RMFW CH 09

Chapter – 09

After Noel finished crying, he gently pulled away and sat there fidgeting shyly. Being embarrassed after being seen crying was a common thing for boys.

(We should probably eat something. Hmm… human food… maybe I should catch some fish?)

While I was creating a fishing rod out of plants I generated, Noel tugged lightly at the hem of my clothes. Since the clothes were made from my own vines and not detached, I could feel the touch.

Now that I had Pain Nullification, I could detach them, but keeping them connected allowed me to extend plants from my “gloves” and make it look like I was using magic directly from my hands. So it was better to leave them as they were.

“Witch-sama, if you’re planning to fish in the river, you should stop. Lately there are a lot of poisonous fish…”

(Really? Then I guess I’ll skip fish. …But it feels wasteful to throw this rod away… hmm…)

At that moment, I saw a bird flying overhead.

I lightly swung the rod and extended the vine used as fishing line toward the bird, capturing it. When I pulled it back, the bird was tightly bound in vines, unable to move, dangling from the rod.

“Wow… as expected of Witch-sama. That must be a magical tool for catching birds.”

(It’s not, but he’s looking at me with such admiration that I’ll just smile for now.)

Noel seemed to assume I was an incredible witch, so I figured I might as well go along with it.

I had caught the bird, but I didn’t know how to butcher animals. I didn’t need to, normally—just touching something would allow me to “consume” it.

Noel had beast ears and a tail, but he was still human enough that I wasn’t sure he would know how.

So I removed the vines from the rod and handed the bound bird to him.

“You’re trusting me with this job…! I’m a wolf beastman, so I’m good at butchering animals. I’ll handle it cleanly!”

For some reason, Noel looked very happy, tail wagging as he held the vines.

(Oh—so he really is a wolf beastman, not a dog…)

I smiled and nodded.

I had already met a knight before who had normal human ears and no tail… so maybe there are different types of humans in this world.

Since he calls me “Witch-sama,” there might also be a human-like race called witches who specialize in magic. I would have to learn a lot to blend into human society.

Honestly, pretending to be human seemed difficult—but the fact that I couldn’t speak might actually help, since I wouldn’t risk saying anything wrong.

“…Ah, Witch-sama, where are you going?”

(Don’t worry. I’m just going to get my own food ready.)

I smiled at him, patted his head, and pointed at the bird.

“…So I just need to prepare the bird? I understand. I’ll wait.”

(Good boy. He understands me surprisingly well.)

Noel looked uneasy about being left alone, so I patted his head again. His tail swayed slightly.

I left him behind by the river and walked into the trees.

Once I was far enough away that I could no longer see or be seen, I checked my surroundings carefully.

“GROOOOAAARRR!!!”

(WAAAH!?)

Something suddenly burst out of the bushes, and I nearly screamed.

If I hadn’t had my “voice seal,” I would have let out a full scream and probably killed Noel back at the river with the shockwave.

It was a bear-like monster—black and white like a panda from my original world—but far from cute. It drooled and bared its fangs, roaring with hostility.

It had clearly marked me as prey.

(Carnivorous monsters always attack me the moment they see me… I guess I just look weak and human-like.)

Maybe something about me looked delicious to them. Because of that, I had never really lacked food.

If monsters lived near the settlement, hunting like this might actually be sustainable. I also needed to confirm whether human food would nourish me properly.

The monster leapt at me, but I extended my vine-hair and restrained it, locking its joints and suspending it mid-air.

(Let me try something…)

I gently pressed my cheek against its stomach.

There was definitely a “taste,” and the bear quickly withered and stopped moving.

…As expected, this face also functions like a root. I must be careful never to touch humans.

Since I had secured food, I returned to Noel.

By the time I got back, the bird had already been plucked and cleaned. Its internal organs had been removed, and it was neatly prepared on sticks. Noel and the bird were both clean, likely washed in the river.

“Um… I heard a very loud monster roar…”

(It’s fine. It’s already gone.)

“…Witch-sama, did you perhaps go deal with it?”

That wasn’t true—I had actually panicked internally—but Noel looked up at me with shining sky-blue eyes.

It was convenient, so I decided not to correct him.

“…As expected of Witch-sama…! Ah, the bird is ready. How should we cook it?”

(Right… we don’t have plates or anything. Let’s just roast it.)

“Ah, understood. We’ll roast it!”

He quickly caught on when I pointed at the fire. He skillfully disassembled the bird and skewered it on sticks.

His claws were sharp enough to act like knives.

(Maybe we can manage without speaking at all. But—)

“…Witch-sama… you’re very quiet, aren’t you?”

(—Of course it came up!!)

We had been alone together this whole time without a single word. It was only natural he would find it strange.

I panicked internally, but my body—no matter how much I “scream” inside—always forms a gentle smile on the outside.

So I simply looked at Noel and smiled. …Only my face did.