“Sophie, I’m hungry… So hungry, I need food,” the white-haired witch said with a pout.
“Alright, Airlise. To be honest, I’m hungry too. How about that tavern up ahead?” The tall witch pointed toward a place called the Rudd Family Tavern.
As they approached, they saw that the establishment didn’t even have a proper door. Instead, two pieces of faded bear skin served as curtains to block the wind. As the two sisters pushed their way inside, the first thing to hit their senses was the aroma of roasted meat mingled with the scent of ale.
The sisters found a random table by the window near the entrance. Airlise gave the menu a quick scan, but nothing there really whetted her appetite.
‘I miss the desserts from Miss Mary’s restaurant in Northon Town so much! I want scones, a macaron set, caramel pudding, and red velvet cupcakes!!’
Airlise let out a deep sigh. Beside her, Sophia chuckled, seemingly understanding exactly what was on her mind.
“Airlise, if you want sweets, we can go back after we finish our current business. Miss Mary and the others should be staying in Northon Town for a long time. It won’t be too late to go then. We’ll have a total feast!”
“Yeah, we’re traveling, so I guess I’ll just have to make do and endure it. Waitress, two large portions of your signature roasted meat and two glasses of juice!” Airlise waved toward the young waitress. The girl handled the order efficiently and brought their food out shortly after.
To be honest, the taste was decent and the service was attentive. Airlise gave the experience an eighty-five.
Just as the sisters finished their meat and were resting, dozens of men dressed like merchants entered the tavern. What was unusual was that every single one of them was armed.
The sisters knew from their posture that the men weren’t there for them. The improved version of their transformation masks was top-notch!
A fierce-looking man with a scar across his face led the group. He walked to the front desk and calmly sat in the central chair.
Startled by the sudden influx of so many people, the owner, Rudd, hurried out from behind the kitchen curtain. Rubbing his hands together, he rushed to greet them.
“Hello, guests! Oh my, there are so many of you. Come, come… Please, take a seat. Don’t just stand there.”
Rudd continued, “Where have you gentlemen traveled from? If it’s convenient, would you mind telling this humble man?”
Sean smiled slightly. “We are a merchant team from the coastal town of Heliwood. We’re just passing through for trade.”
Rudd wanted to build some rapport with Sean, but unfortunately, his big mouth led him to say things he shouldn’t have.
“Ah, a merchant team from Heliwood! A pleasure, a pleasure. But I have to say, if you’re looking to do business around here, don’t get your hopes up. Right now, that dog Sean is causing trouble everywhere, leaving neither peace for the people nor their livestock!”
“He’s birds of a feather with Campbell. He helps Campbell suppress the nearby merchant guilds, ensuring all the businesses under Campbell’s name have smooth sailing. He’s definitely lined his pockets with plenty of benefits!”
“A dog?” Sean’s smile froze halfway.
“Isn’t Sean just a piece of trash? There isn’t a single positive word about him among the people. The commoners are all furious but too afraid to speak out! Sean is nothing but a monster who slaughters the innocent!” Rudd continued to add fuel to the fire.
Sean looked at the menu and began to grin localizedly. When he spoke, his jawline was tight.
“Boss, give me a serving of your signature beef pasta. Don’t put any green onions in it.”
“Aila! Quick, come out and serve the guests! There are so many today, it’s going to be a busy one!” Rudd shouted toward the young waitress in the kitchen before heading back himself to cook.
Aila lifted the curtain connecting the kitchen to the front desk. In that instant, the blood in her body seemed to freeze, and her breath hitched in her throat.
Sean deliberately loosened his clenched fist. His breathing grew heavy as he said to Aila, “What’s wrong? You look like you recognize me. Come, young lady, sit here. Do I look like someone who slaughters the innocent?”
Aila shook her head repeatedly. She clearly recognized that this was Sean. Her face turned deathly pale, even the color in her lips vanishing completely. Her expression was one of agony, her facial muscles twitching from the sheer weight of her terror.
“Well, then that’s that. Tell you what, I’ll play a game with you. If I lose, I leave immediately. If I win, you all die!”
“Since he was just insulting me, I’m certain there will be plenty of green onions in the pasta!” Sean let out an affected, villainous cackle. He took a sip of water and slammed the cup onto the table, though it made no sound.
“We are just commoners. We didn’t know you before today. Why do you want to kill people?” After a long silence born of fear, Aila finally spoke.
“Heh, does one need a reason to kill? Haha!” That laughter held no warmth; it was filled with a toxic, ecstatic malice.
A moment later, Rudd brought out the signature beef pasta he had prepared himself.
“Please enjoy, guest.” Rudd smiled and turned to leave. Sean looked down at the food; there were no green onions.
Sean paused for a moment. Then, his cold eyes narrowed into slits, his twisted grin appearing incredibly hideous.
“I DON’T EAT BEEF!” He drew his sword and swung it with a casual flourish. Rudd’s throat was slashed, and he collapsed.
***
Livid, Sophia immediately dropped into a sword-drawing stance. Beside her, Airlise quickly pressed down on her shoulder and shook her head.
Sophia gritted her teeth and withdrew her hand. Airlise’s eyes communicated with her, telling her not to act rashly yet.
A man and a woman, sensing that something was wrong at the front, rushed out from the kitchen. Immediately after, their screams echoed through the room.
“Argh… Ahhh! Husband! Wh — why? You demon! I’ll kill you!” The middle-aged woman had just rushed forward to swing her fists when Sean instantly took her head off.
“Brother-in-law… Sister! Ugh, argh! You’re… you’re that executioner, Sean! You’ll go to hell!!” The middle-aged man rushed back to the kitchen to grab a cleaver to seek revenge. After his swing missed, Sean dodged to the side and stepped behind him, thrusting his blade straight through the man’s heart from behind.
“Papa, Mama… Uncle… You demon! Goddess Phibilia… above, please judge this… demon, ugh…” Sean’s longsword plunged into Aila’s abdomen. He deliberately twisted the blade, mangling her intestines. Aila let out a heart-wrenching scream before Sean pushed the blade deeper, ending her life.
Blood flowed like a river across the floor of the Rudd Family Tavern, the air thick with the metallic scent of iron.
Aside from Sophia and Airlise, there were three other tables of customers. They had long since fallen silent, frozen in place. Terror made it impossible for them to even stand up.
“To all the customers present, I am Sean, Captain of the Witch Hunting Squad. We received reports that the Rudd family of Sindar Town was maliciously spreading rumors to defame His Holiness Pope Dussel. Furthermore, they were found to be smuggling goods, suppressing the businesses of Lord Campbell, and colluding with demons to interfere with the national mineral resources. They have been executed on the spot. Does anyone here have an objection?”
Sean and his subordinates burst into unrestrained laughter, treating human life as if it were worthless grass.
Miss Aila, who only moments ago had been a vibrant life smiling and chatting with the witch sisters, was now nothing more than a cold corpse lying on the floor.
Sophia clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palms. She whispered to Airlise, “Airlise, if we don’t stand up for justice now, how are we any different from these thugs?”
“Yeah, Sophie. I’m very angry too. But let me go outside and use a tool to have Nino support us quickly.” Airlise also made her decision.
Sophia gave a satisfied smile. Airlise quickly performed a low-voiced chant, casting buffs on the two of them.
**[HOLY PRAYER: SHIELD]**, **[HOLY PRAYER: FORTITUDE]**, **[HOLY SPIRIT ARMOR]**!
Slipping out past the partition, Airlise reached a corner of the alley and blew a whistle. A high-level messenger eagle flew down. Airlise quickly attached a letter requesting Nino’s support and sent it off before rushing back into the tavern.
Activating her divine crests to their full extent, Sophia revealed her witch characteristics right before the eyes of the Witch Hunting Squad.
Beside her, Airlise began a grand chant. The light of a magic circle bloomed beneath her feet as she, too, revealed her true form.
Sean was surprised at first, but his expression soon turned into a fierce, dark grin.
The two witches had encountered the Witch Hunting Squad unexpectedly, and a great battle was about to erupt.