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 89: Broccoli and Cauliflower

[Rachel Poker]

On the first day, I remembered my hometown and my parents.

On the second day, I recalled how my hometown was destroyed, and my parents were killed.

On the third day, I burned with the desire for vengeance—

On the fourth day, I lamented my own powerlessness—

On the fifth day, I found encounters and blessings—

On the sixth day, farewells and curses—

And on the seventh day—

“—Welcome to the Ravens. Could you tell me your name again?”

“…Rachel. Rachel Poker… that’s me.”

I hesitantly bowed to the woman seated on the throne.

As a mere farmer’s daughter, I’d never had any connection to high society. Naturally, I’d never set foot in a grand castle like this before. How do you even greet someone properly in a place like this?

“Rachel, that’s a lovely name… Shall we step outside to chat?”

“…Y-Yes, of course.”

The woman, whose name resounds across all of Europe, spoke with a gentleness that caught me completely off guard.

“—So, Rachel, how old are you?”

Once we reached the courtyard, she plopped down onto the ground and asked.

I was stunned. This woman, who’d just been sitting so regally on a throne, was now casually planting her backside on the dirt! And then, to top it off, she patted the ground beside her with her left hand, beckoning me to sit. I was beyond flustered.

“I-I’m… twenty-two…”

Hesitating… I sat down next to her, leaving a bit of space.

“Wow, so young!”

Even though I’d left some distance, she scooted closer, dragging her hips across the ground until she was right beside me. I couldn’t exactly run away, so I stayed put—and then our shoulders touched.

So close. I swear she could probably hear my heart pounding in my chest.

“U-Um, I might be young, but… I can use magic properly, you know…”

“…Oh, sorry, sorry! I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant you’re genuinely young! I’m over two hundred years old this year, you know.”

Witches don’t age. I knew that, but seeing it up close like this feels… surreal.

She looks like she could be my age, yet she’s far, far older than my late parents ever were.

“So… will you let me join the Ravens?”

“Of course! But just so you know, joining us means you’ll need to be prepared.”

She turned to face me, her smile soft and warm.

“Yes, I’m ready to die if I have to. My life doesn’t mean much to me anymore.”

I met her gaze head-on as I said it. Truth be told, I’ve become immortal, so death isn’t even an option for me. But even if I weren’t, those words wouldn’t change—

“Die? Oh, goodness, no, that’s not what I meant! I mean… well, our flock’s full of some colorful witches, you know?”

“…?”

Just as I was about to ask what she meant—

“—DIE, YOU STUPID COW-WITCH!!”

“GYAAH!? Watch the eyes! NOT THE EYES, YOU JERK!!”

With a deafening BOOM, two witches came tumbling into the courtyard.

I instinctively leapt to my feet, bracing myself. One witch, wrapped head-to-toe in chains, was being straddled by another who was stabbing her relentlessly.

“…W-Wha—?! What the heck!?”

“Hey, hey, you two! That’s enough fighting! You’re freaking Rachel out!”

Still seated beside me, she turned her head toward the sudden intruders and called out, completely unfazed.

“…Huh? What’re you doing in a place like this?! And who’s that?!”

The purple-haired witch, still straddling her opponent, bellowed. She seemed pissed.

“This is Rachel. Starting today, she’s our newest little sister.”

“…What, Rachel, you say?! …Wait, who’s that again?!”

The witch tangled in chains… was that Vivian? It’s been a while since we last met, but there’s no heartfelt reunion here—just pure Vivian chaos. Typical… but, uh, did she seriously forget me?

“Who’s that, she says! I just told you, she’s joining the flock starting today!”

She let out an exasperated laugh and slowly stood up. Apparently, Vivian hadn’t heard anything about me. Guess this isn’t our first meeting after all.

“Nice to meet you. I’ll be in your care starting today… I’m Rachel Poker.”

I bowed and greeted the two witches, still tangled in chains and straddling each other.

“Hmph! What a frail-looking newbie! I’m Wisteria—Wisteria Crazyeight! Ugh, today’s officially the worst day of my life!”

The witch who called herself Wisteria had pale purple hair, a leather eyepatch, and jagged, wolf-like teeth. I know it’s wrong to judge by appearances and speech alone, but… she seems terrifying.

“And this here’s Vivian Hearts! Say, Rachel, if you don’t mind, could you maybe knock this flat-chested, jagged-toothed purple-head off me…? Ow, ow, OW!”

Vivian’s clearly forgotten all about me… Go on, Wisteria-san, give her another whack!

“—See? It’s always this rowdy around here… Oh, right, I haven’t properly introduced myself yet, have I?”

The woman who’d been fondly watching the brawl turned to face me.

“I’m Ibis. Ibis Oldmaid. Technically, I’m the boss of this organization, but you can just think of me as the eldest sister. No need for formalities—let’s get along from now on, Rachel.”

She—Ibis—said with a smile, extending her hand toward me—

***

“…Ugh, I’m awake.”

When I opened my eyes, the familiar ceiling and light fixtures greeted me. And beside me—

“…Nnh, no… the white one’s… broccoli… mnya…”

The house’s owner, Hikari, was fast asleep. By the way, the white one’s cauliflower. Did she mix up broccoli and cauliflower?

“…I can’t remember her face…”

Today marks the seventh day since Vivian told me about Ibis.

Maybe it’s because of those old stories, or maybe my personality has finally solidified, but I’ve started reliving memories in my dreams every time I sleep.

I’ve already recalled so much. Today, I finally recovered the memories leading up to the day I joined the Ravens. Some parts are still fragmented, but I’ve got the big picture, so it’s not a huge issue.

The only thing I can’t recall is Ibis’s face. Every other memory is vivid enough to paint, but Ibis is shrouded in a haze.

Still, I’ve managed to relive twenty-two years of memories in just seven days. It shouldn’t take too long to recover the memories from about a hundred years later—when I was supposedly killed.

“…So, the green one’s… cauli… flower… nnh…”

No, you’ve got it backward!

I gently stroked the cheek of Hikari, who was squirming beside me.

—Cold.

Ever since the first night I stayed over, Hikari’s been turning off the heater when she sleeps. Then, in the morning, she rubs her sleepy eyes and prepares piping-hot coffee. She’s such a sweet kid, honestly. Even with her poor circulation.

It’d be a shame if she caught a cold just humoring my nonsense. A day like this every now and then isn’t so bad, right?

“…Nnh…”

When I pulled Hikari’s chilled body close, she let out a small hum and snuggled up to me. Seems she’s craving warmth.

“…This isn’t cheating, okay?”

Somehow, to the lover whose face, scent, how we met, why we fought—almost everything I can’t recall—I mumbled those words softly—