Still in the Little Witch's point of view.
With the Witch Queen’s magic power fueling my adult form, I charged toward the Urn Golem as it assailed the Lady Knight Katarina.
I reached out, intent on branding the creature with the Familiar's Mark.
"Please... become my familiar!"
My fingertips grazed the strange urn.
In that instant, a spark like black lightning crackled against my skin.
Because I had eaten the Alraune’s Mistletoe Fruit, I now carried the Witch Queen’s magic power within me. The knowledge of how to use it came to me instinctively. I channeled the black magic unique to witches into my fingers, weaving the Familiar's Mark and etching it onto the bizarre vessel.
The success rate supposedly fluctuated based on the target’s power and our compatibility, but I felt a surge of confidence. In this form, I could make this creature mine.
A black crest shimmered into existence on the urn's surface. Now, all that remained was to bind the familiar with a name to finalize the contract. I struggled for a moment to think of something appropriate, but when I considered my own name, a choice came to me naturally.
"From this day forward, your name is Ruru. My familiar, Ruru!"
The moment the name left my lips, the strange urn began to transform. Its dull brown color shifted to a pristine white—exactly like the shade of my own hair.
I beckoned the vessel toward me. "Come here, Ruru."
The Urn Golem—my new familiar—leaped into my arms with a springy bound. It had spindly arms and legs sprouting from the ceramic body, making for a rather unsightly appearance. I wondered if there was a way to change its shape later.
"Rufe-san?! What on earth are you—wait, Rufe-san, you’ve grown up!?"
Katarina stared at me, her eyes wide with shock. Right, I forgot that my body had changed. I remembered how everyone used to react whenever the Alraune grew larger; now, I finally understood how she felt. In a way, it felt like we were matching, which made me a little happy.
"Katarina-san... this urn is no longer an enemy. Together, we’re going to take Diesel down."
"I have absolutely no idea what is happening, but understood!"
With Katarina leading the charge, my familiar followed close behind, lunging at Diesel. Now stripped of his ally, Diesel nimbly dodged their strikes, though he couldn't hide his admiration.
"You successfully completed the contract?! Rufe-sama... as I thought, you truly are a worthy successor to the Witch Queen!"
"I’m not joining her side. And this is the last time I’m speaking to you."
A flurry of attacks from Katarina and the Urn Golem hammered away at Diesel. As expected of a knight serving the Duke's Proxy, Katarina’s strength was formidable. Meanwhile, Ruru was moving with significantly more grace and power than before. It seemed the contract had boosted the golem's abilities.
Even for someone as skilled as Diesel, a two-on-one fight was a losing battle. He was slowly driven back toward the window—the same one the pigeon had flown out of earlier. He had shattered the glass to signal his allies, leaving a gaping hole.
If I could get him outside, my magic wouldn't be restricted by the ceiling.
Diesel was currently preoccupied with fending off Katarina’s blade. This was my chance.
"Ruru! Knock him outside!"
The Urn Golem slammed into Diesel with a powerful body tackle. Even a grown man like Diesel was no match for the golem's sheer force. He was sent flying through the remains of the window and plummeted toward the ground below.
"What incredible power! Did receiving Rufe-sama’s mark truly make it this strong?! More importantly... this is bad."
"Now that you’re outside, my attacks can reach you."
"Rufe-sama! W-Wait!"
"I won't wait. You are my enemy."
I hadn't forgotten what Diesel and his group had done to the Alraune and me. This was my long-awaited payback. I reached out to the sky, using the black magic of a witch to seize control of the atmosphere.
"Heavenly Thunder—Blitz!"
A bolt of lightning tore through the sky, unleashing a blinding flash. I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut as a deafening roar followed, sounding as if the heavens themselves were being ripped apart.
"Ugh, my ears... What happened?"
I opened my eyes and peered out the window. There, lying on the ground, was Diesel—charred black by the strike.
"I did it... I actually defeated him."
Years ago, Diesel was the one who captured me. I had been in my bird transformation, fleeing from a cat, when he caught me and locked me in a cage. Though the cat had actually been the Witch Queen in disguise, it was Diesel who had held me captive. I had never let go of that resentment. Defeating him now felt incredibly satisfying.
"Ruru... thanks to you, we beat him."
The Urn Golem looked up at me with what I assumed was pride. It was nice having a subordinate, but its appearance was still a bit... off. I wondered if I could make it look like a cat.
"Hey, Ruru. Can you turn into a cat or something?"
"...Meow."
The urn meowed at me. In a way, that was more impressive than actually being a cat. I wondered how that worked. Did becoming a familiar give an urn the ability to speak?
"Can you say anything else?"
"............Meow."
"I see..."
Maybe it could only meow because I had wished for it to be like a cat. I didn't fully understand it, but the Familiar's Mark was certainly powerful. For now, even if it stayed an urn, I would settle for the meowing. I couldn't wait to see the Alraune's face when I showed her.
"The enemies on this side are dealt with, Alraune."
That reminded me—I wondered how things were going with Tulpe, the Duke's Proxy, who had gone to find the Alraune. I looked out over the courtyard, searching for them.
There, standing with the Duke's Proxy, I spotted a figure with hair as white as snow—the adult form of the Alraune.
And so, that was the POV of Rufe, the Little Witch.
Next time: Tulpe Edelweiss.