Date a Witch: Reborn as the Witch of Lust! (GL)-Chapter 104: In a War, One Must Bribe - Selaria

As she crossed the muddy terrain, Mel took in the chaotic mountain landscape, scattered with students, knights, and rampaging monsters.

The landscape stretched before them like a sea of rising cliffs and plunging slopes.

Between the cliffs, Royal and Holy Knights worked together to repel scattered monster groups, while juniors either hid or fought alongside seniors against the rising tide.

She smirked before running up to one of the latter, her iron sword flashing as it sliced a lizardman’s neck off.

"Calina!"

A slight frown adorned the Swordmaster’s face, as two kobolds surged forward.

Yet as their pickaxes neared the distracted Calina, two arrows shot and reached their skulls.

"You’re late." Calina stared, her face less stressed and more confused. "Any idea what caused this?"

Mel shook her head, yet a tease slipped out of her lips. "Could it be that you’re thinking I did something again?"

"Judging by your performance in the exam-"

She faltered mid-sentence, raising her sword to block a lizardman’s talon, her eyes still locked on Mel casually. "A resounding yes, I would claim."

Stab!

An icicle shot into the lizardmna’s skull, a silent complaint.

"Treat Mel like that again," Lila said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "And your next meal won’t be nearly as pleasant with ours."

Calina shuddered; the bloodlust from a Witch of Envy exceeding all creatures for the last fifteen years of her hunting.

"Hehe. Thanks, Lila." Mel pet Lila, her lips curling up as she faced Calina again. "I suppose you were joking earlier, but any idea what caused this monster outbreaks?"

Calina avoided Mel’s gaze with guilt. Yes, she was joking earlier.

"I’ve been in this land for the last fifteen years or so."

She turned around, pointing the Monsters being easily fended off by the more well-trained Knights, a massacre more than a disaster.

"Enchanted Monsters were an issue in Embervale, but not as baffling as this. Lizardman should be gathering in the Northeast while Kobold should be mining in the West. And those few orgres... they do not even come from around in Embervale, if I recall."

"Then..." Mel’s gaze lingered on Rosana rushing as her axe cleaved through another Lizardman. "You mean someone placed them here?"

Calina’s brows knitted together, her other hand clutching onto the unsheathed sword at her waist. "Something like that."

Mel held her chin, sinking into deep thoughts.

The game never mentioned the Cult’s experiment on Embervale, yet it never meant it didn’t happen.

"You know something?"

Mel grinned. "Want a scoop?"

"Not interested." Calina rolled her eyes as she sliced through another kobold sneaking up.

"I would say clear out the monsters first, but whatever causes these monsters to bundle up together needed to be dealt with as well."

With a nod, Mel’s eyes swept through the battlefield, before landing upon a curious sight.

"Sister. Draw them in further before you strike! Scatter them and they’ll attack the others!"

Selaria’s cute voice boomed, royal knights protecting her sides as a purple-haired senior sprinted towards her in a distance.

The senior’s silver eyes were scowling, her rapier stabbing through passing kobolds as she baited a crew of Lizardman and orges.

"Selaria!" The senior lept high in the air. "Don’t waste my trust and efforts!"

"Knights." Selaria caught her breath, before a sharp gaze pierced through the crowds of monsters. "Do your work."

Royal and Holy Knights charged forward, the princess’s shadow right above them as they slaughtered the crowded monsters.

Blood spewed in the lush soil, as lifeless monsters fell to cover the heatless lava veins.

Mel’s steps neared Selaria, a small smirk of nostalgia curling up. "Commanding now?"

A confusion flashed across Selaria’s eyes as they shifted, before a sigh escaped her lips.

"On the contrary, it’s just basic command." Selaria squinted at the battlefield. "Royal Knights prioritised Royalty over others, so a word from me is necessary to protect the students rather than-"

She cut off her own word, however, upon witnessing a Knight’s injured by a Lizardman’s talon.

"Everyone, remain calm and focus on clearing the wave. Sister!"

Selaria’s shout jolted a woman at a distance, who was already wiping the ’dirty blood’ off of her rapier.

"What?! I’m still cleaning my blade!"

A flamboyant voice screamed back, dissatisfaction darkening her expression.

Mel watched Selaria’s face scrunched up in disgust, before she simply declared with a resigned scoff.

"Two more mochi shop tickets!"

"Tch. You think the noble me is some type of errand girl?"

"You are." Selaria’s face relaxed, only to glance upon her sister as if looking at a garbage. "Drag the Knight out. I’ll add one more ticket."

"Urgh-why did the number decrease-"

"One more yapping, and no more ticket."

"Grr... fine!"

"Alright. Now listen up!"

Selaria’s command turned to the soldiers. "A Royal Princess has come herself to drag the injured away from some mere adept ranked monsters."

"So if I see even a scratch on my sister..." she glared at the Knight’s back. "You know the consequences."

Inside their helmets, the knights’ sweats beaded at the princess’s warnings, their swings faster and more precise to clear out the monster remains.

Mel watched a group of kobolds fail to slip away, then understood the deeper intent behind Selaria’s command.

The knights knew full well they could have pulled the injured out themselves, but their formations would break for a single second, allowing a monster to slip by.

And by intentionally forcing a princess to rescue him instead, the Knights’ spirits would be riled up in fear of what may follow.

As for accidentally hitting the rescuer? Well...

She smiled as the second princess weaved through the strikes of both knights and monsters, clearly unbothered.

That’s the ’war princess’ Selaria I know.

Mel chuckled at the subtle manipulation by Selaria, her bold command always scary yet strangely effective.

"And Mel. No time to waste." Selaria turned to Mel once she briefly glimpses her sister dragging the injured knight out. "Summon, now."

"Before that..." Mel tapped her cheek. "Mind if I rip you off as well? I’m running out of Mana potion as well."

"Urgh." A groan, then Selaria immediately steeled herself. "I expect results."

"Alright!"

Mel hummed, as she took from her <Inventory> a few Mana potions.

It’s time for a mass summoning.