Silent Witch

Book 15: Chapter 14: Two Hotheads

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"I am Monica Everett, one of the Seven Sages of the Ridill Kingdom, known as the Silent Witch. Please, lend me your strength."

Those words froze the air in the room.

No one could comprehend the meaning of what she said, and they were perplexed and confused.

Monica gripped her staff tightly, keeping her head bowed, desperately trying not to tremble.

She was afraid to look up.

She was afraid to know how everyone was looking at her.

"Monica, heyyou're joking, right?"

Those hoarse words came from Lana.

Ah, she had to say it. Say it with her own mouth. "I'm sorry for deceiving you all this time."

Last night, she had imagined this moment over and over and over, thinking about what she should say, but her mouth was dry as a bone, and her tongue wouldn't move.

Breaking the silence in place of Monica was Isabelle, who had been standing behind her.

"It's understandable that you would all be surprised. However, I, Isabelle Norton, representing the House of Count Kerbeck, will testify. This person is the genuine user of chantless magic who defeated the Black Dragon Wogan, the Silent Witch of the Seven Sages."

Even after Isabelle's firm declaration, those in the room still looked half-skeptical.

Among them, Hubert whistled as he leaned back on the sofa.

"Hmm, hmm hmm hmm It'd be quicker to just show this than explain with words, eh?"

With a snap of Hubert's fingers, the ring on his finger ominously glowed red, spawning ten arrows of flame.

The flames unleashed from Hubert's prized magic tool flew straight at Monica.

It was a certain kill, not giving her a moment to chant a defensive barrier.

As soon as Monica raised her head and spotted the flames, she chantlessly unleashed ice arrow magic.

And with them, she shot down all of Hubert's flame arrows.

The corners of Hubert's mouth twisted into a fiendish, delighted grin.

"Well then, how about this?"

Hubert spread his fingers as wide as they could go, then abruptly clenched them into a fist. The ten flame arrows surrounding him coalesced into a single spear of flame.

Its scorching, spark-spewing spearhead wasn't aimed at Monica, but at the others seated at the table.

Cyril and Glenn, who were familiar with that magic, tried to hastily cast defensive barriers and counters, but it was too late.

"Senior Dee."

Monica struck the floor with a thud of her staff.

With just that, water snaked out of Monica's staff and coiled around the flame spear.

"Please don't use offensive magic indoors."

"Why not? My Uncle goes wild even indoors, doesn't he?"

"I know."

Recalling the time they got caught in the crossfire on New Year's, Monica turned her gaze forward.

Lana and the others now looked at Monica with eyes of utter disbelief. Even the usually expressionless Claudia had her eyes wider than usual.

As Hubert had intended, the effect of demonstrating her chantless magic was immense, more impactful than any explanation.

Even those unfamiliar with magic knew that "normally, one cannot use magic without chanting incantations."

Anyone with even a bit of magical knowledge would understand how extraordinary Monica's skill was to instantly shoot down Hubert's flame arrows.

Monica gripped her staff tightly and forced out her voice.

"Will youlisten to me?"

There was a clatter as someone stood up from their chairit was Cyril.

With quiet steps, Cyril approached Monica and looked down at her.

When Monica averted her eyes, Cyril knelt down and bowed her head to Monica.

"Please forgive my rudeness until now. Lady Everett."

The polite apology, calmly spoken, pierced Monica's heart more than any curse would.

At a loss for words, Cyril told her flatly,

"So it was you who saved me when my mana went out of control last autumn."

"! How did you know about that?"

Indeed, Monica had stopped Cyril's mana outburst when she had just enrolled at the academy.

But she had been completely concealed at the time Monica's expression stiffened as Cyril glanced at her hand.

"The hooded person who saved me last autumn, and the person I met at the palace during the New Year's ceremonyand Treasurer Norton's hands were strikingly similar."

Monica's hands were indeed small and childlike compared to other girls her age.

However, Monica had never imagined that Cyril, let alone Felix, would figure out her true identity.

"So, Lord Cyril have you realized who I really am at that time?"

"I did not gain complete certainty, but"

Cyril lowered his long lashes.

"As a representative of the Seven Sages, the nation's treasures, I sincerely apologize for my numerous discourtesies towards you."

Dumbfounded by Cyril's earnest apology, Monica stood frozen.

Please, think nothing of it. It can't be helped since I concealed my identity.

She knew she should say something like that to put this matter to rest and move on to the main issue, but her tongue refused to cooperate.

I have to properly say, "It's okay." It's because I'm the Silent Witch

Monica knew that if she revealed her identity, Cyril and the others would treat her more respectly.

They would keep their distance. She had steeled herself for all of it.

And yet

"I don't want that."

A lump formed in her throat, and her eyes felt hot.

The words she had prepared for today flew out of her head, and her mouth started moving on its own.

"Don't use honorifics with me I don't want that"

Hot droplets spilled from her eyes. And as if a dam had burst, tears streamed out one after another.

Monica hurriedly tried to wipe her tears with the back of her hand, but they wouldn't stop. Her throat kept hitching, making unsightly noises.

As Monica cried and hiccuped like a child, Cyril furrowed his brow in a fluster.

"L-Lady Everett"

"I like your usual, grumpy betterhicwah, waaaah"

".."

Now Monica crouched down, clinging to her staff and soaking her sleeve with her tears as she curled up.

"I'm sorry for lying so much I'm sorry for deceiving youI'm sorry"

Once overcome with guilt, Monica could do nothing but apologize. She was utterly useless.

She was one of the Seven Sages. She had things she had to do.

I knew I couldn't behave like this!

And yet, her tears and sobs wouldn't stop.

She was afraid to stand up and face everyone's reactions.

Afraid of being cursed as a liar, of being scorned as a disgrace despite being one of the Seven Sages

It's scared me, It's frightening

As she trembled in a crouch, she heard the sound of someone standing up from a chair with a thud.

When Monica flinched and looked up, someone was kneeling in front of herIt was Lana.

Lana's mouth was -shaped, and her brows were furrowed in an angry expression. Seeing Monica shrink back from her scowl, Lana took out a handkerchief from her pocket and forcefully pressed it against Monica's face.

"You idiot Monica. How can you fight when you're crying like that?"

"F-Fight? So you'reangry"

As Monica trembled, Lana roughly wiped her face while scolding her.

"Yeah, I'm angry! I'm mad that you kept secrets from me! Were you deceiving me this whole time!? Didn't you trust me!?' That's what I'm thinking! But,"

Lana pouted sullenly, muttering, "But just because I'm angry doesn't necessarily mean I hate you."

When Monica repeatedly opened and closed as she let out meaningless words, Lana pinched her nose firmly.

"Ugmmmpph"

"And yeah, I'm frustrated, but I can kinda understand that you had reasons for not revealing the truth. I'm not that dumb."

"Uuuh"

"So. I still think of you as a friend. Don't you feel the same, Monica?"

Lana's face right in front of her was a little teary-eyed.

That's right, Monica wasn't the only one shaken. Lana had just had the truth suddenly revealed to her as well.

With her nose pinched, Monica answered through her sobs,

"I tho too"

Lana nodded firmly. "Good." She pressed the handkerchief into Monica's hand.

Then Lana went behind Monica, grabbed her shoulders, and turned her to face Cyril again.

"My apologies for the wait, Vice President Ashley. Please, go ahead."

It's that what Lana said. But go ahead with what? Monica blinked cluelessly.

Clearing his throat, Cyril spoke up.

"Treasurer Norton!"

The sharp voice cracked like a whip, resonating through the student council room.

As abruptly as if she had hiccuped, Monica's sobs stopped.

"How could a student council member act in such an unsightly manner! A student council officer ought to be an example for the entire student body at all times! First, do something about that disgraceful face!"

With a raised eyebrow, Cyril scolded, and Monica opened her puffy eyes wide.

"It's the usual Lord Cyril."

When Monica said that nasally, Cyril awkwardly cleared his throat again.

"Since you're still attending as a student, there'll be no change to your position as a student council member. So, it's still fine to call you Treasurer Norton."

"Yes, I'm okay with Treasurer Norton"

With a tear-stained face, Monica gave a feeble smile.