SWNOVELXO Chapter 76.1
Haran’s Curse (2)
True to his title as a Magitech Engineer, Arad’s bag was also a subspace bag.
Because of that, items kept pouring out of that small bag.
“What is that?”
“A smoking pipe.”
What Arad pulled out of the bag were 11 leather pouches, each about the size of a fist, and a smoking pipe as long as an adult man’s forearm.
“I can see that, but…”
“Here, bite down on it.”
Arad handed the smoking pipe to Isabelle and had her hold it in her mouth.
He then took a handful of powder from one of the leather pouches and firmly packed it into the mouthpiece of the pipe.
“This is something called mana tobacco.”
The smoking pipe seemed to be custom-made, as a magic stone was embedded at the base of the mouthpiece.
Once the pipe was fully packed with the tobacco…
Fwoosh!
With just a slight infusion of Arad’s mana, the tobacco began to burn and smoke, even though no fire had been used.
“Just inhale it deeply. Unlike regular tobacco, this mana tobacco is actually good for your body, so there’s no need to worry.”
The smoke from the pipe slowly filled the ceiling of the royal audience chamber.
As Arad mentioned, it smelled fresh and clean, unlike the stench of regular tobacco.
“……”
Puff, puff, puff.
Isabelle, as if entranced by Arad’s explanation, started smoking the pipe without hesitation.
“While it doesn’t restore mana all at once like a mana potion, it gradually and steadily replenishes your mana over time. And if consumed over a long period, it can even increase your maximum mana capacity.”
“!!”
Hearing that, Arina’s shoulders suddenly jolted.
‘It increases maximum mana capacity!?’
The mana tobacco was exactly what she needed for the restoration of her mana core.
‘Once the plague and the witch issues are resolved… I’ll have to ask him for some.’
She couldn’t bring it up right now, given the situation.
But Arina couldn’t take her eyes off the mana tobacco that Isabelle had in her mouth.
“Now then, let’s hear it. Maintain a steady flow of mana while you speak.”
Even while explaining, Arad didn’t ease up on his demand for the truth from Isabelle, who sat before him.
“Whew… Fine…”
With a languid tone, Isabelle slowly opened her mouth.
“This year is 4567 according to the Holy Calendar, isn’t it? It’s already been 200 years and 23 more on top of that. Time really does fly…”
The old witch’s eyes gazed off into the distance, as if she were recalling memories of the past.
“This is the original sin of myself and my fellow witches. It’s called Haran’s Curse.”
***
223 Years Ago.
Holy Year 4344.
It was a time when the Age of Barbarism was finally beginning to wane.
The flags of humankind had been planted on most of the lands of Arcadia.
The elves, dwarves, and beastkin, except for the orcs, had begun a full-scale migration to the southern continent.
It was a time when simply reaching the 6th Circle was enough to be called an Archmage or a Grand Witch.
A time when 10 more years were still needed for the Grand Duchy of Renslet in the North to be established.
Back then, I was 17 years old, preparing to leave my master’s side to become a fully independent witch.
“Isabelle, I’m sorry.”
“……”
“But it can’t be helped. The world is changing. We witches must also change. Just like how the mages banded together beneath the tower, we too must unite our power and knowledge to operate in the open.”
It was a critical time for a young witch.
The most precious and fulfilling period of her life.
But for me, back then, it was a time of misfortune.
“Master! Do you really think the other witches will go along with this?! They’ll just use you and throw you away!”
“I believe in witches. Just as the mages established the Mage Tower and gathered their strength and knowledge, we too can come together. If we do, we won’t be persecuted anymore.”
“Master!”
As the world changed, my master grew increasingly anxious.
In the end, she clung to a certain conviction.
“Humans will eventually become their own worst enemies. No longer will monsters or other races be their greatest threat. When that happens… we will face even harsher persecution than we do now. We may even be driven to extinction.”
Of course… even I, young and immature as I was at the time, knew that the world was shifting.
The Age of Barbarism was coming to an end, and humanity’s Golden Age was beginning once more.
I understood it in my mind but refused to accept it in my heart.
“The reason we’ve been persecuted and scorned all this time is because we were divided. Because we were closed off. Isabelle, my beloved disciple, this moment is both a crisis and an opportunity.”
“Master!! We can’t be acknowledged like the mages! Witches have elves blood in their veins!”
“Isabelle, we’re not the only ones with the blood of other races. Mages in the Mage Tower, knights in the royal palace, even priests of the Holy See all have a trace of non-human blood if you trace their lineage far back enough.”
Other witches my age were preparing for independence with dreams in their hearts.
But for me and my master, independence was a distant goal as we found ourselves arguing almost every day.
“I, Haran, the Grand Witch of Verdant Growth, have made my decision. I will share all of my knowledge and power with the witches.”
“Master! Please!”
“Forgive me, Isabelle. In return, you won’t need to pass the graduation test like the other witches. From now on, you will be recognized as a true witch.”
“Becoming a witch like this—what’s the point?! Every other witch will just break our spells and reject us!”
“They won’t. I’ll be the first to open the gate, and then one by one, the others will follow.”
“Master!!”
“From this day on, I am no longer your master. Call me the Grand Witch of Verdant Growth, Haran.”
“……!”
“……I’m sorry.”
My master. My one and only master, who was more progressive and innovative than any other witch.
At the time, I was too foolish to understand her. I resented her. I even felt betrayed.
“The Grand Witch of Verdant Growth has founded something called the Witch Assembly.”
“The Witch Assembly? What’s that?”
“They say she’s going to share all her spells and knowledge.”
“Is she copying the mages or something?”
“Then what happens to Isabelle, her disciple?”
“Poor girl. She got stuck with a strange master.”
My master’s decision wasn’t even respected by the other witches.
“Isn’t this a good thing, though?”
“Yeah, except we have to give up our own personal spells and knowledge in exchange.”
“But it’s not just any witch—it’s the Grand Witch of Verdant Growth, Haran! Do you think our spells and hers are even comparable?”
“Well, I guess you’re right.”
Of course, my master did prepare a safety measure.
But it was a provision so blatantly unfavorable to her that it was bound to be exploited.
“Welcome to the Witch Assembly. Witches, I am the Grand Witch of Verdant Growth, Haran. And this young witch here is Isabelle.”
“Hello… I am Isabelle, acting as an assistant. If you have any questions as you learn, feel free to ask me.”
In the end, I couldn’t leave my master’s side. It wasn’t because of affection for her but because of fear.
A witch who, to make matters worse, was on the verge of having all her spells and techniques analyzed by every witch on the continent.
Half by choice, half by force, I had no choice but to become a witch of the Witch Assembly.
“If there’s a spell you wish to learn, name it.”