Prologue – The Hero and The Witch

A boy and a girl were facing off against each other on a battlefield that had turned into a wasteland.

They both looked like they were in their fifteen or sixteen. Despite their youthful outlook, however, they held strong enough power to influence the fate of the world.

“…I see. So you’ve got rid of my curse already, hm?”

Said the silver-haired witch, the bearer of curses and the cause of the various disasters that happened in the world.

“Of course. I was chosen to get rid of that curse of yours, after all!”

Answered the blond boy, the strongest hero in existence and the one who bore the fate of saving the world.

“…I see, so that’s why you look so carefree, hm?”

Terrible scars filled their clothes and body, marks of their fierce battle. Their surroundings were in the same shape. The previously lush forest, filled with its majestic greenery was now a barren land devoid of any color save from the color of dust.

The hero approached the witch and thrusted his sword on her throat.

“It’s over. Or do you still think that you can resist?”

“…No. Besides, I have no reason to fight anymore. Let’s just end this.”

The witch closed her eyes and said in a whisper.

“But, let me remind you that killing me won’t get rid of all the curses that afflicted this world. If you don’t strike the real source of the curses that lie in the root of the world, disasters will still befall the people you’re trying to protect.”

“…Yeah, I know that. I’ve heard those exact words a million times already.”

The hero nodded with an unreadable expression. The witch ignored it and continued.

“With your power, I’m sure you’ll do just fine. You manage to defeat me, after all. That said, I have no reason to exist in this world anymore…”

‘So, you can kill me now…’, the witch continued.

The hero brandished the pure white sword in his hand. Before he moved his hand, his mouth moved to ask one final question.

“May I ask you why are you doing all this?”

“…Right, it would be lonely if I’d just die like that, hm? Alright, let me tell you a story about a poor witch. Don’t forget it later, okay? Think of it as a last gift from me.”

Then, the witch told him a story. About her thoughts, what she fought for and what she died for. The words that left her mouth were spun beautifully alongside her beautiful voice. The witch, no, the girl, told the boy her life story.

“I’ll leave everything to you. Make sure to save the world, Hero…”

“You don’t need to worry about that. Goodbye, Witch…”

After the witch’s story was over, once again, the hero brandished his sword.

Then, the boy who bore the fate of saving the world, finally became the world’s savior.

ED: Dodo