[Fantasy Novel] "In the Forest Where the Witch Lives Today" Episode 4: The Witch's Riddle and the Bears' Flash of Inspiration

Episode 4: The Witch's Riddle and the Bears' Flash of Inspiration

The stuffed animals thanked Diary-chan and, leaving her behind as she waved her hands anxiously, dashed out of the witch's library.

"We'd better hurry. Let's split up to prepare."

At the owl's suggestion, the rabbit pricked up its ears.

"Then, the owl and I will go get the cart from home! Brown Bear and Polar Bear, please handle the pendant in the witch's room!"

Brown Bear nodded firmly, but Polar Bear, perhaps still unable to shake off the earlier doubt, kept his head slightly bowed.
Brown Bear gripped Polar Bear's soft hand tightly.

"Let's go!"

At Brown Bear's warm hand and words, Polar Bear looked up with a start.

"See you later at the witch's house!"

Calling out to each other, the four of them split into two groups and started running down the forest path.

Out of breath, Brown Bear and Polar Bear returned to the witch's house and rushed straight to her side.
She still looked like she was struggling to breathe; if anything, it seemed to have gotten worse.

Brown Bear said, "I have to hurry and heat up the leftover witch's soup in the microwave," and trotted off to the kitchen.

While Polar Bear whispered into the witch's ear about what happened at the witch's library and their plan to go see the witch's big sister, Brown Bear brought over the jewelry box containing the 'Purple Mist Pendant'.

The two bears sat down on the floor, opened the jewelry box, and took out a wooden box and a folded piece of paper.
Brown Bear nodded at Polar Bear and unfolded the paper.

The two bears were bewildered by the gap between the witch's playful tone in the note and the witch currently suffering on the bed, but they quickly pulled themselves together and began working on the 'riddle'.

In fact, this 'riddle' was prepared by the witch to prevent theft, and it served as a magical lock that wouldn't open the wooden box unless solved correctly.

Brown Bear and Polar Bear thought as hard as they could, but they just couldn't find the answer.
When they glanced toward the bed, the witch was repeating shallow, painful breaths.
Every time they saw that, their chests felt like they were being crushed by the urgency of 'we have to hurry,' and cold sweat began to bead on Brown Bear's forehead.

Usually, Brown Bear and Polar Bear would give up right away, but not today.
The reason they want the 'Purple Mist Pendant' today is different from usual.

It's not because they want to eat freshly fried donuts, nor is it because they want to ride the world's fastest roller coaster.

"We are definitely going to save the witch!"

And that strong determination brings a miracle to the two bears.

'Ding'

It was the signal that the microwave, which the brown bear had set to warm up the witch's soup in the kitchen, had finished heating.
And from the moment it heard that sound, the brown bear's mind began to race.

"Microwave... witch's soup"

"Witch's soup... tastes bad"

"Tastes bad... that doesn't matter right now"

The brown bear clapped its hands and jumped up.

"We had Diary-chan read us the part about the witch sister's marriage earlier, right!
It said, 'I really regret not freezing more of the delicious witch's soup that my sister used to make for me every day, because now I can't drink it anymore.'"

The polar bear also hugged the brown bear with a beaming smile.

"Brown bear, you're amazing! That's definitely the right answer."

The two bears shouted at the wooden box in unison.

The answer is freezing!"

Then the wooden box began to rattle vigorously, and there was a click as the lock opened.
On their sixty-seventh attempt, the stuffed animals finally succeeded in stealing the 'Pendant of the Purple Mist'.

"We did it!"

The two bears were so happy that they couldn't help but hold hands and dance.

The brown bear gently lifted the 'Pendant of the Purple Mist' from the wooden box and put it around its neck.
The cool, heavy weight of the stone pressed firmly against its fluffy chest.
The brown bear stared at it intently.
Inside the pitch-black stone that seemed to draw one in, the purple mist swirled as if it were alive.

Soon after, the cart made from a modified Dutch oven, carrying the rabbit and the owl, arrived.
The stuffed animals squeezed into the Dutch oven, opened the lid just a crack, and set off, cutting through the wind with the rabbit at the wheel.
The stuffed animals were full of energy, but they also seemed somewhat nervous.

As the cart moved forward a little, Diary-chan was waiting for the stuffed animals in the middle of the path near the witch's library.

"Are you really going to leave this forest?"

The owl answered Diary-chan's voice, which was so faint it seemed about to disappear.

"Theoretically, as long as we are indirectly touching the 'Pendant of the Purple Mist', our lives won't vanish, so it's okay.
In other words, the effect is valid as long as someone is wearing the pendant and we are touching even a part of each other's bodies.
So, don't worry, we will never let go of each other's hands."

Diary-chan stomped her feet impatiently.

"That's true. But once you become an ordinary stuffed animal, you can never return to being yourself with the same memories again."

The polar bear poked its head out and said, fidgeting.

"Diary-chan, I have a favor to ask. While we're away, I want you to stay by the witch's side."

Diary-chan finally burst into tears.

"I don't have any special talents like everyone else, and I'm useless on my own!"

The polar bear said gently, "That's not true."

"You just need to talk to her. I'm sure the witch will feel at ease. After all, you are the one who knows the witch better than anyone else in the world."

At the polar bear's words, Diary-chan gave a small nod,

"You must come back, promise?"

she said, and then ran off toward the witch's house, her pages fluttering.

As the cart carrying the stuffed animals moved forward, the purple mist grew thicker and thicker. The purple mist, shining as it was illuminated by the setting sun, was truly beautiful. The stuffed animals held each other's hands tightly. Once this mist clears, they will finally be in the human world, where the witch's magic cannot reach.