"My name is Rachel, and I e from the Witch's Faith. In current legal dots, we are referred to as the Witch's . I am the leader of these children. Like the White Witch Churd the Holy Light Church, we are a religious anization as well."

  "Ah... please refer to us as the Witch's Faith. anization has been trying to adopt a new name and make it legal and known throughout the nds for over a year now."

  She had light purple hair, ae her bck cloak enveloping her figure, it could not hide her striking silhouette. Even when pared to the two womeo her—who could already be sidered "mature" by most standards—she stood out… quite literally.

  Her chest, swollen with prominence, pushed against the fabric of her bck cloak as though it might tear at any moment. It was as if she embodied the very definition of “on the verge.”

  “Oh...Witch's , the Witch's Faith, you say... Hmm?”

  Misako suddenly recalled hearing whispers of a group called the ‘Witch's ’ before and now they're trying to ge their name for reasons unknown. It was said to be a cult devoted to worshipping witches defined by its two names.

  “You said you are from the Witch's Faith... then, why are you here?”

  “Exactly! We're here to be closer to the witches, even if all that remains are the traces left by them long ago. Those traces are what we seek!”

  “And what about the ‘System’?”

  “…”

  Acc to records, the ‘System’ was a vast magic created by witches that enveloped this world. The ‘System’ affected every living being ience. Oneone learned ‘information,’ they could summon their own personal data panel.

  “…Hehehe…”

  Suddenly, a strange, almost eerie ughter erupted from some of the Witch's Faith members standing behind Rachel.

  “The magic of the Witch is enveloping us... just thinking about it... Ugh!”

  “Apologies,” Rachel interjected smoothly, raising a hand and casting a spell that rehose ‘dreaming’ followers unscious.

  She expined, “Some of the more extreme followers, upon realizing that the ‘System’ was active around them, would sometimes lose trol of their thoughts. My magic creates a barrier in their ition, preventing such thoughts from resurfag in normal circumstances.”

  It was like breathing: you’re aware of it, but it’s not something you sciously focus on. Rachel’s magic worked in much the same way—keeping their thoughts from being overwhelming.

  She crouched down and cast another spell on the unscious followers, calming them down.

  “Back to the topic at hand... We were inally wandering, expl the remnants of the witches, when we found ourselves his area. We came to observe, and that’s whe you.”

  “Alright, I uand. So, what’s this ‘messenger’ you mentioned?”

  Misako remembered Shirone had tacted her, mentioning that they had referred to them as ‘the messenger of the Witch.’

  “Hmm? Isn’t that obvious? With the magic precision capable of crossing chaotic spaces, and appearing right o the ‘Abyss of Chaos,’ that leaves only one clusion, doesn’t it?”

  “Uh... Let me expin.”

  Misako carefully eborated on the current state of the Abyss and their identities.

  “I see now. So, the seal left by the Witch was broken by someone else?”

  Suddenly, Rachel's expression turned serious as she fixed her gaze on Aris, who stood beside Misako.

  ‘Oh no... She reveres the Witch. She probably won’t tolerate aampering with something the Witch left behind...’

  Though the seal was something the Witch had casually created and was bound to be destroyed eventually, it was still a mark left by the Witch herself.

  “Y-You... You were reized by the Witch?”

  “...Huh?”

  “I hought I would meet someone aowledged by the Witch. Ugh, I’m so envious… but also… Ah! Excuse me.”

  Rachel cleared her throat, her previous excitement suddenly repced by a more posed demeanor.

  “The power and wisdom of the Witch are beyond our prehension. If a seal she created was broken, there could only be one expnation: she allowed it. That means you must have been reized by her.”

  It sounded pusible, but at the same time, it was a little too pusible.

  Having withe overwhelming power of that Witch firsthand, Misako and Farkonia had a sense of the Witch’s might. It wasn’t something mere mortals, deities, or any other kind of being could resist.

  Moreover, they could both vaguely sehat the Witch had likely held back.

  With that in mind, it seemed likely that the Witch had deliberately desighe seal to be breakable. And there were also the strange phenomena regarding the flow of time...

  “Ah, I have an idea!”

  Suddenly, Rachel spoke up.

  “Some are still harb hostile feelings against demons, aren’t they? Leave that to us, the Witch's Faith.”

  She puffed out her chest proudly, though her... sizable assets caused her cloak to ripple with eaent.

  “We hold great influen this world, especially when it es to matters regarding the Wito anization match the power we have in this regard. Once we speak up, the reputation of the Church will improve without a doubt.”

  “Hmm, that’s true,” Misako aowledged.

  Not just the Witch's Faith, but the Witch herself wielded immense influen the world. Or, perhaps more accurately, the Witch's Faith owed its authority rgely to the Witch.

  Though it was unclear whether the Witch had ever actively spoken out. From what could be gathered, witches were often free-spirited, sometimes etric beings.

  It was clear: strong individuals were rarely “normal,” even those at the tenth tier.

  “…If you help with that, we’d really appreciate it. Is there any reward you’re seeking iurn?”

  After all, she was asking for their help, and Misako felt a bit suspicious of receiving assistahout any demands. This artly due to her past experiences.

  However, Rachel seemed perceptive enough to realize that her question was only natural.

  “Hmm... As much as I’d like to say I need no reward, if you insist... then…”

  Rachel’s gaze shifted to Aris, and suddenly she became a bit flustered.

  “Well... um... if possible... could you please hold my hand?”

  “Ah! You sly woman! I want ooo!”

  “No, I’ll take it. Once I hold her hand, I’ll keep it carefully for ter!”

  “Ugh, are you all fixated on that sort of thing? As for me... I’ll lick it.”

  The Witch's Faith followers began to mutter some rather dangerous-sounding things, while on Aris’ side...

  [No! I don’t agree!]

  In Aris’ mind, Arymm was urgently protesting.

  ‘...Why?’

  [Because... this is too dangerous, right? You’ve just met her, and you’re already trusting her with something like this? Don’t you have any sense of danger!?]

  ‘...What’s dangerous about it?’

  [Uh... Just, no!]

  ‘...Rex, it’ll be fine.’

  Aris responded calmly in her mind, theended her hand, accepting Rachel's offer.

  “Ah... this is... a handshake, isn’t it?”

  “…Aren’t both of our hands toug?”

  [...Aris... you’re hopeless fool.]

  “?”