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

“They’ve grown quite a bit this year too.”

We were in Grandma Flare’s garden.

In the brick-built vegetable patch, various plants were sprouting as usual.

Even though the weather was getting colder, there were still plenty of flowers that bloomed during this season. Pansies, violas, and Christmas cacti added splashes of color, while herbs flourished in another section.

All these plants were growing strong without interfering with each other. The meticulous care and quality of the soil—this was truly Grandma Flare’s handiwork.

“If there’s anything you like, Meg, feel free to take some with you. I always have plenty of seeds every year.”

“Hmm… Adding new recruits to my empire doesn’t sound bad at all…”

It had been three days since I started staying with Grandma Flare.

I hadn’t been doing my master’s work—I had just been helping in the garden, strolling through the town, cooking, and then going to bed at night.

That was all.

Yet, there was a gentle comfort in this life, a sense of ease.

It made me feel as if time itself was eternal.

“Oh my, it’s already this time. Meg, let’s go for a walk.”

As I was tending to the garden, Grandma Flare checked the clock and made her suggestion.

2 PM.

The only people who could afford to take strolls at this hour were graduates who had already secured their futures, the unemployed, or the elderly.

What did that make me?

I was a witch.

Yes, a witch.

Not unemployed.

No matter what anyone said, I was definitely not unemployed.

“A walk, huh? You go out every day, don’t you? Don’t you ever get tired of it?”

“Watching the town change and seeing the plants grow always gives me energy. Maybe that’s why, even at my age, I’m still able to walk on my own.”

“Huh… is that how it works?”

I followed Grandma Flare as we walked through the town.

She seemed to change her route every day, and today, we were headed somewhere different from yesterday.

Up ahead was the natural park in the northern part of town.

Carbuncle was running circles around my feet, and every now and then, the white owl would grab it by the scruff and lift it into the air as if playing a game.

The sky was clear, the town had a slow, relaxed atmosphere, and yet, the shopping district was lively with housewives going about their business.

I matched my pace with Grandma Flare’s, walking slowly, step by step.

Her pace felt like the pace of life itself.

Slowly, gradually moving forward—until one day, it would stop.

That thought surfaced in my mind, and I quickly shook my head.

“Let’s take a break here.”

Just as we entered the park, Grandma Flare pointed to a bench.

I decided not to dwell on unnecessary thoughts for now.

We sat together, and she pulled out a small paper-wrapped package from her bag. A sweet aroma drifted into the air.

“That smells amazing. What is it?”

“Cookies. I woke up early and baked them while you were still sleeping.”

“Such care and consideration—more luxurious than the royal family itself.”

She handed me a rosemary-infused herb cookie.

When I took a bite, the crisp texture melted into a gentle sweetness, followed by the refreshing aftertaste unique to rosemary, which seemed to cleanse my palate.

I couldn’t remember the last time I had homemade cookies.

As I reveled in the taste, she handed me a cup of steaming tea.

“Cookies always taste better with tea, don’t they?”

“Are you… a goddess?”

The tea was fragrant and warmed me deep to my core.

Peaceful.

Grandma Flare’s condition.

My own curse.

My fight with Master.

In this moment, it all felt like it had never happened, as if it were just a distant illusion.

Of course, I knew that was nothing more than escapism.

Still, the warmth of this moment seemed to gently unravel the tension that had been gripping me for days.

I had been lost in my thoughts, spiraling without answers, carrying an exhaustion I hadn’t even noticed.

“Hey, Grandma Flare, where are we going next—”

I turned to look at her and fell silent.

There was darkness.

No.

A black mist.

The black mist that heralded death.

And it was enveloping Grandma Flare in a density unlike anything I had ever seen before.

“Grandma Flare!”

I shouted, and in an instant, the black mist scattered, revealing her usual gentle expression.

I let out a breath of relief.

“Oh dear, I must have dozed off. The sun is so warm today, after all. What’s wrong, Meg? You look a little pale. Are you feeling unwell?”

“Huh? No, no way. Even if the world ended, cockroaches and I would survive. More importantly, Grandma Flare… Have you noticed any changes in your health lately? Anything different?”

“My, why the sudden question? Hmm… I suppose on days like this, when the weather is nice, I find myself getting drowsy more easily. The warmth of the sun just feels so comfortable.”

“I see…”

Was that drowsiness… the pull of eternal sleep?

The reality of what I had just witnessed shook me from my peaceful haze.

It forced me to confront the truth.

That time was running out.

As I sank into thought, Grandma Flare stood up.

“Let’s go, Meg. I want to show you my special place.”

“…Yeah. I’m looking forward to it.”