Kays Translations

Chapter 31: The Witch of Rekindling Flame

Five years into the post-apocalypse, my life in Okutama has finally found stability.

The area around my home in Okutama is protected by a magic mist of confusion, effectively warding off any outside threats.

The rice paddies, improved based on last year’s experience, are poised for even higher yields this year.

In the backyard, I have a fishpond, providing fresh fish whenever I want.

Compost from my organic waste enriches the soil in my vegetable garden, which, paired with a harvest magic spell, yields a bounty of seasonal produce.

The issue of rising condiment prices—an increasingly pressing problem each year—was finally resolved this spring with my homemade miso and soy sauce.

Even my mushroom cultivation project bore fruit, with shiitake mushrooms sprouting from logs—though not many. This morning’s breakfast was a satisfying meal of leftover rice with homemade miso soup, alongside freshly grilled soy-glazed shiitake mushrooms and salt-grilled char.

Looking back, it amazes me how much things have changed. I used to fear losing weight and depleting my food stores, but now I start my days with ideal, rustic, and luxurious meals.

While the pandemic has disrupted the food supply chains in the city, my life here couldn’t be more relaxed. I even have the time and resources to prepare mugwort dumplings using freshly harvested mugwort to welcome the Blue Witch, who frequently brings me orders for magic staff from the Tōhoku Hunting Guild.

After enjoying a hearty breakfast, I put on my boots to retrieve the traps I had set in the river the night before. As I stepped outside, I saw the Blue Witch emerging from the magic mist, as if on cue.

The same mask, the same blue staff, the same amulet—but something was different: perched on her shoulder was a tiny fire-elemental fairy.

“Good morning. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m the Witch of Rekindling Flame.” 

She introduced herself.

The fairy, no bigger than the palm of my hand, had fiery red hair and was dressed in clothes made of flames.

She bowed her head politely and greeted me in a calm voice.

She was so whimsical and fairy-tale-like, straight out of a picture book—and absolutely adorable.

But wait a second. Haven’t I seen something like this before?

The last time it was a stoat.

I thought it was cute, but the next time I saw it, it had transformed into a human.

I won’t be fooled again! Deceiver!

“Heh. I bet you’ll grow to human size the moment I take my eyes off you, won’t you? You’re trying to trick me again!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Calm down, you socially inept fool. Listen to my explanation before barking like a dog.” 

The Blue Witch interjected.

As I remained on guard, she began explaining the circumstances that led her to bring this suspicious fire fairy with her.

The fire fairy, true to her word, was the Witch of Rekindling Flame, one of the witches of the Tokyo Witches’ Assembly.

She ruled over Shinagawa Ward. When the Gremlin Disaster occurred, she was only 16 years old. Despite her young age, she incinerated waves of monsters with her fire magic and earned a reputation as a dependable, level-headed, and pragmatic member of the assembly.

Her specialty, unsurprisingly, was fire. She could not only manipulate magic flames but also had a unique ability to control nearby physical fire to some extent. She could suppress fires, extend the reach of her fire spells, enhance their intensity without expending magic power, or selectively burn specific objects. If it involved fire, she could make it happen.

The widely popular fire spell Flame Jin-Ga was originally her creation. I’ve benefited from it countless times—like this morning, when I used it to prepare breakfast.

However, the Witch of Rekindling Flame had been rapidly declining over the past year and was now nearing her end.

Her body, being made of fire, was literally burning out. That’s just how her existence worked. She had originally been human-sized, but over the year, she had gradually shrunk, her temperature dropping as well. Back when she had just become a witch after the Gremlin Disaster, she couldn’t even approach wooden structures without setting them aflame. Now, even a tissue placed near her would remain unscorched.

According to her, this was her natural lifespan.

It wasn’t an illness. She simply knew that she was aging and nearing the end of her life.

Witches and magic users often undergo transformations that fundamentally alter their bodies compared to when they were human.

The Witch of Hell grew horns and developed cannibalistic impulses.

The Witch of Flowers became part plant, with her lower half turning into a monstrous bloom.

Even the Blue Witch, though she appeared human, gained extreme cold resistance, superhuman strength, and a throat structure unlike any ordinary human.

These transformations often extended lifespans, as in the case of the Witch of Kita Ward, who has remained in a perpetual state of adolescence. However, they could also shorten lifespans.

The Witch of Sumida, who perished in the Mushroom Pandemic, had been on the verge of old age before her transformation, which briefly revitalized her.

In the case of the Witch of Rekindling Flame, her transformation had made her a being with a short lifespan.

Fairies, by nature, are fleeting.

Four years after her transformation, the fire fairy that was the Witch of Rekindling Flame was growing old and nearing the end of her life.

“I’ve suddenly found myself terrified of dying…”

Perched on the Blue Witch’s shoulder, she confessed this fear with an almost pitiful expression, as if ashamed of her own feelings.

“I’ve incinerated countless enemies before. I always knew that someday, I too would die. But now that I know the time has come, I’m scared—so scared. I understand it’s inevitable, but still, I’m frightened. If there’s any way I can keep living, I’m willing to rely on the magic item of the Great Wolf.”

“Who’s that?”

“The Great Wolf is a mage from the Tōhoku Hunting Guild. This magic item here is theirs—a Monster Trap. It has the ability to freeze time of whatever it captures. Don’t break it. It’s only on loan from the Witch Assembly.”

With that, the Blue witch handed me the trap.

At a glance, I understood the general mechanism of the trap.

Ah, I see. Two types of magic stones linked together to form a circuit—interesting! Such a simple idea, and yet I never thought of it. I’ve experimented with combining fragments of a single type of magic stone, but two different types? Clever.

The craftsmanship, however, was crude—downright laughable. It looked as though someone had crudely smashed some magic stones, randomly placed the fragments in alternating colors, and connected the ends.

Couldn’t they have done something a little better? I understand that it’s difficult to polish and cut magic stones, and they probably couldn’t have done it even if they had tried. I get the feeling that the creators’ intention was that as long as it started up properly, it didn’t matter what happened after that. 

“This trap freezes the time of whatever steps into it, correct? Hmm. It must be designed to activate only for monsters or beings with mana—otherwise, it would misfire on dust or air particles. The power source is… mana, naturally. Does it require a spell to activate, or just mana infusion?”

“You’ve figured it all out without any explanation…”

“Not everything. So, what’s next?”

“Infusing it with mana puts it in standby mode. When something passes over it in this state, it activates. The mana infusion requires precise control, so either I or the Witch of Rekindling Flame will handle it if needed.”

“Alright, do it now. I want to see how it works.”

Excited, I handed the trap to the Blue Witch, but she sighed heavily.

“I understand you’re happy with your new toy, but we’re still in the middle of a conversation.”

“Conversation? …What were we talking about again?”

“I mentioned that the Witch of Rekindling Flame is on the brink of death due to her lifespan. Come on, go ahead and make your request.”

Prompted by the Blue Witch, the Witch of Flames jumped down to the ground, politely bowed her head to me, and spoke:

“I would like you to create a magic item that can seal me away. Not one whose effect lasts only a dozen or so days, but something that can hold for decades. I want to entrust my hopes to the future. Perhaps in a few decades, someone will find a way to resolve my current lifespan issue. Would you be willing to help me?”

“Ah, yeah, that’s totally fine. I already have a few upgrade methods in mind. I can’t guarantee it’ll last decades, but I think I can make something that holds for at least a dozen years. Probably.”

“R-really!? You agreed so quickly—thank you! Thank you so much…!”

“No need to bow so deeply. Making a sealing magic item for a witch sounds like fun. So, Blue Witch, come here for a sec.”

Leaving the still-bowing Flame Witch behind, I called the Blue Witch over and whispered to her a short distance away:

“Hey. Weren’t you supposed to keep my existence a secret? Why’d you bring her here?”

“She’s going to die if nothing’s done. She begged me, crying, to introduce her to you. Besides, Flame Witch is a good girl. Also, her non-human stature shouldn’t trigger your misanthropy.”

“I’m not misanthropic. I just find people a bit difficult.”

I corrected her misunderstanding, feeling a little awkward as the Blue Witch offered a weak excuse.

Hmm. Lately, I feel like the Blue Witch’s distrust of people has been gradually healing. Her guard is lowering.

I get the sense that she might have been a naturally outgoing person before. Perhaps the trauma of being repeatedly betrayed and losing close ones is starting to fade.

If she reverts to being a social butterfly, it’ll make interacting with her more challenging for me. I’d prefer her to stay as she is now. But still, the Blue Witch is my friend. She’s better off laughing and cheerful than brooding and moody. It’s a complicated feeling.

“Well, I understand the situation with the Flame Witch’s sealing magic item. Did you manage to bring back the request from the Tohoku Hunting Guild?”

“I conveyed the request. They said they’d take it back for discussion.”

“Ah, I see. Well, that’s a reasonable outcome.”

Being part of an organization sounds tough. You can’t decide anything on your own.

But looking on the bright side, this could grow from just a single request from the visiting mage into a large-scale order from multiple witches and wizards affiliated with the Tohoku Hunting Guild. I hope they seriously consider it.

Take flight into the world, Dairi-brand premium magic staff!

“If you’re fine with it, I could bring some product samples to Great Wolf the envoy. Having an actual sample might make their discussion go more smoothly.”

“! That’s a great idea! As expected of our negotiation expert!”

I hurried back to the workshop, grabbed the best general-purpose, two-layered Gremlin Magic staff I had, and handed it to the Blue Witch. She left with a parting comment: “Call me with your familiar if anything comes up,” disappearing into the mist to deliver the staff.

That left just me and the Flame Witch, who was holding a monster trap.

When I looked down at the Flame Witch at my feet, she timidly looked up at me and asked:

“Um. Are you and the Blue Witch close friends?”

“Yeah, we’re friends. Seems like she’s taken a liking to you too. What’s your relationship?”

“Hehe. Actually, I’ve been a huge fan of hers since her magazine modeling days. She even remembered the fan letter I sent! I was so happy when I found out I became the same kind of witch as her.”

“Huh. Anyway, come in. I’ll show you around the workshop.”

I led the Flame Witch, who was reminiscing with a distant look in her eyes, into my home.

Despite almost tripping over the steps of my non-barrier-free house, the little witch followed closely behind me and entered the workshop. Unlike Professor Ohinata, she didn’t seem particularly excited. It seems she isn’t really into crafting.

However, she seemed intrigued by the small furnace I used for light work, which didn’t require the use of the full blast furnace.

“As long as you don’t break anything, feel free to take a look around. Now, where did I store those magic stone scraps…?”

Leaving the Flame Witch to her own devices, I started searching for my stock of magic stones.

Over the years, I’ve made three magic staff using magic stones:

• The Octa meteorite, a masterpiece crafted with black magic stone.
• The Kyanos, a blue magic wand made with blue magic stones.
• The Hariti, a staff crafted with amber magic stones.

Naturally, I kept all the scraps from processing these stones, thinking they might be useful someday. That day seemed to have come.

I found the case of magic stone scraps tucked away at the back of the shelf and placed it on my drafting table. I immediately began sketching and organizing ideas.

The key is to align the shapes. Rather than connecting random fragments, I need to arrange them in a way that ensures smooth and orderly magic flow. This alone should reduce energy loss and significantly extend the sealing duration.

Next is deciding on the uniform shape and optimal size of each piece.

I also want to test what happens when three different types of magic stones are connected in a systematic pattern instead of just two. Will it enhance performance? There’s a risk of a short circuit or even entirely unexpected effects.

I also want to explore three-dimensional assembly rather than just flat configurations. Could it be possible to accelerate time, stop it entirely, or achieve something beyond simply slowing it down…?

While engrossed in sketching and designing, I felt a light tap on my elbow.

Looking over, I saw the Flame Witch perched on the drafting table, spreading out blueprints of the blast furnace and charcoal kiln and eagerly showing them to me.

“Sorry to interrupt your work. Are these designs yours?”

“Yeah, I drew both of them. They’re for the ones I built in the back mountain. Why?”

“Did you actually build them exactly as designed…?”

“Uh, yeah? Is something wrong?”

I thought I’d done a decent job researching and designing them, but it seems there’s something off.

From the perspective of the fire-specialist Flame Witch, were there fatal flaws?

When I anxiously asked, she shook her head.

“Not wrong, but there’s room for improvement. If you’re interested, I can teach you how to optimize them.”

“Seriously? I’d love that. Please teach me.”

I paused my design work and handed her my pencil. The Flame Witch began modifying the blueprints, explaining as she went.

According to her explanation, my reverberatory furnace and charcoal kiln were unintentionally releasing valuable chemical compounds into the atmosphere.

When burning wood or coal, steam is produced. If this steam is collected, cooled, and condensed, it turns into a substance called pyroligneous distillate. Pyroligneous distillate is a mixture of many useful chemical substances.

By modifying the furnace and kiln, this precious mixture can be efficiently collected without being carelessly released into the air.

First, the smoke is gathered through pipes and then passed through narrow spiral tubes, where it is cooled with cold water to become a distillate. The components that do not condense into liquid become wood gas, a combustible gas that can be used directly as fuel.

When left to settle, the distillate separates into a watery upper layer and a thick, tarry lower layer.

The watery upper layer is known as wood vinegar. By further distillation, you can extract acetic acid, acetone, and methanol.

• Acetic acid can be diluted to make vinegar and is also a raw material for dyes and disinfectants.
• Acetone can be used as a cleaning agent and is essential for manufacturing smokeless gunpowder like cordite.
• Methanol is, of course, a fuel.

The thick tar, when distilled, yields turpentine oil, creosote, and pitch.

• Turpentine oil plays an important role as a solvent.
• Creosote serves as a preservative and disinfectant.
• Pitch, with its high waterproofing properties, is indispensable for building and repairing wooden ships, which will likely become essential in the coming era.

Not only did the Flame Witch draft blueprints for modifying my furnace, but she also created illustrated explanations of the distillation apparatus.

She drew all these diagrams without referencing any materials, relying solely on her knowledge.

How incredible is that?

“You fire fairies are well-versed in scientific firecraft like this, huh?”

“Oh, no, I studied and memorized all this. My hometown, Shinagawa Ward, has industries involving firecraft.”

“Diligent as always.”

The Flame Witch shyly smiled, looking a bit embarrassed.

If Shinagawa citizens have such a capable leader, they must feel reassured. I wish I had a boss who fully understood my work… No, scratch that. I don’t need a boss. I’m my own boss.

“What do you do with the ash from the furnace?” “I scatter it on the fields.”

“That’s fine, but you can also use it to make potash. Dissolve the ash in water, remove impurities, and evaporate the water to leave behind white crystals. That’s potash. It’s useful as a raw material for soap, glass, and oxidizing agents. In cooking, it’s used as an alkaline solution for making noodles.”

The Flame Witch casually wrote out the molecular structure and uses of potassium carbonate (potash).

Despite having the most magic, non-human appearance of anyone I’ve met, she’s the most knowledgeable about chemistry.

I see… Even in a world without electricity, non-electrical chemistry remains viable. While magic will undoubtedly pave the way for the future, we must not forget to use the chemistry available to us.

I sincerely thanked her for her invaluable insights and materials.

“This has been incredibly helpful. I guess it pays off to consult experts.”

“I’m glad I could help.” 

She replied modestly with a small smile.

Though she’s as miniature as Professor Ohinata, her personality seems more reserved and introverted, which feels oddly relatable.

“Were you a good student back when you were human? It’s been ages since I’ve seen molecular structures like that.”

“Oh no, nothing like that. You’re much more impressive. I’ve never seen anyone draw such precise blueprints freehand. It’s… a bit unnerving— I mean, amazing.”

“As a reward for not finishing that sentence, want me to make you something? Besides the upgraded monster trap.”

The flame witch’s blueprint revisions seem like they’ll make my rural life a lot more comfortable. I feel like she deserves a token of gratitude.

If all goes well, she’ll soon be sealed away, trapped in the stretched-out flow of time for ages. She might as well make some good memories now.

When I asked her, she seemed to think for a while, then fidgeted before answering.

“Well… On the way here, I saw an abandoned house…”

“Yeah?”

“Um… Can I… set it on fire?”

“Why…?”

I was stunned by her completely unexpected response.

Seriously, why?

I didn’t understand.

She had been so quiet, reasonable, and intelligent up until now, so why the sudden urge to commit arson?

It’s terrifying. She seems like a good person, but maybe she really is a witch after all.

“Oh, no, it’s not that I have pyromaniac tendencies or anything! It’s not like that!”

“Then what is it?”

“Well… um…”

She hesitated, lowering her gaze. Though her face was already red overall, I could swear it flushed even more.

What? What’s going on?

I waited silently for her to continue, and eventually, she murmured in a faint voice:

“It’s just that…”

“Yeah?”

“…I got… the urge…”

“To what?”

“…burn something.”

“What!?”

“What?”

“Is it possible to get even more confused after hearing an explanation?”

Hearing what was undoubtedly my most confused “Huh?” of the past decade, she turned beet red and, seemingly desperate, launched into a rapid-fire explanation.

“I-I’m just that kind of creature! You know how witches sometimes develop new quirks or… preferences when they mutate, right? Well, the species I mutated into apparently reproduces by setting things on fire as a couple. So, when I get, um, stirred up, I can’t help but feel this overwhelming urge to start a fire. I think, maybe, if I set something on fire with a male of my kind, a child might be born from the flames or something. It’s just biology, okay?! I can’t fight against it—against my instincts!”

“O-Oh…”

“Ahhh! I knew you’d be weirded out…! Just so you know, I only told you this because I might die soon, and I trust that you’ll keep it to yourself. Up until now, I’ve been dealing with my frustration by setting enemies on fire, you know! I’ve never told anyone this before!”

“A-Ah, I see…”

Her intensity left me nodding along, albeit while subtly inching away.

Sure, maybe you’re spilling your guts because you’re in some “I might die soon, so why not confess?” kind of mood, but have a little sympathy for the guy hearing about your completely unknown… biology kink for the first time.

This is probably the wildest thing I’ve ever heard, but one thing’s for sure.

“Look, I’m no expert in… this stuff, but maybe—just maybe—you shouldn’t share that preference with anyone else.”

“Guh…!”

She let out a defeated sound and fell silent.

“Well, I get it now. I can’t really relate, but if that’s how it is, go ahead and burn whatever you want. The abandoned houses in Okutama were already stripped of materials, and there’s no chance the residents are coming back.”

She nodded, her face still slightly red, and quickly left my workshop.

It seemed she was headed off to start a fire immediately.

What an… unusual instinct, I thought, turning back to my designs.

But just as I was settling in, I overheard a conversation by the front door between her and another witch.

“Huh? Leaving already?”

“W-Welcome back, Blue-chan! I’m just stepping out for a bit. The craftsman said I could burn one of the unused abandoned houses, so I’ll be back soon.”

“I see.”

“… … … U-Um, Blue-chan!”

“What is it?”

“Would you… would you burn the abandoned house with me?!”

The flame witch’s heated plea echoed louder than I’d ever heard her speak, and I couldn’t believe my ears.

Flame-san?!

What are you even saying?! Wait—wait, hold on! For you, isn’t this…

Isn’t setting fires with someone else basically your version of mating?!

“Burn the abandoned house together…? I don’t mind, I guess…”

Completely unaware of the implications, the Witch of Blue hesitated momentarily but then agreed to her sudden request.

W-Wow… This is spiraling out of control!

The Blue Witch has no idea, but this is some next-level harassment, taking advantage of someone’s ignorance!

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