Chapter 121: Her Way of Life
The Hell Witch made a promise to Saint Lushe: to live in order to find a reason to live.
That was 30 years ago.
Since then, the Hell Witch has continued searching for that reason.
She still hasn’t found it—but she is no longer allowed to seek a place to die.
Because that was her promise to Lushe.
“Conrad, prepare for descent!!!”
“Roger, Captain. That was a long journey.”
Conrad said.
“After I land on the water, circle for about three minutes before coming down!!”
“Aye aye, ma’am.”
Conrad said.
The Hell Witch and Conrad had transformed into dragons and were flying across the blue skies over the Pacific Ocean.
Well-traveled as she was, the Hell Witch had an excellent sense of direction, guiding Conrad along an almost perfect shortest route from America to the Fiji Islands.
Of the two dragons—gold and black—it was the black dragon who slowed first, descending gradually.
Near the ocean’s surface, the black dragon beat its wings powerfully to reduce speed, whipping up spray that caught the tropical sunlight and formed a small rainbow.
Landing on the water on her back like a floating sea otter, the Hell Witch first pulled a small boat from her belly pouch and set it afloat.
She unloaded her belongings onto it, transformed into her human (oni) form, boarded, shook off the water, quickly dressed, and waved up at the sky.
“Conraaaad!!! You can come down now!!!”
She raised her already booming voice even louder, but there was no reply.
For several dozen seconds, the golden dragon continued circling overhead.
The Hell Witch smiled faintly.
Conrad was a gentleman. Not only had he closed his eyes—he had likely covered his ears as well.
It was excessive, she thought—but that kind of attentiveness was probably why he was so popular.
Exactly three minutes after her landing, the golden dragon stopped circling and descended.
Unlike the Hell Witch, Conrad wore a protective anti-magic suit made from top-tier monster materials and Abyss Gold.
A masterpiece of American technology, it was both incredibly durable and flexible enough to withstand transformation.
Because of that, Conrad didn’t need to change clothes when transforming.
After slowing sufficiently, he transformed midair into a human—returning to his original form: a handsome blond, blue-eyed elf—and landed lightly on the boat.
Though over 100 years old, his youthful, gentle features showed no signs of age.
His fitted suit accentuated his well-trained physique.
Had the Hell Witch been 90 years younger, she might have stared and squealed like others did.
Instead, this hero of America gazed at the Fiji Islands on the horizon with a slightly melancholic expression.
As the Hell Witch raised a sail and used wind magic to steer toward the island, Conrad snapped back to attention.
“Oh—Hell Witch, I’ll take the helm. You rest until we arrive. Just head due west, right?”
Conrad said.
“Mm, then I’ll leave it to you!! Avoid all the big shells floating on the surface!! They’re all Aikarev!!”
The Hell Witch said.
“Got it. And I’ll suppress my mana to normal human levels.”
Conrad said.
“Exactly!! And keep your magic output low too!!” the Hell Witch said.
“Understood.”
Conrad nodded, handed her a parasol, and took over steering.
Everything he did was thoughtful without being overbearing.
It was no wonder he remained the most popular man in America—even at over 100 years old.
And yet, he was still in love with the Blue Witch.
Of all of them, he was probably the one most looking forward to meeting her again in Fiji.
For the Hell Witch, it had been about 70 years since she last saw her.
She wished it could be a more peaceful reunion—but she couldn’t complain.
Their real objective was to investigate a mysterious puppetry magic trace on another island.
Fiji was just a stopover—but even here, they couldn’t let their guard down.
Fiji was home to a massive colony of giant amphibious bivalve monsters called Aikarev, numbering over 8,000.
At the same time, it was a thriving nation of 300,000 people.
Humans and monsters coexisted here.
Humans were protected by the Aikarev.
And the Aikarev prospered thanks to humans.
After about two hours of smooth sailing, they reached a small port.
Islanders gathered, curious about the newcomers—but the moment they saw the Hell Witch, their faces lit up.
“The horned lady!”
“She’s back!”
“Hey everyone! The horned lady’s back!”
“Did you bring the comics!?”
“If you have spare mana, can you fix my grandma’s back—”
“Whoa, you’re still huge!”
“I grew too, but I still can’t beat you… what do you eat!?”
Surrounded instantly, the Hell Witch laughed, handed out gifts, played with children, and helped people.
Meanwhile, Conrad quietly slipped away toward the consulate.
The Hell Witch had wandered the world for years, making connections everywhere.
She had first visited Fiji a year ago—teaching magic, crafting with locals, playing with children, drinking with adults.
Her booming voice, towering height, and unforgettable presence made her impossible to forget.
“Hey, Eperi!! Have you been a good boy!!?”
The Hell Witch said.
“I have! So give me chocolate!”
“Really now~!? If you’re lying, I’ll eat you!! Ghehehe!!”
The Hell Witch said.
She opened the mouths on her stomach and the back of her head, making eerie sounds—but the boy only laughed.
No one took her threat seriously.
And deep down, she felt relieved.
She no longer felt the urge to eat people.
She had once been a man-eating demon.
She had devoured 892 people.
But the last one was different.
The last person she ate… was Saint Lushe.
Thirty years ago, during a global pandemic, the Hell Witch encountered Lushe again.
Lushe had sacrificed herself—literally giving her flesh to save others.
By the time they met, Lushe’s body was beyond saving.
Yet she smiled, spoke gently, and asked for one final promise:
Live—not to find a place to die, but to find a reason to live.
The Hell Witch agreed.
And then… she consumed Lushe’s heart, bringing her life to an end.
Since that day, 30 years ago…
The Hell Witch has never once felt the urge to eat a human again.
Now, she lives.
Searching for a reason.
Hoping that along the way, she can bring love and salvation to the world—
And that someday, Lushe would smile again at what she’s become.
Although the Hell Witch was surrounded by islanders who considered her a friend, she distributed souvenirs, healed Shishi’s back, helped remove a female Aikalev that had climbed up the water tower and relocate it elsewhere, encouraged Lushana after listening to her secret love troubles, was allowed to hold Narini’s newborn eldest son, danced together with everyone, drank, and as things naturally flowed toward her staying the night, she finally declined and set off for the Fiji Island consulate.
Since she had become quite delayed, she cast a body-enhancement spell and ran.
The road cutting through the island’s dense forest wound around to avoid difficult terrain. The stone pavement didn’t last long; it quickly turned into gravel, and as she entered the mountainous area, it became dirt. Even so, having a road at all was something to be grateful for.
It was by chance that the Hell Witch discovered traces of puppet magic.
In the Fiji archipelago, which is the habitat of the Aikalev, there were no demons or transcendents settled there. Since only people who couldn’t see magic power lived there, even if someone bearing the marks of puppet magic had slipped in, no one would have noticed.
The one under puppet magic was a merchant who had come from an island located 700 km west of Fiji’s main island.
They were skilled at reading ocean currents and winds, and would visit once every few years using primitive boats.
Their purpose was trade. They would exchange people and goods, then leave.
Because the Fiji islands consist of many large and small island groups, there were other remote islanders who occasionally came to the main island and did the same. That was why the particular island in question hadn’t drawn special attention.
However, from the Hell Witch’s perspective, it was a major problem.
A serious situation.
The worst kind of mage—a puppet master—had reappeared and was operating in secret.
The Hell Witch quickly gathered information and, fearing “the one who hunts a mummy becoming a mummy,” avoided getting too deeply involved and flew to America.
Ideally, she wanted to consult the Blue Witch, but at that time she couldn’t determine her whereabouts (only after arriving in America did she learn that the Blue Witch had discovered resurrection magic and returned to Japan).
According to the Hell Witch’s investigation, a “king” had ruled the remote island for about 80 years. Rumor described him as a blond, blue-eyed boy king with long ears—features that matched Iruma.
Without a doubt, he was a mutated puppet mage who filled the vacant “slot” immediately after Iruma’s disappeared.
What kind of personality did this “king” have? What kind of magic did he use? What sort of rule did he impose? All unknown.
After all, the only information came from word-of-mouth passed down by merchants who visited the main island every few years, and even that information was vague. The merchant directly encountered by the Hell Witch, who had been under puppet magic, had already left the next day due to poor relations and was gone.
There were no reports that the king was expanding through invasion or domination, but that couldn’t be trusted. With puppet magic, it would be easy to extend control without anyone noticing.
At the very least, the fact that no one on Fiji’s main island had been put under puppet magic despite contact spanning 80 years lent some credibility. Even so, considering the deeds of Iruma, the previous puppet master, it was suspicious.
One unsettling rumor was that “the royal bloodline is cursed.” It was unclear whether this was a real magical curse or just folklore, but the rumor certainly existed. In any case, it didn’t sound pleasant.
After bringing information about the presumed second-generation puppet mage back to America, the Hell Witch quickly assembled a team to deal with the situation.
Their assumed enemy was a mage like Iruma.
A half-baked transcendent would simply be controlled.
The team members had to be transcendents with proven ability and experience.
First, the four members of the Demon King subjugation party were considered.
Of those four, Glen Greyling and Lushe had already passed away. Their successors in the same “slots” had not been found (or at least not publicly announced).
Of the remaining two, Conrad was quickly secured, and the Blue Witch was contacted through magical communication between Japan and the U.S. Though the situation grew serious enough to switch to a private line, they succeeded in persuading her.
The Blue Witch prioritized sealing the next-generation Iruma with great glacier magic to prevent any further succession, rather than guarding a craftsman.
The Mermaid Witch and the Dragon Witch were acceptable in terms of combat strength, but both had issues with intelligence. Considering the risk of being deceived or trapped, they were excluded.
It would have been reassuring to gain the aid of the Queen of the Lushe Kingdom, but she would never leave her country, and given its isolationist nature, even contacting her was difficult.
In the end, the anti–puppet mage unit consisted of three members.
The plan was for the three of them to enter the king’s territory simultaneously and investigate.
If even one of them fell under puppet magic, the other two would immediately use dispelling magic.
Basically, they would seal the king with great glacier magic.
However, the Hell Witch and Conrad insisted on first determining whether he was truly evil, so the Blue Witch relented: sealing would only be postponed if all three agreed.
Though the Hell Witch opposed unconditional sealing, she believed there was a high probability that the current puppet mage shared Iruma’s tendencies.
The influence of a transcendent’s “slot” was hard to resist—it warped the very core of one’s humanity.
She could not believe that the successor to someone as evil as Iruma would be a pure, innocent, blond, blue-eyed, elf-eared boy with clear eyes and heart.
If he appeared that way, it would simply be camouflage—just as Iruma had disguised himself as a good person.
Even while acknowledging it as an unrealistic fantasy, the Hell Witch held onto a faint hope.
Just as she had managed to live while coming to terms with her cannibalistic urges, and eventually overcame them with the help of her friends…
Perhaps Iruma’s successor had also come to terms with and overcome his own evil nature.
Somewhere in her heart, she hoped for such a salvation.
Though if the Blue Witch heard that, she would surely make a displeased face, so she would never say it aloud.
As she ran along the uneven road deep in thought, the dirt path eventually flattened and turned into gravel.
The gravel became stone pavement, the forest disappeared from the scenery, and buildings increased. The noise of people and the scent of daily life grew stronger, and soon the Hell Witch arrived at the consulate gates in the town.
Conrad and the Blue Witch had already arrived and were chatting.
They looked like a beautiful man and woman having a pleasant conversation, but Conrad couldn’t hide his excitement.
The Hell Witch was surprised when the Blue Witch smiled softly at her and waved.
Seventy years ago, when they had traveled together, her expression had been so dark and rigid it seemed she would never smile again.
“Long time no see, Hiyo-chan!! I heard the craftsman came back to life—congratulations!! I said it on the phone too, but let me say it again as many times as I want!!”
“Thank you. I’ve also heard a bit about your appetite, Yui-chan. I’m not sure it’s something to congratulate… but as your friend, I’m glad.”
“…You’ve really become brighter, haven’t you!?”
With her softened expression came gentler words. It reminded her of the warmth from when she was still called the “Witch of Ome.”
The Hell Witch’s heart wavered. Seeing such a lovely smile, she couldn’t help but think—shouldn’t the successor to that trash Iruma, who forced this woman down such a long road of suffering, simply be erased without question…?
“Conrad just said the same thing. Oh, right—Conrad, how many decades do you think it’s been? It’s about time you gave up. Look elsewhere.”
“I can’t accept that request, no matter if it’s from you.”
“…Sigh. Maybe I should have rejected you more harshly back then.”
“No matter what ‘what if’ you imagine, I’d still end up with the same feelings.”
Sensing the romantic undertones in their exchange, the Hell Witch felt a little restless.
Watching the two of them interact like young people made her feel younger as well. She wanted more moments like this.
But the reason three top-tier transcendents had gathered on a southern island wasn’t for melodrama.
A serious and critical problem lay before them.
Reluctantly, the Hell Witch steered the conversation back on track.
“Alright!! About that island—based on past records, the population could be up to 3,000!! At worst, we might have to fight all of them!! Be prepared!!”
“Yeah… and on top of that, monsters. In his first coup, Iruma controlled more monsters than humans. It’ll depend on how much force the island’s land and nearby fishing grounds can sustain. That’s assuming his domain hasn’t spread beyond the island… but we just don’t have enough information. Should we approach and scout from a distance first?”
“A lightning assault could work too!! A stealth ambush!!”
“Yui-chan, you’d end up shouting no matter what. Stealth and ambush are impossible. The real issue is the king’s location. If we know that, things get easier.”
As the Hell Witch and the Blue Witch exchanged ideas and refined their plan, Conrad raised his hand during a pause.
“About our means of transportation—”
Before he even finished, they already wanted to cover their ears.
They had a feeling what he was about to say.
The Blue Witch and the Hell Witch had been carefully avoiding a certain name, but Conrad, an American who had learned Japanese from rigid textbooks, didn’t understand why.
With a completely serious expression, he said a name that, in Japanese, carried an embarrassingly awful meaning.
“—How do we get to Eromanga Island?”
The Blue Witch and the Hell Witch needed considerable willpower to keep from making strange faces.
About 700 km west of Fiji’s main island—
The current puppet mage was the king of Eromanga Island.