“Is it really true that the power source of the barrier has disappeared…?”

“Is that true? That’s a huge deal! Is there… is there any way to fix this? If that happens, the city is doomed!”

The body of the witch, which served as the power source for the barrier, had vanished.

When we stepped out of the management room and conveyed this news outside, chaos inevitably ensued.

It was impossible for anyone hearing such sudden news not to realize that we were in serious trouble. Who could possibly remain calm?

“If this news gets out, there will be a massive uproar among the citizens…!”

“What do we do… We need to come up with some countermeasures! As quickly as possible!”

It was already an expected sequence of events that trouble would arise.

Until now, the barrier had been an integral part of the city’s existence.

Even if the outside world was an uninhabitable land for humans, the belief that this city would not become such an area, where one had to be concerned about demonic invasions, was rooted deeply.

That belief was the main driving force enabling this city to operate smoothly.

However, now that the barrier had disappeared, people could no longer live in peace.

Even though using the purification devices for magic would prevent the streets from becoming too deeply contaminated, the difference between 0 and non-zero was a matter beyond dimensions.

Even the weakest lesser demonic beasts possessed enough strength to harm civilians, meaning that a lesser demon could suddenly spawn next to my bedside and possibly kill me.

From now on, people had to live in constant fear, wondering when a demonic beast might take their life at any moment.

It was only natural that the city would fall into chaos for a while because of this.

While it was true that humans always lived with the risk of dying in various ways, expecting them to accept such a rapid change in circumstances was unrealistic.

How could anyone simply accept that a new danger, unlike anything they had encountered before, had arisen?

Of course, even so, it was impossible for everyone to just sit back and do nothing.

The reason a meeting was called was also to find some sort of countermeasure.

“For now, I’ll try to expand the range of the World Tree’s influence as much as possible. If I’m right, I should be able to extend it to the northern area of the city, so let’s prioritize evacuating the citizens there first.”

“Is that even possible…! Then while the citizens are evacuating there, I will proceed to install the purification devices in the other areas as quickly as possible. I was worried we might have to abandon the city altogether, but thank goodness for that.”

Thanks to Sylvia, there was somewhat of a glimmer of hope.

Currently, the area near the northern forest where the World Tree had its roots had transformed into a livable space thanks to the World Tree’s power, and Sylvia could potentially widen that area up to the northern part of the city.

From that point, they were planning to gradually secure the city again.

If the World Tree hadn’t been resurrected, this too would have been impossible.

In the original story, once the barrier disappeared, the city gradually became infested with magic, forcing the inhabitants to abandon it and live in hiding.

Perhaps for that reason, the more the meeting continued, the more traces of hope appeared on people’s faces.

However, despite the situation being better than in the original story, I couldn’t feel optimistic at all, and unlike everyone else, I struggled to relax my stern expression.

And I wasn’t the only one wearing such a tense expression.

“…Um, Eve, do you have any thoughts on a countermeasure?”

“Ah… well, I can’t think of any specific countermeasures.”

At the sudden question, Teacher Eve forced a smile and answered, but her expression quickly returned to one of deep contemplation.

For reference, Eve happened to be seated next to me.

While everyone around was discussing countermeasures and clinging to some hope, the two witches sitting side by side were just maintaining serious expressions, drawing attention from various corners of the room.

Perhaps those gazes reflected annoyance at how the witches seemed indifferent to concerns surrounding the demonic threats while the issue at hand was life or death for everyone else.

But my serious expression didn’t stem from a lack of consideration for the situation.

And I figured Eve’s thoughts were similar.

“…Teacher.”

As I quietly called out, she slightly turned her head towards me, as if wondering what was the matter.

I asked her in a soft voice.

“…What happened to the vanished Gluttonous Witch?”

Regarding the whereabouts of the Gluttonous Witch.

That question was the reason for the conflicting attitudes of me and my teacher compared to everyone else.

I was someone who knew the terror of the Gluttonous Witch from the original story.

And Teacher Eve was the only one among us who had faced the Gluttonous Witch directly.

Others might feel that she was a terrifying presence, but there’s a vast difference between knowing and not knowing.

The disappearance of the barrier was a problem that could somehow be overcome.

However, if the Gluttonous Witch were to resurrect, that would mean…

Was that the reason?

At my question, Teacher Eve’s expression darkened as she replied solemnly.

“…Indeed.”

Knowing the terror of that being better than anyone, her voice shook.

“I just hope she doesn’t show up…”

At her words, I echoed her wish.

That the witch, feared even by other witches, would never appear before us.

If that were to happen, it would likely be the day the world would be doomed.

—

In the darkness.

A girl lying down with her eyes closed let out a soft sigh before opening her eyes.

“…Ah, what a waste, what a waste.”

As she opened her eyes, the surrounding dolls bowed their heads, but the girl paid them no mind.

Her mind was solely preoccupied with the events that had just transpired.

The girl abruptly sat up from her lying position and mumbled.

“I made the confession knowing I wouldn’t get caught, but I still feel a bit disappointed. I wanted to at least see the humans panicking after realizing the magic protecting them was gone.”

The chunks of meat that had been laid beneath her trembled in disappointment, but the girl paid them no mind.

They were nothing but puppets, existing solely to follow her will.

They were of no worth for her to concern herself with.

Thus, the girl, who was the true controller and was currently possessing Flone, the one known as the Witch of Lust to humans, asked the only other person in her presence who was worthy of dialogue.

“So, it’s certain that the annoying barrier will soon disappear? That means all the demonic beasts I planted will be cleared out, and I won’t be able to see what’s happening over there.”

“Yep, it’s about time. It should be soon. Thanks for your hard work in the meantime.”

Upon the girl’s question, a woman wearing a hooded cloak replied.

Then the girl shouted back, unable to hold back her annoyance.

“Sure, I’ve been laboring away! Do you have any idea how hard it was to hold back my desires for the humans just because you wouldn’t let me touch them?”

I went through the trouble of creating puppets for the top hierarchy, but I couldn’t use them freely.

I couldn’t touch things that I liked willy-nilly.

Having amassed frustrations over the time, the girl grumbled for a moment but soon burst into a triumphant expression and exclaimed.

“But that ends now! I might have had to endure for hundreds of years due to a slip of the tongue, but anyway, this contract with you is now completely over! You said once this is done, I could do whatever I want! So now I will really do whatever I want! Don’t get in my way!”

At the girl’s declaration, the woman nodded, as if to indicate she could do as she pleased.

With the woman’s consent, the girl cheerfully chattered with excitement.

“Ha ha, then I’ll get ready to storm in! I’ll add those I’ve had my eye on to my collection and turn other humans into puppets too!”

“Do you think you can handle them all by yourself?”

As the woman subtly inquired, the girl shook the black gem hanging from the necklace around her neck as if to show it.

“With this, it’s possible. After all, having more numbers would only be advantageous to me.”

“That is true, you might actually be able to turn all humans into your puppets.”

“Eh, I won’t turn them all into puppets. I have to leave some to secure my future. Honestly, if I make them all my puppets, they lose their individuality. So I plan to leave some behind to let them wander.”

While actively sharing her plans with the woman, the girl’s attention drifted to the black orb the woman held in her hand.

Seeing this, the girl’s expression hardened, and she asked in a hesitant voice.

“…But what about that?”

Fear lingered in the girl’s voice when she spoke.

It was only natural; within it resides a being even the bravest would fear.

Except for that lazy creature, of course.

Regardless, the girl couldn’t help but be disturbed by the sight of the orb that the woman kept holding.

Every time she saw it, her body involuntarily shuddered.

Thus, she spoke to the woman, hoping she would hide the orb away in a place out of sight.

“Isn’t it uncomfortable carrying that around? Why not just bury it deep in the ocean…?”

“Oh, it is indeed quite cumbersome.”

The woman nodded in agreement with the girl’s words.

Ah, I guess I won’t have to see that annoying thing anymore.

The girl couldn’t hide her relief, but then the woman continued.

“But even in this weakened state, it’s so lively that if I take my eyes off it for even a moment, it might recover its strength and come out.”

“Gah?!”

At the woman’s subsequent words, the girl immediately recoiled, shaking her head vehemently, and shouted.

“T-That’s a huge issue! That means I’ll have to keep an eye on it, which is bothersome!”

“Yeah, that’s definitely a big problem.”

The girl internally screamed at the nonchalant woman.

Your last statement was an outright cancellation, so please don’t stop paying attention to it!

And to her ears, she heard the woman, in an almost tranquil tone, mumbling.

“So, I’ll just release it.”

With a voice so calm, the woman uttered those words.

“W-What?!”

The girl’s brain momentarily struggled to comprehend what she had just heard, briefly at a loss for words.

“Wait a moment, you’re joking, right…?”

Finally, she stammered, asking the woman in a panicked tone.

Thinking it was just her teasing, like usual.

But despite her question, the woman’s face remained unfazed, making the girl realize the woman wasn’t kidding.

“You’re crazy?! You would just release it?! You know what happens if you do that…!”

Thus, the girl shouted at the woman, incredulous.

Both she and the woman were aware of the being contained within the orb.

The girl, who had previously underestimated humans, felt sincere gratitude to them when they managed to seal it.

What’s more, the lazy one had some degree of rationality.

And that being had none.

A catastrophe that devours everything except itself, with no distinction between friend or foe.

Proposing to unleash that upon the world was tantamount to inviting death.

“If you do that, I’m going to die at its hands! Please! Huh? After all this time collaborating with me, you’re suggesting you want to kill me?”

No, it might not be outright suicide.

If the woman willed it, she could evade endlessly.

Of course, the girl, who had no such option, was certain to die.

So the girl pleaded, citing their long-term cooperation, hoping to appeal to her emotions, but the woman answered with a smile, as if to denote nonsense.

“Cooperation? Haven’t we just been in a contract? As you said, the contract’s over, right? From now on, you don’t have to worry about me anymore. I’ll go about doing as I please.”

“You… you…!”

The girl’s face reflected betrayal, feeling hurt as the line was drawn so distinctly.

In response, the woman gently said her farewells.

“Thanks for your hard work, Lust. No, Lily.”

“You, you traitor!!!!”

The girl’s enraged scream echoed throughout the place.

And in the very next moment, the woman had appeared far from the girl who had just been there.

Still clutching the black orb.

With a smile on her face, the woman muttered to herself.

“Heh, I suppose it’s entertaining to toy with you.”

The girl’s face, stained with feelings of betrayal, was quite something to behold.

Showing such an expression made her a prime target for tricks.

The woman pondered of the girl, surely realizing by now that she had just been the subject of a prank, likely growing more irritated.

Though not everything the woman said was a mere jest.

“Not releasing you there was my way of showing affection. To survive a little longer, you better be ready to flee, Lily.”

The woman spoke playfully.

Allowing the girl even a hint of reprieve was likely due to their past relationship.

After all, she was someone who preferred saving the delicious treats for later.

In that moment, the woman, who had smiled while thinking of the girl, finally looked down at the orb in her hand.

Slowly, she began to caress the orb, murmuring.

“You know, I think it would be a pretty nice ending if humanity, destroyed by the witch who served as the power source for the barrier meant to protect them, were to result in their extinction. That would not only make me satisfied.”

Continuing as though speaking directly to the orb, the woman went on.

“So remember, you’ll be part of the final act to finish my script. And that there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”

As she spoke to the orb, the woman wore a sly smile.

“So it’s a contract. I’ll release you on the condition that you grant me a favor later. Understood?”

The orb trembled lightly.

The woman beamed at the shaking orb.

“Then it’s a deal! Since you understand, stop bothering me. I’m going to release you now.”

Saying this, the woman placed the orb on the ground.

With a crack, the orb cracked apart.

And before long, the woman stood at a distance.

“…Wow, how quickly it happened. Well, I never asked you not to harm me, so this isn’t a breach of contract.”

When she had no qualms about removing her fingers, dark tendrils crept along their edges as they began to disintegrate.

The woman gazed at the spot where she had left the orb.

“At any rate, it’s been pent up long enough, so go ahead and have your fun.”

The woman chuckled.

Anticipating the return of the devastation that had previously devoured seven tenths of the world all on its own,

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ !!!!!!!!!!

The return of a catastrophe loomed.