NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 5 Part 3
“M-Master!”
I burst into my master’s room, throwing the door open. Lying on her bed, the witch Faust lazily turned her head towards me with a groggy expression.
“You’re so loud in the morning, Meg.”
“Meg, give my back a little massage.”
“Uh, u-uhh, okay…”
Even in a moment like this, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse. Such was my unfortunate nature.
As I massaged my master’s waist, a thought crossed my mind. Could this all be a dream?
“Wait, that’s not the point!”
I slammed my hand on the bed.
“S-S-S-Sophie! Sophie’s phantom! There was a ghost in the living room!”
“Oh? She’s already here? That was fast.”
“Huh?”
Just then, I sensed a presence behind me. Trembling, I slowly turned around.
Standing there was the very same phantom of Sophie from earlier.
“U-uh…”
“S-She’s back!”
I flung myself onto my master, clinging to her waist with all my strength.
“GWAHHH!” she groaned in agony.
“Faust, I’m here.”
It wasn’t a dream.
The person at the center of a video that must have had seventy million views—the very same Sophie—was here. In this shabby house, in this tiny town.
“A stand-in?”
I handed Sophie a cup of tea as she sat at my master’s desk. She nodded quietly while sipping.
“This time of year is busy. Especially with requests from this side.”
“The timing works out well, so I arranged for her to stay here. In exchange for accommodations, she’ll help open the gate to the Otherworld. By the time that’s over, my back should be healed.”
So that’s how she got in contact with her. With Sophie—one of the Seven Sages.
That’s not something just anyone could pull off so casually.
“Master, you really are one of the Seven Sages, huh.”
“‘Really are’—what’s that supposed to mean? …Meg, you’ll be assisting Sophie for a while.”
“Me?”
“You know the town and the ritual site better than anyone. Just like every year, you’ll be supporting her.”
“Whuhhh…”
Me, assisting the genius witch Sophie?
It was an incredible opportunity, but at the same time, the pressure was immense.
Noticing my hesitation, my master smirked knowingly.
“Sophie is a genius. Learn from her.”
“Y-yeah…”
As always, she pushed the impossible onto me without hesitation.
I glanced at Sophie, and our eyes met.
Her white, porcelain-like skin and smooth, blue hair—it was like looking at a living snowflake.
Then, unexpectedly, she murmured a single word.
“Gate.”
“Gate? Oh, you mean a site inspection? Got it. I’ll guide you. I’m Meg Raspberry. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, Zberry.”
“That’s not where you cut it!”
A path along the river leading into the city of Lapis.
The overcast sky looked as if it could snow at any moment, and half the river was already frozen over. The biting cold made me shiver as I walked beside one of the most famous people in the world.
The Seven Sages were all renowned, but Sophie was in a league of her own.
Most witches leaned towards academic pursuits, but Sophie stood out with her frequent media appearances, massive fanbase, and extravagant style.
Her background and career set her apart.
A prodigy who made a name for herself in magical history, Sophie excelled in academics, specializing in physics, and even skipped grades to enter university early.
After graduating, she toured the world as a performer, orchestrating parades using fireworks and dazzling light phenomena.
Her striking blue hair and eyes, combined with her unparalleled talent, catapulted her to worldwide fame.
The legendary young genius, Sophie Haeter—who I had only ever seen on screens—was now walking beside me in this rural town.
It didn’t feel real.
“It’s freezing today. You don’t seem affected though, Sophie. Aren’t you cold?”
“Not really.”
She certainly looked the part of an ice queen, but I kept that thought to myself.
Though we were the same age, there was something about her—an aura, a presence—that felt worlds apart.
Even someone as outgoing as me felt a little intimidated.
“What?”
Noticing my gaze, Sophie looked at me directly, making me flinch.
I let out a dry laugh, trying to cover up my nerves.
“Ahaha, I was just thinking—you have such a beautiful face. And that blue hair is amazing.”
“I see.”
Silence again.
The air felt heavy.
“You must have a lot of parades this time of year. Oh, by the way, I watched your video! You were so cool! I mean, we’re the same age, but you’re already accomplishing so much. Truly a genius! Amazing, really! Ahaha!”
“I see.”
…The conversation wasn’t going anywhere.
Actually, I felt like I was just making things worse.
Just then, I heard the sound of an approaching motorcycle.
We stepped aside, and the bike came to a stop in front of us.
Riding it was the local baker’s son.
“Meg? Wow, fancy meeting you here.”
“Oh, Onette! Helping out at the bakery? Good for you.”
“Heheh, yeah.”
Then, he noticed Sophie.
“Who’s she?”
“A guest of my master.”
“Master Faust’s guest?”
His expression shifted in an instant.
With trembling hands, he pointed at Sophie.
“That blue hair… No way, are you Sophie Haeter?!”
“Yep. My master hurt her back, so Sophie’s filling in for the festival.”
“Whoa, the real deal…!”
Onette’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
Sophie, however, looked slightly uncomfortable. Maybe she wasn’t used to this kind of attention.
“C-Could I get a handshake?”
After a moment of hesitation, Sophie slowly took his hand.
Onette looked like he might faint.
“I’m never washing this hand again!”
“You work at a bakery. Wash your hands. Also, aren’t you supposed to be working?”
“Oh crap, I’m on a delivery!”
With that, he revved his bike and sped off.
“He’s like a whirlwind… Sorry about that. Small-town folk get excited around celebrities.”
“It’s fine.”
But as she said that, she stared at her own hand.
There was something melancholic in her gaze.
“Sophie?”
I called out, and she flinched slightly before turning back to me.
“…It’s nothing. Let’s keep moving.”
“Oh, okay.”
As I followed behind her, I still didn’t understand what that expression had meant.