CHAPTER 481: LIKE A TIGER (5)

Fewer than a hundred witches remained in the world... a rare and nearly extinct species.

Once, witches were branded as mages who devoured their kind, practitioners of cursed magic feared and despised. Rumors claimed they could never surpass Class 8 magic, lacked even a trace of social grace, and were doomed by their own isolation and selfishness.

One renowned scholar boldly declared that witches would vanish entirely within a few centuries, a victim of their own nature.

But even that scholar couldn’t have imagined—

Among those secluded, self-centered witches, one emerged, her talent blazing brighter than any before her. She rose to Class 9, a realm few dared even dream of, and bent the will of all witches to her command.

The Witch Queen, Scarlet.

To some, ruling a species with fewer than a hundred members might seem trivial.

However, if Scarlet so desired, she could overturn the entire magical world.

Witches were feared even within magical circles, possessing abilities far beyond common understanding.

... And what was the Witch Queen, Scarlet, doing now?

Living quietly as a first-year student at Stella Academy, where novice mages honed their craft.

— Mother, you seem to be having fun.

Scarlet was taking a break after a lively game of basketball in the academy gym. She perched on a bench, sipping her sports drink, while waves of heat shimmered in the air before her. From them, a scantily clad woman materialized, addressing her in a familiar tone.

Scarlet, unperturbed, merely flashed a cheerful smile.

"Do I?"

— How long do you intend to continue this game?

"Well, Windy, I’m just enjoying various aspects of life. I don’t see these experiences as mere games."

— ...I disagree. You are the Mother of All Witches—the essence of the Witch Queen.

Windy Melsirun.

A stray witch taken in by Scarlet, the White Witch, and one of the Witch Queen’s disciples.

Windy was the very definition of a true witch, embodying the essence of witchcraft down to her bones.

But while Scarlet had once been fond of her, Windy had become something of a nuisance. She couldn’t seem to stop disrupting Scarlet’s latest experiment... living among humans.

"Well, it’s not like I’ve forgotten my true nature while doing this, right? Honestly, there’s nothing much to do back there anyway."

— I’m worried about you, Mother. In this form, you can hardly use your original powers. What if someone like Elthman Elwin harbors ill intentions toward you...?

"You’re worried that brat might harm me? Don’t be~ Even like this, I’ve got insurance!"

— That’s a relief. Then, when do you plan to return? The Green Tower Master, Toa Legron, has been waiting for you."

"Ugh. Is that kid still incapable of doing anything without me? She’s a class 9 mage now; she should handle things himself!"

— This isn’t something the Tower Master can handle on her own.

"Huh?"

What could that mean?

Toa Legron was one of Scarlet’s protégés, a mage she had trained to handle worldly matters she found too tedious to bother with herself. Over time, he had built an institution of unmatched power and influence: The Green Pillar of Rasellon, a magical organization whose reach extended deep into political and economic realms.

"What did Toa say?"

— A peculiar cult founded by dark mages has begun recruiting witches.

"Hah! Those guys? As if starting a religion didn’t look ridiculous enough, now they’re trying to pull witches into it? Must be pretty desperate."

— Only you can stop them, Mother. Recently, many witches have been questioning their purpose in life.

"Hmm..."

That wasn’t surprising.

Ever since one of the youngest witches had been killed by Baek Yu-Seol, most of the remaining witches were now over a hundred years old.

Scarlet’s unyielding control had kept their powers hidden from the world, ensuring witches stayed in the shadows.

But perhaps this secrecy had gone on for too long.

It seemed that something was starting to crack.

"Hmm~ Looks like the time has finally come. Just leave it. My children can’t escape my influence anyway."

— ... Understood.

"You should probably head back too. If you stick around too long, Elthman Elwin’s going to scold you~"

— Yes. Please take care of yourself, Mother.

As Windy vanished, as if on cue, a group of male students immediately gathered around Scarlet.

Windy’s departure had lifted the faint perception-dampening magic she had instinctively cast, allowing the boys who had been searching for Scarlet to finally spot her.

"Scarlet! You seem to like sports—why not join our cheerleading team? The uniform is red and white, which would look perfect on you!"

"I saw you playing soccer the other day. You’re pretty good! Want to join our team?"

"Scarlet! Have you thought about the club invitation I mentioned before...?"

Yes, Scarlet was popular.

Very popular.

Unlike Hong Bi-Yeon and Eisel from Class S, whose ethereal beauty and aloofness made them untouchable, Scarlet had shattered that emotional barrier with ease.

Like moths drawn to a flame, Scarlet effortlessly attracted her classmates.

The reason?

There wasn’t one.

She simply enjoyed mingling with younger humans.

’Hmm...’

But while Scarlet found this amusing, she never forgot her top priorities.

Her eyes suddenly landed on a boy.

Unlike the other students, who were practically swooning over her, this boy stood apart from the crowd, leaning against a wall with a bored expression that practically screamed ’get me out of here.’

It was Baek Yu-Seol.

Scarlet’s eyes sparkled as a bright smile spread across her face. Rising from her seat, she brushed off the boys’ eager chatter with a cheerful wave.

"Sorry, guys. I’ve got to go."

"Huh? But gym class isn’t over yet..."

"Tell the instructor for me, okay? I know you guys can handle it."

As Scarlet flashed them a dazzling smile, the boys eagerly nodded in agreement, their faces lighting up.

"Hehe."

Leaving her classmates behind, Scarlet approached Baek Yu-Seol with light, fluttering steps, almost like a butterfly.

Baek Yu-Seol, however, gave her a look of exasperation.

"Do you really enjoy flirting with kids so much?"

"And you think you’re any better? For someone with just as much experience as me, you sure spend a lot of time charming the younger ones too."

"Huh? When have I ever done that?"

"...?"

Scarlet stared at him, dumbfounded by his response, as if she couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

"Hmm~ Whatever. Anyway, you do realize it’s a bit risky for you to be showing up here, don’t you?"

"Huh? Is there even anything that could trouble you?"

"Ahem. I’m your junior, so speak casually."

"Sure, whatever. What could possibly trouble you?"

"...You adapt a little too quickly."

Scarlet pointed behind her.

"This is the first-year gym, you know."

Stella Academy was often described as a miniature version of the highly hierarchical magical society, so having an upperclassman suddenly show up here was bound to make people uncomfortable.

Of course, there were some first-years who admired Baek Yu-Seol and were thrilled by his presence, but not everyone felt that way.

"Got it? When a second-year suddenly barges in, people get nervous."

Scarlet’s explanation was reasonable, even if she left out a lot of details.

... But.

"Huh? Why would anyone be nervous about that?"

The problem was that Baek Yu-Seol didn’t care about such things at all.

"..."

Scarlet was momentarily speechless.

"You’re completely oblivious, aren’t you...?"

"What are you talking about? My awareness is faster than light."

"... Ugh, whatever. Let’s just step outside for a bit."

Eventually, Scarlet led Baek Yu-Seol out to the garden and patted the bench next to her, signaling him to sit.

"The weather’s so nice~!"

Smiling brightly as she gazed up at the sky, Scarlet looked every bit like a carefree teenage girl.

For a brief moment, Baek Yu-Seol almost fell for the act.

But the divine blessing of Pink Spring Moon had grown stronger, sharpening his ability to see through a person’s true nature.

He wouldn’t be so easily fooled by appearances.

"So, what’s the deal? You didn’t even bother visiting after enrolling me here."

"You were doing just fine on your own."

"...That’s beside the point. I enrolled here because of you. And since it’s just us here, shouldn’t you speak formally again?"

"Too confusing. I’m sticking with casual speech."

"..."

How can someone be this self-centered?

But oddly enough, Scarlet found even that side of him amusing and laughed cheerfully.

Normally, any mage who knew she was the Witch Queen, Scarlet, the White Witch, wouldn’t even dare to lift their head in her presence.

The boy in front of her didn’t see her as the Witch Queen or the White Witch. Instead, he simply saw her as Scarlet.

And Scarlet liked that.

"It’s nothing serious... I just have a few questions."

"Ask anything. I can even tell you the color of my underwear."

"What color is it?"

"...Aren’t you supposed to say that’s useless information and move on?"

"Nope. Now I’m even more curious."

"...I suddenly don’t feel like answering anymore."

"Too bad."

Baek Yu-Seol grinned mischievously before continuing his questions.

"Scarlet."

"Yeah?"

"A long time ago - no, a very long time ago - you met someone else with Mana Leakage Disorder, didn’t you?"

"...Huh?"

Had she ever mentioned that?

Scarlet looked flustered for a moment but quickly realized something and nodded.

After all, when she had faced Baek Yu-Seol before, she had demonstrated strategies specific to Mana Leakage Disorder.

’So he noticed that back then...?’

For someone who was usually oblivious to most things, he had an uncanny ability to pick up on key details.

"Hmm, yeah. I fought someone like that pretty often."

"So... could you teach me the strategies you used against them? Or maybe even the strategies they used?"

"Teach you...? I’m not really good at training others."

It was true that Scarlet had produced many disciples, including Toa Legron, a class 9 mage.

But that wasn’t because she was particularly skilled at teaching.

She simply took in talented individuals and let them figure things out on their own.

’...And this boy is no different.’

Baek Yu-Seol had reached his current level without anyone guiding him. He had walked a path filled with trials and experience, forging himself through countless battles.

’No doubt. He must have wielded a sword for at least several hundred years.’

That’s why this situation felt so strange.

For someone like Baek Yu-Seol, who had trained to such an extent, to suddenly ask for guidance. It just didn’t add up.

’Hmm... no way.’

Scarlet suddenly thought of something and clenched her fist slightly.

’...Could he be facing a wall?’

Baek Yu-Seol wasn’t a mage.

Baek Yu-Seol wasn’t a mage. Without even a mana ring, what kind of wall could he possibly encounter? Scarlet couldn’t imagine it.

But if someone as relentless as Baek Yu-Seol, who had sharpened himself over countless years, had reached a limit... and if he had come to her, of all people, for help...

’Me? I can help him?!’

Out of everyone in the world, it was her he needed! Scarlet’s face lit up with excitement as she nodded eagerly.

"Of course! I remember everything! Not a single detail missing!"

"Oh, really...?"

What’s with that excitement? Baek Yu-Seol thought, raising an eyebrow.

"You can’t expect to learn for free, though. You’ll have to give me something in return. Is there anything I want?"

"I don’t nee—wait, actually, there is."

"What is it? Tell me."

Scarlet shook her head.

"I’ll tell you later. Just one thing... when I decide what I want, you’ll have to give it to me."

"Hmm... I’m not giving you anything expensive."

"T-That’s fine! It’s something really small."

"In that case, sure."

Baek Yu-Seol nodded.

"Alright then, I’ll be counting on you from now on."

"...Right now? But I was planning to go eat parfait with my friends and then head to the manga café to read comics tonight."

"There’s no time for that. We need to start grinding hard immediately."

"W-Wait... there’ll be breaks, right?"

"Hmm... probably?"

"Thank goodness..."

"When I feel like I’m about to die?"

"..."

Scarlet’s expression immediately hardened.

’Why does this feel... wrong? No, it can’t be... right?’

A creeping sense of unease gnawed at her.

Witches were infamous for their sharp instincts, and Scarlet’s gut rarely led her astray. Something about this agreement felt like she might’ve made a terrible mistake.

But she had no intention of backing out now.

There was something she absolutely had to get from Baek Yu-Seol.