Chapter 556: Those Who Make Mistakes

…A Witch.

Before the great hero Altia and during the time of the human King Medic, there was a woman known as such back when magic hadn’t yet been systematized and was merely a part of mystery.

Few written records remained to this day, in those records not even her name could be found. She was a human from the mythological era, with only one passage saying that she was with Medic.

In that historical record, her description ended with that word. Her records had been intentionally lost.

And yet, the concept of a “witch” had endured because of the legends of her great deeds.

…The witch wielded a demonic power. Possessing demonic eyes and fingers and knowing magical arts by wielding magic itself.

It was like the myths and heroic tales we heard as bedtime stories. Filaret only had memories of hearing it as a child. It was a myth she laughed off as she grew older.

It was a joke, wasn’t it? Besides, only a handful of people had been said to have mastered all properties of magic itself. Even the Sorcerer General Mastigius was still in his infancy when it came to learning.

And yet, was there really someone in this world who could use not only sorcery but also magic, and who could even possess multiple magical mechanisms? If she really did exist, then she would be no longer a human.

「…I’d really like to ask for her how she uses sorcery and magic at the same time, but that’s not possible since we’re enemies. And if she’s a witch, it’d be a bit difficult for a novice like me to take her on. That’s why I’d like to come up with a countermeasure. 」

Filaret pursed her lips. Her expression had a deep emotion.

Eldith couldn’t sense what Filaret was feeling about the “witch” who was said to have wielded all aspects of magic.

Eldith had trouble reading emotions, but she lacked a more fundamental understanding.

Eldith recognized Filaret as a talented sorceress. Her exploits at the Great Temple of Flimslat and her numerous battlefield magic spells were undeniable proof of her talent.

But…Filaret didn’t think for a second that she had any talent. Even if she showed her true worth around other people, she had never truly considered having a talent.

Filaret spoke of her “countermeasures” with smooth lips. Eldith involuntarily pricked up her long ears.

「So, do you think it’s feasible? I’d like to ask for your blessing and assistance. 」

Filaret showed Eldith the blade she was holding in her right hand as if it was nothing. It was a dull, silver dagger, but clearly well-sharpened. It was slightly curved, the kind you might see anywhere.

Eldith furrowed her eyebrows and finally digested Filaret’s words.

「…It’s disgusting. Yes, it’s disgusting. This is why I hate humans. I see it now. You and Caria are the same. Aren’t you essentially drawn to Lugis? If so, is it really right to sacrifice yourself to that extent? 」

「No. I’m not the kind of person who always goes on life-risking adventures. I don’t neglect myself as much as Lugis. But this time it is different. 」

「…How is it different? 」

Eldith asked, and Filaret nodded, gritting her teeth.

Self-sacrifice was by no means a noble thing. Rather, Filaret’s rivalry with the demon Baronuis was based on personal reasons.

If the demon Baronuis was truly the “witch” of mythology. If she was a great star for those who had mastered magic and sorcery and wielded demonic powers.

…I can change that absolute proof if I can surpass her.

Filaret thought so.

Caria’s talent with the sword was recognized from a young age, and Eldith was favored by the Great Spirit. They may not have had a blessed environment, but they each had undeniable individuality.

But Filaret was different. She once fled her hometown due to her inferiority.

The fear of the past that caused her to run away still lied deep within Filaret.

She knew how cold-hearted people could be. How cruel people could be. How capable people were when looking down on others. How miserable an unfortunate life could be. How close one came to wishing for death.

She knew it all.

That was the origin of Filaret La Volgograd, which could never be erased.

The happier Filaret became, the more frightened she became. One day she could return to that awful, horrible past.

The fact that so many people praised her now was because she had value. But how long would that value last? One day, she could be abandoned.

People used to look down on her and mock her for her lack of talent, but it seemed she had gotten better recently, and she had made a few friends. How could she accept seeing that past now?

Maybe that’s why. The memory she had of him, who even sacrificed his life for her when she had nothing, remained burned into Filaret’s heart like an indelible mark.

「Eldith, you see, I’m actually a selfish person. I can’t imagine risking my life for someone I don’t even know. I’ll never be like Lugis. But I want to stand up and prove myself. I don’t want to be a burden. 」

「Aren’t you underestimating him? Lugis isn’t the kind of person who’ll give up on you just because you’ve fallen on hard times. I believe in Lugis in that regard, much more than you or Caria. If there’s one person I can trust, then it’s him. 」

「I told you, I’m a selfish person. And I don’t want that to be just enough. 」

Filaret’s gaze hardened as she looked at Eldith.

「…I just don’t want to depend on others. I want them to depend on me. 」

Filaret wanted to be trusted, relied upon, and leaned on. She wanted people to turn to her for answers. She need to show her worth in order to achieve that.

Proof of her worth that would wipe away even her long-held feelings of inferiority and more than make up for the pain of the humiliation she had experienced.

…If I defeat the mythical “Witch”, I’ll finally be able to believe in myself. I’ll be convinced that I’m worthy to be by his side.

And so, Filaret was willing to pay any price for it. Baronuis was worth that much.

The “countermeasure” was simple.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. One needed something worthy of the challenge to stand up to magicians and sorcerers.

In other words, to counter the evil eye, all she needed was the same mechanism. Filaret currently possessed the heart and magical power of a dragon. Casting a human body, especially one of her own, would be easy.

…Then all she had to do was destroy those eyes imbued with evil.

「…You’re wrong by elven values, Filaret. 」

「Perhaps. But who said I need to follow such values? 」

Filaret raised the dagger in her hand inside the immaculate tent, with the tip of the blade pointing directly at her own eyes.

—

「It’s such a pain. 」

The evil eye…the witch Baronuis…sighed. It was a catchphrase from her past.

Baronuis said there were too many problems in the world. The reason was clear: there were too many idiots.

They didn’t even understand a single thing, even though they should understand the full picture. They even replaced what they heard with something else. They couldn’t even accept facts as facts.

It was so frustrating that they couldn’t even judge what they should and shouldn’t do.

It was the same when the human King, Medic, died.

The day he died, many humans grieved, mourned, and lamented. It was as if heavy rain had poured down from a canopy. Everyone wanted to give him a grand funeral.

Baronuis was simply stunned. The evil forces would surely begin their reconquest if Medic’s death was to become known. The kingdom they had built in the Western Islands would disappear without a trace.

Baronuis understood that the kingdom could only survive under the guidance of one great man: Medic. That’s why such words were professed.

「It’s such a pain, but let’s resurrect Medic. Why don’t we give him immorality? Don’t get me wrong. I’m speaking for humanity’s sake. 」

No one agreed with Baronuis’ words. In fact, some even cursed her.

She sighed. All they had to do was dig up to get the coffin, reach the body, extract the soul, dissect it, reconstruct the flesh, and then put it back in.

Well, with Baronuis’ skills at the time, Medic’s memories and personality would be lost, but the minimum information remaining in his soul would remain.

She could assign Medic’s role to a body. It was an application of necromancy.

It was the best option available, and no other option was more ideal.

「You’re wrong. 」

Baronuis snorted at the words of the assassin that had been sent to kill her.

Right or wrong? Being trapped by such things was what made a person a third-rate magic-wielder.

「Wrong, you say? Don’t be foolish. If you’re a magic-wielder, then betray, commit blasphemy, and trample on taboos. If you wish to make the world human, then strive to understand it, even if it’s troublesome. What can you do if you hesitate, or make excuses, and or even chained by trivial ethics? Even if maggots start to emerge from Medic’s body and he’s covered in filth and mud, I don’t care as long as he continues to function as himself. He’s essential to the survival of humanity. Otherwise, we’ll once again lose our culture and our kingdom…In the end, you don’t care about humanity as a whole. You just want to be by the side of a great king and delude yourself into thinking you’ve become great. And yet you pretend to be loyal, you losers. 」

At that time when Medic died, humanity lacked the power to contain and subdue the witch Baronuis.

Baronuis killed all those who antagonized her and abandoned the first human kingdom.

Her prediction came true less than a year later. Without their human King Medic, the humans had no power to resist the demons, and the kingdom collapsed. Many humans died, and the rest became their livestock.

But, Baronuis thought to herself, in her current position and timeline, that she wasn’t very different. She walked forward and snorted still bound by chains.

She could smell a human scent.

「How stupid. 」

Baronuis couldn’t help but mutter. The fact that the humans were still here meant that even after thousands had been killed, they still didn’t understand the situation.

She was honestly disappointed.

Baronuis didn’t believe that beings remaining within human bodies could defeat the great demons and beasts without any help. Although the Heavenly Dragon Vrilligant had apparently been destroyed, proper preparations were surely necessary.

However, there was no sign of proper preparation in this land. At best, it seemed like the spirits and fairies were on guard.

「At this rate, we won’t even reach Altia. This is troublesome. 」

「…Baronuis. The humans are approaching. It’s your turn. Kill them. 」

「This is troublesome. Do it yourself. Don’t get me wrong, but I’m just saying this because I think you have more free time than me. 」

Despite her curses and the demonic resentment, Baronuis politely allowed the cloth covering her eyes to be taken away.

Baronuis sighed.

Now and then, she was surrounded by enemies. In the end, humans remained in the hands of demons.

And the King still hadn’t appeared.

She laboriously concentrated her power in her eyes. The Demonic Eye of Death, which killed everything in sight. One of the demonic pinnacles.

… Baronuis felt an incredible burning heat in her eyes the moment she opened her eyes.

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