The Witch’s Seal and a Maid’s Frank Assessment

“Very well, then.”

Iordera accepted the position.

Sir Olcott breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as he stood, about to depart, he heard her speak again:

“Sir Olcott, there’s one more thing.

What did you mean the other day when you told me the people in this city weren’t what I imagined?”

Sir Olcott paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before it settled into a frown:

“Did I indeed say such a thing?”

“You most certainly did.”

“I don’t recall.

Perhaps I merely offered a casual excuse to mollify you at the time.”

“But…”

Sir Olcott suddenly turned back, his voice dropping to a low tone:

“Iordera, when I arrived in this city, I struck an agreement with the City Lord.

He provides me with what I need—the prison cells and the servants.

In return, I do not interfere with anything that transpires within this city.”

Iordera’s eyes widened:

“But this isn’t entirely unrelated to you, is it?

Those witch minions are highly active.

What if they succeed, storm the prison, and rescue the witch…?”

“I am level 73,” Sir Olcott stated, his face taut.

“Are there any further questions?”

“…No, none at all.”

The witch’s minions possessed only a fraction of that strength.

Even the minor leaders of their small gangs were merely on par with herself.

To think of challenging a formidable figure like him was indeed naive.

“Furthermore, I believe I’ve mentioned this before, but allow me to reiterate,” Sir Olcott continued.

“The witch is sealed, not merely imprisoned.

Six runic chains bind her, and even my power is insufficient to sever them.

Do you truly believe those minions you speak of could?”

“Understood,” Iordera affirmed, nodding her small head vigorously.

“It’s foolproof.”

“Good that you understand.

When will you start?”

“Tomorrow, perhaps.

It’s getting late today, and I still wish to read a book.”

As Iordera spoke, she glanced down, her eyes landing squarely on the book Sir Olcott had been reading earlier.

[One Hundred Difficult Problems by Renowned Masters: Your Easy Guide to Passing the Continental United Academy Entrance Exam!]

Sir Olcott, noticing her gaze, unconsciously let out a cough:

“Ahem, I was simply idly browsing, not paying attention to which book I picked up.”

“Oh, is that so?” Iordera blinked.

‘I didn’t say anything, though.’

“If I were twenty years younger, I truly would have aspired to attend that esteemed institution,” Sir Olcott explained, a seemingly casual air about his words.

“Alas, my age has caught up to me.”

That, at least, was the truth.

Iordera didn’t dwell on it, simply confirming her start time for tomorrow with Sir Olcott before they parted ways.

Since she hadn’t found what she was looking for, she left the bookstore and headed home.

Upon returning to her lodging, before she could even unlock the door, Nina opened it from within.

“Are you here to greet me?” Iordera exclaimed, quite astonished by Nina’s neatly dressed appearance.

“Such dedication today?”

“No, I was just about to head out,” Nina replied, stifling a yawn.

“Didn’t you say we’d be leaving in a couple of days, Miss?

I was going to arrange our check-out with the landlord.”

To have gone to the trouble of getting dressed up so neatly just for this errand had clearly exhausted her.

Hearing this, Iordera hastily pulled her back inside:

“Don’t go, don’t go! We’re not leaving anymore.”

“Hm?”

“I’ve found another good job.

We’ll leave after I’ve worked for a while.”

Nina blinked:

“But Miss, if we’re not checking out, then I dressed up for nothing, didn’t I?”

And got my hopes up for nothing.

“Can’t you just take it off?” Iordera retorted, rubbing her temples with a headache.

“If you can’t, I’ll help you!”

“I think I’ll pass on that.”

Just then, Yuna, lounging on the living room sofa, poked her head up:

“We’re not leaving?”

“Not for now.

After my job is done,” Iordera said, settling onto the sofa beside her, “we’ll earn a bit more travel money.”

“Oh.”

Nina shed her outerwear and curled back onto the sofa, while Yuna buried her head once more, both resuming their blissful, lazy lives.

Iordera, however, found her mind restless.

“Tell me, I have a question for you two,” she addressed her two maids.

“What do you think are my defining characteristics?”

Nina and Yuna sat up, staring blankly at her in unison.

“You know, like traits, good qualities, things like that,” Iordera rephrased.

“Do I possess any?”

‘Otherwise, why would the witch specifically ask for me? There must be a reason!’

“Of course you do, Miss,” Nina affirmed with a nod.

A glimmer of delight crossed Iordera’s face:

“What good qualities?”

“You’re so useful!

You’re cute and beautiful, your figure is so petite, yet your body is incredibly supple—it simply won’t wear out no matter how you’re used,” Nina rattled off a string of ‘virtues’.

“That face, those shoulders, those long legs, that waist… simply flawless.”

“The lady from the merchant caravan once said your body alone was worth three hundred thousand gold coins,” Yuna added.

“If you were active, it would be worth double that!”

Only then did Iordera fully grasp their meaning, her small face flushing crimson instantly, half in embarrassment and half in anger.

“That’s not what I meant!

I was referring to… things like personal character, personality traits.”

“Oh, in that case, none at all,” Nina said with a perfectly straight face.

“I’d advise you to be more self-aware, Miss.”

Yuna: “Don’t daydream all day.”

‘Damn it!’

“Never mind, I’ll ask something else.

You know about that witch we discussed earlier, the one Uncle Andrew mentioned?” Iordera tried a different approach.

“You know how incredibly powerful that witch is, right?

To deal with me, she’d only need one finger…”

“Be more confident, Miss,” Nina interjected.

“Two fingers.”

Yuna added, “Don’t underestimate yourself.”

Iordera felt a touch of emotion, surprised they thought so highly of her.

“Because, you see, I heard the witch is a withered old hag,” Nina explained, offering her reasoning.

“Her fingers are dry and shriveled, and quite pointy, so one might not be enough.

Two would be safer.”

‘What?’

Iordera frowned, realizing the situation was far from simple.

“That’s right,” Yuna nodded in agreement.

“One finger is neither here nor there, but two fingers would certainly be enough to finish off Miss.”

“Wait a minute, what are you two talking about?” Iordera demanded, hands on her hips in exasperation.

“I meant, if we were to face each other properly, engaging in a genuine fight using powers and skills…”

“Oh, in that case, never mind.

Indeed, one finger would be quite enough.”

“…”

‘Damn it!’

“Speaking of which, Miss, you’ve earned quite a bit of money these past few days.

Surely that’s enough for travel expenses, isn’t it?

There’s no need to stay here just to earn a little more, especially with Juneberg being so chaotic right now,” Nina remarked.

“Enough for what?

It’s nowhere near enough,” Iordera countered, gesturing to her clothes.

“I want to change this entire outfit.

The style can remain the same, but the material must be of good quality.”

Yuna lifted her small head and peered at Iordera.

“Surely there’s enough money, Miss.

Your shorts are only palm-sized; they wouldn’t require much fabric.”

“I have enough, but you two don’t.”

The two sisters paused, surprised:

“Us?”

“Yes, didn’t you complain about your clothes being uncomfortable last night?

I plan to get you both new outfits, ideally two sets of proper maid uniforms.” Iordera glanced at Yuna.

“Especially you.

With a bust that large, it’s going to take quite a lot of fabric.”