[Novel] The Witch's Back-Guard ~Meeting~
1. Prologue
In ancient times, witches were weapons and a deterrent.
Their overwhelming power could even change the weather, and before that power, all weapons were useless.
However, contrary to their overwhelming offensive power, witches were extremely weak to attacks from behind.
At the start of the war, the witches fought well with unstoppable momentum, but they were targeted at their weak point on their backs by opposing angels, and many witches lost their lives.
And finally, the witch became the last one left.
Therefore, there were those called "Back-Guards" who became the witch's shield and protected her back.
This is the story of a boy soldier who became the last witch's shield and protected her to the end.
2. Episode 1
“Meeting”
There was a witch in the sunlight. She stood by the edge of the swamp in a figure so out of place, like a runaway bride. It was as beautiful as a lotus flower floating on the swamp, and for some reason, it smelled of death. That was back when I didn't even know that "the back had meaning." I didn't believe in magic, and I wasn't strong enough to protect anyone. I was just drifting wherever the wind blew—until I met her.
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I have no memories of my childhood. Strictly speaking, I probably have memories, but I have no trigger to recall them. There isn't a single photograph, and I didn't have a name. My earliest memories are of working in an ironworks with a hammer, getting covered in soot, the bread at meals being delicious, and only the old man at the ironworks calling me his precious son. Work, bread, work, bread, work, bread, sleep. And then, morning comes. But one day, a foul-mouthed, mean senior told me, "You're a child abandoned at the ironworks." An abandoned child. I see... so that's why I have no childhood memories... as a child, I was strangely convinced and it made sense. Stella the abandoned child, that's what the people at the ironworks called me.
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That day, the day I met the witch. I was called by my name for the first time, and my name was praised. "Stella... what a lovely name." I think that at that moment, I was already captivated by the witch. It was the moment I was liberated from the days of being denied and rejected as an abandoned child.
⭐️- - - - - -
Five years since then. Now, on my back, there is a crest she sewed. It is proof that I was her "Back-Guard." And it is a spell for living that the witch gave me.
🦋- - - - - -
That day, the day I met the witch. A long spear, about 2 meters long, was stuck in the witch's back, comically vertical. It pierced her heart from the back, and a sharp tip shone from her chest. Behind the ironworks where I worked, there was a landfill swamp where iron, magic tools, and anything else could be discarded. Even large pieces of trash would sink into that swamp in two or three minutes if thrown in, sinking into the eternal swamp. As usual, I went to the ironworks first thing in the morning, sorted the factory trash into three types: burnable, plastic, and landfill, put the burnable in red bags, plastic in white, and landfill in black, and carried them to the ironworks' trash collection area. And when I carried the black bag of landfill trash on my shoulder like Santa Claus and visited the landfill swamp behind the ironworks, the witch was there. That witch, who looked like a bride and was so out of place, stood by the edge of the swamp, floating without sinking into it. It was so fantastical that it didn't seem like a trash dump, and I felt like I was dreaming. I put the load I was carrying on my shoulder down by the edge of the swamp, and my left shoulder, which had been carrying it, was freed from the weight, giving me a light feeling, and I sat down on the spot in surprise. My palms felt cold from the moisture at the edge of the swamp. Sweat flowed from my cheeks, ran down my chin, and dripped onto the ground. I stared at the witch of the swamp again while still sitting on the ground. The swamp, which usually gave off a suffocating stench, looked like it was shining like a sunny spot. For some reason, only the circumference of about 2 meters where the witch stood was clear and transparent like a mountain stream. It was just like a lotus flower floating on the swamp, and I honestly thought it was beautiful. As if beckoned by something, I slowly stood up, took one step, then another, approached the witch, and looked at her closely again. A long spear, about 2 meters long, was stuck in the witch's back, comically vertical. It pierced her heart from the back, and a sharp tip shone from her chest. Even though it should have been a cruel sight that would make one cover their eyes, the witch's profile was as if she had attained enlightenment, with a gentle expression like a Buddha, eyes closed, looking up at the heavens. ...Is she alive? The witch floating on the swamp was truly like a lotus flower. I couldn't help but call out to the witch. Um, something amazing is happening, but are you okay? ... There was no reaction, the witch still had her eyes closed. Um, you're not okay, are you, since a spear is stuck in your back, should I pull this out? Even if I asked, there was no reaction. I gently reached out to the spear. At that instant, I felt an incredible murderous intent, and goosebumps broke out on my arms. The witch slowly turned around, and our eyes met. ... "Who... are you?" I reflexively answered honestly that I am Stella. It was like a frog stared at by a snake; cold sweat, different from the sweat I had shed earlier, ran down my cheeks and fell from my chin. The drop of sweat made a plop sound and echoed through the silent swamp. "Stella... what a lovely name." Huh? Why? I asked back unintentionally. "Why, you ask... Stella is a word that represents the radiance of stars in an ancient language." It was the moment I was liberated from the days of being denied and rejected as an abandoned child. Never in my life had my name been praised, nor had I ever been kindly taught about its origin. I felt something warm inside my heart and became completely captivated by the witch. The moment my wariness suddenly vanished, I became calm again and started to panic, thinking I had to do something about the spear in the witch's back. Um... excuse me. Is the spear in your back okay? Ah, this? Ah, it's okay, it's okay. No... I think it looks dangerous no matter how I look at it, um, should I pull it out? I reached out to the spear. NO!!! The witch's face suddenly became stern, and she glared at my face. Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't know what to do, you're right, it would be dangerous if I pulled it out... Ah, I'm sorry, that's not it... I'm sorry for surprising you too. This, being stuck is the default state. ...Default? Ah, yeah, in other words, the state of being stuck is safe, and pulling it out is, how should I put it, dangerous. Dangerous? Yes, or rather, quite dangerous, because the world would disappear, so I don't want you to pull it out. ...I don't really understand, but I understand. ... Thank you. I want you to leave it alone. When the witch said that, she smiled.
3. Ending Theme
“Stella Stella” ~Suisei Hoshimachi~
4. Story Blueprint
Note that this story was designed using ChatGPT.
That is all from Sumihiro.
Thank you for reading until the end.