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The Swamp Witch’s Promise
Elina came to in a luxurious canopy bed.
“Where is this...”
Her memories before losing consciousness came back flooding to her. She had been defeated by Melona in a Queen’s Blade.
“That’s good, that’s good. Thou seem to have woken up.”
The blonde reflexively sprang up when she heard the voice next to her.
“W-What?”
The Swamp Witch replied to her from the other side of the screen:
“I did nothing to thee... I was merely looking at thee sleeping. Because, the results of the fortune-telling said it was better to do so.”
[‘Looking at me’...? So she can see me from beyond the screen? I can’t see her!]
“Be at ease. I laid no finger on thee.”
Just to make sure she was speaking the truth, Elina checked her own body for abnormalities.
It would have been kind of a big deal if she had woken up sporting odd tattoos or black magic. Rulers didn’t take others’ words at face value.
“Thine Queen’s Blade match did entertain me a fair amount.”
“T-Then, Airi...?”
“I shalt be sure to revive her. To that end, it’s good to have a foundation, anything will do.”
The witch’s words reminded her of the perfect thing, and Elina retrieved among her effects the collar she had had Airi wear all that time.
“Ooh? What would that be?”
“This is what I had Airi wear as proof of her slavery. Will this be enough?”
The moment she finished explaining, the collar disappeared from her hands.
“I have it right here.”
The sound of the chain echoed from beyond the screen.
“However, summoning her again will take some time.”
“How much?”
“Well, depending on the position of the stars, the flow of the earth...”
“I don’t want to wait that much.”
She had to go bring Michel back too, she couldn’t possibly wait that long.
“Isn’t this what friends are for?”
As if perceiving Elina’s impatience, Melona came out from the bottom of the bed.
“I can go to the mission in search of the magical flute instead of Airi, can’t I?”
She asked the Swamp Witch.
“An interesting wind... is this it...?”
Melona and Elina exchanged looks while the witch uttered words of unknown meaning.
“Very well, Melona. I have lifted the limitations thou were subjected to. Go with your ‘friend’.”
Melona’s body shivered ever so slightly after hearing the good news.
“Nnfufufufufu, so it’s fine, isn’t it? You’re letting me go free!?”
“It matters not to me. Go recover the flute in place of Airi.”
“Leaaave it to me! Elina, take me with you!”
With the situation unfolding outside of her control as it was, Elina could only give a curt nod in reply.
Claudette’s Indignation
“What diid youuu saaaaay!?”
The unexpected bellow made the soldier’s body stiffen.
It even made the door to the General Claudette’s room—the most important military facility in the Vance Earldom—vibrate.
“Is the intelligence reliable?!”
Claudette had slammed her fist against the table before she could even realize. Seeing someone like her, known for her calmness, so enraged made the soldiers around shrink themselves as a reflex.
“Get me a map!”
A soldier spread a map on the table, as per her request.
“Is the intelligence reliable or not?!”
She asked the messenger one more time, to make sure.
“Yes! There is no mistake. I’m told Lady Elina headed to the Swamp Witch’s residence along with one other person.”
Claudette stared at the map in silence. Considering how many days had passed since the witness had sighted Elina around the witch’s dominions, it was possible to draw a decent radius of how far she could have gotten by now.
[Alright! We’re moving in!]
“Prepare the whole army for departure.”
Her words made the soldiers exchange looks.
“The Swamp Witch is an opponent we must face sooner or later, now is the time!”
“P-Please wait, General!”
An adjutant interrupted her.
“We’ll need the Earl’s permission first if we are to move the army. Besides, we have nowhere near enough supply preparations.”
Claudette felt her head cooling after hearing the adjutant’s calm words.
[Not good. When it comes to Elina, I can’t keep it together.]
“Forgive me, adjutant. You all can relax as well.”
She made a light wave with her hands and urged them all to leave the room.
‘Along with one other person.’ Those words from the report got stuck in her mind.
She was sure the previous report mentioned two people accompanying her on her way to Hinomoto.
[Just what could have happened to Elina...]
Her beloved sword Thunderclap reacted to Claudette’s fighting spirit by enveloping itself in lightning.
“Swamp Witch... If you so much as lay a finger on Elina, you’ll have me to answer to.”
Episode 4 END
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