Chapter 69: The Enchanting Witch

"Do you... really like women's feet?" asked Agnes.

Agnes placed her slender legs together and gently rested them on Char's lap. Her two jade feet intertwined, and the tips of her long, fair toes were dyed a cherry color.

In contrast to her pure white skin, they appeared exceptionally vibrant and alluring.

"How could that be?" Char chuckled involuntarily and retorted, "Apart from you, I haven't touched any other woman's feet."

Hmm, Sally is still a young girl, not considered a woman.

As for Novala and the maid ... cough, he was basically unaware of the former, and the latter was simply kidnapped by the fierce maid.

Speaking of which, it's been a few days since I last saw Dahlia. I miss her a bit.

I'll visit her when I go home after this.

With these thoughts in mind, Char released Agnes' delicate foot and unscrewed the nail polish bottle cap.

While unscrewing the cap, he inadvertently brought his hand closer to his nose and took a sniff.

Surprisingly, there was a faint fragrance, similar to the Miss Witch's body scent, which was refreshing and delightful.

Unbelievable.

She truly is divine, even here everything smells good.

He silently thought to himself.

This unintentional action caught the attention of the Miss Witch, who lightly furrowed her brow and opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something.

However, recalling what she had read in a book called "Evil and Desire" about how many men have a mainstream fetish for appreciating women's feet through scent, touch, and contours, she thought for a moment and decided not to reprimand him.

She just sighed silently.

Then, she softly said, "After reaching the status of a deity, most of the normal metabolic and physiological needs that belonged to humans disappear. So, in all aspects... they become more refined."

"But human women don't become like that."

The implication behind these words was, if you were to do this to an ordinary woman, be careful of getting a fungal infection in your lungs!

However, Char looked puzzled and could only nod blankly.

"And then... what should I do?" asked the Miss Witch after she finished painting her nails.

Char handed her a small box containing lip gloss and said, "You lightly dip your finger in it and dab it on your lips, then gently press them together."

Upon hearing this, Agnes nodded and followed the instructions.

The originally rosy lips, adorned with a translucent pale pink lip gloss, appeared moist and crystalline. They were as tempting as fruit-flavored jelly, making one unable to resist the urge to take a bite.

After completing everything, Agnes placed her feet down from Char's legs, put on her shoes, and gently stood up.

"Is it okay now?" Agnes glanced at Char, then turned slightly and stood in front of the mirror, asking.

"Of course," Char replied in an appreciative tone.

The Miss Witch, now in different attire, looked like a modern urban beauty with a stunning charm of a young girl. There was no trace of any mismatch.

"Then... let's go," she said, feeling that they had spent too much time in the clothing store.

Char had previously noticed that the flow of time in the sea of consciousness was different from the outside world.

It was similar to dreaming, where it felt like only a short while had passed in the dream, but upon waking up, it was already morning.

At this moment, their bodies were in the Abyss Palace, where the passage of time was also different from the outside world.

In other words, while only a short while might have passed in the realm of consciousness, a week might have already gone by in the real world.

So, they didn't have much time left.

Char nodded and left the clothing store with the Miss Witch.

They didn't pay for anything since everything here was patched together from fragments of memories from Char's past life. It didn't possess intelligent behavior patterns or logic, so some common sense from Char's previous life didn't apply here.

It was like the house that Char asked Agnes to manifest earlier, which had many appliances that appeared to be functioning normally. However, in reality, these devices only maintained their outward appearance. Since Char didn't have a clear understanding of their internal structure, even if they were taken apart, one wouldn't see any complex circuitry.

Walking back to the street, Char looked up at the sky.

"It's still morning. How about getting something to drink?"

.....

Cat cafes, also known as cat-themed coffee shops, are a emerging dining concept in the 21st century.

In a cat cafe, everyone can let go of their burdens and happily interact with cats, relieving the stress and loneliness that accumulates in their daily lives. Drinking coffee becomes secondary.

At this moment, Char and the Miss Witch were standing in front of a cafe called "Cat's Delight."

Through the glass, they could vaguely see various breeds of cats inside. Some were elegantly grooming themselves, some lazily lying on the floor showing their bellies, while others were playfully chasing and frolicking around.

Since it was still early, there were no customers in the cat cafe.

"Why are there so many beasts running into a place meant for dining? And no one is taking care of it?" Agnes frowned as she gazed at the scene inside the cat cafe.

Cats, as creatures, did not exist in the Rand Continent of the other world. Therefore, the Miss Witch was unfamiliar with these small animals.

Beasts? Char's expression turned strange as he looked at a chubby orange cat curled up in the corner, yawning. He thought to himself, "Primal Beast wouldn't agree with that."

As they entered the cat cafe, the female store manager's eyes lit up, and she came forward to greet them.

"Welcome to Cat's Delight Cafe. What would you like to drink, both of you?"

Char glanced at the Miss Witch.

The Miss Witch couldn't understand the characters on the menu, and she had never tasted these drinks before, so she felt a little lost.

After hesitating for a moment, she then said to Char, "I... I'll have the same as you."

"Are you sure?" Char raised an eyebrow.

The Miss Witch nodded.

If Char could drink it, why couldn't she?

So Char smiled at the female store attendant and said, "Two iced Americanos, and also three cat treats and 200 grams of cat food."

"Alright, please wait a moment."

After saying that, the attendant went busy behind the coffee counter.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Miss Witch found a seat closer to the inside and sat down, quietly observing the furnishings inside the cat cafe.

Just then, a Ragdoll cat walked gracefully with its head held high from the other side of the table.

It glanced at Agnes as if to say, "Human, give me food!"

The Miss Witch subtly furrowed her brows.

For some reason, the princess-like demeanor of this cat made her involuntarily think of a certain self-proclaimed most beautiful goddess in the world.

Though this small creature looked fluffy and would probably feel nice in her hands, she couldn't help but feel a bit repulsed.

So Agnes coldly glanced at the cat.

In an instant, the Ragdoll cat seemed to be facing a formidable enemy. Its fur stood on end, and it quickly jumped off the table, hunching its body as if startled, and ran away.

Midway through its escape, it even swiped at a nearby small black cat.

The little black cat appeared to be only a few months old, a tiny bundle resembling a piece of charcoal, with some resemblance to a Maine Coon breed.

After being swiped at by the larger cat, it didn't make a sound. It quietly rolled on the ground a few times and then struggled to stand up.

Sensing a cold gaze, the little black cat lifted its head and looked at the beautiful lady at the table, softly meowing, and then slowly crawled over.

"..."

Agnes was momentarily stunned.

She looked up and saw Char at the counter, fetching the cat food. There were no other customers around.

The Miss Witch hesitated for a moment and moved slightly to the side.

Compared to the proud Ragdoll cat earlier, this little black cat appeared more innocent, with its round eyes and matching fur, filled with curiosity towards the woman in front of it.

Seeing Miss Witch move a little to the side, the little black cat meowed again, thinking that she was playing some kind of game with it.

So it stood up, assessed the height of the seat, and then gathered its hind legs for a leap!

"Thud!"

Unfortunately, that height was still a bit too challenging for it.

The little black cat fell to the ground, rolled around, feeling a bit sore. After grimacing for a moment, it displayed the expression of a teary-eyed kitten.

But quickly, it recovered and once again locked its gaze on the empty seat next to Miss Witch.

It seemed determined to jump up there today, no matter what.

What should I do?

Even Miss Witch felt a bit helpless in this situation.

She glanced at Char and saw that he was engaged in conversation with the staff, so she turned her gaze back to the ground.

The once decisive Agnes was now being outsmarted by a small cat.

She lowered her head and locked eyes with the little cat for a moment.

Then, she whispered softly, "Do you want to come up?"

The little black cat tilted its head, then rolled over on the ground, revealing its tiny belly.

Miss Witch let out a gentle sigh.

She glanced at Char again, confirming that he wasn't paying attention to their interaction, and then slightly bent down, lightly poking the belly of the little black cat with her fingertips.

It was soft and fluffy, a comfortable feeling.

A look of surprise appeared on Miss Witch's face.

She had never expected that this little creature would have such a pleasant touch.

So she took a deep breath and, with slightly hesitant hands, gently grasped the waist of the little black cat, attempting to lift it up.

But perhaps due to her posture being a bit off, the little black cat rolled over and jumped out of her hands.

Just as Miss Witch was about to reach out again, another hand suddenly acted faster, scooping up the cat's front legs and gently lifting it.

"..."

Miss Witch casually stood up, tidied her black hair that fell around her ears, and shifted her gaze to Char.

Little did she know, he innocently held the small cat in front of his face and said, "Big sister, do you want to cuddle me?"

"Has the drink arrived?"

Miss Witch ignored Char and calmly spoke.

Char placed the small cat he was holding on the table in front of Agnes and then turned around, walking towards the coffee counter.

Only then did Miss Witch shift her gaze back to the small, obediently crouching kitten in front of her.

Looking at the little furry creature in front of her, with its innocent face looking back at her, her heart trembled slightly.

Agnes suddenly felt like she understood the purpose of this café.

She gently reached out her hand and scratched the cat's chin.

The cat seemed to enjoy it, closing its eyes and purring.

"Meow..."

As Agnes unconsciously made this sound, she instantly snapped out of it.

What am I doing?

Miss Witch raised her head in a daze and met eyes with Char, who was approaching her with two cups of coffee.

His expression also carried a hint of surprise.

"You..."

"Do you want to taste the coffee?"

In order to conceal his surprise and awkwardness, Char spoke up proactively.

But he soon regretted it.

...

"I'm sorry."

After leaving the cat café, Char apologized.

Not only did he witness Miss Witch imitating a cat's meow, but he also made her drink iced Americano.

You see, that thing is just Italian espresso with some water and ice cubes, without any added sweeteners. It tastes sour and bitter, and unless you're a seasoned coffee aficionado, it's hard to appreciate its enjoyment.

"..."

Miss Witch's expression was somewhat indifferent, and she didn't respond to Char.

She lightly stuck out her tongue, feeling a sour and uncomfortable sensation.

Ever since she tried strawberry-flavored ice cream at Char's home, Agnes had always assumed that the beverages in his hometown must be predominantly sweet, so she didn't think much of it.

Little did she know, after trying iced Americano, Miss Witch began to doubt her life choices.

Does anyone really enjoy drinking this stuff?

She glanced at Char coldly, seriously suspecting that this guy was trying to play a prank on her.

After a while, she said coldly, "Do you like drinking this kind of stuff?"

Char chuckled awkwardly, remained silent for a moment, and then replied, "Perhaps it's not necessarily about liking the taste of this beverage, but rather pursuing a certain refined culture that it represents."

"To be honest, I used to be a bit pretentious. I thought that sitting in a coffee shop, ordering an expensive-looking drink, gave me a sense of being part of an elite class."

That was something Char often did during his college days.

Looking back now, it was actually quite ridiculous.

Miss Witch didn't say anything.

The two of them walked quietly on the street, letting the gentle breeze lift their black hair.

.....

After Agnes's mood settled, Char took her to taste local dishes, visited a shooting range, and watched a movie.

The movie was a remake of "Titanic."

After doing all of this, the sky had already dimmed.

So, upon Char's suggestion, the two of them found a park, rented a boat, and sailed on the calm lake.

The surroundings were incredibly quiet. Apart from the occasional birds gliding over the water and the clusters of goldfish in the water, there was nothing to disturb the serene atmosphere.

Miss Witch folded her legs and leaned against the bow of the boat, gazing at the water, lost in thought.

Though she was dressed in modern attire, her demeanor was tranquil, exuding a deep and wordless aura unique to divine beings.

Her graceful figure seemed to silently convey something.

"Have you had a good time today, Miss Agnes?"

As Char rowed the boat, he spoke up.

Agnes didn't answer and softly asked, "What about you?"

"I feel like some of the things on your mind, or rather, the pressures, have been relieved."

At her words, Char was momentarily taken aback.

In truth, revisiting these familiar places today was not solely for Miss Witch's sake; there were many reasons for Char himself.

Facing heavy pressures in reality, combined with the nostalgia for his past life after traversing more than a decade, Char had developed some longing for his previous life, even though he knew he could never return to it.

Just as this thought arose, Agnes suddenly spoke, "If I can break the seal and return to reality, and you continue perfecting this city in the realm of consciousness until it reaches a flawless state, perhaps I can fully manifest everything here."

"That includes everyone and everything inside."

Char took a sharp breath.

Could Miss Witch... really accomplish something like this?

He had thought that her previous miracle in the palace was already astounding, but he didn't realize it was something she could casually achieve.

Nevertheless, Char smiled bitterly and shook his head, "Even if it were manifested, it would only be a replica."

The familiar people and things no longer existed, so what would be the meaning?

Char's mood became somewhat melancholic.

Miss Witch fell silent for a while.

Then, she gently stood up and turned to face Char, who was rowing the boat.

Against the backdrop of the sunset and evening glow, Agnes in her white shirt, with the evening breeze gently brushing her black hair, looked incredibly beautiful.

I'm not sure if it's an illusion, but Char always felt a slight smile playing at the corner of her lips.

"Actually, the first time I saw you, I sensed that although you appeared humble, there was an arrogance in your heart that looked down on everyone, although I didn't know the basis for this arrogance."

"Even towards me, even towards divine beings, you didn't have any reverence."

"I..."

Char was about to explain but was interrupted by Miss Witch.

She gently shook her head. "It's not that you're bad. In fact, you're the first human since my birth to treat me with this attitude."

"You don't fear or despise me, and your gaze towards me is clear."

"I... don't dislike this feeling."

Char was momentarily stunned.

"Actually, I wasn't like this before I met you."

"Before, I had no friends, no loved ones. I always thought that as long as a person was strong enough, they could live well and confidently in this world."

"But the truth is, I have weaknesses too." Miss Witch spoke in a tone of baring her soul, lowering her head. "For example, I'm afraid of water, afraid of the dark, afraid of that sinking feeling and the despair of being engulfed by water and descending into darkness."

As she said this, Miss Witch slightly bent down and gently took off her shoes, standing barefoot at the front of the wooden boat.

"That movie just now... it's called 'Titanic,' right?"

It was unclear if she was asking Char or murmuring to herself. Miss Witch stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the serene lake around her.

As if feeling that something was out of place, she gently waved her hand.

Then, to Char's astonished gaze, the center of the entire lake seemed to be swept up by a sea monster, causing massive waves and whirlpools.

The shadowy black mist silently approached, staining the tranquil lake with an atmosphere of despair and chilling coldness. Just a glance at it felt incredibly oppressive, as if the lake concealed a monstrous creature that would devour anyone who fell into it!

At the same time, crimson flowers, like drops of blood, slowly rose from the surface of the swirling water, blossoming.

It was the Mandragora.

At this moment, under Miss Witch's power, the lake seemed to transform into a river of the underworld, and the small boat instantly became unsteady. It seemed that in just a moment, it would capsize into the lake.

"You..."

Seemingly shocked by the scene before him, Char instinctively spoke up.

This was his realm of consciousness, how did Miss Witch take control?

Char tried to use his power to change the situation, but he found that his previously unrestricted abilities were completely stripped away.

Was this the work of a divine being?

After a moment, Agnes turned her head and softly said, "Let's play a game."

As she spoke, she looked at Char with an inexplicable gaze.

"Right now, I'm just a small fragment of consciousness, but the black mist in the lake is real. Once I fall into the water and come into contact with it for too long, the 'me' in front of you will completely disappear."

"If you choose to save me, although I know you won't die, the curse of the black mist that directly affects consciousness and spirit will bring pain far greater than any physical suffering. It may even pollute your mind and affect your thoughts."

"Actually, whether you save me or not, it doesn't have much impact on me because I am just a tiny fragment of consciousness and it won't affect reality."

"If I have to give a reason, you can consider it as a prank I, as a witch, am playing when I have nothing else to do."

"So... what will you choose?"

Agnes spoke in a low voice.

She silently glanced at him and then turned away.

With her black hair dancing, in Char's astonished gaze, Miss Witch gently tiptoed, opened her hands, and fell into the water.

"Hiss..."

The black mist in the water, as dark as ink, seemed to sense the presence of the host. It transformed into a twisted black serpent and surged towards Miss Witch!

"!!"

Char's pupils contracted. Without thinking much, he instinctively threw away the oar in his hand and jumped into the water right after her.

A cold sensation completely enveloped him.

It was a muddy feeling of despair, as if hands from the netherworld were gradually pulling him down until he could no longer resurface.

"..."

In a daze, Char vaguely felt a pair of delicate and cold little hands gently stroking his cheek, as if tenderly caressing a lover.

He seemed to see a face that was both sorrowful and pure white.

That face revealed a faint smile.

...

When Char woke up from his shock, he found himself still in the depths of the Abyssal Palace.

He quickly stood up, looked around, and then saw Miss Witch calmly sitting on the steps.

Her expression was calm, as if nothing had happened just now.

"You... deceived me?" Char hesitated for a moment and then spoke.

After Miss Witch fell into the water earlier, Char immediately followed suit, prepared to endure the promised pain.

But he found that he didn't seem to experience the pain that Agnes had described.

Octavia, who was sitting nearby, saw the two suddenly wake up and was about to say something, but she saw Miss Witch raise her hand gently. Then, she transformed into ripples and disappeared from the spot.

She was transferred to another space within the palace by the other party.

After finishing this matter, Agnes stood up and walked down the steps in her high heels.

"Yes, I deceived you," Agnes said in a pleasant voice, speaking softly, "After all, it is your sea of consciousness. Even if I can manipulate it to some extent, I cannot manifest the existence of 'black mist'."

"But you still jumped in."

Without any hesitation.

Agnes mused over these words, her black hair slightly obscuring her face, showing no particular emotion.

Silence fell between the two.

After a long, long time, Agnes suddenly whispered, "Let's make a promise."

"No matter when, no matter how much time has passed, when you need me, I will definitely be by your side to help you. Consider it compensation for the prank just now."

Just like I knew very well that you would jump into the water to save me without hesitation.

...

Miss Witch has been reading too many books, caught up in romanticism?

Char sighed, expressing his confusion about Agnes' actions. Jumping into the water and making promises, it seemed like something out of a youth's romantic literature.

But in the end, he still agreed to the promise.

After all, it didn't have much impact on him, and he even gained a promise from a deity, a guaranteed benefit.

Moreover, before leaving, the other party also handed him something.

"This is the 'Great Luminary Core.' I will merge it into your body. With this item, even outside, Beatrice won't bother you."

"That is an item of the Goddess of Light, and she, in particular, fears the Goddess of Light."

That's what Miss Witch said at the time.

It seemed that the other party remembered when Char had previously humiliated the Moonlight Goddess and received her mark.

He had a feeling that he unintentionally learned some secrets about certain deities.

With that thought in mind, Char was about to take out his Spatial Wand again and teleport to Miss Witch's location for some kind of advancement.

But just then, he suddenly realized that he seemed to be in a cave.

Char was taken aback for a moment, then it dawned on him.

Before heading to the bountiful divine realm, he had been killed by that mysterious figure in a black robe, and his resurrection point was set in this cave. So, after leaving Miss Witch's side, he was transported here.

"Who goes there?!"

A reprimanding voice suddenly came.

Char looked up and saw a group of fully armed knight squads standing at the entrance of the cave. They must have come to investigate after discovering the remnants of the Abundant Mother Tree.

It seemed that the scene here had been well protected, so Char, who appeared abruptly, naturally appeared suspicious.

He took out his Inspector's badge and showed it to them, saying, "I am Char Adelaide, a Junior Inspector from the Tower of Judgment."

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this name, they exchanged glances and a deep sense of fear appeared in their eyes.

This made Char feel somewhat strange.

It seemed that the reputation of the Tower of Judgment wasn't working this time.

Just as he was about to say it again, the other party suddenly shouted, "Capture him!"

Immediately, the knights rushed into the cave, aiming their weapons shining with cold light at him, surrounding him.

"Char Adelaide, a Level-One wanted criminal of the Empire, this is the Inquisition 'Nightingale' Squad. I declare your arrest here!"

"Please drop your weapons and surrender immediately!"