Higashino Makoto's fingers paused for a moment.
"No response?"
"No... no reaction... no... no that look... no... no loss of control... they just... walked past me... like... like I'm just an ordinary person..."
Her voice trembled.
"I... I have never... been treated like this... never... in my entire memory..."
Higashino Makoto stared at the figure curled up in the corner of the bed and remained silent for a moment.
"You don't like it?"
"I like it... I really like it... but..."
Carmilla, her light red eyes peering at him through the gaps in her hair.
"But... I don't know... what to do... I don't know... how to get along with ordinary people... I don't know... how... how to speak... how to laugh... how... how to live..."
Higashino Makoto looked at her, his golden eyes devoid of any emotion.
Then, he reached out and gently patted her head.
Learn slowly.
Carmilla was stunned.
"Wh... what?"
Learn slowly.
Higashino Makoto withdrew his hand.
"How to get along with ordinary people, how to speak, how to laugh, how to live—learn slowly, there's no rush, there's plenty of time."
Carmilla looked at him, tears welling up in her light red eyes.
"Is... is that okay?"
"Can."
"You... you don't... think I'm... a nuisance?"
"Won't."
Carmilla's tears finally welled up.
She didn't wipe it.
She just sat there, letting tears slide down her cheeks and drip onto the hem of her skirt.
"Thank you... thank you..."
Her voice was hoarse.
Higashino Makoto stood up and walked towards the door.
"Have you thought it through regarding racial conversion?"
Carmilla sniffed.
"Not... not yet..."
"Then take your time to think about it."
He stepped out of the room.
The door closed behind him.
The sixth door: Anger.
Higashino Makoto did not go in.
He stood in the doorway, peering at Minerva through the crack.
A golden ponytail swayed in the sunlight as a petite, voluptuous figure stood by the window, her blue eyes gazing at the artificial sky outside.
She held in her hand the parchment scroll, the healing magic scroll given to her by Higashino Makoto.
Of course, she also carefully read some books she brought from her previous life that explained the nature of war, and pondered how to stop it.
She's been watching it for three days now.
Although her studies didn't seem to be going so well, there was a light in her eyes, as if she had found her goal.
Higashino Makoto stood at the door for a long time.
Then he turned around and walked out of the library.
Reisen followed behind him, her crimson eyes fixed on him.
"Owner."
"Um."
Aren't you going in?
"Need not."
"Why?"
"Because she doesn't need me."
Minerva is probably the most normal and easiest to get along with among the witches.
It's still not exactly normal.
Where can you find a normal witch?
Higashino Makoto strode out of the library.
The sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor, gradually fading into the distance.
Reisen turned around and glanced at the tightly closed door.
Then, she lifted her skirt and followed him.
On the seventh day after the witches moved in, Higashino Makoto realized a problem.
He locked up six of the most abnormal people in the same place.
Although he himself is not normal.
The guardians of Novas Etier are even more abnormal.
The abnormality itself isn't the problem; the problem is that the relationships between the six of them don't seem as harmonious as one might imagine.
For example, Echidna and Minerva.
Their relationship could be described as irreconcilable, and that would be an understatement.
Seven o'clock in the morning, in the third section of the bookstore, near the C row of bookshelves.
Minerva sat cross-legged on the floor, her golden ponytail swaying behind her, her eyes fixed on the book of magic theory in her hands, her lips moving slightly as if she were reciting something.
"The principle behind the third-tier healing spell is..."
She frowned, her fingers tracing lines on the pages.
"Magic stimulates the wound, rather than simply healing it... what's the difference between that and Authority?"
"The difference is that Authority does not consume your own magic."
The voice came from above, with a slow, cloying sweetness that made you want to punch someone.
Minerva looked up.
Echidna stood beside the bookshelf, her long, silvery-white hair cascading over her shoulders, her dark pupils looking down at her.
He was holding a book and looked a little tired, but his spirits were surprisingly good.
What are you doing here?
"This is my library."
Echidna tilted her head, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"I can be wherever I want."
"This is Mr. Higashino's library."
"Mr. Higashino has entrusted this place to me for management."
When did this happen?
"Yesterday."
Indeed, it was yesterday that Higashino Makoto readily agreed after she made her request and offered her assurances.
After all, although Echidna's Authority were somewhat weakened after leaving that world, she was still very suitable for managing the library.
How come I didn't know?
"Because all you do is read books and you don't care about anything else in the world."
Minerva's lips twitched slightly. She stood up and looked Echidna in the eye.
Although she was half a head shorter than Echidna, she couldn't lose in terms of presence.
"Echidna, are you spying on me?"
"Surveillance? No, I was just passing by."
"The book you're holding is in Section 3, Row C, shelf number 12."
"Right."
"I just put it back."
Echidna glanced down at the book in her hand, then looked up again, a sly glint in her dark eyes.
"Really? I didn't notice."
Minerva took a deep breath, then another, and then—
"You—!"
Minerva, keep your voice down.
Echidna interrupted her, her voice suddenly becoming serious.
"How's your healing technique coming along?"
Minerva's words stuck in her throat.
"... good."
To what extent can it be treated?
"Trauma, fracture, mild poisoning."
Minerva's voice softened.
"Although it consumes a lot of magic power. At the current pace, healing a broken bone requires half of my magic power, and for a serious injury, it may require more than 30%."
Echidna nodded and handed the book to Minerva.
"Take a look at this book. Chapter Seven, the section on mana recovery efficiency, might be helpful."
Minerva took the book and looked down at the cover.
<General Theory of Tier Magic Systems>, Chapter Seven, Mana Restoration.
"You came here specifically to see me?"
"No."
Echidna turned around and walked deeper into the bookshelf.
"I was just passing by."
Minerva watched her retreating figure; her long, silvery-white hair shimmered softly in the glow of the magic lamp, and the hem of her long black dress trailed gently on the ground.
Echidna.
She stopped walking, but didn't turn around.
Thanks.
"You're welcome. I just don't like seeing people waste their time in front of me."
She continued walking forward.
Minerva lowered his head, looking at the book in his hands, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Stubborn guy."