What Witch? This Alchemist is Breaking Bad!

After some time, Leon received the book he needed in a room used for resting inside the Mining Fortress.

“Mr. Fenrir, this is the book you wanted.” The subordinate responsible for running errands respectfully handed a book to Leon.

“《Forbidden Relations》, a new work by the author of 《Memoirs of the Pleasure Quarters》.” Leon glanced at the title and author’s name.

Naturally, there was no need for Leon to personally run errands just to purchase something. It was enough to leave it to his subordinates.

“This book was banned not long after it was released this year, so it took a little time to find. Actually, half the books on your list were banned soon after publication and can’t be bought in bookstores.” the subordinate answered.

“I’m impressed you managed to find it.” Leon said.

“Things like this are still very easy to find on the Black Market. Because there’s a high chance they’ll be banned, people often stockpile large quantities right after release, then drive up the price on the Black Market after they’re prohibited. I asked around all the way to an Old Junk Shop in the outskirts of the city that fences stolen goods for thieves, and got this book from there.” the subordinate reported.

“Sounds like it cost quite a bit?” Leon indicated that the subordinate could reimburse the expense directly through him.

“It didn’t cost anything, Mr. Fenrir. The people in that shop didn’t know me and thought I was easy to bully. At first they quoted me three Thaler, and I paid it. Then he suddenly tried to cheat me and claimed he hadn’t received my money, demanding that I pay again, so I taught him a little lesson……please don’t worry, I knew how far to go. I got the book, and I got the money back too.” the subordinate answered.

“What kind of book can get driven up to six hundred Fenni?” Leon could not help becoming somewhat curious and casually flipped through it.

After reading only a couple of pages, he became certain that this was a typical erotic novel of this world and era, and could not help smiling knowingly: “The writing is pretty vulgar. The plot is so absurd it feels like it was designed solely to make the two characters mate……”

“Yes, I also took a brief look. It really is quite vulgar!” the subordinate immediately agreed.

Leon flipped through it for several more minutes, then nodded: “But quite a lot of thought went into it too. The key scenes use quite a few clever rhetorical devices, without any truly obscene vocabulary. The plot looks absurd, but that actually gives it a distinctive stylistic charm. This prostitute character says ‘once nobles and peasants take off their clothes and get into bed, they’re all the same’, heh, that’s rather interesting!”

Just from flipping through a little, the book contained quite a few metaphors and satirical elements. It probably had not been banned entirely because of its erotic scenes.

“Yes, I think so too. Refined and vulgar tastes alike can appreciate it, and it gives people something to reflect on. It’s a good book!” the subordinate agreed again.

“Right, did you get an extra copy like I told you?” Leon asked.

Considering that he might need to study the Great Witch Lamia’s preferences, Leon had instructed his subordinate to buy an extra copy as backup if he found a qualifying book.

“Yes, sir. And I managed to get most of the other books on the list too. They’re all here.” the subordinate picked up a bundle of books he had brought.

“Alright, you’ve worked hard.”

Leon dismissed him back to work, took the books into the depths of the Labyrinth, and found Weiss, who was still in her office reviewing materials.

“Weiss, I found the book you mentioned.” Leon casually put down the bundle of books and waved the one in his hand.

Weiss’s gaze fell on the book, and her eyes lit up: “《Forbidden Relations》? Is that Flaubert’s new work?”

Weiss’s reaction made Leon blink: “Mm, it’s written by the author of 《Memoirs of the Pleasure Quarters》. Do you think this thing will satisfy Lamia?”

“Well, I think it should. She seems to like this author quite a lot.” Weiss thought for a moment before answering.

“Can I bring this book inside?” Leon asked.

“With a book this size, you can hide it inside your clothes. Only people with an Official Rank within the Church can enter that place in the first place, so they won’t make you strip naked for a search.” Weiss answered.

“That’s good.” Leon nodded.

It sounded as though Weiss had quite a bit of experience with this.

Weiss looked at the book in Leon’s hand and hesitated for a moment, but eventually suggested: “Just in case, it would be better for me to inspect it first, to see whether the content also matches Lamia’s preferences.”

“If you want to read it too, I bought an extra copy. You can have this one.” Leon naturally handed the book across the desk.

“I-I don’t want to read it!” Weiss became flustered, which was rare for her. She did not take the book Leon offered and instead defended herself, “I just want to……check it briefly……”

“You could write down that entire string of titles and author names and match them one by one. I feel like you’re pretty familiar with them.” Leon smiled faintly, indicating that he could actually tell Weiss was interested in this.

“That was only because Lamia requested them as part of our transaction, so I remembered them……” Weiss looked away.

But judging from the way her gaze wandered, Leon basically understood: “That was when you first started coming into contact with these works?”

“I really didn’t read much……” Weiss’s defensive voice grew softer and softer, until finally she raised her eyes toward Leon with a flushed face, her gaze carrying a trace of pleading, signaling him not to ask any further.

As the Saintess, if people discovered that she was actually somewhat interested in this kind of thing, wouldn’t their image of her be completely shattered?

“I see.” Leon chuckled softly, “I took a brief look myself. This novel isn’t actually that unbearable. It uses erotic descriptions to attract attention, but it also analyzes social customs by depicting forbidden ethical relationships. It’s actually a good book that both refined and vulgar tastes can appreciate. I like it quite a lot, and I recommend that you read it too.”

Weiss froze, then realized that Leon was giving her a way out.

“Alright, then I’ll……take a brief look.” Only then did she carefully accept the book.

“Remember to lend it to me after you finish. I haven’t finished it yet.” Leon reminded her.

“Mm……” Weiss answered softly.

“Speaking of which, if I bring something like this in to see her, won’t she suspect that it has something to do with you?” Leon sat down and asked.

“She has made all kinds of requests to several people she’s met. I was simply the only one who agreed to bring her this kind of thing. Just say that you found out about it through inquiries. Actually, she also likes drinking large quantities of alcohol and a type of Magic Potion with a stimulating effect, but neither of those is suitable.” Weiss said.

“So choosing to bring this kind of book was also carefully thought through. Do you know Lamia well?” Leon continued asking.

Since Lamia had been willing to propose this sort of transactional condition to Weiss, and was even half a mentor to Weiss as a Witch, while Weiss also knew Lamia’s preferences quite well, Leon felt that their relationship should have been fairly decent.

“From what I know, Lamia’s status in Moirland originally seems to have been quite high, but she lost a political struggle and was punished. She desperately escaped arrest and fled all the way to the Empire. She is a Third-Tier Witch, her Blessing is Rebirth, and her Demonized Humanoid Form is a Serpentkin.

Because of the characteristics of Rebirth and the Serpentkin Form, her body continued growing for a very long time, so her physique is extremely tall. It may be somewhat beyond your expectations. In addition, her body is extremely resilient. The Rebirth Blessing allows ordinary injuries to recover instantly and can even regenerate severed limbs. Her body is also immune to almost every toxin. Her strength is astonishing as well. After transforming into Serpentkin Form, she can easily crush Plate Armor.” Weiss said.

“That sounds like it completely surpasses my Werewolf Form in every aspect.” Leon joked.

This Serpentkin Form combined with the Third-Tier Rebirth Blessing was practically a superior replacement for the Werewolf Form, which excelled in toughness and strength.

“But her body has one flaw. She was once afflicted by another Great Witch’s Cursed Blood, which left behind some aftereffects.” Weiss continued explaining.

“Cursed Blood? Which Witch?” Leon asked instinctively.

It sounded as though someone within the Witches’ Assembly possessed the same Blessing as he did, and he felt he had no choice but to pay attention to that.

“She has never revealed that. That Cursed Blood supposedly nearly killed her, and she only survived the Curse’s erosion by relying on the Rebirth Blessing. Even after escaping, the effects of the Cursed Blood remained, and because of that she has to spend a great deal of time in dormancy to regulate her physical condition.” Weiss explained.

“Dormancy?”

“Every winter, she needs to sleep through an entire Quarter, like an animal hibernating. Even during periods when she isn’t hibernating, she still needs at least fifteen hours of sleep every day.”

“Then fortunately winter just ended.” Leon said.

She actually hibernated. That really did sound like a genuine snake.

“If you get a chance to meet Lamia and she happens to be asleep, absolutely do not casually stimulate her awake. Sometimes, if she is startled awake midway through her sleep, she goes berserk. She attacks nearby living creatures while in a sleepwalking state, and similar accidents have happened before in Saint Rosalia Prison.

When she is dormant, aside from waiting for her to wake naturally, the only way to awaken her is with a musical instrument made from Magical Beast Materials. However, if Archbishop Kulik is willing to arrange things for you, it should be handled properly.” Weiss continued explaining.

“That sounds rather unusual. Now I’m getting a little curious.” Leon continually imagined Lamia’s appearance in his mind.

“Curiosity is one thing, but you still need to be very careful. Actually, when she’s awake, she looks very gentle, but she is still a Great Witch. You absolutely must not let your guard down around her.” Weiss’s expression became slightly serious as she said this.