The Witch and the Doll Swear

Moonless Moon, 23rd.

That day, Tingna slept until very close to noon, and then slowly got up from the bed. Last night's celebration banquet lasted until almost the early morning, and it was really not a happy thing to drink the low-alcohol wine to fragments.

Liliana and Alice are not here, and today there will be no merchants who will come to pursue liquidated damages. Instead, there will be an endless stream of people who come to order, and the castle seen through the floor-to-ceiling windows is full of people like never before.

The reason why the bedroom is still so quiet is that Ms. Liliana thoughtfully set up a sound-proof barrier... Mmm... My head hurts...

Staring at the calendar, the girl who felt a dull pain in her head stood up from the bed.

Miss Witch's thoughtfulness is not limited to a sound-proof barrier. After drinking a bottle of refreshing potion placed next to the calendar, and eating some bread that was still warm from toasting, the pain of the hangover gradually disappeared.

"...Thank you, Miss Liliana."

But today, I will part with this thoughtfulness.

In fact, Tina herself was also very puzzled.

Why did you suddenly make up your mind last night?

Is it because I saw Liliana's beauty again, and I was afraid that if I stayed any longer, I would be captured by the magic charm and couldn't leave?

Or is it because she trusts Miss Liliana, even without her own help, the next thing can be done smoothly?

After seeing Jester and Mary, a pair of unrelated father and daughter, under the power of family affection, the quick brew [Regret] turned the tide, and the longing for the family was even more aroused.

Or do you just feel like it's time to leave?

I don't understand.

Can't figure it out.

After washing and bathing, Tingna stared blankly at 45, which was pasted on the lower right corner of the calendar background board.

The beginning and end of each month depends on the rise and fall of the constellation representing that month. Although it is usually 2 to 3 weeks, the number of days in each month fluctuates. Usually, astrologers observe that the representative constellation of the month rises in the sky. After the top of the calendar, you will know that it is the middle of a month, so you can calculate the number of days in this month, and then spread the word, so people write numbers next to the calendar to remind themselves how much time is left in this month.

However, the moon without stars and moon does not represent constellations, and even the moons of Diana and Artemis are not seen by people. This month can only rely on the divination of astrologers and the news from the kingdom of fairies. up.

In the last month of the year, there are very few mistakes. Even if there is a few days of error, the early start of the holiday is enough to offset the error.

There is still half a month...?

Complicated thoughts flowed, Tingna stood up gropingly, tidied up her luggage, and put it in the space to store the ring.

"..."

She froze.

On her hands, there are five rings.

Four of them are gifts from the witch to him, so that he will no longer be weak and powerless, no longer just a burden, and with the help of the doll, he will truly become his own strength.

"..."

Tina closed her eyes.

Focus on the quality you feel in your ears, then.

—Miss Liliana, Alice.

Make a call.

...Are you planning to leave?

Seeming to have known what she was going to say, the witch's voice was flat.

——Yes, although there are still 22 days left, considering the tolerance of the itinerary, maybe it would be better to leave earlier. After all, the train to Linlun still takes some time. Sorry, Miss Liliana, Miss Alice, I can't accompany you to the end.

Tina was not surprised, after all, she had already told Alice, and of course Liliana knew about it.

However, that indifferent tone as always made the girl a little frustrated.

Although I know Miss Witch has always been like this, although I know...

—Has it been decided yet?

--Um……

...I'm in the conference room with Alice, come down.

--Eh? good.

Spiritual communication was interrupted.

meeting room?

Tina was a little confused, but she got up and opened the bedroom door.

meeting room.

Liliana, Alice, Jester, and Mary are all here, and people come and go from time to time, bringing orders or negotiating a certain deal.

Miss Witch still sat in the first seat, with Mary and Jester on both sides of her.

Now, there was no hostility towards her on Mary's face, nor did she look like a female teacher who would tear anyone who came close to her just to protect what she cherished.

Perhaps it was because the previous hostility was entirely caused by him, but now beside the witch, Mary was a little reserved.

When Tina pushed the door open, she was the first to raise her head, and her hand that was calculating something quickly stopped.

Then, Liliana also saw the girl, she got up, hugged Alice, and explained to Jester and Mary.

"...Then, it's time for me to go to Lin Lun to deal with the things I delayed. After brewing according to my recipe, hire some adventurers and go to the orchard occupied by the golden magic tree every day. Keep eradicating, but don't use anything that will kill the roots, and if there's a golden yellow there before the tasting, like the golden sprouts of a bracken seedling, that's the last material needed."

"...For commercial competition, you can learn more from the famous wineries in the mainland. I left the contact information of several wineries. After they stabilize, you can send apprentices or managers to visit and study, and keep the emerald. Brooch, they'll know who sent you there."

It seems to be arranging some things, speaking of...

Tina almost forgot that the purpose of their coming to Olympian was actually to help Ai break off her engagement with the prince.

"...The members of the Aince Foundation will come to the winery after the month of Advent. They will not interfere with your normal production, but they will review projects that require a lot of money. This should prevent such incidents from happening again. thing. Finally."

Liliana turned her gaze to the red-haired girl.

"... You can live in that room from now on."

After a moment of shock, Mary's face turned as red as her hair.

"Wh-what—I, no, I didn't—"

"Although Miss Mary moved all the equipment away, she only missed the notebook in the desk drawer. It also said that compared with the lord who never showed up, sooner or later she will become a worthy The owner of this luxurious room is a proud manager of the winery."

"Wow wow wow!!!"

Everyone else in the conference room heard the harmless words of the little puppet. Jester's expression was a little subtle, while Mary slammed her head on the table, moaning in shame and pain.

"So..."

Tina also remembered that on the day they came to the winery, Liliana clarified that the night that First was not cursed, Mary did appear in the upper bedroom and took a bunch of Bottles and cans.

At that time, Ting Na didn't pay much attention to it, but now that she thinks about it, it seems that no one lived in that room before.

"No, that, no..."

"...You don't have that plan anymore?"

"How come, I—"

"That room is yours now. Following in the footsteps of your father, you will grow into an excellent manager. Finally."

Liliana stood on tiptoe and touched the head of the sluggish Mary. Finally, when she said these two words, she accentuated her tone seriously.

"...Castles and castle towns are still negotiable, but never set your mind on private troops. This is a rule and an agreement. This is the bottom line that must not be crossed. Forster will not have a private army. , the past, present and future will not."

This is the most important warning, Liliana can't come to help them solve their troubles anytime and anywhere, and Liliana may not be able to solve all the political issues involved.

"...we will keep it in mind."

"Don't keep it in your heart, engraved on the stone of the castle, engraved in the motto of the family, the guards of the castle can tolerate it, but Sura's guards are all handed over to the Templars. Once that line is crossed, it is not The bankruptcy of the winery can be resolved."

"yes!"

"Very well, I will wait for you in Lin Lun."

It seemed that everything that needed to be explained had already been explained, and Liliana finally set her sights on the girl's face.

I don't know if it's an illusion, those eyes like the black night sky flickered for a moment, and at that moment, Alice seemed to smile quietly at herself.

"Let's go, then."

"Um."

"Ah, wait a minute, Miss Tina."

At this time, Mary got up from the chair, grabbed a beautifully wrapped bottle, and handed it to the blond girl who was about to turn around with both hands.

"This is, a gift."

"Hey, it's okay if you don't have to..."

"I was able to pull myself together and realized that my stubbornness and nitpicking were all thanks to Miss Tingna's help, so accept it, this bottle of wine is my [regret], at least."

Mary turned her face away, but that didn't hide the shy look on her cheek.

"At least, it would be nice to help you avoid some things you will regret."

"……I see."

It seems that Miss Liliana is not the only one who knows about her leaving.

Tina took the wine and put it safely into the space storage ring. Then Mary turned her head and returned to her seat, muttering softly, "I won't give it away."

This is the farewell words.

……………………………………………………………………………………

Although there are no stars and no moon at night, the blue sky is still bright. The surrounding mountains block the clouds and rain, making the weather in the valley always sunny. The carriage was driving on the road, but the three people in the carriage looked at each other without saying a word .

What to say? "If you want to ask anything, just ask as much as you want." The witch said this sentence when she got in the car, and she did ask questions such as:

"At the tasting, what exactly was the wine that Liliana brewed?"

besides:

"Why does the winery hire people to look at the orchard where the golden magic tree remains every day? When I went to see it yesterday, there were no vines. What are the golden sprouts?"

Another example:

"And what does the last material refer to?"

"That's not wine at all, and it's not a unique brewing method in the East, but a cocktail that Lily drank somewhere when she was traveling on the mainland. The slime gels of several kinds of fruit juices are diluted and mixed with the highest quality grape juice after being dissolved by the potion, and in this way, they are mixed in a clay pot to create a refreshing cocktail.”

"...I have carefully investigated the preferences of the judges - Mrs. Bai Jiesi loves fruity wines, and Viscount Hakuta firmly believes that only beautiful girls make good wine from grapes with broken feet. That magician The judges of the association are dance lovers, Viscount Cullens not only likes children of my size, but also a firm believer in the church."

"That is to say, that dance, from the beginning to the end, was a trap for these judges. Even the so-called fermentation time was precisely determined when the judges drank all the wine and their tongues became numb. Double the effect of the cocktail that was originally used to hangover. In addition, the craftsmanship and taste fit the theme of this tasting, and now Miss Tingna knows why Lily is so confident... It's not that the wine is so delicious , but made a lot of preparations and inducements, so that the judges felt that the wine was very delicious at that time."

"...But such a method at the Kingdom Tasting Conference will definitely not work, so we have to change it to something else. Fortunately, the tasting conference has always selected wines from wineries rather than wineries from wineries."

"...About the golden seedlings, do you still remember what I said, the method of combining the golden magic tree with the local ecology? What needs to be done is to constantly annihilate the vines and other organizations protruding from the surface of the golden magic tree, but do not harm The root system makes the golden magic tree realize that it cannot reset the ecology here in a drastic way. In that case, it will adopt another method, no longer grow vines, and instead grow seedlings, so that the seedlings can form symbiosis with local native plants Relationships, subtly changing the ecology - it will take decades or even hundreds of years, and the golden sprouts are the signal that symbolizes the beginning of this process."

"And that is another kind of wine that is going to be used in the kingdom's tasting. It is the medicinal wine of the orcs. After drinking it, it will double the strength and reaction speed. The disadvantage is that after the effect of the medicine wears off, you will be very drunk. Originally It is brewed with the blood of monsters. During this period of time, I took the formula to visit many famous winemakers, coupled with my own knowledge of alchemy, and finally adjusted the formula to use grapes. There is one material in the adjusted formula It is the seedlings of the golden magic tree... If there is no one? Then replace another kind of magic plant. Although that will weaken the effectiveness, it can still get a high score in terms of innovation. As for the taste... it can only be said to be very good. Ordinary, probably rely on Miss Mary's [regret] to find a solution."

When it comes to this, Miss Witch showed an unexpected expression—the unspoken rules of the judging meeting really caught her off guard, and if it weren't for the [regret] brought by Mary and Jester, maybe the success would have fallen by the wayside. .

A witch who is immortal will not know everything. This is the first time that Ting Na has experienced it so profoundly.

After the question was answered, the conversation fell silent until Shetis, but the carriage was walking in the opposite direction from the station.

"That...Miss Liliana, stand here."

The building with the long steel snake driven by the cumbersome magic furnace passed by the window of the carriage and gradually moved away. Tingna looked at the witch suspiciously.

"...This time, we will not take the train."

"Huh? Why?"

"...following the Dongqing River, it only takes less than a day to reach Linlun. Mrs. Bai Jiesi is waiting for us."

"...Eh? Then why did we take the train when we came..."

Alice smiled slightly.

This was the second time that Tina saw an unexpected expression on Liliana's face today. Miss Witch hugged the snickering Alice tightly, using the same tone as always but obviously fluctuating.

"...The last time I came here, there was only one train line between Linlun and Holly River Valley that connects the surrounding towns with twists and turns..."

This last time—ah.

Tina understood.

"But just over twenty years ago, they dug a canal to connect the White Oak River with the Holly River, so you don't have to go around a big circle around the mountains around the valley by water. Lily, I'm too dependent on experience Bad memory too, right?"

"Pfft, Miss Liliana, you should read more."

Ting Na couldn't help covering her mouth with her hands, and laughed.

Sure enough, traveling with Ms. Liliana and Ms. Alice is very happy.

Even if parting is imminent.

A few minutes later, the carriage stopped at Shetis Pier.

Tina followed Liliana and Alice onto the boat docked at the pier.

On the deck, Mrs. Bai Jiesi showed a loving expression when she saw them—mainly Liliana.

"You guys are here."

"...I kept you waiting, Mrs. Bai Jiesi, Miss Tina's affairs are too troublesome."

"No, it's better to say that it's my honor to go with Ms. Forster. Last night I sent a reliable servant to Lin Lun to deal with this matter first. When we arrive in Lin Lun, we will go back to The itinerary and tickets to Yansha should also be done."

"Eh? Ah, this, this is too much trouble for you..."

"No, don't bother, it's just a little effort, because I should also prepare the itinerary to return to my hometown after the judging."

Ting Na was a little surprised to look at the witch who expressed her gratitude and saluted with a blank face, and quickly bowed to the noble countess.

Liliana knew that her intention to leave was still expected, but Tingna did not expect that the witch would use the nobles—or the noble relationships she had just built—to help her.

A mixed feeling of joy and worry was entangled in the girl's mind for no reason. When she sat down with them at an elegant small round table on the deck and began to chat in the atmosphere of afternoon tea, Tingna I don't have the energy to go to Liliana to ask Liliana about it.

"After all, it is the Advent Festival. No matter who it is, they will want to reunite with their families at this time. This desire to go home is the same for everyone."

"……Yes."

Putting Alice on the table and holding up the teacup, the witch responded lightly.

Yes, on days like this, who wouldn't want to go home?

In the great day when the founding mother came to this starry sky and created the world, no matter whether it is a human or an orc, no matter whether it is a dwarf or a goblin, even the giant dragon that roared the world and slept for tens of hundreds of years, it is said that at this moment Will escape from the deepest dreams, growling in slumber as they want to return to the island where they were conceived.

The Advent Festival is the only festival in the mainland that does not distinguish between races and beliefs, and belongs to the mainland, a festival of reunion.

Now that homecoming and Advent were mentioned, the topic naturally became hometown.

"My hometown is on the other side of Olympian. It is a small town with pastures, mountain springs and famous cheese."

Mrs. Bai Jiesi talked about her hometown, about the grassy grass in the spring, the sunny pasture, and the groups of black and white, gentle and lovely cows. The sweet mountain spring turned into delicious milk in their bodies. Master's skillful hands turned it into pieces of cheese with a tangy aroma and creamy taste.

——If I had to continue talking, it would all be all kinds of cheese dishes.

With a chuckle, filled with distant nostalgia, the Countess shook her head, curiously asking the girl a question.

"Miss Feng Sia's hometown is the sea in the south. I have never been to the south, nor have I seen the sea. I don't know what kind of city it is?"

"Eh? Salt Sand City, Salt Sand City..."

Tina was taken aback.

"If you ask what kind of city it is...it is a very ordinary, but also very prosperous city..."

The intricate threads were immediately excavated in the memory. Of course, the short three-month trip would not make the memory of her hometown seem strange, but it was too vivid... Or the scene that popped up in her head as soon as she thought of it made Tingna feel a little strange. I don't know how to start talking.

...No, it's actually not too short.

The first encounter, the farewell to the train station was only from spring to early summer.

I mustered up the courage to follow in the footsteps of Miss Liliana in the moon of maple fruit. Up to now, I have also passed through light snow and star frost, and even half of the moon without stars and moon has passed, more than a hundred times of sun rising and moon setting.

When I realized it, I realized that it had been such a long time since I left home and my hometown for the first time.

It's really amazing. After following Liliana and Alice to see the dragon beast of flames born from the volcano and flying in the night sky, and then looking at the small coastal town, which is already so small, but after leaving, it was accidentally rediscovered. In a short letter, the topic of hometown that was suddenly brought up was so strong and so strong that it aroused the urge to go home.

... No, it has nothing to do with the time of departure. Those who travel to different places, more or less, will have thoughts.

The lady's words evoke the haunting melancholy that has been lingering for a long time, and it is so vividly transformed into the salty wind in the street, the freshness produced in Shanghai in the market, transformed into the bloody sunset on the horizon, into dusk Among them, the old door that I am all too familiar with.

That's the ocean, the beach, the salt field, the fish catch, that's the street lights at the Seagull Festival, the benches in the Adventurer's Association, that's the grass outside the city, the silhouette of the volcano on the horizon, that's... no, that's it!

That is, the so-called hometown...

"...It feels like it will be a very beautiful city?"

--Eh?

"Also, what Miss Feng Xia said is correct. It has nothing to do with the time of departure. The so-called hometown... is the place that you will more or less definitely think of when you are not there, and it will haunt you in your dreams."

Ting Na stared blankly, facing her lady, who had put down her tea cup at some point.

The maid wanted to come over to refill her tea, but she stopped her with a wave of her hand. She looked at Ting Na, the veil prevented the girl from seeing her expression, but what she said next made Ting Na stunned.

——Could it be that what I thought...wasn't just thinking in my mind?

——That's right, Miss Tingna seemed to be thinking about it, and she said those words... The literary talent is very good, isn't it?

"..."

Ting Na tried her best to tense her expression, but she knew that her face was flushed, and even her earlobe was burning hot, which made Black Pearl's ear clips red.

She had an urge to rush to the side of the deck at a speed of 100 meters and then jump down, sinking and never floating again!

"Where's Ms. Forster?"

The girl's shyness and embarrassment were so obvious at a glance, so Mrs. Bai Jiesi stopped teasing her and turned to look at the silent girl.

"...My hometown... Elegant Neihai, I don't know if Mrs. Bai Jiesi knows this place?"

"How can you not know? The origin of ancient philosophy and parliament, the cradle of humanity and rationality, the aesthetics of that area still influences the entire continent today! Is Ms. Forster from that area?"

"……yes."

Liliana spoke calmly.

She talked about the summer heat waves in the elegant inland sea, about the beautiful marble, about the fascinating sculptures and paintings in the museum, about the grapes and fine wines grown on the islands scattered like pearls , Speaking of Fei Leng Cui, the most famous jade.

Very calm, very peaceful tone.

"Is it emerald... Ah, I seem to have read it in a book. It used to be a famous emerald producing area, but now it seems to be called Florence?"

"...Yes, the Thirteen-Day Jihad where various religions fought against each other three hundred years ago, it was almost reduced to scorched earth. After the war was over, the city was rebuilt there. There are not many people who repaired the dilapidated ancient buildings. , still with this accent, pronounced the word as emerald. But the wine there is still very famous."

Only this moment, when Liliana casually changed the subject, this moment.

The girl saw it from those black pupils that concealed everything.

Unbearable...sadness.

……………………………………………………………………………………

The tea party continued until the end of the journey.

It was only dusk when the ship docked at Linlun's wharf. As soon as the boat docked, a middle-aged man in a tuxedo boarded the boat immediately, came to the lady's side, and bowed down to salute his master.

"Madam, your itinerary after the tasting has been arranged, and the dinner with Ms. Forster and Ms. Von Sia has also been booked, but..."

Having said that, he raised his head in embarrassment.

"But what? Is the restaurant out of the wine I want?"

"No, it's not like that, but Ms. Von Sia's itinerary..."

"Ah, if I can't arrange a suitable itinerary for a while, I will..."

"You misunderstood, beautiful lady, it's not that there is no suitable itinerary, the problem is that..."

The butler, or the personal male waiter, spoke with some hesitation.

"There is, and there is only one itinerary, which can send you from the capital of the Northern Kingdom to the coast of the South Seas before the first day of the Advent month. The departure time of that itinerary...is an hour later, although I made it on my own initiative to book first After downloading these itineraries and tickets..."

Ting Na, who was about to stand up from her chair, was stunned when she saw the itinerary and a small stack of cardboard airship tickets handed out by the waiter.

The man's voice was not loud, but it fell to the girl's ears like a thunderbolt from the blue.

She suddenly remembered that just the day before yesterday, Alice comforted her by saying that she was not going to leave immediately. In fact, she didn't think she could find a way to send herself back as soon as she arrived in Linlun.

Nominally, the airships in the mainland are jointly managed and operated independently with other countries, but in fact this industry is completely monopolized by the Wizards Association.

Theoretically, as long as they have money, everyone on the mainland can go from any airport to any city with an airport, but the mainland is too big, and there are many small countries, it is impossible to have direct flights between every airport. route.

If you travel day and night in the fastest airship, it is said that it is not impossible to go from the north of the mainland to the south in more than 20 days, but the length of the journey is never determined by the speed of the airship, but by the frequency of the airship , it takes a day to go from one city to another, and then wait two or three days to catch a flight to the next city, which is the norm when traveling in an airship.

In fact, from the border of the grassland to the City of Thousand Towers, Liliana and Alice took Tingna to change airships as many as seven times, and they waited for the longest flight for five full days.

Therefore, Tingna didn't feel any sense of urgency until she heard that Mrs. Bai Jiesi had asked her servants to help her with this matter.

She felt that, for at least a day or two, she could even accompany Liliana and Alice to discuss with the Einhart family, and maybe even meet Charlotte again, the girl who met in the City of Thousand Towers princess of Olympion.

But fate played a small joke at this time, and the moment of parting suddenly drew closer.

Not even a little time to prepare.

Hands are pulled up.

"It's troubling... Miss Von Sia."

The lady hesitated and looked at Liliana and Alice. After the witch stood up holding Tingna's hand, she looked at the troubled face under the veil.

"I will come to the dinner as scheduled, but now, Mrs. Bai Jiesi, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"Well, it's okay..."

Pulling the distraught girl, Liliana took the stack of receipts from the male waiter, hugged Alice, and walked down the pier.

The setting sun is low, and there are few pedestrians on the street, only tourists like them are still strolling. In the sky, church bells and ethereal hymns linger, and large groups of snow pigeons fly across the sky, as if brushing the white wings of the city.

It was the time of worship in the evening, and this city filled with the style of the last era was shrouded in a peaceful and sacred atmosphere. Even the shops hung up the sign of "Praying", hoping that customers can understand the service caused by the tradition of faith neglect.

The capital of the kingdom also seemed ethereal and lonely during this period of time.

Liliana took Tingna's hand, came to a bar, passed the bartender at the front desk, and took a seat at a booth.

"...Is it better?"

After Liliana sat down, she silently looked at Ting Na who was staring at the table.

"Uh-huh……"

On the way here, the wind had already made the girl feel a lot better. The girl who raised her head upon hearing Liliana's question nodded stiffly.

"Just all of a sudden, I was a little scared..."

"It's not like being frightened for a while..."

"...Actually, Miss Tingna hasn't fully decided whether to leave or not."

"……may be."

Tingna could only force a wry smile from her stiff face, and twisted her white fingers tightly.

It was meaningless to cover up pale in front of them, and they immediately saw the reason for their panic and even wavering.

"I...I miss my parents. Although the letter from Ms. Alive said that they are safe and sound, I still wish I could put on my wings and go back to my hometown to see them..."

Looking up, in a trance, the magic lamps on the ceiling turned into the street lamps of Yansha City during the New Year. Amidst the radiance, the smell of grilled fish wafted, and there seemed to be familiar hands holding me on the left and right , strolling in such a street, and at the end of the street, the door of the apartment occasionally appears so real in front of you.

Ah, really, what happened to me?

Once there is a little melancholy, the torrent of nostalgia immediately engulfs me and rushes to the southern tip of the continent, but.

Ting Na lowered her head, and suddenly felt that this scene seemed familiar.

In the not-too-distant memory, on that day, in the gray rain, at the station in Yansha City.

It's just that this time, it's me who wants to leave, not the indifferent and decisive Miss Witch, and I am not as mature as Miss Witch.

right.

"But when I'm about to leave, I'm nostalgic for the trip with Miss Liliana, and I want to stay with Miss Liliana more, at least until the judging session is over... Wait for Ed The engagement was broken..."

Not at all, immature.

It's like a child, holding a few copper coins, but trying to get all the candy in his pocket.

Even, Tingna remembered that if she didn’t have a suitable itinerary, she would simply continue traveling with Liliana and Alice, and wait until the next Advent before going back. She apologized to her parents and explained helplessly that she really had no other choice… …

The suddenly rising sound sounded in the bar where there were no other guests, and even the prayer prayer was interrupted for a while before it sounded again.

Then because of the contradictory self, he gradually weakened.

"...No, it's very ordinary."

"Alice thinks it's normal."

Liliana and Alice looked into Tina's eyes and spoke calmly.

"Is it normal...?"

"But you still have to make a choice. Even if you hesitate, you still have to make a decision, okay?"

"..."

Alice knelt on the girl's lap, and the partition wall of the booth blocked the eyes of some people. Being leaned on by her small body, Tina subconsciously hugged her into her arms, and the embraced puppet gently hugged her. After rubbing on Tina's stomach.

"What will Ms. Tingna choose? Go home, or stay with Lily and Alice until the end of the incident in Lin Lun?"

Open your mouth like this.

"Of course it's—"

In an instant, the strong impulse drove the girl to yell out the first four words of this sentence almost without thinking—it was just four words. In the lingering sound of the last word, Ting Na suddenly realized something she hadn't noticed before.

The troubles that appeared and disappeared at that time.

Occasionally pay attention to the airship timetable.

A calendar that I stare at every day.

When enjoying the most advanced furniture and food, the thought of "I don't know if I can get used to it when I go back" always appears in my mind.

The loneliness in the winery where you can only talk to Liliana a few words every day... Is it really just loneliness? How much homesickness is mixed in?

There is no reason for the idea of ​​continuing to travel with Liliana and Alice without a suitable itinerary to stay in my mind for a long time. In fact... I understood it from the beginning, right?

Everything became clear under the words of the puppet.

The scenery of my hometown.

The world glimpsed with the Witch and the Doll.

The faces of the parents.

Liliana's expressionless face under the blue sky and Alice's smiling face at dusk.

But why, this uneasy feeling.

The ringing of bells in the street is over.

The evening prayers are also over.

Smoke rises from the chimney where dinner is being prepared, people who are not planning to cook dinner at home or people who are not planning to go home walk onto the street in twos and threes. It is still relatively bright now, but as long as it takes a while, the sun in Saigon will gradually be cyanotic. The sunset is submerged, and the short dusk of winter is about to end.

"It's okay, it's very common to have to interrupt the trip because of various things, although Miss Tina can't spend this time with Lily and Alice, I'm very reluctant... ...But it's just an ordinary parting, and we'll see each other again."

Instead, it was the puppet that was hugged tightly, comforting the girl in a low voice.

"...And, Miss Tina knows our next destination."

"...Well, the ancient country of Sinai in the west of the continent... Alexandria."

The girl who lowered her head and hugged the doll tightly spoke softly.

"Lily and Alice will stay there for a long, long time. Although it will be a long journey from Salt Sand City to there, as long as Miss Tina is willing to travel with Lily and Alice if……"

The puppet raised its head and gazed gently at the gradually calming ocean.

"... Then, can I write to Miss Liliana and Alice?"

"...Okay, hand it over to the Salt Sand City Magician Association, and send it to the Sinai Alexandra Magician Association. The postage will be paid by the recipient... I will also write to Miss Tina, of course here I will bear the postage myself."

The witch spoke softly.

"write a letter to me……?"

"……Um."

Pushing aside the strands of hair that fell in front of her body, Liliana quietly looked at the street outside the coffee shop and at the passing crowd.

Some people walked into this bar and took a seat at the bar. The bartender shook the shaker glasses, the ice cubes and the wine were played, and the wind chimes kept ringing, but here it is.

Apart from the voices of herself, Liliana, and Alice talking, Tina couldn't hear anything.

"...I want to tell Miss Tina the result of the judging session, and tell Miss Tina about Ai's engagement...I will write a letter and tell Miss Tina about these things."

"Even so, it can't make up for it."

"This is not to make up, Miss Tina, but the special story depicted on the journey of Lily and Alice, and Miss Tina. For some reason, I chose to leave the journey temporarily, and I felt lost because I couldn't see the end with my own eyes. And sorry, even so..."

Shaking her head, the little nun hugged the girl's hand in front of her chest. The alchemy device in the shape of a heart wouldn't beat, it was as calm and cold as the witch's pupils, but it was hot--such hotness never The small soft chest protruded from the nun's uniform.

"That's also the magic of traveling."

This sentence is not said to comfort myself, absolutely not.

The girl felt the heat in the palm of her hand, and the heat seemed to spread along her arms to her heart, bang, bang, bang, bang, the beating of the heart sent such warmth to every corner of her body.

"...Finally..."

It was difficult to spit out the words.

"...I finally found something that even I can help Miss Liliana. I finally know what kind of identity I should be by Miss Liliana's side, but."

However, what rang in my ears was the sound of one side of the balance landing heavily.

The voice interrupted the words, so that there was only speechless air between the sea and the night sky.

"...No, Miss Tingna, Miss Tingna doesn't have so many identities, to me."

The sea water reflects the night sky, a soft smile.

And that smile.

"...For me, the current Miss Tina is our traveling companion on the journey together, no matter what kind of identity Miss Tina thinks she is beside me and Alice-this point, absolutely will not Change."

It has also become parting, another comment.

"……Um."

The little doll was picked up by the girl from her arms. The girl who put Alice on the table got up from the table.

The witch also stood up silently, however.

"No need for Miss Liliana to give it away."

Tina shook her head at her.

"If you see Miss Liliana there when you get on the airship at the end, your hard-won determination will be ruined by Miss Liliana's smile again."

"Then Alice..."

"Miss Alice can't do it either, I will be shaken too, anyway, there is still enough time to arrive at the airport, so let me alone..."

Taking a deep breath, Tingna grinned, revealing a somewhat forced smile.

"Leave me alone this time, and leave Miss Liliana and Miss Alice behind."

Although she was trying to be brave, there was an uncontrollable smile on the witch's face.

"...will we see you again?"

"...well, then... I'm off."

jingle.

The wind chime rang softly, and the witch silently watched the shoulder-length blond hair run across the street outside the window.

When she came to a carriage parked by the side of the road, she seemed to have forgotten to look this way, but immediately got into the carriage and disappeared at the other end of the street.

A glass of soda water still bubbling was gently placed in front of the witch.

Liliana turned her head, and the elegant middle-aged man was standing beside the booth holding the tray.

"...are you the owner of this shop?"

"Yes, although I don't know what happened between that lady and you, but I think a refreshing glass of soda will always cheer people up."

"……Ah."

Although she chuckled lightly, the witch remained expressionless, and reached out to take the cup.

Bubbles flowed through the throat, followed by words without ups and downs.

"Mr. Shopkeeper, do you know that some people who entrusted something to the witch were taken away from a part of their lives as a price?"

"... I have heard a little bit, and I heard that many powerful witches have a long life because of this."

It seemed that the young girl's words stunned the shopkeeper with the aristocratic mustache, but he responded immediately—listening and talking with him, which is what the owner of the bar should do.

"...There is another way of saying that what the witch takes away is not the life span, but the future—whether it is the fate of the person whose life is taken away in a certain period of life right now, in the near future or in the distant future In any case, there will be an inseparable entanglement with the witch, unable to escape, unable to escape, and will not return to the original life until the period of life that was taken away is over."

"This is... the first time I've heard of it."

"...Because it's just an illusory rumor. Whether it's true or not, maybe even a witch can't tell."

Liliana raised her head, glanced at the store manager calmly, and then put the cup back on the table.

"Next, I'm going to an invitation to a noble lady. Please give me a glass of wine that won't affect the next taste, but can make people temporarily forget their troubles."

"...Then, please wait a moment."

One glance is enough.

Just one glance was enough for the store manager to realize his mistake of judging people by their appearance, and to see her as a real bar guest.

When the store manager returned to the bar, Liliana waved off the soundproof barrier, raised her head, and looked at Alice who was sitting on the table pretending to be an ordinary doll.

For some reason, I seem to be able to see a little smile in the eyes of my traveling companion who has been with me all this time.

Liliana looked away unconsciously, at this time.

She looked at her hands that were placed beside her, slightly covered by the hem of the dress.

"...It's time to trim your nails."

As he spoke, he wiped away the bright red stain on the palm of his hand.