The day was gradually darkening, and Master and disciple parted ways, agreeing to meet again tomorrow.

Pamun left the Vendel estate and stepped into the bustling streets.

Her steps were so light and bouncy, matching the gentle rhythm of her movements, that they could be described as nothing short of cheerful. The ends of her purple robe swayed along with her energetic pace.

---

"Good grief."

Duran, the sentient book, clicked his metaphorical tongue in disbelief at Pamun’s behavior. Though he was a book, he managed to convey the gesture anyway.

"Have you gotten used to this place already?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"This city. When you first arrived, you hated it, remember?"
"Did I?"

- *Oh, Duran. Doesn’t it smell weird here?*
- *I’m a book.*

"Did I really say that?"

- *Duran, do you see that sculpture? It’s hideous... What’s so beautiful about that thing that humans put it up as a point of pride? Their sense of aesthetics is beyond me.*
- *From a common standpoint, it may not hold much artistic value, but aesthetically, it’s not too bad. Especially compared to the things you’ve cluttered your hut with.*

"I don’t remember any of that~"

- *Ew, the ground feels weird.*
- *Really? It seems like a well-paved road to me.*
- *My mistake. I should’ve worn higher heels.*
- *You could buy some while you’re in the city. There are plenty of shoes around here.*
- *No way~ They’re probably made from leather ripped off some poor animal by savage hunters. Do you expect me to wear that?*

"...Hmph~"

- *This place is so crowded. Why are there so many people?*
- *It’s a city.*
- *How do they not feel suffocated, living so cramped together like this? It’s like they’re spiders all huddled up in a tiny cave.*
- *Weren’t you the one who once found those horrible creatures “cute,” and now you’re comparing them to humans?*
- *What I mean is~ humans live cramped together even though they’re not particularly close. That’s why they’re always backstabbing and fighting each other—*

"…"

- *Hey, Pamun. Didn’t you say you wanted to go to the library?*
- *Yeah. That’s why I’m here.*
- *What do you mean? If you wanted to go to the library, wouldn’t it make sense to stop by that “main hall” place first?*
- *Duran, you wouldn’t understand, but the most interesting books are usually hidden in places like this.*
- *Then why did you sigh when you saw the line of people in front of the main hall?*
- *I was just out of breath from walking too long.*
- *And why did you sigh after browsing through the books here?*
- *…Oh look, Duran! This book on herbs is hilarious! The author calls himself an expert, but he’s completely wrong about everything!*

Pamun feigned ignorance as Duran, with his exceptional memory, recalled each conversation they’d had.

At one point, Pamun shifted awkwardly, casting glances around, but then—

"Ah~"

The moment Duran brought up the “annex library,” Pamun’s face lit up, and she clapped her hands.

"That’s right! The book Lisir was reading! I totally forgot. I should go borrow that sometime. A book about cats? Cities sure do have everything, don’t they?"

Duran scoffed in disbelief at her enthusiasm. Though he had no face, the sound was unmistakable.

"So, what’s your plan for tonight?"
"Hmm?"
"Tonight. Didn’t you say you’d be staying at the storage shed?"
"Storage shed? That’s rude to your friends, Duran."
"Who’s my friend?"
"And, thinking about it, I’ve changed my mind. Since I’m out of the forest for the first time in a while, shouldn’t I make the most of the city’s culture?"
"You were just nitpicking about everything earlier, though."
"People from the forest tend to be a bit rough around the edges, you know."
"Have you become a city person already?"
"You know, dark elves are a species of adaptation. That’s how we’ve survived the harsh forest."

"How impressive."

*Tap.*

The constant rhythmic sound of Pamun’s footsteps finally stopped.

"Ah. Here it is."

Before parting ways with Lisir, the last topic of conversation had been about Hayerren.

Suddenly, for reasons even Pamun herself couldn’t quite explain, she had developed a strong curiosity about the city and asked her disciple many questions about it.

- *In your opinion, Lisir, what’s the best place in this city?*

The conversation started with questions like that.

Every question began with “Lisir.”
- *In your opinion, Lisir—*
- *What do you think, Lisir—*

Wanting to ensure his Master had a good time, Lisir answered sincerely.
Seeing her disciple’s efforts, Pamun felt a competitive urge rise within her.

- *So, is there a place you’ve been curious about, even though you haven’t visited it yet?*

As her Master, Pamun wanted to experience these places first and then report back to Lisir with her impressions, a way of one-upping him.

Wasn’t that a fun way to explore the city? Sharing the experience with her local disciple.

---

"Sigh~ If I’d known, I would’ve packed a wider variety of clothes. What’s Lisir going to think? 'Ah, my Master has been wearing the same outfit for a week straight. She must not be doing well financially. Her social standing can’t be that high either.'"
"Really? He’s that observant?"
"This is the place Lisir said he was curious about but hasn’t been to yet."

---

"A café, huh? I guess these are all the rage with humans these days?"

When Lisir heard the word "café," he imagined a shop with a mermaid logo selling bitter coffee brewed from roasted beans. But the café Pamun was now looking at was quite different from what Lisir had envisioned.

In this city, a café was a social gathering place. It was where those with some degree of education, status, and class would gather to converse and bond.

"I see a lot of people around Lisir’s age here."

Just as Pamun was about to enter the café—

*Thud!*

Her body was shoved to the side as a woman bumped into her shoulder.

"Oh, excuse me."

The woman was none other than Moila, a young noblewoman known by those around her.

Moila glanced back at Pamun, seemingly about to offer an apology, but then—

"What is this? A dark elf?"

As Moila’s gaze met Pamun’s, a sadistic smile crept across her face.

Moila’s companions soon gathered around Pamun, surrounding her.

- *What’s going on? How are they able to see you?*
- *I lifted the cognitive-reduction spell.*
- *What? Why would you do that?*
- *I wanted to experience this place more vividly.*
- *Well, this is more vivid than I would’ve liked.*

The conversation, concealed by magic, reached only each other’s ears.

Pamun offered Moila a graceful bow.

"I’m sorry, I must have been lost in thought."

*Pffft.*

What came back was an uncontrollable scoff.

"A dark elf pretending to be a noble?"

---

Moila’s eyes examined Pamun’s robe, as if evaluating its worth.

"Hey, everyone, look at this. Have you ever seen fabric like this before?"
"Is it from the East? I’ve heard that Eastern goods are trending in the capital these days."
"It’s so elegant. Whoever she is, she must have a lot of money."
"Indeed."

Moila leaned in closer to Pamun and whispered softly.

"Where would a dark elf like you get your hands on something so precious, hmm?"
"Don’t be too harsh. Maybe she saved up from working hard to buy it. Thieving is quite a profitable trade, after all."
"Or perhaps she swindled some country noble, using her curses and hexes to scare them."

Pamun’s expression remained unchanged.
She still wore a vibrant, lively smile.

"If you’re done, I’ll be on my way."

Pamun stepped forward, but Moila blocked her path.

"Where do you think you’re going?"
"I was interested in that shop behind you."
"Oh really? That’s a shame. This isn’t a place where someone of your lowly status can enter."

Moila glanced over at her guard, Garon, signaling him with her eyes.
He approached Pamun, his tone firm and cold.

With his hand resting on his sword, he spoke.

"Hey, dark elf. Show me your identification papers."

The hostile atmosphere began drawing attention from bystanders.

Moila gave a graceful bow to the crowd.

"I apologize, everyone. It seems I’ve caused a bit of a commotion. I’ll take care of this shortly, so please bear with me."

At her signal, Garon nodded and reached out to roughly grab Pamun’s arm.

At that moment—

"…"

The light vanished from Garon’s eyes. He immediately froze in place, his movements halted.

"Excuse me, everyone. Is anyone here associated with the Vendel family?"

Pamun’s voice rang out.

"What? Vendel?"
"How dare you sully their name with that filthy mouth of yours?"

"Ah, thank you for

 your kind response."

As Pamun finished speaking, Garon moved.

*Slap!*

A loud, harsh sound echoed through the air.

And then again.

"Aaaah! Garon!! What are you doing!"
"What do you think you’re—Aaagh! You hit me! Did you just hit me!?"

Garon’s hand moved with precise, sharp movements.
He left a huge red mark on the cheek of each noble in Moila’s group.

"Lady Moila’s orders…"
"What!? How dare you—"
"No! Garon, are you insane!? What are you saying!?"

It was a spectacle.

The noblewomen shrieked and slapped each other, pulling each other’s hair, turning the scene into utter chaos.

---

The front of the café quickly turned into a riot.

"What’s all the commotion outside?"
"I heard Moila and Rodan are having a fistfight?"
"...Let’s go!"

Passersby and café patrons poured outside, fixated on the rare spectacle.

By then, the dark elf had been completely forgotten from everyone’s minds, thanks to the cognitive-reduction magic she cast once more.

She slipped into the café, unnoticed.

---

The counter, left abandoned as both staff and patrons had run outside to watch the fight, had a drink sitting on it, unattended.

The dark elf placed a gold coin on the counter and picked up the drink.

---

"Mmm~"

Sitting by the window, the dark elf took a sip from the cup and hummed in satisfaction.

"So, Pamun. What do you think of this city culture?"
"Not bad. Actually, I quite like it. I wonder what kind of tea this is. It’s black, bitter, but it has a distinct flavor."

*Hah.*

Duran let out a half-laugh at Pamun’s sly response.

From the book’s perspective, his master’s behavior was anything but normal.
The Pamun he knew would’ve been deeply disappointed and disgusted by what just happened.

Those rude, crass humans would have paid dearly.
Their public brawl would’ve been nothing compared to the punishment she’d have dished out.

But now, she seemed genuinely delighted, thoroughly enjoying the human’s space and culture.

"Tomorrow, the sun must be rising from the west."
"Isn’t that something? I can’t wait for tomorrow~ I bet my disciple is just as excited for it as I am."
"Ridiculous."

---

▷ Character 3: The Witch of the Western Forest - Deactivated.