Translator: Cinder Translations
...
At the port of Niceport, Friedrich Liszt was standing on the dock, bidding farewell to his companion, McKinley.
"Be sure to send my regards to everyone back home!"
"Alright, alright, I'll remember that. I envy you for getting to enjoy your time here," McKinley replied.
McKinley was leading the recruited craftsmen back to the Northwest Bay by ship, while Liszt would remain to inspect the area around Horns Bay for a while and establish an office and contact point for his employer in Niceport.
McKinley put a hand on Liszt's shoulder and said, "We agreed, don't get into trouble after I leave."
Liszt pouted, "What trouble could I cause?"
McKinley frowned, "Hmph! I'm still shaken by what happened in Flower Street the other day! You're in an unfamiliar place, so avoid causing any trouble."
"It's time to set off, hurry up and get on the boat!"
As he was about to continue his nagging, a sailor's shout came from the ship.
"Ah, time to go. Remember my words! We'll have a drink together when you get back." McKinley had no choice but to walk up the gangway.
After waving goodbye to his friend, Liszt felt a wave of relief. He had been nagged about the incident in Flower Street so many times recently that he was glad to finally have some peace.
Strolling through the streets of Niceport, Liszt decided to take a day off for himself. It was nice not having anyone supervise him.
"Have you heard? The Purification Squad captured a batch of witches."
"I know, they say they're being held in the cathedral's dungeon."
"Probably there will be public burnings soon."
"Burnings, how terrifying! It's a pity for those witches; they never cause trouble. It's just that they're portrayed as so ominous in horror stories."
"Shh... Don't let the church people hear you."
Liszt overheard such conversations on the street and couldn't help but recall that night at the inn. He hoped none of those witches were among them. Despite being a bit frightened, no real harm had come to him, and... she was quite beautiful.
"I should find a restaurant to fill my stomach... Ah!"
His shoulder was suddenly pushed with such force that he stumbled and fell to the ground.
Annoyed, Liszt looked up, "Who is it? So rude... Ah!"
He saw a burly man, arms spread wide, each hand holding a short sword. The man's sudden attack had bumped into Liszt.
If he had been a little more forceful, the blades could have cut into Liszt's face.
What made Liszt both angry and apprehensive was that the man wore a badge with the church's emblem on his chest.
What bad luck.
Quickly getting up, Liszt moved to the side, clearly the man was not focused on him. He hurried away from the center of the commotion.
Not only Liszt but also those around them instinctively cleared out a large area around the burly man.
Only one cloaked figure remained still, standing less than ten meters in front of the burly man, with their back turned.
The burly man sneered, "Heh, you have quite the keen sense, don't you? Turn around and let me have a good look."
As he spoke, he took steps towards the figure, but his hands remained tightly gripping the short swords.
"I have a certain intuition—an intuition for witchcraft! When you passed by me just now, I felt a familiar sensation. Stranger, cooperate with me for an inspection! Defying our Purification Squad will not end well!"
The cloaked figure remained unmoved and spoke in a small but clear voice, "Hmph! A lackey of that so-called god."
It was a female voice, and the atmosphere on the street suddenly froze.
The surrounding people looked at the cloaked figure with disbelief, and even the self-proclaimed Purification Squad member stopped in his tracks, mouth agape as if doubting his own hearing.
Announcing the Purification Squad's identity and yet making such a statement—wasn't this slapping the church's face?
"Hahaha! Hahaha!"
The burly man laughed instead of getting angry, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.
"Good courage, good courage!"
After laughing, he immediately switched to a ferocious expression. "Look up and see what building is ahead?"
The cloaked figure did not move. Liszt looked in that direction and saw a tall spire-like building. It turned out he had unknowingly wandered near the cathedral.
The burly man roared, "I don't care if you're a witch or not. Just for speaking such blasphemous words in front of me, I'll accuse you of heresy, and everyone here can witness it! I'll tie you to the stake and burn you alive! Burn you alive!"
"Then you'll have to see my skills first..."
Despite the burly man's fierce demeanor, the cloaked woman spoke in a calm tone. She turned around slowly and removed the hood that had covered most of her face.
"She..."
Liszt was stunned and almost cried out. The face revealed was none other than the witch he had had "intimate contact" with at the inn.
What was she doing here? As a witch, to come near the church's headquarters in Niceport—wasn't this courting disaster?
The witch threw her cloak behind her, revealing a hunter's outfit underneath and tall leather boots, looking very capable and exuding an air of heroism.
"I'll show you my skills now... Hah!"
The burly man licked his lips and shouted as he charged forward.
In an instant, the witch flicked her hand, scattering a powdery substance in the path of the burly man's advance.
Then she pointed ahead, and a large burst of flames suddenly appeared, followed by a blinding flash.
Liszt felt a searing whiteness before his eyes, as if staring directly at the noon sun. He instinctively turned his gaze away, only to be plunged into darkness and dizziness.
"Ugh, so uncomfortable!"
He rubbed his eyes vigorously, and after a while, he could see the surroundings clearly.
The street was now in chaos, filled with deafening noise.
"Witch!" "Sorcery!" "Run!" shouts of panic echoed around, and people had already decided the cloaked figure was a real witch.
Although the church's witch hunts had led to many wrongful accusations and some clergy exploiting the situation for profit, the terrifying image of witches remained deeply rooted in people's minds. When a witch appeared on the street, their first reaction was to flee.
However, the street was very crowded, and the blinding light from the spell had caused many to be disoriented, leading to collisions and trampling. In reality, only a few had managed to escape.
Liszt staggered to the side and hid behind a pile of wooden barrels, watching the spot where the witch had been standing, but it was now empty.
The burly man, affected by the spell, was also recovering. The spell's effect was not just to dazzle but also to set the man on fire.
However, the flames were not very powerful, causing only minor damage. His clothes and hair were scorched, and his originally bronzed skin was now covered with soot. He looked disheveled, completely losing his previous imposing presence.
"Damn! Damn witch! Damn sorceress! I curse you to hell!"
Seeing that the witch he was pursuing had disappeared, the burly man could only curse.
"I will catch you! No witch has ever escaped my grasp!"
He roared to the crowd, "Everyone stay where you are, don't move! I will inspect each one of you!"
He feared that the cloaked woman might hide among the crowd amidst the chaos. Though the woman's cloak was a common style in Niceport, making her stand out would be easy. But if he could order everyone to stay still, the witch among them would definitely be identified.
Unfortunately, amidst the chaos, no one paid attention to him. Even though he was a member of the church's Purification Squad, the street remained chaotic.
"Damn! These cowardly fools!"
At first, he had only suspected the woman he brushed past. Unexpectedly, she turned out to be a witch.
How audacious! To walk around near the cathedral—what an insult to the church!
She could not be allowed to escape; otherwise, the Purification Squad and even the church in Niceport would lose face.
"Ugh—ugh—"
The burly man took out the horn he had been carrying and blew loudly into it towards the sky.
His reinforcements would be arriving soon.
(End of the Chapter)
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