Fairy tale: Little Red Riding Hood's wolf mentor

“Finally, the skilled hunter became the king's son-in-law. He lived happily ever after with the princess and her parents, and after the king passed away, he inherited the throne.”

Looking at the light in my hand, which only I and Lake could see, slowly emerged.

Golden pages appeared, with writing and patterns visible on them.

“As expected, I guessed right.”

Poroh stared at the content on the golden page and said slowly.

The pattern on it was a young man dressed as a hunter, holding a shining sword, about to cut off the head of a giant.

【Ring Regression: Highly Skilled Hunter · Star Covenant】

【Fairy Tale Authority: Unknown】

【Unsealing Ceremony: Kill the wicked and become a hero】

【Description: The letter says that when you use this sword, you can kill any enemy, but you understand that your sword will only point to the wicked. After killing those greedy and filthy sins, you will become a hero.】

“What is it about?”

Lake saw Poroh had already shifted his gaze away from the pages and hurriedly asked curiously.

“See for yourself, but it is indeed about the Star-Slaying Sword.”

Poroh smiled and threw the page in his hand to Lake. When the golden page reached Lake's hand, it began to glow with a slight golden light.

Lake and Poroh understood that this light signified the completion of the unsealing ceremony.

“Oh, it seems to be directly supplemented, so there's no need to spend time doing it again.”

“Hehe, I am a great hero.”

Lake also happily revealed a smile, shifting his gaze to the line on the page.

The line 【Fairy Tale Authority: Unknown】 gradually twisted, changed, and a series of words appeared.

【Unsealing ceremony completed, Fairy Tale Authority obtained!】

【You killed the giants who stormed into the city, and they will pay the price for their killing and evildoing! Your sword has been stained with the glaring blood of sinners, and under the tempering of blood, the sword becomes sharper!】

【The survivors praise your name, you are a true hero!】

【Fairy Tale Authority: Star-Slaying Sword gains perception of evildoers, you will be able to clearly perceive the number of innocent people who died at the hands of the target】

“This ability is more like detecting the opponent's good and evil. With this ability, some murderers will not be able to hide their crimes?”

Lake thought, looking at the Star-Slaying Sword in her hand.

The Star-Slaying Sword seemed to sense the page, suddenly lit up with a subtle blue halo, and then quickly disappeared.

“What are you talking about? Still telling stories?”

At this moment, the golden bird next to Lake and Poroh suddenly interjected with a puzzled voice, “Did you exchange something I don’t understand?”

“Uh… Miss Bird, we’re fine, it’s just a kind of magic we two possess.”

Lake and Poroh smiled awkwardly. They knew that this bird probably couldn’t see the pages of the two of them, so they explained, “Some magic, you know, our magic has some special features.”

“I see.”

The golden bird nodded, then turned its head in a daze and continued to eat the delicacies conjured by Poroh.

The carriage rose and fell on the ground. Outside, as dusk approached, the shadows in the forest became thicker, and the moonlight seemed to be obscured by the clouds in the sky, making the surroundings dim.

“Poroh, do you sense the maze?”

Lake placed her hand on her chest, on the Heart of the Forest in her pouch. The Heart of the Forest glowed with a verdant light, allowing Lake to keenly capture some magical fluctuations in the forest.

“Yes, there is indeed a maze, in the woods.”

Poroh said, a magical light flashed in his eyes, and he began to wave his claws, outlining some cyan light patterns in the air, “But it’s not too complicated, I can solve it.”

As the carriage went deeper, the dead trees and bushes on both sides became denser.

On the ground, dead branches and fallen leaves flew under the hooves of the horses, but at this moment, Poroh stared at the rising and falling fragments of dead leaves, frowning:

“Wait a minute, Lake, something is wrong! The environment here seems to be filled with a kind of… death energy?”

Poroh widened his eyes. The 【Spiral Beacon: Witch】 second-order insight into magical energy allowed him to keenly sense the flow of this energy.

“Lake, look at those vine seeds——”

Lake's pupils contracted, and she hurriedly opened the bag around her waist and took out the few magical vine seeds given by the Giant King.

Then, she was horrified to find that the seeds were visibly turning into a withered yellow color——

The seeds on the outer layer had even turned completely yellow!

The death energy wandering in this forest was devouring the vitality of the plants!

“What should we do? Should we go back first?”

Lake was anxious. If all the seeds died, then even if they arrived in the forest, what use would they be?

“Don’t worry, it’s too late to go back——”

Poroh narrowed his eyes, then quickly opened them, locking his gaze on Lake's chest, “Use the Heart of the Forest.”

“The Heart of the Forest?”

Lake was stunned for a moment.

“The Heart of the Forest will give life to nearby plants. I can feel that in the area illuminated by the green light on your chest, the energy has a stratification.”

Poroh added, “Put the seeds in front of the Heart of the Forest to prevent the erosion of death energy.”

Lake listened and hurriedly moved the seeds into the pouch on her chest. Sure enough, under the illumination of the green light, the color of the magic vine seeds began to quickly turn back to cyan.

Lake breathed a sigh of relief.

Now, the two probably knew why this forest was in such a withered state.

“That’s great, but I just don’t know… where does this ‘death energy’ come from? And what is there in the depths of the forest?”

Lake and Poroh fell silent, sensing the movements around them, observing carefully, for fear of missing the target they were looking for.

The carriage bumped again.

In the dim twilight, Lake and Poroh saw scattered, undulating hills in the forest.

And those hills were also stuck with some crooked wooden sticks?

“Those small hills don’t feel like they were formed naturally, they look more like some… graves?”

If they were graves, then what was buried below? Corpses? And who dug them?

Each hill was not large, only the size of a human head.

“I don’t think those look like graves. I didn’t smell any rotting corpses.”

Poroh’s eyes flashed red, and he said after sniffing with enhanced senses, “It’s about the same as ordinary ground, there’s no peculiar smell.”

“Oh, I see.”

Lake nodded. No matter what it was, as long as it wasn’t some mass grave of dead people, the horror of this forest would be reduced a lot.

Lake had just breathed a sigh of relief when the corner of her eye keenly caught something.

“Wait a minute, Poroh, look over there… there seems to be light?!”

Lake widened her eyes, pointing to a direction far ahead on the side of the carriage.

There, in the unchanging depths of darkness, a small spot of light like a firefly lit up. Lake pulled the carriage reins, turned the carriage head, and drove towards the small spot of light.

The light spot became brighter and brighter, and the withered bushes in the forest on both sides of the carriage became denser.

In the gaps, the scattered hills were arranged according to certain rules.

This slowed down the speed of travel, but fortunately, the light spot was indeed approaching, and it didn’t seem to be an illusion.

“That’s a wooden house? A place where people live in the forest?”

A hint of excitement appeared on Lake’s face.

She opened her notebook. The scene shown in the magic mirror earlier gradually corresponded to this withered forest. The number of dead trees decreased, and was replaced by a withered garden.

The image of those small hills also became familiar.

Lake gradually remembered that in the previous magic mirror, there was a sad-looking girl burying withered flowers in the pits, creating small hills in the forest one by one.

That flower-burying girl should be the person they were looking for…

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the light not far away, which gradually became clearer, and at the same time reflected the outline of the wooden house.

The door of the wooden house suddenly opened, and a figure of a girl was illuminated by the faint light inside.

“Hello, Miss——”

Lake stood up from the carriage, extended a hand, and wanted to wave.

However, the girl who came out of the wooden house didn’t say a word. She raised one hand towards Lake and the others, with her fingers spread open——

“No, Lake, the magic in the forest maze is being manipulated!”

At this moment, Poroh widened his eyes, revealing a look of horror.

The originally rigid forest maze, after the girl in front of the wooden house opened her five fingers, suddenly seemed to be injected with a soul. All the changes and magic became intense and rapid!

The withered trees next to it actually shook violently, as if blown by the forest wind.

Countless dead branches and fallen leaves fell from the treetops. Under the effect of the maze, the withered trees twisted and danced, obscuring the view.

In the chaotic scene, the originally clear wooden house and lights began to retreat rapidly!

Gradually swallowed by darkness——

Or rather, the carriage began to lose its target uncontrollably at the same time as it saw it!

“That girl’s control over the forest maze is almost the same as that of the Gluttony Witch with the power of angels! No, the changes to the forest maze are even better!”

Magical light flashed in Poroh’s eyes. He thought he had already seen through the maze, but it once again derived more changes.

No, if this continues…

They will lose their way!

If the light spot of the wooden house disappears, it will be even more difficult to find the destination again in a forest maze controlled by someone!

“Lake, use the Heart of the Forest, uh, I need some magic from the Heart of the Forest.”

Thinking of this, Poroh said.

Lake did not hesitate, took off the glowing pouch from her chest, and carefully handed it to Poroh.

The magic used in the forest maze is related to the forest, and after Poroh borrowed the Heart of the Forest, relying on his talent for magic, he could quickly catch up with the gap in magical experience——

Even, to a certain extent, control the complete forest maze!

Poroh gently pulled with his claws, and a trace of the green light from the Heart of the Forest through the pouch was drawn out and integrated into the surrounding air, and green runes lit up on the surface of several withered trees.

“That’s right, I can do it!”

Poroh thought to himself, and the next moment, the speed at which the carriage moved backwards quickly slowed down.

At the moment when the light of the Heart of the Forest illuminated the surroundings, the black shadows of the withered trees and old vines dancing suddenly stopped.

It was as if the manipulator of the formation was also shocked…

…

In the depths of the forest, the gray-haired girl who came out of the wooden house was holding a flower pot in her arms. In the flower pot, there was a bright red flower growing, but it looked like it was about to wither.

“Hmm? What’s wrong with the people who came this time? Why can they resist my maze? Could it be that her forest magic is very powerful?”

The gray-haired girl murmured, her gaze shifted to the end of her vision through the dead trees in the forest, and she saw the carriage that had found its way back from the lost.

The light of the Heart of the Forest lit up in the darkness——

“That’s, the Heart of the Forest!?”

The gray-haired girl’s pupils shrank, and the spellcasting action in her hand slowed slightly.

She looked at the listless-looking flowers she was holding in front of her chest, a trace of struggle flashed in her eyes, but then, her eyes became a little red, and she said in a trembling voice:

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t want to hurt you, it’s just, just…”

Saying that, she suddenly gritted her teeth, and her eyes narrowed.

Two blue lights flashed from the depths of her slightly sad eyes.

…

“Awesome, Poroh, with your magic, we’ll be able to get to that wooden house soon.”

Lake looked at the small spot of light in the depths of the forest, clenched her fists, and a trace of guilt flashed in the depths of her bright blue eyes.

But soon, it was replaced by some firmness.

“That girl must not want to contact the outside world in the forest maze…”

Lake understood in her heart that as uninvited guests, breaking into someone else’s woodland when the owner clearly refused was not the right thing to do.

But now, to achieve that goal…

“Sorry, but…”

Only face-to-face can we communicate.

If they couldn’t even meet, and left like this, neither Lake nor Poroh would be willing to do so.

“Madam, we have no malice, can we talk?”

Lake looked at the wooden house that appeared in the darkness not far away again and shouted loudly.

But the next moment, Poroh’s pupils suddenly shrank:

“Be careful!”

The next moment, a dead tree next to the carriage actually stood up from the ground on its own!

Above, a large area of ​​twisted claw-like leafless branches actually pressed down hard!

“These dead trees are alive?!”

The sword light flashed, and Lake had already jumped off the carriage. The sword light cut off all the strange tree-man branches!

“Stop first, get off the carriage——”

Several people jumped off the carriage. The carriage was too big and not suitable for dodging.

Although Lake and Poroh were not afraid of the attacks of these trees, it was not a good thing for the horses to be frightened or attacked.

From all directions, those dead trees, under the control of invisible magic, rose from the ground one after another.

They waved their sharp branches and slapped towards Lake.

"Something's not right, Lake. These tree monsters seem to be heading for you. Don't hold back; they don't seem to have any life..."

Poro sensed the magical flow within those withered tree monsters.

It didn't seem like something alive. They were already dead, with even less vitality than ordinary trees. Their movement seemed more like the effect of magic.

Puppets?

Lake leaped through the tree monsters' attacks. Those seemingly powerful attacks didn't land on Lake at all.

A glimmer flashed in Poro's eyes, and the branches and leaves attacking the carriage and himself instantly turned into soft chocolate and fell.

The Gluttony Witch's magic was difficult to use on objects with magic, souls, or vitality, but for these lifeless, withered tree puppets, even Poro's current level could quickly transform them.

And only attacking the key branches of these tree monsters could reduce magic consumption.

"But... these monsters seem a bit off?"

In the midst of the chaotic battle, Poro noticed that most of the tree monsters were besieging Lake, with only slight repercussions for himself and the carriage.

"They seem to be focusing their attacks on you? Lake, I think it might be the Heart of the Forest attracting them."

At the start of the upheaval, Poro had hung the Heart of the Forest around Lake's neck again.

If there was anything that could attract a caster of forest magic...

The most likely thing was the newly exposed Heart of the Forest!

"Heart of the Forest?"

Lake slightly tilted her body, dodging a tree monster's attack. A hint of anger flashed in her light blue eyes. "I'm sorry, madam, the Heart of the Forest is key to saving my grandmother. I can't possibly give it to you!"

The next moment, Lake suddenly lifted her cloak, her form and aura disappearing into nothingness in an instant!

The instant Lake disappeared, the tree monsters attacking her also froze in place!

Immediately after, several lightning-like sword lights pierced out from the void.

Several tree monsters were cut in half.

Following that, magical light also lit up in Poro's eyes, and countless blue and red vines burst from the ground, tightly entangling several tree monsters!

The trunks of two more distant trees rapidly transformed into butter.

"Rumble—"

In the blink of an eye, these tree monsters fell to the ground.

"Huff..."

Lake's figure appeared beside Poro.

Looking around, there were no more standing trees.

But in the distance, another withered tree rose from the ground, swaying as it approached.

"Hmm? How many are there?"

Lake and Poro's expressions sank, preparing to attack.

But unexpectedly, the tree monster stopped at a safe distance, with no intention of continuing its attack.

A tree hole was recessed on the surface of the trunk.

From within came a slightly hoarse voice formed by magic, but the words could still be heard, seemingly with a hint of doubt:

"Blue and red vine magic, gluttonous gourmet magic, there can't be such a coincidence—what are you here for?

If I remember correctly, the Witch Tea Party hasn't started yet, has it?"

The tree monster's voice echoed in the dark forest. Poro looked at the outline of the wooden house in the farther darkness.

He understood that the one truly speaking was the unknown girl.

But... she knows the Blue and Red Witch? And the Gluttony Witch?

What is their relationship? Judging from the term 'Witch Tea Party,' if they are related and know that we killed the Blue and Red Witch and the Gluttony Witch...

I'm afraid things are going to be bad!

What to do?

Poro was still thinking, but Lake next to him had already spoken:

"Madam, we have no intention of offending you, nor are we related to the Witch Tea Party you mentioned. We are here to ask for your help."

Lake replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "My Heart of the Forest came from my grandmother. I want to revive her. If you have any conditions or requests, we will do them!"

The tree monster was silent for a while, then asked again, "Then what is your relationship with Blue and Red, and Gluttony? Why do you have their magic?"

Can't escape it after all?

Lake took a deep breath, as if she had made a decision. She stared at the tree monster and answered word by word:

"They did evil deeds and were killed by us, and we obtained their magic as a result.

If you are friends with them... I am very sorry, but we will not regret killing them."

After Lake finished speaking, the tree monster entered a longer period of silence, until finally, it spoke again:

"I see... I understand. Come in."

As it spoke, the surrounding forest maze rapidly changed. The withered trees began to retreat rapidly behind them. Lake and Poro did not move, and they saw the distant lights rapidly growing larger.

In the blink of an eye, the wooden house was already in front of them.

In front of the wooden house stood a gray-haired girl with a sorrowful look in her eyes. Her hands held a flowerpot, and a delicate flower stood weakly in it.

"Well... nice to meet you."

The gray-haired girl bowed slightly. "You can call me the Dancing Flower Witch, or you can call me by my name, Little Ida."