[05 — A Witch?]

The fire was burning low—low enough that I could almost see the glowing embers devouring the wood.

The horses slept huddled together, using each other's warmth to survive the freezing wind.

...That was definitely a very cold night.

Clack-clack-clack-clack

"M-my g-god..."

I couldn't tell if I was shaking from the cold or from nerves.

I was looking for Markus and Maria, but deep down I prayed I wouldn't find them before I was mentally ready.

"I-I said it was just a possibility... but with my luck, there's a good chance this'll go to shit," I muttered.

There were two tents set up by the fire. Small ones, tight, but big enough to squeeze in two people if they tried.

Probably one for Maria, and the other for Markus and Dan.

"Tch... they never had any intention of letting us crash with them."

Dirty plates and food scraps were scattered all over the front of the tents.

Their sense of order was as crappy as their hygiene.

"Hm..."

I grabbed a knife from the pile of utensils, just in case things didn't go according to plan. Doubt I'd be able to use it properly, but better in my hand than lying on the ground.

"Whisper... whisper..."

Voices ahead.

My heart kicked into overdrive.

I know I'd already thought it all through, but I still felt the spasms in my fingers as I gripped the knife tighter.

"Gulp... No turning back now."

*

"...I just want to test one... she won't even feel it."

The closer I got to the trees, the clearer the voices became.

Maria and Markus were just up ahead.

"I already told you no, Markus! You know we don't have the authority to dish out punishment!"

"It's not punishment! I just want to test what's written in the book!"

...Punishment? What the hell are they talking about?

"If they find out you did that, they'll have you locked up! Maybe even executed!"

"Hoh? And how exactly are they gonna find out?"

"...W-what are you... what are you suggesting?" Maria took a step back.

"Suggesting?"

Markus was acting off.

Even if his words didn't confirm it, the way his body moved made his intentions crystal clear.

...That was my cue.

"Sigh" I clenched the knife hard.

Took a deep breath and cleared my mind.

I knew whatever I did next... I couldn't undo it.

"Markus... what are y—"

"AAAHH.... AAAAAH.... AHHHH!!!"

"Huh?! Wha—" Maria was the first to show any reaction.

"AAHHH! AAAAAAAAH!"

"K-Katou-nii-san?... what... what are you doing?!"

"Aaah... M-Maria-onee-chan! D-Dan-aniki! Dan-aniki..."

I cried out, breathing hard and messy.

"Dan? What about Dan?! Stop running!!!"

"D-Dan-aniki... he... he—"

"Get back here!" Maria grabbed me by the shoulders.

"I-I..."

"Calm down. Breathe... What happened to Dan?"

"Ah..." I inhaled. Slowly. Once... twice... three times...

"Maria-onee-chan, Markus-aniki... Dan-aniki... I think something attacked him—"

"What did you just say?!" Markus grabbed me by the collar. "Say that again, you little shit!"

"Let go of him, Markus!" Maria pulled me back. "What do you mean he was attacked?!"

"...Maria-onee-chan… I saw him collapsed in the trees... I don't know what happened."

Come on, 'onee-chan'... just ask the question already.

"I tried to drag him here… but my arms are weak like twigs… I thought they'd snap if I pulled too hard..."

Gotta admit... this part wasn't exactly a lie.

"W-where did you see him?!"

Heh... Keikaku doori.

I led them to where Dan was.

Markus looked pissed as hell, but he followed us anyway.

"H-he's right over there..." I pointed.

I took advantage of my desperate state to run a few steps ahead. The goal was to keep Markus within my peripheral vision. One thing you should never do is turn your back on your enemy.

"Dan!" Maria rushed over.

Call me morbid, but I felt a huge wave of relief seeing him still unconscious on the ground.

I was terrified he'd already woken up.

...Wait... I know I painted his face with the plants... but was it supposed to be this purple?

"Markus! Come here! There's something stuck in his throat!"

"Holy shit!" I let it slip.

"W-what did you just say?!" 

Maria gave me a death glare.

"Ugh! I said... m-maybe we can still save him?"

*

TecTecTecTecTec.

"Shit… shit..."

While Maria took care of Dan in the tent, I was busy biting my nails.

"Damn it. I almost actually killed the guy," I whispered.

Ahhh!! What the hell am I supposed to do now?!

By the tents, I spotted a lantern resting on the rocks. Its flickering flame was starting to piss me off.

"Gulp..."

What's taking them so long?!

"I moved away so I could bolt if needed... but I guess I moved too far. I can't see anything from here." I squinted.

My hand went to my back pocket.

"…Still have the knife. I tried to hide the scratch on his neck with those plants... but—"

Step, step...

I saw a shadow moving closer.

It was Maria.

She looked strangely calm, holding a cloth in her hands.

...At least that meant Dan wasn't dead.

"Hm..." I looked around.

Not a single sign of Markus.

Maybe I was jumping the gun, but I had to act.

"M-Maria-onee-chan... Dan-aniki... he..." I grabbed her hands.

"Katou...nii...san?"

Ugh... she almost forgot to stay in character.

"..." I locked eyes with her.

Let her feel the trembling in my hands.

"Sniff..."

Okay, maybe I was starting to enjoy this too much.

"Y-you don't have to cry. He's not in danger anymore."

"Ah... thank goodness..."

"But it's weird..."

"?!!!"

"I guess even after dinner he was still hungry. His face was so messy it looked like he stuffed a bunch of berries in his mouth. He even choked."

"Ah... Ha...ha..." I scratched my head.

*

Later that night…

Maria had already locked herself inside the tent. Dan was still out cold like a rock, and there was still no sign of Markus.

I spotted the grumpy little girl sitting near a tree, shivering from the cold.

I walked up and draped something over her.

"W-where did you get this?" she asked.

"Oh, that? Grabbed it from behind the wagons. At least the knife was good for something."

"Ugh! You know they'll kill you when they find out you trashed one of the wagons, right?"

...Didn't expect that kind of concern from her.

"Well... before we worry about tomorrow, we gotta survive tonight..."

"I-irresponsible!"

"Ha..." 

I sat down beside her.

"Thanks..." I whispered.

"Huh?! What are you thanking me for?"

"Thanks for trusting me enough not to run away... Somehow it all worked out, huh?"

...Even if I still couldn't let my guard down.

"Trusting? Are you high?"

"What?"

"Ha! You even tried to act all nice... Look, I couldn't run even if I wanted to..."

She tugged her shirt down—not that you could really call that thing a shirt.

"W-what are you doing?!"

Just below her collarbone, there was a red mark. Not big, but gnarly. Looked like it'd been burned in with hot iron.

"This... I... I'm sorry..."

"Hmpf... whatever. Don't need your empty words."

"Ugh..."

I wanted to ask how she ended up like that, but I couldn't. It was clearly a sore spot.

"..."

"Ah... Now that the adrenaline's gone, this thing's starting to sting." I muttered.

"Y-your hand..."

"Hm? What about it?"

"N-nothing..." she pulled away, hesitant.

"Sigh..."

I looked at the beige tents swaying in the wind. It was blowing so hard, I thought they might fly away.

I tore a piece of my shirt and wrapped it around my hand.

"Argh! This bandage looks like crap..." I said.

Grumpy was watching, curious.

"Why'd you do that?" she asked softly.

"Couldn't leave it open—"

"Not that... I mean what you did before. Why'd you lie? You're strong... if you wanted to, you could've just... you know..."

...This girl...

"The supreme art of war is to defeat your enemy without fighting."

"Supreme art of what?"

"Where I come from... that means the real victory is the one you win before even drawing your sword."

"But... if you don't draw your sword... how do you kill your enemy?"

...She's terrifying.

"Ah! So freaking cold!"

"Hey! Don't dodge the question! Answer me!"

"..."

My vision started to blur.

All this madness was finally catching up with me.

[SLEEP LEVELS APPROACHING CRITICAL LIMIT]

"You don't have to tell me, you bastard."

I know my limits... but I can't pass out before figuring out where Markus went...

"Nn... haa~"

Now that I think about it... that thing at the lake earlier... That was magic, right?

...I shouldn't ask, but...

The grumpy little girl was lying down, wrapped in the cloth. Her breathing was soft, only making her innocence more apparent. Anyone with bad intentions could easily harm her.

It was only at that moment that I realized she was still just a kid.

"Y-you asleep?" I whispered.

No reply...

"Eh... I don't know how to say this... Maybe I'm just confused, but... That thing you did earlier... I mean...

...Are you a witch?"