episode_0002

A dense forest right in front of the village.

Since I started walking into that place adults feared, calling it the “Witch’s Forest,” I became intrigued.

What could be inside that forest?

Adults say there’s a “witch who eats people” living there. Is that really true?

As curiosity piqued my interest, my childish desire for adventure was stimulated when curiosity raised its head.

“I want to see with my own eyes what lies within that dense forest.”

So, I asked my mom and dad.

“Can’t I just go into that forest once? Just to see what’s there and come back.”

However, my parents scolded me, even showing anger they rarely displayed.

“Don’t even think about entering that frightening forest.”

“Contrary to its peaceful appearance, that forest is truly a terrifying place.”

Even after being scolded and even hit a few times with a wooden spoon, my naive sense of adventure remained unbroken.

Although my parents strictly forbade me from entering the forest and even started monitoring me to prevent it.

When you tell a child not to do something, it only fuels their desire to do it more.

I eagerly awaited an opportunity, and when the surveillance loosened enough for a chance to slip away unnoticed, I went to find the “Witch’s Forest.”

Finally reaching the hard-to-find “Witch’s Forest.”

It was a place quite different from the horror always spoken of by adults.

There was no sign of the devilish creature that steals human souls.

No stench of decaying corpses or the smell of blood; instead, only the refreshing scent of nature tickled my nose.

Where on earth did they get the idea to call this peaceful place the “Witch’s Forest”?

Maybe they just scared us for no reason, based on appearances alone.

Laughing at the lies told by the villagers and my parents, I turned back towards the village.

Next time, I promised myself to go to the “Witch’s Forest” with my childhood friend Reyna.

And the opportunity came sooner than I had anticipated.

Reyna’s parents and mine both had business with the village chief, leaving our homes empty simultaneously.

Seeing this as a perfect opportunity, I immediately went to Reyna with a proposal.

“Wanna go to the Witch’s Forest? I went there myself, and it wasn’t as scary as they say.”

Since Reyna usually listened to me, I thought she would agree quickly, but…

“Well… My mom and dad strictly warned me never to enter the forest.”

For some reason, she expressed a negative opinion this time.

Did she feel uneasy about something?

Despite her refusal, I stubbornly persisted.

“Well, it’s fine. There are no witches. They’re just imaginary beings created by adults to scare us.”

After much persuasion, did I finally succeed?

In the end, Reyna, defeated by my determination, reluctantly grabbed a small knife and set off with me.

“Alright, Hans. Let’s take a look at how wonderful that forest really is, just like you said.”

I was overjoyed at my success in persuading her.

Having a companion to go to the Witch’s Forest with made me feel secure.

And the fact that this companion was my crush, Reyna, made me truly happy.

At least until we encountered a huge wolf, before anything else.

This time, just like before, we successfully entered the Witch’s Forest.

But unlike last time, there was a significant difference in the scenery we encountered.

Right.

*Growl.*

A gigantic wolf, large enough to swallow me whole, was lurking behind us, licking its lips.

Seeing this, Reyna, with a pale face, grabbed my collar and said,

“Hans, this bastard.”

Claiming it was safe.

I could vaguely anticipate what the ending might be, but unfortunately, I couldn’t hear the conclusion of my childhood friend’s story.

Thud. Thud.

As a giant wolf slowly approached us, its tail wagging, we had no choice but to start running towards the opposite side of the wolf, deep into the forest.

We knew the wolf intended to catch us and that we were like mice trapped in poison.

Hoping against hope on the legend that “a man-eating witch lives in the Witch’s Forest,” we ran as if sweetness dripped from our mouths.

Breathless, hearts pounding as if they would burst, we ran desperately to survive.

Fortunately, the wolf seemed content just to approach us step by step, not yet planning to devour us.

Not knowing when it might turn and attack, we ran without provoking the wolf, like mere toys, prey that wouldn’t seem out of place whenever caught.

But every escape has its end.

Exhausted Reyna stumbled over a rock, bringing our desperate flight to an abrupt halt.

“Grrr.”

The massive wolf taunted us as it approached.

Its demeanor seemed to question, “Is this the end? Are you satisfied playing with me, little ones?”

With a harsh curse, I began to mutter, closing my eyes and starting to seek the goddess I never truly believed in.

Goddess? If you spare us, I won’t skip Sunday service anymore.

I’ll believe in you more faithfully than anyone else, dedicating my life to you.

So please, could you spare us just this once? Please?

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

The wolf’s footsteps resonated through the ground as it advanced towards us.

At this rate, we would become chunks of meat inside that giant wolf’s disguise.

Abandoning my prayers to the goddess, I howled like a beast, embracing Reyna.

“Anyone, anyone at all, please…”

Please spare us.

With those words, I closed my eyes, preparing for the imminent pain.

However…

“Huh?”

No matter how long I waited, the pain did not come.

Did the wolf suddenly lose its breath?

No, I could still feel its heartbeat thumping.

What had happened? Why did the massive wolf cease its attack?

Carefully opening my eyes, I scanned the surroundings and soon discovered why the wolf had stopped its assault.

Rustle, rustle.

In the silent forest where even bird sounds had ceased, the quiet footsteps began to echo.

A beautiful woman in a drab gray robe, seemingly out of place in the serene nature, appeared from the depths of the forest, resembling a doll.

It was the appearance of the beautiful sister holding a sack full of inedible poisonous plants and wielding a large kitchen knife that made the wolf wary.

“Grrr.”

The previously relaxed wolf suddenly bristled, assuming a defensive posture.

Reyna and I, now forgotten prey, stopped chewing and focused solely on the beautiful sister.

Then, fully prepared, the wolf lunged swiftly towards her.

Revealing its sharp claws and fierce teeth, it charged.

However…

Thwack!

The beautiful sister swiftly threw the large kitchen knife she held, instantly ending the life of the approaching giant wolf.

Split in half from head to tail by the massive knife, the wolf had to bathe the beautiful sister in its warm blood.

Perhaps “drenched” would be a more fitting term than “bathed.”

Regardless, the beautiful sister effortlessly dealt with the wolf, pulling out the large kitchen knife embedded in the ground with an expressionless face.

With the fresh blood of the wolf dripping steadily from a large butcher knife, it slowly approached me and Reyna.

…The wolf’s fierce smile that seemed to mock us bloomed on its face.

Of course, it may not have been the intention I perceived.

Dad always said judging people by appearances was wrong.

But right now, there was only one sentence echoing in my mind.

[In the Witch’s Forest, a terrifying witch who devours people lives.]

The one legend the village elders always spoke of, that an evil witch resided dreadfully in the dense forest in front of the village.

Yes, judging by appearances may be wrong, but anyone could see she was a wicked witch.

Black hair and pupils symbolizing night, darkness, and gloom.

A slender, seductive figure to entice prey.

A large butcher knife always carried to dismember something.

And finally, a basket full of unknown poisonous herbs.

She was so witch-like that denying she was an evil witch seemed futile, so I urged the fallen Reyna to get up quickly.

“R-Run! She’s a witch who eats people!”

Thankfully, Reyna had caught her breath enough; this time, we fled from the witch into the woods.

It felt like our leg muscles would tear, but we gritted our teeth and persevered.

Our hearts pounded as if they would burst, but since death awaited if caught, we ignored it and ran.

Did we run aimlessly for a while?

We realized we were nearing the forest entrance.

“We made it.”

Though the tension eased, it was too early to relax.

Since demons could still block our path as they did when we first entered, we gathered our last strength and ran.

And miraculously, we succeeded in escaping the “Witch’s Forest.”

“Pant… Pant…”

As we caught our breath, the sun had already dipped below the horizon, casting shadows.

Breathing out a sigh of relief, we heard the villagers searching for us in the distance.

So, on behalf of the unconscious Reyna, I mustered all my remaining strength and shouted.

“We’re here!”

Yelling as if possessed, that might have truly been my last effort as my eyelids began to droop slowly.

I needed to hold on.

I had to stay awake until help arrived.

Staggering steps approaching closer.

However, my mind and body had reached their limits, and eventually, unable to withstand the encroaching fatigue, I succumbed to sleep.

When I wake up, I will tell the adults that there is an evil witch living in the forest.

Without fail.