Chapter 575 - Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

“---!” "Catch her!" "Ouch! My nose!" "You've got a hooked nose now. More witch-like, indeed." When I returned to the World Tree, at the Arcane Warden's floor, chaos ensued. The air was filled with the groans and cries of the witches, while brooms buzzed around frantically. Nevida raised her hand. Just moments after a growth of white moss flourished, a witch flew across the air, landing on the soft cushion of moss. Walpurgis, having been cushioned by the moss, frowned and spoke. "Great Druid, the entrusted task was more unruly than expected." Wow. Was it true that as soon as Nevida stepped away for a moment, an escape attempt was made? Without even having arms? Nevida also marveled at this. "To not give up despite losing arms – delightful miscalculation indeed." "You may find it delightful. I, however, do not enjoy such unforeseen events." Walpurgis, with a furrowed brow, took a bat from her bosom and tossed it into the air. The bats, flying as if they were stones, opened their eyes simultaneously, spreading their wings. With a gleam of green light in their eyes, they let out ultrasonic waves as they flew into the tree cave. Witches are secret societies that have passed down from ancient times their knowledge of black magic and sorcery. They appear naturally wherever humans reside, sometimes passing on their knowledge and magic through oral traditions. Among the array of powers possessed by witches, the most well-known is the familiar. Controlling small animals like bats, frogs, or field mice, they use them as conduits for their magic. Walpurgis linked her mind with the bats. As the green light illuminated their eyes, the sensory input from the bats transmitted to Walpurgis. The complex sensations, incomprehensible to ordinary humans, were interpreted by Walpurgis through sheer sense and experience. "Please wait a moment. I’ll assess the situation." The bats’ ultrasonic waves echoed within the tree cave. A hallway without color or texture appeared in Walpurgis's mind, rendered with mere lines. There ran someone down the deep and winding corridor. Though the figure was unclear, it was evident to anyone that the clumsy posture belonged to the regressor. Seriously, what kind of escape can one attempt without arms? He ought to regain his strength first. Is it fitting for a regressor, or is he merely foolish? Chasing the regressor through the perceptions of the bats, Walpurgis suddenly spotted something. "...Hmm. No problem there. It's been taken care of." "You did?" "No, not with just the bats." While witches can undoubtedly be useful and powerful for some, familiars aren't primarily for combat. How strong can a frog or bat be, after all? It is possible to employ larger beasts as familiars, but controlling such higher-order animals often results in mental backlash. Therefore, the general limit for familiars tends to be cats or crows, which are often avoided due to associated risks. The tale of a senile witch cawing while roaming the forest is no mere superstition. However. "The elephant will handle it." The entity that transcends such limitations is known as the Archwitch. Bwooouuuu—. The distant sound of an elephant's call resonated. Simultaneously, Walpurgis's mental link to the bats was severed. The turbulent echoes surged through the tree, fashioned like an ant mound. A sonorous storm swept through the winding cavernous depths. The floor of the Arcane Warden shuddered significantly. Without a word, Nevida shook the little World Tree. The cave carved into the tree gradually expanded to host someone. From the widened entrance emerged a young elephant. Despite its youth, it was a formidable and intelligent creature to appear within the tree cave. With its trunk securely holding the regressor, the young elephant emerged slowly from the cave. Regrettably, the regressor, having attempted to kick Walpurgis away and flee, found himself confronted by the Archwitch's elephant. Respectfully removing her hat, Walpurgis bowed to the witch astride the baby elephant. "Greetings, Master. Your disciple, Walpurgis, humbly pays her respects to the Archwitch." "Ah, yes. Walpurgis, you've been through a lot." The witch atop the elephant, bearing an eerie visage, spoke in a subdued voice. "Ne, Nevida... Who, who's this man?" A repository of all knowledge, a vessel of all mysteries, grasping all wealth. The deep and dark enigma that had been hidden within the World Tree’s jungle. An Elder turned Immortal through a pact of shadows, having obtained the ancestor's blood. And the legitimate successor to the empire that once ruled all nations. The Archwitch, Hexia Agartha. Mentor to all witches. The Archwitch pointed at the regressor she had subdued with her familiar, the elephant. "Where did you find... this?" "If it’s the one who lost its arms, it wandered into the jungle alongside him." "No, not him... but this." Slowly approaching the regressor, the Archwitch inched closer. Though the regressor writhed in a desperate attempt to muster the remaining strength, his efforts were futile without arms. The Archwitch extended a finger toward the regressor’s face and asked. "My mask. Why... does he have it?" "A mask?" Nevida echoed in disbelief, unaware of what the Archwitch referred to. I felt the same as Nevida, but upon reading the regressor’s thoughts, I recalled something crucial. Hexia Agartha. The direct descendant of the ruler of all nations, of Agartha. And what the regressor was donning... "Heh, heh. So you unknowingly brought it along, huh? Yes, so oblivious, you..." The Archwitch murmured before suddenly clawing at the regressor's face. Her nails, sharp enough to slice through, struck across the regressor's skin. Blood splattered, leaving a ghastly mark on his face... Or so it seemed, as a thin layer of his facial skin was partially torn. The Archwitch shook the ‘mask’ she extracted using her claw. The thin mask covered his jaw, cheeks, and under his eyes, marked with a distinctive point. “One of the three masks of Agartha, ‘Truth’. The greatest fragment of the Emperor that can alter how I am perceived...” Effortlessly, the Archwitch donned the mask. As she gently tapped her skin, the mask of Agartha seamlessly fused with her, as if it had always been a part of her. Yet, at that very moment, the Archwitch's appearance transformed. Though unchanged to me, who could read thoughts, Nevida and Walpurgis instantly noticed. Walpurgis expressed sheer astonishment. "...! The Archwitch has become a man...?!" The Archwitch was indeed female. However, in the perception of those around, the face before them bore the impression of a male. The disparity between reason and emotion stirred confusion in their minds. Had they not been well-acquainted with the Archwitch, they might have genuinely been deceived. With evident satisfaction, the Archwitch caressed her face, murmuring to herself. "Heh... Disguised as a man. Such a precious artifact wasted on something so trivial... No wonder there wasn't that typical pungent odor of a male..." And with the mask removed, the regressor's appearance also altered. Even before, her face stood out quite prominently. But now that the mask was gone, there was no longer any room for misunderstanding. The dirty, grown-out hair from travels now simply appeared as a bob cut, and her long eyelashes, hidden beneath her fierce gaze, finally caught the eye. Humans don’t see facial features separately. They absorb the impression as a whole in a single glance and remember it. Agartha's mask manipulates that very impression. With its disappearance, the impression of the regressor reverted to what it originally was. "...Tch, damn it!" Realizing her gender was now exposed, the regressor bit her lip in frustration. Reveling in this unexpected windfall, the Archwitch spoke to the regressor. "Hehe, thank you... Why hide being a woman?" "She probably wanted to conceal her nature as a temptress. Indeed, there was a reason the Seductress was keeping an eye on her." Caught red-handed, there's no way out now! And of all the places, she had to be exposed in front of Nevida, who is the most formidable adversary of the saint! I always thought I'd expose her eventually, but I never wished for it to unfold this way! What should I do? Do I pretend I already knew she was a woman, or should I act like this is news to me? Whose tune should I follow? Perhaps I should align myself with the regressor's thoughts first. '...This is the worst situation. Both arms torn off, captured in the enemy's stronghold. Powerless, being toyed with like this. And to have my mask taken...' Typically, having been captured with her arms torn and bleeding profusely, anyone would despair. Even more so in a circumstance that offers no hope of escape. However, for the regressor, even death is not an end. In fact, in this predicament, death becomes a rather appealing escape. 'I wanted to see what happens to Hughes before transitioning to the next cycle... Without both arms, this run is practically over. No chance of reattachment, so perhaps I should expedite things and end it with a celestial reflection suicide before I weaken further...' Ironically enough, the regressor was contemplating suicide in a very rational and optimistic manner. Almost agreeing with that sentiment, I quickly dismissed the notion. No! If you die, it's game over. The world will rewind! What should I do? I decided to play along for now. Pretending to know nothing, I asked. "What? What do you mean? Agartha's mask? What's that?" "That vile temptress, Agartha, tore off my visage and stole its power. As an accomplice to the Seductress, she used many faces to deceive and lead humans astray. That temptress used my power to conceal her true nature." "The... Nevida, perhaps you're being a bit too harsh... she's still my ancestor..." Ignoring the Archwitch's voice which grew dimmer, Nevida revealed her murderous intent. "Had I known she was a temptress, I would have dealt with her back when we met in the military realm... Even now, it's not too late." "W-wait! Hold on a second! Shei was actually a woman...? I had no clue!" I knew. How could I not? She practically advertised it everywhere. Frankly, even without my mind-reading abilities, I would have suspected at least once. But in this situation, I can't speak the truth! I’ll feign ignorance! "She kept saying she preferred men, you know! Was that what Shei meant by liking men?" Bound, with no room to flee or dodge the question, the regressor trembled in shame and pain, avoiding my gaze. "...Ugh, what's it matter." "Is that why your gaze was always so intense?" "What are you talking about? That never happened!" "Sneaking into my bed at night, too?" "When did I ever...! T-that was an accident!" I know. I’ve read as much through mind-reading. But even if the regressor speaks the truth, from a listener’s perspective, it’s another tale altogether. I stiffened my expression and stepped in front of Nevida. "Nevida, remember what you said earlier?" "Earlier, where?" You assured me that if there was a need for a woman, you would provide plenty. Even though this isn’t what I expected, conveniently, there's one more woman. Moreover, someone I share a deep connection with. "Release Shei. Or rather, hand her over to me." "..." Recalling what had been discussed earlier, Nevida comprehended my words. To be precise, she misunderstood them. She recognized my intent to save the regressor, but she completely misconstrued the reason. ‘I sense great interest from him towards that one... Though its existence is unbearably displeasing, still, I'm in a position where I must serve and follow him. I must give him what he desires.’ Of course, I have no such fondness for the regressor. What’s appealing about a PTSD-ridden regressor whose fist flies before she speaks? Yet, if the regressor dies, time will rewind, and it's imperative that I prevent this—for now, at least until I encounter the deity related to time. "If she's missing her arms, she'll suffice as a plaything." "...W-what are you saying." Nevida summoned a thorn vine. It crept down from the ceiling, slithering like a snake as it coiled around the regressor's neck. "Ugh, argh!" The sharp thorns pierced into her skin, soaking in her blood, causing it to grow little by little. The trickling blood blossomed into a crimson rose. Nevida gazed coldly at the struggling regressor. "If you wish to keep your throat intact, it's best you serve sincerely. Should he decide to close this rose, the thorns will constrict your neck." Spoke Nevida coolly, as she plucked the rose growing on the vine and handed it to me. With reluctance, I accepted the rose, my expression grim. I didn't mean for things to go as far as needing a leash... Now it feels like I've done something too harsh. All I wanted was to save the regressor's life. Well, at least both the regressor and I have managed to stay alive, so perhaps I can consider the operation a success. 'Just try touching me! I'll kill you...!' ...Maybe not just yet?