The Struggle of Returning to The Other World

"Hey, that was a good run. I'm really in a hurry to lose sight of you."

"A., Mr. Ars......"

I raised my face with pleasure.

Als, a bright smile, no different than before, is standing right beside me.

- I can't do this anymore, it's over.

"It's okay, can you stand?

I distract myself from Mr. Ars, who offers his hand while saying so, with a resistance without. And fluttered but stood up on his own, facing him again.

That Mr. Ars is really sending his gaze to me without disturbing his breath at all, or any tension whatsoever. White shirts, beige pants, boots, and casual outfits are just like when we first met all over the city.

"Long time no see, how have you been?... I mean, if you look at all that running, you look rather better than when you were in Lord Otuland's mansion. I'm relieved. I'm surprised you're even here."

"... that way"

"Haha, right ~"

Ku, a refreshing smile cripples me.

"But I had a hard time, too. I had to get this far on my own. Because Mr. Luno can only use the technique of relocation to the vicinity of the contiguous Witch Pilgrimage. He didn't send me."

In the dark, I'm told it's a prospect of how I got here.

But so is that. If all of a sudden I disappeared from Mr. O'Turand's mansion, even Lady Frahamti would not be left alone. Mr. Luno, I wonder if he blamed you for letting me escape the mansion on his own. Well, in that guy's case, whoever tells you what doesn't seem to enjoy it at all.

"How'd it go? Long time no witch pilgrimage."

"More than that, about me, what are you going to do?

I don't intend to report to Swallow. Staring at Mr. Ars and cutting to the point, he shrugged his shoulders while lowering his brow butt.

"Don't look so scared, it's been a long time since we've had the chance to talk slowly. Why don't we just stand here and have some tea somewhere?

"You can't."

Unshadowed, idle back alley.

Only a voice containing my exasperation sounds empty.

"Well, I don't know what to do but take you back to the king's capital."

Mr. Ars doesn't get out of light shape.

"If possible, I want you to feel comfortable accompanying me. It's hard for me to see Halka angry and sad."

"Then miss it."

"Sorry, I can't do that"

……

Bussari and truncated with a smile. I knew it, but it seems very impossible to convince Mr. Ars.

Or, even if you try to escape again, you'll be caught in seconds of something.

I know I have to give up now.

But...

"Harka, I'm sorry. But I can't."

Mr. Ars shook his head at me touching the left hand bracelet with his fingertips.

"The guardian function of that bracelet is not activated"

- They spotted us!

"That's what Mr. Ordis gave you, isn't it? It's not something that works indiscriminately, it's under Mr. Ordis' control. He'll understand that I'm the one you're dealing with right now. Even if I try to force you away, that bracelet won't help you."

What, that!

Oh, I'm kind of pissed off already!

My side is nowhere!?

"... What happens to me when I get back to Master Frahamti?

"There's nothing wrong with that. You will not be harmed. [M] If only you could live quietly."

"After all, what does Lady Frahamti want?"

"Correct the distortion of the 'temperatures' and keep the world in a situation where it should be. I'm searching for the best way to do that, and I'm sure that will require your help."

"But I, I don't have any power. They haven't even told me what they want me to do. I don't know why I'm asking you to help me, do I?

"I don't think it's impossible to feel that way either. But you're special. Just be there, it means a lot. That's the most important thing."

I'm angry again that Mr. Ars is seriously trying to teach me not to appear.

"That's the same thing you're saying I'm only a tool or a pawn, right?

"Harka."

Mr. Ars' arm is stretching. I tried to shake it off reflexively but on the contrary I was grabbed by its left hand.

"It hurts!

I tried exaggerating, but it doesn't look like you're going to let me go.

"I'm sorry, Harka. I don't want to be rude. If it's a grudge, I'll let you hear it on the horse back home until you feel better."

His right hand, grabbing my wrist, gathered a glimmer of light and heat.

- I'm going to use magic!

"Ya."

Realizing so, I turned around and resisted violently. But you can't escape Mr. Ars, who must be accustomed to these occasions.

It came to my ear only slightly that Mr. Ars muttered something like a spell. At the same time, your body gets heavy like lead. It gets a little darker in front of me too - I don't like it, I don't want to go back to Master Frahamti!!

It was then.

My left hand, which remained grasped by Mr. Ars, emitted so much blue and white light that I swallowed his technique. Not my left hand, to be exact - the bracelet Mr. Ordis gave me!

The blue and white light scattered sparks similar to lightning.

Mr. Ars takes his hands off me under barometric pressure. Released from the invisible pressure, I felt my body lighten all at once. Mr. Ars' magic has been solved!

"Oh, come on, seriously, Mr. Ordis..."

The lightning on the bracelet did not stop, approximating Mr. Ars with a drawn grin. Rather, it grew bigger and bigger - toward heaven, running a burgeoning lightning bolt.

"Wow."

"Geez."

Lightning stretched out into sunny weather, along with a whimpering noise, bombarded its presence throughout the town.

The bracelet, the source of that lightning, never hurt me, but still Mr. Ars seems unable to come near me. His hand, stretched out toward this side, is held back by lightning more than once. Clearly, the bracelet was intimidating Mr. Ars.

"Harka, take that bracelet off. Your continued participation in the Witch's Pilgrimage will never help you. Instead, you'll be swallowed up. Even if you don't understand now, I want you to follow me. As you are..."

Beyond the exploding light, Mr. Ars' desperate persuasion is distant.

I took a step back. I might be able to get away from him now.

(Thank you for your help, Mr. Ordis. I hated you, but you're driving up the likeability rankings in me with a lot of momentum!

As I chanted my gracious words of gratitude in my chest, I ran out on the spot wearing a thunderbolt.

"Halka, wait!

But Mr. Ars won't give up either.

Oh, already, you're giving up too badly, this guy!

Even though the little blue and white lightning is attacking him more than once, Mr. Ars keeps reaching out to me without even taking it for a thing. And the moment I was caught again in that hand, the sound of something exploding sounded in my ear. No, Mr. Ars' hands are getting more and more scratched because of the lightning attack.

"Harka, what the hell do you want to do?

Mr. Ars has asked me in a calm voice, not at all sick of his own hands being hurt, etc.

"What are you going to do, mix it up with a witch pilgrimage like this?

I don't know what to do.

As much as I want you to tell me.

"Harka doesn't like to be Lady Frahamti's 'tool', so this is how you're running away, right? But what's wrong with being a 'tool'? If there's something you can save with that, don't you think that's okay?

"Yes, but. I don't even know if something is really going to save me. I can't believe what Frahamti is thinking. Read too much."

"Then why don't you face Lady Frahamti properly without running around like this? You just have to ask from the front what you need yourself for."

"Even I tried to discuss it with Lady Frahamti! But you couldn't. You know that very well, don't you, Mr. Ars? Lady Frahamti didn't take care of me at all!

I felt terribly sorry for myself for explaining myself so desperately.

I try to summon and say it because I, myself, have dark feelings behind me. I just kept stuck with Master Ardina and Noel and continued my journey, just to be everyone's luggage, and nothing would change. I know, that's not true.

"Did Noel say something to you?

Unexpectedly, Noel's name popped out of Mr. Ars's mouth, and I stifled my body.

Still, my hand caught by Mr. Ars - from the bracelet, the spark won't stop.

"Whatever he says, I don't think he can protect you now. Noel, stop it and follow me. I can protect you."

"If Lady Frahamti's orders change, you won't keep them."

"Well, that's right. But maybe they won't give you orders to hurt you."

What an unreliable word.

"- Mr. Ars."

I squeezed my full strength and waved away my hand as Mr. Ars grabbed me.

Finally, lightning lurked the ringing.

The bracelet was silent.

"I don't want someone to protect me. Instead, if there's anything I can protect, I'd like to protect it. Because there are a lot of important people in this world.... but now I don't have any more power, so I can't do it either."

I held my fist for a long time.

"If the title alone that I was once a witch helps, that's fine. But what the hell can you protect with that? I don't like to be used for good by someone without knowing."

Mr. Ars laughed all the time.

"Once upon a time, you were a witch, you weren't keen on your job, but at the end of the day, you seemed like an honest good girl to snort at?

"There was a lot going on with me too. A little twist, too."

"- What are you doing there!?

That's when a sharp voice broke in between us.

I was relieved somewhere because the voice sounded familiar.

Looking back, Mr. Elliot and Sizzle, the guards, were about to rush over here.