The exit is finally in sight.
That was so long...
I feel like we've been walking for hours.
It's after 5 PM now, so we've probably walked about two hours.
You came here by way of the courtyard, right?
This is a different route.
It's the long way around, but no one uses it, so it's safe.
It will put us out in the mountains behind the school.
The town is...
Task Force
At 10:00 this morning,
a magic circle rigged by a Tower Witch was activated
in the Mikazuki area's No. 3 sewer line,
causing explosions all over town.
Though there were no civilian casualties due to the contract with the town,
the Workshop head is now in enemy hands.
Many allied witches were caught in the explosions,
and have gone missing.
Those of us who escaped harm are currently conducting a rescue operation.
The barrier protects ordinary people, not witches, after all.
What of our requests for assistance?
Headquarters said it'll take a few days for help to arrive.
We've sent requests to neighboring cities as well,
but I feel we shouldn't expect much.
To be honest, the witches in this area, including ourselves,
aren't accustomed to situations such as these.
Medical Supplies
We've lived in peace all this time...
But we can't leave things like this.
We Workshop Witches can't use magic if the barrier is gone.
We've been ordered to
flee if we see any enemies during rescue operations.
We know what the enemy is after.
If we can just keep him safe...
It'll depend on how long it takes for the chairwoman to return.
Water
Is there a way to temporarily restore the barrier?
Unfortunately, only a witch of immense magic power can do so.
Others would lose their magic to the town and die.
This town is safe. The Tower Witches cannot enter.
I believe we should focus on regrouping for now, and wait for an opportunity.
R-Right!
Takamiya-kun and Weekend, Part 1
Kagari-san,
what is all this?
Something terrible happened to the town!
Oh, no! My mom! She was at home today!
It's all right. Your mother and all the others are safe.
Hey... What's going on?
Is all of this... my fault?
Did the Tower Witches do this because they wanted me?!
Did this happen... because of me?
That's right.
Why did this happen?
Takamiya-kun, take a deep breath.
We don't have time for grief.
There's someplace we have to go.
Something terrible just happened!
People could be dead!
Our town is gone!
They're all safe. No one is dead yet.
If we do what we need to do, no one will be hurt.
The town was destroyed because of you.
I understand how you feel.
But remember.
When I was petrified by Medusa,
it was you who cured me.
What were you prepared to see happen when you saved me?
I'm sorry I lost it.
What do I need to do?
Come with me.
The enemy plans to break into the Workshop after this.
I want to get where we're going before then.
The enemy knew about that courtyard, didn't they?
Is everyone there okay?
The Tower Witches can't enter there.
It won't come under attack without warning.
But now, the sun is setting.
Let's hurry.
Still, this looks horrible...
Like the end of the world.
We have to walk through this?
Watch your step.
Even though the robe's power makes your body lighter,
it'd be dangerous if you fell.
By the way, you said we can't use magic.
What did you mean?
There's an old Workshop custom.
A representative of the Workshop Witches forms a contract with the town.
In accordance with that contract, a barrier is erected,
and if a situation arises where civilians could be harmed by magic,
the town absorbs the witches' magic to protect them.
Though, in this peaceful society,
it's rare to see towns that follow that old custom.
At any rate,
Do Not Enter
the contract with the town is the prerequisite
that allows Workshop Witches to use magic.
I see...
The chairwoman used up her power saving the town,
and that's how she ended up in enemy hands.
Yes.
Where are the people she saved?
They've been isolated in a safe location.
Right now, the town is in ruins while the contractor is absent,
but once the contract is restored,
the buildings will begin to repair themselves.
They'll return to the town then.
After that, we'll come up with a consistent cover story.
Is this really the only way?
Yes.
Takamiya-kun, watch your step.
Takamiya-kun!
Hold on tight!
Are you okay, Kagari-san?
Yes. Are you?
Yeah, I'm fine.
Sorry. It was my fault.
It's all right. We needed to come down eventually, anyway.
Please tell me now, Kagari-san.
Where are we going?
Coming through!
Coming through! Coming through!
Rinon-sama,
I have a message.
"You have thirty minutes. Bring him to me."
I can't go there myself, but these little ones can.
So, what will you do?
Hmm... There's a Tower Witch on the school grounds.
Blonde with a red hooded cape... I've never seen her before.
Workshop Witches all around her.
There's something tied around them...
Crap! They're bombs!
So what do you want us to do?
You're the only ones who can use magic right now.
I'll make sure you earn your keep!
The location of the contract?
Yes. That's where we're headed.
Is this thing I'm supposed to do...
Well, now...
I thought Weekend-sama had already taken you two
and headed for the school.
Why are you here?
Well, no matter.
I was right to wait here for you.
You knew about this place, too?
I am Gibraltaar the Tower Witch.
Here I come!
There! Done!
It's not so bad to get away
from work and indulge in a hobby now and then.
Well... I think I'll pray for those two to do okay,
then get some sleep.
Kagari-san!
I have to help her!
Damn it!
What a bore.
How did you intend to face me without your magic?
Well, no matter.
I'm not into tormenting my opponents.
This is the end!
It's no use resisting!
No matter how you struggle, you can't win—
That was incredible, Kagari-san!
What kind of magic was that?!
Magic?
That's right...
You shouldn't be able to use magic...
How?
It was just a flying knee attack.
You can't be serious...
I was forced to fight people like her often when I was younger.
To be strong even without your magic is my witch's code!
You get no dinner until you can defeat them with your bare hands!
Well, our destination is just ahead.
Let's hurry.
Rinon-chan!
How'd it go, Touko?
It's no use. They're not answering.
Maybe they fell asleep?
It would take us 45 minutes to go
to the prison and bring them back here.
That would take too long.
We must call Takamiya-kun and the Princess
and have them climb out of there, fast.
You want to give Takamiya-kun to the enemy?
I have no intention of giving him to them!
But if we don't have a good plan, we'll need him to act as bait.
Rinon.
I've taken a look over these.
Please listen.
It's a simple rig. There are no traps.
Unlike the magic circle that blew up the town, there's no blood contract.
With a Dispel incantation,
even the most incompetent witch could disarm it.
If we could use magic, you mean?
Yes.
I'm part of Kashiwagi's group.
I was rescuing a girl from the rubble in 2-chome when I was attacked.
We're a group of eight.
The witch was blonde with a red coat.
She captured me and said that
the others would die if I didn't obey.
Rinon-sama, report from Kasumi's group inside the school.
There's a blonde witch in a
red hooded cape on the school grounds with seven hostages.
Eighteen minutes left...
Hey, Sebas, is it time to eat yet?
Please wait about eighteen more minutes.
But I just woke up and I'm famished!
Make it quick!
Honestly, I wake to find my room reduced to rubble,
and the whole town looks different! What's going on?
A Tower Witch has attacked.
I believe it was one with whom we have dealt in the past,
the informant called Weekend...
Oh... The witch who tried to use me?
Yes.
I see.
So this wretched sight came about because she defeated Kazane.
I've changed my mind.
We leave immediately. Get ready.
What? But your meal is almost ready...
What is my favorite dish, Sebas?
Powerful witches, ma'am.
The witch who defeated Kazane is right before me.
I would love a taste of her!
We're here.
This is the Workshop's sacred ground,
the heart of the town?
You understand why we've come here, right?
So I can make a contract with the town.
We're about to meet the enemy.
Keep your wits about you.
Good evening, Workshop Witches.
It would appear he is not among you.
You have twelve minutes and five seconds left.
That's why we've come to negotiate.
We want more time.
More time, eh?
You don't seem to know who you're up against.
In eleven minutes and fifty seconds,
I will blow her up, as per my warning.
Then the others will explode one by one, every five minutes.
I have nothing more to say.
There's no room for negotiation, then?
What a scary face.
Do you prefer hand-to-hand combat?
I'm quite weak, so I would probably lose quickly.
But the moment that happened, everyone here would be blown to pieces.
And defeating me won't stop the explosions.
If you understand, bring him to me immediately.
Just so you know, we're only helping you to earn our keep.
One bomb counts as one rent payment.
She just called herself weak.
Do you think that blonde might just be a negotiator?
You mean a different witch rigged the bombs?
If that's true, it makes sense that defeating her wouldn't stop the bombs.
So where's the one who rigged them?
She's watching over this exchange, just like us!
"Just like us"?
That's it! She's inside the school!
Animal girl, keep an eye out!
It looks like Kasumi's group has come up with a plan.
Seven minutes left...
If the bombs don't stop,
you and I attack the moment they explode.
I'm going to die, aren't I?
If you do, so will the rest of us.
Still, let's fight back.
Even if we can't use magic,
I'll at least knock a tooth out of her!
Keep going forward.
When the contract is signed, a burden will be placed upon you.
Magic will be sucked out from your entire body.
You will feel severely exhausted, but you mustn't sleep.
Okay.
The contract will only be temporary.
If you're successful, we'll be able to use magic.
What if I can't do it?
Don't worry. You can do it.
But...
Whether you can do it or not isn't for you to decide.
It's for me to decide.
That's just like Kagari-san...
All right.
Thirty seconds to go.
He's still not coming?
I can't find her!
Looks like Kasumi isn't going to make it.
Twenty seconds to go.
Seventeen.
Sixteen.
Fifteen.
Fourteen.
We leap at her when she reaches zero.
Thirteen.
Twelve.
Eleven.
Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
Seven.
Six.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
Time's up! Now for the first—
Dispel?!
I'm only earning my keep!
You deceived me!
She's got the switch!
You saved us, Animal Ears! Natsume!
Right!
She intends to push it!
She's wondering if we've
got more Tower Witches to use Dispel!
She might keep one alive as insurance, but we can't save all six.
We'll worry about it later! Right now, we strike!
Natsume, you feel that?
Yes! Our magic is back!
We're changing our plans, too!
We're saving them all, Natsume!
Right!
Don't underestimate the Workshop Witches!
They took apart all my bombs in an instant...
They can use magic again?
So he's signed the contract?
Things are getting interesting now!
Kagari-san...
Good morning, Takamiya-kun.
Huh? Did I fall asleep?
For three hours and ten minutes.
You can sleep until morning if you like.
It's only 2 AM.
I can't! This is no time to sit around!
I think you should recover your strength first.
I'm fine.
Let's just head back to the Workshop for now.
I'm worried about Rinon-san and the others.
We did it, Rinon! What a great achievement!
My heart is still racing!
Come on, Rinon, you should be happier!
Oh, yes. I've sent Touko to the lowest level
to check on the Princess and Takamiya-kun.
It bothered me that they didn't answer the phone.
And Kasumi's group is still searching the school, just in case.
We should head back to the courtyard and continue our work...
Rinon?
There's something I want to say to you.
I couldn't care less what you're after or why.
The chairwoman will be back soon.
All we have to do is keep you here until then.
This cell is sealed in glass that magic can't affect.
The shackles you're wearing prevent use of magic.
And no matter how many allies you have, we'll take them all down!
Don't you forget it!
Let's go, Natsume.
I was paying my respects to you.
I came here quietly out of respect to you for shattering my plans.
There was something I wanted to say to you promising rookies.
"Came quietly"?
You talk as though you let us capture you on purpose!
You're here because you lost to us, you know!
Then why did you come here just to give me that brazen lecture?
You're worried, aren't you?
You know the witch who beat Kazane can't be that easy to defeat.
You girls are strong, but you are young and naïve.
You lack experience, and you've never known a real battle.
You should think more flexibly.
Abandon your prejudice and observe your enemy with greater caution.
What is it you want to say?
If you want to teach, bug your Tower Witches!
Did you think I would be powerless if you negated my magic?
You should learn from what you've experienced today.
This is an ordinary bomb.
Damn!
Takamiya-kun!
Hang in there.
Just a little further, and we'll be in a wide space where we can use brooms.
Someone just...
I've come for you.
Good.
Don't assume a witch needs magic to fight.
Just sit there and watch, Takamiya Honoka-kun!
Your friends are about to die! What will you do now?!
Takamiya-kun!
You...
see something, don't you?
It's terrible!
Rinon-san and her friend are hurt!
No intention of fighting if it's just the two of us?
That's fine.
My little ones are scattered throughout this Workshop.
You don't mean—
Takamiya-kun!
How could she...
Rinon-san and her friend are hurt.
I have to help them!
What are you saying?
That contract protects civilians.
It can't save witches.
But you told me yourself...
to do what I need to do.
I think the time is now!
Yes, that's it...
Burn everything to ashes, and all will be reborn.
That is the power of the fire craft work you possess.
I have no further business here. Let's go.
Yes, ma'am.
Where's Nietzsch?
She appears to be facing off with several witches in the school.
I see.
I will restore my honor!
I'm going to defeat you!
Can we go home?
I was just wandering around when I found you.
You are her underling, are you not?
Answer my question,
or your precious hair will wind up in an
end-of-the-century fashion befitting of this town.
Finished Image
Not that it isn't already.
Where is your boss?
Sorry I had to be rough.
But you can't continue this any longer.
It will put your life in danger.
The rest is a job for me.
Hey! I'm Kuramine Atori.
Or, to be precise, this is me speaking for the silent Atori.
Huh? Who am I, you ask?
Don't worry about those little details!
Next time on Witch Craft Works:
Takamiya-kun and Weekend, Part 2
Takamiya-kun and Weekend, Part 2.