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nTwo days have passed since the bizarre explosion.

nThe knights searched the interior of the mansion for the culprit, but they couldn’t find anything.

nIn the first place, I was in the mountains.

nThere were some reports of a loud roar coming from the mountain, but nobody would think that had anything to do with the explosion miles away.

nThis was such a world.

nI glanced at the culprit, my mega shooter, laying on the table, then I looked out the window.

nUsing my digital telescope that looks like a pair of black-rimmed glasses, I could see Ella and Haren enjoying tea time in a white terrace on a beautiful hill in the distance.

nIt’s interesting.

nIt’s really interesting.

nElla was smiling at Haren with a sincere look that really came from her heart.

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nAfter murdering Haren’s mother and making a false apology, she really appears to want to atone for her sins.

n‘I’ll live better from now on.’

n‘I’ll be nice to them from now on.’

nAfter her self reflection and rationalization, everyone around her, including herself, seems to have turned over a new leaf.

nJust because she has gained emotions now, doesn’t take away the many atrocities she had committed in this world.

nOf course, it doesn’t matter much to me whether she is evil or not.

nHowever, if I can take advantage of it, then that’s a different story.

nElla’s self reflection has paved the way for me.

nI’ve always faced beings stronger than me.

nAnd to deal with such beings, I’ve always had to find a way to fight it, but in the case of the protagonist, the method is quite different.

nIt’s using the situation and shaping the plot.

nA certain degree of realism is needed to kill the protagonist.

nIf a protagonist of a story is suddenly hit by a bus and dies, who would think that’s the end of the story?

nWithout some realism, the protagonist will somehow twist the cliché, and the mission will fail.

nSo, I’ve devised several plans to kill Ella, and some are quite plausible.

nHowever, revealing the identity of the real Ella is my best option.

nIt’s low cost.

nAnd it’s the simplest way.

n‘Hmm?’

nLooking through my telescope, I saw Haren standing up from the table on the hill and going somewhere.

nMaybe she’s going to get something.

nNow’s my chance.

nTaking out a black remote control, I pressed the red button on it without hesitation.

nThen, a small explosion occurred near Ella who was still enjoying her tea at the table.

nBoom…!

nThere’s no damage.

nThere won’t be any scratches on Haren either.

nI didn’t want to hurt someone who isn’t the protagonist.

nI wanted to keep at least that level of principle.

n“W-what’s going on?!”

n“There’s an explosion outside…!”

nIn an instant the mansion became noisy, and Haren is seen running over to Ella.

nElla was also in a state of panic.

n‘There are about eight left.’

nWhen I dealt with Gilitender, I didn’t have a mega shooter, so I was able to pack more bombs.

nNow that I’ve brought my mega shooter, there wasn’t enough room for bombs, so I brought less than ten.

nStill, I think this should be enough.

nI’ve been watching Ella for the last few days, and have learned her routine.

nNot only do I know when she would go up the hill to have tea time, but also when she trains, when she has classes, and where she goes for meals.

nI’ve set up some aether dispensers here and there.

nSome created flames, some formed magnetic fields, and some sparked electricity.

nThese things are meant to deal with low level monsters, but they will be very useful here.

nRumors have been circulating in the mansion.

nFor several days.

nStrange things have been happening near princess Ella.

nSomething bursts out of nowhere, sparks flying near her, or a table catches fire while she’s eating.

nOn top of that, I leaked some rumors to the people I knew.

n“I saw something amazing. Well I’m not too sure. The princess was eating alone, and suddenly her plate moved up and down by itself…”

n“Aye. Who would believe that?”

n“Don’t you think it would be amazing, though?”

nSlightly smiling and passing it off as a joke.

nNo one would believe such a story, but the more strange things happened around the princess, the more people thought of my story.

nThen, among themselves, a rumor quickly spread.

n“The plates were flying all by itself? There must be a ghost inside the princess’ body.”

n“That’s right. That’s what I heard too.”

n“Aye. What’s going on.”

nYes, this is the essence of witch hunting.

nOnce a wild rumor spreads, it’ll gradually grow until it’s too much.

nI didn’t like the words ‘witch hunt’ or the act of it, but I’ve actually encountered a witch, so shouldn’t I follow the plot?

nEven after the strange rumors began to circulate around the mansion, I continued to teach Ella.

nThere was nothing much to teach, but Ella still made progress, and all the other knights who I ‘taught’ began to trust me.

nIt was an unintended consequence.

nHowever, there was a limit to teaching them by spouting nonsense.

nFinally, the day has arrived.

n“Ella.”

n“Big sister?”

nHaren Almus, fully armed as if she was going to the battlefield, came to Ella.

nVery slowly, she spoke.

n“…A ‘witch interrogation’ order came from above.”

n“Huh? W-witch interrogation?”

nWitches look just like human beings.

nThus, in the Alethea Empire, to hunt down witches, they would catch and interrogate women who are suspected of being a witch.

nThe process is not brutal and the method used is very accurate in determining a witch, so it did not cause much controversy.

nJust, it was absurd that the second daughter of the Duke is being interrogated.

n“Older sister. I’m Ella Almus. Father won’t allow it, will he…?”

n“I’ve already agreed.”

n“…What?”

nListening to Haren’s cold voice, Ella felt something was strange.

nIt’s as if she was trying to distance herself.

nUnknowingly, she looked around.

nThe maids, the butlers, the knights.

nEveryone was looking at her with a suspicious look.

n‘Uh…huh?’

nSomething is strange.

nShe has always felt a sense of unfamiliarity with the people around her, but it wasn’t much different from day to day.

nElla thought as such.

nOnly, she doesn’t know.

nThe subtle difference in awkwardness felt by people with emotions and relationships.

nIt’s only been a year since she mingled with humans, so she has no idea that others have been slowly distancing themselves from her.

nThen…

n“..Don’t tell me, is it because of what’s been happening around me recently?”

nElla is not a fool.

nShe at least knows that someone is deliberately playing a mean trick on her.

nHowever, she couldn’t figure it out.

nA kind of magic that even Ella, an outstanding witch, could not detect at all.

nSo she couldn’t do anything to stop it.

nThat’s the problem.

nStrange phenomena are happening around Ella, but she remains unscathed.

n“No! This is not magic…”

n“Judgement will be held in the Empire.”

nElla knows the truth.

nIt wasn’t magic.

nIt’s not her fault.

nBut, now she has to be questioned.

nIt was unfair.

nIt was unfair that a witch is being accused of being a witch even though she didn’t use magic.

nHowever, it’s impossible to prove.

nEveryone else is ignorant of magic, so only if she says she’s a witch can she prove that it’s not magic.

nWhat contradiction was this?

n‘No, if I’m taken to the Empire, I’ll be caught!’

nWith trembling eyes, she slowly asked Haren.

n“Big sister, are you doing this because of rumors and what’s happening around me? But you’ve met a witch.”

n“…Yeah. I’ve met one.”

nThat’s why she has no doubt.

nSeodam deliberately used a dispenser most similar to magic, ones that Haren have seen.

n“Big sister…You believe me, don’t know…?”

nThat was the last thing Ella asked.

nHaren calmly spoke.

n“No. I’ve already submitted the application for the witch interrogation…”

nAnd that’s the final answer.

n“Uh, you…?”

nWithout realizing it, Ella took a step back.

nIt was because Haren had a painful expression.

n“Ella. There’s still a chance. Tell me the truth. That way this can be done as if it never happened. It’s possible with my power.”

n“…Big sister.”

nIt was almost like a plea.

nHowever, she couldn’t.

nShe must not tell the truth.

nShe knew how witches are seen in this world that belongs to humans.

nShe was happy.

nNo, she was happy to know the feeling of happiness.

nBeing able to share affection with someone, being recognized by someone, and being able to share a familial bond.

nAll those feelings made her happy.

nHowever, if she reveals herself to be a witch, she will no longer be able to feel those sweet feelings.

nSo.

n“Big sister…I’m not a witch.”

nShe had no choice but to say no.

nAfter hearing Ella’s words, Haren smiled.

nThe smile was so warm that Ella, who realized it was an emotion for the first time, felt full.

n“Yes. I believe it. I knew it.”

n“Of course…!”

nAt that moment.

nSuddenly, Haren pulled out her sword and rushed at Ella.

nA moment that was faster than the blink of an eye.

nHaving narrowed the distance to less than 10 meters, Haren slashed Ella’s throat, who could not react at all.

nClink!!

n…A barrier protecting her own body was automatically released.

n“…Huh?”

nWhite shards scattered in the air.

nThe barrier, which wasn’t made properly in the first place, was like a sheet of paper in front of Haren.

nElla slowly looked down.

nThe sword that touched her neck was stopped.

nOnly her barrier was destroyed.

n“…I said I knew it. Ella.”

nWhen Haren saw the white barrier, her expression turned colder and colder.

nWitches each had their own colors, and Haren, who had followed her father through numerous witch hunts, memorized some of its characteristics.

nAnd the most memorable color.

n“White magic…”

nShe hasn’t forgotten.

nHaren looked at Ella with trembling eyes.

nShe assumed Ella was a witch.

nHowever, she never imagined it would be like this.

nWhite.

nThe unique color used by the last witch.

nShe put her sword down, and slowly backed away.

nElla looked at Haren who had a miserable expression, then at her surroundings.

nMaids who collapsed under the strain of their legs.

nA few knights who were so surprised that they dropped their sword.

nServants who froze in place.

nWhat they all had in common was the contempt in their eyes, looking at her.

n“Big sister, it’s a misunderstanding.”

n“…Misunderstanding?”

n“Yes. I’ve certainly done bad things to humans. But! Now I know. That I was wrong. I know how to feel now. I feel guilty, too. I’m fully making atonement!”

nListening to her speech, Haren dejectedly laughed.

n“Atonement? Doing it in your head is atonement? Atonement is paying for the sins you’ve committed.”

n“…!”

nPrice.

nThe word that humans like most.

nElla hurriedly spoke.

n“That’s right. I was a witch, and I made terrible mistakes in the past. However, I’m going to atone for it from now on. I will live a good and sincere life from now on. You saw how I’ve been living.”

n“…”

n“I was a witch. So, thanks to that. I can do whatever you want. I’ll pay for it. If that is enough to atone for it!”

nAt Ella’s desperate cry, Haren raised her head.

nHaren rarely smiled at all.

nBut now, for some reason she had a bright smile.

n“Ella. Do you remember?”

n“…What?”

n“A year ago, the day before you collapsed. You told me.”

nYou rotten sister, I’ll kill you! I hope a witch curses you!

nElla lived a life in her sibling’s shadow.

nA life where she wasn’t good at anything, a life where everything she did was compared to her sister, a life where her father didn’t care about her, and a life where everything she did was wrong.

nAs much as Haren hated Ella, Ella also hated Haren.

nHowever, she shouldn’t have prayed to witches.

nAnyone who is caught in company with witches, or are heard praying to witches are executed.

nSo Haren, who didn’t want to implicate her sister Ella to the Empire, kept her words to herself.

n“Do you know what that means in human society?”

n“I…”

n“Ella.”

nHaren was still smiling.

n“That day, I should have stopped you. I know you can’t hear me anymore…but I’m sorry. I never thought you would actually summon a witch…I really didn’t know.”

nThere’s no Ella anymore

nThere’s only a witch in Ella’s skin.

nNonetheless, Haren apologized.

nShe thought she would feel better if she did so.

n“Yes. You said you wanted to pay for it, didn’t you?”

nWhen the question came up, Ella desperately nodded.

nHaren’s smile faded, and then she spoke.

n“If you really want to atone, bring back my mother you killed. Bring back all the human beings you killed out of curiosity, including my mother! In front of my eyes right now!”

n“…Uh, big sister.”

n“If you can’t do that.”

nWith a smile like she was looking at a beast, Haren pointed her sword at Ella.

n“At least, atone with your death.”

n“Ah, ugh…”

nA crisis has been detected for the protagonist Ella.

nElla’s skill Witch Law (SS) has been partially unsealed.

nThe current situation was not favorable.

nElla slowly stepped back, drawing magic from both hands.

nAlthough she has lost most of her strength and is weakened now, she was once on par with the Duke of Almus, the world’s best knight.

n‘It’ll be a little hard on my heart, but if I just bring in a little bit of my old power…’

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n

nThinking so, she held out her hands as Haren rushed towards her.

nBang!!

nAt that moment, her neck was slightly bent to the side by a shock that came from somewhere.

n‘…Huh?’

nJust a little bit.

nIt was just a slight shock, so her magic timing was only 0.3 seconds slower.

n“Goodbye, witch.”

nHowever, it was enough time for Haren, a professional swordsman.

nSwish!!

nYou’ve successfully hunted a Level 70 protagonist.

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