.｡.:✧ Chapter 75 ✧:.｡.

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“This is where I live.”

“Hm.”

“You don’t seem very surprised?”

Adriana, introducing the underground village where the ‘Witches of the Black Forest’ reside, as casually as one might show off their own room. The village, hidden beneath the forest, was indeed a mystical sight, but having seen it several times in a past life, I wasn’t particularly astonished.

“But is it really okay to bring me here?”

I was under the impression that this village wasn’t very welcoming to outsiders.

‘After all, it’s not like outsiders come here often.’

Given that hardly anyone ventures into the Demon Realm Forest, finding a village hidden within it would be even more unlikely.

“It’s fine, I’ve already talked about you.”

“Hm?”

“You might not be able to stay long, but the Great Witch herself expressed a desire to meet you.”

‘The Great Witch.’

If asked whether I had met her before, the answer would be yes, but we weren’t exactly close. If anything, they were more afraid of me, merely bowing their heads in fear.

I followed Adriana, observing the witches along the way, who were visibly startled and wary of me, but I was accustomed to such reactions.

‘I’ve already experienced this in Yggdrasil.’

Having already faced the wary gazes of elves, the attention of a few witches was easily disregarded, even if it felt somewhat excessive.

Entering a house that clearly looked like a witch’s abode, we were greeted by the Great Witch, her face deeply wrinkled, busy brewing something over her cauldron.

‘Same as ever.’

She looked exactly as I remembered from my previous life.

If the Elf Queen seemed ageless, the Great Witch appeared to have aged as much as possible, unable to age further. Adriana briefly introduced me, prompting the Great Witch to pause her stirring and examine me closely.

“You carry a lot on your shoulders, don’t you?”

‘Here we go again.’

It seemed her hobby was to impart cryptic messages to newcomers.

While her assessment wasn’t wrong, focusing too much on such insights could lead one to end up like Adriana, who summoned Apviel.

‘That’s the witches’ downfall.’

They can see fate or the future but often stumble over themselves by placing too much faith in their visions.

“Actually, I couldn’t find what you asked me to look for, so I sought the Great Witch’s help.”

“Is that so?”

That was a wise decision. The Great Witch, with her vast knowledge, would surely know more.

“You asked about the earliest apocalypse?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“And Apviel mentioned it to you?”

“More precisely, he spoke of it after seeing a girl.”

Adriana, unaware of this detail, looked at me in surprise, while the Great Witch’s eyes, previously squinting, widened as she considered me.

“You’ve encountered the earliest apocalypse?”

“Yes, I know who it is.”

As I spoke calmly, the Great Witch chuckled, reaching out her hand to summon a wand from the wall, which snugly fit into her grip.

“Lead the way, we might need to dissect this child.”

This was getting out of hand.

“Let me make one thing clear.”

“!”

“Ugh!”

Both the Great Witch and Adriana instantly bowed their heads, trembling. I maintained my gaze, repeating my warning.

“If you speak of that child in such a manner again in my presence, you will die.”

As I withdrew my aura, the Great Witch carefully placed her wand on the ground, catching her breath.

“What a surprise. I thought you were a mere child, but you’re more monstrous than a demon.”

“That scared me.”

“Anyway, tell us what you know.”

There was no need for pleasantry here in the Demon Realm Forest, where power dictates everything. Knowing this, the Great Witch began to speak without further ado.

“It’s not that significant. It’s merely a tale, like those found in ancient texts we possess.”

“…”

I nodded for her to continue, and she began, like an elder recounting an old story.

“When the world fills with evil, the gods’ judgment begins. The fastest to bring about the world’s destruction is ‘the earliest apocalypse.'”

“…”

“A messenger of the unnamed god of death leads it.”

“Please, tell me more.”

Excited by a potential lead, I urged her on, but the Great Witch shook her head.

“That’s all there is.”

“…hm?”

“That’s all that’s written in the ancient texts. There’s nothing more.”

“But what does that mean?”

“What can we do? Shall I show you the text itself?”

Extending her hand, a dust-covered book flew towards her. She opened it to the section about the apocalypse, revealing a story that unfolded like a fairy tale.

“What is this?”

The content narrated a time long ago when the world was corrupt, and the god of death, observing the decay, decided to take the corrupt beings away, acting before any other god.

“It was ‘The Earliest Apocalypse.'”

It was truly written just up to there.

I wondered if there was another story on the next page, but there wasn’t.

“Truthfully, I didn’t believe it until you came and told me. But if a demon as old as Apviel knows, it must not be incorrect.”

“Then, is the world really going to end?”

Adriana’s question left the Great Witch without a direct answer. Up until now, it was thought to be just a legendary tale; what could be known?

“If it really exists, couldn’t it end by killing that person?”

I didn’t want to go against my principles, but thinking it was something that had to be said, Adriana asked.

However, unexpectedly, the Great Witch shook her head.

“If the god of death himself has intervened, it won’t be that simple. Rather, ‘death’ could trigger it to activate.”

“Ah…!”

At the Great Witch’s speculation, I felt a tingling sensation in my brain.

‘It seems right.’

When Rin became the Commander of the Undead, she looked like someone else, not herself. Initially, I thought it was possible because ten years had passed.

But as I spent more time with Rin, I became convinced that no matter what happened, she wouldn’t fall apart like that.

‘If Rin’s death meant the god of death was harbored in her body, that would explain it.’

Suddenly, my hands came into view.

While attending Aios Academy, I had contemplated killing Rin several times and had actually attempted it on numerous occasions.

A shiver of dread coursed through my entire body.

I had nearly triggered that apocalypse in a moment of carelessness.

“I’ve learned a lot, but…”

“Hmm?”

“Who asked about this before me?”

I asked the Great Witch, slightly lifting the ancient tome. The tome was covered in dust, but this page alone looked as if it had been recently dusted off.

“It’s strange to remember such a fairy-tale story.”

To remember terms from a passing story to such an extent?

I thought even the Great Witch couldn’t possibly remember that much, and my assumption seemed accurate as she momentarily fell silent, then nodded.

“Yes, before Adriana left the academy, a man had come to us.”

“In the village?”

“At first, we naturally tried to drive him away. But in front of the power he showed, we had no choice but to listen to what he wanted. It wasn’t anything difficult.”

“…”

“That was exactly about ‘The Earliest Apocalypse’ you mentioned.”

“Did you see his face?”

“No, but somehow, he was using the power of a ‘Demon Beast.'”

It was the Gladiators.

The Gladiators had even come to the witches of the Black Forest to steal information about the apocalypse.

‘What exactly are these creatures up to?’

Just being able to roam the Forest of the Demon Realm was unusual, but to also know about the apocalypse?

“What kind of demon beast’s power was he using?”

I started to hear more details from the Great Witch.

It didn’t take long.

About 30 minutes later, I said I would be going and left the village.

The witches seemed annoyed, spitting as if to hurry me away, but that’s just their nature.

‘A group of old maids.’

Buried in books and magic, so starved for a man’s presence yet pretending otherwise, they throw tantrums like children.

‘Plus, since the Gladiators came too.’

I had wondered why they were so irritable; it seemed they had already been scorched by them before I arrived.

“Leaving so soon?”

But here, Adriana was different.

Adriana, who according to Hayun and Rin was a ‘near-miss kisser,’ stepped back as I said,

“The academy’s vacation is over. Even if I go now, I might be a bit late.”

There were problems to solve, as I couldn’t keep Michelle confined to my room forever.

Though I had plans.

“There were some gains, so it’s a profit.”

I looked at the ancient tome taken from the Great Witch with satisfaction.

It seemed like an antique that had just been occupying space, collecting dust, and they had coolly told me to take it.

“I was expecting some thrilling developments after such a long time.”

“…Was that your personality originally?”

When I first met her, she played the role of an intellectual girl, later fighting desperately to survive, so her personality was confusing.

“Isn’t it like growing up?”

Is it that overcoming near-death experiences makes one stronger?

Indeed, I had also faced death several times in the Forest of the Demon Realm and had my epiphanies.

“Just to let you know, I have someone I like, and I’ve confessed.”

Adriana shrugged her shoulders, clearly intending to set firm boundaries.

“How do you think our witches’ village has continued with only women?”

“…?”

“Once every half-century, we bring in a man from outside for the community…”

“Wait, I don’t need to hear more!”

These people are truly mad.

I remembered from a past life how the witches were somewhat clingy, and I got goosebumps.

“So, I don’t have a big problem with polygamy.”

As I pondered what insult would hurt the most, Adriana, uncharacteristically, exaggeratedly pulled something out of her bosom.

“Take this.”

“Huh?”

What Adriana handed me was a black ring.

The ring had a unique design, as if thin branches were woven together, and I could tell it was enchanted.

“Using this, you can teleport to our village just once. If there’s an emergency, use it.”

“I appreciate it, this was really needed.”

I wanted to confront the ancient demons right away to demand what they knew, but I lacked the proper equipment.

In the case of Apviel, it was his physical abilities and his army of insects he fought with, but because of a pact, he came alone, making him an easier target. Other ancient demons would be challenging to face with my current weaponry.

‘I’ll come back later and deal with them all.’

There were those I had killed and those I had spared.

There were unbeatable ones, but they were few, so it wouldn’t be a big problem.

“Then I’m off.”

I quickly shook off Adriana, who seemed eager to do something, and left the forest.

The journey from the forest to Elgrid would take at least ten days, but with the carriage wheel coming off, it took an additional three days.

Despite the end of vacation, I missed a few days of attendance.

‘I hope I won’t be expelled.’

With a patron behind me, I hoped such a minor issue would be overlooked as I stepped into Aios Academy.

“Today, we must settle this once and for all!”

“Haha, with such a light mindset, how can you become Master’s woman?”

“Crazy women, let’s end this today.”

Watching Rin, Elise, and May engaged in a three-way conflict.

“How was this ring supposed to be used again?”

I turned Adriana’s ring over and over in my hands.

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