In the deep, deep darkness.

It was a place filled with noise.

The sound of skin slapping against skin.

The squelching noise of bodily fluids mixing together.

The groans and gasps of countless things tangled up together.

Within that, the writhing entities were all beautiful beings, but in the scene where they ravenously sought each other, as if all other emotions had been castrated, only the color remained, and beauty could not be found.

However, amidst that chaos, there was one serene spot.

At the very center of the color-crazed throng lay a girl, her eyes closed.

She stood out, shining brilliantly even among the striking figures surrounding her.

This girl, embodying the freshness of youth, the maturity of a woman, and the allure of a ripe maiden, possessed a beauty irresistible to any man.

Truly, she had a beauty that could be called unparalleled.

Yet, none of those ravenous entities dared lay a hand on that beautiful girl’s body.

It was as if they sensed fear rather than lust when it came to her.

The moment the girl lying on the ground slightly furrowed her brow and opened her eyes, the throng that had been seeking each other simultaneously froze and bowed their heads toward the awakened girl.

Looking around at the entities bowing their heads at her, with a furrowed brow, the girl naturally moved and settled upon the back of one lying prostrate.

It was a harsh action that could be humiliating, yet the expression on the one who had turned their back to the girl was filled solely with joy at being able to serve her.

And the girl, frowning atop the living chair trembling with delight, smiled as if she found it amusing and murmured.

“Well, even if it’s half-baked, it’s still a fellow kin, right?”

Perhaps, she wanted a little more.

While the girl was muttering that, a sudden black hole opened before her, and a hooded woman emerged from it.

The abruptly appearing woman, after briefly staring at the still girl, tilted her head and then burst into laughter, saying,

“Aha-ha! Looking at your expression, I guess it failed, huh? I told you so, didn’t I? It was bound to fail anyway. I only permitted it because I knew it would.”

“Hearing that makes me somewhat annoyed. But, I can’t help but give it a try, right? I’ve held back for so long. Besides, this was quite a charming toy. Ugh, anyway, it’s disappointing. It’s been a long time since I’ve put in such effort, and I never thought it would fail like this… Waiting until you completely fall asleep was quite a torture for someone as impatient as me.”

The woman, watching the whining girl, murmured.

“Well, don’t be too disappointed. Even if it had succeeded, it would have been a problem. A certain lazy fellow who treasures you enough to bring up a contract? If it got out that you touched it before him, he would’ve come for you, saying he’d kill you. Though he goes by the name of ‘Lazy,’ he’s someone who goes all out when things happen.”

“Ugh…”

At the name that slipped from the woman’s mouth, the girl’s body jolted and shivered.

The Lazy Witch, Beatrice.

Her name came up so many times in stories she had heard about the woman in front of her, ensuring that among witches, she was undoubtedly among the strongest.

With a fatal weakness against the woman’s abilities, even with many toys to die in her place, she could hardly scratch the Lazy’s body if it came to a fight, so defeat was inevitable.

Imagining that for a moment made her shrink back, and feeling rebellious for being momentarily frightened, the girl shouted.

“Well… no matter how hard that guy tries, he won’t find me! I’m not stepping a foot out of here! So I’m not scared!”

“What if the Lazy decided to reduce the world to ashes just to find you?”

“Pff… then I can just run away with your help! You’re my ally, so help me!”

“Haha, sure, sure. Running away is my specialty, so if it comes to that, I’ll help you out.”

As she playfully teased, the woman chuckled and replied.

If the Lazy came, there was no way but to run away.

No matter how powerful she was, she could not do everything.

Thus, the girl and the woman had been helping each other since long ago.

There were things only the girl could do and things only the woman could do. Their interests occasionally aligned.

And looking at her longtime ally, the girl complained.

“By the way, how long do I have to endure this? I really want a new toy now.”

The girl looked at the countless toys beneath her, all bowing before her.

These toys were all collections the girl had gathered over a long time.

Regardless of race or gender, her only hobby was collecting beautifully stunning things.

However, due to some damned witch’s actions, most of the races that remained in the world apart from humans had gone extinct, making it impossible to easily procure toys like before.

In such a situation, the easiest way to obtain new toys was to pair up the existing ones.

At first, experimenting with combinations was somewhat enjoyable, but that was only for a time.

After hundreds of years, even when the toys paired up to create new ones, the offspring were merely beautiful but reminiscent of things seen before, leaving the girl in boredom.

Thus, she wanted new toys to bring her new stimulation.

However, her ally forbade her from seeking new toys in human cities.

Even though she had already prepared everything, she merely kept saying to wait, that the time wasn’t right.

Due to an old contract made with the woman, she had decided to follow her orders concerning human cities, but with an extreme aversion to following anyone’s words, the girl couldn’t help but feel frustrated.

And in response to the girl’s grumbling, the woman showed her palms apologetically.

“Sorry, sorry. But just a little longer, okay? I’m still contemplating things.”

As she said that, the woman opened a black hole in the air, putting her hand inside.

What she pulled out from there was a large map.

A map of the world that the woman had created by wandering all over.

And the circular world drawn on the map was painted black, except for one spot.

Gently stroking the only white portion of the map, the area representing human cities, the woman spoke with her eyes shining from beneath the hood.

“When I came to my senses, you know? The candy jar I thought would never diminish had only one candy left. Naturally, this last candy would be even sweeter. Whether I bite into it or savor it, it will undoubtedly taste good. But, you see, that’s the last one. Once it’s eaten, I won’t ever taste that flavor again. So, I can’t help but ponder how to consume it most regretlessly, how to make it feel the sweetest. So, I will bear it, bear it, bear it, and once I decide it’s the right moment, I’ll devour it. Until then, regardless of how many toys you gather, I won’t care, so just a little longer, please wait.”

With some madness even felt in her words, the girl sighed and muttered.

“Sigh, don’t make me wait too long. I might run out of patience soon.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not very patient either.”

The woman then smiled as she replied to the girl.

“I’ve already been waiting for quite a while.”

It was at that moment.

“What… is this? An earthquake?”

A faint sound of something breaking echoed.

With the slight tremor felt, the girl tilted her head and asked.

Suddenly shivering, she asked in a trembling voice.

“C-could it be that the Lazy has come looking for me?”

“Well… I’m not sure, but something is definitely going on outside. I’ll go take a look.”

In response to the girl’s words, the woman soon opened a black hole leading outside and passed through.

And what entered the woman’s sight outside was,

[■■■■■■!!!!!]

“Hahaha!!! They’re nothing but small fry!!”

Seemingly having been bitten by something, a girl was standing atop the deep gouged land and the demonic beasts shrieking in blood.

At a glance, she had a resemblance to the beastfolk that had gone extinct long ago.

With beast ears atop her head, she had long black hair flowing like a lion’s mane, and with claws stretched out, she was severing the napes of the demonic beasts.

Yet the woman knew.

That this land was tainted by magic.

Ordinary beings could not even set foot here.

Then what could these beastfolk be?

While pondering that, the woman saw one of the beastfolk grin at her.

And at that moment,

The atmosphere was torn apart.

“Oh, this one’s not ordinary?”

In an instant, the woman dodged as if moving through space, evading the claws aimed at her neck, and the beastfolk asked with a satisfied smile.

“You’re a strong female… are you a witch?”

“…What if I am?”

“Well, that’s convenient. I just woke up, so my body felt all sluggish, and you’ll be a perfect opponent to warm up against.”

“Heh, it seems you’re planning to fight, how about at least introducing yourself?”

“An introduction? If you want, I will. I am Frieda.”

With the beastfolk who casually prepared for a fight, the woman said this.

The beastfolk responded with a smile of approval, drawing a line in the air with their finger.

“I am the ‘Pride Witch,’ just like you.”

And upon the appearance of one who called herself the Pride Witch,

“Hahaha, really~? You’re calling yourself Pride?”

The woman couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Are you laughing? You aren’t thinking of running away out of fear, are you?”

“Not at all. I don’t particularly have confidence in combat, and while escaping is my specialty…”

The reason was that the being before her was just too ridiculous.

“You’re not worthy of losing to someone like you.”

As the woman looked at the one glowering at her in response to her taunts, she shone her eyes from her hood.

With a greedy smile, she had found a useful piece in the game.