The Reincarnated Eldest Witch Sister Embraces Self-Sacrifice - Chapter 13: Signal Fires
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- Chapter 13: Signal Fires
“It’s been a while, Ulgiar. I never expected to meet you here.”
“Likewise. I knew you were still active.”
I replied to Bronte, who approached me, my words tinged with caution.
It had been over a year since our last encounter, and Bronte had remained uncaptured, still freely operating.
She continued her crusade against notorious criminal organizations and cults, causing many deaths in the process.
Her radical methods improved security but also divided public opinion. Some hailed her as a just enforcer, while others saw her as a dangerous vigilante.
Some of the complacent populace couldn’t imagine her turning against them, even if her rebellion could potentially involve them.
“So, what brings you here today?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m here to save an innocent witch.”
“Do you have proof of her innocence?”
“No. But there’s also no proof of her guilt. You know, she’s accused of cattle poisoning simply because she visited a village and can concoct poisons. It’s ridiculous. Do you believe she’s guilty?”
Faced with this, I had yet to receive a reply. As I explained earlier, I also believed the witch’s guilt was unlikely.
“Rescuing her by force will alienate any public support you have. You’ll be seen as an ally of a criminal who tormented peasants, making you an enemy of the people.”
“I’m prepared for that. I’ve given up on becoming a noble through legitimate means.”
“It’s not just about you. This could cast all witches in a bad light.”
“I understand. But I can’t stand idly by while an innocent witch is executed. If you want to stop me, you must forcefully do it.”
Saying this, Bronte donned iron gauntlets and headed towards the guillotine.
I hadn’t noticed in our conversation, but the witch was already restrained at the guillotine.
As the blade was about to drop, a tremendous sound of an electric shock erupted.
Simultaneously, Bronte, enveloped in lightning, broke through the soldiers’ guard at an incredible speed, shattering the guillotine with her fists.
“What!? Impossible, how did she—”
“I’m just here to take her back. I mean no harm.”
“Think we’ll let you go just like that?”
“Hah, you could catch me with that cumbersome gear.”
While the soldiers’ commander spoke, Bronte swiftly shouldered the freed witch, attempting to escape. I tried to attack Bronte with my magic, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it, haunted by the despairing expression of the witch.
Like lightning, Bronte darted through the soldiers and the crowd, swiftly disappearing from the central square. I could only silently watch her fade into the distance with the condemned witch.
My return to my home from the capital was heavy; my heart weighed down with deep thoughts.
+++
A week after the incident, things were progressing as I had feared.
News of the Thunder Witch, Bronte, rescuing the condemned spread quickly, chilling the public’s view towards witches. The crime attributed to the saved witch, related to the food supply, worsened the situation. People began to claim witches were trying to starve them, tying the drought to their actions.
Walking in the city, I felt colder, more piercing stares. Fortunately, most of my regular business contacts remained normal in their dealings with me, but many things had changed. For instance, Hecate’s delivery service using magical creatures had to be suspended.
While Demeter’s business and Istos’s adventurer work were still manageable, their future was uncertain. If Bronte’s actions grew more extreme, the public’s hostility towards witches would only intensify.
Diverting this hostility seemed impossible. The only option left was alleviating the suffering and discontent that fueled it.
I continued to release grain to the market to ease the food shortage, but I noticed something strange recently. The grain I had supplied was sold out of Defelos Trading Company’s stores. I learned a shocking truth when I confronted Mr. Synaragi at Defelos about this.
“The grain is being hoarded to sell at higher prices? What is the meaning of this?”
“The chairman’s orders. We want to start selling when the prices rise a bit more…”
“Is profit now more important than the lives of those starving or our trust? We agreed to sell at regular prices.”
“I understand, but the chairman’s orders are absolute.”
“I’ll stop selling grain to you. I need to think about our future transactions.”
I left Defelos’s headquarters, my thoughts cooling as I walked in the cold autumn wind.
Looking back, I realized my naivety. The loss of social credit among witches meant Defelos no longer needed to care about our trust. If I cut ties now, finding a new major trading partner would be a significant challenge, a fact they likely anticipated in their betrayal.
I had thought our decade-long relationship had built trust, but I needed clarification. Given the current situation, it’s frustrating to refrain from severing ties with Defelos impulsively.
I felt cornered from all sides, losing my composure. The image of a perfect, protective elder sister I had maintained for my sisters was slowly crumbling.