What Witch? This Alchemist is Breaking Bad!

“Haha, what are you talking about?”

“Of course not, why would you ask that?”

“My feelings toward him are only……”

……

A whole series of possible responses flashed through Weiss’s mind, but faced with Rena’s expression as she tried to speak openly and honestly with her, none of the words that had hovered at the tip of her tongue were ultimately spoken. She swallowed every single one of them.

Excuses, they were all excuses!

She herself knew perfectly well that even if she said those things, she wouldn’t fool Rena, nor could she fool herself.

After experiencing one inexplicable emotional fluctuation after another, and unconsciously letting her gaze linger again and again, she could no longer keep denying it to herself.

Every time she lost composure, every time she felt as though she had become unlike her usual self, it all stemmed from the same reason, or rather, one person.

In the end, she could only lower her gaze and respond with an almost imperceptible nod, then softly say: “You noticed a long time ago?”

“Mm.” Rena answered softly as well.

Perhaps because she had already felt a little wary ever since Leon and Weiss began meeting alone in the past, after meeting Weiss, Rena had paid particular attention to Weiss’s attitude toward Leon.

It couldn’t really be said that her powers of observation were especially sharp. Rather, the usually calm Weiss always showed an enormous contrast whenever related topics came up in front of Leon. Weiss was an expert in her own field of knowledge, but when it came to feelings, she was still a blank sheet of paper. Even a bishop praised as a Saintess with limitless prospects was, in the end, still only a young girl.

With a reaction like the one just now, this time even Leon himself had noticed something, and Rena also realized that she had no choice but to ask the matter clearly.

“Was it from when he saved you?” Rena asked softly.

“This, I can’t really explain it either. Maybe the reason I was first moved by him really was that. I originally thought that once enough time passed, it would slowly settle down, but unfortunately……” As Weiss spoke, she began to sound somewhat guilty.

When she had been isolated and helpless in the archdiocese, it was Leon who had risked his life to save her, and he had even had intimate contact with her that went beyond normal limits.

For Weiss, who had never had any deep interaction with the opposite sex before, it was difficult not to have her heart stirred by such an experience.

She had originally thought it was only a temporary surge of emotion, that after some time passed, this girlish fever in her head would gradually cool down and allow her to face Leon normally.

But the more time they spent together, the more she felt that Leon was different to her. His experiences within the world of heresy, the Blessing power that seemed favored by Moylai, and the knowledge he had learned from some unknown source——she could feel that this dangerous man concealed some enormous secret, and all of it deeply attracted her.

In truth, she had always been someone easily drawn toward forbidden things, whether it was researching the powers of witches or trying the novels Lamia had coaxed her into reading.

If the contents of every person’s existence were compared to a book, then compared with the endless truths of the world, many people could only be considered thin little volumes, incapable of arousing her interest in investigation. But Leon was a forbidden book hiding secrets, one she simply couldn’t stop herself from reading.

Weiss went through all kinds of explanations in her mind, but in the end, she said none of them. There was no meaning in explaining her own feelings at length to someone else. Thousands of thoughts ultimately turned into nothing more than a sigh from her lips: “I’m sorry, Rena. Just like something written in a book, falling in love with someone isn’t something you can control, it’s like a fire, once it’s lit, it burns……”

“From 《Forbidden Relationship》, after you returned it to Leon, I read it too.” Rena nodded.

Having the line exposed as being quoted from an erotic novel made Weiss feel awkward for a moment, but she quickly controlled her expression and continued: “I do like him, and that’s not something I can control. But please don’t worry, I can control what I should and shouldn’t do. I have no intention of ruining the relationship between you two, whether you believe me or not.”

“I’m not suspecting you of anything. I just wanted to understand clearly, thank you for being willing to tell me.” Hearing Weiss answer so frankly instead stirred a trace of guilt in Rena, “I’m sorry.”

From Weiss’s perspective, if not for her existence, Weiss could actually have stayed by Leon’s side without any issue.

“There’s no reason for you to apologize to me.” Weiss smiled softly, “I should be thanking you instead. Saying it out loud makes me feel much better.”

“Mm.” Rena answered softly.

“Let’s work first.” Weiss focused her attention on the work in front of her, “It looks like we’re almost out of ammonia water, I’ll go get some.”

“It’s fine, I’ll go.” Rena realized she was closer to the door and headed over first.

But the moment she opened the door and stepped outside, she saw Sally hurriedly take a step back from beside the doorway with a slightly flustered expression.

Rena was startled. She first glanced back at Weiss inside the room, but Weiss was focused on adjusting the equipment and hadn’t noticed what was happening over here.

Rena closed the door and tentatively studied Sally: “Miss Sally?”

“Sorry, Miss Rena, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.” Sally replied apologetically.

That wasn’t entirely true. Running into the conversation between Weiss and Rena had been accidental, but once Sally realized what they were talking about, she hadn’t chosen to avoid it, nor had she gone in to interrupt them. Instead, she had perked up her ears and listened intently through the crack of the door for a while.

“Come with me first.” Rena brought Sally to the room where the medicines were stored before asking quietly, “Did you hear everything?”

Only then did she realize that she hadn’t thought things through carefully enough just now. Sally had still been in another room and could have come to the laboratory at any time.

“A little. But actually, Miss Weiss’s situation doesn’t surprise me.” Sally said quietly, her attitude extremely calm.

“So, you noticed a long time ago too?” Rena blinked.

“Well, I suppose you could say I’ve been through it before.” Sally smiled.

In truth, the main reason she had noticed anything was Melissa, which was why she had paid extra attention to Leon’s relationships with the women around him.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep it secret, I won’t tell Mr. Leon.” Sally immediately became serious and assured Rena.

“That part is actually……this time Leon himself has already noticed a little, I think.” Rena thought for a moment before saying, “As long as you don’t mention this in front of Weiss, or tell anyone else, that’s enough.”

“I understand, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything.” Sally replied.

“All right.” Rena breathed a sigh of relief.

But Sally didn’t end the subject there: “However, Miss Rena, what do you think about it? Do you really think things are fine this way?”

“Well, since Weiss already said that, I believe neither of them will do anything reckless.” Rena thought for a moment before answering.

“I’m not doubting either of them.” Sally shook her head, “What I mean is, perhaps things are fine now, but what about over the long term? One or two years, five years, ten years……

People often say time is the best medicine for healing wounds, but Miss Weiss can’t leave this place. If she has to suppress her feelings every day while facing you and Mr. Leon, wouldn’t that be a little too cruel to her?”

“This……” Rena froze on the spot, unable to answer.

If she put herself in Weiss’s position, then if she had to watch Leon and another woman loving each other every day, that really would be tormenting.

But they happened to need Weiss. Rather than saying Weiss didn’t want to leave and forget these feelings, it was more accurate to say that they couldn’t allow Weiss to leave. It felt almost like they were making use of her while forcing her to suppress herself. Thinking about it that way, it really did seem a little……excessive.

“I’m also worried that if this continues for too long, something might go wrong.” Sally continued.

Rena had no response. This really was an extremely realistic problem.

Objectively speaking, this wasn’t a relationship that could be maintained indefinitely. Even if there were no problems now, what about in the future?

To some extent, it was practically like a bomb buried between them, while the path they were walking was already like treading on thin ice, surrounded by external threats. How could they withstand an internal problem like this suddenly exploding?

“But if that’s the case, what should we do?”

With Sally reminding her like this, Rena suddenly began to waver.

“Looks like it’s working.” Sally thought to herself.

This analysis wasn’t something she had said purely to frighten Rena. Such a problem really did exist between them, but it also wouldn’t be accurate to say that Sally had no intention of guiding her at all.

“Actually, if you want to resolve this problem steadily, only you can do it, Miss Rena.” Sally said tentatively.

“Me?” Rena didn’t immediately understand, but after thinking for a moment, she caught Sally’s implication, “But this……no matter how I think about it, that can’t be right!”

“Miss Rena, is the answer to what choice is right really something fixed? I once believed the law was right, but in the end, the law saddled us with debt and nearly destroyed my entire family.

I also once devoutly believed in the Church, but if I had continued living according to its doctrine, then I shouldn’t have received treatment from all of you, and I should have been buried long ago. In your eyes, do you think your and Miss Weiss’s choice to become witches, or Mr. Leon making me take the blame for you back then, could be considered right?” Sally asked.

“……” Rena blinked and said nothing.

“Legally speaking, I’m already dead. Now I’ve been reborn as a witch, and perhaps my way of thinking is completely different from before. To me now, whether it’s morality, law, or doctrine, none of those can represent the standard of what is right. It was your choices that allowed me to survive. Even if I was made to take the blame for you, that brief sacrifice ultimately led to the outcome where I’m alive now and reunited with my daughter.

Everything you did gave me the happiness of being alive. To me, those things are what’s right! So sometimes I think, perhaps for a person, what can bring her lasting happiness is what is right.” Sally looked at Rena and spoke softly.

“Miss Sally……” Rena fell into thought.

“Of course, what counts as happiness differs from person to person. How you choose still has to follow what you truly feel in your heart. No matter what, all of you are my benefactors, and I sincerely hope each of you can have your own happiness. Miss Rena, although there isn’t much I can do for you, if you’re ever troubled, you can always come discuss it with me.” Sally gently patted Rena on the shoulder.

These words weren’t merely guidance, but also her sincere feelings. Leon, Rena, and Weiss were all her benefactors, so naturally, she hoped every one of them could obtain the happiness they deserved.

Of course, it would be best if Melissa could as well.

“Mm, thank you.” Although Rena still hadn’t thought of an answer, she nevertheless thanked Sally for her advice.

“By the way, you were going to replenish the laboratory’s ammonia water, right? I’ll help you get it!” Sally said with a smile.