Black Forest (4)

,She’s a good witch to me.”

At Haru’s words, Beatrice’s heart seemed to stop. Black vines wrapped around his ankles, but Haru’s eyes didn’t waver.

,What… what did you say?”

,She’s a good witch. She makes me rose tea every morning…”

,That… that was poison tea!”

,But it was still delicious.”

Haru smiled. Beatrice’s face turned red.

,Even though she’s bad at cooking, she still works hard to make it…”

,Sh… Shut up! That was just an experiment!”

The black vines tightened around Haru’s waist. But his voice was still gentle.

,She stays up all night researching to help me…”

Beatrice’s pupils trembled. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

,Th… That’s just because I wanted to get rid of you quickly…”

,Her eyes sparkle when she sees frogs and thinks they’re cute…”

,That’s a lie! I never did that!”

But at Haru’s words, Beatrice’s voice cracked.

,She’s also good with her hands. When I went into your room, there were tons of dolls of me, you know?”

,Stop… stop it…”

Beatrice’s shoulders trembled. As her emotions intensified, the Black Forest also convulsed.

,That’s…”

,And you’ve given me poison dozens of times, but you never really intended to kill me, did you?”

Beatrice’s eyes widened.

,How did you…?”

,I’ve been watching you all along.”

Haru took a step closer. The vines wrapped around his ankles, but he didn’t care.

,And you deliberately let the adventurers go alive in front of me.”

,Stop…”

,Besides, you just did it too. You used up your last bit of magic to save me.”

,Stop it…!”

Tears flowed from Beatrice’s eyes.

,Please… don’t do this…’

But Haru didn’t stop. The vines wrapped around his body, but he took another step forward.

,Why… why are you doing this…”

,If I’ve received help, I have to repay it. Whether you’re a bad witch or whatever… that doesn’t matter.”

Beatrice’s tears didn’t stop.

,Go… please… do you want to die with me…?”

,I’m not going to die. And if it looks like I’m really going to die, I’ll run away then.”

,Idiot… you stupid idiot…”

The black vines completely enveloped them both. But Haru held her hand tightly.

Beatrice grabbed his hand with her last bit of strength.

For the first time, she cherished the warmth of someone.

That’s when it happened.

,Wait, I’ve got a good idea.”

Haru grinned. In a world full of black, the Chaos Crystal glowed red.

,Wait… could it be…”

Beatrice’s eyes widened. Haru’s magic flowed into the crystal.

,No! That’s…”

But it was already too late. Magic that could shake the heavens poured into the crystal.

Kukung-!

The earth shook. The red veins of the translucent crystal glowed as if they were burning. The surrounding trees staggered.

,Are you crazy?!”

Beatrice screamed. But Haru still had a smile on his face.

,Stop! Such reckless…”

The Chaos Crystal was dyed red again. Unstable magic burst out in all directions.

Kukung-!

The Black Forest convulsed. At first, it tried to devour the gushing magic, but soon it realized something was wrong. The Chaos Crystal burned like a small sun. The forest hesitated at the immense energy it couldn’t handle.

,Dawn!”

Haru drew the Holy Sword. The radiance of Dawn brightly illuminated the clearing.

He cut off the vines that bound him one by one, and released Beatrice’s restraints.

Haru thrust the Holy Sword into the writhing black earth without hesitation.

,Beatrice. Now it’s your turn.”

She understood immediately. The exquisite balance created by the rampaging magic and the Holy Sword’s calming effect.

,Now I… Now I understand.’

The essence of the Black Forest that had bound her all this time.

Her magic burst out, shaking the earth.

,Forest, I dissolve all past contracts.”

Her magic flowed along the earth. Intricate formulas intertwined like black threads embroidered the ground.

Beatrice’s fingertips sliced through the air. The old magic circles that made up the forest crumbled.

The patterns of a new contract bloomed under the moonlight. This time, it wasn’t a pattern of bondage, but of resonance.

,Now I understand. The forest wasn’t my enemy.’

Magic exploded. The knowledge she had accumulated transformed into formulas and enveloped the forest.

The trees trembled. This time, it wasn’t hunger, but joy.

,There will be no more bondage or subjugation.”

The black thread patterns dug into the heart of the forest. They merged into one will, one existence.

,We were… one.’

Beatrice realized.

,Now, welcome the true master.”

Her magic filled every corner of the forest. This time, there was no more struggle or resistance.

Only perfect harmony.

Under the moonlight, a new contract was completed. No longer the Witch of the Black Forest, but the true master who had become one with the forest.

,Hmm… should I call it the Witch’s Black Forest instead of the Black Forest Witch now?”

Haru said playfully.

,…You’re making jokes even in this situation.”

Beatrice sighed. But a smile spread across her face.

,That idiot… I don’t even hate this side of him anymore.’

A corner of her heart warmed. Now she couldn’t deny it anymore. The identity of this emotion.

Beatrice bit her lip for a long time under the moonlight. Stories she couldn’t bring herself to tell, memories she had buried deep in her heart for a long time, rose to her throat.

,…Will you listen?”

Haru nodded without a word.

,We just… wanted to study magic.”

Beatrice’s expression became serious.

,I wasn’t a witch from the beginning. I was just an ordinary girl who liked to read books. Living with my mother and sisters… exploring the mysteries of magic.”

Her hand tightly gripped the hem of her black dress.

,But people were afraid of us. They hate what they don’t understand… and attack when they’re afraid.”

Her red eyes became moist.

,At first, it was whispers. Then it became stone throwing… and finally, it became the stake.”

Her voice trembled.

,My mother… burned to death in front of my eyes. My sisters were beheaded in the square… and my friends…”

Beatrice took a deep breath. Even though five hundred years had passed, the memories of that day were still vivid.

,So I created this Black Forest. So that no one could hurt me anymore. And…”

She bit her lip.

,…To take revenge.”

Silence fell. Haru was quietly listening to her story.

,I don’t regret it. I will continue to protect this forest. And for that… for that, I can eat as many humans or whatever as I need to.”

Haru nodded.

,Okay. Do as you please. But don’t eat me.”

,What… what the hell! At this important moment…!”

Beatrice flared up. But she was speechless at his playful smile.

,Or should I do a confession? Now, in the name of the hero, I forgive all your past sins…”

,Eii…! Who do you think needs your forgiveness? And it’s all your fault that the forest went berserk!”

,What are you talking about?”

Her voice gradually became smaller.

,Because… I… you… ugh… I’ve come to like you…”

The last words were barely audible.

,Ah, speaking of which.”

Haru suddenly changed the subject.

,I need to stabilize the Chaos Crystal again… will you help me?”

,…What?”

,In return, I’ll teach you how to cook. Not just how to make poison anymore, but real cooking.”

Beatrice’s eyes widened.

,Now… now, in this situation, you’re saying that…”

Laughter burst out.

,You’re really… an impossible person.”

Her laughter echoed softly under the moonlight. As if all time was melting away.

,Okay… fine.”

Beatrice smiled gently.

,I’ll do as you wish… just this once.”

***

,It’s finally complete.”

Beatrice looked at the transparently glowing Chaos Crystal. A week’s worth of work had come to an end. There was no more room for excuses.

,I have to go now.”

Haru said as he packed the crystal. Beatrice was silent. She gripped and released the hem of her black dress.

,Okay… go then.”

She tried to make her voice sound calm. Because a witch shouldn’t long for someone.

Haru’s footsteps grew further away. Beatrice watched his back. Silently, without moving.

The Black Forest rustled. It seemed to whisper, ,Catch him.’ But Beatrice shook her head.

,Not yet… not yet.’

Beatrice returned to the cabin and looked at the room Haru had used.

,Hehe… it’ll be quiet now.”

Her laughter trembled.

,Finally, the annoying guest is gone.”

Her words trailed off.

,Now there won’t be soup or firewood every morning… or anyone to bother me…”

Tears fell. Beatrice quickly wiped them away.

,This is… not like a witch.”

But the tears didn’t stop. She was overwhelmed by the feeling of longing for someone.

Beatrice looked out the window. The Black Forest stretched endlessly under the moonlight.

Beatrice looked at the room Haru had left. The chair he had sat in, the table where he had read books, even the teacup he had used to drink black tea. Everything held his traces.

,This feeling is… new.’

Her heart warmed. Pure affection, which she had never felt in five hundred years, filled her heart.

,Now I finally understand…”

The walls of darkness that had imprisoned her crumbled.

The truth she realized by becoming one with the forest. In the end, what she wanted was just one thing.

,To be loved.’

Moonlight seeped through the window.

,I won’t… be alone anymore.’

Black magic bloomed from her fingertips. The forest became even denser.

,The Black Forest is me… and I am the Black Forest. We’re already one, right?”

There was no more hesitation or fear.

,Then… if the whole world becomes the Black Forest…”

Her laughter echoed under the moonlight.

,Haru will be by my side forever. Wherever he is, whatever he does… if he’s in the Black Forest, we’ll always be together.”

Beatrice looked out the window. The endless darkness welcomed her.

Madness flickered in Beatrice’s eyes. But deep affection was also embedded within.

,Hehe… just wait a little longer. I’ll build you an even bigger house soon.”

The earth roared. The Black Forest began to expand. Endlessly, without stopping.

,I love you… because I really love you.”

Black vines dug into the earth. The trees trembled. This time, it wasn’t fear or terror, but anticipation.

,Forever… let’s be together.”

The witch’s laughter echoed.