The Witch and Her Companion: I'm Just a Normal High School Student, but I Became the Familiar of the Highest-Ranked Witch. Also, It Seems I'm the Only Guy in the Witch Organization I Joined - Chapter 110: Black Steel and Arrogance

Chapter 110: Black Steel and Arrogance

[Todoroki Ryuna]

—The morning sun streaming through the living room window glints off Fuu-chan’s beautiful blonde hair, sparkling like something mystical. I take pretty good care of my hair, but hers is just… otherworldly gorgeous.

…Pipipipi, pipipipi, pipipipi.

The smartphone alarm I set to go off every hour blares through the quiet room. It’s time for Fuu-chan to link with Hare.

With each attempt, Fuu-chan’s been able to maintain the link longer. Maybe she’s getting the hang of linking with limited mana, or her body’s adapting to the strain—or both. I don’t know why, but if things go well, she can now hold it for about five minutes.

“…Ryuna.”

“…Yeah.”

I stop the alarm and nod at Fuu-chan. We haven’t slept a wink since yesterday, obsessed with confirming Hare’s safety, so we’re both pretty quiet.

It’s also because we’re rattled by Hare being held captive by Ravens. Honestly, that’s the main reason. From what we’ve seen, he’s enduring something close to torture.

“…Link.”

Fuu-chan takes a deep breath, slowly closes her eyes, and starts the link.

“…He’s still in that underground room. On all fours, with that witch sitting on his back.”

“…Hare.”

A few links ago, we learned Hare was taken down a long staircase to the basement. It seems he’s locked in some kind of dungeon.

Before that, the links showed him being toyed with by a white-haired witch in her underwear. In the short link time, we figured out she’s called “Lamy-sama” by Hare.

Ravens’ witches are infamous among us, but I’ve never heard of a Lamy. Just how many witches are in Ravens? And is there any way to rescue Hare from a place like that? My mind keeps spiraling to the worst possibilities.

“…Ngh, they’re talking about something. I can’t quite make it out, but… I’ll repeat it for now.”

“O-Okay, got it.”

The last few links had barely any conversation, so I got a bit worried that something’s changed.

“Alright, it’s about time to start our date. Don’t try anything funny, mutt.”

…That’s the white-haired witch, Lamy, talking. A “date”? Some kind of code? And “mutt”… is that Hare?

“…W-Woof.”

That’s definitely Hare. Being tortured and forced to act like a dog—it’s too cruel… I couldn’t help but clench my fists.

“…What’s that, mutt? Curious why I’m targeting that drunk hag?”

“W-Woof.”

—Drunk hag? No clue what that’s about, but is it tied to the “date” she mentioned earlier…?

“Pfft, as if a dog would get it. Stop thinking about pointless crap, you loser.”

I know she’s talking to Hare, but it feels like she’s calling me a loser too—it’s pissing me off. Fuu-chan’s got some acting chops, and Lamy’s nasty personality comes through loud and clear.

“…Ryuna, someone’s knocking on the door.”

“Knocking? Another witch…? That’s trouble.”

“Hold on, they’re talking again…”

Before I could process, Fuu-chan cleared her throat and straightened up, ready to repeat again.

“Mutt, I permit you to speak human words. Tell them to come in.”

“…P-Please, come in.”

What’s this Lamy woman planning, making Hare do this? Her goal’s unclear. It doesn’t feel like she’s just trying to extract info from him.

“Oh, Lamy’s drawing a magic sword!”

“…What!? At Hare!?”

“No, she’s aiming at the person knocking… Oh, the door’s opening—”

“…!?”

I’m completely lost. Lamy’s a Ravens witch, probably holding Hare because she thinks he’s a witch hunter. Why’s a third party showing up now!?

“She slashed the door with the magic sword! Yelled, ‘Die, drunk hag!’”

“Wait, I can’t keep up with this!?”

“…Huh, there’s no one on the other side? She only cut the door. Phew, that’s a relief.”

“…!?”

Unlike Fuu-chan, I’m not sharing Hare’s senses or vision, so there’s a lag in understanding what’s happening. And with crazy stuff happening in that lag, my brain can’t keep up.

“…S-Someone else is suddenly sitting on his back!? …Uh, they said, ‘It’s fine to take a liking to Tatsumori-kun, but you’ve gotta keep to the schedule, Lamy.’”

“Lamy-san? She’s calling that person ‘Bumblebee.’”

“…Bumblebee Sevenbridge!!”

It’s impossible to follow what’s happening anymore, but that name—I know it. The Black Steel Witch, as notorious as the Purple Lightning Witch among Ravens’ ranks. If she’s involved, then Hare really is in Ravens’ clutches…

“Oh no… Lamy-san just collapsed!”

“What!? Collapsed—dead!?”

“I don’t know! The Bumblebee person said something, and suddenly Lamy’s tied-up bangs came loose, and she passed out!”

“What’s that supposed to mean? In-fighting? Is Hare okay!?”

Pathetic… This is all my fault, and all I can do is lean on Fuu-chan for explanations. I’m starting to hate myself for it.

“Yeah, Hare’s still on all fours… Oh, the Bumblebee person got off his back… They said, ‘Well, well, Tatsumori-kun, quite the ordeal, huh?’ Hare’s saying ‘woof.’”

“Ugh, just hearing this is so confusing—is it a joke or a serious moment!?”

“Wait, they’re talking again… ‘Hahaha, turned into a dog.’ ‘…That was just me being speechless. If you were coming, you could’ve helped sooner.’ Hare’s talking normally now!”

“W-Well, yeah, seems like it.”

Hold on, Fuu-chan, shouldn’t we be freaking out about Hare saying, “If you were coming, you could’ve helped sooner”?

“‘Sorry, sorry, I only noticed Lilac wasn’t in her room just now. Came here on a hunch. Didn’t expect Lamy to be involved.’ ‘What’s going on with Lilac?’ …They’re talking, but… sorry, I’m at my limit!”

Fuu-chan opened her tightly shut eyes, blinking rapidly. The link was shorter than last time, but with so much info and us pulling an all-nighter, her body’s probably shot.

Still, that last conversation between Hare and the Black Steel Witch… it didn’t sound like he was being imprisoned or tortured. Maybe the misunderstanding about him being a witch hunter’s already cleared up—

“Good work, Fuu-chan. You okay?”

“Yeah, Hare wasn’t hurt.”

“Dummy, I’m talking about you.”

“Huh, me? I’m fine… Ryuna?”

I walked over to Fuu-chan, sitting across the table, and gently hugged her. She’s been enduring excruciating pain to keep linking nonstop since yesterday—she can’t possibly be fine.

“Fuu-chan, it’s like a silver lining or whatever… Anyway, Hare seems okay for now, so let’s take a break. We won’t last like this.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I’m worried about Hare, but if we don’t have the strength to save him when it counts, it’s no good.”

“Exactly. Let’s get a few hours of sleep. Wake up by noon and start again—sound good?”

“Yeah, we’ll definitely save Hare together!”

I’m telling her that in a few hours, I’ll make her go through that pain again, and Fuu-chan doesn’t even flinch. If only I could take her place… No, honestly, I wish someone could take my place. But that’s a kind of “running away.” I can’t let myself think like that—

“Yeah, we’ll save him no matter what. For now, let’s sleep. Time’s limited.”

＊　＊　＊

How long has it been since Fuu-chan and I slipped into the same bed? As I started to doze, Fuu-chan grabbed my hand. I’m just as anxious as she is, so I squeezed back tightly.

“…Hey, Ryuna.”

“…What?”

“…Do you like Hare?”

—It came out of nowhere. But I answered instantly. Maybe it’s because exhaustion and sleepiness dulled my mind, or maybe it’s because I love Hare so much, every single day, so much it drives me crazy…

“…Yeah, I love him.”

—I shouldn’t have said it. So clingy, such a pathetic woman. As my consciousness slipped into sleep, that’s what I thought.

“…Got it.”

“…Yeah.”

My mind melted into a haze, my body’s sensations growing lighter.

“…Hey, Ryuna.”

“…Ngh, what?”

Her tight grip reminded me we were holding hands. I tried to squeeze back, but my strength wouldn’t come.

“Earlier… it’s not ‘silver lining.’ It’s ‘a stroke of luck in misfortune.’”

“…God, you dummy.”

My eyelids had fallen without me noticing. I forced them open to look at Fuu-chan, and she was smiling mischievously.

I hugged her close and shut my eyes again. Her silky blonde hair brushed my cheek, like being caressed by a soft breeze—

T/N: Okayyyy. So I’m dropping this, the story is too all over the place, and to be honest, the multiple POV focus on the first few chapters were too much of turn off. It was fun while it lasted, but without proper plot movement because of the MC, it’s not endearing to continue. I’m sorry for those who want to see the content moving forward. I may continue this when my workload is finally free/slowed down, but that will be like when I graduate lol. Anyways sorry guys and check out the other novels I TL! I plan on translating a novel similar to this but with proper focus.