Chapter 382: How to Satisfy the Witch of Gluttony?
The Witch of Greed and the Witch of Envy stood in sharp opposition, their beautiful eyes locked in an unyielding clash.
After a long while, Echidna finally withdrew her gaze. Lowering her head slightly, she stood up gracefully like a noblewoman and curtsied to Roy. Holding the Book of Wisdom in her slender arms, she said elegantly, "...There will be plenty of time ahead. You and I, Lord Roy, still have a long time to interact."
"...I will grant you full access to this ancient castle. If you need anything, you can always come to me. I'll also mark the rooms where the Witches reside. If you ever feel inclined to attempt a night raid, I strongly recommend targeting Carmilla—that child is easier to bully."
"Dona, how could you say that?"
The Witch of Lust, Carmilla, protested with a pout upon hearing Echidna's words.
Ignoring Carmilla, Echidna gave Roy a radiant smile before walking toward the castle with the heavy book in her arms. Her carefree demeanor was entirely different from her earlier fanaticism, making it hard to discern which version of her was genuine. One could only feel that this woman was multifaceted, captivating hearts effortlessly.
But Roy knew this was simply because Echidna had succeeded in keeping him here. For the Witch of Greed, achieving her desired outcome was enough—what came next could wait. She wouldn't rush to demand more immediately.
A smart woman who understood the art of gradual progress—Roy couldn't help but silently admire her.
After seeing Echidna leave, the other Witches also dispersed one by one. None of them particularly cared about Roy's presence in the castle. As outcasts of society, their way of thinking differed from ordinary people's. They wouldn't make a fuss over trivial matters.
Only the Witch of Gluttony, Daphne, looked at Roy pitifully. Seeing this witch bound in a coffin—who, despite harboring the grand ideals of "Academician Yuan" in her heart, had in practice brought suffering to people—Roy couldn't help but feel sympathy for her. After a moment's thought, he flipped over the remaining plate of pastries on the table, scattering them in front of Daphne. The gluttonous witch deftly caught them with her mouth and devoured them clean.
"Mmm, thanks for the treat. Every time I want pastries, I have to beg Dona for ages before she reluctantly makes them for me," said the bound Witch of Gluttony, her tone surprisingly polite—a stark contrast to the cruelty she had shown Flugel earlier.
To be honest, none of these witches were inherently cruel in nature. They simply became extreme due to the emotions they represented—kindness could turn into malice, creating the illusion that witches were terrifying beings.
However, it wouldn't be accurate to call these witches pure-hearted either. They were more like eccentric individuals, completely detached from society.
"Is eating just these things enough? Don't you need more food?" Roy asked in confusion. He truly couldn't understand how the Witch of Gluttony managed to survive. With her appetite, even devouring the entire world wouldn't satisfy her hunger.
Noticing Roy's confusion, Daphne gently explained, "...My body is the same as a human's and doesn't require much energy. I only need enough food each day to sustain my physical needs. It's just that I'm perpetually in a state of hunger—it feels like I can never be full, but in reality, my body only needs a little food to function."
"...Mmm, no, I've been active for too long. The constant hunger is unbearable. I need to rest. Only when I sleep does this hunger ease a little."
The Witch of Gluttony, Daphne's stomach growled once more, and her entire demeanor grew frail. Unlike the languid laziness of the Sloth Witch, Daphne's lethargy stemmed entirely from hunger.
"If you need anything, you can come find me. I live on the lowest floor of the castle. Of course, if you visit, be sure to bring enough food—otherwise, I might just eat you~"
The coffin restraining Daphne slowly closed, and the witch within the Iron Maiden fell into slumber. The coffin then sank into the castle's shadow, vanishing from Roy and the others' sight.
At that moment, a strange thought crossed Roy's mind—if a human could sustain perpetual motion, could they satiate the Witch of Gluttony with semen? Surely such a high-protein substance would appeal to her. After all, it counted as food, didn't it?
In the blink of an eye, only Roy and Satella remained on the castle's open balcony.
Satella stood with her head lowered, her expression uneasy.
"What's wrong, Satella?"
Roy gently stroked her beautiful silver hair as he spoke softly.
"I... I keep acting so jealous. Won't you come to hate me, Lord Roy?"
She timidly raised her head, her amethyst eyes filled with fear and hope, deep anxiety hidden beneath—enough to move anyone's heart.
"This isn't your true will, Satella! You're still that gentle, lovely half-elf. These emotions come from the 'Witch Factor of Envy' within you."
"I don't want to be the Witch of Envy, Lord Roy... I can feel an immense power inside me. I'm afraid... afraid it might hurt you. I don't want to harm you. Is there any way for me to stop being the Witch of Envy?"
Satella bit her pink lips and clutched Roy's sleeve, pleading.
"I'm sorry, but even I can't do that. This is something only you can overcome, Satella. You must learn to control it. Only by mastering it completely can you be free from this fear."
There is only one true witch in each era—only one who truly embodies the title. Others who obtain Witch Factors cannot become witches; they merely become the witch's priests. Satella is a witch, an undeniable fact. She cannot reject this identity any more than a human can reject being human.
"Have I... disgusted you, Lord Roy?"
Satella murmured anxiously.
"How could that be? Satella, don't underestimate yourself. Your kindness, your beauty, your gentleness are all unique. Just like Typhon, the Witch of Pride we saw earlier—she's still a child with a pure nature. The fact that she enjoys being with you shows the clarity of your heart, capable of attracting even the purest of children."
Roy cupped Satella's exquisitely beautiful face in his hands, feeling the smoothness of her skin as his tone grew even more tender. "...You are Satella, the gentlest of witches. Tell me, do you feel happy being with these witches?"
"Mmm, I feel very close to them... Although I don't particularly like Echidna, I don't dislike her either."
Satella's cheeks flushed pink as she nodded carefully. The seven Witches of Sin were always drawn to each other—it was that peculiar warmth found among kindred spirits.
"That's enough then! As long as you like them, that's all that matters!"