This story was told from the perspective of Groa, the Witch Queen’s assistant.
My name was Groa. I served as the assistant to the Witch Queen in the Witch’s Village.
The leader of all witches, the Queen was a woman as fickle as a cat and was, more often than not, completely missing in action. Consequently, my days were spent managing the village in her stead. My life was consumed by work; I often found myself wishing for a holiday, a small indulgence I felt I had earned.
While wondering when I had last enjoyed a moment of freedom, I turned my gaze toward the witch flying ahead of me on a broomstick, wearing a white cat-ear hat. She was the Queen of our village, and the person responsible for turning me into a witch. I wasn't born with white hair, but because I inherited a significant portion of the Queen’s power, my locks became just as snow-white as hers.
While this granted me strength second only to the Queen herself, it also meant I was saddled with the role of second-in-command. I often wondered if that was a blessing or a curse. At times, I suspected my hair hadn't turned white because of magic at all, but from the sheer stress of being pushed around by the Queen every single day.
Today, my flighty Queen and I had traveled together to a certain castle.
Until the winter of the previous year, this had been the Fortress City—home to the largest stronghold in the Kingdom of Gardenia. However, while isolated by a massive blizzard, it was besieged by the Demon King’s Army Dragon Unit and fell with tragic ease. Now, it served as a bastion for the Demon King's Army.
Even though it was only the end of autumn, the castle was already encased in thick ice. This was a clear sign that the person who had summoned us was already waiting.
Entering the frozen fortress, we were led into the depths by a Demon King’s Army maid. We were escorted to a balcony on the upper levels with a sweeping view, where a woman in a deep-blue dress sat waiting for us. She brushed aside her long hair—a shade of blue as deep as a lake's bottom—and called out to us.
"I have been waiting. Sit."
Her gaze, cold as ice, seemed to pierce right through me. The moment I saw those eyes, which looked capable of freezing the very air, my body trembled instinctively. She appeared human, but I knew her true nature: she was a terrifying Ice Dragon who had lived for nearly a millennium. Perhaps that was the source of my dread.
"Nyahaha, it’s been a while, Prime Minister-chan!" the Queen chirped, taking the seat opposite the table with her usual casual greeting.
In this wide world, I doubted anyone else would dare speak so familiarly to the Prime Minister of the Demon King’s Army. It was utterly irreverent. I, meanwhile, remained standing at attention behind the Queen. Only the Queen had been invited to this tea party; I was merely here as her attendant.
As the maid began to serve tea, Her Excellency the Prime Minister gestured toward the horizon with a boastful flick of her palm.
"What do you think? It is a fine castle, is it not?"
"It certainly is a grand castle, as expected of Gardenia’s primary defensive line. But it would be much nicer if it weren't frozen solid," the Queen replied. "It’s way too cold in here. Can’t you do something about it?"
"It is only natural that it is cold; I personally summoned the Great Cold Wave that froze this place. Though, according to my original plan, I intended to be hosting a grand gala for the destruction of the Kingdom of Gardenia right now. To think I have been reduced to holding a modest tea party with you instead... it seems the world rarely goes as planned."
With the Fortress City fallen, no impregnable strongholds remained between here and the Royal Capital. The troublesome Hero had lost his will to fight, and the Saint was dead. The Demon King’s Army had intended to finish off the Kingdom of Gardenia then and there, but an unexpected variable had forced them to cancel their advance.
"I truly thought we would finally be the ones to dismantle Gardenia, arguably the most difficult of the Five Great Nations to conquer. It is a disappointment," Her Excellency said, quietly sipping her tea. After savoring the flavor, she continued. "Under normal circumstances, the Four Heavenly Kings—Spirit Princess Vergissmeinnicht and Corona Garuda-Hraesvelgr—would have used this castle as a foothold to invade the rest of the kingdom. Yet that entire plan was rendered moot by a single plant monster."
"You mean Crimson Flower Princess-chan, right? Believe it or not, I’m the one who gave that Alraune her name. Pretty impressive, right?"
"The Alraune is impressive, not you. I find myself wondering what she truly is. To think she could defeat Garuda-Hraesvelgr is one thing, but to take down Vergissmeinnicht is quite another."
"Now, now, don't make such a scary face. I told you before, didn't I? Crimson Flower Princess-chan is a handful. I don't know how many people on this continent could actually best her."
"Yes, I suppose I must admit she is troublesome. Especially since my pig-headed brother seems so devoted to her. I was shocked to discover he had developed a hobby for admiring flowers. He isn't satisfied with merely keeping her as his maid; he is plotting to induct her into the army as one of the Four Heavenly Kings. He is becoming quite the handful himself."
"Nyahaha. If Glühschwanz has made up his mind, then that’s that. Even you can’t stop him, can you, Prime Minister-chan?"
"That is precisely why I humored your suggestions and tried to use Beast King Marticoras to eliminate her first. That, too, ended in failure. Honestly, he was a useless lion."
"A plant that can go toe-to-toe with the Four Heavenly Kings... I've never heard of anything like it."
As the maid moved diligently to serve the two women, Her Excellency let out a heavy sigh.
"Because of that plant girl, our plans have been significantly derailed. We have been forced to shift our primary targets to another nation for the next year."
"If it bothers you that much, why don't you just go kill her yourself?"
"You know how vindictive my brother is. I have no desire to be on his bad side just yet. However... I have just had an idea. If you were to do it in my stead, I would be most grateful. What do you say?"
"I already promised Glühschwanz I wouldn't lay a finger on Crimson Flower Princess-chan. Sorry, Prime Minister-chan."
Despite her words, I knew the Queen wanted the Alraune gone just as much as the Prime Minister did. She was desperate to retrieve Rufe, the Successor Candidate of the Witch’s Village, from the Alraune’s care.
I wondered how little Rufe was doing. Winter was fast approaching; I hoped she hadn't caught a cold. Then again, she wasn't exactly living like a wild animal in the woods, so she was likely fine.
"For a plant monster of that caliber to appear was entirely unforeseen," the Prime Minister mused. "Do you truly know nothing of her origins, Witch Queen?"
"Nyahaha, how would I know something like that?"
"Even if you did, I know you wouldn't tell me easily. Since she is a plant monster, I wonder if she has some connection to Vergissmeinnicht’s homeland."
The Alraune’s origin was certainly a mystery. She had suddenly appeared in the Dryades' Forest, a territory once ruled by the Spirit Princess, and her physical appearance was peculiar. I wondered if the Queen had noticed something.
"In any case, I will be far too busy this winter to dispatch the final member of the Four Heavenly Kings to deal with her. I don't suppose there is someone else who could take care of that brat for me?"
"Why not use the Hero?"
"The Hero is a shut-in at the Royal Capital. Besides, it would be a headache if he regained his momentum after killing her and decided to march on the Demon King’s Castle with that Holy Sword of his."
"If you don't like the Hero, just use a different human."
"Are there any other humans of note in Gardenia? That Saint was the biggest threat, and she is dead. If you exclude the Hero, there shouldn't be anyone left worth fearing."
"Nyahaha, have you ever heard of a man named Wolfgang?"
Wolfgang... that wolf-ear man?
"I have heard the name. The man said to be the Hero’s equal."
"He isn't a Hero, so he can't use a Holy Sword, but he was quite powerful for a human. Right, Groa?"
I wished the Queen wouldn't drag me into the conversation. She was forcing me to dredge up memories I had been trying my best to forget.
"Very well, shall we make use of this Wolfgang? I will require your cooperation once again."
"Well, I can't exactly say no to a request from Prime Minister-chan."
My superior and the top executive of the Demon King’s Army sat there, plotting together. They were both giggling, likely envisioning the same scheme.
"So, Prime Minister-chan, how do you plan to use him?"
"I have thought of a perfect solution."
With a gaze cold enough to freeze time itself, Her Excellency looked out toward the direction of the Tower City.
"After all, I am Glühschwanz’s doting older sister. I think it is only right that I grant my dear brother’s wish every now and then."
The tea party in the ice castle concluded shortly thereafter. Upon our return to the Witch’s Village, the Queen immediately assigned me a new task. It seemed my winter was going to be just as busy as hers. Sadly, my dreams of a holiday were postponed until the spring thaw.
Still, if this plan succeeded, Rufe might finally be freed from the Alraune. Praying for that day to come, I set out alone into the winter wilderness.
And that was the story from Groa’s perspective.
The older sister of the Flame Dragon Lord made her first appearance here. The blizzard that struck the Alraune a year ago was actually caused by the Ice Dragon as she worked to bring down the Fortress City.
Next time: "Building a House."