Witch Training Manual: My Water Magic Is Wrong

The party was held at the Adventurers' Tavern in town.

The tavern lights were as bright as day.

The tavern was packed to capacity. Long tables stretched from the entrance to the bar, forming a crooked line, piled high with grilled fish, stew, bread, and several large barrels of ale.

Some people were playing rock-paper-scissors, some were bragging, and some were secretly touching the thighs of the people next to them under the table. They didn't dodge when touched; instead, they laughed even harder.

The noise stopped for a moment when Wayne pushed the door open and came in.

All eyes turned to the doorway simultaneously, rested on him, and then looked away at the same time. The noise resumed, even louder than before.

"Bishop Wayne has arrived!"

"Give me a seat! Give me a seat for His Excellency the Bishop!"

"Your Excellency, please have a seat here!"

"Sit here, sit here! This is by the window, it's well-ventilated!"

Wayne quickly took his seat.

Diaz sat opposite him, holding a large glass of ale, his face showing a kind of relief that came after surviving a disaster.

"Your Excellency, we must have a drink today!"

Wayne took the glass.

"One cup."

"One glass, please!" Diaz raised his glass, clinked it against his, making a crisp sound. "To the goddess!"

"Honor the goddess."

Wayne took a sip. The ale was mild, with a slight bitterness and a hint of honey sweetness.

It's not bad, but it's not exactly delicious either.

Diaz downed half a glass in one gulp, slammed the glass on the table, and wiped his mouth.

"Your Excellency, today on the battlefield, that cross of yours..."

"What's wrong?"

"That's incredible!" Diaz gave a thumbs up. "I've lived in Frost Town for twenty years and I've never seen such a fierce fighting style. Others fight monsters by hacking and slashing, but you smash them. One smash after another, like cracking walnuts."

Wayne smiled.

"That is the power of the goddess."

"Even the goddess's power needs someone to wield it," Diaz sulked again. "You are that person."

Wilford squeezed through the crowd, holding two glasses of wine, handing one to Wayne and keeping the other for himself.

"Bishop Wayne, I'd like to offer you another toast."

Wayne glanced at the half-finished glass in his hand, then at the glass Wilford had handed him.

"Mayor, I haven't finished this drink yet."

"It's alright, drink slowly, drink slowly." Wilford placed the glass of wine in front of him, raised his own glass, and said, "I'll drink this first."

He tilted his head back and downed the entire glass of wine.

"good!"

Some people in the crowd cheered.

Wilford slammed his empty glass on the table, a blush spreading across his face, whether from the alcohol or excitement, it was hard to tell.

"Bishop Wayne, today is the happiest day of my life." His voice was several octaves louder than usual, carrying a slightly tipsy, exhilarating quality. "Not because I was saved, but because... because I can finally live with my head held high."

He reached out and patted his chest.

"I used to do good deeds but didn't dare to tell anyone. I was afraid people would laugh at me, say I was faking my compassion, or that I was doing it for fame. Now I'm not afraid anymore. Even the goddess knows, so what do I have to fear?"

Wayne raised his glass and clinked it against his.

"Mayor, you are not someone who can 'behave with dignity'."

Wilford paused for a moment.

"You always have been."

Wilford's tears fell again.

He raised his hand and wiped it with his sleeve, which was now soaked; his tears were still flowing.

"Bishop Wayne, you speak as if you've tasted honey."

"Just telling the truth."

Wilford tried to kneel again, but Wayne stopped him.

"Mayor, today is a celebration, not a day of repentance."

"Yes, yes, yes, a celebration, a celebration!" Wilford got up from the ground, turned around and shouted to the crowd, "Someone! Bring the drinks! Tonight, the whole town will drink until everyone is drunk!"

"good!"

The cheers from the crowd nearly lifted the roof off.

The tavern door was pushed open.

Three women walked in from outside the door.

Same height, same face shape, same hair color. Chestnut hair piled up at the back of their heads, revealing the same oval face. Even the curve of their mouths is the same, like the same person reflected in three mirrors.

They were the bartenders at this tavern, triplets.

She wasn't very old, around twenty-five or twenty-six, but she had a plump figure that usually comes with childbirth. Her waist hadn't fully returned to its pre-pregnancy shape, and the fabric at her chest was a bit tight.

The triplets rarely appeared on occasions like this. They spent their days working at the tavern and their evenings taking care of the children in the backyard, almost never attending any gatherings in town. Today was an exception; the demonic tide had receded, the whole town was celebrating, and they felt too embarrassed to close their shop.

The three of them went behind the bar and began tidying up the liquor rack.

Their movements were skillful and their teamwork was excellent. One person would take the wine, another would wipe the glasses, and yet another would keep the accounts, just like a perfectly functioning machine.

But their peripheral vision kept drifting towards Wayne.

The panel popped up.

[The Tavern - The Triplets as Bartenders]

[Identities: Lizzie, Leah, and Lina. Triplets, 26 years old, born and raised in Frosttown. Their parents died early, and the three sisters make a living from this tavern.]

[Marital Status: A staunch non-marriage advocate. Never considered marriage and has never had an intimate relationship with any man. They believe marriage is a constraint and men are a burden. They'd rather live alone than serve a man.]

[Method of reproduction: Pregnancy through magic and alchemy. Three years ago, they purchased three doses of "Premium Life Seed" potion from a traveling merchant and simultaneously underwent artificial insemination. Ten months later, all three children were born. Who is the father? They don't know, and they don't care. They only need the children, not the man.]

Current state: Anxious.

[Cause of anxiety: Bloating and pain. Shortly after giving birth, the baby isn't eating much and isn't being properly emptied, causing severe bloating and discomfort. They've tried hot compresses, cold compresses, and massage, but nothing has helped.]

[Note: Seeing you made them even more upset. How so? As a doctor who can heal others, you always remind them of unpleasant illnesses.]

[Note 2: The above note is just an excuse.]

Wayne picked up the fruit wine and took another sip.

A person who chooses not to marry.

Magical pregnancy.

I never imagined magic could be used like this.

Wilford leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"Bishop Wayne, do you know those three sisters?"

"I don't know him."

"Then why do they keep looking at you?"

Wayne turned his head and glanced at Wilford.

"It's also possible that they're watching you."

Wilford paused, then followed Wayne's gaze. The triplets' eyes were indeed drifting this way, but not at him; they were fixed on Wayne beside him. His lips twitched, and he wisely refrained from asking any further questions.

Diaz, sitting opposite, watched everything unfold. He raised his glass to Wayne and said in a low voice.

"I can't buy those three women."

Wayne looked at him.

"purchase?"

Diaz put down his glass, as if organizing his thoughts.

"There are two kinds of women in Frosttown: those you can buy with money and those you can't. I've basically won over all the ones you can buy with money. As for the ones I can't, there are only a few. The triplets are one of them."

He paused, then lowered his voice even further.

"I gave them ten gold coins."

Wayne didn't say anything.

"Ten gold coins would be enough for an average family to live on for a year. And what happened? The older sister threw the gold coins back at me, saying, 'We don't lack money, and we wouldn't be looking for you even if we lacked a man.'"

Diaz's lips twitched.

"I was puzzled at the time. What's wrong with me? I'm a fourth-tier warrior, the leader of the Frost Town Mercenary Group. I have money, status, and my looks... aren't bad either, right? How come I wasn't even on the 'candidate list' list?"

Wayne picked up the fruit wine and took a sip.

"Maybe they don't need men."

"You're right, I've heard that their children are born through a combination of magic and alchemy..."