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“Allow me to introduce myself.”

The kimono-clad woman, Younashi, concealed her smile behind a fan as she turned to face Lichter and the others once more.

“My name is Younashi. I am a wandering writer from the far East. I was resting here when I stumbled upon a young maid in distress. She was about to cry, so I called out to her,” she explained. Elita nodded emphatically, acknowledging the sincerity in Younashi’s words.
“She’s telling the truth. When I was looking for Lady Seletina, I was approached by Lady Younashi, and I told her about the situation. She used her strange magic to guide me here.”
“Strange magic?”

Seletina, finally freed herself from Elita’s embrace, tilted her head in curiosity.

“Yes. It’s a very strange magic. Unlike anything I’ve seen around here…”
“That’s not entirely correct. It’s not quite magic. It’s a curse. It’s an old tradition in the East… Though I suppose you can liken it to magic.”
“I see… To think there was something like this…”

Although Seletina had knowledge of her previous life, curses were something she didn’t possess much information about. They were either a rare form of technique or something not commonly known in the Kingdom or the Empire.

Regardless, for the time being, Seletina didn’t feel a strong urge to delve deeper into the subject of curses.

As Seletina was minding her thoughts, Lichter stepped forward and addressed Lady Younashi.

“Thanks for guiding Elita. But Miss Younashi, let me ask. Just why did your companions here attack us?”
“Good questions… Though I too am not sure.”

Lady Younashi said, turning her head to the right.

Beyond her gaze, she noticed the four members of Flowing Shadows who appeared to be in a somewhat bad mood, staring at her.

“Lady Younashi. We used all the money.”
“Gambling. Liquor. Women. Men. We spent on those. We poor now.”
“Yesterday’s meal. Stir-fried bean sprouts.”
“So, we want to make money. Lady Younashi is mean.”
“I see…”

Younashi said, receiving their sharp glares and then swept her eyes around before inhaling the smoke from her smoking pipe.

“Well that’s how it is. They were just looking for spare change.”
“Wait a minute… It was all for money?!”

Lichter’s tone unintentionally became venomous. He had never seen or heard of a Gold Rank Adventurer having trouble with money.

It seems like this Younashi lady sure has a bad spending habit.
Lichter thought.

“I-I’d like to ask a question as well, if I may.”
Seletina asked timidly. Seeing her, Younashi smiled,

“Of course. What is it, pretty lady?”
“You are very kind… Which is strange, given that this town is in the middle of a witch hunt right now, and you’ve heard of Elita’s story and cooperated despite that. You even told Lichter that you’re on our side. If it’s for the money even now you can capture us at any moment, but you are not doing that. I can think of several reasons why you’d refuse to side with us, but I find it hard to think of a reason why you’d help us.”
“It’s normal for you to have your guard up.”

Younashi replied as she exhaled white smoke.

“I am a writer, but I’m traveling for a separate reason.”
“A separate reason?”
“It’s witches. I follow witches in order to study them. That’s why it’s not that hard for me to tell whether you’re a witch or not, young lady.”
“Studying witches?”

Seletina looked intrigued but not fully grasping the point, and Younashi chuckled in response.

“Aren’t you curious? Don’t you want to know where witches come from and why they’re so powerful?”
“……”
“I want to find out the secret behind their power. That’s why right now I’m in a pinch. You see, you’re being labeled as a witch despite not being one.”
“Why are you so interested in them?”
“There are several reasons… First it might provoke a real witch. Also, idiots who believe they can beat a witch are bound to appear. Furthermore, it would be very bad to have a scenario where one that is not a witch gets killed on the premise of being framed as one. Well, the list is endless when it comes to technical knowledge, but that just goes to show how delicate the matters are when it comes to witches. There’s no guarantee that it won’t interfere with my research.”

Younashi explained, counting down some of the points on her fingers to emphasize her points.

Seletina hesitated for a moment, contemplating if there was more to this Younashi, but in the end decided not to push it further.

“I understand. I have the general gist for now.”

Younashi nodded in satisfaction at Seletina’s words.

“In that case, allow us to help you get out of Leverence. And by us I mean these four.”
“What?”
“Who?”
“Why?”
“Hm?”

The four members of Flowing Shadows, who had been pointed at with the pipe, raised their voices in a barefaced manner.

Seeing the four of them together, Younashi burst into laughter, as if amused.

“You four look like pigeons that have just been shot by a peashooter.”
“But, Lady Younashi. That’s outside the scope of our work.”
“You do not need to worry. I’ll pay you accordingly.”
“But where will you get that much money fr…”

The response from the four members was lukewarm, as they seemed skeptical about the prospect of ample payment. Before Eupho could even finish her question, Younashi took out a bulging leather bag from her sleeve.

“It’s all money. What do you say? You up for it, you brats?”
“We’ll do it.”

Eupho accepted the bag of money, though her blank stare still seemed to suggest that she was dubious as to its original origin. Seletina, who was observing the exchange, couldn’t help but express her concerns to Younashi.

“Lady Younashi, I’m very pleased with your good intentions, but we have never met before, so I can’t ask you to do that much for us…” But before Seletina could finish, Younashi raised her slender finger to stop her.

“Beautiful lady, an old person’s goodwill is something you always accept.” Younashi said, the corners of her crimson lips turning upwards.