Chapter 118

#118 Episode: The Tin Knight and the World of the West Witch

The workshop of the West Witch was, if described in the style of the Tin Knight, a rather ‘game-like’ place.

To open the big front gate, one had to obtain Key A, and to get Key A, another item, B, was needed. It was a nuisance of a structure.

However, our party didn’t have to go through such a bothersome process.

Because the person guiding them was none other than the apprentice of the West Witch.

“You ruffians! To pass through here, you must bring the red emblem!”

“What did you say?”

“Oh my, isn’t that Lady Franka! Please, do come in!”

For a moment, the burly muscle-bound guard tried to intimidate the party.

But as soon as Franka lifted the robe covering her head, the guard shrank back and bowed as if nothing had happened, leaving Dorothea looking incredulous.

“This place is supposed to be the Witch’s workshop, yet it feels just like the outside. By the way, are you really okay with sticking your face out like that? It kinda defeats the purpose of the robe.”

“It’s not ideal, but there’s no helping it. Now that Captain Bill has seen me, it’s only a matter of time before everyone knows. It’s better to act quickly rather than dally.”

The events that followed were mostly similar.

The pack of werewolves, once boasting sharp teeth and claws, now hid their fangs and claws, obediently following Franka like trained puppies.

The crow-men who flaunted their sharp beaks and black wings were now politely using the stones they held to show respect instead of swinging them around.

Even the insect-men, who looked as terrifying as a person-sized bug, shrank back at Franka’s one gesture, completely losing their intimidating presence.

Watching this, Adelheid was amazed.

“Franka’s authority is impressive.”

“Indeed. To be precise, it means they fear the West Witch that much. They bow down to her apprentice, Franka, like that.”

After agreeing with Adelheid, Sophia seemed lost in thought.

“Adelheid, have you ever seen creatures like this outside?”

“Huh? No, it’s my first time.”

“I see. I was surprised to find many monsters that I could only read about in books in my time, but it seems the outside world is similar. This place truly is special.”

Just then, Franka, who had been listening to the two, interjected.

“It’s a matter of my master’s taste. She brings in rare monsters and makes them settle here.”

Adelheid blinked in surprise.

“Are you saying you… raise monsters?”

“The word ‘raise’ is a bit delicate. Did you see those guys earlier, all dressed up and holding weapons? They look like that, but they have their own societies and civilized lives.”

Sophia asked, “Oh my, then are there vampires too?”

“No, I don’t think I’ve seen any.”

Dorothea narrowed her eyes.

She wasn’t unhappy with how casually they seemed to be sightseeing.

No, it wasn’t that she felt entirely free of that sentiment, but considering that Franka’s presence drastically reduced the various obstacles they originally had to overcome, it was manageable. After all, they might have been talking a lot, but their speed of movement was virtually at the limit of fast.

Dorothea felt a sense of unease due to the sheer size of the workshop.

Franka had initially described this place as ‘larger than an ordinary city’, but the more she listened, the more she realized that was just Franka’s rough assessment, and the actual scale was significantly more enormous.

The number of residents inside the workshop was beyond imagination, and the fact that they all felt loyalty—or perhaps fear—toward the West Witch was concerning.

In a worst-case scenario, they might have to fight all of them.

Seeing Dorothea’s serious expression, the Tin Knight, who had been looking around, asked.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ wonders if Dorothea doesn’t have a master like this!]

“Well, the workshop I’ve seen wasn’t this chaotic. There’s always a chance that a ‘real’ one exists, but… by the way, you’re being oddly calm.”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ asks what that means!]

“If this were any other day, you’d be causing a ruckus talking about my precious battle, wouldn’t you?”

At Dorothea’s words, the Tin Knight chuckled.

Not that a faceless being could actually laugh, but somehow, it seemed that way to Dorothea.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ declares that it can’t possibly go this smoothly until the end!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ claims that there’s no need to panic since a chance will come if they just wait!]

It was a strangely confident statement.

It was an unfounded claim, but Dorothea found it hard to dismiss.

The Tin Knight’s gut feelings had often been right in the past.

And the ‘chance’ the Tin Knight was talking about was better understood in the opposite way.

In other words, even though things seemed easy right now, a crisis would soon arise.

‘…Well, it is a bit too easy.’

Dorothea tightened her grip on the staff.

Although things had become easier thanks to Franka being much more cooperative than expected, they were still up against the West Witch.

Dorothea momentarily imagined herself in Franka’s position and the West Witch’s in the East Witch’s.

Would her master just allow her to be betrayed like this?

‘No way. She would be watching closely and might just appear at a crucial moment to mock me.’

Perhaps it was because of this line of thought that when Franka reached the underground prison and cried out in joy upon seeing two monkeys locked inside, Dorothea’s caution shot up to peak levels.

Whether she noticed Dorothea entering combat mode or not, Franka easily smashed down the prison door and hugged the monkeys tightly.

“Hey, guys!!”

《■■■!》

《■■! ■■■!》

The golden-winged monkeys seemed overjoyed to see Franka after such a long time, responding fervently.

The little monkey with bat wings nestled into Franka’s arms, while the larger monkey with insect wings wept openly.

“Oh my, look at your fur. You’ve been through so much. It’s okay now. Mommy is here to save you.”

《■■!》

It was a heartwarming sight, but sadly, with her nerves at peak sensitivity, Dorothea had no room to be touched.

With a look that seemed to say, “What a sight,” Dorothea shot sharply, “Hey, how long are you going to sit there? You were the one who said there’s no time. Aren’t you moving on to the next step?”

“B-but, Lady Witch. Haven’t we just barely reunited after being apart? Isn’t it alright to have a little more time to celebrate?”

“I’ve tolerated quite enough, considering someone who says they’ll cooperate in recovering the valuable toasts and then sneakily attended to their own familiar first.”

At Dorothea’s cold words, Franka’s face tightened.

“Fine! I understand! Such a heartless one! The master’s room is up this way—”

《-What are you planning to do in my room, Apprentice?》

Franka’s words were abruptly cut off.

At the stairs leading down to the underground prison stood a monkey with golden fur.

The monkey’s appearance was ordinary.

Compared to Franka’s familiars, who flaunted their brawny gorilla figures or light frames with film-like wings, this newly appeared monkey was quite similar to a regular monkey aside from its wings and golden fur.

However, that didn’t mean the monkey lacked personality.

The first trait was its necklace resembling a human eye, and the second was that it spoke the human language.

《Am I not asking? What are you planning to do in my room? Can’t you answer, Franka?》

“Mas-master.”

《What a disappointment! To be punished for your transgressions, you should at least reflect quietly instead of trying to stab me in the back!》

Hearing the old woman’s voice coming from the monkey, the familiars inside the prison trembled in fear.

Franka, too, seemed unable to voice any rebuttal, stammering instead.

Considering the boldness she had previously shown, it was odd how she now shrank.

Dorothea clicked her tongue softly and stepped forward.

“Are you acting like you were betrayed, when clearly you’ve been waiting for the right moment to intervene? You’ve known everything and just waited for your chance.”

The monkey’s gaze turned towards Dorothea.

《That’s a hasty assumption. On what grounds do you speak such?》

Rather than giving a detailed explanation or making wild guesses, Dorothea replied succinctly.

“Because you’re the 4th Grade Witch.”

The West Witch didn’t respond immediately.

Then, an unpleasant laugh escaped.

It was a blatant sneer.

《Heh heh heh. Such a foolish girl. So, you want to be regarded at the same level as your master? You think this is how it’s done? I must say, you certainly have an eye, but still, you’re foolish, foolish. If you knew that, you shouldn’t have come here in the first place.》

The monkey’s gaze returned to Franka.

Unlike the venomous tone of the old woman, the monkey’s face was devoid of emotion, utterly expressionless.

It looked more like a doll than a living creature, yet words overflowing with emotion came pouring out, making it quite bizarre.

《Oh Franka, you foolish girl. I took you in just because you begged, and now you think it’s your talent and keep crawling higher. This matter will not pass easily, and your father will also suffer greatly because of it. All of this is your fault, Franka.》

“W-wait! This has nothing to do with my family!”

“Are you seriously expecting to be taken seriously? Wasn’t it obvious that something like this would happen the moment you barged in? Or do you want to sacrifice all your little friends and beg for forgiveness?”

“I know!!”

In response to Dorothea’s words, Franka let out a scream.

After glancing momentarily at her two familiars, she straightened her hunched shoulders and stood tall.

Franka gritted her teeth.

“Don’t talk as if you’ve been so generous! No, don’t even say it! Do you have any idea how much our family has let you take advantage of your so-called kindness?”

《Hmm.》

The monkey, or rather the West Witch, smacked her lips.

It seemed to respond as if a precious toy had slipped from its grasp.

Just as the West Witch was about to say something again—

Swish!

The Tin Knight, who had been silent until now, suddenly jumped forward and swiftly decapitated the monkey.

Franka flinched, and Dorothea, too, had a moment of disbelief spread across her face.

“Hey, you.”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ insists that conversations with bosses shouldn’t stretch out too long!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ believes that once Franka is ready to face properly, there’s no point in prolonging things!]

Dorothea hesitated for a moment, then simply shook her head.

Upon reflection, that wasn’t entirely incorrect.

Instead of engaging in a battle set up by the enemy, it was wiser to go on a reckless rampage.

The party began to ascend the stairs.