Champignon Witch (シャンピニオンの魔女)

Luna, the black witch.

She was my destiny.

Dearer to me than anyone.

Someone I will never forget.

My beloved.

THE CURSED YOUNGLING

Luna, somebody washed up here.

He looks hurt.

He's bleeding a whole lot.

I wonder what happened.

Maybe he fell off the cliff over there.

People do fall sometimes.

But if he did, he might be dead.

Oh, look! Somebody stabbed him with a knife!

Huh? Then you think him falling in the river wasn't an accident?

But he's still breathing...

I think he's a boy, at least.

What are you gonna do, Luna?

Luna?

When she later told me about this day,

the witch said that I looked as beautiful as a doll to her.

She worried that if she touched me,

her poison might instantly melt that beauty away

or turn it inside out and transform it into something else entirely.

She said that when the thought entered her mind, she was unable to move.

"Hey! Been a while, yeah?"

Hmm. But then what do we talk about?

"Figured I'd pay that sorry mug of yours a visit for once."

Nah. That doesn't come off right, either.

I need something, I don't know, more natural? Oh, got it.

"You know any mushrooms good for glossy feathers?"

Yeah. I'll go with that.

Hey.

What the heck are you guys doing?

Claude!

Perfect timing, Claude.

We need to carry this boy home with us.

Wait. Is that...

Kinopio floats in the water and can't stand upright.

Come on, help us! Luna can't touch him, either.

That face... I'm sure I've seen it somewhere.

But we've gotta help him soon, or else!

If we don't hurry up, he's gonna die.

Claude!

Please.

Huh? Why do I have to carry him?

I keep telling you to stay out of trouble.

I've been meaning to give something to you.

I found some lovely stones in the river.

Huh?

Luna sure put a lot of work into finding those.

Huh? You really think I would... fall for...

a deal like that?

Thank you, Claude.

Crows go for glitter like cats go for catnip, see?

Shaddap, bull! I'll make roast beef out of you!

Yikes!

So, what next?

He's already lost too much blood. I doubt there's much you can do for him...

now.

He's smelled like poison ever since we found him.

Poison?

Huh?

What does that mean?

I'm not sure, but maybe the knife is laced with poison.

Anyway, I need to try to take it out.

It's a cursed mushroom!

Is that what the knife was cursed with?

No, wait.

There's more to it.

Huh?

Hey. Luna. What is happening?

What the hell is that?

It stifles and fouls the air in an instant,

like an unspeakable omen.

I know it.

I know what this mushroom really is.

Get back!

Luna!

Luna!

Luna!

Are you all right?!

Don't get too close... to me!

You okay?

That stuff all over you... what is it? Miasma?

Did that thing get...

Luna? Luna!

Well.

Hello, Luna.

Master.

Look at you. Did you perhaps absorb a poison you cannot contain?

I see.

So you have finally encountered

the one destined to become The End to All Things,

the cursed youngling.

The cursed youngling!

Step closer, Luna. Leave all of your overflowing poison with me.

Even for you, the poison from The End of All Things is too heavy to bear.

The boy was very beautiful.

I could sense it in the mushroom I drew from him.

It was as if his soul was crystal clear.

And that may be exactly what makes him become The End of All Things.

And Luna,

as he is, so are you.

Regarding that child, you may do with him as you wish.

I will remain here, watching over you both until I wither and decay.

Luna!

Damn it. Where the hell is she?

Luna!

I can't find her anywhere.

Do you think she's okay?

Oh!

Luna!

Luna! Where did you go? We were so worried!

Oh! All the black stuff is gone!

I'm sorry.

Moo! I had to keep Claude company all by myself. It was hard work!

More like you kept hassling me and wouldn't shut up!

Stop, you brute of a crow!

Oh yeah, bull?! Keep it up and you really will be roast beef!

Claude was watching over the boy.

Stop it! Put me down!

Would you rather be a steak? How about I grind you into a juicy hamburger?

Claude.

Moo!

Thank you.

He is definitely still alive.

But something's kind of strange.

His body's gotten smaller.

See? Strange, right?

When we found him, he looked around fifteen.

And now he looks about six.

It happened after you took that scary mushroom out of him.

I'm not sure when.

Luna, when you pulled the mushroom out, did you use a youth spell on him?

She didn't have time for that, though.

Hey.

From how he's dressed, I have an idea about where he's from.

If I'm right, getting involved with this kid might—

Claude!

Please, don't tell anybody about him.

Huh?

Or about that mushroom we saw today.

What are you talking about? I can't keep this a secret!

Please!

Out with it, then! You're acting strange all of a sudden. What happened?

The truth is...

Champignon Witch.

Starting immediately,

we shall commence an emergency meeting of the black witches and wizards

to determine your sentence for the grave transgression you have just committed.

You understand exactly what transgression that is, do you not, Luna?

They found out!

Due to the fact that you chose now to commit such a serious violation,

we decided to hold an emergency assembly of the Black Witch Council.

The Black Witch Council? You've got to be kidding!

When black witches and wizards need to make a very important decision,

they assemble a handful of top-ranking members to hold a meeting like this.

But why come after a witch as minor as Luna?

Whoa.

Luna.