Chapter 40

**Chapter Forty** of the seventh volume of the *Witch Hat Atelier* manga series.

## Summary

Qifrey admits he wasn’t expecting Olruggio to be so blunt. He thought Olruggio would be angry at him. The watchful eye admits he is, in fact, angry at him for abandoning his students when they needed him the most and for pushing himself while being injured. He is, however, angry at himself too for not being someone Qifrey can turn to. Qifrey tells him that he did nothing wrong, but Olruggio replies that, being the atelier’s watchful eye aswell as his friend, he should stop Qifrey when he does something reckless and offer a hand when he needs help. He should always be able to help him no matter what the problem is.

Qifrey asks why is he willing to go so far for him, and Olruggio responds that’s just the kind of person he is. He also tells Qifrey that Coco wants to study under him because he is a good teacher. As long as he doesn’t abuse that trust and remains a good teacher to all four of his students, Olruggio will stick with him. They hold hands, and Olruggio asks Qifrey why is he picking up the search he abandoned at the tower many years ago.

Qifrey tells Olruggio he quite likes living in the atelier: it’s peaceful and calm, and he enjoys teaching his four students magic and watching them grow. But the witch who stole his past may end up stealing his future aswell if Qifrey loses sight on his remaining eye. He has kept his condition a secret from everyone but Olruggio. Light to him seems harsher than before, and it causes him severe headaches. That is why he wants to stop the magic the brimmed cap group were trying to unlock in the Forest of Thristas now that he still has his vision. He needs to regain the eye they took from him and thwart their plan.

The mention of the brimcaps’ plan surprises Olruggio, since he thought Qifrey’s memories from before arriving at the Great Hall had been erased. Qifrey confesses that, on the day they both arrived at the Tower of Tomes and only he made it inside, he found out that most of the records of what had happened at the Forest of Thristas had been disposed of, but he still managed to recover a note that awoke his memory. He remembered the brimcaps were testing a new type of forbidden magic, for which he was supposed to be the trial run.

Qifrey knows Olruggio will attempt to help him, since he has a gentle soul, but he can’t allow that to happen. He reveals a memory erasure spell that was hidden in his witch hat and, as he covers Olruggio’s head with the hat, closes the magic circle, activating the spell and wiping Olruggio’s memory of their entire conversation. Qifrey asks his friend to forgive him once again, and Olruggio loses consciousness.

The four students arrive shortly after. Seeing Olruggio unconscious, Coco asks if everything’s alright, and Qifrey tells her that it is and apologises for worrying them. Olruggio awakes and Tetia tells him he will catch a cold if he keeps sleeping outside. He tries to recall what they were talking about a moment ago, but he is distracted by a meteor shower. Tetia says the dancing stars mean the season for Silver Eve, a festival where witches from all the realm gather, is close. Tartah arrives suddenly, asking them for a favor: he wants them to help him run a stall at Silver Eve.

## Characters by Appearance

* Qifrey
* Olruggio
* Agott
* Coco
* Tetia
* Richeh
* Tartah