Chapter 98: The mark of only being able to tell the truth
After the magical nuclear explosion subsided, Luka Srlent lay sprawled on the ground in Yamcha's classic pose, her small, dust-covered face filled with grievance.
"Damn it, I've been beaten so badly, yet you still won't come out to help me, what kind of spirit behind is this!"
The soul within the Millennium Ring, after the duel with Aisha ended during the day, said it needed to rest for a while to recover magic power.
Unexpectedly, the Millennium Ring, true to its word, really didn't show up even when its host was being thrashed, truly very trustworthy.
Conversely, the disobedient Luka, ignoring the Ring's advice to 'quietly wait for the opportunity to arrive', jumped at Irena.
"Well, student Luka, want to continue fighting?"
Fingers hooked on the ring, Irena, victorious in the duel, twirled the Ring in her hand, looking completely at ease.
The implication was that even if Luka got up and fought her a few more times, the outcome wouldn't change.
"Not fighting anymore."
Getting up aggrievedly, Luka forcefully patted off the dust clinging to the surface of her black and white stockings.
"Oh, much more honest now. Then you should also confess what this thing is used for, right? Don't try to fool me, the ominous aura it's filled with can't be concealed even if you want to."
"Don't know."
Luka's answer was very perfunctory.
Since she couldn't win the duel, just playing dumb would suffice; could you really torture a confession out of me?
"Isn't this your thing?"
"No."
"Hahahahaha, did you think you could just lie and fool me? What a pity, that won't work on me."
Magic power gathered in her palm; Irena's fingers directly pressed onto Luka's chest.
If an ordinary person saw this, they might think Irena was taking advantage of the cute little loli.
But if someone knowledgeable saw it, just by the purple magic power flowing between Irena's fair fingers, they could instantly recognize it.
Magic higher-tiered than 「True Sight Eye」 , magic that only those honored as witches could use... very evil and fearsome magic.
"Words of Truth , engrave!"
Clearly, her fingers were placed on Luka's chest, but the engraved purple magic insignia appeared below Luka's navel.
"Y-y-y, what did you do?"
Luka, completely powerless and at Irena's mercy, increasingly felt that the woman before her was very ominous.
Simply more like a villain than herself, too terrifying.
"Magic to make a little child full of lies behave a bit. For the next three days, you can only speak the truth."
"I don't believe it, there's such magic?"
"You can try if you don't believe me."
Irena smiled brightly at Luka.
"For example, you can try saying, Senpai, you're really ugly~"
"What's so difficult about that. Senpai... Senpai?"
The words reached her lips, but Luka suddenly felt her tongue and mouth were out of her control.
"Senpai, is very good-looking. Eh!!?"
Luka never expected this 「Words of Truth」 insignia to be real, even able to twist her own will.
"Alright, now you should answer me, what is this thing."
"Don't, don't know... Millennium Ring."
"Millennium, Ring? What is it used for?"
"Used to house another soul."
"Another soul?"
Irena, growing more confused the more she heard, even being born into a magic family, had never heard of such a thing.
After all, magic items capable of reaching the soul level were basically recognized contraband.
Irena also had no research knowledge in this area.
"Then just tell me directly, is this thing dangerous?"
"Not dangerous."
Unexpectedly, Words of Truth actually reflected Luka's latest thoughts, which made her feel slightly fortunate.
Currently, the spirit behind within the Millennium Ring was in a dormant state, so the Millennium Ring indeed posed no danger; this was an indisputable truth.
"Not dangerous, huh. Then could it be I misunderstood student Luka?"
Irena guiltily shifted her eyes to the side.
Since Luka, engraved with Words of Truth, said it wasn't dangerous, it wouldn't be false.
"Last question, you shouldn't have any ill intentions towards Aisha Carlos, right?"
"No, I have normal sexual orientation."
"Ahem, sexual orientation doesn't need to be answered."
It seems I really was overthinking; although there are some strange aspects, for now, Luka Srlent indeed wouldn't harm Aisha.
Was I being a bit overprotective? Student Aisha isn't a child who doesn't understand anything.
Thinking this, Irena suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly.
The current her was simply like a mother goose protecting her gosling.
"Alright, you can go back. But, this cannot be returned to you."
"Why!"
"I picked this up, if you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being too weak, Luka Srlent. When you become strong enough, win it back from me through a duel~"
The true nature of a scummy witch, exposed without reservation.
The Millennium Ring, filled with an ominous aura, even if Luka said it wasn't dangerous, magic items involving the soul were recognized contraband in any country.
Better for her to temporarily keep it.
"Alright, it's fine if you don't return it to me."
Luka agreed with unusual straightforwardness. Anyway, Irena couldn't possibly carry the Ring with her 24/7; there would always be a chance to call the Ring back.
Had she known this earlier, since she couldn't get the Millennium Ring back anyway, it would have been better not to provoke Irena, causing herself to suffer a great loss.
"Then help me remove the 「Words of Truth」 insignia."
Luka pointed to the position three inches below her navel.
"Sorry, I also don't know how to remove this. Anyway, it's only for three days, just consider it being a good child for three full days. Being honest isn't a bad thing."
"Y-y-y! You're the bad person!"
A 「truthful」 evaluation from Luka under the influence of 「Words of Truth」.
"Hahaha, I never said I was a good person."
Turning around smugly, under Luka's resentful gaze, Irena walked towards the academy dormitories while twirling the Millennium Ring between her fingertips.
Perhaps out of frustration from suffering a major setback, Luka's continuous curses in her heart actually had a slight effect.
The Millennium Ring, being twirled like a toy, its surrounding swinging spiked ring ornament, unnoticed by Irena, scraped a shallow bloody gash on the back of her fair hand.
"Hiss, so painful. Who said this thing isn't dangerous, really can't just play around with it."
Quickly casting a healing magic on her wound, Irena, having learned her lesson this time, no longer twirled the Millennium Ring, but held it securely in her hand.
Nearing the dormitory curfew time, Luka, disheveled and covered in dust, finally returned to her dormitory room.
"What happened, student Luka?"
Seeing Luka in such a miserable state, Aisha couldn't help but ask with concern.
Luka, already too tired to say much more, originally wanted to use 'it's nothing' as an excuse to brush it off.
As a result, the 「Words of Truth」 insignia below her navel acted up again.
"I was beaten by a senpai."
"ᓫ(°⌑°) B-beaten by a senpai? Which senpai was so ruthless?"
"A senpai I don't know, with long silver-gray hair and a witch hat."
These appearance characteristics, besides Irena, who else could it be?
"Beaten by Senpai Irena? You're kidding me, right?"
"I wish I were kidding you."
Feeling the burning sensation from the 「Words of Truth」 insignia on her navel, Luka, wanting to cry but having no tears, dived headfirst into the bathroom, not wanting to speak anymore.