Chapter 341: The Witch's Tea Party
This was a continent without a unified name, where numerous nations stood divided. Among them, the Kingdom of Lugunica in the east, the Vollachian Empire in the south, and the Holy Kingdom of Gusteko in the north were the most powerful, forming a tripartite balance of power. Beyond these three great nations, countless smaller countries struggled to survive in the cracks between them.
In the minds of the people inhabiting this continent, this land was the entirety of the world. Surrounding it in all directions was an insurmountable chasm—a colossal waterfall that stretched like an impassable abyss. To this day, no one had ever truly crossed the waterfall to witness the scenery beyond.
Occasionally, however, strange individuals with peculiar behaviors would appear on this continent, claiming to have come from nations on the other side of the waterfall. Yet, the people of the continent seldom believed them.
At the intersection of the Kingdom of Lugunica, the Vollachian Empire, and the Holy Kingdom of Gusteko lay a hidden grassland. Upon this grassland stood a bizarre yet extravagant ancient castle.
Castles were typically built on cliffs, mountainsides, or as military fortresses—either for defense or as residences for lords. But a castle erected in the middle of a grassland was unprecedented.
Among those in the know, this castle was quite famous. In truth, neither the castle nor the grassland truly existed. It was more akin to a structure within a massive barrier or a certain mental landscape—for the master of this castle was one of the most enigmatic yet renowned figures on this continent:
The Witch of Greed—Echidna!
Rumors said that certain chosen individuals would receive invitations from the Witch of Greed to attend the "Witch's Tea Party."
Rumors said that Echidna, the Witch of Greed, possessed knowledge beyond human imagination.
Rumors said that during the tea party, as long as one posed a question to Echidna, she would invariably answer it.
Driven by these rumors, countless people yearned and flocked in pursuit of an invitation to the Witch's Tea Party. Some sought magical knowledge from Echidna, others desired the path to kingship, while some wished for her to unravel the mysteries of their lives—each desire reflecting humanity's boundless greed in full display.
Yet, those who truly participated in the "Witch's Tea Party" were exceedingly rare. The Witch was not one to readily aid others—her existence was more akin to an inscrutable enigma.
On the castle's balcony stood a massive parasol, beneath which rested an exquisite white marble tea table. Seated gracefully at the table was a mysterious and beautiful woman.
She appeared to be around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, with long white hair cascading down to her ankles. Her entire demeanor exuded an air of solemnity and trustworthiness. This mature woman possessed an otherworldly beauty, clad in a black dress reminiscent of mourning attire. Her skin was unnaturally pale—so much so that it could be described as the pallor of the dead. Yet, unlike the stiffness of true death, her supple skin brimmed with overwhelming vitality, creating an eerie contradiction.
This was a beautiful woman who could only be described in terms of 'black and white,' possessing a radiance that could sway the heart of any man.
It was akin to the splendor of 'life and death.'
"So, have I satisfied your thirst for answers?"
The poised and dignified woman chuckled softly. Across from her sat a white-haired elder, a renowned sage of the Vollachia Empire. Yet, even a sage lacked the knowledge and wisdom of a Witch, which was why he had sought her out, hoping to resolve the questions that had plagued him his entire life.
Fortunately, he had become one of the few allowed to attend the Witch's Tea Party. Though there were many Witches, the one this sage sought was none other than the 『Witch of Greed』—Echidna.
Greed, in Echidna's case, manifested solely as an insatiable hunger for knowledge—an endless craving for the unknown. To acquire knowledge she did not yet possess, she would employ any means, do anything.
"Thank you, Lady Echidna!"
The white-haired elder spoke with a beaming smile, his aged face alight with excitement.
"Now that you have your answer, you may take your leave."
The elegant and mature figure spoke thus, and the elder understood this to be the Witch's 'dismissal.'
With utmost reverence, the elder bowed deeply to Echidna. When he straightened, the ancient castle and sprawling grasslands had vanished—he now stood in the midst of a dense forest, as if everything that had transpired had been nothing more than an illusion.
But the elder knew better. He had truly attended the 'Witch's Tea Party' within that castle and had received the answers he had sought all his life.
With measured steps, the elder departed, filled with profound satisfaction.
...
"Human questions are always like this. Whether it's this so-called sage or the prince of Vollachia who came before, their inquiries are all so monotonous. Sometimes, I really don't feel like answering them."
Beneath the parasol, Echidna now sat alone. Gracefully, she lifted her teacup and took a delicate sip before sighing softly.
Even so, Echidna would never refuse anyone's questions—for 'answering all who ask' was one of her life's principles.
"Dona Dona, you tricked that man again!"
Just then, a cheerful, childlike voice rang out, carefree and full of laughter that echoed through the castle.
It belonged to a young girl with short green hair, appearing no older than ten. Her skin was a warm brown, and atop her head rested a beautiful sky-blue flower. Barefoot, she scampered playfully through the castle in her blue-and-white dress...
"How can you say 'again'? Don't slander me, Typhon! It wasn't a trick—I truly answered his questions. Did you not see how blissful he looked when he left?"
Echidna retorted with mild exasperation.
Though the girl named Typhon appeared adorable, she was in fact the 『Witch of Pride』. Still young and innocent, she lacked any sense of morality or judgment—making her, perhaps, the most dangerous Witch of all.
The Witch of Greed would indeed answer anyone's questions, but the manner of her response might simply align with the inquirer's inner thoughts or be a form of sophistry. While satisfying and earning trust, it could also conceal the witch's deep-seated malice.
"Ah, if it's in front of Typhon, I'd better not use this body to speak."
Echidna, the Witch of Greed, suddenly closed her eyes. Her presence rapidly faded, and she became as still as death.
Before long, crisp footsteps echoed through the castle once more, and another Witch of Greed appeared before Typhon. This one bore a striking resemblance to the previous, as if they were sisters, though the newly arrived witch appeared much younger—around eighteen or nineteen—with white hair that only reached her waist, not as long as the other's.
Unlike the mature demeanor of the other, this youthful witch had a lively, mischievous glint in her eyes, lacking the steady air of trustworthiness.
This was Echidna's true form. The body of a twenty-four or twenty-five-year-old was merely a terminal she had created. To the world, she only revealed that mature figure, both to conceal her true self and to evade the pursuit of a certain enemy.
Only a select few like Typhon knew Echidna's real identity.
In the hands of the true Echidna was an extraordinarily thick book.
It was the legendary Book of Wisdom, said to contain the memories of the world, recording all things past, present, and future.
"Dona Dona, I thought you never read that book?"
Typhon, the Witch of Pride, looked at Echidna with confusion and voiced her question.
'Answering all questions' was Echidna's virtue, and she replied without hesitation, "...Indeed, what I seek is the chase of the unknown. That's why I've never read this Book of Wisdom—it would rob me of joy and negate the meaning of my life. But this time is special!"
Echidna's face flushed with excitement. She licked her lips, trembling fingers flipping open the Book of Wisdom as she pointed to a record on one of its pages.
"The one who can satisfy my 'Greed' has appeared!"