Chapter 52

“Now’s my chance!”

I grabbed Adel and yanked him sideways, causing both of us to tumble down with a loud crash. Immediately after, from behind came a splatting sound along with the vibrations of something massive thrashing around.

“Huaaah! What the… We almost died! What was that all about?!”

Adel jumped up in panic and started yelling at me furiously.

“You’re still alive~ And look over there.”

When Adel followed where I pointed, his eyes widened in surprise. Behind the spot where he’d been threatened by a head-splitting danger lay the sticky candy staircase. And as for the bulky Hansel who had dived into it?

“Hehehe! Kyuhehehe! So delicious! It’s absolutely amazing!”

He was already half-buried in the staircase, devouring every piece of candy in sight. Hmm, this isn’t quite what I expected. I imagined him struggling and flailing to get out, not enjoying the situation like this.

“Hooh! You’re a clever one! Thinking to trap him inside there! Hahaha!”

Adel laughed heartily, patting me on the shoulder as if forgetting his earlier anger. Hansel was still happily munching away on the gooey candy staircase. At this rate, he’s bound to get diabetes.

Fortunately, he doesn’t seem interested in coming out, but something strange is happening.

Hansel’s body is changing. The fat seems to be melting off bit by bit, and his overall size is shrinking. His eyes, which previously held a crazed glint, are now clearing up and shining brightly.

What’s going on? Am I seeing things?

“Adel, can you see that?”

“Hahaha! Of course I can see it! That cannibal monster trapped in the candy swamp, flailing around!”

“No, I mean… doesn’t it look like Hansel’s losing weight?”

“Hmm? What do you mean… Aha?”

Adel’s pupils dilated. He rubbed his eyes roughly and checked Hansel’s condition again before gasping in shock.

“What?! It’s true! The guy’s getting smaller!”

It’s definite. For some unknown reason, Hansel’s size is significantly decreasing. Is this an effect of eating the candy staircase?

“Hmm, I understand your concern. You’re worried that with his lighter body, he might escape from the staircase, right? But don’t worry. He’s already half buried, and even if he does come out, he’ll be weakened enough for us to easily take him down.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

Yeah. There’s no need to worry about it right now. With Hansel dealt with, all that’s left is Gretel’s turn. If we defeat her, the spell will be broken, allowing Ellis and Ariel to wake up from their dream, and we can escape.

If everyone escapes, it’ll be a happy ending. At least, the promised happy ending that Rapunzel swore to give us, free from this cruel fable of Hansel and Gretel.

The problem is that she’s a witch, so we don’t know what kind of magic she’ll use. It’s different from Rapunzel’s case. She loved me, so there was hesitation in her attacks, preventing her from inflicting fatal damage. But Gretel?

She could kill me as easily as Ariel slaughtered the wolves.

So I need to attack from an advantageous position.

We first ignored Hansel and cautiously began our search. Though calling it a search, Adel just trailed behind me, hiding while I did all the work. Searching anxiously, I wondered if Gretel was awake and waiting for us leisurely, but fortunately, we didn’t find her anywhere.

When we didn’t find Gretel in the last room either, Adel asked curiously,

“What? She’s not here too?”

“It seems like she really went outside.”

“Hmm, maybe that cranky witch is looking for another victim. Or perhaps she went to reinforce the barrier.”

Adel muttered to himself. The news that Gretel isn’t home is good. If she was asleep and couldn’t wake up, it would have been a golden opportunity to subdue her, but her being outside is also a good situation.

She has no idea we’ve escaped. Which means she’ll enter without any defenses.

I quietly spoke to Adel.

“Adel, keep watch through the window and signal me when Gretel arrives.”

“Whaaat!? What if she finds out?!”

Adel twitched nervously. Ugh, watching him makes my eyes hurt.

“We need to subdue the carefree Gretel when she enters, and since Adel has a small face, there’s a higher chance he won’t be spotted while keeping watch. Just check through the curtain hanging on the window frame.”

“Keh, understood.”

Adel made a face like he really didn’t want to do it. There’s no bigger coward than him. He’d probably win first place in a World Coward Championship.

He dragged a nearby chair over and climbed on top of it. His anxious face was covered by the curtain, peeking out only with his eyes to monitor outside.

Seeing Adel so tense made me nervous too. It would be reassuring to have either Ariel or Ellis here, but I feel their absence keenly.

Still, we must move forward. Sometimes in life, you have to push through even when you want to give up.

“Oh! She’s coming! That juicy-looking pig witch is approaching!”

Adel exclaimed loudly. His voice was so low I could barely understand him. I nodded and took my stance beside the door, ready to attack.

Just one shot. As soon as Gretel opens the door, I’ll strike her head hard with the side of the blade to knock her unconscious. That’s all it takes. I can do this. It’s simple. There won’t be any failure. Don’t be nervous. Didn’t I handle the wolf too?

Ugh, yet hitting someone’s head doesn’t feel as easy as it sounds. I’m scared her skull might crack and brain fluid might spill out. The image of the Heart Queen brutally murdered by Ellis flashes in my mind.

Hoo, hoo.

I pretended to take deep breaths silently so Gretel wouldn’t hear. Adel was trembling more violently, clearly indicating she’s right in front of the door.

Creeeak.

The biscuit-made door creaks open slowly, making the same sound as old wooden planks. The opened door pressed close to my body. The sweet scent of biscuits filled my nostrils as it nearly touched my nose.

Currently, I’m hidden by the door, completely unseen by Gretel. Which means she hasn’t noticed my presence at all. Soon, the back view of Gretel entering, dragging her heavy body, came into sight. As the critical moment arrived, my heart raced wildly, and I felt blood rushing to my head.

My sweat-soaked hands tightly gripped the scythe.

“Huh?”

Gretel’s gaze moved sideways. Oh no! In my haste to hide myself, I forgot that Adel, who was supposed to be watching, needed to hide once Gretel entered.

Adel was unmistakably visible, curled up on the chair with the curtain wrapped around his body, creating an odd bulge, with his feet sticking out awkwardly.

“What is this… YOU…!”

There’s no time to hesitate anymore.

Gretel’s back shines under the light. Right there!

“Kyaaaah!”

With a shout, I swung the side of the blade toward Gretel’s head. My forward-moving leg, twisting waist, and the motion of swinging the scythe all connected perfectly, forming what I judged to be an impeccable attack.

The edge of the blade rushed fiercely toward Gretel’s head. I can do it! I can feel it! This single blow will knock out Gretel and allow us to escape!

Just as the blade was about to touch Gretel’s head…

Deng!

The scythe bounced off. The recoil almost made me fall backward. The sensation of hitting an invisible wall. And the thought that flashed through my mind.

I messed up.

Totally messed up.

Time seemed to slow down, and Gretel’s movements appeared sluggish. I could witness in real-time her face contorting severely as she turned around. She bared her yellow teeth, spitting out incomprehensible words.

Then, an unknown mysterious force instantly squeezed my entire body. Ack! I can’t move at all! I can’t even make a sound! Ugh, it feels like a transparent snake coiling around my body.

Looking to the side, Adel was already in the same predicament, resignedly shedding tears. He’s probably thinking he’s about to become a tasty meal. Damn it, I feel the same way. Sorry, Ariel, Ellis. This is where I stop.

“You infuriating little rats! How did you escape!? My magical iron bars should prevent even a strong man from easily breaking out!”

Well, I’d like to answer, but my neck is being choked, so I can’t even open my mouth. Unlike before, Gretel’s furious appearance is truly the epitome of a cantankerous witch. Damn it, is there really no way out? Try using telekinesis!

Though I thought she used water-based magic like Ariel, this power is something I can’t resist at all. No matter how hard I struggle to break free, it’s useless.

“Hmph, I see! That scythe! It’s imbued with very special power. That’s why it easily nullified my magic. A scythe that can cut magic—this is the first time I’ve ever seen such a thing. Well, after boiling you whole to remove the gamey smell, it’ll be perfect for slicing meat.”

How can she say such creepy things so casually? Wait. If it cuts magic, could it also sever this telekinetic force binding me?

Right now, Gretel is overconfident and letting her guard down. If I can quickly swing the scythe I’m holding to cut the telekinesis, there might be a chance.

I poured all my strength into my hands. Then, my fingers could move slightly, and it seemed possible to use the weight of the scythe’s blade to drop it and sever the telekinetic force.

“Gretel.”

At that moment, a familiar voice rang out. Everyone’s gaze turned to where a slimmed-down Hansel stood.