Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 49: Fall
The Blue Witch, having instantly killed the Arataki witch who had been watching her following a precognitive warning, was sprinting at full speed towards Bunkyō Ward.
As she ran, she used her familiar, an eyeball, to issue an almost excessively thorough command to Dairi: “Under no circumstances are you to leave Okutama.” Then, without hesitation, she continued her race to rescue Ohinata Kei, who was in the heart of Bunkyō, a designated special-class danger zone—a place at risk of being completely leveled.
At worst, she would have to consider escaping with only Ohinata.
The simultaneous multi-pronged attack designed to overwhelm the power of foresight had certainly been effective. Their enemies weren’t fools recklessly charging into a witch gathering unprepared.
At least one intelligent adversary had orchestrated this assault. She had no idea what they planned or what had already been done.
She briefly regretted killing the observer instead of extracting information. But what was done was done—she couldn’t undo it. Besides, she had no experience with interrogation. Even if she tried, it would take time, possibly delaying Ohinata’s rescue.
Leaping across rooftops of office buildings and apartment complexes, she kept watch for any anomalies while taking the shortest route. That’s when she saw it—a massive black hemispherical dome expanding in the distance.
Night Witch’s magic. And it was centered right in Bunkyō Ward.
Before the Blue Witch could arrive, the Arataki assault had already begun.
She could see only the black dome—there was no spreading mist, no spiderwebs. The Spider Witch had refused to participate in the defense.
That meant that, at the heart of Tokyo, the only ones protecting Bunkyō Ward were the Eyeball Witch, the Night Witch, and the Tobacco Witch.
Frankly, that was unreliable.
Had it been nighttime, the Night Witch would be stronger, but it was broad daylight. Three mediocre witches wouldn’t last long against the Arataki, all of whom carried magic stones.
Her fears were confirmed. The black dome dissolved into nothing within moments.
There was no reason for the Night Witch to dispel her magic in the middle of a crisis. That meant she had been forced to release it. In other words—she had lost.
Even if none of the three were combat specialists, it had happened far too quickly.
The Arataki had attacked with a solid strategy, and it had worked.
However, there was a small relief—Bunkyō Ward wasn’t reduced to rubble. At least, not yet.
Adjusting her strategy, the Blue Witch stopped running, dropped to street level, and kicked down the door of a house.
Inside, a mother and her son, who had been barricading themselves indoors under the state of emergency, trembled in fear—the mother holding a kitchen knife, the boy clutching a wooden club.
“Hii…! Ah—Blue Witch-sama!?”
“Sorry for the intrusion, but I’m in a hurry. I need to disguise myself as a civilian. Can you lend me some clothes?”
“Eh—Ah, y-yes!”
The mother hastily dropped her knife and rummaged through a dresser, pulling out clothes to hand over. The Blue Witch found the chest too tight and the waist too loose, but for now, she changed into a plain, inconspicuous outfit.
Her mask, tattered black coat, and Kyanos staff were too iconic—without them, she could blend in among humans.
“Um…”
“What?”
“If you’re disguising yourself as a civilian… you should dirty your face a little.”
“Why?”
“Well… Blue Witch-sama, you’re too beautiful. It’s like a crane in a garbage dump—you’ll stand out just by your face.”
“…Ah.”
Feeling somewhat awkward, the Blue Witch allowed herself to be dirtied with ashes, dust, and a little soil. Her long, glossy black hair was also messily disheveled. It was unpleasant, but necessary.
After thanking the mother and her son, who cheered her on with, “Go beat up the bad guys!” she set off once more towards the heart of Bunkyō.
To hide her Kyanos staff, she borrowed a bamboo sword bag—one that had belonged to the woman’s late husband. She also completely suppressed her magic aura to ensure her disguise was flawless.
With the Seer Mage unconscious and the Eyeball Witch defeated, the Witch Assembly had effectively lost its leadership.
Already a loosely bound group, without a commander, they were just a disorderly rabble.
The Dragon Witch might cause some havoc, but she wasn’t trustworthy.
If the Arataki had managed to seize control over the Witch Assembly’s core, brute force alone wouldn’t work anymore.
Unlike during the Kaiju Incident, she couldn’t just freeze the entire ward.
Her only option was guerilla warfare—gather intelligence and strike at a crucial point.
She had no idea how much the Arataki knew about the Witch Assembly’s internal affairs.
Based on how well-coordinated the attack was, the Dragon Witch must have leaked a considerable amount of information.
But considering how pathetically weak her assigned watcher had been, their intelligence had serious gaps.
The Blue Witch prayed that Ohinata had managed to escape and hide.
If the Arataki knew she cherished Ohinata, they would undoubtedly take her hostage.
If that happened, she wouldn’t be able to fight back.
Of course, it all depended on the circumstances…
She repeatedly warned Dairi once more: “Do NOT leave Okutama.”
Then, she dismissed her eyeball familiar.
If Dairi called her at the worst possible moment, it could cost her everything.
Even if she told him not to, he might still do it. She couldn’t afford such uncertainties.
Even under a state of emergency, there were still some people out and about.
Blending in with the foot traffic, the Blue Witch reached the gates of Tokyo Magic University.
Inside the campus, thugs in street clothes—clearly not students or faculty—loitered openly.
Killing them all would be easy.
But if she did, it would alert the presence of magic-users deeper inside.
She was confident she could kill all of them, including any witches or mages present.
But she still didn’t know Ohinata’s location or condition.
She couldn’t risk acting recklessly.
Hiding behind a statue of Professor Ohinata (Father), she was considering how to investigate—
When suddenly, a voice whispered to her.
“Witch-sama. You’re the Blue Witch… right?”
“!?”
The Blue Witch almost let out a scream at the sudden presence and voice that appeared beside her.
She instinctively tried to strike with her sword bag, but stopped just in time when she realized that the one who had appeared was none other than Associate Professor Nanase Nanami from the Department of Magic Linguistics.
Nanase broke into a cold sweat as the weapon halted just in front of her eyelashes, raising both hands in surrender.
“I’m… I’m sorry…”
“You startled me. I didn’t sense your presence at all.”
“I was using suspended animation magic to stay hidden. Then, when you came close—”
“Ah, I see. A brilliant decision.”
The Blue Witch nodded in admiration. As expected of an associate professor at the elite Magic University.
Suspended animation magic was one of the Spider Witch’s spells, making it difficult for monsters, witches, and magicians to detect the user visually or by scent. The spell would break as soon as the user spoke or moved, and if they stood out in plain sight, they would naturally be noticed. It wasn’t suited for ambushes, but it was ideal for avoiding enemies. In a situation like this, it was the perfect solution.
Even under the effects of suspended animation magic, one could still see and hear normally. Fortunately, Associate Professor Nanase was well-informed about nearly everything that had happened or been discussed within the university. She had even observed parts of the battle at the Bunkyō Ward Office through her familiar’s eyeball magic (though it had been destroyed midway).
As the Blue Witch crouched behind a statue’s bushes, she listened in whispers as Associate Professor Nanase recounted the events.
Nanase had been on campus when the state of emergency was declared, so she had not witnessed the entire battle at the ward office firsthand. However, her eyeball familiar had arrived in time to see the battle’s conclusion.
According to her, a witch from the Arataki Group had used magic to induce a magic rampage.
The attacking enemies numbered three, all possessing magic stones. One of them had already died before the familiar arrived, a testament to the fierce resistance put up by the three witches of the gathering.
However, just as the Tobacco Witch was about to cast a grand spell to eliminate the remaining two enemies, one of the opposing witches chanted an unknown incantation. At that moment, the Tobacco Witch’s magic spiraled out of control.
The Tobacco Witch’s staff was a mass-produced, low-performance item. The Eyeball Witch had hurriedly handed her a custom-made, high-quality staff she had prepared, allowing her to barely regain control of her magic and prevent a total catastrophe.
However, amidst the chaos, the Night Witch had her arm—along with her staff—severed and was knocked unconscious, causing her night magic to be dispelled.
The Tobacco Witch, exhausted from the near-magic rampage, was left powerless.
With no hope of victory, the Eyeball Witch surrendered when ordered to.
Although the Blue Witch had expected them to lose, she hadn’t thought it would be so soon. Now, she understood why.
She had heard that the Arataki Group was willing to raze Bunkyō Ward to the ground if necessary. Their hidden trump card wasn’t some large-scale magic—it was the ability to induce magic rampage.
If they could disrupt a witch or magician’s magic control and force their grand spells to go berserk, the enemy would become nothing more than a living bomb.
Katsushika Ward had already been reduced to ruins by such an event when a magician lost control and exploded. Even the Hell Witch had suffered the collapse of her controlled territory due to magic rampage. The destructive power of such an event was undeniable.
With such a spell in play, using Kyanos was too dangerous.
The amplified magic of Kyanos was already difficult to control. If it were to be sent into a rampage, half of Tokyo could end up buried in glaciers.
Around the same time that the three witches lost at the ward office, two powerful magicians, known as the “Boss” and the “Second-in-Command,” led their forces in an assault on the Magic University.
The university was divided between those advocating all-out resistance and those favoring bloodless surrender. Defying Professor Ōhinata’s attempts to stop them, the resistance faction engaged the two magicians in battle.
Led by the Combat Department, professors and students managed to ensnare the Second-in-Command using a research-grade Demon Catcher and bombarded him with concentrated magic fire.
However, the fundamental lack of raw magical power proved insurmountable.
Though the Second-in-Command was battered and covered in bruises, he sustained no significant injuries. The resistance faction was ultimately subdued by a spell cast by the Boss, bringing them to defeat.
“What do you mean by ‘subdued’? Don’t tell me it was puppet magic?”
The Blue Witch tensed at the possibility. If their opponent wielded the same magic as Iruma, the complete collapse of the Witch Gathering was all but assured.
However, Associate Professor Nanase shook her head.
“No. It seemed more like ‘being unable to disobey orders.’ When they tried to resist, their mouths and bodies wouldn’t move—but they clearly still had the will to resist. Their thoughts weren’t being overwritten. The spell also took about thirty seconds to take effect after being cast. And it didn’t contain the key linguistic markers of puppet magic.”
“If the key components are different, then it’s not puppet magic. That’s a relief…”
“The spell the Boss used on the three witches brought to the university was different from the one used on the professors and students. He also required explicit consent for a separate contract. Since all three refused, they were preparing to torture them to gain compliance.”
“That spell has a lot of weaknesses. Sounds like this Boss is just a second-rate version of Iruma.”
Nanase’s eyes narrowed in disapproval at the Blue Witch’s apparent relief.
“How can you be relieved at a time like this? The Seer Witch has fallen. The Eyeball Witch is restrained and about to be tortured. You are the only one who can turn the situation around.”
“A-ah. Sorry. But as long as I can save Kei-chan…”
Before she could finish her sentence, a fist came flying at her face.
She reflexively dodged, then dodged again as a second punch followed. Blinking in shock, she saw Nanase still whispering but now radiating quiet fury, her fists clenched tightly.
“Enough with the nonsense. What do you mean, ‘as long as Kei-chan is safe’? You—you’re just playing at being a protector. But you haven’t protected anything at all. Because you were too busy guarding an empty ruin, Professor Ōhinata attempted to commit suicide by poisoning herself.”
“…What?”
“There! You didn’t even know! With all due respect, you’re just pretending to be a guardian. You haven’t protected anything.”
The Blue Witch paled as Nanase clicked her tongue and began lecturing her.
“Professor Ōhinata is a brilliant woman. She knew that if she fell into enemy hands, they would use her as leverage against you. So, she tried to negotiate with the Arataki Group until the very last moment. The moment negotiations broke down, she drank poison. The Boss noticed and forced her to vomit it out, so she survived. But she remains unconscious. And who is responsible for forcing that burden onto her? You. Because you doted on her so much, she became a valuable hostage. And yet, instead of staying by her side to protect her, you fixated on an empty city. Because you weren’t there, Professor Ōhinata is now in enemy hands, on the verge of death. If you had been by her side. If you had stayed in Bunkyō Ward from the beginning. The university wouldn’t have fallen. The Eyeball Witch, the Night Witch, and the Tobacco Witch wouldn’t have had to surrender. The Seer Witch wouldn’t have pushed herself to the point of collapse. I understand. I can’t even begin to imagine your trauma or sorrow. Back then, you were only a high school senior. But how long do you plan to wallow in sentimentality, hiding away in Ōme? Look at the present!”
The Blue Witch did not avoid the third punch. The fist struck her face, but she did not so much as flinch.
Nanase, her own fist throbbing with pain as if it might shatter, raised it once more and threatened her with an air of anger.
“Want another one? Or are you going to wake up, get serious, and actually do something to turn this situation around? Which will it be?”
“…I’ll move. You’re right, this is all my fault.”
Under the clear and present danger, the Blue Witch was chastised by a third party and tormented by the pain in her chest and intense self-reproach.
The Hell Witch had continued forward, eyes set ahead, even after losing what she was meant to protect—just as the Blue Witch had.
She should have done the same. And much sooner.
Of course, the worst offenders were the Arataki gang, who had invaded and resorted to violence.
But the second-worst offender was herself, the Blue Witch thought bitterly.
She had remained shackled by her past until the moment she nearly lost something precious once again.
Nanase, the assistant professor, lowered her raised fist as she noticed the change in the Blue Witch’s expression.
Though she still bore traces of anger, she provided even more valuable information.
Resisting the impulse to rush in as her comrades were defeated and captured, she had focused solely on gathering intel—thanks to her, the Blue Witch now had enough information.
“The Arataki gang has gathered the influential figures in the courtyard, using magic to subdue them and extract information. Professor Ōhinata’s whereabouts have been deliberately concealed and remain unknown, but rather than searching blindly, it would be best to observe the courtyard first.”
“I understand.”
“I have not even a single kilounit of magic left. I’m of no use anymore, so I’ll leave the rest to you, Blue Witch. Do you understand? No matter what, you must rescue Professor Ōhinata. That is the absolute minimum responsibility you must fulfill. And after that, wipe out the enemy. I won’t accept anything less.”
With that, Nanase all but kicked the Blue Witch out from their hiding spot in the bushes.
The Blue Witch immediately moved to survey the courtyard as instructed. However, the route from the gate to the courtyard was patrolled by thugs, likely under the Arataki gang’s command. Instead, she leaped into the air, landing on the rooftop of a nearby building, and moved along the rooftops until she found a vantage point overlooking the courtyard.
If she were discovered, and Professor Ōhinata’s safety was used as leverage against her, she knew she would crumble without hesitation.
For everyone’s sake, she could not afford to be seen.
Fortunately, she remained undetected and secured an ideal position from which to spy on the courtyard.
In the courtyard, professors and other local influential figures (excluding witches) were lined up on their knees, bound behind their backs, as if awaiting execution.
A burly man in his fifties, presumably the gang leader, placed his hand on each captive’s shoulder, casting magic. Once he had completed the spell on all of them, he began his interrogation.
Straining her ears, the Blue Witch caught their hushed conversation.
“I’m going to ask one more time. Answer truthfully. Where is the staff craftsman?”
“I don’t know. I heard he was in Ōme City.”
“His name? And I don’t mean ‘0933’—his real name.”
“I don’t know.”
“His gender? Age?”
“Either male or female. Likely between five and one hundred fifty years old.”
The response was frustratingly vague, and the magic user, likely the gang leader, let out a low groan.
“Damn it, you’re useless. Next. You—where is the staff craftsman?”
“I don’t know. But I believe he was secretly sent to Hokkaido aboard a trade ship to provide technical support.”
“Name? Gender? Age?”
“I don’t know any of that.”
Once again, nothing of substance. The magic user scratched his head in irritation.
“You bastard…! Next! Where is the staff craftsman!? Who is he!?”
“I don’t know. But I support the theory that the staff craftsman and the Seer Mage are the same person.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me…! None of your stories match up. What the hell is going on here?”
As she eavesdropped, the Blue Witch couldn’t help but smile.
Never before had she been so grateful for Dairi’s extreme social ineptitude.
Because Dairi had steadfastly refused to appear in public, the Arataki gang was utterly confused.
If Dairi had been more sociable, a well-adjusted individual who actively engaged with society, his whereabouts would have been uncovered long ago, and he would already be in grave danger.
The situation remained dire.
But watching the enemy flounder in confusion, all thanks to Dairi’s stubborn fear of social interaction, eased some of the tension in her shoulders.
He was always so absentminded, and yet, just the mention of his name made it feel like everything would be okay.
The Blue Witch clutched the protective amulet that he had given her through the fabric of her clothes.
She swore to herself.
She would find and rescue Professor Ōhinata.
No matter what.