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chapter 1
On the continent, many races lived.
Each race cooperated or became enemies depending on their respective strengths.
The most notorious rivalry was between witches and beastmen.
From the very beginning, their compatibility was terrible. Witches wielded magic, while beastmen drew power from nature, and these two forces were difficult to coexist.
Witches were intrigued by the beastmen, who, in human form, surpassed human limitations. Their curiosity was piqued, and eventually, they crossed a line that should never have been crossed.
Fifty years ago, the bodies of beastmen treated as experimental subjects by witches were discovered, igniting a war. The witches’ greatest force—curiosity and thirst for knowledge—had sparked a war between the two races.
Despite years of continuous fighting, witches and beastmen could not negotiate. The war only deepened mutual hatred. Neither side gained the upper hand, and both continued to kill each other in a stalemate.
Eventually, the matter was resolved through divine mediation.
Even after the war ended, they remained eternal enemies. Witches denounced beastmen as barbaric, while beastmen wanted to kill the arrogant witches.
The idea that these two races would fight had become commonplace for over fifty years, and news of their battles had long become tiresome.
My name is Iriel Lotis. I was a typical witch, born in the Witch Kingdom.
The only thing special about me was that my hair was white, like it had captured the light of the moon, and I had some ability in healing magic.
Among witches, who pursued flashy and powerful magic, my abilities were considered weak and useless.
Witches possessed exceptional self-healing powers, far superior to ordinary humans, and could heal most injuries with potions.
Moreover, white hair was always a source of ridicule among witches. White was considered a “dirty” color in their eyes.
So, I had to wear a hooded cloak at all times to hide my hair. The whispers behind my back always stabbed at my heart.
What hurt most, however, was my parents’ attitude. Even they couldn’t suppress their discomfort at their daughter’s hair.
So, at eighteen, immediately after my coming-of-age ceremony, I ran away from home and became independent in a place untouched by witches or humans.
Surrounded only by birdsong and small animals, I finally felt free. Tears threatened to fall. Using some basic spells I had learned at the academy, I built a crude log cabin and exhaled a long pent-up breath as I gazed at the darkening sky.
“This is freedom.”
I sat on the green field, shedding tears. It was truly over—my parents’ gaze, the witches’ gaze, the scorn and contempt.
Being free from those looks filled me with immense joy. I thought I would finally live like a truly free bird.
I had honed my knowledge and magic well enough to heal people. Because of this effort, I survived for a year wandering as a sort of traveling healer.
But there was one more thing I should have learned: how to deal with beastmen.
“What… what is this?!”
I was in a massive crisis. A wolf beastman was sitting at my table.
I couldn’t stop fidgeting under his gaze.
“I’m scared.”
The silver-haired wolf, with his animal ears fully visible, stared at me intensely. His vertically slit eyes made my blood run cold.
But he was like a child discovering a rare treasure, resting his chin on his hands as he watched my reaction. I couldn’t even hide my hair under my cloak, so I just stared at the ground.
“Of all people, it had to be a beastman I saved!”
Two days ago, I went to a village and healed someone who was injured.
The injuries were severe, consuming much of my magical power, and I almost collapsed. Luckily, the patient recovered, so I instructed him to go to a nearby clinic and returned home—only to find out he was a beastman.
And not just any beastman, but a descendant of the wolf tribe, famed for their immense strength.
He didn’t hide the fact that he was a beastman, his black wolf ears twitching constantly.
“Hmmm… hey there.”
“Y-yes?”
I stammered, startled, and looked at his handsome face. His silver hair shone even more than his pale skin.
Opposite him, the man with black wolf ears smiled warmly at me.
“Ha ha. Don’t be so surprised.”
He licked his lips and looked at me. I could only tremble at his reaction.
He rested his chin on his hands and asked with a smile:
“You know, witch, I’m… extremely interested in you.”
Please, you could stop being interested! Every word he spoke made my blood run cold.
“Is he trying to kill me? Or make me his servant?”
All kinds of anxious thoughts raced through my mind. The man laughed softly as he looked at me.
“Witch, why did you save me?”
“Eh?”
“You could have just ignored me.”
He tilted his head, purring like a cat. I hesitated, then answered his question.
“B-because… you were hurt?”
“Ha ha. Witches heal the injured? All the ones I’ve seen just kick the wounded and laugh.”
He spoke cheerfully, almost enjoying his own harsh words. I couldn’t deny it. Witches often mocked the weak, after all.
Because I specialized in healing magic, I needed to meet ordinary people to use my abilities. This allowed me to empathize with their pain. I was the unusual one among witches.
“Ha ha… I can use healing magic…”
“Oh? That’s interesting.”
Like my hair, he added, staring at me intently. His flushed face suggested he was still excited, and I felt sorry that he seemed to be using up his energy because of me.
“What are you talking about? I’m literally on the brink of death!”
I chastised myself for thinking about him while standing at the border of life and death. The man, however, crossed his legs gracefully and smiled at me.
“Witch, what’s your name?”
“Iriel! Iriel Lotis…”
“Ah, a beautiful name. I’m Rudels. Rudels Iphin.”
I fiddled with my fingers, wary of the wolf. Rudels, the wolf beastman, simply looked at me with a sly expression.
He blinked his blue eyes and reached out. Reflexively, I flinched and closed my eyes.
His smooth, pale hand—unlike a beastman’s paw—touched my hair. He tucked it behind my ear, smiling mischievously, then withdrew his hand.
“Your hair is beautiful. It’s like moonlight captured in white.”
Then he leaned closer and whispered:
“Do you want to come with me, witch?”
He smiled sweetly. I almost popped out of my skin. If a witch went to the beastman lands, she would surely be tortured. Why go through that?
I managed to speak, trembling:
“I… I can’t…”
“Iriel.”
His blue eyes flashed, and he lowered his voice. Scary, scary, scary! His sudden tone and piercing gaze made me shrink in fear.
But Rudels didn’t act aggressively—he just gently touched my cheek.
Peeking slightly, I saw his face inches from mine. I was startled by his handsomeness, and again by the gentle smile as he touched my face.
“Iriel, come with me to the beastman lands and work as a healer. I’ll take good care of you, okay?”
“Eh? A healing mage?”
I widened my eyes in surprise. Rudels gave a smile that could melt hearts and stepped back. My heart raced, but I tried to ignore it.
He glanced at my flushed face, smirked, and looked around my living room with his long legs.
“What we need most right now are healers. There are diseases that ordinary humans just can’t cure.”
He turned to face me again and smiled widely as he approached.
“So we’re looking for a healer among humans, but finding one is like panning for gold in sand. Witches… would just kill such beastmen.”
I swallowed hard and looked at him, showing no fear as he revealed his hatred for witches.
Seeing my nervous face, he softened his expression and smiled politely again.
But to me, he was still just a beastman who hated witches and wanted to kill them.
I swallowed and waited for him to speak again.
