Transmigrated to a Dark Fantasy World of SSS-Rank: King of the Void-Chapter 8: The Witch of the Road

’They were arguing so lively just a while ago, but now...’ 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

In front of Mitsuki, reclining against a wooden log, Jeanne and Ellegaard slept peacefully side by side. Both were covered by an old brown blanket that shielded them from the cold.

Strangely comfortable where he sat, Mitsuki looked up at the stars.

’A sight I’ve only ever seen through a screen...’

The dark sky, decorated with the colors of distant celestial bodies, stretched over this side of the world with a hidden, magical mysticism. Cosmic dust seemed to have exploded high above, and the gigantic moon—terrifyingly enchanting—reminded him once more that this was another world.

’I wonder if I could’ve seen something like this if I’d gone outside more often.’

He smiled and shook his head.

’Nah. I was happy inside those four walls. Anyone who says otherwise just doesn’t understand my point of view.’

A faint tingling sensation suddenly ran along his arm. He looked down at his forearm, studying the tattoo.

’This thing... I mean, I can already summon a fireball whenever I want. What’s stopping me from using the other magic I obtained?’

What had happened after his supposed death was still a mystery. Either way, there would be time to figure it out in the future.

’I want to practice a little. I wonder if...’

He glanced toward the carriage. There, he met the stern-looking old man—rugged and strangely elegant. His black suit, similar to that of a butler, concealed muscles clearly sculpted for battle.

From his cold gaze alone, it was obvious he wasn’t an ordinary coachman.

Out of respect—and as a gesture of peace in every sense—Mitsuki gave a slight bow as he stood up. The old man nodded in response, acknowledging his presence.

’It seems no one here sees me as a threat. And they’re right...’

A little saddened at not being taken seriously, he walked toward the trees, venturing into the forest. As darkness swallowed him, Ellegaard opened her eyes and watched him suspiciously.

When he reached a nearby clearing, Mitsuki looked at his tattoo and organized his abilities.

[

❖ Name: Mitsuki Kirishima

❖ Level: 12

❖ XP: 50 / 650

❖ HP / MP / Stamina:

100 / 45 / 20

❖ Strength / Agility / Intelligence:

20 / 10 / 50

❖ Titles:

King of the Void, Master of Cinder, Prince of Misfortune.

❖ Skills:

Pro Gamer

Insomnia

Sarcasm

Quick Cast

Desperate Sprint

Fireball Lv. 1

Ash Manipulation Lv. 1

Weapon Mastery Lv. 1

Charisma Lv. 1

Acceleration Lv. 1

Martial Arts Lv. 1

Stealth Lv. 1

Spatial Storage Lv. 1

]

’If Spatial Storage is what I think it is, it should work like Battlecraft’s inventory.’

He frowned thoughtfully.

’I remember that when I was in the carriage, I saw the full item list. I think it was a sub-tab that popped up from the spatial skill itself, but I can’t make it appear now.’

He stretched out his hand, pointing at empty space.

"I’ll have to rediscover the ability on my own," he said, imagining the form of the spell.

He closed his eyes as if he could feel everything happening around him.

"Spatial Storage."

The tattoo shifted, and the item list appeared. Mitsuki opened his eyes again. A smug smile formed on his lips.

’This is what I was talking about. I have no idea where all this stuff came from, but it’s likely that when I transmigrated into this world, I received some kind of blessing or power that protects me from death and grants me greater strength.’

He clenched his fist tightly. The veins along his thin muscles became slightly visible.

’For now, I’ll leave it as a hypothesis. I’m not interested in seeking death just to test such a dangerous theory.’

What lay before him was more important.

[

Spatial Storage [ 8 / 20 ]

❖ Igor

❖ Viktor

❖ Cloak of Stealth

❖ Boots of Acceleration

❖ Royal Uniform

❖ Bottles of Ambrosia

❖ Prince Arthur’s Testament

❖ Ancient Locket

]

’This system is pretty intuitive in some ways, but complicated in others. A single thought is enough to activate and control it.’

More than once, he had encountered unpolished combat systems, storage mechanics, and skill trees that were challenging to figure out. Of course, his gamer pride had always prevented him from looking up guides in those famous magazines, so he preferred discovering everything on his own.

’Which makes me think I can do this.’

"Igor," he said.

Purple sparks flickered in front of him, soft currents of wind swirling around. Particles of ash rose from the sparks, gathering and forming what Mitsuki sought.

Excited, he reached into the sparks and pulled out the shotgun that floated mystically before him.

[ You have equipped the basic double-barrel shotgun "Igor." ]

[ The skill "Weapon Mastery Lv. 1" has been activated. ]

’It’s heavy, but I can carry it. I’m sure if I were level 1, I would’ve fallen flat on my face under the weight of such an amazing weapon.’

With the skill of a professional shooter, he aimed at the trees and pulled the trigger.

The weapon didn’t fire.

Disappointed, he lowered it.

"Right. No bullets, no shot."

There was no related item in his inventory.

’But that’s strange. There’s no space for bullets in the barrel. Does it work differently?’

He inspected the weapon for several minutes but found nothing.

He tried saying the weapon’s name again, this time imagining it disappearing. Surprisingly, it worked. The shotgun disintegrated into ash.

Even if it wasn’t what he expected, he was more than satisfied.

’I don’t think I’ll be sleeping tonight...’

[ The skill "Insomnia" has activated automatically. ]

It was going to be a long study session.

***

He set the items aside, deciding that magic was far more fascinating.

’The system allows me to use magic as long as I have a general understanding of it. However, each spell consumes MP, which leaves me heavily fatigued. Now, if I think of my "Intelligence" as my ability to learn and control magic, my MP as its fuel, and my stamina as the cable connecting both, I can practice a little.’

Before, he only had his powerful Fireball. Now, he also possessed his innate Ash Manipulation.

He extended both hands, palms open, and concentrated.

"Come on... Do something..."

He imagined ash, pictured how it would appear before his eyes—

Nothing happened.

’Maybe there’s something I’m not taking into account.’

He crossed his arms and leaned against a tree.

’Damn... It’s Manipulation, not Creation. That black knight’s blow made me dumber than usual.’

He shook his head.

’So what am I supposed to do now? Grab a handful of ash from the campfire and throw it in my enemies’ faces? There’s your Ash Manipulation!’

He ran his hands through his hair in frustration.

"Another trash skill! How many more are there?!"

Then he calmed himself with a deep breath.

"I’ll just stick with my Fireball."

"Practicing your pathetic magic, rookie?" Ellegaard’s voice suddenly cut through the darkness as she stepped out from between the bushes and trees. "Did what I said earlier hurt you that much?"

Mitsuki froze. A sense of déjà vu washed over him, but he ignored it. Lowering his gaze to the elf’s feet, he replied with another question.

"Weren’t you sleeping?"

Ellegaard gave him a cold, cruel smile.

"I was. But I felt a disgusting worm defiling the principles of magic with its violent, twisted legs, so I couldn’t help coming to destroy it."

’Destroy? No. Wait.’

"Worms don’t have legs," Mitsuki said nervously.

"I know a spell that can give them legs."

Mitsuki made an uncomfortable expression.

’Are there really spells like that? And why do I feel like this elf just wants to show off?’

Ellegaard continued,

"My arsenal of spells is so vast your tiny tick-sized brain couldn’t comprehend it."

She stepped closer and raised her staff. For a moment, she aimed it at his face—then shifted her target to a nearby tree.

"Watch, worm."

A powerful flame erupted from the tip of her staff. Spinning around its own core, it suddenly shrank, its crimson hue shifting to blue and white, growing denser and perfectly spherical.

"Now this is a Fireball," Ellegaard said, launching the spell at the tree.

When it struck, the fireball didn’t explode or set the tree ablaze. Instead, it remained pressed against the bark without burning it.

’What the hell? It’s not burning. How did she do that?’

Mitsuki stared at Ellegaard with wide eyes. The elf smiled arrogantly.

As the flame hovered against the tree without harming it, she said,

"The beauty of magic lies not in destruction, but in control. If I had summoned a Fireball with the intent to destroy, this entire forest would’ve turned into a massive crater. That should be enough for someone like you to understand your place."

Remaining silent, Mitsuki was still stunned. Ignoring Ellegaard, he stepped closer to the fireball.

She noticed, of course. She tried to look annoyed, but when she saw the genuine wonder on his face, she smiled brightly.

"Don’t you have anything to say, drifter?"

Mitsuki nodded.

"Yeah. It’s amazing."

His words carried sincere admiration. Socializing might have been difficult, but when it came to something they both loved, that discomfort shrank to nothing compared to his excitement.

’Maybe someday I can do something like that too.’

He turned to look at the elf—but she was staring off to the side with a... very strange expression. Her face was red, and she was looking at the sky as if admiring the stars.

’I think I finally understand her. It’s not that she hates me or anything—we just met, and I haven’t done anything wrong. This woman, after all, is...’

The infamous Witch of the Road was...

"Tsundere," Mitsuki whispered.