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Ella strolled through the garden alongside the Gaming Owl.

Or perhaps it was more accurate to say she was being led around by the Gaming Owl.

Whenever the Gaming Owl pointed to a direction, she would follow, and under its guidance, she delightedly explored the garden. Sometimes, when she discovered a scenic spot, she’d pause to enjoy the beautiful view.

The garden, transformed under the supervision of Odilia, was truly stunning even in Ella’s eyes, with each scenery holding a charm that was hard to find elsewhere.

However, perhaps due to the sudden changes?

There seemed to be a lack of consideration for those admiring the garden.

As such, one could only appreciate the view while standing still or slowly walking through.

But Ella didn’t stick to that.

Even if her achievements weren’t particularly high, she was still a witch.

Creating a makeshift chair with Witchcraft was hardly a challenge for her.

She could sprinkle seeds for rapid growth to form a chair shape, bend branches to create a sitting space, or let vines dangle and bunch up to fashion a swing for resting.

Insects?

She had no need to worry about those either.

With Witchcraft, she could emit scents that insects detested, and even if they tried to approach, they would quickly be incinerated by the Gaming Owl’s attacks.

Though she could only summon a weak force unlike in her dreams, even a weak power was enough to deal with pesky insects.

The Gaming Owl emitted light like a laser to fulfill its duty of protecting Ella, shooting down all the biological drones that dared to approach, particularly targeting the wicked and harmful mosquitoes.

“Thank you so much!”

Tweet.

Ella expressed her gratitude to the Gaming Owl, which steadfastly protected her, by gently stroking its head. The Gaming Owl relaxed its body, seemingly appreciating her touch.

Thus, in peaceful harmony, Ella and the Gaming Owl were spending tranquil moments together.

Very peaceful and serene, like a calm time.

It almost felt like a pastoral scene in the countryside, soothing her heart.

However, this peace was only temporary.

Swish.

Thud!

A strange sound echoed from deep within the garden.

It was odd enough not to seem like something that belonged in the garden.

It resembled the sound of something sharp slicing through the air, or perhaps the sound of wood being struck.

It also gave the impression of someone digging into the ground, or maybe bashing the base of a tree with a clumsy object.

‘Could it be a gardener?’

Ella instinctively thought of a gardener at work, but that thought quickly dissipated.

The sound was too ignorant to belong to a gardener.

Maintaining a garden undoubtedly requires a lot of physical effort.

Working from a ladder is common, and using large scissors that could easily sever a human neck is frequent. After all, there’s also the clean-up following such cutting, so it would be impossible to avoid exertion.

However, needing strength is different from using it clumsily.

That sound seemed more like someone was smashing things in the garden rather than tidying it up.

Ella quietly rose from her spot and slowly made her way toward the origin of the noise.

But soon, drawn by curiosity, she couldn’t help but regret moving toward the sound.

‘That is…’

There was a very peculiar figure instead of a gardener or worker.

Someone in a strange mask swinging an axe.

The mask seemed made of gold, with a bizarre design.

It appeared to be layered with skulls of various animals, and the figure was draped in deep green fabric. In its hand was an axe, the metal gleaming yellow.

The handle of the axe looked as if it was made of twisted vines, and from the tip, a liquid that appeared to be blood dripped to the ground. The falling liquid would fly this way and that, scattering around, synchronized with the man’s swinging motions.

It was a bizarre yet mysterious sight.

Swish.

Thud!

The man swung his golden axe through the air, dancing in a peculiar manner as if performing a strange routine. At the end of his dance, he swung the axe horizontally, striking a tree, leaving a wound, and then, as if performing a ritual, he swung the axe in the air again before delivering a heavy blow to the roots.

What a scene it was, appearing to be either a madman flailing or a cult priest performing a bizarre ceremony.

Ella held her breath, clutching the Gaming Owl, as she watched.

Sunlight cascaded down, clashing with the golden mask and axe, shimmering in dazzling yellow light, repeatedly fracturing along its trajectory—a mystical spectacle indeed.

Thud!

The man continued to swing the axe.

He swung through the air, he struck the wood, and he battered the roots.

Then, leaving the golden axe embedded in the wood, he began to dance with his bare hands, stomping at a specific spot.

Thud-!

With each stomp, the ground caved in.

Pits emerged as if a sturdy man were digging with a giant shovel, the earth bulging outward in a circular motion.

Thud-!

When he pulled his foot out of one pit and jumped high to stomp elsewhere, yet another pit formed.

A considerable area, much larger than a mere footprint, was carved out, resembling a concave pot.

And soon, these pits began to create patterns.

A strange design formed from clustered dots.

It was neither a pattern made artificially nor one created naturally, yet was filled with a sense of mystery.

What the world called Fairy Circles could very well resemble that shape.

As the Fairy Circle was created, the man ceased his dancing.

He stood still, as if knowing he no longer needed to dance, slowly turning to face the tree with the golden axe embedded within. Instead of approaching it, he reached out into the air.

With a sound.

The axe seemed to pull itself from the tree as if an invisible hand was twisting it out. Gradually, it floated through the air and landed directly in his grasp.

Holding the golden axe in one hand, the man lifted his gaze toward the sky.

In that moment, sunlight struck the golden mask, shattering and casting brilliant rays, which reached the hidden Ella observing the ritual.

Flash.

In an instant, light flooded Ella’s vision, leaving everything white.

As the light reflected from the golden mask directly into her eyes, her sight was temporarily blocked. But it was merely sunlight for a fleeting moment, so she suffered no significant harm.

Her eyes quickly returned to normal, functioning once again.

As her vision cleared, the first thing it fell upon was…

The glittering golden mask.

“Ahh!”

In the very moment she opened and closed her eyes, the man performing the strange ritual with the golden axe had approached right before her.

The small holes in his mask stared at her face intently, and the bizarre, almost grotesque mask hung open like it was ready to devour her.

Ella gasped and screamed.

At her scream, the man slowly brought his hand to the mask, lifting it off to reveal his true identity.

He had the face of a rabbit-like man.

“Uh?”

That face was one Ella knew very well.

It was a face that always brought her a tickling sensation whenever she saw it.

“Hair Park?”

“Sorry for startling you.”

Jinseong grinned as he extended his hand toward the flustered Ella, who had fallen on her bottom.

“Uh, uh.”

Ella averted her eyes, feeling embarrassed. But realizing that staying like this was even more embarrassing, she shyly glanced at Jinseong’s outstretched hand and placed hers lightly upon it. Jinseong then gently grasped her hand and pulled, and Ella rose slowly to her feet following his grip.

“I was performing a small ritual; did you find it interesting?”

“Yes? Yes… It was mysterious, I suppose…”

“Haha. I’m relieved to hear that. I was worried it might have been a bit shocking for a lady to witness.”

Jinseong carefully observed Ella’s face before breaking into another smile.

“You appear to be a bit disoriented.”

 

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