She is not an investigator.

The witch possesses everything the princess has, including her hobbies, her emotions, her thoughts, and her past.

That's why witches always love reading fairy tales, because princesses have always been like that.

But unlike the princess, she couldn't understand all the meanings contained in the story.

Loyal, brave, intelligent, and kind.

These things were all so far out of reach for her.

The arrogant witch, unwilling to remain in someone else's shadow, rebelled against her master, the princess.

They rebelled against that dull-witted princess who slept day and night in a crystal coffin.

The hidden power always represents disaster, so even the most perfect world will eventually lead to catastrophe and destruction.

But the world will remain the same until the princess is completely removed from that coffin.

"Then why did she wake up?"

For the first time, the witch showed a cold expression in response to Igris's questioning.

She stared coldly at Igris, her emotions and thoughts seemingly frozen, like unmelting ice.

Perhaps her actions provide an answer, but someone can provide one for her.

"A shadow is still just a shadow."

Several vines hung down from the air again, and a sacred, pure white figure appeared upside down in front of Igris.

It's the administrator.

Her ankles were bound by thorns, suspending her in mid-air, with faint traces of blood visible.

"The witch has no heart, so when she is truly moved, the only one whose heart beats is the princess's."

The caregiver spoke nonchalantly, seemingly oblivious to the thorns that kept surging towards her, some even reaching for her neck.

"The witch fell in love, and the price was that the princess, who had been sleeping, finally found one of her few remaining attachments: the love she had always longed for. When she awoke, this already broken world would eventually collapse, and the princess would eventually return to reality. But if that happens..."

She paused for a moment, a smile flashing across her face.

A pathetic mockery.

"The witch will cease to exist."

"—"

Puff-!

Thorns tore through the administrator's skin, leaving scars on her arms and neck.

The witch remained expressionless, but she seemed to be enraged and made no attempt to hide her anger.

"I thought you were like me, a shadow of someone else, a heartless puppet, but I was wrong, terribly wrong. I should have killed you long ago, so that no one would ever know the truth."

"Is that so?" The administrator sighed.

"You really should try, try, and see if you can actually kill me."

"—?"

Clang—!

A silver scimitar suddenly descended from the sky, precisely slicing off all the thorns covering the female administrator.

She fell to the ground, covered in wounds, and instead of caring about her injuries, she raised the knife in her hand.

"You think you have mastered the hidden power, but everything you have is so ridiculous to me. Perhaps the power itself is just an excuse for your arrogance, but power never favors anyone, no matter who they are."

The witch's expression froze, and the wooden staff beneath her suddenly began to shake.

In front of the administrator, a golden sphere was slowly solidifying.

Countless golden particles kept emerging, appearing from the thorns, from the witch, and from everything in this world.

The administrator always retains the ultimate authority over the secret vault.

The power that the witch is so proud of is something she can easily take away.

"Honestly, if I hadn't been worried that you would actually throw that idiot Igris into some other dimension... you wouldn't be alive now."

As the golden sphere solidified, the administrator's injuries were completely healed.

The witch, finally weakened, fell from mid-air, along with the princess, who was pierced by thorns.

"..."

Igris rushed over and swiftly caught the severely injured princess, holding her in her arms.

As the thorns disappeared, it seemed that her wounds were gradually healing, and she regained her former health.

The witch, who had fallen heavily to the ground, was now so weak that she could barely stand.

She looked at Igris, watching her snuggle with the princess, and suddenly got up from the ground.

The witch's body is entirely constructed from the secret treasure, and as her power fades, she will eventually disappear from this world completely.

Even so, even at this point.

She didn't want everything to be taken away from her.

"—!"

Clang—!

Amidst the clang of metal on metal, a dagger was severed in two.

The blade slowly fell to the ground, while the hilt slammed heavily onto the princess, yet left no wounds.

The witch knelt on the ground, and Igris's straight sword was placed on her shoulder, ready to cut off her head at any moment.

But she still hesitated.

The witch is shedding tears.

Her emotions finally became uncontrollable, and she began to cry.

"Why should the one who runs away from everything get all the happiness in the end! Why should everything I did be a wedding dress for someone else! I did everything... I was the one who got there first... Why, why in the end did you choose to help her instead of me!"

The witch has no heart, but she still beats a heart that doesn't belong to her.

Did anyone tell her that the heart inside the princess's chest was also her own?

Even if a doll created from the secret treasure eventually finds its own love, its ultimate fate will only be death and despair.

"bring it on…"

She seized Igris's sword.

"Kill me...take your things and leave..."

She pressed her hand harder and harder, the blade almost embedding itself into her bone, but she felt no pain, only numbness and coldness.

Dolls do not feel pain.

Even though her heart was aching slightly, it wasn't her heart.

She has no heart, she has nothing.

"..."

"Igris".

The female administrator walked over slowly and gently patted her shoulder.

The administrator knew that Igris couldn't possibly make up her mind, nor could she actually bring herself to strike with the sword.

But the final secret lies within her.

Only by killing her can they get everything.

"Kill me..."

"Let's get started."

"..."

Clang——

Igris brought her sword down with a bang, but the expected gushing blood did not appear.

Her sword left marks on the ground, and amidst the flying dirt, she slowly sheathed her weapon.

"Igris?"

The caretaker looked at Igris suspiciously, but Igris remained silent and turned away without saying a word.

The witch and the administrator seemed to understand something, and both froze on the spot.

Did Igris give up?

She had no intention of killing the witch, nor of taking away the secret treasure that had finally coalesced into her body.

But isn't this what they have to do?

The opportunity to fulfill one's mission is now before one's eyes.

“…I’m saying.”

Igris finally spoke.

She first glanced at the administrator, then finally fixed her gaze on the witch.

"...Do you still know who I am?"

The question seemed to be directed at the two of them, yet it also seemed to be directed at myself.

“I am Igris.”

She muttered to herself.

"A new name, a free soul."

"A man not favored by the stars, a man not bound by the sea."

“I am not a legend, nor a hero, nor even an investigator anymore.”

“My life has been wonderful enough, and I don’t need to make any more sacrifices.”