Chapter 277

As soon as Lara began speaking with the Elders, the three witches nodded in agreement without much resistance.

“Our dear Lara is already of age to take the Witch’s Trial. We’ll need to prepare as well.”

“To think she ventured outside the forest on her own to find someone to help her—well done.”

“…Good luck.”

“Th-Thank you!”

The Elders, being from the same Witches’ Forest as Lara, readily agreed to conduct the trial and went off to prepare the ritual.

Watching how easily the Elders approved, especially compared to Lizzy’s long-winded flattery, I couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised.

‘Even though the bond between witches is stronger than most other races…’

Seeing how easily they accepted Lara but ignored Lizzy, despite all her efforts to bribe them with gifts, made me think that even someone like Lizzy might feel a little disillusioned. She had gone to such lengths to persuade the Elders, only to be turned down, while they accepted Lara without hesitation. I feared Lizzy might grow disillusioned with the witches’ customs and give up her trade or pharmacology studies with them altogether.

“Elders~. Then, could you allow me to take the Witch’s Trial alongside Miss Lara~? You’re preparing for the trial anyway, so maybe I could just tag along~?”

...It seemed I had underestimated Lizzy’s social savvy and resilience. I didn’t expect her to lower herself and plead to take the trial in such a situation.

Whether it was fortunate or not, the Elders appeared reluctant to outright refuse Lizzy’s request, and after some deliberation, they gave her a positive response.

“Well… since Lara is taking it…”

“If she’s just a tag-along… it might be fine…”

“……”

-Nod.

“Thank you! I’ll do my best, Elders!”

Lizzy smiled brightly, completely unaware of what awaited her in the Witch’s Trial. I could already imagine her trudging down from the altar in defeat as soon as the trial started.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

Three days later, in the morning.

At the designated time for the Witch’s Trial, our group, along with the Auguste siblings, made our way to the northern altar of the Witches’ Forest.

By now, we had become quite a large procession—far more than necessary for just helping Lara with her trial.

“Ascend the altar, Lara.”

“…Lizzy too.”

“Yes!”

“…Y-Yes, yes.”

Lizzy confidently ascended the altar, followed by Lara, who walked more cautiously behind her.

Lara would likely pass the trial without issue, as long as nothing went wrong. The problem was Lizzy. The Witch’s Trial in the Witches’ Forest wasn’t something one could pass with mere patience or endurance.

Witches born and raised in the forest lacked one particular trait—something that outsiders, especially a noblewoman like Lizzy, would certainly possess.

I wondered whether Lizzy would even be able to start the trial as I silently observed the proceedings. But Lara was the first to make a move.

-Swish.

“……”

“……?”

-Swish, swish.

“……”

“W-Wait a moment? Miss Lara?”

“Y-Yes?! Wh-Wh-What is it…?”

“W-Why are you undressing all of a sudden? And on the altar, in front of everyone…?”

“...Huh? But the trial… To properly receive the energy of the forest, I need to absorb it fully with my body….”

“…Oh.”

Lizzy’s expression shifted to one of shock as she realized what the Witch’s Trial actually entailed.

In the world of Luminor Academy, the emotion that witches didn’t possess and that outsiders had to abandon for the Witch’s Trial was ‘shame’—the feeling of embarrassment from showing one’s bare body.

“Ahem…”

“I-I’m not looking, Lady Agnes.”

“…Why tell me that?”

As soon as Lara started undressing, both Ethan and Prince Antonio quickly averted their eyes, subtly gauging my and Agnes’s reactions.

Even in the midst of all this commotion, Lara continued removing her clothes without any sense of embarrassment, as if they were simply in the way.

-Swish.

“W-Wait, Miss Lara?! Is that really the trial’s requirement? You’re not joking?”

“Yes… It’s only natural… to fully accept the forest’s energy, one must return to nature….”

-Swish.

“Wait, you’re really going to undress completely? Not leaving anything on?!”

“…Why do you keep asking? It’s not that difficult… We’re just returning to nature to receive its energy….”

Realizing the situation was spiraling out of control, Lizzy’s eyes darted around frantically.

She glanced at the Elders, perhaps hoping they would step in to stop this, but they were simply waiting for Lara and Lizzy to prepare for the trial.

Despite Lizzy’s shock, Lara casually discarded her last piece of clothing and sat cross-legged on the altar, breathing calmly. Her lack of shame made even me feel embarrassed.

‘I couldn’t do it… There’s no way…’

The idea of sitting naked in front of strangers for a whole month was impossible for me.

In the original story, the protagonist had managed to avoid this by assembling an all-female party, so only Lara’s close female friends saw her. Allowing her to show her bare body to just one man, the protagonist, was acceptable within my own standards, considering I was once a unicorn in my previous life.

But here, there was not only Ethan, but also Prince Antonio and Karaham—there was no way I could take this trial in such a situation.

Even Lizzy, who had initially seemed confident, now appeared completely flustered at the idea of showing her body in front of everyone.

“I-I didn’t expect… the trial to be like this….”

Well, of course, she wouldn’t have. The rules of the Witch’s Trial were kept strictly within the Witches’ Forest.

Since the trial only happened once every ten years, and only witches knew when it would occur, it was nearly impossible for outsiders to be aware of it. Even if someone like Lizzy had learned about the trial, no one outside the forest would have known its exact nature.

And the trial itself was too provocative to spread around. Who would believe that the Witch’s Trial involved sitting naked in the forest for a whole month? Most people would dismiss it as some weird fantasy.

Seeing Lizzy standing awkwardly on the altar, unable to proceed, the Elders motioned for her to step down.

“L-Lizzy…! It’s okay to come down if it’s too hard…!”

“…I thought Lizzy might succeed… but she’s still an outsider….”

“……”

-Head shake.

The three Elders seemed to have already written off Lizzy, calling for her to descend. And honestly, I had to agree—it seemed impossible for her.

Even if Lizzy had only ever shown her body to her maid, the thought of a noble lady exposing herself in front of so many people, including men, was too much.

It wasn’t just her brother Karaham; Ethan and Prince Antonio were definitely ‘other men.’

Meanwhile, Lara had already started the trial, and dragging things out would only harm her progress.

“W-Well, if the men could at least look away…”

“That won’t work, Miss Lizzy.”

“L-Lilith?”

“Starting tomorrow, the energy of the forest and the flow of magic will attract various monsters to the altar. Naturally, everyone here, myself included, will work to defend you from them.”

“…Right.”

“We’ve all gathered here to support Miss Maychilling’s trial, but that doesn’t mean we’ll only protect her. If Miss Lizzy is in danger, we’ll help you too. If you’re in danger, it means Miss Maychilling is also in danger.”

“Yes…”

“But if Ethan or Prince Antonio can’t protect you properly because they’re too embarrassed to look at you, the danger won’t just affect you—it’ll affect Miss Maychilling too. She enrolled in the Academy despite her shy nature to ask for our help, after all.”

“…That’s true…”

“Once the trial starts, there’s no avoiding being seen. So, if you’re going to be seen anyway, do it confidently. And I’m sorry to say this, but if you’re not prepared to show yourself to the men here, it would be better for everyone if you stepped down now, Miss Lizzy.”

“……”

“And as for the men!”

“Y-Yes…”

“…What is it?”

“Miss Lilith…?”

“If you truly intend to help Miss Maychilling with her trial, then don’t look away from the altar. This is a crucial test that only happens once every ten years. If you fail to defend her because you were too embarrassed to look, can you take responsibility for that?”

“…I understand, Lilith.”

“…I see your point.”

“Sister…”

Reluctantly, the men turned their attention back to the altar, where both Lara and Lizzy stood.

Ultimately, the decision wasn’t mine to make—it was up to Lizzy. She had to decide whether to abandon everything and take the Witch’s Trial seriously or step down without disturbing Lara.

I didn’t bear any ill will toward Lizzy, but I had to make things clear. If Lizzy became a distraction because she was too embarrassed, it could lead to Lara’s failure in the trial.

I had to ensure that Lara’s secret event was completed successfully. And if Lizzy became an obstacle, I wouldn’t hesitate to remove her from the equation.

I understood Lizzy’s desire to become a witch for the sake of the Auguste family, but in this moment, I had to push her to give up, even if it meant being harsh.

“L-Lizzy… It’s time to start…”

“An outsider failing the trial… It’s not that shameful…”

“Grr! Do you think I can’t do it just because you all said so?!”

-Swish.

“…Huh?”

“W-Wait, Sister?! Are you really going to do this?! In front of Ethan and Prince Antonio?!”

“Sh-Shut up, Karaham! I said I’d do it, so I will! Auguste never backs down from adversity! Let the men look all they want! I don’t care anymore!!”

-Swish, swish.

Despite her brother’s and the Elders’ protests, Lizzy boldly began to remove her clothes one by one, throwing them aside.

Her actions were so audacious for a noble lady that even I was a little shocked. I guess it was to be expected from someone from the northern territories.

By the time I realized what had happened, Lizzy had completely undressed, just like Lara. She threw her clothes down from the altar, sat cross-legged, and began to regulate her breathing.

Her flushed face and slightly heavy breathing made it clear that she hadn’t fully conquered her shame, but…

‘Well, if she’s trying this hard…’@@novelbin@@

With the final ritual from the three Elders, a protective barrier formed around Lara and Lizzy, signaling the beginning of the Witch’s Trial for one witch-in-training and one uninvited guest.

Now that things had come this far, I would have to cheer Lizzy on to ensure she didn’t give up halfway through.

It would be a shame if she exposed herself to all these people only to fail and not become a witch in the end.