Chapter 3 – If the Witch Leaves Home, Are There Seven Enemies?

Suddеnlу becоming a beаutiful girl, I wоndеrеd whаt wоuld hapрen…

But thinking аbоut it, I don’t knоw аnуоnе in Otsuki, аnd evеn if someоnе I knеw mеt the currеnt me, thеy probаblу wouldn’t recognizе mе as myself.

I decidеd tо try going home like this.

“Is thеrе a waу to rеturn tо mу оriginal form? …Is there?”

Мy originаl wау of spеаking сame оut in this cute vоice.

The dissоnаnce is intеnsе.

Without thinking, I rеphrasеd it in a girly waу of sреaking.

Nuuuuh, a new exрeriеnсе.

What is this fеeling?

I don’t knоw this.

‘Тhеre is, but if yоu return, уоu wоn’t bе аble tо usе mаgic, sо Flоta would need to speak with her voice. But with your current beautiful appearance, Flota can chat with you through telepathy~’

“What a bubbly grimoire! Did you talk with grandma in that tone too? Did you? I see…”

I can’t imagine it.

And apparently, I’ve inherited the witch’s contract, so it seems there are many things I should learn from now on.

The distance from Otsuki to my home should be plenty to ask the grimoire questions through telepathy.

Suddenly getting caught up in such a fate—do I dislike it?

I ask myself.

Honestly, I think it’s no joke.

But the me reflected in the mirror was incredibly cute.

Skin pure white, moist, smooth, soft and bouncy.

Eyes large, with pupils so black you feel like you might get swallowed if you stare into them.

Nose not too high, like a cute anime or game character.

Mouth also on the smaller side.

Height much shorter than my usual self.

Probably under 150 cm.

I was a flawless beautiful girl who suited a Gothic Lolita-style mini apron dress perfectly.

“Hmm… Cute. Way too cute.”

Just the fact that my transformed appearance was unbelievably cute made me feel like forgiving everything.

Not only that, but somehow motivation was welling up inside me.

Oh, the moment I step outside the house, the world feels radiant!

The sky, the trees—everything seems so much higher!

The world is vast!

Well, I think it’s because I’ve become small.

But one thing’s for sure: my self-esteem has skyrocketed ridiculously.

I reach the bus stop and wait for the bus.

Oh!

Aren’t the local people in line all looking at me?

Hahaha, cute, cute, I must be cute.

I occasionally check my face using my smartphone camera.

Hmm, cute.

There’s a story about men with low self-esteem whose self-esteem rises the moment they put on a beautiful girl avatar in VR chat, and even their mannerisms become more feminine.

Honestly, I used to think that was dubious.

Ridiculous—could movements, thoughts, and ways of speaking ingrained from being born male really change?

They can.

I’ve experienced it firsthand.

I board the bus and take a seat.

Oh, people around me are stealing glances!

When I was a man, if people stole glances, I’d worry they thought I was suspicious.

But now it’s different!

Surely, they’re looking at me because I’m cute.

That must be it.

Just being here like this makes my self-esteem rise.

Hehe, did I do something…?

Nah, I’m just cute, I guess.

‘Master seems in high spirits~! Among past masters, there have been several who were men, but this is the first time I’ve seen one become a witch and get this excited~’

“Whoa! Don’t talk to me so suddenly… Well, maybe it’s a sign of the times.”

I almost raised my voice loudly. I hurriedly lower the volume.

“It’s an era where life can be tough, or you can’t find much to strive for.”

‘That sounds difficult. But from now on, you can rest easy! The fact that a successor of the Righteous Witch has appeared must have reached the other Black Witches and Fallen Witches! To steal me, Flota, who was sealed away, those Abazure will come one after another, so it’ll be heart-pounding, thrilling, exciting days ahead!’

“Ugh, you said something terrible, didn’t you? So inheriting Flota comes with unbelievable calamities after all?”

‘Not at all! By contracting with me, Master, as you can see, has transformed into a very cute witch! You’re actually among the top in history. You might be the only one who became such a cute girl.’

“Really? Why did I become so cute? Is it talent after all…?”

‘Maybe deep down, you wanted to become cute?’

“Possible…”

Having such conversations, I arrive at Otsuki Station.

Telepathy is convenient—I can keep having telepathic-like conversations with Flota without leaking any sound to the surroundings.

There are people who talk like they’re muttering to themselves while on hands-free calls, and from the outside, that can be surprising or make you think, “Hmm…”

But!

With telepathy, no voice comes out, so it’s safe!

All of humanity should learn telepathy.

I board the express train bound for Hachioji.

Since it’s still early, tourists aren’t returning yet.

I can relax and take a window seat.

‘Well then, shall we practice magic little by little? Um, first, please open me.’

“Let’s see…?”

I take Flota out of my bag and open it.

‘Eek, Master, you pervert!’

“Shut up! If I don’t open the book, I can’t do anything, right! Um… The middle page opened suddenly, and there’s writing in characters I’ve never seen before? Do I read this to learn magic or something?”

‘That’s the ancient method. But I can also display it in a format easiest for Master to understand. The result is the same, but it’ll be easier to grasp, right?’

“The output is the same, but the input becomes easier. Then… a game status screen.’

A status screen floated above the grimoire.

Though, it only showed something called my current MP and blank spaces labeled “Magic.”

These must be the so-called usable magic slots.

“I put the magic I have into these slots? Three slots total. Isn’t that few?”

‘Master is a beginner witch. As you gain experience, blank spaces to inscribe magic will increase. Also, acquiring Fragments will increase your options. For now, this is all.’

“Metamorphose, Levitation, Float… That’s it? How am I supposed to fight with just these?”

‘With wisdom and ingenuity…!!’

“A grimoire preaching guts and determination!! But I guess I have to make do with the cards I’m dealt…”

‘Fragments are scattered in dungeons around the world. When the seven Abazure fought over the grimoires, most were scattered. Those scum.’

“Your tone gets scary sometimes. I see… So I have to delve into dungeons. Well, since I have to, I might as well monetize dungeon adventures… Dungeon Streaming is the only way, right!”

This is getting interesting.

I have work tomorrow, but I should use break times to plan future activities…