Therefore, the witch didn't even turn her head, but just pursed her lips and rolled her eyes.
This was neither bluff nor mockery. She was simply genuinely bored in this situation surrounded by traitors.
"Hey you guys, do you think I'm some old, senile witch who's lived too long and foolishly walked into your ambush?"
Since she was bored anyway, she figured she might as well give an explanation. Abigail considered herself to be quite magnanimous, so she began to speak in a leisurely manner.
"But then again, living for hundreds of years is a skill in itself. I'm not saying that being old necessarily means being strong, but rather that experience in dealing with various situations is very important—you think you're lying in ambush on me, but don't you think it's also possible that I deliberately walked in to find out what the forces behind you are?"
Seeing the workers' behavior, she was less angry and more bored with it.
Unfortunately, the surrounding workers did not react directly to Abigail's words; all that could be felt was their anger, and they were clearly prepared to surround her.
Bored, Abigail could only sigh, and as if by magic, a wand suddenly appeared in her hand—although she was reluctant to waste her magic, she could always use props.
We should wait until we've apprehended them all before questioning them—
—Just as Abigail was thinking this, she suddenly sensed something amiss. Along with the unease came a feeling of nostalgia and unease. This feeling transformed into a terrifying intuition, one unrelated to all the preparations she had just made, an intuition that a witch could not express in words.
...Then Abigail finally realized something that had been obvious from the very beginning.
She didn't jump up, didn't change her breathing, and didn't let the overwhelming fear in her mind show any trace on her face.
Because the witch had realized that someone was watching her from behind.
The brief silence slipped by like a long few years.
Finally, Abigail slowly turned around.
A worker stood there, holding a lamp respectfully in his hands—a simple-looking oil lamp. The flame burned slowly in its center.
Although the witch's mouth was dry, she still managed to utter, "It's been a long time, Master (Patron)."
The flame flickered and shone as gently as if breathing, and spoke calmly in a voice identical to the witch's: "Four hundred years, Abigail. It's been four hundred years since we last met. It feels like yesterday."
And you still call me "benefactor" just like yesterday, without a hint of remorse, is that it?
211: Witch Supremacy
"Four hundred years have passed since we last met, Abigail. Yet you still call me Patron, as if it were just yesterday."
The flames are speaking.
"I can see that you are not only in excellent health, but your strength is also far greater than before. Since Medea of Colchis died, you have indeed become my most intelligent and cunning disciple, haven't you?"
She spoke in the exact same voice as Abigail, but with greater clarity.
But why, in four hundred years, has this most intelligent yet cunning disciple never come to help her benefactor? Why hasn't she come to help the goddess who bestowed upon her powerful magic, and whom she swore to serve forever?
The fire's tone was calm, yet the whisper was as chilling as death itself.
So much so that, even though the words weren't directed at them, the workers surrounding them couldn't help but shudder. No one spoke, no one dared to move, even though this had nothing to do with them.
Ironically, Abigail, the person directly involved, is not trembling or shaking.
"Because, Master, what is it that I revere as my protector?"
Her voice didn't betray fear; instead, it was calm and composed.
"Isn't what I'm after just learning witchcraft and magic from you, gaining immense power, and living a comfortable and carefree life? Just because I called you my benefactor four hundred years ago, do I have to risk my life to be completely devoted to you? Even if you fall from power and can no longer bring me benefits, it's the same?"
"That doesn't make sense, does it?"
And she actually said such an incredibly shocking truth. For a moment, almost all the other workers present were stunned.
Is this witch tired of living?! Or is she really not afraid at all?!
—Actually, of course not.
In truth, Abigail was terrified! But she didn't let the overwhelming fear in her mind show on her face. Because Abigail knew the goddess's capricious nature very well, and knew that even if she begged for mercy out of fear, it wouldn't help, but would only do harm.
“I have never betrayed you. I was not happy when you were brought down by the capitalists, but I had to find a way to survive. So I turned to doing some shady work for the Mitra Group... Yes, out of fear of them, I ran away like a coward, but that's how bad things were at the time.”
Therefore, the witch's voice was very calm, and she seemed very frank, even shameless.
Therefore, even the flame remarked: "You bend whichever way the wind blows; that's quite clever."
Abigail shrugged and said nothing more.
The silence lasted for a while.
Until the flame lowered its voice and said something somewhat unexpected to Abigail: "...However, your cleverness and cunning are different from Medea's vicious obsession back then; it is indeed a different kind of skill."
oops?
It sounds like this goddess isn't going to kill her?
However, Abigail didn't breathe a sigh of relief. After all, she wasn't stupid; hearing her master say that only heightened her vigilance—something seemed off!
I have returned.
as predicted.
After a moment, the flame in the oil lamp spoke again.
[I may have returned a little later than you expected, but I have done so at the crucial moment to reclaim my honor and divine throne.]
[Abigail, you claim that your alignment with the capitalist race over the past four hundred years was a rational choice. I'll take that as a truth for now, but now that I'm back, the issue has become very simple.]
The red flame flickering in the oil lamp shone on the witch like a lamplight.
Are you going to continue consuming the leftovers the capitalists give you, or are you ready to return to the goddess's side?
This is not a simple question.
At least, Abigail didn't think this was really giving her a choice. It was just a showdown.
(...This is troublesome.)
She quickly thought it through in her mind.
(Oh well, when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. There's no other way, I'll just have to surrender for now.)
Why didn't this witch think about escaping or struggling, but instead decided to surrender without saying a word?
Because Abigail isn't stupid.
She knew perfectly well how capable she was and how powerful her opponent was. The instant she realized who her opponent was, Abigail understood perfectly well that all her previous preparations were useless here.
Fight back? Don't even mention something that's impossible to succeed.
Using magic to escape? The other party is her contract master, a goddess of the three aspects of heaven, earth, and sea who has mastered the mysteries of time and space!
Therefore, the witch's choice was very rational.
"Now that you've returned, I will of course continue to serve you faithfully."
Without hesitation, she immediately pledged her allegiance.
Sorry, Hayden, but there was no other way. Otherwise, the goddess would have definitely beaten me to a pulp on the spot!
Loyalty? What does that word have to do with you?
The flame flickered, as if in a sneer.
"Never mind. I'll give you new orders now."
I know you've been working for that capitalist wizard kid lately. He's tinkered with something quite useful in these ancient city ruins, but it's not powerful enough. He values you highly, so now, follow the instructions I give you and modify the magic array they've set up in these underwater ruins.
Tsk.
Upon hearing this, Abigail couldn't help but click her tongue inwardly. She certainly didn't want to do such a thing.
But then again, with Hayden's abilities, he wouldn't die even if he were slightly injured. On the other hand, Abigail, if she wasn't careful, would probably be dead within three seconds. Given the choice, for Abigail, who always prioritizes her own life, it was definitely better to trick Hayden.
"As you command, my benefactor. May I ask what your specific plans are?"
It's very simple, you just need to do this...
The flickering flames delivered the goddess's secret plan directly into the witch's mind. Abigail took a few seconds to process this information, and finally her eyes widened in astonishment.
“My lord, Hayden has never offended you, why go to such lengths?”
What does it matter whether he provoked me or not? I must regain my power, and he just happens to fit into my plan, suitable to be my tool, nothing more.
The flame answered calmly.
[Since he's the son-in-law of that traitor Peacock, he's certainly qualified to be a stepping stone for my return to the throne. If Peacock knew his son-in-law was killed by his own sword, his expression would surely be quite interesting.]
For a moment, no one dared to speak. A long, terrifying silence enveloped the area.
Abigail stood there, stunned. Her mind was racing, trying to figure out how to prevent the goddess's secret and insidious plan from killing Hayden; or how to secretly help Hayden and his friends solve the problem without breaking the contract, and ideally, throw this evil goddess back into prison.
But she couldn't think of any solution.
First of all, persuading this goddess is impossible; Abigail wouldn't be foolish enough to attempt it. This evil goddess's desire to kill Hayden has nothing to do with personal grudges; it stems purely from her grand plan to regain power and reclaim her authority. Such a purely self-serving matter is beyond persuasion; there's absolutely no hope.
What about feigning compliance while secretly defying her? It was manageable when the Great Demon was sealed away, but now that he's watching her from the outside, there's nothing she can do. How can someone who's made a pact with the devil so easily break free of his control? Pretending to work for the devil while simultaneously reporting to Hayden, trying to gain an advantage while avoiding offending either side—that's obviously impossible. After all, the devil isn't stupid.
There are so many stories of people doing business with the devil, and in almost every one of them, those involved don't end up well. It's a cliché, but the truth is, those dark forces ultimately do harm to people.
"Help me do this, and I'll fully regain my power, even help you become a god—but I know you don't really care that much. So, I can also break this troublesome contract curse that's currently binding you."
Upon hearing this, Abigail's heart stirred once again. Although Hayden had managed to deal with the curse of the contract on her body through various methods, it had never been truly lifted, and it had been a source of anxiety for her for four hundred years.
Now the devil's patron demands her complete loyalty and the witch's utter submission.
The price she offered was the witch's own life.
So Abigail quickly realized—she really had no other choice. Now that her master had regained his freedom and was giving her direct orders, she couldn't even feign disobedience once she accepted them.
She had no choice but to obediently do things for her master, or she would surely die.
What are you waiting for, Abigail?
Flame asked in the same, but sharper, tone as Abigail.
Do you have other ideas?
This is not a real question either, but merely thought censorship.
Therefore, after standing there for a while, Abigail nodded: "Yes, I have other ideas."
This is somewhat unexpected.
【Um? 】
Even the sound of the flame seemed a little surprised; perhaps she hadn't expected Abigail to answer that way.
【What? 】
The witch smiled. It looked strange, but not scary.
“My Lord, compared to the past when we had to treat the king as our father and obey his orders, I prefer the current era where we can overturn the boss’s table and quit if we’re unhappy.”
This statement was met with a brief but terrifying silence. Even the workers around them were completely stunned after taking two seconds to understand what Abigail was saying.
"Didn't you understand? Let me explain it in simpler terms."
The witch's smile only grew sweeter.
"Eat shit, Hecate!"
She raised her middle finger and spat out the name of the female evil god as if those words were a curse.
The surrounding workers finally reacted and rushed forward—but in the next instant, razor-sharp claws suddenly emerged from the witch's shadow and tore them all to pieces!
"Eat shit, Hecate! I quit!"
The witch no longer suppressed her magic. She rose slowly, as if defying gravity, screaming as she unleashed her final, triumphant roar. The great demon's lackeys were utterly powerless against the witch's unleashed might!
Even the worker who was clinging to the oil lamp was killed by Abigail in an instant!
The oil lamp immediately fell to the ground, and the glass shattered. Yet the flame inside did not go out, and she did not even become angry or furious.
The flame, however, laughed merrily in the same voice as Abigail.
Abigail, you're really useful.
said the voice.
Then the flames vanished, no longer obscuring the witch's vision. She saw the face hidden within the flames. A heart-stopping shock and fear turned Abigail's sharp, maniacal laughter into a gasp.
Then darkness engulfed everything.
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