Black Forest (3)

Beatrice stared at the moonlight flowing onto the desk. The Chaos Crystal placed by the lab window glowed like a red blood vessel.

“It’s not easy after all…”

She sighed, flipping through the parchment filled with spells and research formulas. After staying up for days, her vision blurred.

“Still not sleeping?”

Haru opened the lab door. The warm scent of black tea spread.

“Sleep is a luxury for a witch.”

Beatrice replied without even looking up. But her nose naturally twitched at the scent of black tea.

“Here.”

She took the teacup Haru offered. The sweet scent seemed to wash away her fatigue.

“You’ve been working hard lately. Did you want to help me that much?”

Beatrice choked on her black tea.

“Don’t get the wrong idea! I just want to kick you out as soon as possible.”

“So that’s why you’re researching all night.”

“O-Of course! I need to send a troublesome guest like you away as quickly as possible…”

Her voice trailed off. Her face flushed at Haru’s playful smile.

She lowered her gaze to the desk and muttered.

“…And it’s dangerous if you do it alone.”

“Huh?”

“No, it’s nothing!”

Beatrice hurriedly got up. The hem of her black dress fluttered.

The next morning, sunlight began to shine through the lab window.

Beatrice checked the magic circle she had prepared all night. The formulas drawn on the parchment sparkled in the light.

“Alright, let’s get started. No time to waste.”

The two headed to an open space away from the cabin. Haru took out the Chaos Crystal from his subspace.

“Then now…”

As Haru tried to infuse magic power into the crystal, Beatrice was startled.

“Wait! What are you doing?”

“Huh? Trying to enhance it…”

“Are you crazy? It’ll explode if you do it so recklessly!”

“Ah, sorry. Did I worry you?”

“It’s not that I’m worried about you! I’m worried my precious forest will be ruined if it explodes!”

Beatrice quickly began to draw formulas.

A complex magic circle was etched on the ground. Intertwined patterns filled the floor like a spider web. The witch’s black magic flowed through the magic circle.

“Like this, laying down auxiliary spells… and adding a stabilization formula too…”

“Wow, that’s amazing?”

“Hmph, of course. I’m the witch who created the unique magic, ‘Black Forest’.”

Beatrice answered smugly. But the dark circles under her eyes clearly showed the traces of her all-nighters.

“Now, bring the crystal here.”

As Haru held out the Chaos Crystal, Beatrice’s eyes gleamed. The red magic inside the crystal pulsed like a heart.

“Okay, now slowly…”

Haru’s magic power flowed into the crystal. Beatrice’s formulas enveloped it, stabilizing it.

The red veins in the crystal gradually turned transparent.

“It’s a success!”

“But we still have a long way to go.”

Beatrice muttered, looking into the crystal.

‘It’s okay if it takes a little longer…’

She shook her head, surprised by her own thoughts.

‘What am I doing! I have to send him away quickly…’

“Why are you shaking your head?”

“Ah, it’s nothing!”

Flustered, Beatrice hurriedly cleaned up the magic circle.

“That’s it for today! I’m tired, so I’ll stop here…”

“Huh? It’s still early…”

“Shut up! The witch’s research is the witch’s business!”

But before she could finish speaking, she staggered. The fatigue that had accumulated over the past few days hit her all at once.

“Be careful.”

Haru quickly caught her.

“L-Let go!”

Beatrice struggled, but she had no strength.

“Let’s rest for now. There’s always tomorrow.”

“But…”

‘If the crystal stabilizes like this… you’ll leave…’

Her heart felt heavy.

“Tomorrow… tomorrow it will take more time.”

She muttered softly.

“Really?”

“…Yeah.”

Beatrice lowered her head. She was ashamed of her selfish heart.

“Then let’s take it slow. There’s no need to rush.”

Haru’s voice was gentle.

Beatrice’s steps faltered. Haru’s arm carefully wrapped around her waist.

“Let’s go rest now.”

“Hmph, I’m fine.”

Despite her boastful words, the hand gripping his arm tightly showed her strength.

The fatigue was already gone. Thanks to the life force connected to the Black Forest, any human weakness was instantly healed.

But Beatrice didn’t let go of Haru’s arm.

‘Just a little… just a little more…’

Walking together, his body temperature was transmitted to her. The time she had spent alone felt insignificant, and now she wasn’t lonely.

“Hey, I can walk alone now…”

“Shut up!”

Before Haru could finish speaking, Beatrice gripped his arm even tighter.

“I-It’s your duty to support a witch. Got it?”

Haru chuckled.

“What! What’s with that laugh! I got tired because of you in the first place!”

“Alright, alright.”

‘This is… a first.’

Relying on someone. Feeling someone’s warmth.

Beatrice felt her heart pounding wildly.

‘Just a little… like this…’

And so, the two walked slowly along the path.

It was a path that took twice as long as usual, but Beatrice wasn’t in a hurry at all.

Back at the cabin, Beatrice covered her face, ashamed of her actions.

The moment she had been holding onto his arm kept replaying in her mind.

‘Is it because he’s a hero… he’s quite muscular… ugh…’

She felt her face heating up. She needed to escape this situation quickly.

“Drink this!”

“Suddenly?”

“Are you saying you won’t drink the tea that the witch is offering you?”

She said, pouting her lips.

Beatrice brewed black roses. Roses containing deadly poison. The pitch-black tea turned red.

“Again?”

“What?”

“Poison?”

The tips of Beatrice’s ears turned bright red.

“N-No! This time, really…”

Although they were flowers containing deadly poison, it varied greatly depending on how they were brewed. If soaked directly in hot water, they became deadly poison, but if treated with a special reagent, they became the finest tea.

Haru sighed and picked up the teacup.

“Why all of a sudden after not doing it lately?”

“Don’t drink it if you don’t want to!”

But it was already too late. Haru took a sip of the tea and smiled.

“Rose tea? It’s delicious.”

“Ugh…”

Beatrice wanted to collapse on the spot.

“How… how again…”

“Poison tea has its own flavor.”

Haru asked playfully.

“Die! Just die already!”

Beatrice shouted, covering her face.

“This is so frustrating!”

“Why are you so fickle? You were kind this morning.”

‘Because you keep being so kind… it’s making my heart feel strange…’

“Hmph! Isn’t it natural since I’m a witch?”

Haru smiled and took another sip of the tea.

“I think I’m addicted after drinking it. Is there any more?”

“Ughhh! That’s enough!”

Beatrice ran away as if fleeing. She tried to cool her flushed face, but the warmth in her heart wouldn’t subside.

She clenched the hem of her black dress and muttered.

“Next time… next time, I’ll make it even more poisonous…”

But even those words now sounded like they had a new meaning.

Her face flushed again at that thought. Beatrice leaned her forehead against the wall and sighed.

“What is this, like a girl in love… really… how foolish…”

As the days passed, the Chaos Crystal became increasingly transparent. Beatrice wore a satisfied smile. The research with Haru was progressing more smoothly than expected.

That’s when it happened.

Kuung-!

The ground shook. The bookshelf trembled, and magic books fell to the floor.

“What is this…”

Beatrice’s eyes widened. The Black Forest began to writhe.

The trees visible through the window twisted. Black vines swirled through the air like tentacles.

“Beatrice, this is…”

“Just a moment!”

She quickly chanted a spell. Black magic flowed into the forest.

But the forest showed no signs of calming down. Instead, it thrashed even more violently.

“No… why is it doing this…”

Beatrice’s hands trembled. This was the first time this had happened. The Black Forest, which she had always controlled perfectly…

Kukukung-!

An even greater tremor struck.

“Watch out!”

Haru grabbed the crystal. At that moment, the window shattered, and black vines poured in.

“Haru, get out of the way!”

Beatrice shouted, but it was already too late. The vines wrapped around Haru’s ankles.

‘No…’

Her heart pounded. The fear of losing him overwhelmed her.

“This bastard…”

Beatrice cast an even more powerful spell. But the magic power wouldn’t gather properly. As her emotions intensified, her control over the magic power faltered.

“Why is it doing this…”

The tips of Beatrice’s fingers trembled. The flow of magic power scattered haphazardly. The impure energy made the Black Forest even more frenzied.

‘I… I made such a mistake…’

It was her fault that the forest was starving. All this time, she had been letting humans live for Haru’s sake. She had taken away the Black Forest’s sacrifices.

But there was an even bigger problem. Her feelings for Haru.

She had always been alone. So she thought she had even forgotten loneliness. But the time she spent with Haru had awakened that emptiness.

The warm soup he made every morning.

The moments she secretly watched him chop wood.

His smile as he accepted her clumsy cooking.

‘Once the stabilization work is complete, Haru will leave… forever…’

Just the thought of it broke her heart. Her wavering heart disrupted her magic power, and that unstable magic power further stimulated the Black Forest.

“Beatrice!”

Haru’s shout brought her back to her senses. Black vines wrapped around his waist.

“No… no!”

She chanted a spell, but it was useless. The more intense the witch’s emotions became, the more violent the forest became.

‘Please, calm down… please!’

But it was already too late. Her perfect control had collapsed. The forest even refused its master’s orders.

The Black Forest roared even more fiercely. Now, even Beatrice was being wrapped in vines.

“H… Haru…”

Her voice trembled. She couldn’t save him. No, she couldn’t even save herself.

‘Is this the end…’

Beatrice closed her eyes. The time she had spent alone flashed before her eyes like a panorama.

And finally, the short moments she had spent with Haru covered it all.

Black vines wrapped around their bodies. Beatrice gathered the last of her remaining magic power.

“This is…”

At that moment, the vines surrounding Haru loosened. The last remaining magic power released his restraints.

“Beatrice!”

“Go! Hurry!”

Beatrice screamed. The vines tightened around her neck.

“I can’t leave you here…”

“If you stay here, the vines will attack again!”

Haru drew his holy sword. But Beatrice shook her head.

“It’s no use… this is my magic. I can’t escape the Black Forest anyway.”

“But still…”

“Are you worried about the Chaos Crystal? Don’t worry.”

Beatrice smiled bitterly.

“Actually, the stabilization work is almost finished. All that’s left is the finishing touches. You can do that alone.”

Haru’s eyes widened.

“Now go! There’s no need to risk your life for a witch like me!”

Beatrice’s voice rose. The Black Forest thrashed even more.

“I was trying to kill you from the beginning! Every night, I looked at you while you were sleeping and imagined how to kill you. With poison if that failed, with a curse if that failed, with a monster if that failed…”

It was a lie. But to save him…

“Get out of here right now! You’re just a pretentious hero. Pretending to be noble, saying you’ll save the world!”

Beatrice’s voice became sharp. A cold cynicism spread in her trembling tears.

“Pretending to be kind, pretending to be righteous… I hate people like you the most! Saying you’ll save a witch? Don’t make me laugh!”

The tips of her fingers trembled. But she had to keep going. To save him.

“I am the witch of this Black Forest. An existence that can’t be with a hero!”

She spat out curses. But Haru didn’t back down.

“I’m… I’m a bad witch! I’ve killed so many people!”

Tears flowed from Beatrice’s eyes.

“Everyone who came into this forest… I didn’t let a single one live. I made them all food for the forest!”

Haru still stood his ground.

“So go… please go…”

Before Beatrice could finish speaking, the black vines moved again. They aimed sharp thorns at Haru.

‘Please… just once, listen to me.’

Beatrice’s eyes were filled with desperation. Tears streamed down her pale cheeks.

Even the witch, stained entirely in black, had tears that were clear and transparent.

“A bad witch, huh…”

“Yes! A witch who isn’t worth saving… just leave her and go…!”

“…Well, she is a bad witch.”

Beatrice’s heart felt like it stopped. Yes, this is right. It’s natural for it to end like this. I’m just a bad witch after all…

A small smile spread across Haru’s lips.

“But she’s a good witch to me.”

Beatrice’s eyes widened. She was breathless.

Black vines wrapped around his ankles, but Haru’s gaze didn’t waver.