Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina (魔女の旅々)

There's a witch with ashen hair fluttering in the wind

flying in the air on a broom.

Who is this beauty, as pretty and lovely as a doll,

who makes even the summer sun want to shine brighter?

That's right, it's me.

These clothes are pretty hot for this season...

"The Ripper"

It's kind of creepy here...

Hm?

I've gathered you here today to talk about the crimes.

If you know anything, please tell me.

--Oh, my Bebe's shoes look like they're about to fall off.

--By crime, does she mean that? --Oh, my Bebe's shoes look like they're about to fall off.

--The people who live in this country really love dolls, huh? --I'm sure that's what she's talking about.

--The people who live in this country really love dolls, huh? --It is, huh?

Those of us in the Association also consider this a serious matter.

--I'd like your help in restoring order to this town.

--She's from the United Magic Association? --I'd like your help in restoring order to this town.

I changed her clothes today. What do you think?

Oh my, how wonderful.

--Did you get that fabric from that store over there?

--I wonder if anything happened... --Did you get that fabric from that store over there?

--I wonder if anything happened... --I did. It was expensive, but I splurged.

Lucky. I haven't been able to get her new clothes for a month.

Well, how about it?

Did you see the Ripper, too?

Huh? The Ripper?

I didn't see the Ripper, but I know the lives of four women were taken.

Another victim appeared this morning.

This time, it was a woman with green hair.

A fifth?

Just this year.

If we include similar incidents from the past few years,

there have been more than a hundred.

The lives of over a hundred women... How unsettling.

What about you?

Yes, I saw clearly.

Please, tell me more!

It happened seven years ago, on the night of a full moon.

A man became a werewolf--

Hey, come on.

No, I heard the culprit was a cat woman.

No, I heard that the culprit was a mysterious being, neither male nor female,

from my cousin's friend's boyfriend's girlfriend.

From who?

What are you saying?!

The culprit is a doll!

It moves in the night, attacking women--

Oh, how terrifying!

I'm going to go hide out at my parents' house!

Oh my, it sounds pretty bad.

Hey, you. Do you have a minute?

Yes? What is it?

Are you a citizen of this country?

No, I'm a traveler.

I'm the Night Witch, Sheila.

As you can probably tell, I'm a witch sent by the United Magic Association.

I'm the Ashen Witch, Elaina.

So, do you know about the crimes that happened in this country?

About the Ripper?

Yes, I do.

If you're a traveler, then how do you know?

Because you were asking the townspeople about it earlier.

Unfortunately, I don't know anything else about it.

That's too bad.

The people in this town don't know anything.

They just keep saying whatever they want.

If you find out anything, let me know.

I'll be at that assembly hall, so come find me there.

I don't think I'll find out anything, but okay.

Excuse me.

I know dolls are the country's local specialty,

but they really are everywhere, huh?

"Free dolls"?

They're really amazing.

Welcome to my shop.

The doll--

I made all the dolls in this shop myself!

Your mouth is moving.

If there's one you like, feel free to take it with you.

Are they really free?

Yup!

Why is that? The store is so rundown--I mean modest.

It's fine!

I don't care about money!

I just want to see everyone's happy faces!

That's why I make lots of dolls and give them to the townspeople as presents!

Oh? That's noble of you.

If there's one you like, feel free to take it, Miss Mage!

I'm not a mage--

Don't hold back. Choose one you like.

Look, how about that one?

It's the most popular one recently.

Um...

I don't have space in my luggage, but I appreciate the offer.

Well then, excuse me.

Too bad...

To say you don't care about money...

I didn't know there were noble people with a heart of charity like that...

Right, you'll be in room 5 on the third floor.

Thank you.

There's one here, too...

There we go. Now...

This country is just full of dolls.

All the red brick seems like it might be bad for my eyes, but--

It's hot...

Oh, that feels good...

Huh? When did I open it...?

Oh, well.

Now, after I eat breakfast, shall I go to the next... town...?

Who is this?

Huh?

Did you see the Ripper, too?

...I know the lives of four women were taken.

Hair is... a woman's... life...

As you guessed, this is definitely the work of the Ripper.

Well, yeah. That's what I thought.

I can't believe even a witch would fall victim to the Ripper...

Well, anyway, I'll take a look at the scene of the crime.

What should I do?

Just stay there, out of the way.

Hmm... There's nothing here...

There isn't anything suspicious under the bed, either.

I think the most suspicious thing in this room is you, Sheila.

I'm not suspicious. I'm conducting a search!

All that's left is that place, huh?

The doll's hair...

Doll?

I put the doll by the bedside into the closet.

I thought so.

Thought what?

All the incidents have had this in common:

The victims were all attacked while asleep in bed,

the doll inside the room disappeared,

and the doll's hair was scattered in the room.

Why?

The victim's hair probably became the doll's hair.

The doll...?

The culprit probably controls the dolls with magic.

So, what'll you do?

What'll I do?

Will you go out and investigate in town?

Of course I will.

Let's catch that cowardly culprit,

cut off their head, and send them to hell to regret what they did!

You're getting too far ahead of yourself.

Is something the matter?

Hm? Um...

I was just thinking that you're pretty thin.

Now, shall we go?

What was your name again?