CHAPTER 3

Translator & editor : Cuties

The boy did not come often. So I could notice the little changes in his growth every time he came. I felt stuffy because he seemed to be informing me of the time. The world is going as well as ever except for you, he seemed to say, you will suffer in a time that will never move forward.

The boy brought something with him every time he came. Things like books that could kill time. But the time they made me forget was so insignificant that they were of little use. I just kept them all in one place and tried to ignore them.

As I sat still leaning against the wall, the boy also sat beside me and looked at the darkness.

Is this fun? Dont you get sick of it?

Whatever I did, it was the same in the end. There was no way to spend infinite time. There couldnt be a way to kill eternal time. I just wanted to forget it all. How long its been and how much more I have to spend.

But I couldnt forget time because of the boy. I saw traces of it in the boys appearance, and I could feel each passing day as I fell into a routine when I was with him, and when he didnt come, time seemed to go slower.

The boy hugged his knees close and reclined his head on his arms, looking at me fixedly. I dont know what he wants from me. Perhaps he was my new tormentor. Because nothing is more painful than feeling the passage of time for me.

Youre a witch. Dont you think escaping a tower like this one would be a piece of cake for you?

I didnt get away. There was no point leaving if I were going to be alone anyway. It was better to wait alone for my time in here.

But the boy was ruining it.

I stared into the darkness without answering. This young warrior cant understand a witch.

Whats your name?

Witch.

I was a witch. My name has long since been forgotten. The person who called it was not around. The world called me a witch and I also thought I was a witch. The witch did not need a name.

The boy said in reply to my answer.

I dont have a name, either.

Burying his face between his knees, he continued.

Is it still a name if nobody calls it? No. The day my brother died, my name died with him.

It was a funny thing. A witch and a warrior without names. I said, ducking my head away from the shiny white hair on the side.

He mustve died because of me.

At my words the boy raised his head.

The first day he came, he pointed a sword at me and said that people are dying because of me. They dont want to die. Its not time for them die yet, but theyre dying anyway. Because of me.

The boy had come to kill me after losing someone who was close to him. Because I killed that someone. Because Im a witch.

Its only a matter of time before the weak young warrior points his sword to me gain.

*

Time dragged on.

I was in the process of trying to kill my mind because I couldnt kill my body, but after meeting the boy, my efforts were ruined. The passage of time felt slower as emotions revived. Until when do I have live like this?

I would rather spend time sleeping forever, but there was a limit to that. I took out the boys sword. I knew far too well that I could not be killed no matter what method I used.

It was time to give it up because it was tiring, but my body was lifting the sword.

I wanted to end it now.

This sword will also rust over time and I will have no more tools to attempt with again. An eternity has passed and everything except me was ending. Eventually, Im the only one left.

I stretched out my arms with the sword clutched firmly in my hand. This time, I wanted to succeed with one go. Unlike other things, I could never get used to pain no matter how much I suffered through it. So I closed my eyes tightly and stabbed as hard as I could. But right away someone caught me. When I opened my eyes, I saw something white and got confused.

You, are you crazy?

The red eyes were shaking violently. Snapping back to my senses, I hastily retreated. I didnt like it. The feeling of being trapped in the burning flames. Of the bright sun shining down on me.

Just kill me right now.

What?

I handed the sword to the boy.

Kill me with this.

You, now. What are you talking about when I just saved your life?

The boy asked back angrily, glaring at me sharply. I didnt raise my head because I didnt want to face that gaze. So I just opened my mouth again and answered.

Why save me? Im a witch who has to die.

Witch, is that right?

I couldnt breathe when asked by the boy, who came closer and whispered. His gaze was burning all over me. My eyes must have been shaking. My heart was falling apart.

Am I a witch? Are you asking whether Im really a witch?

I was always branded as a witch first without anyone listening to my story. It was because you cursed the world, and only when you die will it return to its original state, they said. I screamed at the terrible pain, and cried, Dont do that, but they only laughed at my reaction.

A witch? Actually, it didnt matter to them whether I was a witch or not. They just needed someone to vent their anger on. They needed someone to ease their fear of the unknown and their frustration with unresolved mystery.

At first, I was angry at such people, but not anymore. Because I am a witch.

Thats right, I am.

I managed to get my feelings together and then answered. The darkness that covered the world was my mothers fault. I was also guilty of carrying her blood. Maybe the reason why the monster still didnt disappear is because Im alive.

Perhaps the reason why cannot be killed is because I am given the lives of those who died because of me. Because Im a witch.

Only when I die will the darkness be lifted.

The boy sighed faintly at my words and replied, playing with the sword he was holding.

You killed yourself every day like this?

The boys eyes darted to the soggy puddle on the floor. The boy cleaned up but still couldnt get rid of it all. It was rotting black and smelly. It wasnt just the floor. My whole body was covered with rotten blood as well as my clothes. There couldnt be a place to wash here.

Doesnt it hurt?

The boy asked, reaching out his hand to my neck. I backed out hurriedly but he patted my neck without me realizing, touching my horrifying wounds. Some of these were inflicted by me and others by people.

Its funny. This situation. The boy has to kill me, but why is he looking at me with compassion?

You have to kill me to

I know, I know. Stop talking.

While saying so, the boy took the sword I was holding. He seemed to have no intention of leaving it behind this time. I had to bite down on my lips hard because of the emotions I had thrown away long ago have resurfaced. Why the hell does this boy shake me up?

You know very well that Im killing people.

Everyone dies.

This sentence has a weird comforting effect on me, is it because no one has ever told me that before?

Remember when you angrily shouted that there were people who didnt want to die, or wanted to live longer but were killed because of me.

They cant live forever anyway so just think that it was time for them to die.

But because of me

Stop it.

He cut me off sharply and I bit down on my tongue.

Its okay, you can stop now.

My heart lightened a little at the boys words which were like balm to my wounds. But knowing that human life is fleetingly short and that mine is endless, I forced myself to dismiss the ray of light that sprawled into my mind.

If you want to save me, then stab that sword into my heart.