kscans

Chapter 198 - The Golden Witch ★

The press conference, hijacked by the witch, moved on to the question and answer session.

"So many... Well then, let’s go in order from the right."

The witch looked over the reporters who had all raised their hands at once, made a displeased face, and pointed to the reporter on the far right.

"It appeared you used magic a moment ago, but are you aware that the use of magic is strictly prohibited?"

Is that the first question?

"I haven’t used any magic. What are you talking about?"

"But that reporter is unable to speak..."

"I told him to be quiet, and he obediently complied. That is all there is to it... right?"

The witch looked at the reporter she had just silenced, smiling.

"Eek! Y, yes, that’s right!"

It’s no use. He’s completely terrified.

"I, is that so..."

"It is. Now, the next person."

The witch pointed to the reporter next to him.

"Who are you? Are you really Japanese? According to rumors, you don't have a family register."

No family register?

"Do you think it was Shindo-sensei?"

"Probably. That man really runs his mouth..."

He talks too much.

"Even if you ask who I am... I am Eleanor Ocean. I am Japanese. And I have a family register."

The witch told a bold-faced lie.

"Is that true?"

"You’re persistent. Besides, what if I don’t have a family register? What then?"

The witch is being defiant.

"Are you an illegal resident?"

"If I were, the proper authorities would handle it. The fact that they haven’t means that I am not."

"There is also information that the government is pulling strings."

Shindo-sensei, really...

"Then ask the government. Don’t ask me. I’m sure the Prime Minister will answer you. Yes, next."

The witch pointed to the next reporter.

"Prime Minister, you’ve been called out."

"I have already answered that question before."

She is a Japanese citizen. A lie, but still.

"Um, is it true that an invitation came from Frontier?"

"Then please just assume it’s a lie."

How careless.

"Excuse me, but we are asking seriously..."

The reporter looks a little displeased.

"Seriously? Where? How is an idiot who ignores what I just said about it being a private matter being serious?"

"It is an important matter of public interest."

"So what? If the public wants to know something, does everything have to be disclosed? Are you an idiot?"

The witch scoffed.

"You are called a witch, and everyone views you as a danger."

"So what? You really are an idiot. It’s a waste of time to talk to you. Let’s move on. You, be quiet."

As the witch said that, the reporter became unable to speak.

"Um, isn’t this magic...?"

The next reporter asked while looking at his colleague next to him, who was desperately trying to speak.

"It is not. It must be the placebo effect."

It is definitely not.

"I, is that so... Um, a question. Are you a witch? The response from the Frontier side indicates a high probability that you are a witch."

"Let me ask you in return. What is a witch?"

"A woman who uses magic."

"There are plenty of those among adventurers."

That’s true...

"In this case, it is believed to be a witch in the bad sense. One who throws the world into chaos or something of that sort."

"You mean the evil witches from stories... That is incorrect. Or rather, I do not know. That is not something for me to decide."

In that case, you are a witch.

"You’re a witch."

It seems the Foreign Minister thought the same thing. In fact, most people probably thought so.

The witch continued to answer the reporters' questions after that.

"But she really is belligerent."

Her words are certainly harsh.

"Well, this is still within an acceptable range. I hope this ends peacefully..."

"I hope so too."

The Foreign Minister does not seem to think so. Neither do I.

"We will conclude the questions now. This will never end otherwise."

The witch is trying to cut the conference short. Naturally, the reporters voice their dissatisfaction, but they fall silent when the witch glares at them.

"Didn't I tell you not to interrupt me? Fufu."

The witch smiled defiantly. It seems she used magic to silence all the reporters.

"Now that everyone is quiet, let us conclude the conference here. Now, finally, I have an announcement for all of you."

An announcement?

"So this is why she agreed to the press conference."

That is probably it. But what is she going to say?

"I have sold various items up until now. Healing Potions and Item Bags. At the auction in particular, I seem to have surprised everyone around the world. I have reflected deeply on this and have decided that it would be better to stop holding auctions."

What is this witch saying?

"What does she mean?"

"I don’t know. What does she want?"

There is no way this witch would say something so humble at this point.

"Therefore, the next auction will be the last."

The last?

"Hey, what is she planning to sell!?"

The Foreign Minister is agitated. I understand his feelings all too well. She is definitely planning to sell something dangerous.

"However, it is uncertain whether I can obtain the Guild’s permission for this. Therefore, I am also considering a private auction that does not go through the Guild. I will discuss and iron out the details with the Guild in the future."

Unable to get the Guild’s permission?

"Hey, can’t we stop this broadcast?"

"That's impossible..."

It can't be stopped now.

"Also, this will be a rental rather than a sale."

A rental? What does that mean?

"The product I will be putting up for auction this time is... land."

Land? ...N, no way!

"Stop her!"

"Minister, it’s too late..."

Eleanor Ocean really was a witch.

"Eleanor Ocean... the Golden Witch’s final auction will be for the one-hundred-year usage rights to the Emeraldas Mountain Range in Frontier."

This witch, she plans to sell off an area of Frontier...

"You may do whatever you wish with this land. You may mine for gold and rare metals, or you may defeat monsters and obtain drop items. You are free. I have the deed of rights here."

The witch took out a piece of paper with unreadable characters written on it.

"You cannot read this, I see... Well, this is a kind of contract stating that the rights to the Emeraldas Mountain Range belong to me. It even has the name of the King of Frontier, Charles, right here."

It's confirmed.

"Prime Minister, who is Charles?"

The Foreign Minister asked.

"He is, without a doubt, the name of the King of Frontier. This is genuine."

It is a name known only to the representatives of each country. The fact that she knows it means it is undoubtedly authentic.

"Damn it! What has this witch done!? Why is she able to do such a thing!?"

The witch was invited and has already crossed over to Frontier. That must be where she obtained it.

"You are free to believe this and bid, and you are free not to believe it and not participate in the auction. Ah, that’s right. If you win the bid, we will make it possible for you to go through the Gate, so please rest assured... Also, let's see... I feel sorry for them, so we will allow the countries whose Gates have been closed to participate as well. At that time, we will install a Gate for you."

What is she saying? What on earth is this witch saying.

"Hey, she’s saying something outrageous."

"I know."

This witch intends to sell an area of Frontier to a nation. To whichever country offers the highest price...

"I will explain the details once the auction is decided. Well then, that is all for today. Individuals are welcome, and nations are welcome. I await your participation. Fufufu, good day..."

With those words, the witch vanished in an instant.

"Sh, she disappeared..."

"It must be the witch’s magic. The people who tailed her testified to it as well, so there is no doubt. More importantly, Prime Minister, what are we going to do? This has become a huge problem."

"I know. Please summon the cabinet members."

Will the budget be enough...

"Yes..."

"Please hurry. It is inevitable that various countries will participate and a conflict will arise."

America, China, Russia... And the countries whose Gates were closed will surely try to win the bid no matter what. Can we win?

That witch...! There’s no doubt she’s a real witch, here to plunge the world into chaos.