Chapter 2: The Lure of the Witch’s Forest
The lush forest right in front of the village.
The place adults called the “Witch’s Forest,” reluctant to even set foot in it—I’d been curious about it since I could walk.
What’s in that forest?
Adults said a “man-eating witch” lived there, but was that really true?
As curiosity peeked out, a child’s reckless desire sparked my sense of adventure.
‘I want to see with my own eyes what’s in that dense forest.’
So, I asked Mom and Dad.
“Can’t I go into the forest just once? I’ll just check what’s there and come back.”
But Mom and Dad, who rarely got angry, scolded me harshly.
“Don’t even think about going into that scary forest.”
“It may look peaceful, but that forest is truly horrific.”
I got a few lashes with a switch for bringing it up, but my childish adventurous spirit didn’t waver.
Even though Mom and Dad warned me sternly and started watching me to keep me out.
The more you tell a kid not to do something, the more they want to do it.
I waited eagerly for my chance, and when their watch slipped, I sneaked off to the “Witch’s Forest” alone.
Finally, I reached the “Witch’s Forest.”
The place I worked so hard to get to wasn’t nearly as terrifying as the adults always said.
There were no demon trees that steal human souls.
No stench of rotting corpses or blood, just the fresh scent of nature tickling my nose.
How could this peaceful place be called the “Witch’s Forest”?
Was it just made to look scary to frighten us?
Scofffing at the lying village adults and my parents, I started walking back toward the village.
Next time, I’d bring my best friend Reina to explore the “Witch’s Forest” together.
The opportunity came faster than I expected.
Reina’s parents and mine had business with the village chief and left the house at the same time.
Seizing the chance, I rushed to Reina and proposed.
“Wanna go to the Witch’s Forest? I went there, and it’s not that scary.”
Reina usually listened to me, so I thought she’d agree right away.
“Well… Mom and Dad told me never to go into the forest.”
This time, oddly, she was hesitant.
Said it gave her a bad feeling.
But despite her refusal, I clung to her persistently.
“I’m telling you, it’s fine. There were no demon trees, no smell of blood or rotting corpses.”
“Witches don’t exist. They’re just made-up stories to scare us.”
After a long time persuading her, Reina finally gave in to my persistence, reluctantly grabbing a small dagger as we left together.
“Fine, Hans. Let’s go see how great this forest of yours is.”
I was thrilled to have convinced her.
It felt reassuring to have a companion for the Witch’s Forest.
Especially since that companion was Reina, my childhood friend and secret crush—I was truly happy.
Until we encountered a giant wolf right at the entrance.
*
We managed to enter the Witch’s Forest like last time.
But unlike before, the scene was completely different.
Namely.
“Grrr.”
A wolf big enough to swallow me in one bite was licking its chops behind us.
Seeing it, Reina’s face went pale as she grabbed my collar and hissed.
“Hans, you f*cking idiot.”
You said it was safe.
I could guess what she’d say next, but sadly, I didn’t hear the rest of my friend’s words.
Thud. Thud.
The giant wolf, grinning, started approaching us slowly.
So we had no choice but to run in the opposite direction, deeper into the forest.
We knew the wolf was toying with us, knew we were rats in a trap.
But we clung to the last hope of the legend: [A man-eating witch lives in the Witch’s Forest.]
Reina and I ran like crazy until our mouths tasted sweet.
Our breaths came in gasps, our hearts pounded like they’d burst, but we ran desperately to survive.
The only silver lining was that the wolf wasn’t ready to eat us yet, just strolling leisurely.
But we couldn’t know when it might change its mind, so we ran like mere toys, like prey that could be caught any moment, careful not to provoke it.
But escape always has an end.
Exhausted, Reina tripped on a rock and fell, ending our desperate flight.
“Grrrk.”
The giant wolf approached, mocking us.
It was as if it was asking, “Is that all?”
“Yeah, that’s all, you bastard. Did you enjoy toying with kids?”
Spitting venomous curses, I closed my eyes and started praying to the goddess I never believed in.
Goddess? If you save me, I’ll never skip weekend worship again.
I’ll believe in you devoutly, dedicate my life to you.
Please, just save me this once, okay?
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
The wolf’s steps echoed as it approached us.
At this rate, we’d end up as meat in its stomach.
I stopped praying to the goddess, wrapped my arms around Reina, and wailed like a beast.
“Someone, anyone, please…”
Save us.
I closed my eyes, bracing for the pain to come.
But.
“Huh?”
No matter how long I waited, the pain didn’t come.
Did the wolf kill me instantly?
No, I could still feel my heart pounding.
What happened? Why did the giant wolf stop attacking?
I cautiously opened my eyes and scanned around, soon discovering why.
Rustle, rustle.
In the silent forest, where not even birds chirped, the sound of quiet footsteps began to echo.
A dull gray robe clashing with the vibrant nature, an eerily doll-like appearance too suspicious for the deep forest.
A beautiful woman holding a basket full of inedible poisonous herbs and a large cleaver appeared before the wolf.
“Grrr.”
The wolf, so far relaxed, suddenly bristled and went on guard.
Ignoring Reina and me as prey, it stopped licking its chops and stared only at the woman.
Then, as if fully prepared, it charged at her.
Brandishing its fierce claws and vicious teeth for all to see.
But.
Thud!
The beautiful woman threw the large cleaver, instantly killing the charging wolf.
The cleaver struck the wolf, splitting it from head to tail, soaking her in its hot blood.
“Soaking” might be an understatement—she was drenched.
Unfazed by the sticky blood, the woman expressionlessly pulled the cleaver from the ground.
Then, holding the blood-dripping cleaver, she slowly approached Reina and me.
With the same menacing smile the wolf had shown us.
Of course, it might not be what I think.
Dad always said judging people by appearances is wrong.
But only one sentence filled my mind.
[The Witch’s Forest is home to a terrifying man-eating witch.]
The legend the village adults told, that a horribly evil witch lived in the forest before the village.
Sure, judging by appearances is wrong, but anyone could see she was a bad witch.
Black hair and eyes symbolizing night, darkness, and shadow.
A sleek, seductive figure to enchant prey.
A large cleaver carried to hack something apart anytime, anywhere.
And a basket full of poisonous herbs, picked for who-knows-what reason.
She was too much like a witch to claim otherwise, so I urged the fallen Reina to get up.
“Run! It’s a man-eating witch!!!”
Thankfully, Reina had caught her breath, and we started fleeing the forest to escape the witch.
My leg muscles felt like they’d tear, but I gritted my teeth and pushed on.
My heart pounded like it would burst, but getting caught meant death, so I ignored it and ran.
We ran frantically for a while.
*
“I’m alive.”
The tension melted away, but it was too soon to relax.
Another monster could block our path like before, so we mustered our last strength and ran.
And miraculously, we escaped the “Witch’s Forest.”
“Huff… huff…”
As we escaped, the sun was dipping below the horizon, darkening the sky.
Catching my breath and sighing in relief, I heard village adults calling for us in the distance.
With Reina already fainted, I mustered my last strength to shout.
“Over here!!!”
Yelling with all my might, as if it was truly my last effort, my eyelids began to close.
I had to hold on.
I had to stay awake until we were carried away.
Step, step.
The sound of the adults’ footsteps grew closer.
But my mind and body had reached their limit, and I couldn’t fight the sleep overtaking me.
When I wake up, I’ll tell the adults an evil witch lives in the forest.
I swear.