A Witch’s Naivety and a Slave’s Gambit

Night fell.

The room held only a single, decrepit bed, where Kaelan was already resting.

Saranya, not yet emboldened enough to suggest sharing a bed with her master, opted to lean against its side, forced into a vigil.

Once darkness settled and silence reigned, minds were naturally inclined to drift into introspection.

Saranya found herself in a perplexing state, reminiscent of a medieval family role-playing game she once played where, whenever a player made a decision contrary to their character’s personality, the character’s stress level would rise, ultimately causing their stress bar to burst and triggering debilitating debuffs.

This was precisely her current predicament.

Ever since her reincarnation as Saranya and her forced enslavement by Kaelan, she had, through subtle influence, committed a myriad of questionable acts, to the point where she no longer seemed to discern right from wrong.

Kaelan, the Black Witch, the very instigator of urban destruction, bore a mountain of blood debts.

She had murdered her knightly brother, enslaved Saranya, insulted her, and showed no trace of conscience—she was, in essence, an irredeemable arch-demon.

Her sole redeeming quality was her exquisitely beautiful and charming appearance, yet even that stemmed from her wicked elven genes, making her crimes all the more egregious.

And what was she doing?

Promising to protect such a fiend?

Though reluctant to admit it, she seemed perpetually ensnared in a one-sided fantasy.

To continue down this path would surely be pathetic, wouldn’t it?

…

“Saranya, come to bed and sleep with me.

You cannot stay up all night; I need you to be full of energy.”

“Master, that wouldn’t be appropriate.

My sleeping habits…”

“Stop with the pathetic excuses; this is an order.”

Very well.

Saranya climbed onto the bed, lying down beside Kaelan, facing the witch’s back.

The room’s conditions were abysmal.

The bed boards reeked and were incredibly uncomfortable, while the surrounding environment was utterly wretched.

One could argue that a guest room in such a cheap tavern was entirely unfit for human rest.

“Why is there a woman screaming next door?

And why does this wall panel keep trembling?”

“Reporting, Master, it’s likely they’ve called for a prostitute (TL Note: A Chinese slang term, ‘jiāojī,’ meaning to solicit a prostitute.) next door.”

Ah, how utterly awkward, but what could be done about it…?

“Is this common, then?

It feels as though all the guests around us are engaged in such activities.”

“It’s quite common in major cities, as it’s one of the core services offered by taverns, after all.”

“Oh.”

The two of them stayed awake for a while longer, until Saranya finally began to feel the onset of drowsiness.

However, Kaelan suddenly uttered a remark that instantly jolted her wide awake.

“Shall we call for a prostitute and try it ourselves then?”

At first, Saranya suspected she had misheard, taking a full moment to process Kaelan’s words.

No, Kaelan…

Did this witch truly comprehend the implications of her words?!

Were those even things she should be saying!!

“Don’t you pure-blooded humans greatly enjoy the act of copulation?

And you prefer women, don’t you, so seeking out a woman to satisfy your desires—what’s wrong with that?”

Saranya pressed a hand to her forehead.

“Master… I do like women, but love—that’s not something you can just do with anyone.”

“Eh? Isn’t that sort of thing merely for satisfying desires?

If two people find each other the most pleasurable to make love with, they’ll stay together, eventually having children by some accident.

Isn’t that how love is born?

I don’t have such impulses, so I don’t understand.”

But you do, Kaelan, you truly do; you just haven’t realized it yourself, have you?

And your understanding of love is completely misguided!

Saranya had assumed the person before her was experienced, yet it wasn’t until their conversation that she realized Kaelan was astonishingly naive.

Driven by a basic sense of humanitarian concern, she decided to offer Kaelan a brief lesson in basic education.

“Aside from battles and arguments, have you ever, upon seeing someone do something, hearing something they said, or even simply from an expression or a glance, suddenly felt a shortness of breath and a racing heart?”

“Yes, why?”

“If you are brave enough, and if things unfold as you wish, that will become the genesis of your love.”

“…”

Somehow, Kaelan fell silent, and after a considerable pause, she asked in a very, very low voice,

“How does one do that?”

“Hmm… that’s like asking me how to win a battle; it’s difficult to say, as it depends on your specific circumstances and your opponent.

The only advice I can offer is this: during your time together, when you feel the moment is right, say to them, ‘I like you, let’s try dating.'”

“I…”

“Wait, though, do you truly have someone you like?

Is it another witch?!”

“No… it’s not.”

“But didn’t you just say—”

“I’m tired, I want to rest…”

What was that all about?

She cornered me with questions, only to try and escape once they were answered.

Were it not for the witch’s formidable power, Saranya would undoubtedly demand a hefty consultation fee from her.

Since a consultation fee was out of the question, perhaps an equivalent exchange of information could be negotiated.

“Master, in order to serve you better, and so that I may sleep peacefully, may I also ask you a few questions?”

“I’m very tired; ask three.”

“Three… Master, are you a genie’s lamp?”

“Nonsensical.

Does that count as the first?”

“Ah, my apologies, allow me a moment to think…”

Given the limited number of questions, it seemed prudent to start with the shallow and move deeper, from people to events, perhaps first clarifying recent occurrences.

Saranya pondered for a moment, then made up her mind.

“Why didn’t you punish me when Paresha lifted my hood?

You were very angry then, weren’t you?”

“She meddled with my belongings; that was her problem, not yours.

I wasn’t angry with you.”

“Would you harm Paresha in order to seize power within the Church?”

“No, your plan is safer, and I will adopt it.”

Saranya breathed a sigh of relief, then posed her final question:

“Why do you wish to control Viro?”

“I wish to establish a safe zone unaffected by demonic calamities.”

Saranya froze.

Could a witch truly utter words like, “establish a safe zone unaffected by demonic calamities”?

How would one avert the effects of demonic calamities?

Did Kaelan truly possess a method to resist the formidable power of nature?

Kaelan, the Black Witch, you are indeed shrouded in countless mysteries.

Therefore, drawing upon her experience playing bishōjo gal games (TL Note: A Japanese genre of video games focused on interacting with attractive female characters, often with romance options.), and with Kaelan’s softened demeanor, it was time to strike while the iron was hot.

“Kaelan… if that’s the case, I am willing to genuinely help you.

You don’t need to resort to those forceful methods with me…”

“But we are enemies, aren’t we?

Is it alright for me to let you help an enemy without giving you a reason to be compelled to do so?”

“What do you mean by that?

Are you implying that you coerce me to make me feel better about it?”

“Wh-what?

Stop overthinking things.

My point is that you, an ignorant fool, and I are not the same kind of people.

Without coercive measures, we simply cannot cooperate effectively.”

“Kaelan, I want to understand you more.”

“Eh?”

Saranya shifted on the bed, inching forward and placing her hands on Kaelan’s nape, gently massaging it.

Confronted with this second unauthorized touch, Kaelan merely shivered slightly, offering no resistance, just as before.

“I want to understand you.

While it is true that deep enmity exists between us, if… if our ideals could align in certain aspects, then let not this hatred impede our greater endeavor.

What do you think?”

“I, I’m not sure.

I’ve never heard such words before…”

Saranya could not see Kaelan’s expression, but she did notice the faint tremor in her shoulders.

‘Hmph, what a high-offense, low-defense little witch.’

“Saranya, you might decide to help me today, but tomorrow you might find yourself unable to accept my propositions.

What would you do then?”

A good question.

What to do?

It’s simple, isn’t there still the underlying master-s*ave relationship as a fallback?

“Kaelan, if I possessed enough power then, I would not hesitate to kill you, avenging the innocent.

If I still couldn’t defeat you, I would beg for mercy as I did before, imploring you to spare the life of this s*ave.”

“…You are truly honest.

Are you not afraid I might eliminate you right now?”

“I’m not foolish; I can see you wish to use me.

You wouldn’t do that.”

Saranya was incredibly nervous, on the verge of exploding with anxiety.

Despite her outward confidence, her heart was practically leaping from her chest.

“…”

“Arrogant fool.”

“The feeling is mutual.”

On the other side, Kaelan was seen curling her body slightly, her earlobes flushed crimson.

The conversation ceased, their voices fading into the sweet moans emanating from the prostitute next door.

After an indeterminate amount of time, a man’s boisterous cries were heard from the adjacent room, before silence finally descended once more.

Night had deepened, and a few slivers of moonlight filtered through the window panels, casting a silver outline upon Kaelan’s form.

The witch lay with her back to Saranya, knees curled, clutching her wizard hat to her chest, her breathing steady and even.

Her lustrous black hair fanned out behind her, emitting a soft, floral fragrance.

It was the most peaceful night Saranya had ever slept.