TWFLLYM Ch 90

Where the Black Witch Was Born

[Mazi] "You fool."

Mazi certainly held that opinion. However, her reasoning differed from what Roserikta expected.

[Mazi] "Why did you get pregnant already? Right in the prime of your life."

[Roserikta] "It wasn't exactly what I wanted......"

Mazi possessed the same strictness Roserikta remembered from her grandmother.

[Mazi] "Quiet. You've become entirely human now. Do you think a witch conceives an infant so easily? The stork never visits unless one is prepared. Even though that woman desperately wanted a child, yet she never saw a glimpse of a stork."

[Roserikta] "Grandmother wanted a child?"

[Mazi] "Most witches do. She especially did, since she wanted a successor to inherit the kingdom. I was always quite a disappointment in her eyes."

Information about her grandmother flooded her all at once. Roserikta exhaled a small breath, her heart heavy with emotion.

[Mazi] "When she was young, she was fiery and full of energy. Then, one day, she changed. She told me, 'Mazi, you must inherit the kingdom.' I thought it was ridiculous, but I couldn't refuse. Everything a witch does is bound by......"

[Roserikta] "......The Moon's providence."

Mazi smiled and nodded.

[Mazi] "Correct. That was her favorite saying. Perhaps she saw something in advance. The shadow of a stork, or perhaps......"

Mazi paused. Her expression grew grave.

[Mazi] "The child born to the witch of Vilakas."

[Roserikta] "The witch of Vilakas? The one loved by Raquelman I's eldest son?"

[Mazi] "Yes."

[Roserikta] "Then that child carries the blood of the Imperial family?"

[Mazi] "I doubt it."

Mazi spoke with absolute certainty.

[Mazi] "If that child carried Imperial blood, they wouldn't have burned her at the stake."

[Roserikta] "Then...... are you saying it was another human's child?"

[Mazi] "It wasn't a human child at all. That child used black magic from the moment of its birth."

[Roserikta] "What?"

She clenched her hands tight.

[Roserikta] "Then the Black Witch is the child born to the witch of Vilakas? And she used black magic from birth......"

[Mazi] "She was a child born through black magic."

A child emerged from a corpse charred black by execution. The witches made a collective decision to bring her to the Witch Kingdom. If it was a witch's child, it was undoubtedly a witch. Everyone believed that.

[Mazi] "The energy of black magic was weak at birth. We held onto hope. We gave the child the Moon's Baptism, wishing for the dark power to vanish. As I said, that was the golden age of magic. Everyone was overconfident. They believed they could handle the black magic of a mere infant witch."

At first, things went well. The second witch of Vilakas, born of darkness, grew up like any other. Because the three witches of the Versaryl line—the purest blood—performed her baptism, her powers manifested clearly.

[Mazi] "But that small child was incredibly cunning. The black magic didn't vanish; she hid it. By the time we realized the truth, it was too late. We decided to purify her by force. Everyone suffered during that process. The child's black magic was far stronger than we anticipated, so we only managed to wound her. The child, now a full Black Witch, fled. Around that time, our relationship with humans shattered, and we had to lock our gates."

[Roserikta] "I see......"

Agony twisted Mazi's features.

[Mazi] "It was irresponsible. No matter how much we hated humans, we shouldn't have left the Black Witch alone. It was obvious she would flee to the human world. And it was just as obvious what she would do there."

[Roserikta] "What she would do...... you mean revenge?"

[Mazi] "She likely wanted that. Revenge against the humans who killed the first witch of Vilakas."

[Roserikta] "But...... that happened so long ago. If she wanted revenge, why wait this long?"

[Mazi] "I told you. She was wounded. Her black magic wasn't whole."

[Roserikta] "Ah......"

[Mazi] "She waited in the shadows, holding her breath until she regained enough strength to strike. Using a curse on the Crown Prince was a cowardly but brilliant move. Don't you think?"

Mazi is very much a witch. She doesn't feel any unnecessary empathy for humans.

[Roserikta] "Because of that, he has lived in such pain. It is a horrific curse for a human to endure."

[Mazi] "Of course it's horrific; it's black magic. Anyway, I think that woman abandoned the kingdom for one of two reasons."

Either she saw the stork, or she saw the witch of Vilakas.

[Mazi] "Perhaps it was both. Or perhaps those two things aren't different, but the same."

Grandmother came to the human world and found Roserikta, an orphan. She raised the half-witch as the owner of Versaryl Pharmacy and left behind the love potion and the Water of Life. The Crown Prince drank the love potion, which led him to confront the Black Witch.

They were two separate events, yet they were one. A web of providence, woven with incredible precision.

[Mazi] "Rosie."

Mazi took Roserikta's hand.

[Roserikta] "Yes, Grandmother."

[Mazi] "Aren't you curious why I only found you now? Even though that woman went to the far side of the moon a long time ago (*passed away)."

[Roserikta] "I am. But I think I understand."

[Mazi] "Really?"

[Roserikta] "Yes...... you intended to stay out of human affairs, didn't you?"

[Mazi] "I did."

Mazi's eyes crinkled with age. The weight of regret sat heavily upon her.

[Mazi] "I thought...... that it was the fate humans had to accept. That it was the Moon's providence for humans, who hunted so many witches, to meet their end at the hands of the Black Witch."

[Roserikta] "......"

Finding no words, Roserikta simply placed her hand over Mazi's.

[Mazi] "But then, I had a dream. A dream of a stork going somewhere."

[Roserikta] "Oh......?"

[Mazi] "It wasn't a dream, but a letter sent by that woman. I followed the stork, and it led me to the Imperial capital, not the Witch Kingdom."

And I saw our child (*Rosie) preparing for a final goodbye. Behind the door, we locked tight with ice.

[Mazi] "So...... I gathered moonstones in a hurry."

I can't let our child be sad just to make humans regret a past they don't even remember.

Roserikta understood exactly what Mazi meant by gathering moonstones.

[Roserikta] "Grandmother......"

[Mazi] "And once I melted the door halfway, the stork really did take the child."

Mazi finally shed her heavy expression and laughed brightly.

[Mazi] "I'm glad I wasn't too late."

Roserikta laughed along with her, not knowing what else to say.

Mazi pulled her hand away and placed it on Roserikta's stomach.

[Mazi] "A very beautiful child will be born. A jewel of a child who will bring peace to both races."

The touch on her stomach felt exactly like her grandmother's, and tears welled up.

[Roserikta] "Yes......"

[Mazi] "A world where that child is born shouldn't have something like a Black Witch in it."

Her eyes sparkled.

[Mazi] "Now, starting today, let us hunt the Black Witch together."

---

To summarize, hunting was impossible today.

[Roserikta] "I'm very happy to hear that, but right now it's a bit difficult."

[Mazi] "What? Why?"

[Roserikta] "It's obvious he's worrying."

[Mazi] "You mean the Crown Prince?"

[Roserikta] "Yes."

She scratched her cheek, feeling embarrassed.

[Roserikta] "He panicked when I disappeared before."

[Mazi] "The Crown Prince is the one cursed, isn't he? Even though the curse breaks if the Black Witch dies?"

[Roserikta] "Well, um......"

He told me that if I'm going to break the curse and disappear, I shouldn't even think about breaking it.

When she thought about it, the man really was too much.

[Roserikta] "......Right now, he worries about me more. It's because of the baby."

[Mazi] "You told him. About the Moon's Baptism."

[Roserikta] "Yes."

[Mazi] "And how did he react?"

[Roserikta] "Um......"

He seemed deeply saddened, but she didn't recall him saying anything like that. She remembered his gentle hugs and kisses meant to soothe her, but no words of comfort. He hadn't even responded when she asked him to promise her something.

What had he done?

All he said was that they shouldn't decide things too quickly.

Come to think of it, he hadn't shown resentment or despair. He hadn't even let himself be sadder than her. That man had no intention of giving up anything.

[Roserikta] "He tricked me into signing something. A marriage vow."

[Mazi] "......Oh my?"

[Roserikta] "He said he did it because he thought I wouldn't allow it if he told me the truth."

Mazi's eyes darted back and forth, and she wrinkled her nose.

[Mazi] "Isn't he a bit dangerous?"

Clobellina had said something similar. In the end, Clobellina was the one who gave up and told her to be good to him.

[Roserikta] "......Not exactly dangerous."

At least, he doesn't do anything dangerous to me.

[Mazi] "Well, human men who fall for witches usually have obsessive personalities. But you mustn't let him have his way too much."

[Roserikta] "It's not like that. I draw the line where I must. He isn't so unreasonable that he won't listen to logic."

......Probably.

[Mazi] "A marriage vow. He must have a fiery personality."

People used to call him a marble statue because he was so cold and emotionless.

[Roserikta] "He says he has no time to waste."

[Mazi] "A child who hasn't even lived a hundred years says he has no time? Based on his personality, he resembles a witch more than a human."

He looks more like a witch, too. His beauty didn't fade even when standing next to the Black Witch.

[Mazi] "Raquelman was that kind of man. He was a human who got what he wanted, no matter what. Since it's his bloodline, they must be alike. Rosie, do you still want to marry him?"

[Roserikta] "That...... um, not right now. I want to take my time and think about it."

[Mazi] "Will he leave you alone? Didn't he get your signature on that vow because he feared you would do exactly that?"

[Roserikta] "Clobell warned me in the middle of it, so I didn't finish the signature. I think there might be a legal flaw."

[Mazi] "Hmm. I see. Fine. Let's say the vow is invalid. Yes, indeed. I haven't even seen with my own eyes if he's a suitable match for our girl, yet he dares to push a vow on her. I must check for myself."

She stood up. She looked at Roserikta, who was still sitting, with confusion.

[Mazi] "What are you doing? Get up."

[Roserikta] "Wait, right now?"

I want to stay with you a bit longer, Grandmother......

[Mazi] "Being impulsive is the most witch-like way to be. Get up. Let's go see the Crown Prince."

[Roserikta] "You're coming too, Grandmother?"

Roserikta jumped to her feet at those words.

[Mazi] "Hmm...... ah, but keep my identity a secret for the time being."

[Roserikta] "From him?"

[Mazi] "Yes. I want to see his true nature. For all our sakes."

If she didn't reveal Mazi's identity, she also had to delay telling him that the baby could receive the Moon's Baptism.

[Roserikta] "He...... he is suffering a lot right now, Grandmother. I don't want to keep watching him like that."

[Mazi] "Don't worry. It won't be for long. Now, let's go."

Roserikta nodded, though she took Mazi's hand with worry.

[Roserikta] "......You promise, Grandmother."

[Mazi] "Goodness. You're as timid as a human."

Grandmother, you're just being too much of a witch.

Even though she was only twenty-four, Roserikta felt a strange sense of maternal anxiety.

Just in case...... please don't torment him too much. It hurts me when he's hurt.

While Roserikta thought this, her surroundings began to sparkle.

Just as when she first arrived, she watched her fingertips turn transparent and closed her eyes.

---

[Roserikta] "......Grandmother?"

She opened her eyes.

[Clobell] "Grandmother? Did you see Grandmother in your dreams?"

[Roserikta] "Huh?"

She realized she was back at Hailey's jewelry shop. It had happened in a brief moment, just like when she went to the actual Versaryl Pharmacy.

[Roserikta] "Where is Grandma Mazi?"

[Clobell] "Ehh? Who is Grandma Mazi?"

Clobellina tilted her head, her eyes wide with confusion.

Kalart brushed the hair from Roserikta's forehead.

[Kalart] "What kind of dream did you have?"

His lips lightly touched the spot his fingers had just brushed.

[Roserikta] "......"

Nothing had changed. She still sat on the same sofa next to Clobellina, and Kalart stood behind her, leaning against the backrest.

[Roserikta] "Did I...... fall asleep?"

[Kalart] "Briefly. For about five minutes. I was waiting to see what happened, as I heard that it can happen during pregnancy."

No way. I definitely met Grandma Mazi. Was it a dream? No. It wasn't.

Mazi had told her stories of the Witch Kingdom that she had never heard before. A dream couldn't do that. She couldn't create facts she didn't know out of thin air. Mazi must have pulled her into a magical space.

Incredible. So that's real magic. The magic I use with Axaca powder feels like petty tricks. I probably can't even learn that.

However, one thing was certain. Grandma Mazi was a very reliable ally. Now, there was no need to fear the Black Witch.

She felt so happy she could hardly believe it. All the hardships and pain she had endured were about to be resolved.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness."

She called to him with a beaming smile.

---

Here is what I gathered from chapters 89 and 90:

The Witch of Vilakas gave the First Crown Prince a love potion, which sadly led to his death. Then, she was burned at the stake. The evil Black Witch was born from her ashes. The Black Witch fought off the Versaryl Witches when they tried to get rid of her black magic, but she escaped to the human world to get revenge.

To protect the Witch Kingdom, the Second Witch sealed the gate with an eternal blizzard. However, she had a vision of a baby that Roserikta would have, and this baby would bring peace. It made her cross her own ice seal to go to the human world. She adopted Roserikta. Made a secret plan for Roserikta to meet the current Crown Prince and defeat the Black Witch.

Some time later, Mazi received a dream-letter from the Second Witch and found out that Roserikta was planning to hide in the frozen Merve territory. She used a ton of moonstones to melt the ice, which destroyed Roserikta's hiding spot. This also allowed the stork to fly toward the Capital, and let Mazi cross over to the human world to help fight the Black Witch.

This is just my understanding. I might be wrong.