The word witches didn't raise too many questions for Osian.
Osian already knew of the existence of witches.
‘Witches. Beings who are born with the ability to use magic, as opposed to wizards and warlocks, who learn to use it.’
Witches were an alien species.
They are born with the ability to use magic, instinctively.
How this is possible is unknown.
Some called it a blessing, others a curse.
As the name implies, witches were a peculiar condition that only occurred in women, and it didn't matter where you came from: a poor orphan from a back alley could be a witch, or a witch could be born into a noble family.
As a result, in the games Osian played, witches mostly appeared as mobs.
‘They had helpers, but mostly they were boss monsters that you had to defeat.’Because they were born with so much power, most witches didn't lead normal lives.
As a result, most of them were either mentally broken or lacked much of their humanity.
‘So in the game, witches were considered extremely unsavory and were hunted quite a bit.’
I had no idea there were still witches out there.
I don't know if they're survivors of the past or if new witches have been born over time.
The vast majority of witches were hostile to humanity.
Only a tiny, tiny, tiny minority are favorable.
‘Such a witch seeks asylum.’
The fact that she asked for asylum in the city of Tirna, rather than a country, tells us two things.
Tirna was a city, but it also held the power of a nation.
And that after all these years, witches were still discriminated against.
"So, this request for asylum is one of your requests?"
"Yes, it is, because it's a request from the witch herself, which means she's paying for it herself, which may be a hard-to-find commodity in this world, or it may be knowledge."
"You mean it's something that others are eager to get their hands on."
"Yes. And if I had to guess, I'd say this witch needs a place to call her own. It's hard to come to the city of Tirna and start with nothing."
Of course, given the witch's presence, she would quickly make a name for herself.
There was a difference between starting from nothing and being part of an organization.
It's something Osian couldn't agree more.
If he wasn't part of Violet Fox, he wouldn't know where to start.
"If a witch finds a place to turn to, every organization in Tirna will be coveted."
"The witch power isn't something that's readily available, and that's the problem."
"Like what?"
"Honestly, it's hard for us to invite this witch to join us, because there are so many others to compete against."
"Are you coveting the witch's power?"
"Let's call it greed for talent, rather than power."
Ronan smiled his usual suspicious smile as he said that.
"A witch as a fixer, that's fun to imagine, isn't it?"
Ronan meant it innocently, but it was enough to make Osian wonder what she was up to.
"But a request for asylum would imply that the witch is currently being hunted by something, and she wouldn't make such a request otherwise."
Ronan snapped his fingers at Osian's comment.
"You've seen exactly that. You see, this Tirna is a free city. Anything is possible if you have the skill and the money. But not out here."
Unlike Tirna, where the city itself has been granted independence, the outside world is still under a monarchy.
As a result, even after so many years, the past has remained.
Hostile discrimination against witches was one of them.
"There's still a witch hunt out there."
"It's not as bad as it used to be when they burned them at the stake, but it's nothing to laugh about."
"From a witch's point of view, she must be coming here to live."
Ronan asked with a knowing look.
"Do you know much about witches, Mr. Osian?"
"Well, a little."
Osian played it cool.
He didn't need to tell Ronan that he'd killed the most witches in the game.
‘Still, I'm curious. I wonder if the passage of time has changed the witches.’
Right now, Eldin alone was a peculiar elf that Osian couldn't imagine.
The world had changed, and those who lived in it were bound to change as well.
So have witches changed with the times?
Or were they still the same witches they had always been?
'They say witches live a very long life.’
I was intrigued but this wasn't just a feeling caused by the traces of a game I remembered.
My instinct whispered.
If I take on this assignment, I'll be able to break through my current blockage.
“When did this request begin?”
"Are you sure you want to do it?"
"I may not be able to get them to come here, but I can do the request itself."
Asking for asylum means that the witch's life is in danger.
The request would be to get her to Tirna safely.
‘It’s a major escort. It’s a familiar quest to me.’
Moreover, I don't know if it's because she doesn't know what's going on in the world, or because she has a bold personality, but the witch makes it possible for anyone to receive her request.
Seeing as how she doesn't discriminate between people, I guess she feels like she's grasping at straws.
Or maybe she's trying to get the best client by having multiple competitors.
‘I'd rather be bold than ignorant of the world.’
Ronan was satisfied that Osian was about to take the request, but he had some advice.
"Mr. Osian. This assignment is certainly tempting, but it is also fraught with danger."
"Risks?"
"A witch's presence is certainly enough to make her coveted by many organizations, but I wouldn't take on this assignment with just anyone, for those who track her are quite terrifying."
Osian nodded in understanding.
If the witch was asking for help, they must be more than she could handle on her own.
"Who are they?"
"The Holy Kingdom of Petra."
Osian nodded, recognizing that there was such a thing.
Religion was present in the game he was playing.
Illua, the god of light and order, gold and benevolence.
The country founded by believers in Illua was the Holy Kingdom of Petra.
"Considering that there are actually gods in this world, and that divinity and prayer do work, the influence of the Holy Kingdom of Petra cannot be ignored.
And, unsurprisingly, the Holy Kingdom of Petra condemned the existence of warlocks, witches, and demons as heresy.
I would have thought that this would have diminished over time, but apparently not.
The idea that Holy Kingdom Petra was targeting the witch who was a client meant that he might end up fighting against them.
"Even worse, the rumors are not good: the Holy Kingdom of Petra is said to be sending one of the Twelve Holy Fathers this time."
"The Twelve?"
"That's the name of the body directly under the Holy Kingdom of Petra. There are twelve of them in all, each with a different role, and of course they are the best and brightest in the Holy Kingdom of Petra."
"So if you're going to go out there, you're going to have to be prepared to clash with them."
"Even a Holy Father cannot wield his authority in Tirna, but no fool would dare to contemplate the possibility of fighting them. This alone will weed out all the fools."
"You mean to tell me that only the real ones take this commission?"
The more he listened, the more tempting it sounded.
Osian summarized the situation.
Some very powerful people in the Holy Kingdom are after the witch, and she has asked for asylum in Tirna in order to survive.
Naturally, there aren't many people who can take such a request.
Those who are powerful enough to not care if they lose their pretense with the Holy Kingdom of Petra will gather.
"I will."
"Oh, no. Are you serious? You're up against the Holy Kingdom of Petra?"
"You've been trying to figure out how to handle this from the beginning, and you're backpedaling."
Osian asked playfully, and Ronan shrugged as if he couldn't handle it.
"Would you be fine without your sword?"
"You don't have to worry about that. I have a kitchen knife."
"......Seriously?"
The door to the tavern opened, and a figure stepped in.
It turned out to be Diolan from Violet Fox.
As if he'd come bearing good news, Diolan spotted Osian and said.
"Eldin told me to tell you, it's finally finished."
"What timing."
A sword made for an interesting commission.
Perhaps this is fate.
……………………
"Here. Take it."
Eldin held the sword out to Osian.
Osian took the sword from its scabbard, looked it over, and then locked eyes with Eldin.
Eldin's eyes were filled with heavy dark circles.
It was obvious that he hadn't slept well in the past few days.
But despite his physical fatigue, his eyes were filled with a fire in them like never before.
He felt satisfied that he had made a sword like this.
"It was a dirty job, but it turned out much better than I originally expected. Why don't you draw it?"
"Sure."
Osian drew the sword from its scabbard.
A pure longsword, untouched by any magic or science, emerged.
The blade was surprisingly neat, sharp, and clean.
Osian stared at the blade in the clear reflection of his own face, then gripped it and steadied himself.
It was neither heavy nor light, and the weight was well balanced. Above all, he could not help but realize the moment he held it.
This was a sword made for him and him alone.
"Excellent."
Osian could only praise it so highly.
Eldin, who had gone to the trouble of making it, pouted his lips as if that was all there was to appreciate.
"Anyway, I made it, so I think I'll rest now."
"I see. I can rest easy about this commission."
"A commission?"
Eldin asked, his interest piqued despite his exhaustion.
"A request that comes as soon as you receive the weapon I made for you?"
"I heard there's a witch outside the city who has requested asylum."
"...... Wait. I think I've heard of that one. Isn't it something to do with the Holy Kingdom of Petra?"
"That's right."
"You're going there for that?"
Eldin opened his mouth to say something, then clamped it shut and shook his head.
"Forget it, just don't go and die."
"You're worried about me?"
"It would be a shame if I made such a fine weapon and its owner died on his first commission."
"You don't have to worry about that."
Osian glanced at the drawn sword, then slid it back into its scabbard.
"With this, I don't think I'll lose."
*
~The day of the commission~
I arrived at the train station in the 34th district.
Tirna has all sorts of railroad tracks, including, of course, one leading outside the city.
My client, the witch, is to meet me outside of Tirna, in the neighboring Republic of Osnaphalos.
‘Osnaphalos. In the game it was a kingdom, now a republic. It was famous for its knowledge and books.’
As a republic, the Kingdom of Petra's presence was weak and it was close to Tirna, so it was a good place to rendezvous.
I would have liked to see the changed country, but that's not the point now.
I felt the sword at my waist and glanced around.
‘I thought all the chaff was gone, but there are still so many.’
There were quite a few people gathered near the stopped train…they were all those who had accepted the witch's request for asylum.
In other words, my competitors.
The first to catch my eye was a group of black suits.
‘The Mafia?’