The rcenaries' tongues loosened instantly for five silver coins. Finding themselves earning free drink money while wandering aimlessly looking for excitent, they beca quite polite and talkative.
"There's this woman openly going around claiming to be a witch these days."
"A witch? Are there witches in the Empire too?"
"Well... there are quite a few won who hide among monster waves researching strange sorcery."
The simple explanation began imdiately, powered by coin. Their story, delivered with surprising narrative skill, revealed that witches did exist in the Empire.
Like the unexplored jungle regions in the Kingdom's south, witches were researchers who lived hidden in remote areas untouched by humans, studying sorcery. Not all witches were evil, but they were more like mad scientists who conducted research with morality far removed from normal human ethics.
In other words, while Magic Tower mages were madn who rode the line of legality by allying with state power, witches were madn who rejected even that and ran wild. Mages walked a tightrope on the line while witches threw themselves beyond it.
"So what's this witch doing in the archipelago's back alleys?"
"She's handing out stuff claiming it's for experints. Sotis there's actually valuable items - heard the Magic Tower bought what looked like weeds for 2 gold, and alchemists paid 5 gold for what seed like rotten wood..."
Just hearing the explanation, it was clear why rcenaries were going crazy over such a gambling-like setup.
rcenaries living day to day weren't likely to carefully save money in banks. Like in fantasy novels, they'd blow it all on alcohol, gambling and won before heading out to earn more. Without clear next goals and social levels like the Kingdom's tower, that's how most humans ended up.
Who could resist a witch's lottery appearing before such dopamine addicts?
"Should we try it too?"
She couldn't resist either.
Han Se-ah's shoulders bounced excitedly as soon as she heard the rcenaries' explanation. She'd mocked viewers crying over point betting, but now showed the sa behavior when faced with gambling herself.
While we'd need to approach this self-proclaid witch to check for quests anyway, Han Se-ah was clearly more interested in the "witch's gifts" than the "witch" herself. Her eyes practically shouted that she planned to clean out the witch's item stash and convert it to gold, quest be damned.
"Is that all?"
"Well... just that it's been going on for four days now, nothing else special."
"What about these experints?"
"Only participants know that. They won't say anything, claiming the witch cursed them to keep quiet."
Witch, gambling, curse.
It was the perfect combination to entrance rcenaries who relied on superstition due to their day-to-day existence. The ntion of a silence curse instantly made everything seem more suspicious.
Setting aside Han Se-ah who was totally excited about legal in-ga gambling, the rest of our party also showed interest, eyes sparkling as they turned to stare at the backs of people blocking the alley where the witch was supposed to be.
While not all these rcenaries could be the witch's custors, at least half probably ca after hearing rumors.
"Shall we push through?"
"Push through?"
"There are too many people - we won't even see the witch's hair, let alone her face, if we wait."
"...Good point."
With that thought, I tossed another silver coin each to the grinning rcenaries clutching their coins. They imdiately stepped aside. Noting their quick wit, I moved forward as they naturally fell in behind .
Like cavalry breaking through infantry, I pushed through the crowd while the two rcenaries held the gap open, naturally forming a formation so the won could walk comfortably.
"Hey, what the-!"
"Stop pushing!"
"Which bastard... oh, make way!"
A man in full plate openly pushed through the rcenaries, followed by two rcenaries making a path. Behind them walked beauties far surpassing the archipelago's noble ladies, escorted by three n.
One was an exotic black-haired mage, another a nun in thick robes, and the third looked like a female guard with a long bow on her back.
To anyone watching, it would look like high-born ladies who'd spontaneously contracted rcenaries after hearing their tales while out with their knight escort. Even rcenaries living day to day weren't foolish enough to ss with a mage and nun moving with a knight escort.
Thanks to people naturally making way to avoid trouble from forcefully pushing through, we reached the alley's end surprisingly quickly.
"My, what interesting guests have arrived."
In front of a small tent that looked suited for tarot readings, a witch in a pointed hat and robe greeted us.
"...Wait, what? Her title doesn't even say she's a witch."
To be precise, a witch impersonator greeted us.
※
On the surface, she looked completely like a suspicious witch.
The old wrinkled pointed hat, an unnaturally sharp jawline visible under the hat's large shadow, a robe covering everything but from nose to chin, and a slim figure the robe couldn't hide.
And was she the only suspicious thing that looked witch-like?
The tent behind her floated in the air without support, maintaining its pointed shape, its edges fluttering like ghost clothes in the windless alley as if enticing custors. Through the slightly parted tent, a crystal ball the size of a human head was visible with lightning flickering inside.
Even the archipelago's scholars and priests would probably jump in shock and shout "A real witch!" seeing this.
"Uh, but... her title literally says 'Fake Witch Elize'? I'm not nitpicking other stuff, just saying her title straight up says fake witch."
-LOL her title ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-With a title like that is she just a professional scamr? Or maybe a witch apprentice?
-Not gambling, just fraud ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Need police not house
-So what's the experint? If she's fake maybe she's so crazy Magic Tower lady?
-Turns out the witch's gifts were clinical trial compensation ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
But to Han Se-ah as a player, the blatant title "Fake Witch" was visible.
4★ 'Fake Witch' Elize
Whether she was a back alley scamr, an exiled Magic Tower madwoman, or a fallen noble hiding a hidden quest secret, one thing was certain.
She definitely wasn't a witch.
"Such noble guests visiting my humble place. I have no warm tea to offer, but shall we sit and talk?"
"That tent looks too small for all of us."
"It's more spacious and comfortable than it appears, co~ this way."
And so she gracefully guided us to the tent, unaware Han Se-ah had seen through her identity. Despite the tent looking barely big enough for three or four people, she gestured for everyone to enter, so we followed.
Our ears went numb imdiately upon passing through the fluttering tent entrance. Our bodies realized before our minds that the fake witch hadn't played tricks - we'd moved to a different place. Looking back carefully confird it - no sign of the noisy alley, only dark shadows.
Seeing this, our companions who didn't yet know Elize was fake had sparkling eyes. While they might have been wary of an evil witch, they were completely taken in by this (so far) kind and pretty witch's mysterious yet friendly welco.
Though they'd briefly encountered witches in the Kingdom's south, it had been such a superficial experience that even calling it scratching the surface would be generous.
"Though it's humble, please make yourselves comfortable."
"Wow, what an amazing place!"
"Hehe... thank you for your kind words, dear Saint."
From outside, the tent seed tiny, barely fitting two people around a table. But inside was a space large enough to host a social gathering.
The interior looked about 10 tis larger, with a bearskin carpet on the floor and a long table seating 20 topped by the massive crystal ball visible from outside. But most eye-catching were the various decorations hanging from the vastly expanded ceiling.
Colorful ribbons and knots held various mice and rabbit skulls and bones, making the cozy interior eerie. The one fortunate thing was that Irene didn't label the fake witch a "heretic" despite the animal bone decorations.
"So, would our hero be willing to help this witch?"
"You're not even a witch."
...Man, Han Se-ah really had no chill.
Enjoy the chappy!
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