A CASTLE FORA KING... WITHOUT ANY MAGIC WHATSOEVER?
τά. 7 K Á ` за IN UGH. DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I STEP FOOT IN THIS CASTLE. IT ALWAYS PUTS ME ON EDGE.
YOU’RE ON CONSTANT ALERT, ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN... DO NOT FALL PREY TO UNEASE, UTOWIN. STAND TALL, KNOWING THESE HALLS POSE NO THREAT YOU CANNOT HANDLE. STILL... WE DON'T EVEN HAVE OUR SYLPH SHOES. “АКО HOW YOU'RE GONNA HANDLE IT WITHOUT MAGIC. IT JUST STARTS TO GET TO YOU, Y'KNOW? YOUR SKILL WITH THE SPEAR IS EXCEPTIONAL, MAGIC OR NONE. HIGH PRAISE, COMING FROM YOU. FILLS MY THIMBLE OF SELF-RESPECT RIGHT BACK UP.
THEN REST ASSURED, THE THREE WHO AWAIT US MUST FEEL DOUBLY SO. I MEAN, IT CAN’T ONLY IF THESE WALLS TRULY LEAVE YOU SO UNNERVED...
I AM AT YOUR DISPOSAL, O WISE ONES... +e STEWARDS OF ORDER THROUGH ALL THE LAND. CHAPTER 47 4 END EASTHIES OF THE KNIGHTS MORALIS, REPORTING FOR DUTY.
ο 48 > SSS Ж Е 4 XGA
I AM AT YOUR DISPOSAL, O WISE ONES... . STEWARDS OF ORDER THROUGH ALL THE LAND.
SITZ Y N N | ы 5 Ж 2
"DOUBLY UNNERVED,” ARE WE? YOU QUITE CERTAIN OF THAT?
HAVE HOPED I TAUGHT MY DARLING APPRENTICE BETTER. „„РАУ MIND TO WHOSE EARS MAY BE WAITING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR. HOWEVER, I AM FORCED TO WONDER WHAT I WOULD BE OBLIGED IF YOU COULD HAH! SET Å BETTER FORGIVE EXAMPLE FOR MY ME. SUBORDINATES. MESSAGE IT SENDS WHEN MEMBERS OF THE ORDER ATTACK OTHERS ON SIGHT. CAPTAIN VINANNA. I SHALL TAKE THE LESSON TO
THE OPPORTUNITY WAS SIMPLY TOO GOOD TO PASS UP. DEMONSTRATION. NOT | TO WORRY. > . IT WOULDN’T ENSURING < RUN DO MUCH TO THEY DON’T IS VA -- HAVE THEIR PRECISELY WHY Ж EINEN 2 HIGHNESSES... I AM HERE. | ЖС ⁄ ++ BELIEVING WE’LL BE BEATEN INTO SUBMISSION JUST BECAUSE WE LACK ACCESS TO OUR SPELLS N | À À `
FORGIVE ME. WE HAVE NOT ET. LAGRAH, NEWLY SUCCEEDED TO THE TITLE OF WISE IN FRIEND- SHIP. „ТО MAKE YOUR ACQUAINTANCE, SIR EASTHIES. I AM MOST HONORED...
| STAND FOR ΙΤ OR NOT, MAJESTY, IT 15 DONE. M Td > % А % Es] 2 F BARNS YOU WERE TO PROVIDE US AMPLE WE WILL I NOTICE! NOT STAND FOR THIS, WITCHES! THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! WHY IS THIS THE FIRST WE'RE HEARING OF LORD ENGENDALE'S RESIGNATION?!
l-IT NEEDN'T ВЕ WRITTEN IN ANY TREATY. ITISA MATTER OF COMMON COURTESY! THIS IS THE SEASON IN WHICH YOUR POWERS ARE NEEDED MOST, WITCHES/ THINK OF THE HARD FROSTS! YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH THE FIVE KINGDOMS AND SEEK FINAL APPROVAL FROM HIS MAJESTY, HIGH RULER OF THE ZOZAH ESTUS! AND I DO NOT RECALL ANY FORMAL OBLIGATION ON OUR PART TO INFORM YOU OF OUR APPOINTMENTS. THE PASSAGE STARS MARK THE HARVEST SEASON... ..« AND SILVER EVE HERALDS THE BEGINNING OF SNOWFALL. NOW OF ALL TIMES TO BRING IN A NEW WISE OF FRIENDSHIP?! WE NEED AN EXPERIENCED HAND COORDINATING AID DISPATCHED TO OUR CITIES/ IT’S PREPOSTEROUS/ A DECISION OF THIS MAGNITUDE DEMANDS COUNSEL!
RULER OF | THE SEA, RULER OF SEATED IN THE THE FLOCKS, — PRAGONPASS RULER OF WR | HAILING FROM ISLES... THE Eins МНС | THE HIGHLAND PURVEYOR OF Å PASTURES... THE GOLDEN PLAINS... RULER OF THE TREES, IN MISTGROVE AT WATER'S EDGE... RULER OF THE STONES, AT MUDROCK CANYON... AND THE SUPREME MONARCH OF ZOZAH HIMSELF, UNDER WHOM THE FIVE KINGDOMS STAND UNITED... WE DO NOT 77 ИГУ έν ALIGN WITH V Za d ANY OF THE OG fr | | al; US WITCHES PENINSULA'S |С. E. ARE BOUND NATIONS. a < A TO NONE OF ; ; Res | а THE ABOVE. š NS OUR AFFAIRS ARE OUR OWN.
THINK OF US AS Wi (4 OS MESSENGERS А Å FROM THE EXIST ONLY š 4 Wee TO ANSWER E SEP = > b HEAVENS. THE CALLS OF / , ZR MAC ТА. WE HAVE THE COMMON AVS: yx NO COUNTRY. PEOPLE. MIA gl Ña Ñ МЕ BEAR : y AÐ NO FLAG. „ВИТ I HAVE TO WONDER IF YOU AREN'T MORE CONCERNED WITH THE CLINKING OF COINS. I SEEM TO RECALL THAT THE ONLY REASON WE BENEFIT FROM YOUR SERVICES... ...15 BECAUSE OF THE ENORMOUS SPELLCASTING LEVIES WE CONTINUE TO PAY.
YOU DO REALIZE OUR NATIONS ARE BESET BY MANY OTHER TROUBLES, NO? MAGIC WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL IN DRIVING OFF BRIGANDS AND PIRATES. AND SURELY, SUCH DEEDS ALSO FALL UNDER THE SCOPE... HOW EASILY YOU TURN YOUR BACKS ON OTHERS. ALL ACROSS THE PENINSULA, THE COMMON PEOPLE SUFFER THE BRIGANDS' RAIDS. AND YET, FOR ALL THAT MONEY, OUR CALLS FOR AID ARE ANSWERED ONLY FOR CATASTROPHES pRoucHTs, © VARIETY. HEAVY RAINS AND SNOW. VOLCANOES. THAT SORT OF THING. AFTER ALL, THEY SAY A SINGLE WITCH HAS THE STRENGTH OF A HUNDRED KIWA S0LDIERS. SG A TAN WE DO NOT INTERVENE IN CALAMITIES WROUGHT BY MAN. ALL THAT POWER AND SQ CHOOSY ABOUT WHEN TO SHARE IT.
WHO DO YOU THINK PAYS FOR Å YOU TO LIVE IN ШЕ LUXURY IN YOUR Б PURE CONCEIT, MAGIC CASTLE... YOUR GREAT HALL AT THE BOTTOM , OF THE SEA?! Å THE WITCHES ALIGN WITH NO NATION THAT THEY MIGHT EXTEND AID FAIRLY TO ALL. THEY CLAIM NO LAND AS THEIR THEY RALLY BEHIND NO KING SO THEIR POWER MAY NOT SERVE AS WEAPON UNDER ANY BANNER. OWN BECAUSE THEY HAVE EQUAL LOVE FOR ALL PARTS OF OUR WORLD.
PLEASE EXCUSE MY COMPATRIOTS’ LACK OF DECORUM... ...O WISE AND COMPASSIONATE NEIGHBORS. EAN DREADFULLY LONG NAME, DEANRELDY DON'T YOU OF THE THINK? PENINSULA, I PRESUME. PLEASE, LORD LAGRAH THE WISE. “DEAN” WILL SUFFICE. CONSIDER IT A SYMBOL OF A NEW FRIENDSHIP.
ALLOW ME TO APOLOGIZE ONCE MORE. HARVESTS FROM THE GOLDEN PLAINS HAVE BEEN POOR THESE PAST SURELY YOU CAN SEE WHY WE FIND SNOWFALL’S APPROACH SO CONCERNING. NO ONE HERE DOUBTS THE GREAT DEBT WE WE HAVE YOU OWE TO YOU AND TO THANK YOUR MAGIC. THAT ALL OF ESTUS ENJOYS QUIET CALM. THAT WE DO NOT GO HUNGRY OR „THAT МЕ SHIVER WITH LIVE WITHOUT FEAR AND CELEBRATE THIS GRAND FESTIVAL EACH YEAR... ST А "Y — 77 VERM =— IF NOT FOR YOUR AID, WE WOULD HAVE NONE OF THIS.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO LEND US YOUR WISDOM AND STRENGTH, THAT IN THE FACE WE MIGHT STAND OF CALAMITIES READY... WROUGHT NOT ВУ FOES, BUT BY CIRCUMSTANCE COMMON TO ALL. τ ` MAY OUR PATHS MAY OUR PATHS M BE ALWAYS BE ALWAYS | B! INTERTWINED. INTERTWINED! [2 г ДКА
2.0205 A Å XG Ch GT på нұ» > f it^ OH, THAT COUNFOUNDED DEANRELDY! С? TO THINK HE'D STEER THE PULL OUT TALK CONVERSATION OF SNOWFALL... FROM THE FIVE KINGDOMS' COMPLAINTS. "CALAMITIES WROUGHT NOT BY FOES." THE MAN HAS A SILVER TONGUE. HE BACKED ME INTO A CORNER. NOW I WAS CERTAINLY WE'LL FIND IN NO SPOT TO OURSELVES REFUSE THE CLASP HARD-PRESSED OF COVENANT. TO REFUSE ADDITIONAL CALLS FOR AID IN THE COMING SEASON. COUNTING Гей on TO QUITE THE THE NEW LAGRAH. WISE IN | STRATEGIST. FRIENDSHIPS MUST STAND FIRM. 71
WE KNOW OF YOUR MISDEEDS. FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, YOU’VE AGREED TO QUITE THE RANGE OF AND WE HAVE UNNECESSARY THE EVIDENCE REQUESTS. TO PROVE IT. N-NEW WISE IN FRIENDSHIPS... ? THAT TITLE 15 MINE! DOES MY OWN ASSISTANT MEAN TO USURP LAGRAH, YOU TRAITOR! HOW COULD you?! IT, LORD ENGENDALE. YOU BROUGHT THIS ON YOURSELF. len
IT SICKENS ME THAT ONE OF THE WISE WOULD FALL SO LOW. GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT SEEMED PRUDENT TO APPREHEND HIM HERE, WHERE MAGIC 15 NOT A CONCERN. DID YOU HONESTLY EXPECT TO GET AWAY WITH IT? N N N Й N BIN RESIDENCES FITTED WITH LAVISH ADORNMENT.. YOU MUST HAVE LINED YOUR POCKETS WELL WITH ALL THE FRIVOLOUS PERSONAL FAVORS YOU ARRANGED. SCORES OF DRAGONS CAUGHT FOR PRIVATE MENAGERIES.. IT'S TIME HE AND I HAD A VERY THOROUGH BRIN HIM, UTOWIN.
I MERELY DID THE RIGHT THERE 15 NO ROOM FOR IMPROPRIETY. BUT YOU DO WE STOOD MEAN TO WIPE TO LOSE FAR HIS MIND ONCE ++ GOING TOO MUCH... THE INTER- ABOUT ROGATION IS IT IN THE COMPLETE? TRADITIONAL MANNER. FOR BRINGING HIS ACTIONS TO LIGHT. AS WITCHES, WE MUST BE MODELS OF RECTITUDE. = RE GE
IF WE DESIRE NEVER TO BE CONQUERED... +++ WE MUST SEEK NEVER TO SUBJUGATE. WE MUST LABOR ALWAYS TO THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS... «EXERCISING OUR ART FOR THE GREATER GOOD. THIS IS HOW WE MUST PRESENT OURSELVES...
ος BEER STAND TO LOSE IT ALL. THE BEAUTY YOU OBSERVE BELOW WILL BE GONE—AND THIS TIME, I FEAR IT WILL BE FOREVERTHE STARS PASS OVER- HEAD...
THE STARS PASS OVERHEAD, SILVER SHIPS IN SLEEPING SKIES, MASTER ALAIRA/ LOOK! UP IN Til, THE SKY! 6 ^^. VESSELS TO OUR PRIVATE ASPIRATIONS. MY, MY... SILVER EVE ALREADY,
2 FINDING THEM ANY LESS TAXING WG tu E > QK ui = tu EE NOW INTER TWINE, ov EZREST 15 NOT FAR NOW. YOU MAY FLY IF YOU ARE WEARY.
ov AND AS THE DAWN BEGINS TO SHINE. < = — шын VIA ERE
ISN’T THAT MISS LULUCI? IT’S THE ORDER’S 4 SN S “5 | Š AT THEY’RE HERE FOR THE OPENING PARADE! WE’RE GONNA SEE THE KING ND HIS KNIGHTS MARCH PAST! WE MISSED THEM?! MASTER OLLY, HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?! I WANTED TO SEE THE wRISKERCATS/A, Í Å ру M M r 0 0 “= 0 a Vols: ?
WE GOTTA GET BACK TO THE ТЕКТ/ AFTER THE PARADE, THE STREETS’LL BE TOO PACKED TO PUSH OUR WAY THROUGH. S-SURE THING. JUST STICK CLOSE AND DON'T GET LOST, OKAY?!
FIRST, I THINK YOU’LL ENJOY SEEING HOW OUR TENT TURNED OUT. I’M SURE WE’LL HAVE TIME TO PERUSE THE DISPLAYS MAGIC, MAGIC, WHEREVER YOU LOOK! OH, THIS 15 50 MUCH FUN!
J | VT? - WE ALREADY HAVE OUR CUSTOMER!
MY APOLOGIES, BUT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN A YOUNG BOY RUNNING нерв AROUND, HAVE RIGHT AROUND i THIS GIRL'S AGE AND CLAD IN À COPPER-INDIGO IF YOU DO SPOT HIM, THE CASTLE ы GUARD IT WASNT A 1 ος, OBLIGED TO ς or. HEAR OF IT. ABOUT. NO. NO REPORTS OF HIM IN THIS AREA, EITHER. SORRY TO DISTURB
НАН/ IF ANYTHING THE LITTLE THESE ARE THE | MN RASCAL. HE YEARS 1/0 EXPECT UE DOES THIS IT MOST. DIDN'T a E x EVERY SILVER YOU EVER DREAM ^ ` THE YOU'D THINK EVE. THE SAME? | ВУ HIS AGE, HE’D KNOW HOW TO CONDUCT HIMSELF LIKE A РКІКСЕ/ EVENTUALLY HE’LL GROW OUT OF IT. WE ALL DO. EVERYONE KNOWS YOU CAN'T BECOME A WITCH. “ ini ы fi Шу CHAPTER 48 * END
Witch Hat Atelier
Content Warning: The following chapter includes discussion of sexual abuse and victim blaming. Readers likely to find such subject matter triggering should proceed with caution. Alternately, this chapter may be skipped entirely; doing so will not interfere with understanding of the main plot, which resumes from page 121.
e о oT O m < R H m rå
THOSE ARE KNIGHTS OF THE CROWN, ARE THEY NOT? SURE ARE. WONDER WHAT’S GOT THEM IN SUCH NOT THAT WE’RE ANY BETTER OFF. THIS DAY’S GONNA BE A REAL DOOZY. STRAIGHT OUT OF THE PENNANT DANCE МА АМО ОМТО МЕ DON’T CLI / „ч PATROL. EVEN GET HALF A CLOCK MARK TO ENJOY THE FESTIVITIES OR TAKE A LOAD...
OH, LIKE YOU’VE NEVER HAD A CRUSH VANISH INTO THE ETHER THE MOMENT THEY HEARD WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING? ARE YOU KIDDING МЕ? SINCE WHEN DOES GALGA HAVE A LIFE OUTSIDE OF WORK?! LUCKY DUCK/ FINISHED MY SHIFT. I'M OFFDUTY. GONNA GO ENJOY THE FESTIVAL WITH MY PARTNER. I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S GOT A DATE. HOW DOES ONE OF THE KNIGHTS MORALIS MANAGE THAT? Τὰ wag” his gentle personality helps. Ål I’M NOT SURE WHY MEMBERSHIP IN THE ORDER SHOULD PRECLUDE ROMANTIC ATTACHMENT.
ANYTHING TO DO WITH US. IF NORMAL WITCHES DO THE DRAWING, WE’RE IN CHARGE OF SEEMS WIPING THE PRETTY CLEAR SLATE. TO ME WHY THE ORDER ISN'T A PARTICULARLY POPULAR BUNCH. SHUNNED OR OUR LABORS THANKLESS... „.. THE KNIGHTS MORALIS STILL SERVE A VITAL ROLE.
AND IF YOU ASK ME, IT’S BETTER THIS WAY. OUR JOB’S ALL THE EASIER. I’D RATHER SOCIETY SHOW A HEALTHY RESPECT FOR THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE. FAR PREFERABLE TO CLOYING FAMILIARITY. NOW I’M REMEMBERING WHY YOU ENDED UP IN OUR RANKS IN THE FIRST PL— SSS ILLICIT CONTRAPTIONS ПА Rn FOR SALE! N | ALONG THE К WR) JUST TELL CASTLE WALL, L( US WHERE NEAR THE SEA ТО HEAD. SOUTH GATE! ØRN EKOH AND ETLAN ARE ALREADY IN PURSUIT! OH, AND WHAT KIND OF CON- TRAPTIONS?
TH-THE NATURE OF THE DEVICE GLANCE IS RATHER, ἢ M n T NT ALV
DON'T YOU BRATS EVER GIVE UP?! I AIN’T DOIN’ ANYTHING FORBIDDEN. LEMME 60 ALREADY! EKOH! IT'S AN ILLICIT CONTRAPTION! HEAR THAT, ETLAN? HE SAYS IT'S NOT FORBIDDEN MAGIC!
AND THAT LOSER 15 TRYING TO SELL HIS ROTTEN DOOHICKEY IN SECRET. THAT'S WHY WE’VE GOTTA CATCH HIM/ NOW I GET IT/ THANKS FOR THE EXPLANATION! | [| HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN A SPELL CAN EVERYTHING STILL CAUSE We've INDIRECT R HARM, EVEN Ip STUDIED? IT’S NOT CAST DIRECTLY ON THE VICTIM. YOU CAN FLY AND YOU CAN RUN, BUT IN THE END YOU’RE SO WHY DON'T DONE! YOU JUST SAVE US ALL SOME TROUBLE?!
PASS! \\ Ж Жаа TERT TA TAT A | ЕР IN | ῄ uw 2 THANKS, ПА i AM Ë h, "τού A WHAT NOW, ETLAN? HE’S FLED TO THE UNDERCITY! 6000 THING I FLICKED SOME LAPESS JUICE ONTO HIS CLOAK. HMPH. AN WE’LL POP THE ESCAPE ROUTE, FRUIT INTO THE HUH? PRETTY GUIDANCE ORB STANDARD PLAY AND TRACK HIM FOR A BLACK RIGHT DOWN. MARKET PEDDLER.
CONTRAPTION OF HIS 15 REAL SCUMMY, LULUCI/ I DOUBT THERE'S ANY FORCE IN THE WORLD THAT COULD HOLD HER BACK NOW. DON'T WANNA GO ANYWHERE NEAR THAT GUY, LULUCI/ UTOWIN! YOU GOTTA STOP HER!
WIPE OUT THE 60005, AND IT WON’T MATTER IF I'M CAUGHT. ος. I'LL TELL 'E BETTER ЕЕ Bor HURRY UP AND ALTER THE SEAL b d TO DESTROY THE EVIDENCE. I WAS GONNA CALL 'EM MY GARMENTGLIMPSE GLASSES. DARN KNIGHTS CAN'T ADMIT THEY LIKE THIS STUFF JUST AS MUCHAS BUNCHA PRISSY GUY! | UPTIGHT PRUDES! M-MAYBE I'LL JUST TAKE ONE MORE PEEP... BLASTED ORDER... HOW'D THEY CATCH WIND? ONE OF MY SCHEDULED CUSTOMERS RAT ME НАДАН... REAL PITY. THIS WAS SOME OF MY BEST WORK YET. WHAT A MENTION OEC GÀ ALL THE CRAFTSCOIN THESE МАМӨНІР. WOULD'VE FETCHED.