Until a Witch Dies – Meg Raspberry’s One Year Left to Live

My master and I live in a house surrounded by the Witch’s Forest.

This place is unique, as we manage both its magical energy and the flora and fauna within it.

By properly regulating the magic, the soil becomes rich and carries a warmth akin to the earth in spring.

With fertile soil, even plants that are difficult to cultivate in this region can grow successfully.

Numerous small animals inhabit the Witch’s Forest, coexisting in harmony.

Since townsfolk occasionally visit, it is my responsibility to ensure that there are no dangerous plants or creatures in the area.

Next to me, Inori hummed a tune as she walked.

“You’re in quite the good mood.”

“Well, the stiff and tedious meetings are finally over. The air here is fresh, and it puts me in a good mood.”

“Are meetings really that exhausting?”

“Oh, absolutely. We talk endlessly, day and night. The agendas are long, the unexpected issues keep piling up, and I get put on the spot all the time. Wait—aren’t you the apprentice of one of the Seven Sages? How do you not know this?”

“Well, my master doesn’t talk much about her work…”

“Ah, I see.”

Inori scratched her cheek awkwardly, looking a little troubled.

“Well, you know, she probably just doesn’t want to worry her beloved apprentice. So don’t sweat it.”

“When will my master be back…?”

“Who knows? This situation is pretty urgent. You’re worried about her, aren’t you?”

“Not at all.”

“What!? That was totally the vibe just now! You even had a sad look on your face!”

“I was just feeling melancholic, thinking my peaceful break is almost over…”

“You totally looked lonely because she wouldn’t talk about her work!”

“I was just suppressing a yawn.”

“Don’t yawn while we’re talking!”

Inori shook her head in exasperation. “Seriously, you throw me off.”

“You must be tired from all those meetings.”

“That’s your fault!”

The Witch’s Forest is home to various herbs, medicinal plants, and traditional remedies, all naturally cultivated.

While we do tend to the land, the plants here grow rapidly due to the forest’s magical energy, and their vitality is strong. There’s little need for intervention.

My primary job is to manage the soil and magic balance.

Inori crouched down and touched the soil at the base of a tree, inspecting its condition.

“This place is well-maintained.”

“I tend to it every day. It’s a lot of work.”

“You do it yourself?”

“Yeah, more or less. My master is busy, after all.”

“Huh. The quality of the compost, the magic imbued in the soil, and its circulation—everything is excellent. With this level of management, crops will grow steadily. You’ve got a real knack for working with soil.”

“This here’s my farm.”

I put my all into my best impression of a rural farmer.

Inori completely ignored it and instead wore a serious expression.

“Being able to read the soil is a valuable skill. Especially nowadays, with everything becoming unstable—climate, environment… There’s a high demand for it. You won’t have trouble finding work.”

“That’s nice to hear, but what’s causing all these changes?”

“Humans have meddled too much with nature. The air is polluted, forests are being cleared, and people think magic can fix everything.”

Environmental issues, research requests, government commissions—the Seven Sages have plenty of responsibilities.

One of the most pressing concerns lately is how magical influence is altering ecosystems.

It eliminates rare species, drives animals mad, and reshapes the environment.

I remember hearing on the news once that this phenomenon was causing deserts to expand.

“When trees are cut down and their numbers dwindle, the magic flowing through the land loses its proper circulation. As a result, the magic concentrates in large creatures. Those creatures can’t handle the excess power, which leads to abnormalities. Eventually, a phenomenon occurs where they start preying on their own kind. The weaker ones don’t stand a chance.”

Inori explained the process of these anomalies with ease.

“When magic gathers, it grants power. That’s a fundamental rule of sorcery. If you were to obtain such power, what would you do?”

“I’d amass wealth and fame, then build a harem of handsome men.”

“You’re hopeless.”

Inori sighed as if to say, Of course, you would.

“When animals consume plants and fruits that have absorbed excess magic, they, too, take in an unnatural amount of power. Eventually, they start attacking people. There was a tragic bear attack in the East long ago—a monstrous bear devoured several women from a village. Cases like that will only increase. Some creatures might even wander into towns. That’s how magic-born monsters come into being.”

“Yikes…”

Using excessive magic recklessly disrupts the natural flow of magical energy in the world.

Bit by bit—so slowly it’s almost imperceptible—it warps the ecosystem.

That was Inori’s conclusion.

It was a rather serious conversation.

The atmosphere grew a little heavy.

“I don’t do well with this kind of mood.”

When I spoke, Inori turned to look at me.

“Life is short. It should be filled only with fun things. Booze, smokes, good food, and women.”

“You sound like an old man.”