The Witch in the Sleeping Forest (4)
I kicked off the ground and charged forward, thrusting my fist out lightly.
Muhwan (Mist Return) - Wave Fist
Thud.
The fist slammed precisely into the Giant Wolf's side.
It was an awfully light sound for an impact.
But its power was anything but light.
"……!"
The Giant Wolf's body floated into the air.
Silver fur rippled like waves from the point of impact.
Then, eyes rolled back, it smashed through trees as it flew away.
"Whoa."
Crunch!
The Giant Wolf gnashed its jaws fiercely in midair.
I leaned back to dodge the bite, then simultaneously raised my knee and elbow.
"You shouldn't bite."
Crack!
I drove the raised elbow down.
Hit by both knee and elbow at once, the Giant Wolf's bones shattered as it collapsed.
"Grraaawr!"
"Tch."
Monsters, alright.
Even watching their kin die right in front of them, they felt no fear and charged again.
Clicking my tongue, I quietly raised my right hand.
I didn't clench my fist.
Instead, I sharpened my hand into a blade.
From the blade edge, up the wrist to the arm.
Thick mist gathered.
Black mist sharpened to a razor's edge.
Smoke - Muin (Mist Blade)
Not as powerful as swinging my claws.
Still, the mist blade held tremendous power as it slashed horizontally.
The massive blade cleaved through everything in its path.
Trees, rocks.
Even wolves.
The blade didn't stop.
It severed everything.
Firing the mist slash, I leaped forward after it.
A little farther.
A little faster.
Take out the monsters.
"……U, uwoooo!"
The caravan folk stared at me blankly.
The first to snap out of it was the caravan leader.
He raised his sword high, rousing the dazed group.
"We're helping Hans too! Charge!"
"Rip these dog beasts to shreds!"
"Gaza!"
The survivors charged the wolves.
But none headed my way.
Figured I could handle it alone.
They probably thought that.
Spot on.
I smirked watching them fight hard.
They weren't weaklings either.
Every one of them was B-rank or higher by Earth standards.
No need to worry about that side.
Exhaling calmly, I punched the wolves still charging fearlessly.
"Hoo……."
Thud.
I slumped onto the blood-soaked ground, catching my breath and surveying the area.
"It's over."
Hundreds of Giant Wolves that attacked.
All turned into cold corpses.
Breathing steady, I turned to check on the others.
"Any casualties?"
"None, thankfully!"
"No graves to dig. The heavens saved us. Or should I say Hans did?"
The leader said that, gazing at me from afar.
Blood dripped from the arm of his right-hand man, who smiled at me.
Injured, but no deaths—he was genuinely relieved.
"Thanks, Hans. No one died thanks to you."
"No big deal."
"Let's move out quick. Other beasts might smell the blood."
"Yes!"
"Head away from here to the stream. Wash up and set camp."
Fatigue was no joke.
We'd spotted a stream on the way, so we decided to camp there overnight.
Injuries weren't severe, so prep was fast.
The whole caravan reached the stream quickly.
They set up camp near it, quick as yesterday.
Fire lit, pot up.
I'd roughly washed the blood off and headed to the wagon for ingredients.
That's when.
"B-big trouble!"
A loud voice echoed.
Eyes wide, I turned to the source.
The laborer who'd cooked with me last night stared pale at the wagon.
"Th-the food wagon's been ransacked!"
"What!?"
The leader rushed to check.
I peered from behind.
Just as said—one wagon totally emptied.
……When?
No Giant Wolves neared the wagons.
It was fine until we got here.
But now it's looted.
When did it happen?
Thinking that, I unconsciously looked at Gini.
"……Ah."
Gini watching us from afar.
Innocent face, but that's how I realized.
"So that's what you meant."
Omen's words: 'It'll be hard to change too much.'
Now I get it.
The wagon wasn't looted.
Just, in the original dream, it wasn't.
Current events shaped by memory.
"……Big trouble."
Face grim, the leader eyed the gnawed wagon.
Month-long journey.
Packed extra food tight for emergencies, all gone.
Leader racked his brain to overcome.
Then, a small head popped up beside him.
"Um…… Master."
"Gini, hold on."
"No, uh…… this grass. It's edible."
Gini pointed at grass under a tree.
Leader's brow twitched.
"What're you saying, Gini."
"It's herbs. Bitter, but edible."
"R-really?"
"Stream right there, so fish too. Ah! N-not 'cause I like fish!"
"……."
"Before slavery, abandoned in woods. Starved, so learned what's safe."
Gini scratched her cheek sheepishly.
Leader chuckled at her, then ruffled her hair wildly.
"You little golden nugget. You found our way out."
"M-me……?"
"Yeah. No food? Make some. Everyone, overtime! Roll up pants, fish first!"
"Yes!"
Way out found.
They split tasks: fishing, foraging.
Tiny Gini in the middle, timidly sorting safe from not.
Ingredients piled up.
I stroked my chin, eyeing fish and veggies.
"How to cook this."
What to make.
Decided to ask Gini nearby.
"Soup or grill. Pick."
"S-soup……."
So, humming, I prepped for soup.
Others still foraging, so Gini helped me.
"Gini, fetch water?"
"Yes!"
This grass strong-scented—better soak to mellow.
Gini took bowl to stream.
"Hey, Gini."
"Eep!?"
Voice from side froze her.
She turned stiffly.
Revil, head bowed, handed her something.
"Left in wagon. For stew."
"Wh-what is it……?"
"Potato."
"Po-potato! That's a potato?"
Gini nodded, returned with bowl and potato.
I watched pretending not to notice, then asked innocently.
"Gini, what's that?"
"Potato!"
"I see."
Nodding, I took the potato, inspected carefully.
Looks normal.
But instinct screamed no.
Then.
Only way: eat it.
Eyes squeezed shut, I bit deep.
"Ahh……!"
Gini sighed at me eating alone.
Half gone, I crunched crispy potato fast.
……Just potato?
Taste like raw potato.
Texture too.
Just normal potato…….
"Cough."
Cough from mouth.
Hand clamped reflexively, then I looked.
"B-blood……!"
Red on hand.
Gini's panicked voice muffled, like underwater.
Coughed harshly again, body trembled fine.
All organs reversing in agony.
Blood poured from eyes, nose, ears—every hole.
Flat on ground, pain like burning in Tutorial Tower flashed vision nonstop.
"Mi, r……."
Normal potato my ass.
As expected, not potato.
Poison.
Pure poison lump.
Ultra Regeneration Blessing faded the agony slowly.
But for others? No need to imagine.
Forcing body up, I glared at distant Revil.
He yelled, face panic and fear mixed.
"Wh-why aren't you dead?! Monsters die instantly!"
"Sorry, body's tough."
Hoo.
Movable now.
Spit pooled blood, advanced on retreating Revil.
"Young master. Told you: stop if you don't wanna die."
No learning ability?
Shaking head, I gripped poison potato, approached.
"Young master. Eat potato."
"G-get away! Don't come near!"
Grimacing Revil jabbed stick at me.
Thinks spear training helps.
"Weak."
No way this crude spear hits.
Light kick shattered stick, mist bound him.
"You ordered Gini to stew it, right?"
"……!"
"Then survive alone, frame her as witch, make wanted criminal."
Eyes shook wildly—how'd you know?
Cold rage poured on him.
All root cause: this bastard.
Gini unwanted wanted for 10 years.
Her trauma.
All Revil.
"You in 10 years? Already dead."
So.
"Die painful here."
Forced his mouth open.
Revil resisted desperately, but couldn't escape grip.
Shoved potato in.
"Mmph, mmph……!"
Tears streamed Revil.
Potato in, forced jaw shut.
Teeth crushed it.
"Gag! Geurk!"
Confirmed down throat, released bonds.
Revil jammed hand in mouth to vomit—nothing.
Despair, slumped.
10 seconds later, blood from his eyes, nose, ears.
"Too bad."
Wish I had healing skill.
Then endless agony without death.
Watched flailing Revil like beached fish, then turned at voice behind.
"Wh-what's happening?"
Gini, eyes/ears mist-blocked, clueless.
Blocked early—better not see ugly.
Roughed her hair.
"You don't need to see."
"……Really?"
"Bad for mental health."
"Still wanna see. Master."
"……Huh?"
Word Gini shouldn't say slipped out.
Realized late, cleared her mist.
Mist gone, Gini walked to motionless Revil.
I watched her back.
No longer frail nine-year-old's.
Nineteen.
In 5th forbidden zone, Darkness.
Back of girl endured countless trials.