Devil May Cry: Witch of Fortuna

5. Witch Rumor

"What a fancy house..."

Nero felt out of place to stand in such a palace. The house was a huge mansion with a ridiculous wide garden. It took them ten minutes to reach the main house from the gates. When they rang the bell, a butler opened the door. Nero and Nico followed them to a luxurious living room. Mrs Charel had waited from them. As usual, she dressed up to impress in a long white dress.

"What do you want? Water? Tea? Coffee? Juice? Alcohol?"

Nico was going to answer a cold beer, but Nero closed her mouth much to her complaint. "No alcohol, we're driving."

They settled with tea and coffee. Mrs Charle brought an expensive cake for them. Nero never really had any chance to eat expensive pastry because of their monthly expenses. Kyrie made a lot of delicious meals, but she baked a cake on a certain occasion. While he focuses on savouring the taste of cheesecake, Nico admired the architecture of the place. She whistled at the decoration, "Never thought there is a side like this hidden inside Fortuna."

"There wasn't. I purchased this land when the price was low. In the past, it was nothing but barren land. Now people ask me to sell it because the location is right at the border of the city."

"How lucky."

"Time to get down to business." She finished her tea then spoke. "Do you know any rumour about a witch granting people wishes?"

"Yeah, I've heard that. I still don't understand how it is related to our job. We exterminate demons, not-"

"Witch cannot grant wishes." She lighted her pipe. "It is possible that this witch is not human, but something horrible. A demon can grant a wish in exchange for the human soul. That is how the contract work. However, a demon cannot create multiple contracts."

"How do you know these things?"

"Collecting book is my hobby." She blew a cloud of smoke to the air. "Most of them related to the witch, magic and..." She stared at Nero. "...The Dark Knight Sparda."

The Demon Hunter felt uneasy under the gaze.

"I want you to investigate this case. If it is a demon, report to me immediately. This is the list of missing people and the one who had their wish granted." Mrs Charle put a paper on the coffee table. "Some of these people are acquaintances and relatives of my worker that wound up dead or missing. You can start from that."

It was a long list. Both spoke to few workers before meeting her. Everyone please and loved working under her supervision. Mrs Charle obviously cared about her worker.

Nero scratched his head. "You know, I thought you hate Fortuna."

"Hate is such a strange word. I was born here. This place... has a lot of special memories for me." For a while, she lost in her thought. "Not to mention, these people have been staying faithful to me before I get famous."

"I guess we're better go-"

"Wait."

She called her butler. The old man brought a silver tray covered with a white cloth. He put it on the table then left. Mrs Charle smiled and opened the cover. "Consider this a gift from me."

Nico screamed, "DEAR LORD, IS THIS DEVIL ARM?"

Nero shocked, "Wait, you give this to use? For free?"

"I don't really need that demon thing in my house." She blew another smoke. "Got it from an acquaintance and never use it."

Nero and Nico looked at the collection. It reminded him of his first time with Yamato. For a strange reason, the devil arms seem to be attracted to Nero. He touched the new weapon. When he took the double sword, he felt a tingle of nostalgia in it. Nero never even held it before.

"Young lady, I heard your name is Nicoletta Goldstein. Are you perhaps related to Nell Goldstein?"

"Yeah. She's my grandma. You know her?"

The older woman laughed, "She is my inspiration. Without her, I won't even become a famous person like this. It is a great pleasure to meet her granddaughter." She sighed. "I wish I can do more for her."

"This-this devil arm is enough!"

She chuckled then looked at Nero. At second, the smile on her face changed into a cold mask. She stood up and walked to a bookshelf on the corner of the room. That woman took some books and gave them to Nero. "It's for you."

"For me?"

It was a magic book. Nero touched the cover and opened it. The book was written in an unknown language. However, some notes inside the book decoded the meaning for him.

First his father, now this woman.

What is it with people giving him a book?

"Anything weird happened to you lately? Maybe your arm?"

Nero was puzzled by the question. He had no idea how to respond but replied politely. "No. Everything is fine"

"Good, then go away from my house now."

She waved her hand to dispel them. They left to house and got back to the van. Nero must drag Nico because she was reluctant to leave the place. After putting the weapon in the vehicle, she sat on the driver seat. "Weird lady, but nice person."

"You just sid that because she gave you presents." He snorted, "I don't understand that woman passive-aggressiveness."

"Gotta admit, she did act cold only around you. Maybe you remind her of an ex-boyfriend or something."

Nero shrugged. He rather did not think about it. "Time to work, Nico. Let's go on the first list."