Don't Burn Them! Even Witches Have Value!

"Mmm... it's time for breakfast."

When the first ray of morning sunlight spilled onto the young girl's face, she let out a yawn.

Traditionally, stretching her body on the ground like a dog, Iyanna slowly opened her eyes.

Then she was so frightened her fur bristled and she jumped up on the spot:

"Awoo!"

In front of her, a haggard Lynn, looking like a walking corpse, hung half-dead with his upper body dangling over the edge of the bed.

"Wuwuwu, Boss, don't die, at least prepare breakfast for Iyanna first."

"Shut up, I am thinking. This is beneficial for blood flow to the brain."

"Mmm... alright, then I'll go find Sister Elysia."

Instead, after replaying the events of the entire night, he suddenly realized something that made him sweat profusely.

If the black stones originated from the cursed witch, and that witch also had complications with the First Pope...

then how could the Church, which possessed a vast number of lawful witches, not know that the black stones originating from the legends of curse magic could refine Magic Stones?

They definitely knew! They were even clearer about it than he and Theodore!

But here came the question—why didn't the Church mine it themselves?

They were mining even Mount Malnar, yet they turned a blind eye to this open-air gold mine of Blackstone Fief?

Why would the Church give up holding such a highly profitable industry?

No, this was not just giving up; it was more like... ignoring it.

That's right, ignoring it.

He even had a feeling that the current Church itself might not know about this matter at all, and that the characteristics of the black stones were only known by a few people in specific eras.

For this kind of situation to occur, there were obviously more complex reasons entangled behind it.

But Lynn didn't want to know the reasons at all.

In this extraordinary world, information was a curse; the more one knew, the more likely they were to suffer a sudden death.

And he only wanted to make money!

Originally, he could have sold Magic Stones to make money with a clear conscience.

Now, he had to sell Magic Stones to make money with fear and trepidation.

You might ask why not stop selling Magic Stones?

Was this a joke? As long as the money offered was enough, Lynn was willing to sell the rope to hang himself.

Life was certainly precious, because the dead could not make money, but if one purely avoided making money just to cling to life, then what was the difference between that and being dead?

This sentence was Lynn's motto.

That's right. Since thinking could not yield results, then do not continue meaningless thinking.

Since fear would not hinder his determination to continue peddling Magic Stones, then do not fear.

"Alright, the current goal is to strive not to be afraid and continue to find ways to expand the Magic Stone industry."

Having made up his mind, Lynn revealed a resolute gaze, preparing to flip up with a carp kick.

And then he discovered that he had hung upside down for too long and had no strength left.

"Iyanna, save me... Iyanna?"

————————

"Hmph, small fry, what business does this young lady have with you?

Oh~ why is your face so red? Could it be, toward me~

Don't indulge in wishful thinking, small fry~"

Flora had recovered her initial vigor. Fortunately, the elves of this world were not a race whose emotions lasted for an extremely long time; otherwise, she might have been depressed for several weeks.

"Who would be interested in an old hag! You're the one indulging in delusions! I merely almost died from hanging upside down just now."

"Bastard! I told you I am not an old hag! Elves can live for two thousand years! And my seven hundred years was a dormancy!"

After nearly being attacked by the angered elf, Lynn, who had become a bit better behaved, revealed a serious expression:

"Alright, let us return to serious matters, Miss Flora Ol... Miss."

"Where are you being serious! Were you about to say old hag again!"

"Don't bicker over details, the matter we need to discuss now is very important!"

Looking at the rather serious Lynn, Flora puffed out her lips, but still returned to silence.

"First of all, you ate and drank for free for a day, and also caused one of our trees to be unusable; these are all direct economic losses.

Plus, you previously stayed illegally in Blackstone Fief for an extremely long period of time. Let me calculate, Blackstone Fief was officially assigned to Milan eighty years ago.

Therefore, you need to pay this much of a fine..."

Lynn's pen tip rhythmically moved across the parchment, while his other hand rhythmically tapped the tabletop to calculate.

"Wait, what do you mean by illegal stay? I clearly just took an afternoon nap in my own home!"

Flora completely couldn't hold it in; her petite body trembled with rage:

"Also! The trees you cut are all products derived from the magic of my Forestsea Clan. Why is it that I am the one who has to pay instead!"

"Regrettably, what you speak of are all matters from seven hundred years ago, which are not protected by Milan's laws."

Lynn was perfectly solemn, and then felt the aura of magic assailing him.

【C-Rank Magic Fluctuation, Man-Eating Flower taking shape】

"But!"

He quickly spoke:

"All of these can be waived!

After all, I am not some heartless bastard either, haha."

After wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, he continued:

"I told you before, that Neorida was the First Pope, and the Church he established is now a colossus.

They firmly believe that Witches must be eliminated or controlled. Unless you are willing to sign a soul contract to submit to them, you are their enemy.

Do not think you can oppose them, Miss Flora. The power of the Church is beyond your imagination; after all, they are the agents of God."

Flora bit her lip, the words she originally wanted to use to refute swirling in her throat, but in the end, she failed to speak them.

Although she was arrogant, she was not stupid.

"Then... then what should I do..."

The light in her eyes dimmed, and her imposing aura of wanting to use a man-eating flower to bite him just now instantly collapsed, turning her back into a homeless little girl.

"Hmph hmph, now you are asking the right question."

The moment for showing his dagger now that the map was unrolled had arrived.

Lynn was like a hunter who had been waiting for his prey to fall into his net for a long time. The seriousness on his face instantly switched to a "warm" smile that made people want to call the police upon seeing it.

He spread his arms as if showing off this dilapidated study, and also as if embracing the entire Blackstone Fief:

"Although I am a law-abiding lord, my greatest virtue is—my kind heart.

I cannot bear to watch precious labor... ah, no... a precious species goes extinct just like that, so I am willing to provide you with the only political asylum."

"Asylum?"

Flora looked at him warily:

"What do you want? My body? You small fry pervert!"

"Pfft—cough cough! Who wants your barren body!"

Lynn was nearly choked to death by his own saliva:

"What I want is your talent! Your magic!"

He quickly walked to the window, pulled open the curtains, and pointed to that desolate scenery that made Flora want to cry upon seeing it:

"Look at this land, Miss Flora. Ugly, barren, full of damned stones, to the point where not even a single bird is willing to take a dump.

You hate it, right? What a coincidence, I hate it too. Because it cannot grow grain, and even forces me to spend money to buy it."

Lynn turned around, standing against the light, and extended his hand to the bewildered elf:

"So, let us make a deal.

Since your Forestsea is gone, why not plant a new one?"

"Plant... plant one?"

Flora was stunned, a tremor of disbelief flashing through her emerald-green eyes.

"That's right."

Lynn's voice was full of beguiling charm:

"You have wood magic, and I have land.

You will be responsible for making trees, flowers, and grass grow here once more, even the ancient trees in your memory.

And I will be responsible for helping you block the Church's gaze, providing you with food and shelter."

The more big pies he drew, the more excited he became:

"Imagine! Under your efforts, this place will once again be covered by a green forest! And you will be the creator of the new Forestsea!

Besides, who says the elves have definitely gone extinct? Perhaps your clansmen merely felt this place was no longer livable.

If you can bring the Forestsea back to this place, one day, the familiar singing appearing once more is not necessarily impossible."

The light re-emerged in Flora's eyes.

【Favorability: +20 (Is it... really possible?)】

Her lips trembled slightly, but she quickly returned to a haughty smile:

"Hmph hmph, it doesn't sound that bad...

Then let this young lady's power be temporarily lent to you! Small fry."

"Good, then let's sign the contract. Just write your name here."

"Ohoho, a piece of cake... Eh, how do I write my name?"