Date a Witch: Reborn as the Witch of Lust! (GL)-Chapter 95: A Stroll with the Saintess (featuring: lurking eyes)

An odd chill crept up her legs as Mel passed through a lava vein.

Instead of the expected heat radiating, she felt oddly cold as if the energy from the lava was sapped away, or rather...

She frowned, hands tightening on the elf. "Is the turtle sapping away the heat from this land?"

Maria blinked, the round glasses dangling loosely above her soft smile. "Something equivalent to it."

Mel then scanned her surroundings as the elf pointed, her eyes landing on the faint glow from the crystals, unmistakable in the lush soil.

"The <Volcanic Tortoise> left those mana crystals behind." With a grin, the Elf explained. "They sapped all forms of energy, heat included."

Her Partner then gestured to the trees nestled around them, their vibrant leaves standing firm on the lush soil.

Occasional rabbits, foxes, and owls crossed by, weaving through the tangled layers of trees and sharp crystals.

"But then, nature adapts. Or rather, it was allowed to adapt."

Mel eyed the crystal settling beside the tree, the leaves casting mirrored greens onto the glowing surface.

"Ah. It was like a cycle, right?" Mel tapped her chin. "The lava veins lose their heat, and that energy gets converted, helping the soil and trees to grow, allowing food for the animals here."

"Almost a little too perfect, isn’t it?" The elf chuckled, the cool breeze caressing her cheek.

"An impossible circumstance, unless a beautiful coincidence allowed the ecosystem to thrive."

Suddenly, howls echoed from the distance, carrying over the land.

They glanced toward the trees and the thick soil, eyes tracing the rugged cliffside below.

The Elf chuckled as she led the way. "Of course. There were two sides to a circumstance."

Her Partner kindly lifted Mel, ensuring she would step on no wet mud or sharp rock, before arriving at the cliffside.

Below them stood three raptor-like creatures, their sharp talons embedded in glowing crystals.

Lava-like eyes swirled in their protruding heads, giving them an eerie, hypnotic look.

"Lizaradman..." Mel muttered, wondering about meeting fantasy-esque monsters returning to her. "Saw this back when I arrived in this world. Can’t believe I met them again in a volcanic mountain like this one..."

"Cross from this cliffside were where the true inhabitants stayed." The Saintess leaned over, her eyes curving in amusement.

Alas, Mel’s golden eyes shimmered with childlike amazement and were too tempting, as she leaned in to peck a kiss.

A hiccup hitched in her throat as she threw a complaining gaze at the Elf. "Do all those inhabitants look like this?"

The elf patted Mel, her expression dotingly sweet. "They were the Enchanted Monsters, the exceptions, per se."

A brief, serious glint flickered in Maria’s brown eyes as she pointed to the lizardman’s claws. "See those crystals growing on the talons? They’re the result of accidental consumption of mana crystals."

"Ah..." Mel smirked. "So I assume they’re in a berserk state?"

"More like confused Monsters who didn’t realise what happened to their bodies." Unbothered, the elf squished and played with Mel’s cheek.

"Those Mana Crystals strangely never sapped energies from living beings themselves. Instead, depending on their location, they were confirmed to drain only from lava veins, plants, and many more."

"And when something consumed them," Mel squinted her eyes at the lizardman. "Won’t it become a supplement instead?"

"If their bodies and minds could handle the mass energy accumulated."

As if agreeing with the elf’s words, the lizardman howled for another time, the heaviness embedded in their voices now carried a different meaning.

As Mel’s eyes trembled slightly, her fist gripping in a silent understanding, the elf’s hand caressed her ear in comfort.

"Those <Mana Crystals> could not be used as a potion ingredient for a reason." The elf’s lips curled up in solemness.

"Iron Kingdom could treat them as ores for their weapons for the same reason: They simply contained too much Energy that exceeded what a living being could handle."

The Witch shuddered under the Saintess’s tender touch, her cheeks reddening despite the grave situation. "So... what would happen if a living being consumed them?"

"They simply die. Or worse, if their bodies didn’t..." The Saintess sighed as she cupped Mel’s cheek to face hers.

Mel watched as her Partner closed the distance, their bodies pressing together as she stared down at her with a tender look.

"They’ll be in a constant state of pain till complete madness," the Saintess’s palm smoothed over Mel’s skin. "Not unlike those lizardmen down there."

A breath caught in Mel’s throat, her head tilting to lean into her Partner’s warmth, instinctively seeking comfort.

Her shoulders tightened, yet she failed to grasp the weight of the Saintess’s words.

The deepening blush on her cheeks clouded her mind, her lips darting forward as her gaze lingered on her Partner’s plump lips.

Her Partner smiled in content, then leaned in to capture Mel’s lips.

Just like last night, gentle even as her tongue sneaked in.

Yet unlike last night, she pulled back too quickly, eliciting a regretful moan from Mel.

"I did remember, Mel." Her partner’s motherly whisper slipped into Mel’s ear. "Be serious when you need to be, was it?"

"Hm? Mmm..." Mel brushed her hair forward as she hung her head, a futile attempt to hide her shame.

"Ah... so adorable..." The Elf’s tone grew heated, laced with lust and irrationality. "I shall feast on you afterwards. For now..."

"Of course..."

Mel inhaled deeply, a lasting focus sharpening her senses as she gazed at the Lizardmen in pain. "And this trip’s purpose-in-name was to relieve them, right?"

"Exactly."

"Alright..."

She pulled back from Maria’s embrace, glancing up to meet Maria’s unfaltering yet loving expression.

One day, she’d make Maria as flustered as she was.

The Witch of Lust’s resolve flared as her gaze drifted back to the Lizardmen below them.

Her hand was about to slip from Maria’s, but the elf’s grip tightened, firm and unwavering.

"We’ll handle them together, Mel."

Maria’s eyes curved, a smirk tugging at her lips. "For now, we absolutely cannot leave each other. Wouldn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea, would we? That we’re not a couple."

Mel’s lips parted slightly, bewildered by her Partner’s sudden declaration of their ’relationship’.

With a brow raised, the Witch glanced toward the opposite cliffside before shifting her gaze back to the seemingly safe forest behind them.

"Ah..."

Summoning a Ka-broom, she shot a knowing look at Maria.

"Then, shall I fly you down?"

"Of course."

Aware that someone might be watching their little performance, Mel smirked as she sat on her broom, gently pulling Maria into her embrace.

To catch real prey, one had to put oneself in a disadvantageous position.

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