The Stagnant Witch’s Survival Method

If there was something Grace overlooked, it was that she didn’t know well the latent power possessed by the Witch Society’s domain.

She had concluded that it was just a small realm among those existing in the game, with a somewhat large population but completely cut off from other domains, making it difficult for those with great talents to be born.

But that wasn’t the case.

Monsters were constantly invading from the outside.
At a level that was burdensome for the witches to fully block.
Why else would the Witch Society operate a guild and pay ordinary people to hunt?
It’s because the structure of the domain itself makes it difficult to fend off monsters.

But does that mean the domain itself is on the brink of annihilation?
That’s not the case either. The interior of the domain maintained artificial prosperity through the witches’ human offerings, and many children are born and grow up every year.

Hearing such stories, Grace might blurt out something like “Huh? This is totally like Attack on…”, but anyway, maintaining such a bizarre state naturally leads to the birth of reversal warriors.

Survival means strength.
In such a situation, veterans who had survived for 10 or 20 years inevitably possessed latent power at a level where the world would be transformed as soon as they rose to a rank.
They just remained in that position because they lacked talent in mana, or there was no master to awaken their dormant talents.
In fighting, combat, and war, they are those with talents superior to anyone else.

And as soon as they received their lord’s command, they charged outside.
The Rank 8 ‘wraith’ would normally be a disaster to flee from immediately upon encounter, but now they were Rank 9 warriors.
The gap between Rank 9 and Rank 8 was already small, and if about twenty Rank 9s rushed in together, even from the wraith’s perspective, it had to be considered.

“Following our lord’s command, we go to pluck out the wraith’s heart.”
“How about plucking out two while we’re at it?”
“Two? Just that?”

Andel, who awakened the fastest and was recognized by Grace, naturally became the leader of the warriors.
Though they might have been dissatisfied with someone in a higher position, no one expressed any complaints.
Because they too knew well.
How amazing it was to gain enlightenment in such a short time.

Moreover, Andel, who had been an old veteran close to his mid-40s, was getting younger day by day as if time was reversing.
Now he looked about mid-30s.
Perhaps due to the influence of long-dormant talent now blooming, the aura raging in his body was transforming his physique.

“We will pluck out three and present them.”
“Understood!”

The warriors began to beat down ‘wraiths’ while combing the outside like catching mice.
Monsters were swept away in their path.
They had caught monsters even when they hadn’t been promoted, so now that they had gained aura capable of cutting even stone, it wouldn’t be strange to slice through everything.
They just beat down monsters that seemed to be Rank 9 or 8.
It was an order from that person.
Us who were at the bottom.
Us who were ordinary.
It’s an order from the witch who pulled us up to reach a great realm.

The moment a wraith was spotted, without anyone needing to go first, they threw their bodies and tore it to shreds in an instant.
Gathering three hearts, honestly speaking, was too easy.
Unbelievable enthusiasm and loyalty resulted in completing the mission in just one day.

Hearing of such transcendent feats, Grace thought with a wry expression.

‘What, are these guys really Rank 9?’

At this level, it wouldn’t be wrong to consider them a kind of knight order.
A term referring to a powerful armed group existing in a kingdom.
Tactical nuclear bombs that leave only ashes wherever they descend.
Though still weak, they had enough potential to become a knight order.

Moreover, most of them showed potential to easily rise to Rank 8, and Andel showed potential to promote straight to Rank 7.
Of course, due to Grace’s low rank, she couldn’t preside over a Rank 7 promotion.
She still couldn’t understand even after thinking about it again.
Is there something in this domain, how did they all become reversal warriors like this?

Seeing the warriors who were more authentic than expected, Grace thought while rubbing her slightly aching head.

‘I need to revise the plan a bit.’

**

First, I accepted the hearts.
Since shining lilies are easy to obtain, we only need the hearts, but they brought three hearts, so the promotion of other witches will be smooth.

And I roughly informed them about the situation of the Witch Society.
It wasn’t something to be carelessly shared with outsiders, but it didn’t matter. They’re all my people, so they need to know the current situation.

Then Andel answered while stroking his chin.

“I had some suspicions.”
“Suspicions?”
“The atmosphere in the city is currently unsettled. Rumors are spreading about people being taken by witches and disappearing, or dying horribly.”
“Hah.”

I sighed.
It’s actually difficult to know the news of the city well.
It’s natural since I’m not interested in collecting information.
But while I wasn’t paying attention, witches gradually going mad due to the Gathering were committing massacres, and the effects were spreading.

No wonder things didn’t seem the same lately when I wandered around the city interior.
The gazes of respect and awe were gradually changing to fear and terror.
Of course, it’s not a good influence.
The reason the Witch Society could be maintained even in such an unfavorable environment was largely due to near-perfect domain management.

But if witches kill, torment, and massacre the domain’s residents, this virtuous cycle disappears.
It’s like cutting open the belly of the goose that lays golden eggs.
The city will gradually wither, and as the abundant supply of sacrifices decreases, witches will squeeze more, leading to devastation and the collapse of the realm.

It’s probably the effect of Carmia moving in earnest.
So I had to respond quickly too.

First, I created a system for them.
A group that would assist, protect, and move according to my orders.

“You will act as a kind of knight order, with Andel as the commander.”
“Understood.”
“Hmm, what should I call you next?”
“May I decide, if that’s alright?”
“Do you have a good idea?”

For a moment, his gaze turned to my face.
I realized his eyes were directed at my hair.

“How about ‘Warriors of White Frost’?”
“…”

It’s not a strange name, but I felt embarrassed.
Anyone could see it was a name derived from my hair color.
Sharen must have felt it too, as she clutched her stomach.

“Pff, pfft, Warriors of White Frost…”

Belladrin, who was next to her, patted my shoulder and said.

“It’s a good name… pff, g-good… kuhuk.”
“I’m going to kill you all.”

As soon as my hand turned dark, those two witches quickly disappeared on their brooms.
While I was considering chasing after them to give them each a hit, I looked at them while suppressing my anger.

Warriors of White Frost.
Since it’s long, ‘White Frost’.

“White Frost, that’s the name that symbolizes you.”
“We will uphold it.”
“You will become a kind of organization that kills outside monsters, maintains public order, recruits talented newcomers, and grows in scale.”
“We shall do so.”
“Your organization will soon be officially recognized by the mayor and be able to operate, you can get activity funds from the mayor’s budget, under the pretext of maintaining public order and exterminating monsters.”

Andel bowed his head deeply.
His blonde hair caught my eye.
Placing my hand on his rough and wild hair, I said.

“The Witch Society won’t tolerate the existence of other ranks within it, but if there’s enough power, established rules can be overturned, right? Your goal is to cultivate power up to that point. Don’t neglect training, and rise to higher ranks. This is the order I’m giving you.”
“We follow your command.”

As Andel bent one knee and spoke, the warriors behind him responded.

“We follow your command!”

Seeing this, I felt a sense of grandeur in my chest.
Belladrin, who had returned at some point, asked with a strange expression.

“Commoner, you know how to handle them unusually well.”

Well, I’ve had many occasions to handle armed groups like this in the game.
It was natural since I frequently used [Promotion Condition Relaxation].
To maximize the use of this special ability, you need to pull up the ranks of other characters too.

And every time I do that, what needs to be done is simple.
Appoint a commander, give them a budget, give them authority, recruit talented newcomers to grow in size.
Then it runs well on its own.
It’s often the case that when I come back after not paying attention, it has grown to a level that’s difficult for me to handle.

Sometimes, if I preside over a ritual to promote the kids a bit, before I know it, the commander is wearing Rank 5, and it becomes a huge knight order with several executives wearing Rank 6.
Though it’s still far from that, the start wasn’t bad.
This much can be considered the best.

“Well, that’s natural.”
“Natural…?”

Belladrin looked at me with a very complex expression.
Gradually, she was seeing me not as an ordinary girl, but as something strange occupying that body.
No, it’s a bit unfair to see it that way.
Though I did pull them all up to Rank 9 as a group.

I’m not strange, just an ordinary gamer, I tell you.

“Anyway, I should raise you to Rank 8 soon too, right? I’ve already risen, it won’t do if you can’t keep up.”
“What? You, you’ve already risen to Rank 8?!”
“Because I rose to Rank 8 first, that’s why I proposed to rise together with you all. Look here.”

To prove Rank 8, I showed .
Besides the basic effect of not aging, I could show the opposite effect.

I held an apple in my hand and showed the reversal of .
Before long, a withered apple could be seen.
Probably, as I rise to higher ranks, I’ll be able to control the lifespan and age of not just such objects but real life.
The powers possessed are strengthened as the rank increases.

With evidence right before her eyes, Sharen opened her eyes wide and gaped.
I spoke frankly to her like that.

“I said the situation of the Witch Society isn’t good, right? For you, and for us to survive, we need to become stronger.”
“…”
Sharen had a somewhat anxious expression.
It seems that she, who had shown a somewhat loyal attitude to the Witch Society, feels uneasy about acting independently away from the group.
But there was no reason for that in a situation where the Witch Society itself was about to collapse.
“Let’s rise to Rank 8.”
“…Okay, I will.”

They nodded silently.
A great conflict was not far off.
To survive there, we need to mobilize everything.
We can’t rely solely on the newly born warrior group White Frost.
They are ultimately confined to the limit of Rank 9, and it’s too early for them to rise to Rank 8 from there.
So if the friends around me, children with sufficient talent and still tender hearts, rise to Rank 8, they could be of great help to me.

And Belladrin said something strange.

“I really don’t know your true identity.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“But I’ll believe in you. Commoner, you’re not a bad person after all.”
“No, so what do you mean by-”

Of course, only two people became serious about this, and Ulrisa, the barbarian who hadn’t been particularly interested in our conversation until now, approached Andel.

“You, strong. Fight me.”
“Um, Lady Witch, but…”

She was suddenly requesting a duel.
Originally, it’s everyday life for barbarians to fight while rolling on the ground.
Training while doing so.
Of course, from Andel’s perspective, it must be very troublesome.

But why doesn’t she request a duel with us?
Perhaps out of barbarian pride, she doesn’t fight one-on-one against a rear-line witch, reasoning it would be unfair.

But in cases where that doesn’t apply?
If there’s an opponent who seems equal to her?

I can see Ulrisa immediately pulling out an axe and charging, and Andel drawing his sword to face her.
Well, that’s how it goes.

**

[Elder Council Meeting Place.]

Grand Witch Elune widened her eyes at the unbelievable sight.

“Elder Isoldia, how could you…”
“It’s been a while. Elder Elune, I hope you’ve been well.”
“Ha, ha, it can’t be, it’s impossible. You shouldn’t be able to wake up from those wounds.”
“Normally, that would be the case.”

Isoldia politely greeted Elune.
Her smooth black hair flowed down.
Even if they were of the same rank, she didn’t forget to show respect to the oldest in this place.
But Elune couldn’t be happy about it.
The fact that someone she thought would soon die was perfectly alive.

“You broke the taboo, you broke the taboo!”
“It couldn’t be helped. In the end, whether we die like this or like that, we’ll have everything taken by demons. Please think of this as my last struggle.”
“Oh my, what will become of the Witch Society!”

Elune gritted her teeth.
She who had always maintained nobility and never lost her dignity showed a crumbling appearance.
Because she was so greatly shocked by this incident.

Looking at Carmia approaching from across, she shouted with hatred.

“Carmia-!!”
“You don’t need to shout like that. My ears are open, you know.”

She smiled.
She had secured a majority among the three elders who decide the agenda of the Witch Society.

The Witch Society had fallen into her hands.