"I Became a Witch, but Now Everyone's in Love with Me!"

Chapter 35: Apprenticeship Gift – One Year Flower Wine Card
 

“Witches are, to some extent, a very open-minded race—and red-light districts are legal…”
“So even if you call the police, Mephisto-senpai, it won’t help, you know?”
Looking at the elegant silver-haired beauty, Jiang Cha calmly offered that advice. Meanwhile, Mephistopheles’s fingers were twitching with restrained frustration as she took out her comm card and dialed 110.
“…Fine. I’ll call.”

Taking a deep breath, Mephisto forced herself to calm down, suppressing the urge to sacrifice her own family for the sake of justice.
“You’re right, Jiang Cha. I lost my temper.”
“Alright, alright, little Mephisto. You’re still so old-fashioned.”
Jasmine smiled, waving her hand to lighten the mood.
“Mom’s always been like this. Don’t let it get to you. I’ll go drag her back.”

The witch in deerstalker leather armor rushed out the door. Jiang Cha thought about following her, but considering the age restriction in the red-light district… she decided against it.
After a pause, Jiang Cha tried to restart the conversation.
“You and Miss Jasmine seem close?”
“Sister Jasmine is a kind person. She may lack the elegance of a noble, but she has plenty of admirable traits.”

Mephisto had calmed down entirely. She brought over two cups of black tea from somewhere and placed them on the table, inviting Jiang Cha to sit and wait with her.
“We’re cousins. Although Aunt Myrtle left the family when she was young, she’s still family. It’s… complicated. But at least we’ve stayed in touch over the years.”
“I chose to study at Aislyn Academy partly to persuade them to return home, but…”

She sighed, smiling apologetically.
“Sorry. I’ve said too much. I shouldn’t go on about such heavy topics.”
“It’s okay.”

The girl smiled gently, a wistful look on her delicate face.
“I envy you, having a family bond like that…
Even when you’re far from home, there’s still someone who cares.”
“You’re a naturally awakened witch, right?”

Mephisto’s expression flickered. She covered her reaction gracefully, setting her teacup down and steering the conversation elsewhere.
“Yes. And about my past… the only memories I have are bits of knowledge unrelated to this world.”
She tilted her head back to look up at the magical chandelier above, exposing her elegant profile to Mephisto’s gaze.
‘This is the perfect angle~’

“There are rumors about naturally awakened witches returning to their native worlds. Maybe after you graduate, we can try to explore that option.”
Though…
Though those stories rarely end well.

Naturally awakened witches often signify spatial instability in their original world.
No one knows how long they drifted through those narrow spaces or how long it took them to finally awaken.
So the few reports of awakened witches returning home… tend to describe disaster. Either the original world is already on the brink of collapse, or it gets colonized the moment its coordinates are exposed.

The worst-case example? A world that had developed enough to colonize other planets and even defeated a mid-tier civilization.
But after it was found by its awakened witch, it was reduced to a resource world.
Yes. The witch herself did that.
After all, once someone becomes a witch, they start a second life. Their connection to their old world often fades under the weight of time and power.

Just like the girl in front of Mephisto.
If she ever did find her original world, what would she choose?
And she didn’t even have any significant memories left of it.

“Thank you for # Nоvеlight # the thought, but…”
The girl gave a wry, playful smile.
“Rather than accidentally exposing a world with no supernatural defense, maybe not going back is the kindest thing I could do for it.”

Even if the witch herself didn’t destroy it, others would.
A new world exposed to the multiverse would never be left in peace—other witches or civilizations would rush in.
If they’re lucky, the world’s will is shattered. If not, its people are enslaved, made into puppet cores… sold for profit.

“Jiang Cha, you’re very kind.”
Mephisto gave a soft compliment, then smiled wryly.
“But now I’m more worried about how you’ll get along with Aunt Myrtle…”

“You still haven’t told me why you brought me here today, Senior?”
Jiang Cha tilted her head playfully. But just then, a husky, mature voice cut into the conversation.
“I called you here because of your inherent magic.”

The witch who entered was exactly Jiang Cha’s type.
Her long silver hair, much like Mephisto’s, cascaded down in soft waves.
She stood tall at 1.75 meters, with a striking face that resembled her niece’s—but her charm wasn’t noble elegance, it was a free-spirited, mature charisma.

A classic queenly witch. Though she appeared gentle, every movement, every word radiated confidence and allure.
Of course… it would’ve helped if she were more dressed.
And covered up those dark circles a bit.

“Aunt Myrtle! Fine if you don’t want to be formal with us, but at least show a little basic decency in front of Jiang Cha!”
Mephisto stood and scolded her aunt, clearly embarrassed. But Myrtle just lazily scratched her ear and waved her off.
“Yeah, yeah. You dragged her here, I get it. Now you can leave.”

“Mom, be nicer to little Mephisto, or I’m cutting your allowance.”
Jasmine’s offhand threat had an immediate effect. The flamboyant queen straightened up, quickly replacing her aloof expression with a fawning smile.
“Jasmine, my good daughter. Your biological mother is right here!”

“Running wild in the red-light district and going missing? You sure you’re my mom?”
“Ugh…”
Myrtle groaned, looking from her annoyed niece to her exasperated daughter.

“Ow… my head. What karmic debt am I paying?”
“You burned through the family savings on wine and brothels!”
“Then how about next time I take Jasmine with me?”

“What kind of mother brings her daughter to a red-light district?! Are you seriously my real mother? Are we there for fun, or running some twisted mother-daughter show?!”
“…Fair point.”
“Whatever. I’m done.”

Mephisto turned to leave in frustration. But before she left, she shot one last warning over her shoulder.
“Don’t you dare lay a hand on Jiang Cha, Aunt. Or I’ll have Grandma deal with you.”
“Yes, yes, I know~ I’m not that shameless. I wouldn’t touch a minor. Wait… is she an adult?”

Jiang Cha: “…”
She really wanted to tell Mephisto that nobles having a taste for red-light districts was practically a family tradition.
She also wanted to tell Myrtle that if they did want a mother-daughter escort plan, she’d gladly join—for a fair fee.

But in the end, she just smiled politely and drank her tea.
After all, this was a family matter...
“Alright, that annoying niece of mine is gone. Let’s get down to business.”

Myrtle hung her coat over the chair and sat beside Jiang Cha with a mysterious grin. Her fingers tapped rhythmically on the table. The entire shop fell quiet, as if silenced by her presence.
“Now, guess how I know you. Answer seriously—it’ll affect my impression of you.”
“A test? A thinking test?”

Jiang Cha blinked, then replied confidently.
“Was it Sister Mor?”
“Oh? Why do you think that? I’m a distinguished professor at Aislyn. I know all your instructors.”

Myrtle’s expression gave nothing away—no sign of whether Jiang Cha had answered correctly.
But she remained confident.
“Because only Sister Mor knows I’m learning to construct magic. And your book, Analysis of the Origin of Mystical Magic, makes you the closest witch to a sage.”

The moment Jiang Cha heard the name “Myrtle,” she’d felt something was off. But this test sealed the deal. She remembered that name from a book she’d once read—she always made a point to note down authors.
“Correct. Smart kid.”
Myrtle clapped casually, smiling faintly—but without exaggerated praise.

It was just a small test. No need to gush over it.
“Have you started working on alchemy?”
“Not yet. Planning to take the exam later.”

“Fully specialized?”
“Fully specialized.”
“Very good.”

Myrtle smiled. Then suddenly, she showed a look—one that was equal parts sultry and casual. The kind of look you’d see on a college senior hanging out curbside watching girls walk by.
“If I wanted to take you as an apprentice… what would your gift be?”
“A year-long red-light district membership card.”

Jiang Cha replied instantly, then shrugged.
“But I don’t have any money right now.”
“Hahaha~ Then I’ll take a rain check on that.”

“Make sure you pay me back when you’ve got the cash.”
“Mom! Don’t ask a minor to fund your brothel trips!”
Jasmine shouted from the other room.

But what she didn’t see—was the silent, shared smile that passed between the older witch and the younger one.
Myrtle Karel.
Lifestyle aside, Jiang Cha truly believed this woman was the top witch below the rank of sage.

She had mastered every magical field.
Had she not refused the responsibility, she’d probably be sitting on the Sage Council by now.
In short—

She was a legendary powerhouse.
And the most fitting teacher Jiang Cha could ever hope for.