Until The Witch Dies

Chapter 16

Section 3: Booze and Cigarettes, Good Food and Women

Translated by AmaLynne

My master’s house and I are surrounded by a Witch Forest.

This is a special place where we manage our magic and the flora and fauna.

By managing the magic well, the soil becomes fertile and has the heat of spring soil.

By cultivating rich soil, it becomes possible to cultivate plants that are difficult to grow due to the nature of the land.

The Witch Forest is also home to many small animals, which coexist well.

People from the city sometimes visit, so it is my job to keep an eye out for dangerous plants and animals.

Inori-san walks next to me, humming a tune.

「You seem to be in a good mood.」

「I’ve just finished a very formal meeting. The air is clean here, and I feel much better.」

「Is it really so hard to go to a meeting after all?」

「That’s right. We talk day after day, night after night, and there are so many things on the agenda, so many crazy requests, and so many irregularities that it’s a real whirlwind. I mean, you are a disciple of the Seven Sage and you don’t know?」

「Yes, Master, you don’t talk much about work…」

「I see…」

Inori-san scratched her cheek, somewhat annoyed.

「Well, well, she doesn’t want to worry her beloved disciple, so don’t worry about it.」

「When will Master be back…?」

「Who knows? This time it’s quite urgent. You are worried about your master, aren’t you?」

「No, not at all.」

「Eh!? Then what you just said right now! You looked so sad!」

「It’s sad to think that my short break is over…」

「You showed me your sad face when I said I wouldn’t talk about work!」

「I was about to yawn, so I just bit it off.」

「Don’t yawn at me!」

Inori-san shook his head in exasperation and blurted out,「Totally, I’m going crazy.」

「You must be tired from the conference.」

「It’s your fault!」

Numerous aromatic plants, medicinal herbs, and herbal remedies are grown naturally in the Witch Forest.

It is not that they are untouched, but in the Witch Forest, plants grow quickly and all have a strong vitality.

There is not much need to put hands on them.

My work consists mainly of soil and magic management.

Inori-san touched the soil at the base of the tree and checked its condition.

「It’s well managed, isn’t it?」

「I take care of it every day. It’s a lot of work.」

「Are you doing this?」

「Yes, well. Master is very busy.」

「Hm~mm. The quality of the humus, the magic in the soil, and the circulation are perfect. If it’s managed this well, I’m sure it will produce a stable crop. You’re picking the dirt.」

「This is my field.」

Ignoring my best imitation of a country farmer, Inori-san looked somewhat mystified.

「It’s an excellent quality to be able to see the dirt. Especially since things have been going crazy lately. The climate, the environment. There’s a high demand, so there’s no shortage of jobs.」

「I appreciate that, but why?」

「People have put too much work into nature. The air has been polluted and the forests have been cut down. They think they can restore it with magic.」

Environmental issues, research requests, government requests, etc.

There is much work to be done by the Seven Sage.

One problem in particular that has recently become an issue is the change in the ecosystem due to the influence of magic.

It destroys rare species, drives animals mad, and changes the environment.

I heard on the news some time ago that deserts have been spreading because of it in recent years.

「When plants are cut down and their numbers are reduced, the magic that circulates through the land has nowhere to go. As a result, the magic power concentrates and flows to large individuals. Then, that individual cannot maintain their normal state and becomes unstable. This phenomenon called『Seed-Eating』occurs. Weak individuals will be killed.」

Slurring her words, Inori-san explains the process by which abnormal phenomena occur.

「When magic power gathers, it gains power. It is an ironclad rule of mages. If you gain power, what will you do?」

「I will have wealth and honor, and I will build a harem of beautiful men.」

「You don’t.」

Well, that’s what it all boils down to, Inori-san muttered.

「If an animal eats a plant or fruit that has collected magic power, it too will ingest an excess of magic power. Then they will start attacking people. In the Orient, there was a lurid case of a bear attack. A number of women in a village were eaten by a brown bear. In this way, the number of incidents of animals attacking people will increase. They come into town. So, there is an outbreak of demons.」

「Hyiee…」

Overusing lots of powerful magic can also disrupt the natural flow of magic.

It distorted the ecosystem, she said, little by little.

It’s kind of serious.

The air was a little heavy.

「I don’t like this kind of atmosphere.」

I say, and Inori-san looks at me.

「Life is short, and you should fill it with only the things that are fun. Drinking, smoking, good food, and women.」

「An old man, huh?」