Thump—thump—thump—
The sound of vibrations.
The three green human heads that had turned into babies were chasing the little mouse.
"Oh, what a clever pet. Kill him, and you'll be Yubaba's most beloved thing."
Sen Getsusa laughed under Chihiro's incredulous gaze, and then, taking advantage of the moment Yubabas Sister turned to look over, she made a gesture toward the White Dragon, who had already opened one eye.
Swipe down!
Cut it—
Roar!
"Oh no!" Yubabas Sister turned her head in alarm and shouted.
Receiving Sen Getsusa's signal, the White Dragon used his last bit of strength to prop up his body, his long tail like a sharp knife, cutting into the paper bird that had been lying flat on the carpet, ignored by everyone.
Snap!
The paper bird split into two.
And Yubabas Sister in front of them was also cut open like the paper bird, her phantom gradually dissipating. She looked at Sen Getsusa, her eyes filled with an unreadable expression: "Oh dear, I was careless after all."
At this moment, the White Dragon, having exhausted his strength, finally closed both eyes and fell toward the hole behind him.
"White Dragon!"
Chihiro still held the White Dragon's neck tightly, even if she would fall with him.
In the blink of an eye, the girl and the dragon disappeared from Yubaba's room.
————Chihiro is angry (ing)————
Swamp Bottom Cottage.
Sen Getsusa sat down in a chair with a freshly made pie, humming a song as she leisurely poured tea for herself and Yubabas Sister.
She had bought a lot of shrimp and fish when she came back from the Bathhouse; they would be ready to eat once they were chilled.
Yubabas Sister wore her glasses and carefully tasted the dish made by her temporary granddaughter. During this time, she especially cherished Sen Getsusa's cooking.
"After all, the chances to eat it are becoming fewer and fewer." That's what she said.
Next to Yubabas Sister's hand was a large pile of thread of various colors and thicknesses, seemingly just found from some drawer in the room. Sen Getsusa could even smell the scent of dust on them.
"I feel... your power of existence is becoming thinner and thinner. You're leaving soon, Sengetsu-sha." Yubabas Sister smiled and said somewhat lonely: "Why can't witches take apprentices? Because rules are rules. If you were to become my apprentice, I'm afraid you would have to stay here forever."
Sen Getsusa nodded. "I've heard the White Dragon talk about it. Is that the price that guy paid too? But isn't that good? He probably couldn't survive in human society anyway."
Yubabas Sister shook her head; in fact, the price paid was not set in stone: "For you, 'freedom' is the most important thing. So the price would be to stay here."
"As for the White Dragon... he is naturally different from you. For him, it's probably something like 'justice' or 'integrity'."
Yubabas Sister waved her hand boredly, as if trying to fan away that annoying dragon: "Most dragons are like that anyway. So their price can be guessed."
Sen Getsusa looked at Yubabas Sister with a smile, staring at her without moving.
Stare—
"What is it, what is it! Eat, hurry up and eat!"
The uncomfortable Yubabas Sister began to force herself (who was already full) to eat again; a faint red could be seen on her wrinkled face.
Sen Getsusa reached out and took the spoon from Yubabas Sister's hand, saying bluntly: "I didn't realize you had such a cute side. If you wanted to help the White Dragon and Chihiro, why not be more direct?"
"In my World, someone like you would be called a tsundere." She covered her mouth, her eyes curving: "Once someone has that attribute, everything they do will end in failure."
Yubabas Sister didn't understand the term, but that didn't stop her comprehension. She saw that her little granddaughter was teasing her. "Hmph! These are the rules; everyone must follow the rules."
"But how did you see through it?"
Although Sen Getsusa considered herself a bit eccentric... okay, airheaded, she was definitely not stupid.
How could something like the Witch's Contract Seal, which was her "lifeblood," be so easily stolen by the White Dragon?
"Your acting was too fake, Granny," Sen Getsusa said. "And I remember, except for the dividend day, Granny can't enter Yubaba's Bathhouse unless—"
"Unless it was all planned by me."
Yubabas Sister simply admitted it and put down her teacup: "The White Dragon is a deity; in our terms, a Lord."
"A Lord himself won't be blocked by barriers, and his blood can also contaminate large-scale barriers, causing them to fail."
"So, little Yuesha, it's not right for you to use the word'steal'; that guy the White Dragon clearly walked in with great fanfare and took my seal..."
Sen Getsusa caught a glimpse of the truth and seemed a bit excited; she eagerly began to speculate: "So wounding the White Dragon was so you could use the Lord's blood to break your sister's barrier?"
Yubabas Sister nodded, her expression darkening.
"We witches have a kind of vicious curse—she placed it on that White Dragon. Afterward, the curse power formed a kind of curse insect inside his body, constantly moving around."
"He was forced to obey my sister, and it wasn't just because she held his name; it was mostly due to this Cursed Worm."
Sen Getsusa listened as she brought chilled sweet shrimp and sliced sashimi to the table. The flesh was bright and sweet, freshly caught, still carrying a hint of the sea breeze.
Yubabas Sister pointed at the table, signaling her to talk while they ate. "The reason the Cursed Worm is called a 'vicious curse' is because it's almost impossible to detect. Aside from me, a witch, and my sister who cast it, I don't think even other less experienced witches would know about it."
"This curse feeds on his life, controlling him, influencing him, and constantly eating away at his spirit and body. Until death."
At this point, Yubabas Sister seemed a bit embarrassed. "I originally wanted the White Dragon to take the Fake Seal first. Then, while I was hunting him down, I would use his Lord's Blood to break my sister's Barrier."
"Once I entered the Bathhouse, I would use her Child to threaten her into removing the Cursed Worm..."
However... Yubabas Sister explained helplessly, "after getting in, I discovered that Chihiro had a Bitter Dumpling on her. Oh dear, I've really embarrassed myself this time..."
Bitter Dumpling?
Sen Getsusa was confused.
"The Bitter Dumpling is formed from the condensed Divine Authority unique to the Fushimi River God."
"It can heal all scars and curses—though such a thing hasn't been gifted to a Mortal in many years. Even that fellow, the Cat King, couldn't beg for one. Otherwise, Heimaru wouldn't be in so much pain."
"How could this thing... end up on Chihiro..."
Yubabas Sister muttered with her head down, while Sen Getsusa had only just straightened out the whole story.
"In other words, Chihiro can save the White Dragon?"
Yubabas Sister nodded affirmatively. "It was because I realized this that I left. Since the Bitter Dumpling can dispel the curse, there's no need to interact further with that annoying woman, my sister. If possible, I don't want to see her for even a second..."
"Oh... without a Lord as a disciple, my sister won't be able to intimidate the restless monsters around her for the next few hundred years, hahahahaha!"
"Finally, I don't have to face the Lord anymore, hahahaha—it was driving me crazy! You have no idea; facing that stupid dragon, I couldn't kill him, yet I couldn't let him go. It was so annoying, this old lady was so annoyed!"
Yubabas Sister laughed heartily, her massive palm slapping the table, making the plates rattle.
Sen Getsusa rolled her eyes at her.
What kind of idiotic scheme is this... (＃`Д')ノ!!!
At this moment, Yubabas Sister, who had been laughing for a while, suddenly stopped. She stared at Sen Getsusa with her huge eyes, looking intrigued. "By the way, little Yuesha. I have a question for you."
Hmm?
Yubabas Sister asked, "Why... at that time, didn't you help?"
Sen Getsusa yawned. The moon was already up. Having eaten her fill, she was a bit sleepy.
"It's interesting."
"Because it's interesting. Isn't living just a process of constantly searching for interesting things?"
The girl rested her chin on her hand, and her casual reply left Yubabas Sister very satisfied. She looked at the nonchalant girl with a smile and said, "You really should be my disciple, little Yuesha."
---------------------------------
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