"Ah..."
"R-Respected Lady 'Witch of Ash,' please, come in?"
"This way, please..."
"Hmph!"
After Saya returned Elaina's bear-headed witch's badge and learned at least some of the reasons why Saya had done what she did, Elaina did not scold her right away. Instead, she comforted her gently and helped her work through it emotionally.
Only then did she take her badge, lift her head, puff out her chest, and lead Saya into the luxurious hotel that had repeatedly stopped her from entering before, right in front of the familiar staff members who were now watching her in confusion.
As for why Elaina had not scolded Saya, perhaps it was because she thought Saya was cute? Or perhaps she had just seen some things she should not have seen, and after taking full advantage of the situation, she had decided not to pursue the matter?
Whatever the reason, Elaina had now regained her own witch's badge and no longer had to remain in this Kingdom of Mages!
Just now, she had asked those detestable people where her teacher was staying. She was now heading up the spiral staircase toward the hotel's top-floor suite, preparing to reunite with her loathsome teacher and resume her journey around the world.
"So she really is a witch?"
"She should be..."
"She definitely is! Didn't you see? She's wearing a badge. It looks a little sinister—and a little ugly—but there's no mistaking the magical fluctuation from it. She must have received the certification of a powerful witch. How could anyone fake that?"
"She's really young... I remember that when she first came here, she said she was only fifteen, right?"
"That's right!"
"By the gods of magic, a fifteen-year-old official witch... This is the first time I've ever met one..."
"..."
"Hey! We stopped her from