Antagonist Protection Service

All that remained of the witch was her black robe.

"―Aella. To thy chamber."

"Okay."

Being given just that short command, I watched the Protagonist return a single nod before continuing down the corridor, soon vanishing from sight into the darkness.

At that moment, it happened again.

CRASH...!!

My eyes widened at the echoing sound of glass shattering, and I quickly jumped to my feet, turning my head immediately to Aradine, who faced down the corridor where the sound had originated from.

The same direction the Protagonist had just gone.

"...So it was them."

Hearing such a mutter fall from her lips, I thought it strange that she seemed so calm, with still not a hint of an expression leaking through her face.

Deciding there was no need for me to do anything since she could probably do it faster and better, I asked her.

"Are we not going to stop them? They're after her, aren't they?"

Even though I knew she almost certainly had the power to stop them if she wanted to, internally, I was more than just a little concerned.

If, for whatever reason, she simply let it happen, and the Protagonist was taken away, I would have to work by myself to bring her back.

Considering that the identity of the enemy here was an unknown coven of witches, that wasn't a risk I was comfortable taking.

It was true that the Draconic Shadow possessed a considerable amount of magic resistance, so I could just equip that if necessary, but that didn't exactly mean I didn't have to worry about it.

Oblivious to my worries, Aradine answered regardless.

"That will not be necessary."

"..."

Hearing that, I grit my teeth.

After all, what she said implied that she had no intention to pursue them, right? That it was okay or not a problem if they abducted the Protagonist and took her away.

It was only for a moment that I thought that.

Cutting through my dissatisfied thoughts, she continued.

"Escape is vain."

Shivers ran down my spine at her words, but that wasn't all.

Slowly, she raised her arm in front of her, and as my gaze flickered between that svelte, slender hand, pale as porcelain clay, and her stone-cold face of matching hue, I watched her thin lips part ever-so-slightly.

"For all who succumb to the White Madness shall wither and fade."

In the next instant, a small gust of wind blew through the corridor from behind us, sweeping through my hair and clothes, ruffling them slightly.

It wasn't clear to me if that was merely a breeze coming from outside through the broken windows, or if it was something else, but regardless...

Right after, a harrowing scream followed.

❖─────★★★☆☆─────❖

I didn't need to ask or know exactly what Aradine did to understand the consequences of what happened.

Lowering her arm, she quietly, briskly walked forward. Making sure I wasn't left behind, I quickly grabbed the ownerless robe on the ground and trailed behind her, keeping an eye out for what lay ahead.

It didn't take long.

"Aella. To thy chamber."

"Okay."

Seemingly unfazed whatsoever by what just occurred, the mother-daughter duo traded just that short conversation, upon which the latter again walked away.

Fortunately, there was a door close by in the side of the corridor this time, so we could watch over her as she approached and opened it. Getting a small glimpse of what lay beyond, I noticed a room of what looked like stone, but the door closed too quickly behind her to figure out what exactly it was for.

Chalking it up to just being another magic room with a purpose I wouldn't understand anyway, my eyes naturally turned to a certain space on the floor, where another black robe lay, likewise ownerless.

"..."

'Mm, this one's different. I guess that's the symbol of that 'Black Rose' group on the back...?'

Crouching down to pick it up, I could barely perceive the self-explanatory emblem on the back even when comparing it to the other robe.

Whatever that group was, it was obvious that they were the enemies of Aradine, and from the looks of it, their present goal was to abduct the Protagonist for some reason.

'Maybe ransom? If they wanted to get a hold of her as a hostage, it would make sense...'

Regardless, they were a group I needed to be cautious of. Fortunately, if it was only this much, even I could stop them.

Turning back to Aradine, I would say that I met her eyes but she wears a blindfold, so I guess I met that instead. Thereafter, she opened her mouth.

"Apologies for the disturbance. Come hither."

Nodding, I watched her approach the door the Protagonist just went through. Naturally, it opened automatically for her, revealing a space that was definitely not something I had seen before.

Trailing her, I cast a quick glance at the corridor behind us, belatedly realising something.

'Hm...? The windows are all fixed...'

I had no idea when that happened or how, but I guess it shouldn't be a surprise at this point. Dismissing my own disbelief, I shook my head and quickly went through the door, appearing in a very wide room that seemed to be an amalgamation of many things.

Looking around and examining the place briefly, it seemed to contain mostly parts that resembled a kitchen and a workspace, with many tables and all kinds of storage containers and a stone floor.

On the ceiling, rows of racks hung down, carrying various herbs and things that looked like spices, and on one side, there were even potted plants that most certainly were not natural without magic, either due to their fluorescence or due to the fact they bore heads like monsters with sharp teeth.

Upon seeing all this, my first thought was very simple.

'It's an alchemy lab...'

The overwhelming smell that dominated my nostrils agreed with that notion.

Ignoring all that, however, the Witch Queen led me to the end of the room, where some more paraphernalia lay like some cauldrons, mortars and pestles, sealed clay jars, and some bizarre machinery-looking thing with long tubes and fumes coming out of it.

If I were to estimate the value of a place like this, I would not be able to.

I also did not think even someone well-versed in alchemy would be able to.

After all, this was the personal laboratory of the Queen of Witches. Could anyone, even an alchemical savant, match this?

It was impressive without a doubt, but to see all of this wasn't the reason I was brought here, and that was made clear when my thoughts were interrupted.

"Enki."

"Yes...?"

"How fared the tutoring?"

The first thing she asked was something unexpected.