Chapter 55

“No way.”

Vivian answered calmly.

But inside, her mind was shouting the word hundreds of times in desperation.

“No?”

“...”

Not Kylo.

She couldn’t even bear the thought of him becoming a witch hunter.

Anyone else—maybe.

But not him.

It wasn’t just because they had spent so much time together recently.

It wasn’t just because he was likely the one who would stay by her side the longest moving forward.

There was something else—

A deep, burning rejection that came from the very core of her being.

A visceral instinct, beyond logic or reason.

She was a witch, and he… a witch hunter?

They were oil and water. Already enemies by nature—and this would only push them further apart.

The bishop looked surprised by her answer.

“Why not? There was nothing flawed in my reasoning.”

“...”

She had no counterargument.

Even so, Vivian forced herself to keep a straight face, buying herself a little more time.

She had to come up with some kind of excuse—anything.

“...Kylo is a guest of Rondor. We can’t force that kind of role on him.”

“But hasn’t Rondor already entrusted him with many roles? He checks the food for poison, he’s served as executioner...”

“...Executioner is one thing—but how did you know he’s been tasting the food?”

“Word gets around. Seems like everyone knows.”

“...”

It wasn’t exactly a secret, so she had no reason to press the bishop on it.

Still, the fact that they were collecting so much information left a bad taste in her mouth.

It felt like their blade was much closer to her throat than she’d realized.

Enough to make her finally understand Elena’s unease.

“Lady Vivian, if you continue like this… we may be forced to question your intentions.”

The bishop’s voice turned cold as he spoke.

Vivian hid her unease and shot back,

“What intentions are you implying?”

“...Perhaps, that you might already be harboring a witch...”

–Thud!

Vivian slammed her hand on the desk, pressing the bishop with a forceful glare.

“How could you say such a thing?!”

Her anger caused the bishop to step back slightly and apologize.

“My apologies. It just seemed strange that you would oppose assigning someone to root out witches in Castle Rondor this strongly...”

“...”

“So, to clarify, you’re saying it would be difficult to force this role onto Kylo Allen?”

Vivian gave a faint nod.

The bishop continued.

“Then how about we ask him directly?”

“...What?”

“If he agrees to it willingly, then it’s not being forced, is it?”

“...”

The bishop’s suggestion was like a spider’s web—

There was no opening to slip through.

Vivian could already see that if she resisted any further, she’d only raise more suspicion and entangle herself deeper in the trap.

“...Fine.”

In the end, all she could do was nod.

Wishing with all her heart that Kylo would turn the offer down, she sent for him to come to the room.

***

“...A witch hunter?”

I looked at Vivian after hearing the bishop’s proposal.

There was a flicker of discomfort on her face.

It was a change so subtle that no one else would’ve noticed—

Only someone like me, who knew her well, could’ve seen it.

She was doing her best to hide it.

“All of a sudden?”

I turned my gaze to the bishop, urging him to explain.

The bishop, completely bald, continued in a relaxed tone.

“There are very few followers of our Las Order here in Castle Rondor. The awareness of the witch threat is dangerously low. I’m proposing this out of concern for what could happen.”

“So what—you want me to hunt down and kill witches?”

“I’m asking you to find those who behave like witches might.”

His tone was polite,

But underneath it lay a subtle coercion in the name of purpose.

It felt similar to the conversation I’d had earlier with the middle-aged paladin.

Everyone here seemed to be consumed by their hatred for witches.

‘Hmm… Vivian doesn’t seem to like the idea.’

And given the bishop and the paladins outside hadn’t exactly left a great impression,

I decided on the spot my next actions.

“Sounds like a pain. I’d rather not.”

The moment I finished speaking, Vivian jumped in.

“There. You heard him. Kylo’s not interested, so we’ll be on our way now.”

“...Hmm.”

The bishop scratched his head awkwardly.

I didn’t fully grasp how the situation was unfolding,

But it was clear Vivian didn’t want to be here.

Her expression, her body language—

They were screaming that she wanted to get out of this room as fast as possible.

The bishop spoke again.

“Well, if that’s how you feel, I suppose there’s nothing we can do... but Lady Vivian, if this continues, we may find it difficult to cooperate with reducing our witch-hunting operations.”

“What? But earlier you said—”

“—That was under the assumption that you’d allow us to place an overseer in your Castle. But if Lady Vivian refuses to concede anything, why should we?”

“...”

“Asking us to scale back witch-hunting, yet denying us entry to the castle... If this lax approach continues, we’ll never catch the witches.”

His voice grew firmer.

Vivian’s face turned stony in response.

As I listened quietly, I glanced at her and asked,

“...If I agree to take on that role, are they at least saying they’ll cut back on their activities in the city?”

The bishop interrupted before she could answer.

“Exactly that.”

“I wasn’t asking you.”

I snapped, and the bishop shut his mouth.

Vivian glanced at me, then gave a small nod.

Something complex passed through her eyes.

A flicker of uncertainty settled over me.

...So if that’s the case, shouldn’t I just agree?

What is she thinking so hard about?

Why is she hesitating like this?

I stepped a little closer to Vivian, intending to quietly ask what was really on her mind-

“What do you think of witches, Sir Kylo?”

-At least until the bishop asked me that.

The fervor in his gaze as he looked at me was hard to ignore—

Too intense to simply brush off.

I straightened up mid-step, pausing in my approach toward Vivian, and answered him.

“...Why are you asking?”

“I’m just curious.”

“...People in the North don’t believe in witches or curses.”

“Hmm. Then you don’t have any thoughts on the matter?”

I thought of that old woman.

Then I looked at Vivian-

‘You will fall in love with someone you’re not meant to love.’

-She, who never seemed unlikable, no matter how many times I looked.

“...It does leave a weird feeling, I guess.”

I glanced at Vivian as I said it, almost like I was talking to myself.

The bishop, a man with a soft layer of fat around his frame, smiled gently.

“Isn’t that reason enough to take on the role? We’re not asking you to start a war—only to help build a better world. We don’t even want to burden you with official duties. All we ask is that you keep an eye on things around you.”

“...Keep an eye on things?”

“Well, if strange things start happening around the castle... things that defy explanation... or if people begin falling ill and dying en masse...”

“...”

I turned to look at Vivian again.

She remained silent.

I didn’t respond to the bishop. I wanted to talk to Vivian first.

Only then did the bishop finally stop speaking as well.

A brief silence fell between us.

I stepped a little closer to Vivian and leaned in to whisper:

“What’s the problem?”

She looked up at me slightly and asked back,

“What?”

I held her gaze and repeated myself.

“...What’s the problem? Why not just accept it?”

“...Kylo.”

“It’s not like I actually have to do anything. I could just pretend I’m trying and slack off.”

“...Is that what you plan to do?”

I paused for a moment, then answered honestly.

“...I mean, if I do end up taking the role, I’d probably pay more attention than I let on.”

“...”

The truth was, I only said all this because Vivian seemed troubled.

But to be honest... the bishop’s proposal didn’t feel all that repulsive to me.

What with all the talk about curses, witches, and the like, it was starting to weigh on me too.

I was beginning to wonder if I had really been cursed.

If I became a witch hunter, maybe I could get closer to the truth and find the answers I was looking for.

“...Do you really want to take on something this troublesome?”

Vivian finally asked after a long silence.

Was she planning to turn down the bishop’s proposal for my sake?

It wasn’t like her—but if that was the reason, I was a little grateful.

I gave her a light smile and said,

“He said it himself. If I take the role, they’ll back off from the citizens of Roctana. Sounds like a solid first step to winning the people’s hearts, don’t you think?”

“...”

Vivian gave a faint, weary smile.

It was a smile laced with both worry and resignation.

Then her expression stiffened as she turned to the bishop.

The bishop pressed again.

“...My lady.”

At his prompting, she let out a short sigh.

Since she remained silent, I called to her once more.

“Vivian.”

After a long moment of hesitation, she finally looked up at me—

And slowly, she nodded.

“Understood. Then so be it.”

***

Vivian felt like her insides were being scorched black.

A crushing gloom—one even she couldn’t explain—was weighing down on her,

And the more she tried to escape the whirlpool of emotion, the deeper she sank.

Had she come to rely on Kylo too much?

She had acted indifferent, hid her true feelings…

But was he really that important to her?

The moment he agreed to become a witch hunter—

Or rather, the moment she realized she could no longer stop him—

A huge ripple spread through her heart.

Kylo had been her enemy from the beginning.

And now, fate had once again placed them on opposing sides.

So… what now?

Kylo, who was always by her side.

Should she start distancing herself to avoid being found out?

Or should she be even more cautious?

So that at least he would never discover the truth?

If he were to realize she was a witch…

“...”

...She had no idea how he would react.

From what he’d said earlier…

He clearly found witches… unsettling.

“....No.”

If he found out she was a witch—

Would he brush it off lightly, the way he did with everything else?

Or would he deem her too filthy to forgive, and cast her aside like she meant nothing?

“Vivian!”

“...Huh?”

By the time she came to her senses, she was already at Castle Rondor.

She had been so lost in thought, she hadn’t even realized they’d arrived.

–Rustle.

Kylo pulled off his crimson bear-shaped helmet and tossed it aside.

“What’s been going through your head this whole time?”

His voice carried a note of worry he couldn’t quite hide.

“You’ve been acting weird today, you know?”

The moment she saw Kylo’s face without the helmet, her heart began to pound again.

Vivian stared at him… closely.

This man, an enemy to her?

...She just couldn’t imagine it.

Even knowing he was now a witch hunter, it still felt impossible.

And yet, the fear of possibility was real.

The thought that the man who had always protected her might one day take her life—

It chilled her to the bone.

“...Kylo.”

Without meaning to, Vivian reached out toward him.

Kylo said nothing, simply took her hand and helped her down from the horse.

–Grip...

“...Vivian?”

But even after she dismounted, she didn’t let go of his hand.

Her heart trembled with anxiety, and letting go felt unbearable.

It reminded her too much of when he’d disappeared on that expedition.

That hollow, helpless feeling... the fragile fear creeping in.

She had thought she’d grown stronger,

But maybe it was only ever an illusion—Strength borrowed from his presence.

Vivian let out a quiet, bitter laugh.

To find comfort in the hands of someone who was once your enemy...

It was a shameful truth—one she could never let Kylo discover.

But that vulnerability was undeniably there.

And in that fear, she wanted to know what Kylo was thinking.

She wanted to be sure he was still on her side—

That he would stay there.

She had only used her spell once today.

Just once—

To confirm the paladin’s lie.

Which meant she could use it two more times.

“...Kylo.”

“Seriously, what’s with you today?”

She had never used a spell on Kylo.

Not even once.

She had been too afraid to see what was truly in his heart.

But now, her unease was overwhelming.

She had to know.

She needed to hear the truth—

To feel safe again.

“Kylo... do you... Do you hate me?”

Kylo’s expression turned comically baffled.

“What kind of nonsense is that? Are you heat-struck or something?”

“Just answer me.”

“What’s gotten into you?”

Kylo reached out and touched her forehead, as if to check for a fever.

Even that small gesture… That gentle touch…

Carried a warmth that steadied her.

And in that warmth, Vivian found a little courage.

“Just pretend I’ve lost it and answer me.

‘Just this once—this one time—I need to know.’

Kylo’s expression finally began to harden.

It was clear he couldn’t quite follow her emotions, and the uncertainty showed in his prolonged hesitation.

“...You talked about sensing lies and all that before. Is this... part of that?”

“...”

Vivian didn’t answer.

Kylo, perhaps embarrassed by her silence, sighed and scratched his head roughly.

Then he muttered,

“...You want an answer? Of course I hate you. You threw me into the Penal Unit, wouldn’t even let me go home. How could I not resent you?”

“...But you’ve been protecting me all this time.”

“...Like I said—it was guilt. A sense of debt, nothing more.”

...Just the faintest shimmer of blue.

The color of truth.

“...”

But, contrary to what she expected, Vivian didn’t feel shocked.

No... that couldn’t be right.

She told herself this wasn’t the spell at work—

She trusted her instincts more than magic.

Their memories were too many, their time too deep—

So she managed to squeeze out one more question.

“...Then Kylo, do you like me?”

Kylo froze.

Even the corners of his eyes trembled ever so slightly.

“...”

He opened his mouth—

Closed it.

Then opened it again.

And finally, frowning deeply, he said,

“...Didn’t you hear me? I said I hate you.”

Kylo’s eyes blazed with a fierce crimson glow—

The same shade as Vivian’s hair.

It was a lie.

Clear and undeniable.

The strongest lie yet.

He hated her, but he also liked her.

That was the truth in his heart.

Vivian had to suppress a laugh.

“...Ha.”

‘How can we feel exactly the same way?’

As expected, she and Kylo were alike in more ways than one.

Vivian nodded slowly.

“...Alright.”

And with her heart just a little lighter, she gently let go of his hand and turned away.

– – The End of The Chapter––

 

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