The Witch from the Seventh Hole

A strong wind blew. It was a wintery wind which whistled between high-rise buildings.

Buffeted by the wind, a young man walked alone.

He moved right down the middle of the wide, empty roadway.

No cars passed by, and even the skyscrapers in front of him stood wrapped in silence.

There was no sign of human life in this place. Cracks were visible in the asphalt, and many windows in the buildings were shattered. The trees which lined the street, once well-maintained, were all either withering or growing wildly out of control.

Only the pale winter sun gazed down upon the young man.

This city, which should be bustling with life, was a desolate ruin.

The sky was blue, but the wind cut through with a biting chill. The young man, undeterred by the cold, headed toward the center of the building district with a singular purpose.

Suddenly, an exceptionally strong gust of wind blew straight at him.

It was then that the young man, Akaza Izuminohara, finally stopped walking.

He was stopped in a major intersection, which, totally deserted, resembled a circular plaza.

In this deserted city, a gunshot rang out.

Suddenly, a creature silently slithered through the gaps between the buildings as it reached for Akaza. As it bared its fangs, the serpent attempted to strike with no success.

Coiling its body, the serpent slithered away through the buildings.

In Akaza's hands was a small revolver.

He nodded to himself, satisfied with the bullet's expected outcome.

He looked up at the two buildings across the intersection, the very center of the city.

The clear blue sky between the towering skyscrapers was no more.

Now, the sky was obscured by a cloud of monstrous creatures.

Gargoyles, Harpies, Gremlins . . .

Winged monsters gathered solely to obstruct his path.

Click, click, click . . . Akaza, unfazed by the horde, reloaded his revolver.

The number of monsters gathered was easily in the hundreds.

They all stared at Akaza with expressionless eyes, like glass marbles.

Click . . . The fifth bullet slid into the chamber. Despite the presence of hundreds of creatures, the only sound to fall over the cityscape was an eerie silence.

Akaza turned toward the monsters. His gaze was intense, as if his sheer will alone could repel the monsters.

Hmph.

His smile broadened.

Even though he was only twenty, his smile was unsettlingly fearless, a clear sign of his unwavering confidence.

Regardless of whether thousands, or even tens of thousands, of monsters faced him, nothing could deter him from his goal.

Akaza was just that confident.

Screeeech!

A Harpy let out a piercing cry.

Triggered by the call, the monsters began to stir.

Gliding through the gaps between dilapidated street lamps, silent traffic lights, and decaying trees, the swarm of monsters, like dark clouds enveloping a frail traveler, rushed toward Akaza.

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out.

A hole opened in the dark cloud.

With that one bullet, dozens of monsters nearing Akaza were blown away, and vanished like mist.

This was the effect that his bullet's shockwave had on the creatures.

Still, the remaining monsters, undeterred, continued to surge toward Akaza.

The deserted intersection was now on the verge of being overrun by monsters.

In its center, Akaza stood armed only with his small revolver.

Akaza tightened his grip on the trigger of the revolver.

It's futile.

He muttered to himself, not intending for the monsters to hear.

Hundreds, even thousands of monsters were no match for Akaza, whose sole purpose was to destroy the Hole that lay beyond this horde.

Ten years ago, Akaza lost his parents to a Hole.

Since then, he had tirelessly pursued the destruction of the Holes, his resolve stronger than anyone else.

Until the Holes were destroyed, Akaza could not afford to lose, nor did he intend to.

Gunshots rang out again, and the monsters faded into a haze.

One shot, two shots, three shots—

Reload. Then, more gunshots—

After only five minutes, Akaza had eliminated all of the monsters.

But there was no time to pause.

Suddenly, Akaza was on his back in the middle of the intersection, with a girl straddling his chest!

She had a fairy-like appearance, with soft, white hair and red eyes.

Aw, you were so close!

She grinned, her lips curled into a crescent moon, giggling atop him.

She probably weighed about half as much as Akaza, yet despite her delicate appearance, he was somehow unable to push her away. In fact, he couldn't even move a finger.

Gaaah!

All he could do was groan.

The girl softly placed her right hand on Akaza's neck.

Despite her gentle touch, Akaza was pinned down with overwhelming force, as if his whole body would crack from the pressure.

Hehe, does that hurt?

She laughed.

Akaza could not believe what was happening to him . . .

Right after clearing that horde of monsters, he had seen the Hole floating between the buildings, yet just as he was about to head toward the Hole, this girl had appeared before him.

I am a guardian. A Hole guardian, that is.

Akaza was shocked. He thought he had completely cleared the area, yet this girl claiming to be a guardian had suddenly materialized right in front of him. She was so close that it would have been easier to embrace her than to point a gun.

Akaza, now freed, took a step back and tried to point the muzzle of his revolver at the girl's forehead, only to realize she was no longer there.

The girl now stood just beneath his outstretched arm, looking up at him from a position dangerously close to his chest.

Akaza had not taken his eyes off the girl and thought he had seen every possible move, yet somehow he had lost sight of her.

Ignoring the laws of physics, the girl was suddenly right beside Akaza.

Teleportation?

Was this girl able to perform the Ignore Distance spell?

Perhaps . . .

The girl responded to Akaza's whispered question with a chuckle.

The next moment, Akaza was struck with a shock from behind.

Ugh!

It felt like a ton of iron had slammed into his back. Stopping himself from falling, he twisted his body to aim his gun behind him.

There stood the girl who had previously been in front of him.

Huh?!

The moment the shock hit, she was surely standing in front of him . . . Could this girl have the power to appear both behind and in front of Akaza simultaneously?

Confused, Akaza tried to pull the trigger. After all, this girl was a witch and his enemy.

But, as expected, the girl once again vanished, and immediately Akaza was struck by another shock.

He fell down onto the asphalt.

And the girl was again pressing down upon him.

Hey, come on, say something! I just wanna chat!

Ugh . . .

Oops, sorry, you can't really answer like that, can you?

Simply with these words, the force grasping Akaza's neck loosened slightly, yet his body still could not move.

There, now you can talk, right?

The girl's grin was a direct insult to Akaza. It felt like the impact had broken his bones in several places. His body was burning and throbbing with pain, yet the frustration he felt from this girl was so overwhelming that he could not even pay attention to the pain.

Just kill me already!

He growled, mad enough to rip her to shreds.

Ahahaha!

The girl simply laughed off Akaza's words.

Still smiling, the girl gently stroked Akaza's cheek.

Oh, asking your victor to kill you? That's something a damsel captured by an orc would say! But don't worry, I'll be gentle.

I mean it! Just be done with it!

Akaza shouted with all the strength he could muster. The girl just looked down at him and continued to chuckle.

Well, you don’t seem to be in the mood for jokes. But hey, you're being pinned down by a beautiful witch like me . . . Don't my thighs feel good at least?

You're the worst . . .

The girl’s red eyes sparkled brightly at this insult.

Oh, I like that! 'The worst,' huh? And I'm not just tooting my own horn . . . someone else really thinks so too! I should start introducing myself as The Worst from now on!

Well, If you’re not going to kill me, then what are you planning to do?!

Was this girl just toying with her prey?

No . . . Akaza felt a premonition of something far worse.

Since I'm nice, I won't kill you.

The girl leaned closer to Akaza's face, smiling.

Then, Absorption . . . ?!

Akaza spoke of a method only a witch could perform, but the girl shook her head furiously.

No way! Why would I need to do absorption someone like you?!

The girl laughed at him mockingly.

I lied when I said you were close earlier. You weren't close at all. No matter how many of you there were, I can't be defeated, and you can't destroy the Hole!

She had just reduced Akaza's entire purpose in life up until this point to nothing.

Strong eyes you have there . . . Stubborn, straightforward eyes . . . I like them.

The girl grinned maliciously, clearly taking pleasure in Akaza's humiliation.

It would be easy to kill you just like this. But I won't.

Then what are you gonna do . . . ?

Akaza lowered his voice. Even if he got angry, it would only please this woman. The girl brought her lips close to his ear.

Poor thing. You’re so devoted to your cause . . .

. . .

I'm going to put a curse on you.

She whispered to Akaza with a sigh.

A curse?

It'll take effect immediately, too.

. . .

Come on! React a bit! This is a curse we're talking about here! I’m going to take away the most precious thing to you, the very thing that makes you who you are . . .

Stop!!

The most important thing . . . Akaza understood immediately what those words meant. If it was what made him who he was, only one thing came to mind.

I'll take your magic away from you.

The Worst said exactly what Akaza had feared.

Stop . . . please stop . . . !!

His words were a plea that cried from the depths of his soul.

This was the one thing he absolutely could not bear.

Huh? You're crying? Well, nope, I can't forgive you.

Indeed, tears were brimming at the corners of Akaza's eyes.

The girl continued to sneer.

But at least you're being a bit more honest. As a reward, I'll give you a kiss.

The girl brought her faintly red lips close to Akaza's sweat-beaded forehead.

Please . . . I'm begging you . . . don't . . . !

It was pathetic. Here he was, begging the person who already defeated him. Feeling humiliated, Akaza simply shouted at the girl, since he couldn't even move a finger, let alone resist her.

Slowly, the girl's face came closer to Akaza.

The kiss on his forehead was almost like a blessing—

Yet it came with the sensation of a blade of ice thrust into him.

A cold, sharp pain bore into Akaza's forehead.

I kissed you.

The girl playfully licked her lips.

You can feel it, can't you? My curse is violating your body!

The cold pain that thrust into his forehead now spread throughout Akaza's body.

Ah . . . Aah . . . !

A groan escaped him. The pain was so sharp that he could not even breathe. It spread first from his forehead to his throat, then from his throat to his chest. The girl was still talking above him, but he could not even comprehend her words.

Only the girl's last words, as she finally moved away from him, echoed in his mind.

Next time you use magic, you'll die.

Thus, Akaza Izuminohara, once called the strongest Magic User, became . . .

Just a regular person.

Excuse me, are you Akaza Izuminohara?

She appeared exactly three months after Akaza was cursed . . .

On that day, the girl claiming to be a guardian vanished, and Akaza was left alone in the deserted business district. His subsequent memories were vague, and when he came to, he was in a hospital.

At first, he refused to believe that he could no longer use magic. But whenever he tried, he felt the chill of the curse inside his forehead.

If he used magic now, he would die. That much he knew for certain.

Though the wound healed quickly, for the past three months, Akaza had shut himself away from the outside world.

He didn't even want to think about anything.

Being a Magic User had been everything to Akaza. It was the only way he could fulfill his long-held wish to destroy the Holes.

He had never even considered what he would do if he lost that ability.

And so, he became incapable of doing anything.

He slept when he was tired, ate when he was hungry, and just kept repeating that simple routine.

Not only his energy, but also his ability to think, had broken down completely.

So when the doorbell rang at the entrance to his condo, he did not even check the monitor. He just opened the automatic door.

Is this the residence of Mr. Akaza Izuminohara?

After a pause, a woman's voice came through the condo's intercom.

Did I order a pizza or something?

With that thought, he unlocked the front door and allowed the caller to enter.

And just like that, a girl stepped into the room.

You're Akaza Izuminohara, right?

She was wearing a uniform he had seen somewhere before, her large eyes sparkling on her petite face. Her long, straight red hair complemented her pale skin beautifully. She donned a black hair ornament, shaped like a small hat, which matched well with her red hair. Neither tall nor short, her slender legs extended from her short uniform skirt, dazzling Akaza.

She bent her delicate body slightly and with a cheerful, worry-free smile, gazed intently at Akaza. Her eyes, blazing red, reminded Akaza of 'The Worst.' As the thought flashed through his mind, for a moment, his heart ached.

Nice to meet you. I'm Haru from World Countermeasures Corporation!

She bowed deeply and energetically, her red hair bouncing. She carried no hint of the ominous allure possessed by 'The Worst.'

It was then that Akaza first noticed the large wand she was carrying on her back.

Those known as witches needed to fulfill several conditions to use magic, one of which involved a tool called a convergence device. The wand was a common example of such a device, meaning this girl was indeed a witch.

I've been sent by Sophie Kousaka!

The girl declared proudly. Akaza frowned.

World Countermeasures Corporation had business with him, apparently. Now of all times . . .

Akaza had no idea why.

What is this about . . . ?

His voice, weak from disuse, may not have been heard, as Haru looked curiously around Akaza’s room.

May I open the window?

Without waiting for an answer, she went ahead and opened the balcony window.

A gentle breeze wafted in. The season had shifted from spring to early summer without Akaza even noticing. It was the first fresh air he had breathed in a long time.

What a nice home you have!

What’s so nice about it?

Akaza finally responded, thinking her compliment was a bit much.

Indeed, Akaza's condo was reasonably spacious. The bedroom was about 235 square feet, and the living room was around 400 square feet. For a twenty-year-old, it was disproportionately nice. He remembered that the price was around $200,000 in his country's currency, bought several years ago with savings he had no other use for. Thanks to that, he was still not lacking in terms of shelter.

However, the room was currently filled with garbage bags, convenience store bags, empty cans, plastic bottles, and pizza boxes, clearly reflecting the state of Akaza’s troubled mind over the past three months. Haru herself had to navigate through piles of trash bags, pushing them aside to open the window.

It's a lovely place. It's like living in the clouds, I'm envious!

As if blind to the mess, Haru looked up at the sky through the window. From the top floor of this twenty-story building, all one could see was the sky.

The bright blue sky made her red hair stand out even more strikingly.

Her words seemed to be genuine, not just flattery.

Realizing this, Akaza's gloomy demeanor lightened just a bit.

Ah right, my business card!

With a bounce, Haru returned from the window and fumbled to take out a business card, handing it to Akaza in a manner she was clearly unaccustomed to.

You were informed that I would come to pick you up at 3:00 today, right?

While accepting the business card, Akaza pondered with his still-foggy mind, but could not recall anything.

What are you talking about?

Well, I sent you an email about a week ago with the details.

I haven’t seen anything like that.

He had not checked his emails in three months.

The email said, 'If there's no reply, we'll take it as consent and someone will come to pick you up.' That's why I'm here!

Haru spoke with a cheerful smile and without a hint of doubt in her words.

What's that supposed to mean?

It sounds like a spam email.

Pick me up? Are they sending a car or something?

Well, it would be nice to say, 'Of course not! Witches don't travel by car,' but sadly . . .

Haru revealed a shy smile. It was charming, adorable even.

Forgetting the frustrations of the past three months, Akaza was momentarily captivated.

I can't offer you a ride on my broom right now . . . so yes, I've arranged for a car.

It might have been her smile that made Akaza decide to go along with Haru.

Thirty minutes later, Akaza was in the guest conference room of the Far East Branch of World Countermeasures Corporation.

The room was not just functional but actually beautifully furnished, with a potted plant by the window that added a touch of green.

Dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, with unkempt hair and a scruffy beard, Akaza looked completely out of place sitting on a genuine leather sofa.

It's a lovely conference room, isn't it?

Haru, smiling as she had been since they met, sat down on the sofa, seemingly overjoyed by the surroundings.

Akaza, sitting next to her, could not bring himself to smile.

Not so much out of defiance, but having been swept up in the moments that led him here, he could not see this turning into an enjoyable situation.

Akaza sighed deeply.

Mr. Izuminohara, was I too pushy . . . ?

At Akaza's sigh, Haru's smile instantly faded. She had not expected him to be upset.

No, well, um . . .

He did not intend to blame Haru, nor did he want to upset her. But in situations like this, what could he say?

Sorry to keep you waiting!

The door swung open just at that awkward moment.

Akaza recognized the suit-clad beauty who appeared.

I've been sent by Sophie Kousaka!

Although it was their first meeting, there were few in his country who did not know her. She was the CEO of the Far East Branch of World Countermeasures Corporation.

This tall beauty wore high-end brands, and her face, heavy with make-up, was neither distinctly Asian nor Western. Her age was a mystery, and she was known to be a powerful witch.

I'm honored that you know me. Nice to meet you, Akaza Izuminohara!

Sophie took his hand and vigorously swung it side to side, apparently intending it to be a handshake.

Please, take a seat. I apologize for making you come all the way here!

What do you want from me—

Wow, I've heard about you, but you really are quite young! Oops, sorry, let me get you another cup of tea. Or do you prefer coffee?

No, thanks, so—

No, well, um . . .

Ms. Kousaka, about what you wanted—

Akaza forcibly interrupted what seemed like an endless stream of trivial chatter from Sophie.

Without seeming offended, Sophie looked at Akaza with amusement.

Ms. Kousaka, I'd like to hear the reason that you called me here.

Well now, there is no need to rush.

Sophie chuckled softly, her smile was the epitome of composure itself.

This might take a while, so please bear with me . . .

With that preamble, Sophie began her tale.

Once upon a time, specifically forty years ago, our world collided with another. This event is now known as the World Collision. This transformed our world.

Speaking in a professorial tone, Sophie explained why their world was as it was.

Nine black holes appeared around the world. These are what we call the Holes, believed to be remnants of the World Collision. Two have been destroyed, leaving seven remaining.

At the mention of the Holes, Akaza shivered.

Around these Holes, creatures of myth and lore began to appear and wreak havoc. This phenomenon was known as the Catastrophe. These monsters could harm buildings and living beings, yet somehow not a single weapon in the world could destroy them.

And, what of it?

This was a well-known origin story of their world. Confused by the need for an explanation now, Akaza asked about it.

Well, there is an order to storytelling, you know.

Sophie lightly dismissed Akaza's question.

It seemed as though the world would be overtaken by monsters without any means of resistance. However, individuals capable of countering these monsters emerged. They wielded what is known as magic, and those who possessed this power were called witches. Most wielders of magic were women, like myself. Akaza Izuminohara, you, however, are an exception known as a Magic User.

Well, at least until three months ago . . .

Akaza muttered with an air of self-mockery. A Magic User who could not use magic was unheard of.

Normally, it would have been the government's role to counter disasters like the Catastrophe. However, that did not happen. As governments were thrown into disarray, unable to grasp the nature of the Catastrophe and witches, the World Countermeasures Corporation was established. This corporation quickly organized the witches for profit-driven motives to counter the Catastrophe, rapidly becoming a global corporate giant. Even now, it almost exclusively handles requests for countermeasures against the Catastrophe from governments worldwide.

Having said this, Sophie took a sip from the cup in her hand.

Now then, Mr. Akaza Izuminohara.

Yes?

It seemed the real discussion was about to begin. Akaza felt a slight tension in the air.

You've been cursed and can no longer use magic. That's correct, isn't it?

Yes . . .

Akaza slightly lowered his gaze. Admitting this was still painful. Sophie watched him, as though she felt his pain, and then—

I have a company I would like you to run.

Excuse me?

The conversation had taken an unexpected turn.

Akaza had thought she might want to buy some intelligence from him or confirm some information he had. While at first he did not completely dismiss the possibility of being offered a job, he eventually ruled it out.

After all, Akaza was no longer a Magic User, so why would the World Countermeasures Corporation want to hire him?

And yet, what had the country's most famous witch just said?

Our company, the World Countermeasures Corporation, is a conglomerate made up of many businesses. I would like you to manage one of them.

What are you talking about?

We ask that you do not take our proposition lightly.

Haru, who had been silently listening to the conversation, suddenly interjected.

We would like you to become the president of our company!

Our company?

As Akaza questioned this, Haru nodded vigorously, her red eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Akaza Izuminohara, she, Haru, thinks you are the right person to entrust with the company she cares about.

Sophie glanced at Haru.

Yes! When Sophie asked me who would be good as the new president, I thought it would be great if it could be you, Mr. Izuminohara. Yes! I thought that would be a wonderful idea!

Sitting next to him on the sofa, Haru leaned forward toward Akaza.

From the moment they first met, Akaza could not look away from her gaze.

Sophie continued the conversation from the side.

You can't just live aimlessly forever, right? Why not try taking the university entrance exams? What about the money you'll need to live on? You might have some savings, but those aren't infinite. Are you planning on starting a part-time job, even?

Sophie clearly saw that Akaza had not thought about his future at all.

I'm trying to say that all of that would be such a waste. True, you might no longer be able to use magic. But there's something you haven't lost.

What would that be?

If there was anything left, he wished she would tell him.

Experience.

Sophie's words carried a strong force.

The experience of dealing with numerous Catastrophes and especially the experience of facing a Hole alone—it's truly invaluable.

Exactly!

Haru chimed in enthusiastically, her hair bouncing.

But such experience will fade and lose its value if just kept to yourself. I don't want your experience to just become old war stories.

It would be such a waste!

But, to be entrusted with a company . . .

Akaza had been solely devoted to being a Magic User all this time. While he had earned his daily bread this way, he had never been particularly concerned about money or considered his activities a business. He was clearly ignorant of ordinary people's ways of living.

Indeed, you have no experience in running a company. However, there are plenty of experienced managers around here. There’s nothing to worry about. We can support you in every way.

Exactly! I can help out too!

I, er . . .

Akaza tried to say something in return.

But before he could form his next words, Sophie added more.

Our company's purpose is to protect people from Catastrophes and Holes. What about you?

Mr. Izuminohara, you tried to eliminate a Hole, did you not?

Haru still leaned forward toward Akaza, her earnest gaze demanding a serious response. It made Akaza feel obliged to respond earnestly as well.

Yeah, but, um . . .

Please help us out.

Yes, please consider our proposition!

Sophie and Haru bowed deeply.

It was a relentless persuasion.

Running a company was something Akaza had never even imagined.

He had absolutely no idea what it entailed.

Yet, for the first time in a while, he felt his heart stir.

Whatever awaited him, it had to be better than the empty days of the past three months.

Running a company . . . what exactly does that involve?

Using the company’s resources and manpower to tackle Catastrophes and earning a profit by doing so.

As soon as Akaza voiced his doubts, Sophie promptly responded.

Her answer was simple. For a moment, it seemed clear, but thinking about it more, it explained nothing.

Still, Akaza felt inspired.

He found himself wanting to accept the offer.

But . . .

In the moment, Akaza felt overwhelmed by it all. It might end up fine, but accepting did not seem like a rational decision either. He hesitated. It appeared Sophie had seen right through his indecision.

You're hesitating, aren't you?

Well . . .

Then, let's talk about the compensation you'll receive.

Sophie's voice lowered slightly.

As for compensation . . .

Could any amount of money influence his decision? When he had magical powers, he had earned a significant amount of money, but that wasn't important to him.

What if I told you we might be able to learn something about your curse?

Akaza's heart pounded at her words.

This was his one vulnerability.

The curse, you say?

After waiting for Akaza to respond, Sophie continued.

Our company has a department studying the World Collision, Catastrophes, and magic. It could also research your curse.

A faint sneer formed at the corner of Sophie's lips.

I can't promise that we'll definitely break the curse, but you can expect significant results.

He could see from her face that she was genuinely amused.

That sneer seemed to say she already knew his answer.

This famous witch, just like The Worst, understood what was most important to Akaza, which was why she could negotiate with such ease.

Almost as bad as The Worst . . .

This witch, Sophie, might not be as evil as The Worst, but she was certainly playing him. She wasn't The Worst, but close to it.

Well?

Whether Sophie heard Akaza's murmuring or not, her grin remained unbroken.

What do you think? Even with this compensation, are you still hesitating?

He was desperate to break the curse.

For the past three months, not a moment had passed when he was not thinking about it. He would do anything for a chance to break the curse.

I accept your offer.

No matter what awaited him, Akaza no longer had room for doubt.

Thank you.

Sophie's satisfied smile somehow filled him with unease, and a hint of regret lingered in his mind. But even so . . .

Flying Witches Inc.! Welcome to Flying Witches.

Haru's beaming smile made Akaza feel slightly more optimistic.

Flying Witches?

It was Sophie who answered Akaza's query.

That's the name of your company. Improving its performance and restructuring it will be your first task.

Why do I feel like I've made a grave mistake . . .

Akaza was given a week to prepare before reporting to work at Flying Witches Inc., the official name of the company he would lead as President.