The Witch and her Daugther

Before we go into this chapters, let's talk about the previous chapter so that everyone understands it (if someone was still reading this), and answer some question that no one asked.

First, why did the percentage didn't rise?

Answer: well it did raise but temporarily but it went down to it's original state which is 51.0%

Second, too many obvious plot armor for Kuro (for example: that hope of light what soever appearing out of nowhere saving Kuro's shit).

Answer: Nope. That wasn't something to save his life first of all. I think most of you have noticed from the way of my writing: 'It made him want to stay like this—being embraced by this tiny hope for eternity'.

Basically, if he just purely accepted that hope of light (or something) and stopped there, he would be an empty shell (body without a soul) as his soul is forever trapped inside that comfortable light.

This trap is quite deadly because it's human's instinct to search a way to make oneself comfortable when they're feeling stress, and that 'comfort' came at the best time.

Fortunately(?) the trap brought an opposite effect. As Kuro used that hope as a boost to help him get past the door. With his current condition right there, as an author, I am 100% sure that he will fall unconscious due to overwork, and die because of failing to satisfies the condition of: keep walking forward.

That's all I wanted the readers to understand.

———

Kuro opened his eyes as unfamiliar ceiling with a chandelier-like lightings hanging up above.

With a blink of confusions, a silhouette appeared inside his view, blocking some portions of light caused from chandelier to enter—more simply, shadow.

Compared to the woman that suddenly appeared in front of him, it was more petite, and making it look more younger, and cuter. Moreover, her current expression just basically didn't match. It's as if this person's expression is saying 'who is this guy'

The scornful eyes at essences that said that she has no interest, but the expression which indicates her curiosity. The eyebrows that pointed upward, with short ends. a bang that covered her forehead so that no one will even think of playing tic-tac-toe with it.

Kuro was sure that she are going to turn into a beauty later… but the type that first annoys people but attract them at later part.

Noticing Kuro open his eyes, the girl moved herself backward, and provoked Kuro. "You're a boy but you're a weakling!"

Her bouncing figure didn't match her intention as it only produced an positive effect for Kuro.

Like that, the girl went to the another woman's size's back, holding tights of her robe, hiding behind her back. Her height was about Kuro the same as Kuro, so she was holding the woman's robe the part covering her thighs.

Kuro decided to check out the situation. "Onee-chan (big sister), where am I? Why am I here…?"

With a nervous voices, he said. "Hmph, enough acting. I have took a look inside your memory."

Kuro erased his nervous expression as he calmly looked at the woman. "My?"

The woman began to think inside her mind to figure out what Kuro meant, but it didn't take her long before she knew it. "Only yours. It's impo-… hard for me to look at the souls' memories."

Kuro nodded. Then, opened his mouth as he extended his hand. "Alright. As big sister knows, my name is Kuro and I came here to ask you for a way to revive a person. Nice to meet you, Sin of Pride big sister."

Kuro who passed her trials at that age, already gained the rights to talk to her. So, she casually extended her hands as she nodded to him. "Fumu. Nice to mee-, how did you know?"

Kuro just thought of impressing her with his deduction ability but well, it backfired as she began to see him as potential enemy. But he decided not to give this one down as he saw that this person was not the type to kill. In front of her child.

"Wasn't it obvious? From this property's name being: Sin's Hut, indicates that the owner was or is a Sin's and your ridiculous mindset of setting up a trap/trials mercilessly even to a cute child such as me."

"Finally, your attitude of treating me like a person who earned a qualification to 'talk to you.' For a Sin of Greed, you aren't greedy enough. For a Sin of Wrath, you're not angry enough. For a Sin of Lust… I don't want to know what will happens to me. For a Sin of Sloth, I am surprised that you're here, talking with me. For a Sin of Gluttony, why am I not devoured, yet? For a Sin of Envy, whatever I heard she disappeared some times ago."

Disappeared some times ago? Kuro thought inside himself from his own remark. And as such, the Sin of Envy became the most suspicious person in his mind.

"Of course, someone as amazing as you, Sin of Pride big sister, wouldn't have figured this all out, right? You're just asking me just to confirm whether your thinking is correct, right?"

Sin of Pride adorably twitched as her wizard hats shook slightly. "Tha-that's right. How could I not figure out some weakling's thinking?"

She's easy but that does not nullify the fact that she can easily kill me. My injury is also healed up for some reason and the left sight is also working perfectly now that I noticed it.

Kuro silently thanked her inside his mind. "N-now that a simple introduction has ended, I'll be frank and go right to the discussion. Please revive her."

Kuro took a dead body from within his Void Lord's 4th Dimension Ring. Usually, it can't contains a living things but sadly, the object he inserted was a dead things.

The witch just silently looked at the corpse as she notices a faint trembling from the small hands grabbing her robes. "…why should I do? From what qualifications do you think you have to ask me that? Even if I did, what can you do to return your owe? I think you understands it, but even if you use your own life, it's impossible for you repay your owe."

The witch's words was like a hammer, crushing Kuro with despair. "…then, what can I do so that you will revive Hanabi for me?"

The little girl besides looked at Kuro's eyes. It was an eyes full of sadness. Even though it's her first time seeing a human from outside, she understood it. For some reason, the fear that invaded her when a corpse was let out inside his ring, disappeared.

She've been looking at him since the moment he entered this house. So it wondered her, why would he put so much effort to save his mother even though his mother died? (She doesn't know it)

Even now, he's still resisting against the fate even though it may be futile. Even though his efforts may all be in vain.

Thinking all about this, certain emotions was born inside the little girl: Curiosity, Respect.

But it seems she weren't willing to admit it. Looking at her daughter's complicated expressions, the woman opened her mouth after she clapped her hand, taking her daughter's attention. "It's a perfect timing."

Kuro was surprised at her sudden action but earnestly listened to it as it may be a chance. "Your mana control talents. Swap it with my daughter."

That's it? Thought Kuro suspicious. From his viewpoint what the woman said were just too suspicious.

"Don't underestimate your mana controlling talents. It can't be factored with modern human's ranking, and it easily surpass the Level 6: Monster—its also enough to rivals mine." The witch said, rather embarrassed.

Since that prideful witch herself said, Kuro stopped suspecting and nodded his head. "Okay. How do we do it?"

"Nothing too hard. Just don't resist upon my mana going inside you and I will connect you and my Shion's mana pool together. Afterward, I'll swap both of yours' mana controlling factor to each other." Kuro was sure that she easily explained it, but it wasn't actually that simple.

Suddenly, a large amount of mana was released in an incredibly small space. The mana expanded and entrapped the 3. Meanwhile, Kuro, inside the mana suddenly felt the feeling of suppression, similar to the experience he experienced from before—this one was much stronger and he couldn't even move a single finger.

It also felt like, that the witch can kill him anytime if she wills it, without even moving a single finger. 'How gentle of her.'

Kuro just gave in to the mana and let the shackle made of mana go inside his heart. The little girl also didn't resist it and quietly watched the shackle connects the two of them. She thought that this shackle was pretty fun but seeing her mother's serious face, she decided to quieten.

The shackle from blue to violet, then from violet to black as it continues to darken.

.

.

.

*thung*

The little girl fell down, completely unconscious. Which seeing Kuro keeping his conscious surprised the witch a little bit. "Oh, I forgot that Oni trained you in this factor."

"…yes, she is a great person." Kuro said looking down.

"Anyway, now that I swapped your guys' talent, I will do my job and take the soul back to here." The witch did something with this awkward atmosphere and mentioned it.

Finally, she looked at Kuro with suspicious eyes and warned him. "Don't do anything too weird, you old manchild."

Afterward, she fell unconscious, as her soul itself left the body.