episode_0005

The Southern Great Forest, one of the four major magic forests on the continent.

In a village located nearby, a sinister rumor began to circulate suddenly.

The rumor was about a wicked witch who enjoyed cannibalism, having finished a long retreat and resumed her activities.

Although the rumor was sudden and unbelievable, most of the villagers dismissed it with a scoff. However, for some, the rumor instilled great fear.

The village elder, knowledgeable about the legends, and retired adventurers fairly well-versed in matters concerning the Great Forest.

Upon hearing the ominous rumor, they promptly gathered at the elder’s house as if by prior agreement, discussing and investigating the truth behind the rumor.

“So, Elder, do you believe this rumor to be true?”

“Yes, I believe the rumor to be true. The appearance of the witch described by the children perfectly matches the witch depicted in the legends.”

“But they are just children. How can you be so sure, Elder, that they are not lying? And did those kids really venture into the Great Forest?”

A place so harsh that if 100 enter, only one returns alive—a miracle is called for in such a brutal place, the Southern Great Forest.

As seasoned adventurers well aware that the young children, barely eight years old, would not return with mere light injuries, they pressed the elder even more fiercely.

“There is a way to survive. Just one way, detailed in the legends, to return unscathed from the Great Forest.”

“Is that so? Then what about those who never returned from the forest until now?”

“They become unfortunate souls who have not been chosen by the witch.”

“What?”

Unfazed by the retired adventurers’ fiery demeanor, he calmly continued speaking.

“If my memory serves me right, those who become the witch’s prey or receive her favor will not be harmed by any being in the Great Forest.”

“What does that mean?”

“It likely means that the children who recently returned to the village either became the witch’s prey or received her favor. Otherwise, it would be hard to explain how they returned unharmed.”

His words carried more conviction than expected.

As the adventurers pondered his words for a moment, they eventually, with a sense of defeat, turned to the elder with a question.

“Does this mean that the village is nearing its end?”

“If the ancient legends descending through generations are true, then yes, that would be the case. Whether becoming prey or receiving favor, the village is destined to face destruction.”

With a bitter expression, the elder shook his head despondently.

‘There seems to be no solution.’

Muttering inwardly, he sighed weakly and started gazing out the window.

Before his eyes lay a village, humble and unassuming yet brimming with happiness and joy.

Watching the village scenery absentmindedly for a while, he then shifted his gaze towards the direction of the Great Forest, contemplating where the witch might be lurking.

‘Do we really have to go down this path?’

He asked almost pleadingly, but as expected, there was no answer from the witch.

Only the night wind seemed to mockingly tickle his shimmering hair.

“Is there truly no other way?”

Gazing at the darkness of the Great Forest swallowing even the shy moonlight, he asked in a sorrowful voice.

Behind the elder, a lone adventurer quietly spoke up.

“Though success is uncertain, there is still one method remaining.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, could this item be the solution?”

In response to the elder’s query, the adventurer pulled out a modest object from his pocket, drawing everyone’s attention to it.

What kind of item could it be that offered a means to confront the dreadful witch?

With a suspicious gaze, the companions looked at his hand, but soon they exclaimed in admiration upon seeing the item.

“Rosario of the apprentice nun, how did you come by such a thing?”

“Well, I once saved the life of an apprentice nun when things were going well. We formed a bond back then, and she gave it to me.”

“…So, does that mean it could be of help from the Church if used wisely?”

The village chief sighed with relief as he fiddled with Rosario.

However, he soon furrowed his brow and asked the retired adventurer who readily offered Rosario, “Is this really okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you asking if it’s alright to use this precious item for our village? Wouldn’t it be more comfortable for an adventurer like yourself to flee to another town and live carefreely?”

Though the chief hesitated to return the faded Rosario, the retired adventurer chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.

“Do you think I can let one village perish and live carefreely on my own?”

“…”

“And I am also a resident of this village, Chief. Isn’t it natural for a villager to protect the village they live in?”

Handing the faded Rosario tightly to him, the retired adventurer cheered the chief on.

“Now, go and deliver this to the priest, Chief. Explain the situation thoroughly and seek support from the Church!”

“…Thank you, truly.”

“Gratitude is expected when it’s the right thing to do, isn’t it?”

Encouraged by the adventurers, the chief tightly held Rosario and began to run towards the cathedral to escape the lingering unease as soon as possible.

—–

“Who’s talking about me? Suddenly feeling ticklish in my ears.”

Gently scratching my earlobe to relieve the itch, the suppressed fatigue in my body suddenly rushes to my head.

It’s time to take a break.

Feeling my body gradually relax, I stretch and slowly rise from my seat.

“Ugh… Somehow managed to survive another day.”

Compared to the first day of possession, today’s adventures were thrilling, albeit on a playful level.

Almost being mistaken for a hedgehog due to stepping on Elven land treated like a plague.

Fleeing after encountering a wyvern while harvesting ugly mushrooms.

And even meeting an ogre that almost turned into a dinner feast.

…Looking at it this way, it seems quite far from the original genre.

What on earth does this damn author want to write?

Thanks to the survival-themed writer, even my weak personality is slowly starting to change.

If I continue to live as I did before, I definitely won’t survive in this damn forest.

If the novel has changed this much, wouldn’t the settings of the original characters have changed significantly too?

“I don’t know about others, but it would be really troublesome if even the protagonist’s party has changed strangely.”

The protagonist’s party in the original work was… yes, romantic lunatics would be a convenient description.

Starting with the protagonist, a possible bug, who began his journey to find a woman to marry.

A scientist dwarf who joined the party to showcase the superior dwarf technology to the world.

An orc gourmet who stuck around the protagonist to eat tastier and more diverse foods.

And even a combat-crazy elf who joined the party to confront enemies and spread the greatness of muscles.

What kind of gem-like combination is that?

Sorry, but I have no answer to that question.

The lunatic cannot understand the sane, just as the sane cannot understand the lunatic.

Anyway, let’s get back to the story.

With various settings changing, it’s certain that the protagonist party’s setup has also shifted a bit.

‘Beatrice,’ who had been living peacefully until the protagonist party arrived, is now filming a survival show, so surely something must have changed on that end too.

“I wonder what has changed? At least the author tightens the screws on these kids a bit…”

Even with just a slight tightening of the screws, it’s still manageable.

Except for the crazy parts each of them is in charge of, they are quite decent folks.

However.

“If the screws were completely removed, it would just be the original work, and if they film a survival show in the forest, it will be a mess.”

On the other hand, if the author loosened all the screws, that would truly be a disaster.

How much did Beatrice, who participated in the protagonist party in the original work, suffer?

Being pushed around by those lunatics here and there until she finally loses her mind…

“Ugh…”

I shake my head to dispel such futile thoughts.

It’s too early to think about that.

The Southern Forest part is an episode that corresponds to the middle to later part of a novel.

Since we’re still at the beginning, there is still plenty of time before the protagonist and his group arrive at the Southern Forest.

“For now, let’s not dwell on other thoughts and just focus on saving our own lives. Surviving is what will ensure a future, right?”

Smiling wryly, I walk back home feeling dejected when suddenly, one question pops into my mind.

Wait a minute, why is Beatrice the only woman among the party members?