Kays Translations

Chapter 1: The Witch’s Apprentice (1)

This world is far harsher than my previous one, and human life is worth far less.
Even though I retain memories of my past life, that doesn’t change reality.

That said, it’s useful to understand things beyond what my current age would normally allow.
But my past-life memories aren’t powerful enough to revolutionize this world.

I don’t even know how to make mayonnaise.
Why the hell don’t I know that?
I do know how to make salad dressing, though.

“Alright, time to get up. Ow.”

My bed is an old wooden frame stuffed with straw.
It’s so hard that my back and joints ache sometimes.

I really need to do something about it. Maybe… a futon?
Yeah, I’ll think about it.

Also, I need to replace the straw soon, or bugs will start appearing.
Actually, when I got back last time, they had already appeared. It was awful.

I took care of it with [Vanish].
Goodbye, old straw. Hello, new straw.

It’d be nice if I could make insecticide, but I don’t have that kind of knowledge.

Though… I do know someone who probably does.

For now, I wash my face with water from a barrel and glance at my reflection in a cracked mirror.

“…Still not used to it.”

I smirk bitterly.
Blue hair, silver eyes, a youthful face. Too youthful.

But I am thirteen. Of course I look like a kid.

I need to do something about this cracked mirror, too.
Maybe I should buy a proper one. I think I saw some at Alifa’s shop.

Every morning, I see this face so often it gets boring.
Until now, it felt like I was staring at some distant boy, not really me.

But these days, I can at least whisper:
“I am Wof.”

I can’t say it out loud just yet.

I sigh, dry my face with a cloth, and eat my breakfast—pan-mame.

Big, chewy beans, kind of like bread.
When grilled, they get soft and have a simple, mild flavor. Not bad.

I wash it down with cold tea.
Today’s tea is citrus-flavored.

The witch’s alchemy notes—formulas even I can use—have been a lifesaver.
Lately, I’ve been making tea in a crescent-shaped cup almost every day.

Oh, can’t forget.
I fill a plate with pan-mame.

It’s for the other resident of the abandoned watchtower.
She’ll complain if it’s just pan-mame, so I prepare some scrap-meat soup too.

Leftovers from yesterday.
I simmer it a bit, then pile the rest into a bowl. Done.

Scrap-meat is great.
Can’t believe how cost-effective it is. Gotta thank Hoss for introducing me to it.

Now for my daily training.

Practicing [Vanish] and its applications.

I didn’t use [Vanish] to its full potential in my fight against the clown.
So now I experiment to see what it can really do.

Also testing [Silent] and [Generous].

[Generous] lasts five minutes.
Cooldown: one day.

I should have tested that when I first got it.
Well, no use dwelling on it. My approach won’t change—I’ll keep using it cautiously.

Training complete.
I strap on my new knife and head out.

My new knife.
And I got it for free.

Of course, he was already back and drinking at the tavern as usual.
Agaro.

He was in a great mood and asked if I wanted anything as a reward for the hunt.
I immediately said, “A knife.”

So he gave me this red knife, which had been gathering dust in the back of Arifa’s shop.

Apparently, he used it back when he was a Class IV explorer.
A simple single-edged design. The sheath and handle had been replaced a few times.

Right now, the sheath is made of salamander leather.
The handle? Thunder Bull horn.

The horn of that lightning-cloaked beast, huh?

The blade itself, never replaced, is a deep, burnt red, like aged copper.
The blade pattern looks like rough ocean waves.

It’s slightly curved and the longest I’ve ever owned.
Almost feels more like a dagger than a knife.

Actually… this knife.
It reminds me of something from my past life.

A certain adventurer’s knife—
The one used by that guy whose trademark was his hat and whose dog’s name was…

Simple, but cool.

Anyway, this isn’t an OOPArt.
It’s just a knife. A really nice one, though.

Six days have passed since the dungeon raid.
It feels fast, but actually, not so much.

Our return point was the underground floor of the Hydrangea Explorer’s Guild.
A Return Room, featuring a massive teleportation circle embedded in the floor.

That giant teleportation circle is Legendary.
The one Alexander set up is Legacy.

Honestly, I still don’t get the difference.

I understand what Legendary means.
But I still can’t grasp how Legacy and OOPArts are different.

Probably because I’m not an explorer yet.

Speaking of Alexander—
He originally said he’d stay behind, but he ended up coming back with us.

And then—

“Well then, everyone. This is where I take my leave. If fate allows, we shall meet again.”

He said that, then strode off in style.
A clean exit. Kinda cool.

Hope I run into him again.
Preferably, not while fishing.

Waiting for us upon our return were guild staff and the Guild Master.

A blond elf man in a white shirt and pants… wearing makeup.

Apparently, his name is Aran-san.
His catchphrase? “Araan~”
Yeah, he’s that kind of guy.

When Megadia, our leader, reported the details to Aran, we were shown inside.
Then we were dismissed, though he said we might be summoned again later.

I was exhausted and headed straight home.
For some reason, Mineha came with me.

And she’s been illegally squatting in the tower ever since.

Today’s sky is overcast.
The city’s white buildings look even duller under the gray clouds.

The walls and buildings here are made of monster-repelling materials.
That’s why, despite the numerous dungeons inside and around the city, it still stands.

The name of the city is Hydrangea. It means “water container.”

Indeed, the city has abundant groundwater, making it the most livable place in the frontier, where water is never an issue.

That said, this entire country is a fertile land, often referred to as the continent’s granary.

In the western district of Hydrangea, in the plaza beside the bell tower—

A massive monster’s maw of a cave suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

This cave serves as the entrance to a dungeon. However, it remains closed for now.

“Hello, Gauro-san.”

I greeted the gatekeeper.

His name is Gauro. A veteran gatekeeper with a scarred face that gives him the appearance of a bandit.

He was once an explorer, but after sustaining a facial injury, he became a gatekeeper instead.

“Hey. Sorry, Wof. It’s still closed.”

The dungeon anomaly has been resolved.

However, the closure won’t be lifted until the investigation team confirms there are no remaining issues.

“I understand. I just came to check on things today.”

“Well, the garbage dump should be usable soon since there’s nothing left there.”

Since the Clown had completely disappeared, the Mimics under its command were also gone.

So, the massacre at the garbage dump never happened.

The replacement Lizardmen did cause some damage, but nothing close to a massacre.

Agaro-san took down the boss at the time—the Lizard General.

I was there too, and once again, I ended up saving a girl.

“That’s good to hear.”

“I want to reopen it as soon as possible, but there are some kids who keep coming here every day.”

“That can’t be helped.”

Knowing Gauro-san, he’s probably treating those kids to meals.

After all, he’s treated me before as well.

“Oh, right. I got this during our last expedition.”

I showed him a bronze ring.

“Expedition—oh yeah, you were part of that anomaly subjugation. What’s up with this thing?”

“I’m giving it to you. You should be able to sell it for a decent amount.”

“W-Wait, what!?”

I tossed the ring to him.

It was a bronze ring I had obtained from the Lizardmen’s nest in the dungeon.

By logical deduction, since I was in [Silent Mode], I had essentially dominated that nest.

I said “a decent amount,” but to be honest, I had no idea how much it was actually worth.

Still, if it meant more kids could get a meal, that was enough for me.

“Wof, I can’t just accept— Damn it, he’s gone.”

Knowing he would refuse, I laughed and ran off.

Southwest of Hydrangea, deep within the second-largest forest in this area—

Nestled at the base of a large, gnarled tree was a brick house.

I rang the bell positioned slightly above the wooden door.

Chirin, chirin. (Jingle, jingle.)

“Yes, yes, I’m coming~”

A witch’s voice called out, making my heart pound.

It had been a long time since I last saw her.

After returning, so many things happened that I couldn’t meet her right away, and that only made it harder.

There was something I absolutely needed to tell her.

And before that, something I absolutely had to apologize for.

The door opened.

“A-uh, Witch, long time no— WAHHHH!?”

I let out an involuntary scream. And for good reason.

The witch was smiling—

But she was completely naked.

Yes, stark naked. Wearing absolutely nothing.

Why the hell!?

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