Release that Witch Episode 5: Episode 5

The soft glow of a single candle illuminates Anna, a young woman lost in thought by a window. Her eyes are distant, reflecting a melancholic mood as subtle magical light shimmers around her. A sudden, unseen struggle takes hold of her, her body tensing, before her eyes snap open, pupils glowing blue. This is not a dream, but a deeply personal, terrifying reality beginning to manifest.

A sharp knock on the door shatters Anna's silent distress. She asks who it is, her voice laced with trepidation, as Roland Wimbledon identifies himself. His late-night visit, he explains, concerns something important. Anna hesitates, then slowly opens the door, her face a mask of surprise and apprehension at the sight of the Prince.

Inside, Roland paces, sword drawn, a picture of suspicion. A shadowy figure emerges behind him, pressing a dagger to his back. This is Nightengale, a woman of mystery and power, who calms his fears with a simple, 'Don't be nervous, Your Highness. I won't hurt you.' She reveals a symbol on her cloak, 'the three-peaked mountain and demon eyes,' confirming her identity as a witch, a fact Roland states with an astonished gasp.

Roland questions Nightengale's presence. She explains her week-long surveillance, thanking him for his uncommon kindness towards Anna and Nana. She confesses she had planned to rescue them, unaware of his true intentions. His shock at having been watched goes unacknowledged by Nightengale, who seems to relish her secret observations.

With a casual sigh, Nightengale complains of standing, then makes herself at home on Roland's bed. She reveals Anna's lady-in-waiting, Tier, had poisoned his bedtime wine, an assassination attempt she foiled. Roland is stunned, realizing the danger within his own household. Nightengale's sly smile suggests a deeper game at play.

Nightengale declares her intent to take Anna and Nana to the Witch Union, their true home, away from persecution. She then describes the horrifying truth of a witch's awakening during the Blood Moon, a process of agonizing torment where bodies contort, blood erupts, and many witches meet a gruesome end. Only the Witch Union, she insists, can truly safeguard Anna during this trial. Roland, though initially defiant, eventually gives way to her pleas, acknowledging the sheer terror of what she has described.

Unexpectedly, Anna steps forward, having overheard everything, stating, 'I'm not leaving.' She thanks Nightengale for her intentions but firmly declares her decision to remain by Roland's side, believing she can overcome the demonic body. Nightengale is momentarily stunned, but then, with a soft smile, accepts Anna's resolve, playfully announcing her own decision to stay. A quick, unexpected peck on Roland's cheek leaves him flustered, signaling a new dynamic.

The next morning, Karl informs a tired Roland that Tier, the head maid, has died, a fall from her balcony, with 'no signs of a struggle.' Roland, breakfasting with Nightengale, confronts her directly. Without remorse, Nightengale admits her involvement, stating it was a 'favor' to him. She reveals Tier committed suicide with a poison capsule when confronted, merely making it look like an accident.

Roland deduces his siblings were behind the assassination plot, a weary sigh escaping him. In a meeting with Karl and Barov, he dismisses their concerns about his militia of commoners. He reveals his strategic chess moves, placing a pawn with confidence, asserting that these 'weak pieces' will be trained and armed, forming the backbone of his new era. His faith lies not with hesitant nobles, but with the people.

In a forge, Roland instructs Anna to focus her fire magic, melting a metal bar through a narrow gap. She strains, but her concentrated blue flame successfully severs the metal. Exhausted and tearful, she collapses into Roland's arms. He reassures her, promising she will soon understand the purpose of her newly refined power, a power that will 'open the door to a new era.'