Strength 99999 but the Holy Sister

"Leave this to me," Reed said. "I happen to know some adventurers who travel to the North. They'll know the way."

……

Elsa gave the book she bought to Mary. Mary looked flattered. She probably didn't expect Elsa to give her a gift - and books are not cheap.

But she likes it very much.

In the evening, Vivian and Filia returned to the monastery. When they saw Elsa, Vivian showed her surprise subtly, but Filia still had no special expression on her face.

Elsa gave the staff to Vivian as a gift, and Vivian was very happy. Filia received a moonstone from Sky Island - in fact, it was just a special magic stone, but as a product of ancient magic from Sky Island, there was no similar thing on earth.

Elsa talked to them about what happened in Weilin Town. Of course, she glossed over everything about Sky Island - the existence of Sky Island still needs to be kept secret so far.

By the way, Elsa also asked about the witch.

"I'm sorry... I've been to many places, but I haven't seen a witch."

Filia said, still playing with the glowing magic stone in her hand, looking at Vivian.

But Vivian showed obvious panic, which made Aisha a little strange.

"Witch... Why did Aisha suddenly ask this..."

Vivian wasn't very good at hiding her expressions, which was cute, but it also made Elsa realize that the word "witch" had some meaning to Vivian - because Vivian wasn't the type to get flustered about things that had nothing to do with her, but on the contrary, her evasive gaze would easily betray her.

"Nothing, just a little curious." Elsa didn't like to embarrass others, so she changed the subject. "Compared to that, the auditions start tomorrow. Are you nervous?"

"Well... a little..."

Are you nervous? Of course I am.

But Vivian felt more at a loss, not only because Elsa's question about the witch caught her off guard, but also because she was afraid to make a choice in the selection. She was struggling inside.

Vivian had been very happy these past few days because after Elsa and Filia, she finally gained a third friend, Ruth. But because of this, Vivian became increasingly worried.

"Vivian, with your strength, there won't be any problem."

Filia said.

That wasn't the case—Vivian wanted to say that she wasn't worried about not passing the selection. Or rather, Vivian's real concern wasn't whether she passed or not. Because, regardless of whether she passed or not, Vivian's current life would be shattered, and no matter where the future led, she would be afraid of the unfamiliar road ahead.

Vivian didn't want to return to the small town on the edge of the forest after failing the selection. Even though she missed her mother, she only wanted to stay with her mother and didn't want to go back to the small town. She was afraid that the other people in the town would look at her as if she were a monster. Although the town was so bustling, Vivian would feel like she was on a deserted island.

Vivian also didn't want to pass the selection and go to an unfamiliar holy city—and then be sent to the next unfamiliar place. She had finally found people she wanted to be close to, and close friends, and she was afraid of losing it all.

Vivian really wanted to tell someone about all this, but she couldn't say it.

She's a nun from the church, but she wants to stay where she is like a snail. If she said something like that, not only Filia and Ruth, but I'm afraid Elsa would be disappointed in her too, right?

So Vivian could only choose to remain silent.

As night fell, the monastery became very quiet.

Vivian, wearing a thin petticoat, curled up beside Elsa like a kitten. The lights in the room had been turned off long ago, and only the dim moonlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains. Elsa was still reading the new book she had bought today.

Turning off the lights but still reading, this is something only Elsa can do without the help of magic.

Vivian curled up with her back against Elsa, and with her slightly twitching nose, she could smell Elsa's fragrance - this feeling made Vivian feel very safe, but now her palms were already full of sweat.

"Elsa..."

Vivian's voice was very soft, like a feather sliding down into my heart.

"What's wrong? Can't you sleep?"

"Um……"

"Because of nervousness?"

"Um……"

Although her back was turned, Elsa could still hear Vivian's rapid heartbeat.

Vivian suddenly asked, "Elsa said... if you ever meet a witch, would you be willing to be friends with her? Why did Elsa say that? Does Elsa really want to be friends with a witch?"

Vivian's voice became a little unlike her at the end. She curled up tighter, hugged her knees, and felt the warm touch coming from behind.

Aisha looked at Vivian and put down the book in her hand.

"Are witches scary?"

"I don't know...but everyone is afraid of her, so they avoid her and hate her."

"Just like with vampires?"

"what?"

"Sometimes I wonder why different races have developed a common language - is this a coincidence? Language is the product of two parties seeking to communicate. If the purpose was just to deceive and harm, then they could just assimilate into the other party's language, but that's not the case. I used to think vampires were evil people who sucked human blood because that's what the books said, but when I actually came into contact with them, I found that they are no different from us - they can feel pain and sadness, fear and joy, they have their own social clans, they can speak, they can think, and their hearts are just as full of emotions.

I know a girl about your age who's a vampire. Our relationship is a bit complicated, because she was once human, and I'm partly responsible for her becoming a vampire. Initially, my protection of her was simply driven by a bit of self-blame—a delicate relationship, isn't it? Sometimes I wonder if I've made a mistake, because vampires and humans are different, after all, aren't they? But the truth is, I've found that I can completely accept her, and I really hope to do so.

Aisha concealed her name and slowly told what happened between her and Charlie.

"There's a poignant story circulating in my hometown, and the 'witch' in the story is actually just an ordinary person with a slightly unusual personality. I think I'm willing to give it a try, to interact with the witch, to become her friend. Compared to others, I should be the most suitable candidate, because none of the threats posed by witches in the books can harm me, just like that vampire."

"That vampire..." Vivian still had her back to Elsa, her voice still very soft, "She... is Elsa's..."

"A very important person."

Aisha said.

Vivian lowered her voice.

"Can I... also become someone important to Aisha?"

"of course."

With her back to Elsa, Vivian's heart beat unconsciously. When Vivian was still secretly delighted by Elsa's answer, Elsa's next sentence made her stunned.

"Vivian, do you like me?"

"Hey??"

Vivian shuddered, and the peace of mind and a little composure in her heart were instantly overturned by panic. She turned her head and saw Elsa's ambiguous eyes. Something seemed to be hooking her heartbeat in the depths of those golden eyes.

"Like, like... it's easy to be misunderstood..."

Vivian complained with a flushed face.

But Elsa put the book aside and looked at Vivian. Her deep eyes locked onto Vivian's gaze, making her hold her breath.

"What if it's not a misunderstanding? Does Vivian like me with the intention of becoming a lover?"

……

------------

198. Choose one of the two

Elsa's direct attack wasn't entirely groundless.

Vivian and Tricia's favorability levels are almost the same. Elsa knows very well how Tricia treats Elsa, so she also made a little test on Vivian.

If Vivian hadn't shown such a panicked yet slightly happy expression when she asked "Do you like me?", Elsa wouldn't have asked the second time.

It was because Vivian completely exposed her inner thoughts that Elsa became more confident.

——This favorability is basically a romantic favorability.

Of course, Elsa's main purpose was not to flirt with Vivian.

Because Vivian had been so anxious and worried up until now, it seemed to Elsa as if she couldn't help but want to confide something, but was restrained by some consideration. Not very good at hiding her thoughts, Vivian kept hinting at her, as if trying to draw a little courage from Elsa. Elsa could naturally see Vivian's dilemma and entanglement, and responded in kind.

At this point, Vivian almost had the eight words "I am a witch, I like you" written on her forehead.

"do you like me?"

So Elsa simply launched a straight ball attack, which Elsa was very good at, and the effect was immediate, and Vivian suddenly crashed.

"Hey?"

"Vivian—is she a witch?"

"Hey?"

Elsa asked again, as if she didn't intend to give Vivian time to react. Vivian was already stunned, and now she stood there even more, with panic in her eyes.

Humans actually have a strange way of thinking, or perhaps a tendency, to instinctively raise their thresholds when faced with emotional shock. For example, if Elsa had directly asked Vivian, "Are you a witch?", she would likely have panicked and avoided answering. But if she started with a direct question and then led into the conversation... by comparison, the initial hesitation seemed less awkward.

As expected, between answering "Do you like me?" and "Are you a witch?", Vivian decisively chose the latter.

"I, I'm a witch..."

She almost blurted it out.

"I'm sorry... I've been hiding this from you..."

Vivian looked away with a blush on her face, as if she had given up on herself. She completely avoided the first question. In comparison, it seemed that admitting that she was a witch would be more comfortable than admitting that she liked Elsa.

She felt like her heart was about to jump out of her chest.

"really."

Vivian is indeed a witch.

"Ai, Aisha... Could it be that you already knew this..."

"Know? Know what? Which one do you mean?"

Elsa looked at Vivian meaningfully. She felt sweat on Vivian's back and her heartbeat was like a drum.

It would be strange if she didn't know - Elsa had never thought about witches before, but when she asked about witches, Vivian's expression was too easy to understand. In addition, after the conversation just now, she asked Elsa indirectly about her attitude towards witches.

Based on Elsa's understanding of Vivian, there is no doubt that Vivian is a witch.

Elsa didn't think she was particularly clumsy—Vivian had no way of hiding her feelings, and she even suspected that Filia knew this.

But Elsa refused to answer Vivian directly. She raised the corner of her mouth cunningly.

"—Did they know that you like me? Or did they know that you're a witch?"

Aisha asked.

Vivian had buried her face in her knees, not daring to look at Elsa, and her voice was as thin as the brush of velvet.

"Devil, witch..."

This question was cunning, but it was the perfect stepping stone for those who voluntarily fell into it - although Vivian only answered the latter, it sounded like she also acquiesced to the former.

As for her answer to the former, it is no longer important at this point. When choosing one of the two, one often chooses both.

Elsa smiled and looked at Vivian, whose blush had spread to her ears. She didn't know if Vivian had the energy to think about other problems at this moment. In short, she was very cute.

Although the process was a bit tricky, now that the conversation was open, Vivian's voice was not so stuttering anymore.

"What would have happened if I had known this earlier?"

"Isn't Elsa surprised..."

"A little, but I'm not terribly surprised—you've made me realize that witches are just ordinary girls who are a little bit special."

Elsa was a little surprised, but that was all.

"Elsa, will you hate me?"

"will not."

"But……"

Without waiting for Vivian to ask any more questions, Aisha leaned down and leaned against Vivian's back.

This action made Vivian even more flustered. This expression really made Elsa never tired of seeing it. She was as motionless as a kitten with its fur standing on end - but Elsa's hand actually passed over her tense waist, gently touching and stroking it. Vivian felt very itchy, and her face was burning hot. The warm and soft hand brought an unreal touch like a dream.

Vivian was at a loss for a moment, biting her lips lightly and closing her eyes tightly.

However, Elsa did not take any further action and just whispered softly.

"You keep asking questions, and this is the only way I can stop you."

Elsa's voice, along with her warm and sweet breath, was captured by Vivian. She leaned in Elsa's arms at a loss, feeling the softness from behind, her hands clenched together, not knowing where to put them for a moment.

But Elsa seemed to have magic. Vivian felt that although she was very nervous, she seemed to have calmed down.

"You have something to say to me?"

"Um……"