Strange Use of Magic (Black Clover AU) Chapter 133: Strange Witch Queen

[Third Person's PoV] 


Vanessa stepped forward and stood in front of the massive gates that led to the ominous forest beyond.


She held herself tall, a stark contrast to the carefree demeanor Stephen was used to seeing from her. Gone was the usual laid-back attitude—replaced by an air of confidence as she took a deep breath and shouted:


“HEEEEEEEEY! THE GREATEST WITCH GENIUS SINCE THE FOUNDING OF THE WITCH COUNTRY HAS RETURNED! I GOT BUSINESS, SO OPEN UP!!”


The others turned to stare at her with puzzled expressions.


“What?” she asked, showing not an ounce of shame. In fact, her smugness was plain as day, chin held high like a queen returning from conquest.


“You really think highly of yourself, don’t you?” Stephen said, giving her a look of disbelief.


Vanessa huffed. “Just how bad is your opinion of me? And for the record, I wasn’t making any of that up. That’s genuinely how I’m known.”


However, despite her boastful words, her expression softened—subtle, but enough to show a glimmer of something deeper. It clashed with her usual bravado.


Stephen and the others took notice. A rare look for her—serious, almost nostalgic. There was clearly a story behind it, and Stephen couldn’t help but wonder what it was.


‘There’s definitely a story there… now I’m curious,’ he thought, studying her closely.


Before anyone could ask, the giant doors to the Witch’s Forest suddenly creaked open.


A murder of crows burst through, sweeping past them in a whirlwind of obsidian feathers. They all instinctively shielded their faces, protecting themselves from sharp talons and beaks.


When the flurry of wings faded and the loud slam of the gates echoed behind them, Stephen slowly opened his eyes.


He had expected to be transported somewhere—using the crows as a magical medium—but to his surprise, he was still standing in the same spot.


Dark feathers floated gently through the air before settling on the ground around him.


Stephen looked around, confused, and quickly realized he wasn’t the only one left behind. Asta stood nearby, just as bewildered.


Vanessa, Wanda, and Noelle had vanished.


It didn’t take Stephen long to figure out where they’d gone, but Asta was still lost.


“Where did everyone else go?” Asta asked.


“Where do you think?” Stephen replied with a roll of his eyes. “They were transported inside by the crows. And judging by the fact that we’re the only ones left behind, it’s not hard to guess what kind of society this is.”


Seeing Asta’s confusion, Stephen elaborated, “This is a matriarchal society—one that favors women over men.”


Asta scratched his head. “So... what do we do now?”


Stephen smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Isn’t it obvious? If they won’t let us in... we’ll just invite ourselves.”


Asta chuckled as his grimoire floated beside him. Drawing his sword, he said, “That sounds like a plan!”


…


"Perfect…" the Witch Queen muttered, eyes gleaming as she gazed at the three girls before her.


Wanda and Noelle exchanged confused glances, scanning the eerie throne room before turning their attention back to the Witch Queen.


She was a tall woman with a slim build, her pink hair tucked neatly under a wide-brimmed, conical white hat. Her teal eyes shimmered with cunning, and beneath each eye were three dark blue teardrops. Her lips and razor-sharp nails shared the same cold shade of blue. She wore a layered light green dress; each tier of the skirt bore a large red eyespot, and the bodice rose into a high neck with long sleeves. The skirt flared dramatically over a hoop, mirroring the hat's layered look.


"Where’s Asta and Stephen?" Wanda asked, finally noticing their absence.


The Witch Queen scoffed. "Those imperfect creatures are not welcome in my forest."


Suddenly, she manifested right in front of Wanda, making her flinch.


"But you, my dear…" she said, lifting Wanda’s chin with a single sharp finger, "you are simply perfect." Her tone was both admiring and possessive. "Your beauty… the magic buried within you… that raw, unrefined power—impossible to hide. It’s all just… too perfect."


Her eyes drifted to Vanessa, her smile fading into a sneer.

"Far better than the mistake I created… letting herself be swayed by men."


"Thanks, Mother. I can just feel the love," Vanessa replied flatly.


"Mother?!" Wanda and Noelle exclaimed in unison.


The Witch Queen ignored them, turning Wanda’s face fully toward her. Her gaze shimmered with greedy obsession.


"Become my daughter," she demanded.


"Huh?!" Vanessa's eyes widened in shock.


Again, she ignored them. "Become my daughter, and I will teach you to unlock your full potential. You will become the greatest witch the world has ever seen."


Suddenly, a golden portal burst open—and Asta slid in, sword ready.

"Sorry to crash the party!"


"Don't mind me," Stephen added, floating in on his Cloak of Levitation, one leg curled beneath him. "I just let myself in." He landed smoothly, smirking. "I believe you forgot to send us an invitation~"


"I didn’t. You’re just uninvited," the Witch Queen snapped, her magic flaring out like a storm, filling the room with oppressive pressure.


"Is that so~?" Stephen replied, his eyes glowing as he summoned his own magic, power clashing against hers. The room trembled violently, dust and rubble falling from above.


But as she studied him, her expression changed.


She vanished from her place and reappeared right in front of him, eyes wild as they locked onto the Eye of Agamotto.

"Where did you get this artifact?!" she hissed, reaching for it.


Just before her fingers made contact, she flinched—her hand freezing in midair. Her brows furrowed.


"What a simple but effective ward," she murmured.


Then her lips curled into a smirk. "But like I said—simple." The tip of her nail glowed red as she tapped the center of the Eye of Agamotto.


Stephen's eyes widened as the sound of shattering glass echoed. The runes surrounding the Eye disintegrated, raining down as golden embers, leaving it unprotected.


The Witch Queen grinned triumphantly and reached for the now-exposed artifact.

"Where. Did. You—"


She never finished the sentence.


Golden magic circles ignited around Stephen’s arms. He cocked his fist back—then swung.


Time seemed to slow.


His fist slammed into her face with immense force, ripples distorting her cheek on impact. Blood and teeth burst from her mouth as she spun through the air, trailing blood like a comet, crashing into her throne with a thunderous BOOM.


Wanda and Noelle stood frozen, hands over their mouths in shock. Vanessa stared slack-jawed at her bleeding mother slumped on the throne.


Asta slowly turned toward Stephen, who stood with his back leg raised, body leaning forward, eyes cold with fury.


"Haven't you ever been taught to not touch what doesn't belong to you," Stephen growled, his blue eyes flashing with a cold hue.