This is the Little Witch’s point of view.
My name is Rufe.
I wouldn't forgive any human who tried to hurt Alraune. As her big sister, I was going to make sure she was properly protected!
With that goal in mind, I had flown to the neighboring town, where I happened to reunite with that nectar-loving Apprentice Saint. She was an acquaintance of Alraune’s, and she already knew that I was a witch. Since the opportunity had presented itself, I decided to hear her out.
"I didn't expect to find you in this town. I’m quite impressed with myself for spotting you. I’m glad we met."
"I... I can't believe it. You're... surely you're..."
"You know who I am, don't you, Apprentice Saint big sister?"
The Apprentice Saint told me everything she knew. Apparently, she had traveled all the way from the Royal Capital with her companions to subjugate Alraune, under the impression that Alraune was one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King's Army.
Alraune wasn't anything of the sort. I didn't know how things had gotten so misunderstood, but Alraune’s life was being targeted by humans simply because she was a monster! It was just like my own experience—nearly being sentenced to an Execution by Fire just for being a witch. I reaffirmed my vow: I would protect Alraune no matter what it took!
While still using my Bird Transformation, I had infiltrated the town's Adventurer Guild and stolen Alraune’s Wanted Poster. I figured if the poster was gone, fewer people would come after her. I hid it deep in some bushes where no one would ever find it.
I’d done a pretty good job, I thought.
But while I was resting on a tree branch, that person showed up. A white cat had masked its presence and snuck up on me, pouncing and biting before I even realized it was there. That presence... it was no ordinary cat. It felt exactly like the Witch Queen, the one who had turned me into a witch. Just as I realized the cat's true identity, I was forced to inhale something and fell into a deep, dark sleep.
When I finally woke up, I was inside a pitch-black cage.
Where on earth was I? My last memory was sensing a witch’s presence; everything after that was a blank. It seemed I’d been captured by the Witch Queen and knocked out. To make matters worse, I was still stuck in my bird form.
I wondered how long I’d been out. Was Alraune okay? She was probably worried sick about me.
A thick cloth was draped over the cage, blocking my view of the outside. Every time the person carrying me moved, there was a loud, metallic clattering. I suspected the cage was lashed to a pile of luggage. I wondered where the Witch Queen was, and if she was still disguised as a cat.
I tried to move my body, but I couldn't even twitch. It was as if I’d been paralyzed; I had no sensation in my limbs whatsoever. Even my magic was failing me. I tried to undo the Transformation Magic to return to my human form, but I couldn't manage it—my magical flow was as stagnant as my body. The most I could do was weakly snap my beak open and shut.
I thought about controlling the weather to strike down my captors, but my Storm Magic wouldn't activate either. I must have been forced to swallow some kind of witch’s potion to seal my powers.
I was at a loss. Without my magic, there was no way to escape.
After some time, voices drifted in from outside. Several men were talking, and I recognized the voice of the Apprentice Saint. That meant I’d likely been caught by the group that had come to slay Alraune. But why was the Witch Queen among them? Witches were supposed to be the enemies of humanity.
Suddenly, a battle erupted outside. I heard the roar of explosions and the sounds of men shouting in anger. The person carrying me joined the fray. Something struck the luggage, and my cage tumbled to the ground. In the chaos, the cloth covering the cage slipped off, finally allowing me to see my surroundings.
I was in a forest. I couldn't see much since I was still paralyzed, but I knew I needed a way to detoxify my system. I remembered how Alraune had once used a paralyzing poison on some humans who attacked the forest, only to give them nectar to cure them before sending them home.
If only I had some of Alraune’s Nectar.
Just as the thought crossed my mind, bread crumbs fell from above. The bread had a sweet, heavenly aroma. There was no mistaking it—this bread was infused with Alraune’s Nectar. I had spent every day in the city as a Nectar-selling Girl; I would know that scent anywhere.
I used my beak to frantically peck at the crumbs. Immediately, a warm light enveloped my body. The Nectar-filled Bread was delicious. If I sold this in the city, I thought, I could probably cover all my living expenses.
While I was busy dreaming about new product development, feeling returned to my limbs. Alraune’s Nectar had successfully neutralized the poison. I still wasn't sure why that bread had been there, but I didn't have time to dwell on it.
As I shifted back from a bird into my human form, I saw a man and a woman I didn't recognize. The man seemed to be a companion of the Witch Queen—the one who had been carrying me—and it looked like I’d been saved because the woman had attacked him.
"Rufe!"
I heard Alraune calling my name. I turned around to see her rooted in the forest, looking perfectly healthy. Relief washed over me; she was safe.
"Nyahaha, Rufe-chan, how did you manage to clear my poison?"
The white cat spoke to me with a laugh. I could never forget that voice. It was the Witch Queen.
But Alraune was my priority. As I tried to rush to her side, Alraune used her vines to form an "X," signaling me to stop.
"The witches are... attacking... the city. Rufe, please... help them!"
Alraune extended her vines toward the sky, parting the thick canopy of plants that covered the forest to create a small opening. She was telling me to head to the city through that hole.
"Are you going to be okay without me?" I asked.
"I’ll... be fine. So please... look after the people... in the city."
If it was Alraune’s request, I couldn't say no. I didn't feel any particular obligation to the townspeople, but I would wipe out every witch in that city for Alraune’s sake.
I took flight using Levitation Magic, but an unfamiliar witch immediately charged at me. She wasn't the Witch Queen or her assistant, Groa. I wanted to leave the forest as quickly as possible, but this stranger was blocking my path. Since she was also using Levitation Magic, we were evenly matched in speed.
Fine then. I just had to use my wings.
I sprouted my White Wings. I hadn't even lost to a Harpy with these, so there was no way a common witch would stand a chance. I banked in mid-air like a bird, looping around to get behind her.
"Storm Magic: Heavenly Thunder (Blitz)!"
I manipulated the atmosphere, calling down a bolt of lightning from directly above her. It struck the witch perfectly through the gap Alraune had made. I watched her fall, charred and smoking, into the waiting grasp of Alraune’s vines. Once I was sure she was captured, I beat my wings toward the city.
"Nyahaha! What are those wings? Rufe-chan, you really are the best!"
I ignored the Witch Queen’s cackling laughter as I made my exit. The moment I passed through the opening in the canopy, the plants wove themselves back together, sealing the hole. Now the Witch Queen and her lot were trapped inside.
I’m leaving the rest to you, Alraune.
When I reached the city, I found it crawling with witches. However, the townspeople were actually fighting back. Among the humans in the struggle, I recognized the people who often came to water Alraune. One of them was the strongest adventurer in town, so I figured they could handle the ground floor.
I headed toward the wooden tower Alraune was building. As I scanned the city from above, I was shocked by what I saw. Large plants were sprouting up everywhere, snagging the witches. There was no doubt about it—those were Alraune’s.
Even though she was supposed to be busy fighting in the forest, Alraune was somehow capturing witches in the city simultaneously. How was she managing such a feat? She’d mentioned absorbing the Spirit Power of a Dryad; perhaps that gave her the ability to sense and strike at enemies from a great distance.
My Alraune really was incredible!
Even as I watched, a witch lunged at a Sister from the church, only for Alraune’s Venus Flytrap to snap shut and swallow the witch whole. I glanced down at the Sister, who was already dropping to her knees to praise Alraune as a Goddess, then I turned my focus back to my own targets.
No matter how amazing Alraune was, she couldn't catch them all. Specifically, she couldn't seem to find the witches flying high in the sky. She was likely tracking their positions through her roots in the ground.
The sky was my domain.
"Storm Magic: Heavenly Thunder (Blitz)!"
Flapping my wings to maintain high speed, I shot down one witch after another.
"Are you a witch too? Well, you aren't the only one who can control the weather!"
An unknown witch tried to retaliate by calling down lightning on me. I simply overwrote her spell, seizing control of her Storm Magic and turning it back on her.
"Heavenly Thunder (Blitz)!"
A yellow flash erupted from the black clouds, piercing the witch through the chest. As I watched her plummet toward the streets, a realization dawned on me.
"I might actually be unexpectedly strong."
Even compared to other witches, my power was on a different level. I’d heard back in the Witch's Village that I was more powerful than Groa, the second-in-command. They’d said the only one stronger than me was the Witch Queen herself.
With the sky cleared of enemies, it was time for some firefighting.
"Storm Magic: Downpour (Nassauer)!"
I summoned a heavy rain as I always did, quickly dousing the fires spread across the city. Phew. I’d done a good job. I landed on the ground to take a quick breather.
"O Angel... You are the Angel who serves the Goddess, Lady Alraune!"
The moment my feet touched the pavement, the Sister from earlier rushed over to me.
"Everyone, look! The Angel has saved our city!"
Drawn by her shout, a crowd of humans began to gather.
"That's the Angel." "She has wings, there's no doubt." "Wait, I saw her in the square before." "She's the Nectar-selling Girl." "Then that Saint Nectar really was the Goddess’s..."
The moment they caught sight of me, the townspeople began to pray.
What was going on? I wasn't an angel; I was a witch. But something else she said caught my attention.
"What do you mean, Alraune is a Goddess?"
"That holy lady saved us! When the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King's Army attacked and turned us into trolls, she returned us to our original forms. And it wasn't just once or twice. She just saved me again! Seeing her extend her vines to help the people... I saw a Goddess in that sight."
I didn't quite follow her logic, but it seemed the Sisters weren't Alraune’s enemies. If that was the case, I decided to just roll with it. It was better to be seen as an angel than a witch; at least angels didn't get targeted for execution.
"That’s right. I’m an Angel. And Alraune... well, she might be a Goddess."
"Ah, I knew it! All praise to the Goddess and the Angel!"
"Being worshipped is a bit much... anyway, I have to go."
I’d hated being pelted with stones, but I found I wasn't very fond of being worshipped either. I took off into the sky, effectively fleeing the crowd.
I’d defeated the witches in the city and put out the fires. Now, I wondered how things were going for Alraune in the forest. I turned my gaze toward the woods and noticed the southern sky was looking turbulent.
Because I could manipulate the weather, I could feel it. A massive storm was approaching. The wind was picking up, blowing so hard that my own hair was whipped into my mouth.
"It tastes salty."
The wind carried the distinct scent of the sea.