A slight levitation, as if every part of her body was sent out of the material realm, reduced to atoms.
One more blink. And the familiar scent of wood invaded her nostrils, as Mel's golden eyes scanned around.
The forest was quiet and somber, the sunlight penetrating through the leaves to form glittery shadows. Nyxia, her catgirl maid, stood by a tree with her hands clasped below her stomach, a classic medieval maid gesture of formality that the maid cherished, for it was the first teachings her master had first ingrained into her.
Besides the catgirl maid whose tail waved casually, lay a blonde man leaning onto a tree bark in shock and confusion. She would have pitied, if not for his eyes that glinted of focus that examined both the cat maid and her carefully.
Mel mused before approaching them. "You did well, Nyxia."
The catgirl bowed deeply. "I am not worthy of your praise." It is merely her duty as the Witch's familiar, but it would seem her master is kinder than the Witch of Pride. As a mere voidling who molded her form into her master's favourite preference, the catgirl maid didn't deserve such generosity.
Mel frowned before patting Nyxia. "We've talked about this. No, don't talk about how you're not worthy of this or that. The moment I take you in, you're part of me, and I would not allow you to depreciate yourself like this."
She may have met this catgirl for less than 4 years at her twelve, right as she awakened as the second Witch in this World, but their bond was not of fate but of firm trust in each other. Humility is only as cherished as formality, and she wished her maid would receive her affection openly.
Sensing the purple cat ears drooped slightly, Mel smiled with relief and headed for the man sitting.
"Hello. Ed Bersman."
Mel recalled Saria's teaching before performing a nobility's bow. The Knight always yapped about how her beauty was more than enough to be integrated into the high society, and her talent for acting surprised even herself. The neat from before this world would never have anticipated such a graceful woman to be herself.
"Ah-yes. Yes...You are?"
Observing Ed's necklace on her neck, the Witch squinted her eyes. The owner of a
Her back tingled upon Nyxia's bloodlust, before she patted the catgirl maid's ears, enjoying the cute whimpers that would rival even Lila's.
"Let's cut to the chase, Mr Ed."
The foxy smile returned to Mel again, her scheming mind putting together the words. "You are an Undead, no?"
The merchant's expression scrunched as if he heard the most outrageous accusation in the World.
"Or more precisely, you would call yourself an honoured and different Undead amongst your peers." Mel pressed her finger to her cheek, tilting her head playfully. "Would you like to reveal yourself now? Or would you rather I take that necklace from you?"
[ The ??? Merchant is in awe of your boldness! ]
[ You have attracted the gaze of the Witch of Pride. Be careful, our Host! ]
Even when sealed by the Saintess, her perception still somehow reached here, huh?
She thanked the System for notifying her and observed how the merchant's caution loosened before uttering. "I no longer serve the Witch."
Mel chuckled. "That matters not. I'm here for a deal. Not as a Witch to her underling, but as equals."
System. Sense if he lied or agreed with me at any moment, and if anyone is around within a 200m radius.
She ordered her capable assistant in her heart, before she watched as Ed, with great reluctance, took off his necklace.
Disguise Magic wore off. Human skin shed like a snake to its membrane. Even basic organs like eyes and ears disappeared as the World finally recognised the merchant.
Mel's adjusted, and before long, a skeleton sat in the same expensive, linen clothes, loosely fluttering outside his much thinner frame.
"So soon to be awakened, even before the coming of { Ragnorok }."
Under the Witch's ridiculed gaze, the merchant brought sunglasses from his pocket before putting them on. The black lenses dangled around the bridge of its bony nose, magically afloat as if it were part of his identity, however whimsical Mel found it to be.
The Witch coughed twice, ignoring the skeleton's 'meme-like fashion'. "Ed. Or do you prefer your real alias, Edward Bonesman? Undead Merchant of the [ Hell Realm ] ?"
The merchant shook his head, bones clattering. "I have long since used that name. I recognise myself as mostly... human."
The Witch of Lust nodded in understanding. As the war merchant who used to trade between the Witch's cult and the human kingdom since the first awakening of the Witch of Pride, Ed has been playing both sides for the most significant profits, much to the dismay of the necromancer who summoned him.
"Alright. Let's talk business."
Mel clapped her hands before secretly muttering. "
There is no manner or tactic to outwit an experienced merchant, but as a Witch, she would take it without a second thought if she could brute-force it.
A calm, ethereal thrum coiled in her throat as Mel began her negotiation. "Are you aware of a poison named
Ed frowned. The Witch's voice was soother, more enchanted as if the air bent itself to listen. His heart, or at least should have drummed under the Witch's power, if not for the pacifying words that clouded his judgment.
He uttered without a second thought, unbefitting of a merchant with experience. "I am aware. I sold it once to the Witch's cult."
Mel's eyes curved in amusement at the honesty.
"Cooperation?"
"I know how you exploited the War for profits and riches, Ed. And the poison is among one of many weapons you traded with the Witch's cult."
She watched keenly as the skeleton hung his head. The Merchant of Hell was never tired of chasing profits, a person enslaved with greed for gold coins and showers.
Ed tapped his head, an unfamiliar guilt creeping into his heart, the Witch's magic clenching even his unfeeling psyche. "Am I to be judged?"
Frankly, yes. Mel gulped back her thoughts. She didn't know about the war and the casualties, but at least her dear Lila and Leia wouldn't have suffered if not for the dealings this merchant had made.
So she lied instead, a smile that hid her blamefulness curled up. "Not exactly. Take a look at this party trick first."
< Creation Series: Solar Mint >
Mel stretched out her palm to the side, with a golden tear between the veins.
Clink. One gold coin dropped from it. Then another. And then another, before a river of gold coins poured out from her hand. Mel smirked at the skeleton's head shaking, the first sign of shock since they last conversed.
And with a wave of her hand, the pile of gold coins vanished like smoke, much to the merchant's regret.
"As you can see, I specialised in
Of course. All of the coins will disappear when she returns to human form, but Mel felt the merchants didn't need to know that.
The skeleton glanced at Mel's steady golden eyes. The golden outpourings excited him with possibilities, but not without sneaking cautiousness despite the magic, his years of bartering bringing a sudden clarity.
[ Host. Detecting Suspicion from the Merchant! ]
Unfazed by the message, she merely revealed another advantage. "I also knew a little < Prophecy Magic >, though not as experienced as an awakened Witch of Sloth, of course."
The skeleton pushed up his glasses. The former can't be verified if the creations are temporary, but the latter can.
"May I ask for the extent of how much you know the future?"
Nyxia scowled as her claws darted out from her human-like nails. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Undead. Master's patience is not for you to trifle with."
Allowing the skeleton to shiver under her familiar's bloodlust, Mel's comforting voice was like a light that strung him away from the fear. "Hehe. Please don't mind my little pet's tantrum. But vision into the future is too valuable for me to trade for a mere... proof."
She raised her index finger. "So instead, I will lend a harmless yet profitable vision. About the Academy's first-place honour."
The Skeleton asked with eagerness, not knowing how the
[ The Merchant is looking for an opportunity to manipulate his dealings in the gambling den! ]
"Hehe. Your little...investment would find it hard to believe anyway." Mel casually 'guessed' the merchant's hidden intent. "But no matter. The first place would be Calina Forgevein, a Knight from the Eastern Village of Mildwold."
"Not... the half-dragon heir of the Northern Duchess?" Another surprise washed over the merchant.
Mel smiled with pride. Only she knew the identity of Calina as the 'protagonist' of this World, and she found the merchant's disbelief at a nameless Knight's victory to be natural.
"I see you still have reluctance." But all that set-up was for the final dealing, the last stage of her scam. "So let's make this a bet instead."
The magic cycle circulated. Then, a thin humanoid with tusks protruding from his large nose materialised. He wore a tidy butler suit while holding a leathery paper with a quill.
The Quill-boar huffed. Finally, another contract is about to be signed, another witness to his master's glorious scam! Ah, he meant only to admire sincerely, of course.
"The bet is simple. If it's not Calina who wins first place, you will no longer have any 'surprise visit' from me. Otherwise, you have to agree to any dealings I propose."
[ The skeleton is in awe of your shamelessness! ]
[ The Witch of Pride screams, Scam! Scam! ]
Very vivid imagery, Miss System. Chuckling at how the skeleton shuddered, she waited till the skeleton finally gathered himself to speak.
"Uh... can I reject this deal?"
Mel tilted her head with a smile. "Nyxia."
The catgirl maid happily approached the merchant with her claws.
"I understand. Please."
Mel nodded approvingly before gesturing to her Quill-boar.
The Quill-boar swiped the paper straight with practised ease, before his quill moved with elgance unbefitting his rough fingers.
"Repeat after me, except mutter your true name when the words come."
Mel's eyes squinted at the skeleton, terrified and eased by her magic. The mixed feelings must be confusing to the merchant.
"I, Mel Sakura, agreed to submit my fate under the watch of Fortunis, the God of Merchants and Contracts."
The skeleton hesitated before following. Connection with the Witch of Lust could be either severed or maintained for safety, and he found he couldn't lose much from this bet.
...at least he believed so.
"I, Edward Bonesman, agreed to submit my fate under the watch of Fortunis, the God of Merchants and Contracts."
A glow came from the Quill-boar's contract, binding the Witch and the Skeleton's souls onto the paper.
Sensing his job done, the Quill-boar bowed silently before his body dispersed into the shadows, back to the Realm he belonged. He must discuss this over with his brother Gatebearer! Brag how another poor sod willingly walked into a trap himself!
"Oh. And another thing."
Mel stretched out her hand, evilness glinting in her hollowed-out eyes. "Since I was the one who enlisted the service of a Quill-boar, in addition to how I gave away a future for free, don't you think you should reward me with something in return?"
With an already hazy mind from
"Good." A foxy smile of success filled Mel's expression, and her final goal was completed without trouble. "The Divine Artifact,
An unbelievably outrageous demand. One that would have even the most novice of merchants shaking his head immediately. A Divine Artifact is something even the Royal Family had in few, and to give away one so easily? For the price of an uncertain, unconfirmed future?
"Yes. As you wish."
Yet, as if drawn by an irresistible force, Ed's skeletal hand reached into the air, for a pocket dimension he harboured as a skill.
Another day. Another one of the Witch's humble, satisfying deals.
"Thank you for your patronage," Mel exclaimed wholeheartedly.
----------------
After handing a bottled vial and the necklace, the skeleton passed out. Having withstood a Witch's familiar bloodlust and his desperate effort to resist
"Carry him back to the carriage. Ah, and give him a Disguise arti-"
[ Host! Host! ]
Hm. A panic from the System? Mel placed the vial gently into the System's inventory before asking. "What is it?"
[ Within a radius of 155m, Saria and Emilia approach at lightning speed! They will arrive within 30 seconds! ]
The Witch of Lust's face stiffened as the maid tilted her head in confusion.
Ah. Shit. Mel sincerely cursed to herself in what seems to be a long while.