I was shown to the living room.
It was cluttered with all sorts of things as usual, and somehow it felt nostalgic.
Piles upon piles of books and scrolls that didn't fit on the shelves.
Mountains and boxes of suspicious tools whose purposes I couldn't begin to fathom.
The crescent-shaped container was here too, I noticed.
Tons of wands and metal rods and whatnot had spilled out of the wand case and gone rolling everywhere.
Huh, that wand. It looked just like the one Pakira carried — except the gemstone was a different color.
On the floor sat expensive-looking paintings, pottery, sculptures, and taxidermy. That pottery — I'd seen it in Arifa's shop.
Monster materials like horns were just casually strewn about. Even Thunder Bull horns were in there.
Necklaces, bracelets, rings — a whole slew of accessories lay scattered everywhere.
The only things barely left unscathed were a spacious red sofa and the space around the table in front of me.
The witch had gone to change.
That was only natural. If she'd stayed like that, I'd have died.
Still, she'd been blushing all the way to the tips of those big fox ears, flustering like crazy.
She'd been covering her chest and lower body with her arms, eyes brimming with tears.
Even a witch like her had a proper sense of shame. Good, good. Yep, yep.
Wait, but if that's the case, why was she completely naked in the first place?
Was the witch a naturist, by any chance? Being a witch, that wasn't out of the question.
I wasn't sure whether it would be okay to ask her why she was naked...
This is a problem. A real problem.
"......Hmm. Hmmm. Hmmmm. Hmmmmm."
And so I quickly averted my gaze from the fancy-looking white porcelain cup that had been hastily set down.
The witch's usual herbal tea. Left there while she hid, practically naked.
".............."
This time it was ruby-colored. For a split second, I thought it might be black tea.
If my eyes
hadn't
met
the
tea—
if
they
simply
hadn't—
I might have picked it up and drunk it elegantly.
".............."
There was an eye in the tea.
A single eye, floating in the ruby liquid, staring right at me.
It must have been my imagination... but I'd already glimpsed inside the cup.
I could tell she was wearing eyeliner and mascara.
They were a woman's eyes. So what, you idiot.
"…………"
I could feel the gaze. She was clearly staring right at me.
Times like this made me hate my past life memories.
What was with that "when you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back" nonsense!?
The abyss isn't physically gazing at you, and besides, God is dead.
"S-s-sorry to keep you waiting."
The witch had arrived. A jet-black patterned cape over a jet-black dress with red accents.
As always, she looked the part of a witch perfectly.
And sure enough, her chest was daringly exposed and her skirt was short.
Three fluffy tails poked out from behind her, impossible to miss.
Just a slight bend forward and you'd probably see what was under that skirt — actually, you could definitely see it.
"H-hi. It's been a while, Witch."
"Y-yeah. It's been a while."
It had only been a little over a week, so I guess "a while" was fair enough.
The witch's face was faintly flushed, and she kept glancing my way.
There was a tense air between us after the nudity incident earlier.
No — I shouldn't stay silent here.
"So, um, actually, I came to ask the witch to—"
Actually, actually, I'm so sorry, dearie!
The witch suddenly bowed her head and apologized. Wait, why?
"Why are you apologizing?"
"Well now, it's about Axe and Mineha, dearie."
"Ah, so that really was your doing after all."
"Um, um... you're not angry, are you?"
My nonchalant reaction seemed to throw the witch off.
She must have been bracing herself for my anger.
"If you're asking whether I'm angry — well, at first I did wonder about that."
"No, no. I really am sorry, dearie..."
"I'm not angry anymore. A lot happened, but Axe seems to have written and sent a letter to resolve things with his mother. He and Mineha are getting along normally now."
"Th-that — that's, what a stroke of luck, dearie."
The witch was surprised. And relieved.
She sank into the black sofa across from me, letting out a long sigh.
Looks like the witch had been expecting this to be a tall order too.
Good. This is it. The timing, the opening — now!
"Actually, Witch. I also came to apologize to you."
"Yes, yes! As expected — young Wof really is Kon's pride and joy!"
"Wha — ...!?"
Her beaming, carefree smile left me completely tongue-tied. Wait, what did she just...?
"Wh-what's wrong?"
"What's wrong, what's wrong... I'm that witch's..."
I swallowed the words "Were you her apprentice?" and "Or were you her apprentice?"
Apparently, to the witch, I really was her apprentice.
Since no one ever told me I was an apprentice, I never realized it.
So there was no reason to go back and re-confirm it.
Looking back, I realized the reason I'd thought she was being overly kind was precisely because I was her apprentice.
So there was no way I could say "I didn't think I was your apprentice."
Besides, I'd used the position of "apprentice" to my advantage more than a few times myself.
But pushing ahead like this just felt... somehow off.
"Hmm? Hmm? The witch's... what about it?"
"Um... I'm sorry. I didn't think I was the witch's apprentice."
"Eh? Eh? Th-that's... well, yes. What do you mean by that...?"
The witch was shaken. She was terribly surprised, and deeply hurt.
My heart ached a little. I'd known it was coming, but seeing her like this was tough.
But I had a big question I needed answered.
"Um, please calm down and listen."
"Y-young Wof wasn't Kon's apprentice... but you were an apprentice, right?"
"I didn't think of myself as an apprentice."
"Uwaaah... uwaaah... young Wof wasn't Kon's apprentice after all..."
"But listen here. Witch!"
"Waaah, waaah — young Wof is Kon's, Kon's—"
No way. She's about to start bawling. This witch.
This isn't working. I can't get through to her from here. The distance is too great.
I sprang to my feet, approached the witch who was lying on the sofa with her back turned, and grabbed her arm. Whoa — she yanked me in. What kind of strength is that!?
"Wh-what—!"
"Wh—!? Wh—!? W-Wof, young Wof!?"
Between the difference in our builds and my legs getting tangled, I came tumbling right down onto the witch.
Whoa, squishy and bouncy — what the heck, way too soft — no, that's not—!
I scrambled upright and met the witch's eyes.
Her face was close. Really close. And she sucked in a breath.
The witch's eyes were wet with tears. Wait, why — why was she crying?
M-More importantly, I was in a position like I'd pinned the witch down on the sofa.
I need to get away fast — but the witch kept staring at me, tears streaming down her face.
The witch was crying.
That witch was crying.
Good grief, come on!
This isn't even remotely worth crying over!
"Good grief, Witch. Stop crying and listen to me properly."
"I-I-I-I'm not c-crying or anything!"
"Then please stop crying. And listen, okay? Listen properly this time. No one ever told me I was your disciple!"
"Eh, eh, eh? Is that so……?"
The Witch was crying and blinking at me blankly.
I sighed.
Even so, the Witch. She smells nice. Ah, it's that milk-soap scent.
And the arm I'm holding — the sweat, the warmth, the texture reaching me through contact…… It feels pleasant.
Yeah. Women are like this— wait, no!?
Wof, you're thirteen years old!
Even with my past life memories, that thought is too early!
Calm down. Calm down. But using [Stillness] feels wrong.
I took a small, deep breath. The Witch was twitching a little, but if I worried about that, I'd lose.
Finally, finally getting my composure back, I spoke.
"……Witch. If you had told me to become your disciple, I would have accepted straight away."
"Eh!? R- r- Re- r-really? So that's how it is……!?"
"Yes. So, Witch. Please say it properly."
I gazed into the Witch's eyes. Her tears had stopped.
The Witch broke into a radiant, happy smile.
"Mhm. Mhm. Young man Wof. Please become my disciple…… like so."
"Yes. I am the Witch's disciple."
I said it clearly. From today on, I am the Witch's disciple.
With that, things were properly settled in my mind.
Alright. Let's get to the main topic.
First, I needed to do something about this position that I absolutely could not explain away if someone saw me.
Wh— wait a sec, Witch. Why are you closing your eyes? Why are your cheeks turning red!?
No, that's not what I—!