea room together. Anna has prepared snacks."
The two walked down the long hallway to the tea room. As they walked, she heard a giggle behind her. It was the laughter of the maids. The maids laughed for days and days as if it was funny for the two maids with the same backs.
Isolene turned around and scolded.
"Hey! Don't laugh! I'll shave your hair too!"
"Oh, I'm sorry! Don't do that!"
"Isolene, your bobbed hair looks good too~"
The maids grinned and ran away. Isolene muttered, grabbing her hair to the sides.
"I hate short hair. I hate looking just like you even more."
"It makes me feel really sad. Why don't you look a little similar?"
"I'm going to laugh everywhere for the time being, but it's annoying."
"If you are annoyed, don't go outside until you have grown your hair."
Gremory was strangely offended. Why do you hate it so much because we look a little alike?
When Gremory came out cold, Isolene straightened up.
"Why are you talking so cheaply?"
"You started first."
"We can complain to each other, but you're filthy and narrow-minded."
"What, haven't you broken the curse yet? Is your mouth getting harsher?"
At that time, the two women were growling. Alice, who was passing by, approached them with a grin. She was with Seara.
"Hoho, why are you two fighting? Did you ever get caught in the black magic of memory manipulation and hate each other?"
Gremory sneaked into Alice's side.
"She started first."
"What, she got it twisted. Am I right, Princess Seara?"
Isolene stood beside Ceara. Thus, the two witches and two humans came to confront each other.
Unfortunately, Seara and Alice were not interested in the love fight between the maids. Seara squeezed over to Gremory.
"Lady Mori, I want to help you hunt down the witch. You didn't forget that I had tracking ability, did you?"
"Oh, I forgot."
Gremory recalled the time when she was beaten by Race. When she saved Chession from being attacked by Wraith, she hid in the Forbidden Forest due to his abnormal appetite and was discovered by Seara's supernatural powers.
She forgot after all. Anyway, Alice and her will go looking for witches from now on.
"Yes, the little one is focused on growing up while eating delicious food in the house. Don't go out for nothing and get in danger."
"It's okay because I have Alice. Alice is in charge of combat power, and I'm in charge of tracking!"
"Did you get permission from Chession?"
"Oh... That's not... yet."
Seara squatted and laughed clumsily. Gremory stroked the top of Seara's head.
"Courage is good, but give up. You're too young."
"I heard that all members of the imperial family grow up when they are twelve years old..."
"That's funny. Seeing you playing big, you're still a little kid. This sister will do all the hard work, so you and Alice will keep the house well."
The corners of Seara's mouth drooped.
"But I want to help. I think my sister, who patrols alone every day, will be very tired."
"That's amazing. If you really want to do something, you have to work hard to protect the house. There may be witches who go beyond the relic shield and enter the Grand Duke's residence, right? While pretending to be human."
"Oh, it could be."
"Watch over them with your supernatural abilities. Alice and I lose our power in the relic shield, so we can't detect witches when they come close."
"Yes!"
Seara's eyes lit up when she finally had something she could do.
"So, Lady Mori, how was your day? Didn't you find any trace of the witches today?"
"Yes, I think everyone has returned to the demon world. It's like they're going to reorganize and come back, or something seems to have happened to the demon world."
"...Is that so?"
Seara smiled bitterly. She didn't know how the witches would come out in the future, so she was frustrated.
Then, Seara's gaze shifted to the window.
"Who do you think is coming to the Grand Duke's residence now?"
"Who? I can't see it?"
Gremory looked out the window and wandered around.
"I'm in a position where I can only feel it with my supernatural abilities."
"Is she a witch?
"No, it's a person. But she's like a witch."
"Who is that?"
"It's Lady Catherine Ortega."
Catherine Ortega. Before the name came out, Isolene shouted with a serious expression.
"What, what kind of strange thing is she coming here?"
"Aren't she here to apologize?"
"Hah! Is it possible for her to have such a personality? She said she couldn't speak because she was attacked by the devil? She's asking for a cure."
"It's more likely."
"Even if she lives as if she were dead, she is shameless. Mori! No matter what she says, never treat her! Don't even give her a beauty potion. No, don't even meet her! Let's go to the tea room!"
Isolene put her arms around Gremory and strode to the tea room.
***
The news of Catherine's visit was ridiculous, and so was Chession. Moreover, it was rude to come suddenly without any news.
Catherine's carriage finally stopped in front of the main entrance of the Grand Duke's residence. Chession thought a million times about whether to give up Catherine or not, and then decided to listen to what she had to say.
Chession opened the front door and went outside. Catherine's carriage, which would normally be so splendid that it hurts his eyes, was somehow plain. As much as a wagon for commoners.
Catherine bowed silently through the small window.
"Why did you come all the way here?"
In response to Chession's question. Catherine held out a note.
The note read.
"I know you don't want to see me. But I came here because I had something to say. Marvas, there are many things that the devil has said to me. Some of them are so ominous and disturbing that I felt like I had to tell you."
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