Witch's Embrace

Die observed as the two left together and returned together;

She saw them enter the kitchen together, with Heidi even feeding the man;

She even witnessed them returning to the bedroom, where she clearly heard panting and the sound of splashing water...

Fortunately, Die had lived for over two thousand years and was quite worldly, having even witnessed things involving aquatic creatures. Thus, she didn't react with shock or anger like Yuta might have.

Even so, she was incredibly astonished and filled with deep confusion.

This man seemed to be just an ordinary human. What was special about him? Why would someone as prideful as Heidi treat him that way?

Considering what she noticed yesterday, that Heidi seemed unaware of the approaching Witch's Night, an ominous cloud seemed to hang over her head.

So, now that she had confirmed Heidi was away and Hawthorne was alone in the study, she could no longer contain her curiosity and rushed in.

She wanted to thoroughly investigate this human.

Returning to the present moment, when she entered, Hawthorne instinctively stood up, maintaining a respectful yet cautious demeanor, and said to the witch before him, "Hello, Miss Nun... ma'am."

"Is there something you need from me?"

Die did not speak immediately, but her deep, black eyes fixed intently on his. Her black nun's hat and a few strands of hair moved slightly as if stirred by an unseen presence, making her appear like a specter entering the room.

Subtle waves of magic power rippled through the air, quickly enveloping Hawthorne's mind.

Unlike Yuta, whose magical abilities were primarily designed for the perfect ambush and instant kill, rendering her reliant on simple conversation when alone with Hawthorne, Die was proficient in nearly all low-level spells. Even though her power had significantly waned due to multiple memory losses, dealing with Hawthorne posed no challenge at all.

Thus, under her magical influence, Hawthorne's gaze gradually grew dazed, forgetting all external distractions and feeling as if the black-haired, black-eyed girl before him was the person he trusted most. He felt the urge to share all his innermost thoughts with her...

Charm Person.

A first-level spell that causes humanoid creatures—such as humans, elves, dwarves, orcs—to see you as a familiar, trustworthy individual, willing to speak openly with you.

With his current capability, resisting Die's spellcasting was impossible. Once affected by this spell, he couldn't keep any secrets to himself.

"What is your name?" Die asked gently, as the tentacle-like limb under her nun garb subtly writhed, moving within the immaculately clean study.

"Hawthorne," he answered truthfully.

"Did you clean this study?" 

"Yes."

"Why are you in the study?"

"I am here to read and study magic."

Die turned to glance at the books on his desk, sensing the slight magic emanating from them, immediately realizing that these were all considerable magical artifacts!

"Those Grimoires, how did you come by them?" she quickly asked.

"Heidi bought them for me."

Die's fine eyebrows furrowed slightly, puzzled.

Heidi seemed to be treating her... food a little too well.

She borrowed money from me, and it was for this?

"Was it Heidi who asked you to study here?" she continued.

"No, I wanted to learn myself," Hawthorne shook his head in denial.

"Oh?" Die raised her eyebrows, "You wanted to learn, and she agreed? She listens to you so easily?"

Hawthorne's expression faltered; this line of questioning struck a nerve, causing some resistance.

Seeing this, Die frowned slightly, thinking how her magic power must have waned considerably.

Out of necessity, she widened her eyes, and then, the skin around her eyes writhed as two additional eyes suddenly opened!

Her true form was a massive brain at the base with tentacle limbs, lacking actual eyes. She used magic to sense everything around her; her eyes were merely a guise and a tool for casting mind-influencing spells.

With four eyes focusing, the doubled magic power swept forth, forcing Hawthorne's resistance to subside.

"Yes," he nodded slightly, "She listens to me."

Die's eyes widened with disbelief: "What do you think the two of you are?"

Hawthorne puffed his chest with pride, "I am her Master, and she is my maid."

Instantly, the witch's beautiful eyes grew even wider, and a moment later, she couldn't help but burst into laughter, covering her mouth and doubling over, "Oh my—!"

So this is it, Heidi was playing a master-servant game with him!

Who knew this little witch developed such tastes?

"Haha... Master, haha..."

Die couldn't stop laughing, and a tear even trickled from the corner of her eye. Hawthorne, somewhat bewildered, asked, "Why are you laughing? I'm telling the truth. You can ask her yourself and see if she acknowledges me as her Master."

"Ah… yes, yes, I believe you," Die said, wiping away her tear as she straightened up.

She now recalled that Heidi was even more adept at Illusion and Hypnosis than she was, reveling in pushing someone to the brink of ecstasy with illusions before suddenly siphoning off part of their souls.

It seemed there was little to be gleaned from questioning this man. His mind had clearly been befuddled by Heidi, and he truly believed he was Heidi's Master!

How amusing!

"Then, let me ask you this," she said, suddenly playful, as she approached and cupped his face with her hands. "Why would Heidi, a devout nun, acknowledge you as her Master?"

Unseen by Hawthorne, her fingers subtly resumed their true form: slender, flagella-bearing tentacle limbs, brushing across his facial skin, coiling around his head, and even two slowly slipping into his ears.

This was a common tactic for her, especially when feeding: she could, at any moment, apply pressure, allowing those two tentacle limbs to pierce his ears and delve into his brain to begin reading his memories.

Completely unaware of the danger, Hawthorne answered earnestly, "Because she's a witch, and I purified her."