I Reincarnated as a Noble Bastard, So I'm Seducing All the Villainess
Chapter 45: Complete Ritual Preparations

Chapter 45: Complete Ritual Preparations

It’s a good sign that Ravenna accepted the deal, meaning we have another ally on our side. Currently, the people I’d trust most as killing machines are Leonhardt, Victorian, and Moriah, because I at least have a sense of each of their strengths.

Since Ravenna’s pact was affected and she lost some of her magical powers, I hope the Silver Scar ritual will reverse this weakness and perhaps help her recuperate a certain level. The specifics about it and why it’s so important for witches it’s a mystery to me, I just noticed that after a person performs this thing, for some reason, they gain a huge strength buff.

Leonhardt’s most problematic enemies in Sword of The Iron Maiden were classified as witches, and there’s a clear reason for that. Because they gain powers through pacts with entities from other planes, dimensions and so on, these people’s magic is somewhat "mysterious".

It’s not like a mage, who diligently studies an area of magic and then wildly waves their hands to conjure a fireball, or a cleric, who, through fervent prayer, brings the power of a god to smite others’ heads. It’s much more mystical, which ends up being a big problem for both sides.

No wonder the Church and the Magistracy of Sages hate witches, they need to hope people like that don’t summon Lovecraftian creatures from the portals of hell. However, I don’t think Ravenna fits that description, especially since her patron is that shadowy spirit.

Most spirits associate with elves, some even interact with humans and form contracts. They aren’t as powerful as otherworldly entities and also aren’t an type of enigma. If someone makes a pact with a fire spirit, they’ll obviously use fire spells, the same goes for other elements.

That’s why I’m so puzzled about what the hell will happen when the ritual ends...

"Darius, dear, are you sure you need this?"

I snap back to reality as Moriah speak. She’s on the other side of the room, fiddling with some alchemical instruments and changing the temperature of bubbling glass flasks filled with a gray liquid.

"Yes, why?"

"This material is famous in witchcraft activities. Do you, by chance, want to help my niece?"

"The situation called for it. I need as many hands as possible."

"And you won’t tell me anything?"

"Of course I will, I care about your life..."

Lie. Moriah could certainly flatten the ground against some golems and several mages with brute force alone. I don’t even want to imagine what would happen if she tried using tonics, potions, or even creating homunculi with the bizarre knowledge inside her head.

"A terrorist group wants to attack the palace soon. I’m staying, there’s nowhere to run if they want my life anyway. The same goes for Ravenna, so I want to at least increase our firepower."

"I understand, I already expected that..."

"Yes, yes, and also... Hold on, you expected that?!"

My eyes widened. Are you kidding me? Is she also on the Libertarians side in this game? If so, I’m screwed!

"Yes, I expected it", Moriah says, moving a flask to another base with a purple flame beneath it. "Alchemists need to go to many places to gather materials for their experiments. I hear a lot through my associates."

"I thought you just stayed indoors..."

"Oh, Darius, an alchemist dream, but it’s not possible. Every few weeks, I’m obliged to go out and buy new ingredients to test theses and different combinations. Let’s just say alchemy is still a recent field and there’s much to study. On one of my trips, my friend who sells the materials warned me about leaving the Imperial City soon, that a bunch of lunatics intended to attack it."

I breathe a sigh of relief. Thank God, she’s not associated with those guys.

I mean, Moriah is connected to a criminal group, but a completely different one. This alchemist friend is part of a network of other mages and people who know the underworld like the back of their hand, exchanging information to continue a series of inhuman experiments.

Better keep the name out of my mind, if it slips from my mouth, I might literally be taxidermized in two seconds.

"And what’s your plan? Are you going to run too?"

"With my dear love here? Never. I’ll help you too, darling, I’m just a little jealous seeing you so close to my niece..."

Even with her back to me, I can tell there’s probably a pout hidden on that moth-like face. I should have imagined that after taming her, this sweet side would appear.

I push off the wall, walk over to her and wrap my hands around Moriah’s abdomen, which catches her by surprise.

"W-Wait, I haven’t finished this transmutation yet!"

"It’s okay, I just wanted to thank you for understanding."

The way she blushes and then quiets down stirs my nerves. If only we were in a better situation to enjoy the moment... but instead, I take a few steps back and make room so that chemical mixture doesn’t explode.

Moriah moves a bit stiffly from side to side but finally finishes the process and hands me a flask with a silvery liquid. I can see it bubbling inside, but it doesn’t burn my fingers due to a magical seal at the bottom of the flask that prevents the heat from escaping.

"When this is over...", she says and leans her head against my chest, "can I show you my... laboratory?"

Ah, she’s asking me out, but in the way a social recluse would ask to show off their manga collection.

"We’ll have a date, okay?"

With a tender touch and a kiss on her forehead, I bid farewell to my dear moth-woman, who waves awkwardly as the doors close. I even hear an indignant sigh at the end, she probably realized now who much strange is showing to someone your laboratory and is dying of embarrassment.

I leave that block of the palace, and the first thing to catch my ears is the muffled sound of guards training, spinning their spears in the air as an annoying general shouts orders. Honestly, all this has been giving me terrible anxiety, even seeing them just practicing like every other day, I feel like we’re walking into some kind of war.

On the way, the sound of boots echoed behind me. I glance over my shoulder to see a young man with blond hair and blue eyes, who seemed to wag an invisible tail, following me everywhere like a trained puppy. You might be my personal guard, but stop acting like an apparition, damn it.

"The elf you asked for is already with Ravenna", he says, maintaining a professional posture. "They are in one of the bathhouses, she said it would be the quietest location. It’s a strange choice..."

I nod, but keep my focus on the steps ahead. "Any problem with that?"

"I found it curious. Normally, witches feel more at ease performing rituals in complete darkness."

"Let her do what she wants. It’s not like we have aromatic candles and a graveyard nearby for necromancy or a private chat with the devil."

"Oh, that reminded me of something. The elf in question is named Illonar and says he’s deeply grateful you helped his people! But he ended up getting a little annoyed from waiting too long..."

"Seriously? We free the guy from prison, and he’s still grateful like that? I hate those arrogant guys."

We walked through the corridors until we reached the bathhouses, just for me to catch a glimpse of this so-called helper.

He’s an elf, obviously, with long blond hair and greenish eyes, just like the generic image of most of them you see around. I don’t even bother paying much attention to his clothes, but I notice he keeps his eyes closed and whispers something in another language.

Ravenna isn’t even here, I believe she went through the doors beside us and is now waiting inside. Illonar opens his eyes and turns towards us, maintaining a neutral expression only seen in those wise ones who live on mountaintops.

"My legs kept me here for thirty-seven minutes and yet I haven’t heard a single apology."

"I’m not stupid enough to apologize for something that isn’t even my fault. You stood there because you wanted to."

"Always so kind, Lord Darius. That explains your popularity with the ladies and the inquisitors."

Man, it’s barely been any time and I already hate this guy a lot. Are all elves like this? I sincerely hope not, otherwise, I’ll have a genuine urge to hit their pointy ears when the chance appears.

"Okay, okay, you grumpy old man. I need you to teach my friend in there some Elvish chants. I don’t know exactly which ones she wants, but whatever you can do will give me some peace."

"You humans always treat our traditions with such levity. Everyone needs to feel the chants and internalize them, it requires a very great magical sensitivity and..."

"Blah, blah, blah, I get it, pointy-ears. I’m not in the mood to hear you detail your people’s history and all that. In fact, I couldn’t care less. This is just an exchange of favors because my friend Ravenna is in a bad situation like everyone else. If you could speed it up, I’d appreciate it."

Illonar analyzed my face for a moment, searching for a crack or weakness. You won’t find it, bleach-blond.

"Very well." The elf gave up with a deep sigh. "If you’re in such a hurry, I should at least warn her about the consequences of mispronunciations. Normally, common elves would spend years learning the intonations to communicate with spirits, but humans don’t have the luxury of time..."

"When shit hits the fan, you clean it up fast. Will you oversee what she does with the chants?"

"No. We use them to communicate with spirits. I believe you humans call our practices ’rituals’, and some even despise them, but it’s absolutely necessary for the person to be alone for communication to happen without problems. She needs to be at peace with the spiritual world."

"Got it. I’ll wait outside... Oh, before I forget, give this to her."

I passed the flask with liquid silver to Illonar, shrugging in the process.

"I’ll trust you, elf."