Chapter 374: A Witch's Special Hospitality
Roy had expended considerable effort to finally calm Satella and Echidna down—at least temporarily.
Yet the two witches now sat on opposite sides, their gazes still brimming with hostility toward each other. From their brief interactions, Echidna appeared to be an exceedingly elegant woman, while Satella was a gentle girl. But perhaps the two were truly fated to clash—the moment they met, they had already fallen into conflict.
"Is this... a witch's tea party?"
Roy sat on a pristine white chair beneath a parasol, surveying his surroundings.
They were on the vast, open balcony of a castle. From here, his vision was filled with endless emerald-green grasslands. The wind howled past, bending the lush grass in its wake. Above, the sky stretched blue and dotted with white clouds, while warm sunlight bathed everything in comfort—so much so that one might wish to close their eyes and rest right there.
"Yes, this is a witch's tea party. Though you are not the first guest to come here, you are the only honored one. That's why, unlike the others, I intend to entertain you with my utmost sincerity."
Echidna's tone was light and cheerful. With a flick of her snow-white, jade-like hand, Roy sensed the activation of spatial magic. A pure white table appeared before them, adorned with an exquisite tablecloth. Upon it sat a porcelain teapot, teacups, and an assortment of delicate pastries.
A castle, a parasol, lace, a teapot, teacups, pastries—and a beautiful maiden dressed in what resembled mourning attire, yet exuding unparalleled elegance and grace. It truly felt like a tea party.
"Please, try the pastries. I made them myself."
Echidna made an inviting gesture, her slender wrist adorned with smooth silk sleeves and semi-transparent lace cuffs. The black fabric contrasted beautifully with her snow-white hands, evoking an urge to cradle them in one's palms and admire them closely.
Roy glanced at her delicate fingers before picking up a piece of pastry resembling a macaron. After a brief inspection, he popped it into his mouth.
Sweet but not cloying, richly fragrant, with a satisfyingly crisp texture when chewed.
"How does it taste?"
Echidna's eyes sparkled as she clasped her hands near her chest, a hint of nervousness in her tone.
"Quite good—sweet without being overwhelming."
Though the dessert didn't dazzle Roy or ignite flashes of brilliance in his mind, its craftsmanship was certainly above average.
"I'm glad you like it."
Echidna exhaled in relief, her smile growing even brighter.
Satella quietly picked up a piece of the pastry as well. Her violet eyes seemed unfocused, as if contemplating how she might create something even more delicious.
Ignoring Satella, Echidna lifted the teapot and poured a cup from its porcelain-white spout. She handed it to Roy with a slightly urging tone, "...Please, have some tea!"
Roy raised the cup and frowned slightly at its contents.
This was no ordinary tea. The liquid wasn't the usual brown or deep red of tea leaves but resembled mineral water infused with something else.
He sniffed the cup, detecting a faint fragrance—similar to Echidna's own scent, a light citrus aroma.
Raising his eyes, he looked at Echidna.
The Witch of Greed suddenly grew shy and fidgety, her cheeks flushing as she also lifted her teacup. Seeing Roy merely holding his cup without drinking, she stammered, "...This is my specially brewed 'Donatea.' The main ingredient is... my bodily fluids."
Roy's eyebrows shot up at that.
"Bodily fluids" was a broad term—it could mean saliva, sweat, or even...
The thought made him shift uncomfortably in his seat.
Taking a deep breath, he asked slowly, "...Does everyone at the Witches' Tea Party drink this 'Donatea'?"
Echidna waved her hands hastily, as if afraid he'd misunderstand. "...Of course not! You're our honored guest—this is the first time I've ever served 'Donatea' as hospitality."
Her face grew even redder as she spoke.
"Lord Roy!"
Satella couldn't stay silent any longer. She sensed some scheme behind this tea, especially given Echidna's ambiguous phrasing, and wanted to stop Roy.
But Roy didn't give her the chance. After a long look at Echidna, he smiled and said, "...Since I'm the first, I can't possibly refuse."
With that, he downed the entire cup of 'Donatea' in one go.
The taste was unexpectedly pleasant—like lightly flavored citrus water.
Roy smacked his lips. There were no poisons or curses in the tea—he would have detected such things immediately.
The reason he dared to drink this concoction boldly was because the 'Holy Right' contained the ability called 'Son's Repose'—a divine authority derived from 'Issac's Redemption'—capable of dispelling all curses and abnormal states.
·········Flowers Please···········
Seeing Roy drink the 'Donatea,' Echidna secretly rejoiced, unable to conceal the smile on her face.
However, the blush on her cheeks had even spread to her earlobes, making one question just what exactly this 'Donatea' was.
Satella glared at Echidna, but at this moment, Echidna was too pleased with herself to acknowledge the provocation.
"Ordinary people cannot hold a conversation with me for this long, nor can they drink 'Donatea.' Just gazing at me for an extended period would make them vomit."
Echidna propped her cheek with one hand, her captivating eyes fixed intently on Roy. Her snow-white, bewitching hair and body, along with her overwhelmingly alluring beauty, exuded an otherworldly charm that radiated from her very fingertips to the tips of her hair.
...0
"Indeed, you are an intriguing existence, an unknown existence—one that stirs greed within me."
Echidna licked her lips, her voice trembling with excitement, her eyes brimming with an insatiable desire.
"Always, it has been others who reveal their desires to me. But this time... I shall show you mine!"
Echidna's words were ambiguous, her overly sharp gaze giving Roy the peculiar sensation once again that this woman might devour him whole.
"Now, according to the rules, anyone attending the Witch's Tea Party is allowed to ask me any one question, and I will certainly provide an answer. For others, I might fob them off with vague responses, but for you, I will spare no effort in giving a thorough explanation!"
"...Do you have any questions for me? Anything at all—my age, my measurements, or even... my particular preferences."
The Witch of Greed lowered her head, her face flushed with embarrassment, uttering words that would surely make Satella cry out "shameless" once more.
Satella nervously glanced at Roy, afraid he might truly be tempted by this wretched witch.
But soon, the silver-haired half-elf relaxed, for Roy's expression was unusually calm, his eyes devoid of youthful excitement, instead gleaming with the light of wisdom.
"Since you'll answer anything I ask, then tell me the details about the 'Witches of Sin'... and let me meet them!"
Roy voiced the question he was truly interested in.