Once Upon a Witch's Death (ある魔女が死ぬまで)

Man, I'm sleepy.

Hm?

THE COUNCIL OF MAGIC PRESENTS

ITS VIEWS ON THE MAGIC DISASTER

Come forth, plants, and reveal yourselves,

your life-giving strength from within.

Transform from your current state

and into the desired one.

Provide me sustenance.

Be part of me, forevermore.

Nice!

- Come in. -

Good morning.

To you as well, Meg.

I made you tea.

Yes. How kind.

Well...come on out and get your grub.

Who's a good Carbuncle?

Who's the best Carbuncle in the whole stinkin' world?

Meg.

Yes?

You should know, you're going to die in one year.

Huh?

Wha...?

It was a clear day in early autumn

and the clouds drifted gently past overhead.

It also happened to be my 17th birthday.

And how do I celebrate it?

By finding out, I, apprentice witch,

Meg Raspberry, am going to die in a year.

THE WITCH WITH ONE YEAR TO LIVE

We both know you've got a warped sense of humor,

mistress, but this is so, well--

It's not a joke.

You're destined to die, my dear.

There's no way that's true.

- It is. -Die!

From my surprise party!

When have I surprised you with anything?

Hmm. Hm.

Okay, you can bring out

-the hidden camera already! - You got pranked!

You really think I would go on a show like that?

Worth a shot.

However much I'd like it to be a joke, it's not.

You have only one year before you wither away,

-Meg Raspberry. -

Wow, you've got some nerve.

Telling me all this on my birthday of all days!

I know the timing seems inconvenient,

but I can't keep it hidden from you.

-The grave awaits. -

Unless you take action, it's unavoidable.

Well, let's hear it. How am I supposed to go?

-A curse. -

A curse?

What's referred to as a Death Sentence.

As I already mentioned,

this particular one triggers within a year.

Now that you're 17, the countdown has started.

What a birthday gift.

It's an old one and a mystery to modern witches, sadly.

What's going on?

Give her eyes sight for what lies ahead.

Think of it as a congenital disease.

When you turn 18 next year,

your internal clock will malfunction.

You'll age at a thousand times

the normal rate.

Ten years in three days.

And a hundred in a month.

That's about how long you'll have

before it takes your life.

By the way, that vision you just witnessed

was you dying from the curse.

That old hag was me?

Tell me how to break it!

I'll do anything!

As of right now,

there is no way.

Then all we've gotta do is find who's responsible!

You know who cursed me, right?

We can capture them and force them

to tell us how to break it!

Congenital, I said.

In other words, it's an illness.

And you're very sick.

How could you say that to

a fresh-faced 17 year old girl?

Don't worry. I'll look after you

up until your final moments.

Why's the old crone acting so cavalier?

I mean, we've lived together for over a decade!

And this is how she treats her most precious

-and favorite student? -

The future's not completely in stone.

There is one way you can be saved.

Huh?

Seriously?

Then how about dialing down the funny a bit

and telling me the remedy already?

I assure you, it will prove difficult.

Both how long it will take and what is required.

Let me guess. This weird looking glass plays a role.

Where do you buy this junk from, anyway?

Why don't you button it for a second?

This moment, let it be captured.

I just cast a spell on this bottle.

Starting today, you must use it to gather fragments of emotion.

Can I talk again?

What are those?

They are strong feelings experienced by people.

You are going to collect them.

There is something called a seed of life.

There are many human emotions.

Anger, grief, pleasure.

This seed is made from joy.

And how do I gather those?

Using that bottle I imbued with my time magic.

It will crystallize and store fragments of emotion.

You are going to use it to accumulate joy

-from all kinds of people. -

Specifically, the tears that are shed

when someone is happy.

Their tears of joy.

Tears of joy?

The material required

in order to create a seed of life...

- -...which in turn

will protect you from death,

meaning it will keep you alive

even after the curse has long taken effect.

Totally fine!

So in other words, I'll become immortal?

If you don't dispel it.

I knew this was all an act, mistress,

and you actually care about your student.

So, how many teardrops do I need to gather?

Around a dozen or something?

Try a 1,000.

-What? -You heard me, 1,000.

You have a mere 12 months to acquire that amount

from people who are experiencing true joy.

I mean, is that even possible?

If you're a witch who can't perform miracles,

it's especially impossible.

Good to know.

Unless you've got any more terrible news,

I'll be going now!

And where do you think you're off to?

-Meg! Get back here! -

Only a year.

If I really am going to die by then,

what have I been doing up till now?

I studied magic like a madwoman every day.

Worked myself to the bone.

I've done everything I could, but...

it was all for nothing, huh?

So, what's the point of even being alive?

It's my birthday, and I couldn't feel worse.

How dare you try to cheer me up, fuzz face!

How's a tummy tickle feel? Does it feel good?

Excuse me! Aren't you Ms. Faust's apprentice?

What're you doing sitting there talking to yourself?

You know,

keeping the demons at bay.

Huh? Aw!

He's so fluffy!

I know! Get in on this!

Really?

You came all the way here without an adult?

Yeah. I had something important to ask Ms. Faust.

Could you tell me?

I need her to get me a whole bunch of flowers

so that my mommy can get some peaceful rest.

Hm? Rest, as in?

She's been sick a while.

At first she was in the hospital,

but they finally let her leave.