Belita's Story

There's not enough... Not even close...

What should I do about this, what should I do...?

Well... Er, it's nothing.

It's not something I require your counsel on. Worry not.

Mwy are you wasking mwe dat?

Nom, nom, nom. Beats me. Just because she's my sister doesn't mean that I know her that well.

Umm... Ah, right!! I remember she looked worried when Ashur raised her baked goods prices recently!

But she really looked worried. Right, Ashur?

Sorry? Uh, yes, she did. In fact, she came in person to ask if I had really raised my prices.

Queen Belita pays for her baked goods, but Queen Erpin does not.

She couldn't care less about the price increase. She doesn't pay anyway...

All the baked goods within my kingdom belong to me! It's my right!

There's not enough... Not enough at all...

Huh? What are you saying?

*Cough, cough!* Th-That is false!!

I-I know not what you speak of, Master.

Do you imagine that I am someone who would indulge in nightly snacks while hiding in the dark?

Do I look like a witch who awakes each morning in a state of excitement over what snacks I will have that day?!

Do I seem like I would delight in lapping up whatever stale snacks I see...?! Answer me!

Urgh... But I can't do anything about it, can I?

The amount of Elays in each bag from the elven snack factory has been halved...

Of course!! Now, I must eat two bags at once!!

I'm paying a fortune to smuggle it in as it is! At this rate, the kingdom's finances will be...!!

It is unbecoming of a queen to indulge in snacks openly before her subjects.

Urgh... I agree... That's also unbecoming...

But after reducing my snack intake, I find that I keep muttering to myself unconsciously...

Ayyyy, it's on my mind again... I want some... Elays... Where are the Elays...?

Of course, Master. I am ready.

I cannot squander away the kingdom's funds on contraband indefinitely.

Blasphemy. Such a thing will not happen.

So, what have you prepared, Master?

Carbohydrates? Is that the term for the taste that has mesmerized my tongue?

Its ability to enchant me is impressive.

The 3% secret elf powder worries me.

Nom, nom... Hmm... It is savory and delicious... but it gets caught in my throat.

I don't believe I can have too much of this...

Yep! This is much better. But you can do better, right?

Quickly, let's see what else you have prepared.

Sweet potatoes are similar to potatoes... but they're quite sweet.

Something this sweet must be harmful to the body, is it not?

Raw carrots are fun to eat because of their crunchy texture.

But it doesn't feel bad for my body. It tastes overly healthy.

Hmph, rubbish. Why have you not presented any snacks that can replace my meals?

Hmph, refrain from raising your voice. I believe I'm experiencing low blood sugar, so my head is ringing.

Having low blood sugar is so terrible. I wonder how my sister manages it.

*Sniff, sniff...* I smell something sweet...

Master! What are you feasting on?

Give it here. Hmm... This looks quite... brilliant and lovely.

And this sweet smell... Hmm... How irresistible...!

Nom, nom!!! Mmmm...!!

Bean Log? Is that what you call this? Do you have more?

GIVE THEM TO ME, THIS INSTANT! ALL THAT YOU POSSESS!!

Ah... This pure taste... It's subtly sweet, no oily disgrace...

The lingering hint at the end, a promise for more it does send...

This flavor, fierce yet so captivatingly rich... Truly, the essence of a witch!

It is worthy of such praise.

Yes, you did mention how the sprites dislike Bean Logs? They refer to them as vile?

Strange, considering how delicious this is. Hmm... Hmmmm...

What if we were to import Bean Logs from Sprite Kingdom?

Correct. The sprites detest Bean Logs, and we do not have suitable snacks.

Would this not be beneficial to all parties?

That is not the only thing we stand to gain.

Would we not be able to use the Bean Logs as a means to encourage amity between witches and sprites?

Achieving two goals with a single action is the hallmark of a leader.

Hehe, don't worry about that. I already have a plan in mind.

Hehe, you just sit and watch, Master.

Behold, my subjects! This is what is known as a Bean Log!

It is a snack created by the sprites, but it seems they are unable to handle the taste of the abyss!

The alluring and aggressive taste of the Bean Log is truly meant for us witches!

Thus, I, Queen Belita, will import Bean Logs from the sprites!

With this, I shall bestow delicious snacks upon the underground and present the surface with renewed sisterhood!

Your Majesty, you make such an announcement...

But we've never heard of... Bean Logs?

Worry not. That is why I have prepared this Bean Log Feasting Spectacle!

Master, what type of spectacle do you wish to witness?

Splendid. I shall bestow a reward upon the witch who eats a Bean Log in the most beautiful and glamorous manner!

I will allow the winner to blow up one house, any house, without any repercussions!

Really? Will we really be allowed to blow up any house?

How about the royal palace? I've always wanted to blow up the royal palace at least once!

I will allow a part of it to be destroyed.

WAAHH!! BEAN LOG, LET'S EAT BEAN LOGS!!

That is because witches derive pleasure from destruction.

Despite the lack of class, it will surely be entertaining.

The witch who eats the most Bean Logs shall be granted the privilege of being Queen for a day!

I can become Queen for a day if I eat a lot of Bean Logs?

I'll eat them! I'll eat them now!

Worry not. Should anyone attempt to overstep, I can challenge them to a duel and drive them out.

Livening things up is good, but I cannot allow the kingdom to fall into turmoil in the process, don't you agree?

Bean Logs, give us Bean Logs! Hurry!

Me too! Me too!!

Hehe, it is all going according to plan. Seems importing Bean Logs will go off without a hitch.

With this, my snack problem has also been resolved... Hehehe...

Master, the reason I have requested your presence here today is...

To ask you about my little sister, Erpin!

How is Erpin doing? I hope nothing has happened to her.

But there could have been an accident since then.

What am I curious about...? Why, everything, of course.

What did she have for breakfast? Who are the friends she hangs out with these days?

She doesn't sleep on her stomach, does she? Does she... brush her teeth properly and put on her socks without turning them inside out...

I would love to, but I cannot, which is why I'm asking you.

A queen has queen business to attend to. I cannot be monitoring my sister's every move.

A stalker? How dare you!

As Erpin's older sister, I'm merely concerned.

Pfft, Master. You seem to be unaware of something important.

You don't become a big sister because you want to be one. You become one because you are chosen.

Make no mistake, Erpin and I were born on the same day and at the same time.

We may have both been very young, but I could understand what Erpin wanted to say.

Naturally, I ended up taking care of her, and she came to think of me as her big sister.

That's how it was. Little Erpin was a child who needed to be taken care of in every little way.

I also remember making her restorative foods so she wouldn't get sick.

Yes. It was something common, like soup made by boiling arrowroot.

What may taste bitter is good for the body. It was meant to be healthy, so it couldn't be helped.

Hehe. She was quite particular in what she ate, yes.

I told her many times that she must have a balanced diet. Is she still a picky eater?

What? Why would anyone pick out the fruit in a cake?

I know you're trying to make a joke, Master, but this is too much of an exaggeration.

Come up with a more plausible lie next time, so I can at least pretend to be fooled.

Hehe. But she wouldn't really eat stones, of course.

Even so, I'm happy to hear she seems to be eating well.

Hehe. I guess I should prepare some antacids next time.

Hmm. Well, if she remained a picky eater even after she became queen... As her big sister, that would be on me.

I'd use all the secrets of witchcraft... to modify her palate...

Don't tell me she's actually a picky eater, is she?

Is that so? You are very inquisitive, Master.

If that's the case... Umm... Well, we shall see.

Ner... Please just forgive me...!

No. Please note there will not be any evening snacks for you for the next two days.

N-Not the evening snacks!!

Can I leave first...?

Where do you think you're going? You should take some responsibility, too, since you helped her escape.

I-I only helped Her Majesty because she asked me to...!

Hello, Master. Well, Her Majesty ran away from the palace, which is what's going on.

Yes, exactly. Argh. Seriously, she never stops.

Master? What brings you here today? It's not even "Let's Talk About Erpin Day."

Hehe. I was looking at a portrait and reminiscing.

Would you like to see it too?

It is, isn't it? When I want to see my dear sister, I take this picture out and look at it.

When I see her dignified face, I can't help but talk to her.

My dear sister, are you ruling your kingdom well? Things like that. Hehe.

Yes, indeed. I believe, without any doubt, Erpin is a great queen.

A good queen who loves her people.

A queen who loves her kingdom like her own.

Hmm. You've been rather noisily mumbling something for a while now, Master.

Hmmm, I guess I can see where you're coming from.

Although my time in the Sprite Kingdom was brief, it is undoubtedly my hometown.

Besides, it's ruled by my lovely sister, so how could I not be interested?

Of course, my kingdom is also important. It's the land I rule, so I'm responsible for it.

But I can't deny that taking good care of the witches is also... for the sake of my hometown.

You're mumbling again. What did you say?

That goes without saying. That's why one needs an aide.

Someone such as Ner, who is very smart and very capable.

I hope she's doing a good job assisting Erpin.

I'm happy to hear such news. I'm feeling relieved.

Umm, I appreciate you telling me, Master. Thanks to you, I was able to enjoy another "Let's Talk About Erpin Day" today.

I'm sorry, Master, but do you mind moving those papers over there?

No. Those are... umm... damage reports.

A few days ago, Posher and Fricle had a fight and destroyed two houses.

This is a report on the damage that occurred at that time.

They're not all from one incident. It's a compilation of reports prepared over the past week.

Maybe not all day, but most witches do love to fight.

You may not have known this, Master. Witches are competitive and treacherous by nature.

My most important role is to mediate so that the fights do not get out of hand.

Had I done nothing and let it be, the whole village would have blown up.

This is not the first, or second, time the village has blown up, so why would they be so concerned?

Hehe. Does this seem strange to you?

Hmm... You do have a point. At first, it wasn't this bad.

But everyone became more and more aggressive, and the scale of damage kept mounting.

Perhaps it's because we have spent too many years underground.

Hmm... You're asking for too much, Master.

Take you, for example. Aren't you the highest-ranking member of the Yggdrasil Order?

Can't you just order the sprites, who believe in Yggdrasil, not to eat the baked goods?

That's similar to me ordering the witches not to fight.

Did I not say that witches are competitive and treacherous by nature?

I cannot force them to do something that goes against their nature.

It also goes against the teachings of Yggdrasil.

Hehe. That's not something a Master should say.

Still, a queen's command holds power.

So long as I keep mediating, nothing serious will happen.

Just as there are those who manage the surface, there must be someone to manage the underground.

To keep things in balance without forcing things that don't belong to come together.

That is my role as the Queen of Witch Kingdom.

Hehe. I'm so glad you noticed.

If you understand how hard I work, why don't you come by and help me once in a while?

Just sharing our stories, as we have been doing, is enough.

Hehe, it's such a relief to have someone I can freely talk to.

Yes, I guess you're right about that. I guess I got my hopes up a little.

Hehe. It's okay if you don't help me with my work, just come visit me from time to time.

Whew... I really enjoyed talking to you.

I hope this place was enjoyable for you as well.

Great! I look forward to it.