Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Crazy Witch
A/b={ Warning: some mature content can be in this Chapter or in the next Chapter.}
"Hey, Sir Duke, what are you doing?" A Old woman’s voice fell in Bennett’s ear, she looked around her surroundings, her hand on her waist, clutching a sword hilt.
"Haha....do you plan to attack an old woman like me?" The old voice said with amusement flickering in her voice.
’Where is she....’
Her eyes turned left and right, trying to pinpoint the direction from which the voice was coming.
A faint blue aura seeped into the air, wrapping around Bennett like mist. The pressure was unmistakably not dark. Her grip loosened slightly, though her vigilance remained.
’The aura of this person is blue.....strange, she is also a person above, or is a sword master, didn’t she feel the dark mana?’
The sudden touch on her shoulder jolted her instincts. She leapt forward in a blur, twisting mid-air as her blade rang free from its sheath, gleaming in the light.
Her sword froze in mid-air. Bennett’s knuckles turned white as she gripped the hilt with every ounce of her strength.
"Aghhhh—" she groaned, forcing it forward, yet the blade only budged an inch.
In front of her, the old woman, who radiated more strength than any middle-aged fighter she had ever seen, lifted a hand and smiled faintly.
"Girl, don’t even think about it. If it were another person who did this, he would have his neck cut."
The woman tilted her head, curiously flickering in her eyes.
"Why is your soul...."
The sword in Bennett’s hands began to tremble violently. A heartbeat later, it slipped free from her grasp, floating weightlessly before the old woman.
"Never unsheath your sword so casually, lady; it can harm innocents." The woman’s eyes narrowed playfully, and with a subtle flick of her fingers, the weapon began to circle her body as though it were a trained hawk responding to its master.
Bennett swallowed hard, every instinct screaming to be alert. She stepped back slowly, gaze locked on the display of her sword mastery.
"Who are you, madam... and how do you know my gender?"
"Hehehe..." The woman threw her head back and laughed, the sound echoing with unsettling cheer.
Bennett’s fists clenched at her sides as she watched.
"Hoh, you are a funny girl." Wiping a tear from the corner of her eye, the woman snapped her fingers, and the circling blade halted mid-air. Slowly, it drifted back toward Bennett, sliding smoothly into its sheath without her ever touching it.
"You think your gray spell can hide from the master of magic?" She tilted her head, lips curling into an amused smile as Bennett’s face drained of color.
"Oh, no need to fear. I won’t tell anyone about your spell," she said with one finger on her lip.
"I think it’s time for me to go," Bennett muttered, turning sharply to leave.
"Don’t be in such a hurry, dear."
Bennett froze, every nerve in her body locking tight. In the blink of an eye, the woman appeared before her, blocking the path.
Her wrinkled face began to shift, the lines smoothing, her features glowing faintly as her form wavered. The illusion of frailty peeled away like melting wax, revealing her real face.
---
[First World Secret, as promised: The Witch Arc begins.]
"Huh... again with this screen. Who even promised that?" Lilian muttered, scratching her head in confusion.
But as her eyes focused on the purple screen, her pupils shrank. Her trembling fingers hovered in the air as she reread the glowing words again and again.
Her back hit the mattress, and a dry, nervous chuckle escaped her lips. "Heh... haha... good luck, Bennett."
A shiver ran through her body. She rubbed her palms together to chase the chill, but the unease only grew stronger.
’So it’s here. The Yuri side story... Did Bennett meet with the crazy witch already.’
She rubs her finger on her chin, flailing her legs in the air.
"Should I warn him..... but isn’t the crazy witch only in the side story?"
Her eyes lit up with thoughts, and she sat straight on the bed, looking at the ceiling.
"Hey, you promised me right, so tell me one more secret."
[Second World secret, as promised: The novel you read was with a 14+ warning, but the world you currently reside in is 18+; the rules apply differently in this world.]
"Huh." She blinked, reading the words, and was shocked that her suspicion of this screen was true.
’So I was right, this is my gold finger, but what does it mean by 18+, don’t tell me.’
She remembers reading the comment on one Chapter that the mature version of this novel is better than this one, only children can read this, so if adults want some spice in it, go read the adult version of this.
’I have only read the 14+ version. Does that mean the story is a little different from what I know?’
---
In Bennett’s stunned eyes, the old lady’s body began to change. Wrinkles smoothed away, her sagging frame straightened, and her once-white hair turned into a deep crimson, the same hue that now burned in her eyes.
"Who... who are you? And why isn’t anyone...."
Bennett’s gaze darted to the nearby guards. She opened her mouth to call for them, but no sound came out. Her throat constricted violently, her breath caught. She gagged, clutching her neck, forcing out only a strangled rasp.
"Ara, ara... don’t strain yourself, girl."
Where the frail elder once stood was now a striking woman in her prime, mature, alluring, and somehow releasing a dangerous, seductive vibe.
She looked no older than thirty, draped in a flowing crimson gown that clung to her curves. Net gloves of the same red wrapped elegantly around her forearms, every detail exuding menace wrapped in seduction.
"Ummm..." Bennett narrowed her eyes into a glare, but the woman only chuckled and strolled closer, her heels clicking softly against the stone.
"Well now, I noticed a trace of gray mana clinging to you, girl. Why are you hiding your gender with forbidden arts?"
’and tainting that soul of yours.’
"Tch...." Bennett tried to turn her head away, but her body refused to obey, frozen in place. The woman’s gloved hand brushed her cheek, leaving a faint warmth that painted it red with unwilling embarrassment.
"Ah, how adorable." Her crimson lips curved into a sly smile. "You probably know me already. I’m called the Divine Witch." She leaned closer, her voice a velvet whisper. "But you don’t have to call me ’Miss Divine.’ You’re an exception. Just call me Olivia."
Bennett’s eyes widened in shock at her words.
"U-Umm..." She tried to force her mouth open.
"Alright, you can speak now, dear." Olivia lazily waved her hand.
"Gasp..." Bennett sucked in a deep breath, her throat suddenly freed from the invisible grip.
"A-Are you... The Divine Witch? The one who has been guardian of the royal family for generations?"
Olivia twirled a strand of her crimson hair, smiling as though she were being complimented at a tea party.
"Oh, yes. For you, I must seem terribly old. But for me?" Her lips curled into a playful grin. "I’m still young, only a thousand years old, after all."
’A thousand years... and she calls that young?’ Bennett’s lips twitched uncontrollably at the thought.
"Can you release my body now?" she asked, forcing her voice into calmness despite the storm inside.
Olivia arched a brow, amused, then lazily waved her hand.
Relief rushed through Bennett as sensation returned. She flexed her stiff fingers and squeezed her aching arms, grounding herself again.
"But tell me, dear... who taught you to use dark magic? You wield it so immaturely." Olivia sighed, her tone carrying an odd mix of scolding and pity. She rubbed her chin as though genuinely concerned.
Bennett’s jaw tightened, her teeth grinding as she fought the sharp urge to slap that condescending hand away.
Bennett took a sharp step back as Olivia’s fingertip brushed against her lower lip.
"Why do you keep touching me...?" she demanded with a wary voice.
Olivia glanced at her now-empty hand, and for a moment, a dark light flickered deep within her crimson eyes. Then she clenched her fist, the smile returning to her lips.
"I don’t know," she said with a lilting laugh. "I’ve never been this curious about anyone before. I can’t see through your soul, dear... and that makes it impossible for me to resist touching you."
"What do you mean by that...?" Bennett narrowed her eyes at her, then, after a pause, glanced around the area.
"Forget it. Didn’t you see someone here using dark arts just now? If you really are the Divine Witch, then you should’ve sensed her."
A flicker of puzzlement crossed Olivia’s face. She slowly turned her head, scanning the surroundings, before shaking it with calm certainty.
"You must be mistaken, dear. I can’t sense even a trace of dark mana anywhere in this entire palace."
Before Bennett could speak, Olivia blurred forward, appearing inches from her. Warm breath brushed against Bennett’s skin as soft lips grazed her neck.
Her face flushed crimson in a rush of shame and mortification. She tried to leap back, but Olivia’s fingers closed firmly around her wrist.
"Don’t move, dear," Olivia murmured, her voice low and velvety. "I just want to linger near this soul of yours... mmm."
"W-What..." Bennett stammered, her voice catching as Olivia’s hushed moan sent the blush crawling all the way down her neck.