Witch Taming System

"Hold on... could you repeat that?"

Countess Gretelle closed the door, letting out a quiet sigh as she took a seat on a nearby chair.

Lifting her gaze, she looked directly at Lancel.

The first thing that caught her attention was the sheer number of bandages wrapped around his body, a clear indication of just how extensive the treatment had been.

Then, she began to explain.

"The witch who targeted Countess Lieber and Fiore is an infamous one known as Heidi Ermengarde. Infamous for a simple reason. She has killed countless witches who dared to set foot outside Riviere. A threat like her does not go unnoticed, and unfortunately for you, Lancel, this is not something I can cover up."

"...."

"Perhaps if it had been Countess Lieber who dealt with her, the narrative could have been shaped that way. Unfortunately, the Grand Canyon, the area where Heidi Ermengarde was killed, is a neutral zone monitored by several surveillance spells."

"...."

"It lies along a leyline, which prevents the city’s defensive barrier from extending into that region. Because of that, the Erudition Society maintains constant observation over the area, especially to track outsiders like Heidi Ermengarde, who was most likely aware of this herself."

Lancel took a moment to process everything.

Barrier?

The Grand Canyon?

Leyline?

Surveillance magic?

The terms blurred together in his mind, too unfamiliar to fully grasp. But there was one thing he understood clearly.

While he had been fighting Heidi Ermengarde, witches had been watching him closely, as if he were nothing more than a spectacle.

In any case, it was clear that Heidi Ermengarde had intended for them to see.

To see how easily she could deal with an Erudition like Faust, to take her life in front of them, and to instill fear into the very same Eruditions who had cast her aside.

Hearing all of this, Lancel turned to Faust.

"I tried to smooth things out as well," Faust said. "But it was impossible to deny their curiosity once they realized that you, Lancel, were able to cast magic."

Countess Gretelle nodded.

"I won’t ask why you chose to hide this fact from me," she said. "You’ve already done more than enough by saving my apprentice, not once, but twice. For now, you may remain in my mansion until you’ve fully recovered. However, word is already spreading about you... as the first male witch."

"...Is that so."

Perhaps it was because he had only just woken up, or maybe his mind was still lingering on the battle from that day, but Lancel found himself unable to feel much about it.

A strange sense of desensitization settled over him as he thought about what might happen from this point forward.

He knew exactly what witches were like. Crazy bitches who wouldn’t hesitate to kidnap him the moment they confirmed he could use magic.

But Chains of Dominion... that was his insurance.

From this point onward, there wasn’t much to fear from witches anymore.

But that only led to another question forming in Lancel’s mind.

Would this power work on the Grand Witch, Cyrene, as well?

"But... I have to admit, I’m curious. May I ask you something?"

Even Countess Gretelle couldn’t fully hide it, letting out a small, embarrassed cough as she spoke.

"I’m not particularly well-versed in magic beyond the basics..." Lancel said. "But if it’s something I can explain, then by all means...."

Countess Gretelle nodded.

"That magic you used against Heidi Ermengarde... what exactly was it?" she asked. "According to the Eruditions, you completely nullified her spells and forced her down without giving her any chance to resist."

Lancel caught the subtle fear and wariness in her eyes.

And he understood her sentiments.

If Heidi Ermengarde was known for having killed countless witches, then someone like him, who had overpowered her so completely, without leaving her even a moment to fight back... couldn’t simply be overlooked.

Countess Gretelle had no choice but to weigh his existence carefully.

Because if he held the power to suppress a witch of that caliber, an ex-member of the Eruditions, no less, then the concern was only natural.

Whether he himself had now become a threat to witches.

"I don’t know."

But Lancel’s answer completely caught her off guard.

"Even I can’t explain how I became a male witch."

There was no such thing as an unpracticed spell. Any magic a witch could use was the result of time, research, and calculation. Mana wasn’t something one could simply shape into an effect on a whim without understanding the process behind it.

And yet, his answer was nothing more than a lack of understanding.

As if it had been willed into existence rather than calculated.

That alone went against everything Countess Gretelle knew.

Countess Gretelle turned to Faust, already aware that she had known of Lancel’s existence even prior to the incident.

Faust met her gaze and gave a solemn nod, silently confirming that Lancel was, without a doubt, an anomaly among anomalies.

"I understand." Countess Gretelle nodded. "Then I have no further questions. Once you’ve fully recovered, come to me for your reward."

"Reward?"

Witches lived by the creed of "give and take."

It was the very essence of magecraft itself, and they did not shy away from such exchanges in their daily lives either.

That was why specimens deemed as "research assets" were required to be registered with the city hall and would be exchanged after a year of ownership.

Because, at the very least, witches understood the value of giving and receiving.

"To be precise, you’ll be receiving a reward from all three of us."

"Ah?"

Before leaving, Countess Gretelle cast a sharp glance toward her apprentice, Fiore.

"Make sure you reward him properly, Fiore."

"Yes, Master!"

With that, Countess Gretelle turned and left the room, leaving the three of them behind.

Lancel’s gaze shifted, moving from Fiore to Faust.

"Reward?"

The very thought of a reward stirred a sense of excitement in him.

Countess Gretelle was one thing, but what exactly could Fiore and Faust possibly offer him?