The Witch's After Tea Party:
One Wild Night Extra

It was after the events at the church on the snow mountain, following the moment when a new member had joined Omega’s party.

“We need to discuss whether Noelle should accompany us.”

The one who said this was none other than Palmyra, the group’s troublemaker. She often brought up an issue to argue about, but only to voice her opinion and not necessarily to resolve it. Omega shrugged her shoulders thinking, there she goes again.

“There she goes again,” Omega said, voicing her thoughts.

“What did you just say?” Palmyra retorted as everyone expected. Her sharp eyes were lit with anger. “What do you mean, ‘there she goes again’?! Have I said anything wrong?”

“You haven’t said anything wrong, per se, but I do think it is pointless to talk to you since you always end up doing whatever Colette decides anyways, right?”

“N-Not right. Don’t make me sound like I’m subservient to Colette! Besides, she might have something to say about this matter too.”

“Hm, something to say, huh?” Omega said as she tried to imagine Colette giving a different opinion than she already had on the matter. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t imagine Colette changing her initial attitude as Palmyra suggested. “Nope, can’t see that happening.”

Palmyra grabbed her twin tail hair with both hands and groaned, conceding to Omega. Her behavior reminded Omega how young she still was.

After having successfully descended the mountain, Noelle and the rest were heading to the town Podoso had told them about at the church. Luckily, they didn’t have to worry about the weather based on how the sky looked and with the dry air. They took this opportunity to set up camp and have a rest. It was Colette and Noelle’s turn to prepare the camp, while Omega and Palmyra sat in a tent facing each other.

“And as Noelle was working hard for her traveling companions, Palmyra schemed to gather votes to kick her out of the group,” Omega snarked.

“Don’t say it like that!” Palmyra yelled. “It’s not like I want to kick her out!”

“Then what did you mean by your earlier remark?” Omega asked, tilting her head.

“Well… You get it, don’t you?” Palmyra started mumbling. “There’s Colette’s bracelet to worry about, and about you too.”

Palmyra’s voice was too quiet for Omega to catch what she was saying. Omega twitched her half-elf ears. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear what you just said. Could you repeat it loudly enough so that a person with half-elf ears, a peculiarity that’s hated by many, like me could hear?”

“That’s exactly my point!” Palmyra yelled into her ear, as if to scold her for joking around. “We’re all dealing with one thing or another. Besides, I’ll feel bad for Noelle if she gets dragged into our mess!”

“My ear’s ringing,” Omega said.

However, Omega was impressed by Palmyra’s kindness. She was reminded that even though her personality may be aggressive, Palmyra still had a heart of gold. I mean, if not, she wouldn’t have left her hometown where she did nothing wrong. So I guess it’s natural for a person like her to worry about Noelle, who doesn’t have an urgent reason to accompany us.

“Even so,” said Omega, “you don’t have to worry about my peculiarity, if that’s what you’re concerned about.”

“Don’t have to worry about it?” Palmyra questioned, directing a suspicious look at Omega. “That’s the most unreliable thing I’ve heard you say.”

Omega was deeply shocked by Palmyra’s mistrust. She had the same sort of look she gave the murder suspects at the church the previous night.

“But I’m sure you’ll see what I’m talking about very soon,” Omega said. “Since…”

“I already know Miss Omega’s secret,” a sudden voice interrupted Omega.

Palmyra yelped at the voice that came from behind her. She quickly turned around to find Noelle standing at the entrance to the tent, holding a pot with hot steam coming out from it.

“I apologize for startling you,” Noelle said, showing a soft smile. She then walked into the tent while carrying the pot. “I did not mean to eavesdrop, but I heard your discussion from the middle.”

“O-Our discussion?” Palmyra replied. “W-What are you talking abou…”

“Give up, Palmyra,” Omega interjected. “The cat’s out of the bag. Noelle already knows you were scheming to kick her out of the group.”

“No! I was saying that it could be dangerous for Noelle if she stayed with us—oops.” Palmyra quickly stopped talking, but it was too late. Noelle had heard everything.

Letting out a small laugh at Palmyra’s clumsiness, Noelle slowly placed the pot in the middle of the tent. “Thank you for worrying about me,” she said. “However, as I said earlier, I already know Miss Omega’s secret. I chose to accompany all of you despite that.”

“Do you…have a thing for odd people?” Palmyra asked.

“What a way to put it,” Omega remarked.

“Yes, I do have a thing for odd people. Just like you, Miss Palmyra.”

“I-I’m not traveling with her because I like her or anything,” Palmyra said, turning red and pointing her finger at Omega.

Omega, however, knew Palmyra didn’t actually mean it. “Actually,” she reconsidered, “in this case I’m not sure if you are truly serious or just wanted to say something mean.”

“Nobody cares about that right now,” Palmyra dismissed. “Noelle, are you really okay?”

“Positively so,” Noelle answered. “Besides, I probably should not say this, but I might be as odd as the rest of you,” she said as she placed one hand on her well-developed bosom cloaked in black clothes. “I was an itinerant preacher of the Gustekan Church. However, due to the incident that occurred last night, I no longer have a reason to be a part of the Church and have no place to return to.”

“That… Yeah I remember you mentioning that,” Palmyra said. “Is the Church going to be ok with that?”

“It will not,” Noelle responded swiftly.

“It won’t?!” Palmyra said, eyes widening in shock.

“I am one of the followers who have made a vow to the Church. For me to abandon my duties and not return is something that should not be allowed.”

“B-But a vow is like a promise, right? I guess breaking a promise isn’t a good thing, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s as bad as Omega’s secret…”

“No, you’re underestimating the Church, Palmyra,” Omega said. “Or shall I say you’re underestimating what the Church bestowed Noelle.” It’s the fact that Noelle made a vow to the Church that makes the whole situation tricky. Noelle is an itinerant preacher for the Church. And as we saw in the snow mountain, her body has been enhanced with great power through the Church’s blessing. This isn’t something that’s bestowed upon anyone. It also can’t be relinquished so easily. Palmyra compared it to a ‘promise’, but it’s more of a contract between a devout follower and the Gustekan Church. “And what Noelle is doing is breaking the contract without any premeditation. Obviously, the Gustekan Church won’t be amicable about this.”

“I am deeply grateful to the Church,” Noelle said after a pause. “The fact that I have been able to survive until today and gain the power to achieve my goal has all been because of the Church and the power they have blessed me with. In return, I vowed to offer my whole life to the Church.”

“Your whole life…” Palmyra repeated.

“But it was all a lie.”

“It was a lie?! Well, of course it was! You abandoned your role after all!”

“What I did was receive the blessing I needed to achieve my life long goal, and completely abandon them now that I have.”

Palmyra said nothing. She was a rather empathetic person, but even she couldn’t find the right words to comfort Noelle.

It may seem like she made a bold decision, Omega thought. But there must be a part of her that’s just giving up and lashing out. And I’m partially responsible for pushing her into this state. I can’t let her be by herself. “So the idea that her being with us will be bad for her isn’t exactly correct,” she said. “After all, some people might come after her and we might get dragged into her mess,” she added, laughing.

“Stop laughing!” Palmyra yelled. “You better be ready to take off your disguise and brawl it out if the situation calls for it.”

“That isn’t something I can do so easily, you know?” Omega said. “Souls have a propensity to revert back to their original shape. It takes quite an effort just to make some changes on the surface.”

“Just, be, prepared, okay?” Palmyra said, grabbing Omega by her collars, shaking her.

“Okay, okay, I’ll do my best,” Omega conceded.

Noelle widened her eyes at her traveling companions’ interaction, and then let out a small laugh. “Miss Palmyra,” she said, still keeping a faint smile. “I am really happy you are looking out for my well-being when I should be the one asking you if I will be a burden by staying with you. Please do not hesitate to say so if that is the case. I will leave at once.”

“You being a burden…?”

“If you were planning on visiting other Gustekan churches, it could pose some problems keeping me, who is being persecuted by the Church, by your side.”

“Don’t underestimate me,” Palmyra responded, glaring at her. “I left my hometown with Colette after my village was destroyed by a half-elf looking witch. So I’m used to trouble.”

“You’re certainly the type who likes to take on trouble,” Omega teased.

Palmyra glared at her and quickly retorted. “Shut your trap.”

Omega shrugged and said nothing. Noelle, on the other hand, looked surprised by Palmyra’s aggressive words.

Palmyra pointed her finger at her. “What I’m trying to say is that your situation isn’t enough for me to push you away. The only concern I have is whether you’re fine staying with us.”

“If I am fine…?”

“Just so you know, you can’t use Colette as an excuse to back out. She’ll be more than happy to have you accompany us, no matter the situation. She isn’t the type to worry about potential problems.”

With Palmyra’s strong words, Noelle could no longer use Colette as an excuse.

But this means that Noelle just lost her only reason to back out from accompanying us, thought Omega. I’m sure Palmyra didn’t plan to do so, but she pretty much cornered Noelle into staying with us, and she’s asking her to convince her otherwise. The whole situation is so ridiculous. “Good grief,” she said aloud. “And to think that you wanted to kick Noelle out of the group, but instead, you took away her reason to leave.”

“Could you stop talking and acting as if you know anything, when you in fact don’t?”

“What?” Omega said, confused as she expected Palmyra to get flustered by her accurate assessment. “I was sure I perfectly figured out your hidden agenda that you yourself haven’t even realized.”

Then a voice came from the entrance of the tent. “Oh? Were all of you waiting for me?”

It was Colette. She had been preparing food with Noelle, but seeing as she came later, Omega speculated that she’d been cleaning up. Her words suggested she assumed they had already started eating without her.

“Not exactly,” Omega said. “Actually, we could use your thoughts on this matter…”

“No, we were waiting for you,” Noelle interjected with a faint smile. “I was hoping we could all eat together, including you, Miss Colette.”

“Oh?!” Colette exclaimed, putting her hands together in front of her chest happily. “So that’s how it is. I’m so sorry for making all of you wait. But I’m really happy we can all enjoy Noelle’s tasty soup. It’s incredible.”

“Hmm,” Palmyra said skeptically. “Are you sure you wanna set the bar so high?”

“Oh, are you doubting me, Palmyra? Then you’re in for a surprise,” Colette said with a laugh, showing confidence in her words.

It was a rare sight to see Colette like this, but Omega was rather disappointed to be left out of the loop. Seems like Palmyra and Noelle have decided to collude together to hide our earlier discussion from her. Well, it’s not like I’m eager to tell her everything either. “But I wish this soup could uplift me from my disappointment.”

“Well, now I think you’re raising the bar a little too high,” Colette commented.

They gathered around the pot, as Noelle served the soup to everyone. The warm aroma of the soup tickled Omega’s nostrils, raising her expectations of the taste. She wasn’t disappointed.

“It doesn’t look like you added any more ingredients than we previously had,” she said.

“I used my herbs and spices,” Noelle explained. “I always carry them around when traveling as meals are one of the few joys we have on the road.”

“Right? Right? It’s good, right? Palmyra, how is it?” Colette asked, looking into her friend’s face.

“It’s good,” Palmyra mumbled, making Colette flash a bright smile.

I see, no wonder Colette was enthusiastic about Noelle’s cooking, Omega thought. This is really good. And, on top of this great quality…

“By the way, Miss Palmyra,” Noelle started while she served everyone seconds, “I found a small nick on your bag, so I took the liberty of stitching it up.”

“Eh? Oh, is that so?” Palmyra responded, dumbfounded.

“Yes, and the poles for this tent you and Miss Omega set up seemed unsteady, so I adjusted that as well. I will teach you both how to properly set a tent up later.”

“I see,” Omega said. “That’ll be great, since knowing how to do something is completely different from actually being able to do it properly.”

“And Miss Colette,” she said, turning her attention to her, “let’s make time after we eat for me to explain the teachings and manners of the Church to you like we discussed earlier. Knowing them should help you out in the holy kingdom.”

“Wow! Thank you so much!” Colette said. “I was really curious about it!”

And so, as she continued to diligently serve the group, she gave lectures on how to mend traveling equipment, the dangers of traveling in the snow, and even about the Gustekan Church, thoroughly impressing Colette and Omega.

Not only should we be thankful she’s so knowledgeable about traveling, I’m really interested in learning about the modern Gustekan Church. “Yeah, I think we found an amazing addition to our group,” Omega praised, sipping on her warm soup. Then, she noticed Palmyra also sipping on her soup, staring at Colette and Noelle with a sour look. “What’s wrong, Palmyra?”

“Now that I think about it,” Palmyra said, “would we have been able to travel safely without Noelle?”

Omega said nothing.

“Hey, say something!”

It was one of the rare moments where Omega had no retort. She just silently sipped on her soup.

END