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

I must break through the crowd and return to the square.

However, the closer I get, the denser the crowd becomes, making it impossible to move forward.

The Carbuncle parade has passed, and now everyone is gathering to witness the festival’s grand finale.

As I contemplate my options, my eyes catch sight of the city’s tallest clock tower.

“That’s my only choice…”

But the problem remains—how do I get there?

At this rate, I won’t make it in time for the finale.

Sophie’s magic is also entering its final stage.

Just then, amidst Sophie’s magic, I notice something white soaring through the sky.

Looking closer, I realize—it’s a snowy owl.

It flies, blending into the magic to remain unnoticed. As expected of such an intelligent bird.

I wave frantically, but the owl doesn’t seem to notice me.

“Then—!”

I quickly climb onto a nearby wall and whistle sharply towards the sky.

In an instant, the snowy owl spots me and changes course.

By then, I have already finished chanting the twelve-verse spell.

I time my movements and leap from the wall with all my might.

As I fall, the crowd gasps in shock, bracing themselves.

But in the next moment, my body is lifted high above the ground—I’ve landed on the back of the massive snowy owl.

The gasps turn into cheers, and the audience erupts into applause.

“How’s that? Pretty good performance, huh?”

I speak to the owl, but its reaction is indifferent.

It seems unimpressed—as if to say, “This is nothing special.” What an arrogant bird.

“Anyway, let’s go! First, we need to get Sophie!”

I point in her direction, and the owl dives towards her.

Waiting for me in the square, Sophie’s eyes widen in shock at the sudden appearance of the giant bird.

Without slowing down, I swoop past her, wrapping my arms around her, and lift her into the sky.

I think I hear a muffled “Guh!” sound, but I ignore it.

The spectators let out a collective “Ooooh!” at the graceful maneuver.

Their reaction is exhilarating.

“See, Sophie? I can do it when I try.”

I glance at her—she looks completely drained, like a dying fish.

“Zuberi… I’m going to kill you later…”

It seems the impact of my grab hit her stomach pretty hard.

Unbothered, the snowy owl carries us to the clock tower and gently sets us down.

From up here, we can see the entire city of Lapis.

“There’s a railing, but it’s pretty open—don’t fall.”

“Got it.”

Far below, the gathered townspeople gaze up at us.

The space that had formed around Sophie earlier is now completely packed.

They’ve all come to see our finale.

“It’s beautiful up here.”

Sophie murmurs as she gazes at the moon.

The full moon casts its glow upon her.

“You know, this place is usually off-limits. Only the clock tower’s caretaker is allowed up here. But sneaking in like this—that’s the privilege of a witch.”

“There are so many people.”

“They’ve all come to see us. Probably even more people come to see your parade regularly. Maybe way more.”

Sophie gazes into the crowd with a distant look in her eyes.

“Whenever I perform a parade, I always remember the joy on everyone’s faces. It’s strange—it lifts my spirits. Even though I’ve always hated magic, I feel like it was worth it.”

“Sophie, do you really hate magic?”

“What do you mean?”

“If you truly hated it, you wouldn’t have mastered it this much.”

I say this with a smile, then hop back onto the snowy owl’s back.

“I love your magic, Sophie. So, have some confidence.”

“You sound so full of yourself.”

Sophie shrugs in exasperation.

But somehow, the exchange feels enjoyable.

“Alright, I’m counting on you.”

With my signal, the owl takes off into the night sky once more.

Tonight’s parade is a battle of endurance.

I construct a white magic sphere and release it into the sky—a magic orb infused with colorful energy.

Sophie immediately fires a light arrow, striking the orb dead center.

And in that moment—

The festival night sky blooms with light.

A dazzling explosion of magical fireworks paints the sky.

The energy spreads, igniting the surrounding magic orbs in a chain reaction, expanding the spectacle.

It’s breathtaking, even to me—but I can’t afford to be mesmerized.

Without pause, I construct another set of magic orbs and signal Sophie.

She fires without hesitation, setting off another burst of brilliance.

We keep the rhythm, ensuring the sky never falls dark.

I circle the sky on the snowy owl’s back, tirelessly constructing magic.

A hundred, two hundred—an uncountable number of fireworks.

I don’t know how many I’ve set off when, suddenly, my consciousness wavers.

My vision blurs—objects double before my eyes.

Damn.

I’ve used too much magic.

I let my guard down—I’ve never unleashed so much magic at once before.

I couldn’t control my magic properly, and I overspent my energy.

My awareness fades at an alarming rate.

There’s no time to resist or endure.

My knees buckle into the owl’s feathers.

Even though Sophie, one of the Seven Sages, has been casting spells nonstop, she remains unfazed—while I am at my limit.

Did Marie and Woof reunite?

Just as I start to collapse, someone catches me.

It’s my master.

“Meg, you did well.”

“Master…? Why are you here?”

“A master always keeps an eye on their apprentice.”

With her clairvoyant abilities, I never stood a chance of hiding anything from her.

“Master, will you help with the fireworks?”

“Of course not. Tonight’s stars are you two.”

She raises a hand as if signaling Sophie, who nods in response.

Through my hazy vision, I see Sophie radiating an unfamiliar magical aura.

“Leave the rest to me.”

She speaks softly.

And then—

Magic erupts from her, filling the entire sky with fireworks.

The sheer volume and intensity of the chained explosions far surpass my own efforts.

The endless cascade of magical blooms reminds me of past years’ fireworks displays.

“Incredible…”

“Meg, watch closely. This is Sophie’s true power. You launched 5,000 fireworks. Sophie will launch 25,000 more.”

“Ha… Seven Sages indeed…”

Master suddenly looks down at the square, as if noticing something.

“Look.”

She props me up, guiding my gaze downward.

I struggle to focus, but soon realize what she means.

Woof and Marie stand together, watching the fireworks—watching us.

Woof is without his hood, a sign that he has revealed his true identity and broken free from his shell.

And Marie has accepted him.

“They found each other… Master, magic really does bring happiness, doesn’t it?”

“Of course it does. That’s why we exist.”

As I whisper those words, I notice something.

For the first time, Sophie, who always wore a stoic mask, is smiling.

Seeing her smile makes me smile, too.

And thus, the Otherworld Festival reaches its grand finale.