It was as if she'd confirmed the whole thing.
"..."
Hakushi was too exhausted to even mock this woman's train of thought.
Seeing Hakushi's dazed expression, Miyako giggled, clearly amused.
Just as Ruri had said—a woman with a rotten personality.
"Please stop making fun of me. May I ask why you called me here? I've still got a mountain of things to deal with over there."
Hakushi shook his head with a wry smile, putting an end to such a juvenile topic. Unlike her elegant and noble attire, this woman's personality was truly unruly and insufferable.
"Relax, we've agreed to your marriage after all. It's Ruri's own choice. If we tried to stop her, that kid would probably rush up and punch each of us in the face."
Miyako tapped her head with a paper fan, looking rather helpless.
Is that seriously the reason you're not objecting? That sounds so casual. Hakushi sighed inwardly.
"Alright, that's enough small talk. Let's get down to business now."
As soon as Miyako said this, Hakushi straightened his posture and listened carefully.
Miyako took out a medicinal glass vial from her clothing, inside which was a pair of scarlet eyeballs.
The black markings on the eyeballs were intricate patterns Hakushi had never seen before.
"Are these Sharingan?"
Hakushi asked uncertainly.
"Strictly speaking, they're called Mangekyo Sharingan—a more advanced form that goes beyond the normal Sharingan."
Miyako spoke in a light, drifting tone, observing Hakushi's reaction, a look of amusement on her face.
"!?"
Mangekyo Sharingan?
Surprise flashed in Hakushi's eyes.
"Is it really that incredible? Eyes like these do exist, though they're honestly not as miraculous as you imagine. Forbidden power always comes with a lot of risks."
Saying this, Miyako pushed the glass vial towards Hakushi.
"What's this for?"
He didn't understand Miyako's intent.
"Someone entrusted me to give this to you—hoping it might help your research. I'll also have people send over the remaining information about these eyes."
"May I ask who these eyes belonged to?"
As far as he knew, no one in the Uchiha Clan had awakened these eyes.
"When I make a promise, I never tell, you know. But you can ask someone else—if that Witch doesn't mind, maybe she'll tell you a few things."
Miyako opened her paper fan, half-covering her face, her eyes smiling, but her answer was ambiguous as ever.
"The Witch?"
"I don't even know if it's true. I just heard that the previous Witch of the Land of Demons once supposedly performed a 'purification' ritual for the owner of these eyes. Whether that's true or not—well, it's just what I heard. Take it with a grain of salt."
After speaking, Miyako elegantly lifted the teacup before her and savored the fragrance of her tea without another word.
Looks like there's no way to get answers here.
Hakushi picked up the glass vial, staring straight at the pair of crimson eyes inside.
Even though he wasn't an Uchiha Ninja, he could sense that these eyes held a power and danger that could beguile the human heart.
Hakushi thought about how Ruri's parents had been trading in the Land of Demons since she was very young, building up a solid enterprise and even being able to influence the official decisions of the Land of Demons—something no ordinary merchant could accomplish.
Perhaps, the relationship between the Land of Demons' Witch and the Uchiha is even more complicated than I imagined.
◎
The witches of the Land of Demons possess a mysterious power passed down through the generations.
First: sealing demons.
Second: the power to foresee the future and judge human life and death.
The demon-sealing part sounds too unbelievable, but the ability to predict the future and determine death is widely known throughout the Land of Demons and the neighboring countries.
If you ask any noble or commoner from the Land of Demons, they will all say that the Witch's prophetic power is one hundred percent accurate.
Until now, there hasn't been a single failure.
Holy, unknowable, divine messenger—this is the public's image of the Witch throughout the Land of Demons.
In this country without a Daimyo, led by a Witch, they're truly an outlier in the Ninja Realm.
Passing under red Tori gates and walking up the mountain path, at the very top stands the shrine where the current Witch Mire resides.
The shrine stands in the outskirts near the Capital of the Land of Demons. From this hilltop, you can take in the entire city's view at a glance.
Night was falling, the sunset painted the western horizon red—a breathtaking dusk.
Hakushi, led by a maid, walked up the mountain path's stone steps.
After a long trek up the steps, he finally reached the shrine.
In front of the shrine were rows of red Tori, standing tall, birds perched atop them.
The massive construction stood upon a vast platform—calling it a shrine didn't do it justice; it was more like a palace.
If that was the case, Hakushi was not surprised.
After all, this was the residence of the most powerful Witch in the Land of Demons. Such a magnificent palace was only natural.
Yet, there was a startling lack of people here; even the guards were pitifully few.
For a Witch of such status, there shouldn't be so few guards protecting her.
Or maybe... is there something else going on here?
Hakushi didn't think too much about it. Guided by the maid in Witch's attire, he stepped inside the palace. Evening sunlight played in the courtyard among the trees, bathed in the glow of dusk, highlighting their beauty.
The atmosphere inside the palace was extremely quiet—the kind of quiet that made people feel perfectly at ease.
A Witch's influence? Hakushi quietly wondered to himself.
Such an odd shift in one's mood was definitely from some sort of special power at work.
Living here would grant one's soul a sense of primal calm and tranquility.
"Father..."
The voice of Shadow Dancer reached his ears.
She also sensed that something was off here.
"Don't worry. They mean us no harm."
Hakushi replied to Shadow Dancer.
Though he didn't know why he felt that way, Hakushi simply instinctively knew it.
The Witch Mire of the Land of Demons posed no danger to him at all.
With the maid, he arrived at the main hall—the doors wide open to let the breeze in from all sides.
The floors gleamed with polished hardwood, folding screens lined both sides, and the pillars supporting the palace were exquisite and sturdy, their patterns vivid and beautiful.
Even from the furnishings alone, it was clear this Witch Mire was... exceedingly wealthy.
In comparison, Konoha Village's Security Team building, Hokage Building, and other landmarks looked downright shabby.
At the front of the main hall, in a wide-seated area, a young woman in gorgeous Witch's Attire knelt with poise. Her bright, gentle gaze was fathomless as if it could see right through people.
—The current Witch Mire of the Land of Demons.
Once the maid retreated, an empty silence wrapped around the grand hall.
Not even a guard was arranged for him—clearly, this Witch had immense confidence in her own power.
As her gaze landed on him, Hakushi naturally raised his head to meet the Witch's eyes.
For some unknown reason, when looking directly at this Witch, Hakushi felt as though he was not facing a human being at all.