There had been rumors about the forest in the village for a long time.

Stories that a witch lives deep in the forest, and that those who enter after sunset never return.

I was just an ordinary person living alone in a cabin near the forest. Gathering herbs, treating the injured, and occasionally sharing medicine with the villagers. That was all.

But one day, strange things started happening in the village.

The well water turned black, and livestock died off. At night, blue lights rose from the forest, and an illness of unknown cause even spread through the village.

And people suspected me first.

The fact that I lived alone in a cabin in the forest. That I knew about herbs others didn't. That I was in the forest every time something strange happened.

Crucially, when the village chief's daughter's condition worsened after taking the medicine I made, people were convinced I had cast a curse.

Eventually, a request was sent to the Holy Kingdom to execute me.

And the person who came to catch me was Calix.

A renowned Paladin of the Holy Kingdom, he stayed by my side to uncover if I was truly a witch.

Of course, I told him many times that I wasn't a witch, but he didn't believe me easily.

But it was strange.

He visited every day saying he suspected me, followed me whenever I went into the forest, and stood in front of me first whenever danger arose.

The Paladin who came to catch the witch, and me, who was framed as one.

At first, we didn't trust each other.

But what Calix tried to protect with his sword—

From a certain point, it wasn't the villagers, but me.