Chapter 164 – Electromagnetic Interference and the Witch of Wind and Ice

Lаtely, thе signal interfеrеnсе hаs bеen terriblе.

…I was just talking аbоut this with my listеnеrs whеn it turnеd оut the Grеat Firе Demon Gеnеrаl hаd comе eхtremely сlоse to Earth.

Тhе enemy comеs frоm space toо!?

Dоes that mеan sрасе is undergoing Dungeonizаtion!?

Thаt’s insаnе.

I’d heard this wоrld’s sраce wаs being erоded by the Othеrwоrld and was nо lоnger а vacuum.

Sо following that lоgic, а Grеat Demon Generаl cоming frоm sрaсe makеs sеnsе.

“Ahh, the ТV reсерtiоn is bаd agаin tоdаy.”

“Guеss I’ll wаtch some news videos online.”

Mashiro watches TV fairly often, so she’s disappointed.

Since the cable internet still works, it must be the wireless signals that are failing.

This is the Great Fire Demon General’s influence.

Since it’s in space, it’s probably interfering with satellites, right?

Wait, does that mean the Great Demon General’s Retinue from the other day’s stream was commenting directly from a satellite?

Things are getting crazy.

I really want Hazuki to defeat the Great Fire Demon General soon.

I already have no doubt about her victory.

As for me…

“When do you think the Witch will come?”

‘Well, probably when conditions here are less than ideal! That’s what I would do! I’d even set up an ambush to finish the job!’

“Eek, such a sneaky Witch!”

‘I don’t know much about it, but wouldn’t Marinna know about the other Witches’ natures?’

‘That’s right. Let’s see… the Witch of Wind and Ice is the diligent, persistent type. Also quite active. The Witch of Colors is artistic, you could say, or self-absorbed. The Witch of Power is like a seeker of the Way. There’s one Witch who doesn’t have a Grimoire, but she was kind of creepy.’

“I see. So the Witch of the Sea had interactions with other Witches.”

‘The previous generation was a relatively ordinary Witch, so she placed importance on things like personal relationships.’

“And then she got devoured by Marinna and turned into a monster.”

‘Ufufu.’

“Ufufu” my foot.

But anyway, I understand that Grimoires require considerable talent—just effort alone won’t cut it.

I seem to have some talent, as I can feel my power growing steadily through effort and ingenuity.

“Well then, Senpai, I’m going shopping.”

“Oh, I’ll come too.”

My chat with the Grimoire having reached a natural pause, we decided to go buy ingredients for dinner first.

It’s already nearing the latter half of January.

First, I really hope the Great Fire Demon General gets taken care of soon.

“This is a nice place to live, but the supermarket is so far away.”

“It’s good exercise!”

“That’s true, but still. We don’t have a car either. Our old age is going to be tough.”

“You’re already thinking way into the future!”

“Well, of course.”

“Then we can just have our kids send us things! I wonder if a boy would be better, or a girl…”

“That future seems comparatively closer…”

As we walked outside talking, it felt unusually cold today.

The wind was strong too…

And before I knew it, white flecks were fluttering down from the cloudy sky.

“Ah, snow! I thought it was cold!”

“Yeah. The weather forecast didn’t say anything about snow…”

That’s when it hit me.

…This might be bad.

The Witch might already be in this town.

Her target is undoubtedly me.

Ah!

Just as I was thinking that, there’s a foreigner in front of the station!!

A woman with blonde hair and blue highlights, dressed lightly despite the cold, with a nice figure.

She’s tall and slim, about a head taller than Mashiro. Shorter than me though.

She’s wearing a backpack, looking like a tourist at first glance, but…

“Whoa, aren’t you cold?”

“Mashiro, it’s better not to say much right now.”

The nice-figured woman looked around, then stared intently at us.

Then she tilted her head.

“Um, excuse me.”

“Ah, yes!”

She talked to us!

“I watched the stream. Um, the Stampede one! The location is here, right?”

Confirmed!

It’s the Witch of Wind and Ice!!

“Eh, is that so? I didn’t know that…”

The nice-figured woman’s eyes gleamed sharply!!

She’s suspicious!

Mashiro is looking up at me suspiciously too!

Her eyes are saying, “But Senpai, you were streaming, weren’t you?!”

Damn, I haven’t explained this situation to her yet…

“You don’t know? The Stampede happened, right?”

“Ah, ah, there was one! It was really tough. We were holed up inside the whole time.”

“Inside the whole time? That must have been tough! Then, do you know… about Black Pepper Spice? Is this his home?”

This woman…!

She came to probe…!!

And she’s being super direct!

“It’s not good to talk outside in the cold… How about somewhere warm…”

“Senpai!? You’re going to hit on a foreign woman when you have a wife!? I-I knew it, Senpai likes them big after all!”

“Calm down, Mashiro! There’s a good reason for this!”

“Oh, a lovers’ quarrel!! I don’t have a hobby of watching other people’s dramas… Please don’t fight.”

“No, no, it’s not like that…”

I can’t use Magic to explain either…

This is troublesome!

My position is in danger, in more ways than one!!

The Witch of Wind and Ice, what a terrifying person…!

She might have put me in the most precarious situation yet.

“Mashiro, I’ll explain the situation later. Can you go ahead with the shopping?”

“Y-y-you better not cheat on me!”

“Absolutely not! I’m basically a one-woman man! Okay, got it, come here!”

“What is it!?”

This is where I go in for the kiss!!

“Oh.”

“Trust me!”

“O-okay, I understand!”

Mashiro’s face turned red, and she froze stiff.

“B-b-b-but kissing in public is embarrassing!”

“Yeah, yeah, we’ll continue at home…”

“I feel like I’m watching a soap opera.”

“Sorry.”

I apologized to the Witch, somewhat sincerely.

Actually, she’s the first Witch I’ve had such a normal, sustained conversation with, you know?

She seems focused on me, so it’s probably better to change locations and engage in some maneuvering.

“Follow me.”

“OK.”

And so it was decided.

What is this development…?