“To welcome our new members, cheers!”
In the evening, long tables were set up in the open space in front of the Witch Building, and a lively welcome banquet was held. Wendy and Scroll took the lead, raising their glasses towards the two.
“Cheers!” The other witches echoed.
Dailan and Momo held their cups, looking at a loss.
She hadn't expected that after she agreed to join the alliance, Wendy would immediately drag her off to take a comfortable hot bath, followed by changing into a brand new set of clothes, including underwear, shoes, and socks. Before she could recover from the gratitude and guilt, she was once again brought to the front of the building, but this time, the lawn had changed its appearance.
“At this time, just shout cheers and drink the beverage in the cup in one gulp,” Lorgar demonstrated, “like this—glug glug glug—”
“Che… Cheers…” Dailan mustered her courage to imitate, then closed her eyes and brought the cup to her lips.
“Glug glug glug glug—”
A burst of whistles and applause rang out from the crowd.
“Lorgar is coaxing people to drink again,” Lily pouted, “Who said you have to drink it all in one gulp after cheers? I think she just wants to drink.”
“But that's Evelyn's strawberry white wine; it's actually comparable to the wolf girl. I underestimated her,” Mystery Moon clicked her tongue, “Such talent must join our detective team.”
“So your team will be full of lazybones and drunks in the future, which really suits you.”
“You're in the team too!” Mystery Moon raised her index finger.
“I—am not! And you still owe me a ten-yuan note!”
“Uh, forget about it, we can start over.”
“Get away from me!”
“Burp—” After drinking a whole cup of wine, Dailan felt a little dizzy. She had been forced to drink all kinds of wine before, but none of them felt as hot as this one. The wine was not bitter when it entered her throat, but rather had a rich aroma, and only when it entered her stomach could she feel its far-exceeding malt wine thickness.
But the biggest difference was not the wine, but her mood at the moment.
Watching the wolf girl eagerly add a second cup of wine to her glass, watching the warm smiles of the surrounding witches, Dailan felt for the first time that drinking was not such a painful thing. It made her want to empathize with everyone, and it also loosened the emotions that had been suppressed in her heart for a long time.
At this time, another tall woman walked up to her with a glass of wine.
“Welcome to Neverwinter City, my name is Annie, and like you, I come from Wolfheart, and my experience in searching for the Bloodfang Association is similar to yours.”
Dailan was stunned, “Could it be that you were also Bloodfang Association…”
“That's right, but I escaped halfway. In addition, there are quite a few witches who escaped from Wolfheart to Graycastle, like this one…” The other party pulled out a witch who seemed a little awkward from behind, “Iffi, she was even a member of the Bloodfang Association. It's just that she didn't know about Hedy Morgan's trafficking of witches at the time. Fortunately, everything is over now.”
It took Dailan a long time to have a general understanding of the beginning and end of the Bloodfang Association's establishment. It turned out that there were far more than just her and Momo who were forced to drift to Graycastle due to Hedy Morgan's selfishness. And this nightmare-like organization had also disappeared two years ago.
Hearing this, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
On the escape route, the two had dreamed countless times of being caught by the Bloodfang Association and sent back to the nobles. Now that she learned that this organization no longer existed, it was equivalent to unraveling a heavy knot in her heart.
“Sorry,” Iffi lowered her head, “If I could have stopped Hedy at the time, these things might not have happened…”
“It's not your fault,” Momo shook her head, “and… even if you could stop her, you wouldn't be able to stop those nobles.”
“Indeed, it doesn't really matter whether the leader is a witch or not. If there is no Hedy, someone else will reach a new deal with them.” Dailan knew those people's desires very well. Once they tasted the sweetness, they would never let go easily.
“See, I said they wouldn't blame you, right?” Annie smiled, “Now that you're in Neverwinter City, you can come to us for advice if you have any difficulties in the future. Even someone as confused as Iffi can live here, I believe you will definitely be fine.”
“To the past.” After saying that, she raised her glass.
“Cheers.” This time, Dailan said it much more smoothly.
“It's my turn next!” Lorgar shouted with a flushed face.
“Me too!” Lightning joined in, “I'm an adult, I can drink!”
“Goo goo goo!”
“You can't, pigeons can't drink.”
“Goo!?”
“Hey, don't just drink, eat something too.”
“Nanawa, you're not an adult yet, don't make trouble with them!”
The atmosphere on the lawn became more and more lively.
“It's been a long time since the alliance has had new members. Now that there are suddenly two more, it seems everyone is very happy.” Scroll couldn't help but sigh beside the long table.
“It was indeed the right thing to take them to visit the Witch Building first. I'm gradually understanding His Majesty's methods.” Wendy smiled, “Even if they first come into contact with the Sleeping Spell, I'm confident that I can win them over. According to His Majesty, this trick is called sugarcoating… what was it again.”
“You're getting more and more professional,” Scroll teased, “You clearly felt that you were not capable enough at the beginning, but now you're even planning to target Princess Tilly.”
“I'm just making an analogy, unlike you who have been handling everything very quickly since the Co-Assistance Society.” Wendy poured her a glass of Chaos Drink, “But speaking of which, such a lively scene is really pleasing to the eye.”
“It's a pity that we can only watch from the sidelines.” Scroll shrugged.
“What's wrong with that? If I could, I would like to stay by their side and watch forever.” Wendy said softly.
Scroll didn't respond, and the two fell silent, enjoying the deliciousness of the banquet while gazing at the bustling crowd. For them, this was not silence, but a tacit understanding formed by a long-term relationship.
Until a familiar voice interjected, “After the banquet is over, His Majesty wants to meet the witch named Momo.”
Nightingale's figure gradually emerged from the mist.
Wendy quickly realized Roland's thoughts, and the originally relaxed expression slightly condensed, “This…”
“Take her,” Scroll said, “From the moment you reported her ability, this kind of thing was bound to happen. After all, His Majesty's kindness is always the most abundant.”
Wendy was silent for a moment, “I understand.”
“If you don't want to know the answer, you can leave first. I think His Majesty will understand.” Scroll paused, “But no matter what the answer is, we will be the same as always, right?”
“…That's right,” Wendy repeated, as if affirming herself, “No matter what the answer is.”