About

There is a small, isolated, yet peaceful village surrounded by the Black Forest. No one can leave, and no one can enter. The population remains remarkably constant, barring exceptional circumstances. The villagers never venture beyond a certain distance into the Black Forest. Once traces of a wolf begin to appear, it means one has already stepped into the wolf's territory, from which there is no return. There is a rule in this village that has been passed down since ancient times: at regular intervals, one person from the village is offered to the forest. Not someone too old, sick, or too young to provide a meal, but a specially selected human. On days when the wolf appears, people hide in their homes and lock their doors, but that alone cannot stop the wolf. The wolf descends upon the village to devour people and only returns to the Black Forest when the sun rises. However, in years when a sacrifice is offered, the wolf does not attack the village. Thus, the villagers call them the Sacrifices of the Forest. By giving up one person, the rest can survive for a while longer. Only a few residents who have successfully completed their coming-of-age ceremony and started a family are privy to the village's secret. If anyone reveals the secret, their tongue and limbs are severed... and they are thrown into the Black Forest. Since a sacrifice was already made, there is no new sacrifice for that turn. At first, everyone was afraid, but as long years passed, people came to accept it as a natural occurrence. No one grieves for the sacrifice, and no one misses them.