I’d had the feeling lately that the Little Witch had really grown up.
It wasn’t just that she’d gotten a bit taller since we first met; she seemed to have matured significantly in spirit as well. She could talk to the townspeople without fear now, and she had become much more observant of her surroundings. Before, it felt like she had absolutely no interest in anything but me, but lately, I often saw her hanging out with Kiri and Trent.
Above all, her sense of responsibility had blossomed. Just the other day, she even offered her opinion on the management of Alraune's Forest.
"Alraune, eat this," she’d said. "I asked that elf for some new vegetable seeds, so let's grow these in the field."
And then: "Leave the money you earned to me. I’m going to study... accounting? I think that's what it's called. I'll manage it."
Up until then, I had indeed left the finances entirely to the Little Witch. However, it was less "management" and more "hoarding." To be specific, she just tucked it away in the forest safe—a wooden box I’d made. Whenever we went shopping, she would just take out whatever we needed.
But with the massive sales from the Saint Nectar and Saint Hair Tonic, she seemed to have finally realized that we couldn't keep going like that. In other words, the Little Witch was actually motivated to study! It was like watching a child strive to become an adult. Perhaps she wasn't just a child anymore, even if she was still a precious little sister figure to me.
The catalyst for her change was likely our visit to her old village. Visiting the graves of her parents and the villagers might have finally given her some closure. As her sister, nothing made me happier than seeing her want to improve herself. This was where I, as the Older Sister of the Little Witch, had to step up.
"I’ll teach you!" I declared, puffing out my chest.
Despite my current form, I had been a student in my previous life. Compared to the people of this era, I was quite confident in my ability to handle calculations.
"Alraune, do you know arithmetic?" she asked.
"............"
"Can you count higher than ten?"
".................."
Did she think I was a total idiot? To think the day would come when I, a former Duke's Daughter, would be suspected of being unable to count past ten... Hehe, hehehe.
"You’re still a child, Alraune, so it’s only natural if you don’t know," she added. "But don’t worry, I’ll study hard for both of us."
Apparently, she didn't think I was stupid; she just thought I was a child. Then again, it would be far too unnatural for a plant monster born in the forest to claim to be an expert mathematician. If the Little Witch discovered I was a former human, it would be a disaster, so I couldn't exactly flaunt my knowledge.
That was why I, as her sister, couldn't be the one to teach her. I wasn't supposed to be a former high school girl or a former Saint. I was just Alraune, a plant monster born in the forest. Still, even to protect my identity, having her teach me "one plus one" was a bitter pill to swallow. My pride as a former Duke’s Daughter was taking a beating!
While I was clutching my head over my inability to be her tutor, a candidate suddenly stepped forward.
"I’ll teach her, if you're okay with me!"
It was the tall, blonde man, Kyle—otherwise known as Chara-o. I swear, this guy must have had nothing but free time, given how often he came to the forest to hang out. From the looks of him, he didn't seem all that bright. He felt more like a muscle-head, so I had my doubts about his teaching credentials.
"Wait, you want to calculate revenue and expenditures?" he asked. "What's the point of that? Just winging it should be fine."
With that, Chara-o immediately threw in the towel. I knew he’d be useless! Even if he was the Flame Dragon Lord's younger brother, he was just a guy who spent his days fooling around as an adventurer in the human city. He was not teacher material.
I decided to ignore Chara-o as he started doing muscle training in the corner. Honestly, I hadn't expected much from him anyway. He was merely the opening act. My real hope lay elsewhere.
I needed someone in the city who was educated and willing to make the trip to the forest. I had just the person in mind. Not an adventurer—their schedules were too erratic. I needed someone who could come as a regular tutor.
The person I had in mind was the Sister. As a member of the local Church, she had a connection to me through the construction of the tower. Besides, I supplied a decent amount of nectar to the Church for their charity work. I figured she could teach the Little Witch a bit while she was here to pick up the supplies. It was a perfect plan.
"Speak of the devil, I think she’s here."
A figure was walking through the forest. But when they reached me, they offered a greeting with an entirely expressionless face.
"I have arrived as requested. I am Pandia, a Priest of the Selene Sect."
Wait... what? This wasn't the Sister at all!
"Um... what happened to the Sister?" I asked.
"She had an unavoidable engagement, so I have come in her stead," the woman replied. "I have been granted the rank of Priest; I believe I am far more proficient in my studies than a mere Sister. Is there a problem?"
"No, none at all..."
I never imagined a high-ranking Priest would come in a Sister's place. That had to be a lie. There was no way a Sister would be busier than a Priest. This was clearly just an excuse for her to visit the forest.
"As promised, I shall provide instruction here once every three days. If you would be so kind, I would like the Saint Nectar as payment in advance. Would that be acceptable?"
"Oh, is my nectar really enough?"
"The Sister sang its praises, and I must admit my own curiosity. Besides, few things are more precious than your nectar."
Well, if that was all she wanted, fine. Since a Priest had come personally, I’d expected her to demand something far more unreasonable. Now that I had Spirit Power, I could produce as much nectar as I wanted.
I used Plant Generation to create a wooden barrel and filled it to the brim as an advance payment. Priest Pandia watched me from the side.
"So you produce nectar from your mouth. You truly are a plant monster, it seems," she remarked as she observed the process.
"This is the advance payment. Please... take care of Rufe."
"Of course. Now then, my student is that silver-haired girl, I presume."
Pandia’s sharp gaze fell upon the Little Witch. Rufe immediately ducked behind me, tensing up and clutching my leaves.
To the Church Executives, witches were natural enemies. High-ranking members were encouraged to capture or kill them on sight. Like monsters and the Demon Race, a witch was a being of 'Ma'—the demonic or magical. According to Church doctrine, their existence could not be permitted. This was why letting Priest Pandia and the Little Witch meet was so incredibly dangerous.
Pandia possessed power on par with a Saint. She was an elite, far beyond an ordinary Apprentice Saint. She could likely subjugate a witch single-handedly. Had she come here specifically to hunt her down?
I readied my vines, staying on guard. Just as I took a stance to protect the Little Witch at any cost, Pandia hummed thoughtfully.
"Is it you? The one the townspeople are calling an Angel."
An Angel—a subordinate of the Goddess of Light, Selene. Legends said they had wings and were close to the Goddess. While considered mythical, stories claimed they had fought the Demon King long ago to protect the human world. I’d never met anyone who had seen one, but given that the Goddess’s blessing of Light Magic was real, the concept of an Angel was a cornerstone of the Church.
The problem was that the townspeople had mistaken the Little Witch for one. It started when the Witch Queen attacked, and Rufe had used magic to put out the fires. Her Partial Transformation Magic had given her wings, which looked exactly like the legendary Angel to the witnesses.
A girl playing 'Angel' without Church permission... even if it wasn't Rufe's intention, she was likely an eyesore to them. I was starting to suspect this was why Pandia had come.
"For someone called an angel, you have zero aptitude for Light Magic," Pandia noted. "If you had the talent, I intended to recommend you as an Apprentice Saint, but it is a pity."
"Are you... my teacher?" Rufe asked tentatively.
"Yes, that is correct, Rufe-san. From what I can see, you don't have wings, but I don't suppose you cut them off, did you?"
This was bad. She was definitely suspicious. Human magic couldn't grow wings. If she realized it was a witch's transformation magic, Rufe would be in grave danger.
"................They just, kind of grew," the Little Witch whispered.
Wait, was she going to confess? I panicked. Don't be hasty, Rufe!
"I kept drinking Alraune's nectar, and then wings just grew out," she continued. "Once the power was gone, they disappeared."
"Ho......"
Wait, what? She just pinned the whole thing on me! Priest Pandia’s suspicious gaze immediately shifted in my direction.
"I do feel a vast Aura of Light from that Alraune," Pandia mused. "And incredibly, the Saint Nectar feels the same. I knew it was a wondrous medicine, but to think... could there be side effects?"
Pandia began to speculate on her own. I didn't love being the scapegoat, but if it kept Rufe’s identity as a witch a secret, I would take it. I would be her shield.
"Well, that will do for today. The truth will become clear in time."
Pandia turned back to the Little Witch and pulled some materials from her bag.
"These are your textbooks. Since I have accepted the role of tutor as a Priest of the Selene Sect, I shall devote myself to it with all my might. Is that understood, student Rufe-san?"
"Y-Yes."
And so, the Little Witch's tutor was decided. They sat at the wooden desk I’d made and began their lessons. In the meantime, I decided to kill time by having a mock battle with the idle Chara-o. He was a good practice partner, at least.
Wait, Chara-o was a member of the Demon Race. That meant right now, a demon, a plant monster, and a witch—all enemies of the Church—were gathered in one spot. We were all targets Priest Pandia was technically supposed to kill. This was a bit awkward, wasn't it?
Chara-o, you should probably run. But I wouldn't let him go alone. Why? Because I couldn't run. I was a plant. Well, I could use Teleportation to move short distances now, but I still couldn't travel very far on my own.
In any case, my other goal had failed. I’d hoped to get information about the Royal Capital and Saint Zelma from the Sister. She had visited the capital while I was in the Southern Forest. I wanted to hear about the situation there, but Priest Pandia wasn't someone I could casually question. She had likely passed through the Royal Capital on her way here, but asking about it would be too suspicious. I was already under enough scrutiny.
Besides, Pandia had a mysterious air about her. I couldn't get a read on her yet. I’d just have to wait and see.
"Lady Alraune!"
Trent came charging out of the thicket with impressive speed. Kiri was perched on his head, waving her hand vigorously.
"A letter has arrived for you!"
Finally! It was the mail from my collaborators that I’d been waiting for. Now I could finally understand what was happening in the Royal Capital. Intelligence gathering was the most basic step before launching an offensive.
"Thank you, Kiri," I said, extending a vine to take the letters.
There were three. One was from Nina the Apprentice Saint, one from my cousin Vol-nii, and one from Princess Freundliche, who had gone to the capital with Lord Manfred. Everyone had kept their promise to write. I was lucky to have such good friends.
However, as I read them, I found myself clutching my head with my vines. While I was away in the Southern Forest, the Royal Capital had been turned upside down by unexpected events. And that wasn't the only thing they wrote about.
Most of the letters were about me.
Next time: I'm a monster, but I have many pen pals.