Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended

CHAPTER 169: No Cauldron, No Cackle - The Witch That Wasn't

The moment Daisuke crossed the threshold, the vibrant, surreal hues of Mammothgrove Forest faded into a ripple of light, and he found himself standing in the vestibule of a brightly lit house.

The first thing that struck him was the sheer elegance of the space. "This can't be right..." he muttered, his gaze scanning his surroundings as he boldly stepped by Lumielle and wandered into the foyer.

For someone called "Sinister Granny," and considering she resided in a forest that looked straight out of a beautiful nightmare, Daisuke had anticipated a home befitting the stereotypical witch: cobweb-draped rafters, spiders dangling from threads, and dusty shelves lined with jars of pickled eyeballs or mysterious bones. He had pictured an oversized cauldron bubbling ominously in the corner, surrounded by piles of grimy tomes and bundles of dried herbs hanging from the ceiling. But what he found instead was a house so immaculate it rivaled a noble's estate.

The polished marble floor beneath his feet gleamed under the soft light of a mana crystal chandelier. The walls were adorned with intricate floral patterns carved into dark mahogany wood, giving the space a refined warmth. Even the air smelled pleasant, carrying a faint aroma of lavender and honey.

"...Is this really a witch's house?" Daisuke asked aloud, his tone laced with disbelief.

Lumielle paused in front of him to block his mindless roaming. "What gave you the impression that she was a witch?"

"Hello~" Daisuke drawled, arms spread wide for emphasis. "Her name is Sinister Granny for crying out loud! What other kind of job do you think fits that title?"

"Stop! Where are you going?" Lumielle called as he slipped by her again.

"To the kitchen, obviously. Who knows, she's probably just a witch with OCD."

Lumielle's expression crumpled. "Haxks, this is incredibly rude and presumptuous; we should turn back."

Ignoring her plea for decorum, Daisuke confidently navigated toward the kitchen, eager to slake his curiosity about the mysterious homeowner.

Said room, visible through a wide archway to the left, was, again, nothing like he had envisioned. Where he had imagined cobblestone floors slick with grime, there was instead a pattern of smooth, clean tiles. The countertops weren't scratched wooden planks soaked with mysterious fluids but pristine slabs of polished marble. Neatly arranged utensils hung on a copper rack above the counter, and the shelves displayed a collection of fine tableware.

Daisuke wandered closer, his boots clicking softly against the floor. "So... where's the bubbling cauldron? The jars of frogs and preserved brains? The bird skull wind chime? Does she even use a cauldron?"

"Not every witch fits the mold," Lumielle replied anxiously, ushering him back the way they came. "Sinister Granny just happens to be one of those witches. Now, let's go back before she turns us into toads."

"Fine," Daisuke moaned disappointedly.

As they approached the vestibule from the foyer, he peered into the adjacent parlor on the left, expecting something sinister to align with the homeowner's alias, but even there, his expectations were upended.

Instead of dark, cramped corners and ominous shadows, the room was bathed in a soft golden glow from a fireplace crackling gently in the hearth. Plush velvet chairs were arranged in perfect symmetry around a low table, atop which sat an elegant tea set. Bookshelves lined the walls, but they were filled with beautifully bound volumes, not the musty grimoires he had expected.

"This feels more like a noble's home than a witch's den," he said, his voice tinged with awe.

DING!