Chapter 1173 – #279_Declaration Of War (3)
#1167
1.
A group cannot become one.
Even a group united under a single ideology will fracture due to numerous factors, such as differences in direction and methodology, as has been proven repeatedly throughout history.
It goes without saying that this is even more true for witches, each with their own unique personality and whose life goal is to perfect their own magic.
“The May Tea Party will be withdrawing from the Hessed Society.”
“……”
Siu suppressed a sigh at the sight of Society President Schleifli Ishtar calmly presenting the withdrawal papers.
The May Tea Party, founded in 1881, symbolized by a small turquoise teacup on a white magic circle. This occult semiotics society, with 71 members, is a Hessed-affiliated society led by the 22nd-tier ‘Witch of the Pentagram.’
As an aside, it was a society that Siu had barely managed to secure a partnership with, acting like a salesperson in the early days, and it was also a key force in the now-suspended ‘Hunting Rights’ project.
“Every single member is precious at this point. I cannot help but regret Ms. Ishtar’s decision.”
“I am sorry. However, my given mission is not the war with Hexennacht. It may seem like a cowardly decision to Count Hessed… but not everyone can be like you.”
Siu said nothing and sent Society President Ishtar away.
She, too, did not add any further words.
“…Agh, goddamn it.”
Well, I understand the circumstances.
Following Hexennacht’s ultimatum, a declaration of war had arrived at Gehenna’s Central City Hall.
The fact that they didn’t launch a surprise attack right away is probably because they are proclaiming themselves as an empire that will usher in a new era?
With Duke Erelim turning to the enemy’s side, they may be assuming a considerable advantage, and perhaps they are now starting to look for excuses.
In any case, what’s certain is that a witch war of unprecedented scale is fast approaching.
Unlike in comics or movies, there was no picture of everyone uniting against an external crisis, working together with one mind and one heart, without a single troll or defector, to design a picture-perfect team fight.
The allied societies were faltering both internally and externally.
Among them, there were those who, like the one just now, hesitated to participate in the war, saying, ‘We’ll go our own way,’ and withdrew from the allied societies. Considering that honor is a very important factor in Gehenna, they were even prepared for social criticism.
And that’s not all.
The Truth and True Name Academic Society, which remained in Gehenna, had completely locked its doors.
They had completed their fortification, both physically and magically, with a large-scale barrier deployed by a dozen or so Great Witches, and had cut off all communication with the outside world.
From Siu’s perspective, it seemed like, ‘Is it really necessary to go this far when you’re still inside Gehenna?’ but it was probably an expression of their extreme refusal to participate in the war.
In fact, the allied forces had tried to hold talks several times, but they had not received a reply, let alone been allowed to set foot inside.
The problems weren’t just within Gehenna.
Defectors were emerging from among the witches who had been pre-positioned at the location points.
It was somewhat comforting that there were proud witches from the allied societies volunteering to fill the vacancies.
I was deeply feeling the old adage that wars are not won by the side that fights well, but by the side that makes fewer blunders.
But in fact, Hexennacht was not much different in this situation.
2.
The Nightmare Witch, Barbara Millinoe.
She was a public enemy that Gehenna had been keeping a close watch on since the past.
Her tier was one thing, but her past record was also impressive.
A founding member of the old Qliphoth.
A war criminal who led the invasion of Gehenna during the Witch War.
The murder of a double-digit number of witches.
Attacks and annihilation of location points around the world.
She had made a great contribution to the founding of Hexennacht and was once a powerful figure in the hardline faction that opposed the Golden Witch.
She was an SSS-class public enemy, listed at the top tier of the wanted posters at the location points.
Unexpectedly, she didn’t have much desire for power herself, and her presence wasn’t very prominent due to various political battles, but her personal skills and combat experience were beyond question.
Before the old witches joined, the Golden Witch, Aries, and the Nightmare Witch were considered the three strongest forces in Hexennacht.
Her disposition also played a part in this.
Unlike unique oddballs who seek out fights, like the Witch of Aquarius, the Witch of War, or the Witch of the Sword, most witches avoid all-out war once they have established themselves to some extent.
Even the Golden Witch, who had stood on the same battlefield as Barbara in the past, had rarely gone to the front lines after reaching the 22nd tier.
She would dump the work on the Rehar Group or leave it to the Solidus merchants.
It’s because they have more to lose.
However, Barbara was different.
Barbara willingly stood on the front lines in any situation and monopolized the spoils of war according to her achievements.
If there was something she wanted, she would obtain it with her own power.
Witches are transcendents who have thrown off the shackles of humanity.
If you want to call yourself a seeker of the Way of Magic, if you have decided to burn everything to reach transcendence.
You must not turn away from the price of obtaining your desires.
Facing that price is the process of proving your qualifications as a seeker.
Even if she was ridiculed for being haphazard, that was how Barbara thought a witch should be.
Today, too, she was planning to prove her status as a transcendent.
“Judging by the atmosphere, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be a quiet night.”
Olga Somnus, the ‘Witch of Sleep,’ who saw Barbara walking in with a fierce expression, quickly followed her with a charming demeanor.
“You look very angry. Did the talk not go well?”
“Of course not. They’re a bunch of senile old geezers with no sense of seriousness.”
“Just a little while ago, you were saying that they had at least proven their qualifications, so you should show them a minimum of respect.”
“I just showed them. The minimum of respect.”
Oksana Clavis, the ‘Witch of Bewitchment,’ who followed, naturally placed a cigarette in Barbara’s mouth.
“Calm down.”
“I’m already calm, Oksana.”
The two of them, like Barbara, were founding members of the early Qliphoth and reliable comrades.
They were also collaborators in this conspiracy.
“So, it’s just us then?”
There was one goal.
Hunting the Witch of the Constellations, Blanche Erelim.
When she was an enemy, she was more dangerous than anyone else.
It was only natural.
The strongest witch, except for Keter, which was like the heavens beyond the heavens.
The orthodox members of the Truth and True Name Academic Society, who, unlike witches, swore absolute loyalty to their leader.
After a series of events, the existence of Erelim and the Academic Society, who were neutral, had been a deterrent to war.
If they had changed their stance and sided with Gehenna, it would have been a great danger, but with Erelim’s betrayal, the situation had completely reversed.
In other words, Erelim had received all the returns she could give without any risk.
All that was left was to eliminate her and remove the variable entirely.
In addition to Oksana and Olga, the elites of the hardline faction were also preparing for the hunt.
“A 25th tier… it’s a bit nerve-wracking.”
“How strong could she be?”
It’s difficult to quantify a witch’s power.
It’s not easy to say that two level 1 characters are equivalent to a level 2 power, and that a level 3 is equivalent to two level 2s or four level 1s.
However, there is a generally accepted law of power.
Even if there is a difference in tiers, if there is a numerical advantage, even a witch of a higher tier can be hunted.
If that weren’t the case, Duke Tiferet would have been on a rampage in South America long ago.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of. She’s just reached the 25th tier. She can’t fully control her power. Besides, she’s calmly sitting in the middle of enemy territory with no one to help her. It’s the perfect timing.”
“Who said anything?”
“A 25th tier mark is the best trophy we’ve ever had in a hunt, isn’t it?”
At Barbara’s gesture, witches emerged from the darkness one by one.
A total of twenty-one.
The personnel Barbara had prepared for the hunt were not just any random people, but professional hunters, more than half of whom were above the 20th tier.
They were a Qliphoth anti-witch combat group that only those with a record of burying at least ten witches could join.
“It’s hunting time.”
It was the ‘Ghagiel Brigade.’
Under the pale moonlight, the edges of their cloaks fluttered like flags.
3.
Like Western Europe, Russia, with its vast land, also has many abandoned castles.
In the past, when wealth was concentrated only in the upper echelons, these castles were owned by nobles or the imperial family, but they were abandoned because they could not bear the impractical maintenance costs, or because the owner’s family was swept away by the red tide of revolution.
These buildings are used in various ways.
They are remodeled and used as mental hospitals, or they are transformed into military facilities during wartime.
In the current situation, they are serving as prisons to monitor defectors whose intentions are unknown.
On the outside, it looks like an ordinary old castle that was bought for only 1 billion, which made people think, ‘That’s a bargain!’ only to realize that the repair costs would be around 5 billion, but the interior had a more thorough surveillance system than any mental hospital or military facility.
Even the slightest movement of the person being monitored would trigger an immediate warning, and the barriers and magic circles scattered everywhere were prepared for all variables.
To block the possibility of escape using ‘doors,’ the nearest gate was more than 600km away, and all the lakes in the vicinity had been evaporated.
As soon as any suspicious signs were detected, the standby unit of the nearby Central Army Corps was ready to be dispatched to end the situation.
“Isn’t it like a fairy tale?”
“What nonsense are you spouting all of a sudden?”
“It’s like a picture of a princess who’s been captured in a dragon-guarded castle, and we’re the hero party going to rescue her.”
Oksana’s words were utter nonsense.
The one alone in that castle was not a pitiful princess, but the strongest duke who could even kidnap a dragon.
Ghagiel’s role was not rescue, but assassination.
However, unlike the silly things she was saying, her movements were fast and swift.
In an instant, the security system was neutralized, and the witches who were on surveillance duty quickly abandoned their posts as soon as they saw Barbara’s face.
No one was foolish enough to confront the notorious hardline elites for the sake of a Gehenna duke who was half prisoner and half propaganda, even if it was their duty.
“We’re going in.”
Barbara kicked open the large gate and entered the castle.
“The atmosphere is amazing.”
Still, perhaps because she was a VIP, the castle, which had been neatly renovated, had a heavy air that seemed to be stagnant.
The silence, as if time itself had stopped, seemed to deflect even the inevitable struggle.
She immediately headed to where Duke Erelim would be.
She was aware that the surveillance around her was disappearing one by one, but she was deliberately showing her presence and was holed up in her room.
“This, this is too calm. You must have known we were coming here. You’re too dignified to make a fuss in front of lowly public enemies, huh? Huh? Princess trapped in a dragon’s castle.”
“You told me not to talk nonsense earlier…”
“Shut up, I’m trying to look cool.”
Erelim, who had been facing away from the door, turned her head expressionlessly at Barbara’s provocative words, which were full of murderous intent.
4.
“I wonder if it’s started by now?”
“Why are you being so quiet? You like watching fights.”
Orselia asked, looking at Verda, who was diligently curling her eyebrows with hair rollers in front of the vanity.
Orselia chuckled at the sight of Verda, who was swinging her legs and concentrating on her makeup.
Still, perhaps because she was young, every single one of her actions was full of charm.
Her skin must be soft and sweet too.
“I’m not interested. I’ve seen enough of Erelim’s magic in the past.”
“I guess you have. Still, it’s an opportunity to see what the 25th tier is like.”
“What good would it do to see it? And when I see Erelim’s magic, I feel like I’m getting gloomy too, so I hate it.”
“So, who do you think will win?”
“Puhahaha!”
At Orselia’s question, Verda burst into laughter and then suddenly became irritable.
“Ah! Damn it! My makeup! Orselia! Do you know how much effort I put into it?! I told you not to talk to me!”
“It’s going to be ruined even if I don’t talk to you. Verda, you’ve seen Erelim’s magic the most, so please answer me. I’m curious.”
“Logically, Erelim can’t win. Even though Barbara is crazy, she wouldn’t have gone for a one-on-one fight, and she would have brought at least ‘Ghagiel’ with her.”
“Hmm.”
It was a group of about 20 people, but their elite status was beyond words.
Orselia considered the probability of Barbara achieving her goal and not achieving it to be about 50/50.
No matter how great the 25th tier was, the Ghagiel Brigade, which included the Nightmare Witch, was the strongest force of the hardline faction in the past.
“However…”
Verda, who had been grumbling and wiping off the eyeliner that had gone wrong with a remover, paused.
“Ah… I even wiped off my shadow while talking…”
“…Should I do it for you?”
“You’re bad at makeup.”
She then threw her makeup supplies on the vanity and finished speaking as if she wasn’t very interested.
“Theory and practice are different. Realistically speaking, she might win once in a thousand fights?”
“Once in a thousand… who?”
Verda blinked her eyes charmingly.
“Why are you asking such a thing? Of course, it’s Barbara. Do you expect common sense from Erelim? She’s a crazy bitch.”
