episode_0080

“I wasn’t devoured.”

Feeling intense agony, the boy awoke on the bed, realizing that he was still alive.

I didn’t die this time either.

Though relieved, the boy couldn’t speak due to the excruciating pain coursing through his body.

“Ugh…”

Was it because he fought prepared to die?

His body was more battered than when he first opened his eyes in the cabin.

Back then, he could at least move, but now he had no strength to even twitch a finger.

With an empty heart and unable to receive any aid from Olero’s support.

The boy attempted to turn his head to look out the window, where he could at least see something.

But at that moment,

“Saeak… Saeak…”

Faint breathing sounds came from beside him.

…

Instead of looking out the window, the boy turned his head towards the source of the breathing.

There lay the witch who had nursed him, her face buried in the pillow, apparently having fallen asleep.

An unguarded sight she had never shown before.

Briefly blushing at her pitiful appearance, which he had never seen before, the boy soon found a gentle smile on her face.

…A witch whose words and actions were completely different.

Perhaps she was not used to dealing with people, hence her earlier harshness.

It could have been a misconception, but the boy didn’t think so at all.

He had seen people similar to the witch in his own family a few times.

Cold in words but warm-hearted individuals.

Thinking this way, the boy no longer disliked the witch.

“Ugh…”

Sensing his gaze, the witch slowly opened her eyes.

Then, she sighed deeply as she looked at the boy.

“…You’re so weak that you can’t even be devoured.”

“It would take a while to devour you. If luck isn’t on my side, I might see the before I can devour you.”

Truly, where would one find a fool like me.

The witch poured a potion down the boy’s throat, despite his protests.

The cold potion caused the boy to scream in pain as it stung his wounds, but the witch paid no heed.

“Be quiet. If you make noise like that, another horde of demons might come rushing in.”

“I have my limits when it comes to protecting you. If I’m endangered because of you, I won’t hesitate to throw you to the demon horde.”

Forced to close his mouth by the witch’s chilling voice, the boy did not want to commit further rudeness in addition to being unable to repay her kindness.

As the boy reluctantly closed his mouth, the witch gently stroked his head.

She then said, “You’re struggling to survive. But that sight isn’t bad.”

Although the voice sounded warmer than before, unfortunately, it was short-lived.

As if testing the boy’s patience, the witch applied another potion to his body.

“This will hurt a bit, but you can endure it, right?”

“Well, if you don’t want to be devoured by demons, you have no choice but to endure it.”

Of course, the boy thought he could endure it.

How painful could it be? Would it be more agonizing than being humiliated by demons?

However, as the boy’s thoughts seemed feeble, a distant pain began to engulf his entire body.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

And just like that, the boy lost consciousness again.

——

The cohabitation between the boy and the witch continued even after the boy recovered.

However, things were quite different from before he got injured.

Despite the witch’s cold demeanor, the boy always maintained a smile.

He tirelessly worked to find his purpose.

In the end,

“The food tastes a bit better today.”

The boy could finally prove his worth.

Upon proving his worth, the witch gradually reduced her cold treatment towards the boy.

The boy occasionally praised and, despite his brusque demeanor, even exchanged gifts with the witch.

Living with her was quite enjoyable for the boy.

Though simpler compared to where he originally lived, the witch was a captivating presence.

However, he also felt worried.

It had been two months since he ran away from his family.

If he belonged to another noble family, he might have just been considered a ‘dropout’ and not worried much. But his family was different; it was clear that they would make efforts to rescue him.

The boy thought to himself.

“I have to go back.”

“If I delay, irreversible things will happen.”

Having experienced the family’s ways, he knew that they would never be able to rescue him.

Only the owner of the cabin, the witch, could send him back.

But…

“…Will the witch send me back?”

He began to doubt.

Having already proven his worth to the witch, would she really let him go?

Approaching her first and then trying to escape—would the witch allow that?

“It doesn’t seem likely.”

Therefore, the boy changed his mind.

Maybe he shouldn’t return alone but with the witch to the family?

With such a powerful witch by his side, the family might not refuse.

So when the witch returned to the cabin, the boy asked.

“Are you not planning to leave the forest?”

“Do you not plan to go back with me to my family?”

He asked with a hint of anticipation, but the witch’s response was clear.

“Sorry, that’s not a very appealing offer.”

It was a clear rejection.

—–

The next day, the witch said she had research to do and left early in the morning.

She mentioned not to worry about dinner as she would return late, instructing the boy to sleep early.

Left alone, the boy tossed and turned on his bed, pondering.

How could he escape from the forest?

What could he do to leave this place without upsetting the witch?

After much tossing and turning, as the sun rose, the boy had no choice but to stop thinking.

No matter how much he thought, he couldn’t come up with a good idea without betraying the kind witch who had saved him.

Completely exhausted, the boy turned his gaze towards the bookshelf filled with spellbooks.

“Should I read that?”

As he looked at the shelf, the boy suddenly remembered what the witch had said.

“If you’re bored, you can look at the spellbooks on the shelf. Of course, reading spellbooks won’t be fun at all.”

“Just so you know, never read the thick book on the desk. It’s a very dangerous book.”

Permission to read spellbooks, and a warning not to read the thick book on the desk.

But as it often happens, when you’re told not to do something, you become more curious. Strangely, the boy’s attention was drawn to the thick book on the desk.

Despite feeling nothing unusual, why was it considered dangerous?

After hesitantly touching the book for a while, the boy cautiously opened it.

And…

[Imperial Calendar Year 478, April 6th, Diary]

He could find some very interesting content.

A diary of the witch…

Although he thought he shouldn’t read it, the boy quickly closed the book, yet an unidentified force called curiosity spurred the boy’s desire.

“The witch is coming back late anyway, right? So if I read it and put it back in its place, it should be fine, right?”

Persuaded by curiosity, the boy, feeling guilty, carefully unfolded the book.

Honestly, he was curious. What was the real face of the seemingly cold witch like?

And so, the boy slowly began to read the diary.

[Imperial Calendar Year 423, April 6th, Diary]

While gathering herbs, I found a dying boy.

He seemed to have wandered into the forest and gotten lost… I couldn’t just pass by, so I rescued him.

[Imperial Calendar Year 423, April 8th, Diary]

The boy opened his eyes! It was amazing that he survived and pretending to sleep was cute, but I figured I should wake him up since he probably needs to eat first.

But, there seems to be a big misunderstanding… Using him as an ingredient for the ‘Chimera’? Isn’t that too much for me, with so close at hand?

Why am I doing such a clumsy and bothersome thing!

I got irritated for no reason and gave the boy stew… There seemed to be something wrong with the stew.

I’m sorry… Huhu… I really didn’t know it was poisonous…..

[Imperial Calendar Year 423, April 11th, Diary]

…I seem to be speaking too harshly to the kid.

The poor kid, not feeling well, kept trying to do something, so I spat out words like a scolding, but the kid’s expression wasn’t good at all.

Am I… really trash? How could I say such things like useless and insignificant to the kid?

I should apologize later. The day to apologize… I don’t know when it will come.

[Imperial Calendar Year 423, April 16th, Diary]

While I went out for a walk, the kid went outside.

The monsters were still lurking around, so I threatened to kill them to warn them… I must have been really scared and hated it.

I hurried to rescue him… but he seemed more injured than before, and his life seemed in danger.

I was so cruel… Why don’t I understand what moderation is?

[Imperial Calendar Year 423, April 18th, Diary]

The boy woke up! Pouring the elixir I had saved seemed to have some effect in saving his life!

However… pouring such a strong potion might have caused him to faint again…

Was it too harsh to tell him not to scream when he must have been in so much pain?

I feel sorry again… Hoo…

.

.

.

[Imperial Calendar Year 423, June 2nd, Diary]

It seems the boy wants to go back home.

When he asked to go together, I was truly happy as if I could leap, but…

I’m sorry about this; I can’t go back with you. I’ll reach soon.

At the mention of , the boy cocked his head.

What does that mean? Does it imply something bad will happen to the witch?

But the boy’s time for questioning was short-lived.

From behind, a chilling voice echoed endlessly.

‘You just pick and choose everything I tell you not to do.’

There was a palpable sense of disappointment in the witch’s voice and expression, enough for the boy to feel it.

Shocked, the boy dropped the diary to the floor.