Part 3
Haruto returned to the city of Astralith, walking with an unusual calmness. His body still ached and he was covered in dust and dirt, but he couldn't get the taboo witch out of his mind.
That imposing woman, with her deep gaze, seemed to carry centuries of knowledge.
"Come see me when you get out… I'll be waiting at the Smiling Kitsune Café. And don't make me wait… I hate waiting."
Those had been her words.
He finally arrived at Satori Company's maid café. A young half-human girl, with fox ears and a well-trained smile, greeted him at the entrance with a slight bow.
"Welcome to the Smiling Kitsune Café, my name is Mara. How may I serve you, master?"
"Good morning, Mara… I'm looking for a human woman with jet-black hair. Have you seen her around?"
The young girl nodded naturally.
"Yes, I know who you mean."
"She's on the second floor, on the balcony overlooking the sea."
"She mentioned that a boy 'messy and with a dumb face' would be coming, so… you may go ahead."
"She's waiting for you."
Haruto sighed with a tense smile, scratching the back of his neck.
"Thanks for your honesty, Mara."
"You're welcome, master. I'm here to serve," she replied with a perfectly professional tone, as if she hadn't just stabbed him verbally with silk gloves.
Haruto decided to ignore her comment and continued his way to the second floor, where the enigmatic woman awaited him.
The balcony was spacious and empty. Only one figure occupied it… sitting with elegance, a woman with a long black hair drank tea with absolute tranquility, accompanied by a tray of delicate macarons.
The ocean breeze gently moved her hair, and even the silence seemed to obey her.
"Excellent view, don't you think, young Haruto?"
"Yeah… I guess so. How do you know who I am?"
She looked him over from head to toe. Clearly messy, covered in dust, sweaty, and smelly.
"First things first… fix yourself. I don't like seeing you like that."
With a slight movement of her finger, a bright trail ran across Haruto's body. In an instant, his clothes were restored, his body healed, his energy revitalized. He even gave off a delicate jasmine scent, very similar to Yuna's.
"Wow… that was impressive."
"Oh, please," she said, brushing it off with a dismissive gesture. "That's maintenance magic, the least someone with a bit of dedication can do."
"Now that you're more presentable, sit down. And don't worry about anything, the owner of this café is a friend of mine. Order whatever you want."
"I'm fine like this. Thank you very much," he replied, sitting in front of her with a bit of respect.
"You must have many questions," the woman added, placing the teacup on its saucer with elegance. "But first, allow me to introduce myself properly."
She crossed one leg over the other and lifted her chin with an enigmatic smile.
"My name is Morgana… although, in another life, I was called Airi Inoue. Just like you, I'm Japanese."
Haruto blinked, confused. That name sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
"Airi… Inoue…" he repeated under his breath.
Morgana raised her hand gracefully and, with a small flash of light, made a manga volume materialize in front of him. Haruto caught it on reflex.
"What's this? A volume of… 'Demon's Gate'? This manga is super popular! I remember the author disappeared three years ago and the story was left unfinished…"
He flipped the volume with growing disbelief, and there it was, printed clearly.
Author: Airi Inoue.
"Bingo," Morgana said, with a smile that mixed pride and nostalgia.
"So this is where you were…! Everyone thought you'd died from overwork!"
"Mmm, no, dear. But it is curious that only three years have passed in your world… when eight thousand have passed for me."
Haruto was left speechless. For a moment, he thought it was a joke. But then, she lifted her hand and, with a soft snap, summoned a small illusory world that floated between them, as if she were telling an animated story.
"Eight thousand years ago, the goddess Mizuki summoned me… along with five other heroes," Morgana began, her voice enveloping, almost like a fairy-tale narrator. "Our duty was to protect Estelaris from the advance of the demons of Netheria."
The scene before Haruto showed Mizuki, imposing, summoning five human silhouettes surrounded by light. The effect was so vivid he could almost hear the wind through the trees.
"Each of us was given a divine weapon, forged by Mizuki's will, with the power of a lesser deity. Just like the being you know as Cherri, the guardian of Mythara."
A new image showed Mizuki handing out various weapons—swords, bows, spears—each with a unique glow.
"Once we defeated the demon king… some heroes chose to return to our world. Others lived and died here in peace. But I… I asked for something different."
The scene shifted, now showing Morgana before Mizuki, as if in a solemn audience.
"'I will allow you to learn magic without limits… but if you use that power to destroy Celestaris, I will punish you with my own hand."
"This is a pact between you and me. And if I ever need you, you must answer my call.'" Mizuki's" voice echoed like a divine design.
"Yes, goddess Mizuki. I will fulfill your will.'" Morgana—her younger self—answered, bowing without losing her elegance.
The illusion faded, as if someone had brushed a hand over a powder painting.
"And that's how I obtained my freedom. Throughout all these millennia… I observed. I discovered how to achieve immortality without depending on others."
"I saw kingdoms rise and fall, empires devour themselves, heroes consumed by their own glory or crushed under their burden."
Morgana closed her eyes, as though watching scenes she no longer needed to project, and the illusion vanished entirely.
"But in all that time… Mizuki never called for me again."
She paused. Then, with a quieter, almost solemn tone, added:
"Until a few months ago."
"Is it because of my arrival?"
"How cute you are… no, of course not," she said, amused.
"Estelaris has summoned a new generation's heroes, and Mizuki asked me to watch over them. But, to be honest… they don't interest me."
"Then, if there's already a group of heroes, what do I have to do with any of this?"
She took another sip of tea before answering.
"I was curious. Why would Mizuki bring someone to this world… and why specifically to Mythara? I simply don't understand."
She moved closer to Haruto and gently took his hand. Immediately, his status panel unfolded before her.
"How did you do that?"
"Please, I'm immortal. What I did is a cheap trick."
"Let's see… 'Blessing of the Moon'… all elements active… level 30… human… here it is."
Her eyes stopped at a particular section.
"'Manga Read' and 'Kizuna'… such personalized spells. Curious. Very curious."
"What's so curious about it?"
"Nothing, don't mind me… now I understand you much better."
"Oh, really? Mind showing me your sword?" she asked with a mischievous smile.
"You mean Sakuragiri?" he replied, somewhat puzzled.
She nodded with an enigmatic smile. Haruto opened his magic bag, took out the broken katana wrapped in a white cloth, along with its fragments.
Morgana examined the weapon in silence, lifted her hand over it, and murmured.
"You're like this katana. You're broken on the inside. You're afraid of being betrayed… and your mind is starting to fracture."
"You're… you're just guessing…"
"I bet you're forgetting an albino girl."
Haruto tensed.
"How do you know that?"
"I already told you. I know you very well. And just like this katana…" —she turned her hand elegantly— "you need someone to help put you back together."
"Reverse Time!"
In that instant, as if time flowed backward only for her, the fragments of Sakuragiri began to float, spinning in the air with silver flashes. Little by little, they rejoined, restoring the blade and its scabbard to their original state.
"Sakuragiri!" Haruto exclaimed, jumping in excitement. Without thinking, he hugged the witch.
"Thank you, thank you!"
"Yes, yes, don't cling to me so much… I know I'm amazing. I wasn't Japan's number one mangaka for nothing," she said, with a faint blush.
"But let me warn you… if you don't take care of it, it'll break again."
Then she summoned a new illusory image. This time, an island covered in mist, with architecture reminiscent of Japan.
"When you're ready… I'll take you to Yurei Island. But only when you're ready, understood?"
"And what's there?"
"You'll know in due time. But listen carefully… without Astrium in your sword, Sakuragiri won't endure."
From inside her bag, she took out a katana with a similar shape, but completely white.
"For now, I'll lend you Yukihana. It's made with Astrium. But only in Yurei will you find a weapon worthy of your Musashi mode."
Morgana checked a small pocket watch and frowned.
"Time flies when you're having fun…"
She stood up and handed him the white katana.
"Take good care of it. We'll meet again when you're prepared."
"And when will that be?"
"You'll know soon enough…" she said, as she made a gesture with her hand and her body began to fade slowly, like stardust carried by the wind.
Haruto remained standing, with Sakuragiri restored at his side and Yukihana sheathed on his back.
The taboo witch was gone. But she had left him more than a sword.
She had left him a promise.
His journey had only just begun.