"In this world, the boundary between the living and the dead is very blurred. That was why, when we encountered Shade—this man—just now, the nun held me back and wouldn't let me go over immediately."
Theresa quietly explained as she ladled out soup for everyone. The young woman looked embarrassed for a moment, then explained her identity:
"I'm actually an archaeologist. I was cursed after trespassing into an ancient tomb belonging to a devout believer of the God of Graves, which is why I ended up here."
Theresa set bowls of soup before Shade and the nun, who were seated at the table, then handed the third bowl to the "archaeologist." The girl immediately struggled to sit up in bed, but Theresa made no move to help her. Though she was still as inexperienced-looking as when she had just graduated two years ago, having followed the Witch Emperor and been trained as her successor, Schultz Theresa was absolutely no longer that girl fresh out of school:
"What you described is impossible. Legitimate academic institutions, or archaeological expeditions funded by the Witch Emperors, would never touch a tomb protected by gods of the death domain. Even in the extremely unlikely event that the origins of the ancient tomb had not been properly investigated beforehand, such an expedition would at least have a Twelfth Order witch overseeing it. And an intermediate rank witch like you would never be sent to the dangerous front lines."
This alone showed just how abundant the Witches' manpower was at the end of the Fifth Epoch—the Witch Epoch was at its height during this era.
Sister Belen did not join the discussion. Theresa stuffed the bowl of soup into the hands of the young girl who had sat up. Though the two were roughly the same age,