Until The Witch Dies

Section 4: The House Where Time Stops

Translated by AmaLynne

「This is my home!」

「Big house.」

Anna-chan house was a detached house in the center of town.

Her father is a medical practitioner, and apparently has a home and a hospital attached to it.

The three-story brick house easily evokes the fact that the family is wealthy.

「Huh, that’s nice, Anna-chan.」

「Why?」

「I mean, it’s a beautiful house. You must have a lot of money.」

「Do you want money, sister?」

「Yes. Can I have it?」

「Ha-ha-ha. No.」

「Damn it.」

I visit her home with a trivial exchange.

When I entered, Anna-chan ran to the back of the house and said,「Papa, you have a visitor!」

I slowly followed her.

Suddenly, I noticed some dust in the corner of the hallway.

I had the impression that the room had been cleaned, but it was not well maintained.

At the end of the hallway, a light was leaking from an open door.

It appeared to be a room halfway between the hospital and her home. I quietly peeked inside.

Anna-chan and a man who looked like her father were there.

「Anna, you can’t go into the examination room without permission.」

「Papa! You have a visitor!」

「A patient?」

「Who’s a patient?」

As I plunge into the room, my eyes meet her father’s.

He is a soft-spoken man with glasses and short blond hair.

At that moment, both the man and I thought,「Ah.」

「Oh, it’s you, Hendy-san.」

「Huh? Meg-chan? What brings you here?] 

As we roll our eyes, Anna-chan kicks in.

「Sister and papa know each other?」

「Right. Because Hendy-san is a regular customer of ours.」

Witches and doctors have always had a close relationship.

This is because witches can magically increase the quality of ingredients in medicines and enhance their healing effects.

Not all hospitals use this method, because some people say they are too uncomfortable using magical medicines.

But Hendy-san is one of the sensible doctors who use such witch medicines in treatment.

The restorative medicine made by the master is especially useful for healing traumatic injuries, as it is very effective.

「So why is Meg-chan here?」

「She came to give mama flowers!」

「She is going to ask master for a lot of flowers so that her mother could sleep peacefully. So instead, I come.」

As I said this, Hendy-san’s expression changed and she muttered,「I see…」

His expression was somewhat tender and somewhat sad.

「Don’t you remember what kind of flowers Anna-chan’s mother liked?」

「Flowers… I kinda don’t remember.」

「Damn, what a useless husband.」

「Ha-ha-ha. Sorry.」

「Do you remember anything, Anna-chan?」

「No, I don’t know. Did sister find out?」

「Don’t rely on others. Think for yourself. If you don’t use your head in life, you won’t become a great person, will you? Good grief, I wish I could see the parents’ faces.」

「Sorry, I’m such a parent…」

Hendy-san was a gentle man whose personality seemed to ooze out of him as he smiled in annoyance at my swearing.

Anyway, we were back to square one.

As I scratched my head in frustration, Hendy-san clapped his hands and said,「Ah, that’s right」. The action was old-fashioned.

「I think I have an album.」

「An album, sure sounds useful.」

「Right? Anna, it’s in the den. Go get it.」

「Okay!」

I watch Anna-chan *tatata* running out of the room.

Hendy-san and I looked at each other and chuckled.

「She’s a spirited girl, isn’t she?」

「Thanks to you. My wife was sickly, but that girl grew up healthy. Even my dead wife was happy.」

「How long has it been long since she passed away, your wife is.」

「It’s been less than a week. I’m sorry, Meg-chan. I would have said hello to Master Faust and Meg-chan, but the funeral was a family affair.」

「It’s okay, I know it’s been hard on you.」

The air is somewhat heavy.

I’m not good with this atmosphere.

「I mean, I’m sorry. Interrupting your work.」

「Oh, don’t worry about it. I just finished my morning examination. Since you’re here, would you like to have a cup of tea?」

「I’d be happy to.」