Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Naught Kid_1
The next day, at noon, it was time for some fresh air.
Ophelia sat alone on a bench at the edge of the exercise yard, under the overcast sky filled with dense, heavy clouds—it was the rare kind of weather that allowed her to walk around in broad daylight.
Meiruki stood about two meters away from her, arms folded and leaning against the perimeter wall.
"On the east side of the yard, that woman wearing a dress and a wide-brimmed wizard’s hat, basking in the sun, that’s the witch Daili." Ophelia’s lips barely moved as she spoke, her eyes also keeping watch on the two guards patrolling below.
"Daili..." Meiruki narrowed her eyes, "Is that the witch Daili who lives in the Shadow Ruins?"
"I’m not sure, I don’t know much about her background."
"Then, is she especially good at summoning demons?" Meiruki pursued.
"Yes, she uses a short-handled ebony magic wand, and I’ve seen her summon three different types of demons."
"Then it must be her without a doubt," Meiruki confirmed.
"You know her?" Ophelia inquired.
"No, I’ve only heard of her. She’s a significant figure at the ’Witches’ Gathering,’ but she has been off the radar for many years. I didn’t expect to find her here."
"You really are a witch, then," Ophelia glanced sidelong at Meiruki.
When Meiruki had helped remove the curse from around her neck, Ophelia had suspected Meiruki’s witch background.
"It’s more accurate to say, I once was," Meiruki sighed deeply.
Indeed, she had long since been expelled from the "Witches’ Gathering."
She once had a bit of a reputation in that world, reaching the summit of prowess in magic potions, demon contracts, and seal curses—a method she used to train those children into fearsome assassins.
"Doesn’t she have to wear a prison uniform here?" Meiruki asked.
"That’s a privilege reserved for high-level inmates; they’re allowed to keep a certain number of their own clothes," Ophelia explained, "By being lapdogs for the warden, they can exchange favors for their treatment level."
"And where is that necromancer you mentioned?"
"Asenna, she’s not here right now, but you must have seen her; she’s the librarian appointed by the warden."
"That young girl who always sits there buried in books, wearing glasses?" Meiruki recalled.
"Yes, that’s her," Ophelia paused, then added, "A boring woman."
"You know her?"
"Before being thrown in here, there was a bit of an acquaintance," Ophelia said lightly, "And then, the last one, Tainted Avansa..."
She shifted her gaze toward the small figure in the corner of the yard as she spoke.
But at that moment, Meiruki interrupted her, "You don’t need to tell me about this one, I understand her."
Indeed, she understood her better than anyone else...
After all, she was the one who had raised that child herself.
"The three I know of are those, and although I don’t dismiss the possibility of others, I think it’s unlikely," Ophelia said in a measured tone, "Living humans should find it quite difficult to bear too many demon contracts."
"So that means..." Meiruki’s lips curled into a slight smile, "If we can turn them against her, the warden will end up all alone?"
"But the prerequisite is that you truly can lift the death contracts on them," Ophelia added, "Can you really do it?"
"In this regard, I still have a bit of confidence," Meiruki replied nonchalantly.
"When are you planning to act?"
"I’ll tell you later, you have to give me some time to set things up."
"Then I’ll just wait for your good news," Ophelia said as she stood up and walked toward the housing unit.
If one of the more perceptive guards noticed how long she had been alone with this new prisoner, they might become suspicious. Their plan was still in the preparation stage and had to be handled with caution.
Meiruki turned to look at Avansa in the corner, watching her for a while before checking the movements of the guards, and then walked over to the corner of the yard.
"Vannie." Standing behind Avansa, she called out Avansa’s nickname softly.
Avansa turned in surprise, and Meiruki took the opportunity to unlock her memories.
Seeing the "mother" from her memories standing before her, Avansa’s eyes widened as she recalled her "mother" infiltrating this prison.
She had actually forgotten such an important thing!
Before she could open her mouth to say something, Meiruki put a finger to her lips with a "quiet" gesture.
Avansa immediately closed her mouth, swallowing her words—obedience to this woman was a conditioned reflex deeply rooted in her heart since childhood.
"Mommy heard, oh," Meiruki said with a slight smile on her lips, but her eyes held no laughter, "You’re doing things for others, aren’t you?"
In that instant, Avansa’s face drained of color.
The memories of living with her "mother" for many years told her that her "mother" was angry now.
Angering "mother" meant suffering punishments worse than death.
As long as she made "mother" happy, "mother" would love her.
She must never go against "mother"—this was the iron law of survival she had learned from countless lessons.
But at that moment, Meiruki gently stroked her head and said in a soothing voice, "You’ve really suffered, being forced to work hard for others... That damned man, threatening you with your life."
Avansa stared blankly, not sure how to respond.
Meiruki took the opportunity to probe the demonic contract imposed on Avansa.
"But don’t worry, such shackles can’t hold back Mommy," Meiruki smiled, "Soon I’ll get you out of this hellhole, and you’ll be free before long."
"Leave... here?" Avansa suddenly showed a perplexed expression.
In an instant, Aiden’s words echoed in her ears: "This is the only place you can take refuge in, and if you leave this prison, you’ll be hunted down to the ends of the earth. There’s nowhere left in the world where you can live freely."
"What’s wrong?" Meiruki noticed her change, "Questioning Mommy’s words? That’s not like you at all."
"But, Aiden, he said..." Avansa stammered.
"You want to repeat what others have said to Mommy? Have you forgotten what I taught you?" The smile disappeared from Meiruki’s face.
An icy chill ran through her, and Avansa’s tongue knotted up, stopping in its tracks.
Even though she had lost her sense of pain, the memories of past torments had long been etched deep into her soul.
At last, she opened her mouth mechanically and answered in a lifeless voice, "No."
"Good, good child." The smile returned to Meiruki’s face once more.
