The history of the Witch Cult was not complicated. In the beginning, there had been no such organization at all. Rather, it was only after the Witch's death that this somewhat absurd group came into existence.
The earlier history had been dominated by the Witch of Envy, Satella. It recorded how she devoured the other six witches, and later swallowed half the world—various accounts of those events.
Some of the records were incomplete. Shendu could only grasp a general outline. It was after she was sealed away by heroes, a dragon, and several sages working together that the Witch Cult began to emerge.
Over time, it gradually evolved into an organization that endangered the world, drawing the deep disgust of other kingdoms. Armies were occasionally dispatched to eradicate it, yet there was never the slightest effect.
One detail worth mentioning was the final note recorded in the book—the appearance of the Witch of Envy: a silver-haired half-elf.
This was also the reason Emilia had been rejected by the kingdom and other factions from the very beginning.
Even though Emilia was kind-hearted and possessed lofty ideals of her own, such an unfavorable first impression naturally made it difficult for her to gain support.
After briefly finishing the book, Shendu let out a faint sigh and said casually, "No wonder I was looked at with such disgust the moment I arrived in the capital. Once they realized I wasn't a half-elf, their gazes softened—at least a little."
She glanced at Beatrice in the distance, reflecting that prejudice truly existed everywhere. No matter how hard one tried, bias would still remain.
"After reading this history, will you still treat Emilia kindly?"
Hearing Shendu's words, Beatrice set down her spoon and asked in slight confusion.
"Of course. Everyone has their own dreams and pursuits. Everyone has something they long for. Helping Emilia achieve her wish is a good thing."
Shendu smiled as she spoke. Beatrice's eyes grew brighter. She lowered her gaze to the Gospel in her arms, and a trace of understanding stirred in her heart.
That brief exchange left Beatrice feeling as though she were basking in a spring breeze. Speaking with the silver-haired girl before her was unexpectedly pleasant.
"Speaking of which, the moment I first saw Roswaal, I felt he was incredibly calculating. If he chose to support Emilia, he must be aiming for something significant."
A flicker of certainty glimmered in Shendu's crimson eyes.
As one of the only two top-tier combat mages in the entire kingdom, he had long been stationed at the border, wielding considerable authority.
Even many nobles within the kingdom showed him a measure of respect.
It could be said that if Roswaal truly wished to become king, it would not be impossible.
With a bit of maneuvering, he could easily turn Emilia into a puppet and secretly manipulate the entire kingdom. Such a scenario was entirely plausible.
Yet Roswaal's actions were strange. He neither built momentum for Emilia nor leveraged his prestige to seize power. Instead, he allowed Emilia to fight for it on her own.
Moreover, the timing of Emilia's insignia being lost had been far too convenient. It was difficult not to suspect that Roswaal had orchestrated it.
"Big Sister, your guess is correct."
"That Roswaal has always been strange. No one can figure out what he truly wants. He's impossible to read."
After finishing her sundae, Beatrice wiped her mouth and gave her evaluation.
It was clear she did not like Roswaal at all. Spirits were straightforward with their emotions. If they liked someone, they liked them. If they disliked someone, they disliked them.
"But I do know some of his secrets. Don't forget—spirits can see the color of a soul."
At that, the blonde drill-haired girl blinked playfully. Just as Big Brother had once said, Shendu's current state was indeed not her true self.
But that did not matter. After receiving acknowledgment from the Gospel, Beatrice's mindset had completely changed toward this mysterious individual.
...
Noticing the dramatic shift in Beatrice's attitude toward her, Shendu was momentarily surprised. However, she quickly guessed that the other party must have discovered her secret as well.
"Then tell me, Beatrice. You're not on his side either."
Shendu stated it matter-of-factly. She could clearly hear the lack of respect in the blonde girl's tone when speaking of Roswaal.
"Hmph. How could a mere clown earn my approval?"
Beatrice maintained her proud demeanor, planting her hands on her hips with an unmistakably tsundere expression.
It was undeniably adorable. The blonde girl was like a fluttering butterfly—lively and charming, perfectly aligned with Shendu's aesthetic tastes.
"Roswaal has lived a very long time, yet his personality is despicable. He continually uses his own descendants to carry out soul reincarnation. The letters in his name are proof of how many times he has been reborn."
"So Roswaal isn't a good person. Big Sister, you should be careful."
The blonde girl spoke with genuine concern. Though they had not known each other long, she had at least come to acknowledge the silver-haired girl before her.
"Heh, it's fine. Go on."
Shendu narrowed her eyes, quietly listening to everything about Roswaal. As expected, the man was an old monster, comparable to Orochimaru.
He did not hesitate even to reincarnate into a body of the opposite sex. During one era, that version of Roswaal had even entered a romantic relationship with the previous Sword Saint, which left her inwardly astonished.
Truly, the world was vast and full of wonders. Even such a worldview-shattering clown genuinely existed.
From Beatrice, Shendu learned many things—such as the current situation within the kingdom and the various forces at play. It had been immensely rewarding.
Today's excursion had certainly not been in vain.
"That's basically everything, Big Sister. If there's anything else you wish to know..."
After spending time together, the blonde drill-haired girl's hostility had completely vanished, though the reason remained unclear.
However, ever since Shendu had caused the book to react, the spirit's attitude had shifted dramatically. It seemed that the book carried secrets unknown to others.
"That's all for now. We'll meet again next time. Thank you for answering my questions. Also, these are some snacks from my hometown—give them a try."
After a moment's thought, Shendu extended a finger. Bags of potato chips, instant noodles, and chocolate biscuits—items that could not possibly exist in this world—appeared upon the bookshelf.
Before leaving, Shendu cast a deep glance at the blonde drill-haired girl. With a gentle wave of her right hand, she opened a spatial gate and stepped through it.
After Shendu departed, Beatrice opened the Gospel. When she looked at the—single line of text written upon it, her pupils suddenly contracted, and a trace of joy spread across her face.