WTBHI 58

Chapter 58

“What even is this?”

Gremory curiously inspected the thing Ibelia had given her, placing it on the garden table. It was a cube, about the size of a fist, glowing pale blue and white, softly humming.

Anna handed Gremory a letter.

“Miss, here! A letter from Her Highness, the Princess. It came with the gift.”

The letter read:

“Do you remember how I said I’d ask a favor in return for Offencia’s price? I’d like you to take care of this magical creature. Its name is ‘Ham.’ It doesn’t need food and spends most of its time asleep, so it shouldn’t be hard to care for. When it glows blue and white, it’s awake. When it turns gray, it’s asleep.”

Gremory stuck out her lower lip, clearly not excited.

Before she could say anything, everyone in the duke’s estate came rushing out to see “Ham.” They were all curious about the gift directly sent by the princess.

Chesion was the first to poke it.

“What is this? If it’s from Ibelia, it must be something special. Maybe a holy relic?”

Anna gently poked it with her finger. The cube squished slightly.

“It’s like… it’s ticklish?”

“Tickle it more.”

Following Isolen’s command, Anna began tickling Ham with both hands. Ham started wriggling like crazy.

Feeling sorry, Anna began petting it instead. Ham shrunk down like a happy little puppy.

“Huh? Lord Duke! I think I’m hearing something while touching this.”

“Hearing what?”

“Try it yourself! I can’t really make it out, but something’s definitely there.”

Chesion followed her lead and stroked Ham. A faint voice echoed in his ears like a hallucination—a woman screaming, or maybe a man sobbing.

As he touched Ham longer, the voice became clearer.

“It’s all your fault.”

“I really do hear something. A woman saying it’s all our fault.”

“That’s so strange. I want to try too!”

“Me too!”

Isolen, the convent head, the knights, and Alice all took turns touching the cube.

But only Chesion could hear any clear voices. Others just heard mumbling or faint noise. Jokingly, they said maybe the more handsome or beautiful you are, the better you hear it.

Lastly, Gremory placed her small pale hand on Ham.

Everyone looked at her expectantly.

As soon as she touched it, a voice rang out clearly.

It sounded like an argument. A middle-aged man sobbing. A woman screaming.

And then—

“I’m sorry, Serieti. It’s all my fault.”

“…Mori?”

Chesion walked over to Gremory with concern. She had an expression he’d never seen—half angry, half about to cry.

She touched the cube a few more times, trying to hear more. But Ham didn’t make any more sounds. The glowing color faded to dull gray.

“Mori, what did you hear?”

Chesion asked gently, but Gremory couldn’t answer.

“Serieti.”

Even saying the name felt too heavy.

“…It cursed at me.”

She muttered instead, then gave Ham a little flick on the head. It grumbled in protest before going completely gray.

Annoyed, Gremory turned and left.

There was no way she wanted to raise such a weird magical creature.

Later that night.

Ibelia was walking through the gallery when she stopped in front of a painting.

Two people were in it—a sharp-eyed man with blond hair and blue eyes, and a girl beside him, shining like sunshine.

It was the portrait of the first emperor, Hamburton de Prilliant, and the sixth princess. The emperor had five sons, so he adored his only daughter.

Standing there, Ibelia spoke to the air.

“When humans suffer unbearable pain, they say their soul falls and turns into a witch. The greater the pain, the stronger the power gained.”

“I’m sure you know what I’d say. So why ask?”

Iris responded sharply, her red eyes flashing and fangs showing.

Iris had indeed turned into a real witch after enduring torture during the witch hunts. She’d accepted it in silence and climbed the stake herself so her brother wouldn’t be hurt.

She never told anyone—but Ibelia already knew.

“I just remembered it, that’s all.”

“You summoned me just to talk about this bitter nonsense?”

“No. I wanted to ask you to keep a close eye on Gremory.”

“Why don’t you do it yourself? I don’t feel like doing you favors.”

“Why not?”

“You could see the future, yet you let everything happen. My brother was kicked out, I was burned alive, and you just watched. And now that you need us, you try to use my brother and Gremory.”

Iris crossed her arms and glared.

“I had no choice. It wasn’t something I could interfere with. I really am sorry.”

“Hmph. And what were you thinking, sending ‘Ham’ to our house? That thing is no ordinary magical creature.”

“Gremory is the key. The one who can save the witches and the human world. Ham will guide her.”

“Save the human world? What kind of problem is happening now?”

“A disaster is coming—caused by the sins of humans 200 years ago.”

Ibelia looked at the painting bitterly.

“What sins did they commit?”

“They did something terribly foolish. So foolish, they deserved to lose their memories, turn into demons, and be trapped in the demon realm.”

“And what exactly was that?”

“I can’t tell you that. What matters is that their descendants will now pay the price. I’m trying to stop that.”

“Still vague as always.”

“I can only say what the heavens allow. That’s all I can tell you.”

“Then this is all I’ll tell you. Don’t summon me again.”

Iris turned and walked away, her body slowly fading as she teleported back to the duke’s estate.

—

When she arrived, Iris was shocked.

Gremory was still up at her desk working through paperwork.

‘What? She’s still awake? Did she see me teleport? Does she know I’m a witch?’

Iris nervously called out.

“Miss Mori, still up?”

Gremory, eyes dark and tired, glared at her.

“Where have you been? Isolen’s been torturing me. I can’t sleep until I finish all this. Help me.”

“You’re not even curious how I just appeared out of nowhere?”

“Must be your power. You’re a witch.”

“What? You knew?!”

“Yup.”

“Then why didn’t you say anything?”

“Not my business.”

“…Then keep pretending you don’t know. If my brother finds out, he’ll worry.”

“Fine. But help me with this. What do I even write here?”

Iris checked the paper and scoffed.

“Seriously? You stayed up all night over something this easy?”

“Just tell me. I’m dying.”

“Ugh, fine. Write this at the bottom, then over there…”

Iris sighed in frustration.

This lazy, clueless witch… was the key to saving the human world?

She couldn’t believe it.

Once the paperwork was done, Gremory rolled up in her blanket like a caterpillar.

“Ahhh, finally.”

“Aren’t you curious where I went?”

“Not at all. You must be tired of being stuck indoors. Go out like this more often.”

“I met Ibelia.”

“…”

“Aren’t you ever curious why no one’s found out you’re a witch?”

“…”

“Turns out you weren’t hidden. Ibelia knew. She even said you’re the key to saving the human world…”

“Zzzzz…”

“…”

Iris raised her hand to flick Gremory’s forehead… then pulled back. She might lose her fingers if she tried.