The atmosphere in the Augsburg tavern was thick, saturated with pipe smoke and the smell of sour ale that seeped into the wood of the tables. Hansel and Gretel had settled at one of the tables, seeking a moment of relative calm after the fight against the witch they found in the forest. Jackson, a middle-aged man with a face weathered by winters and the tired eyes of someone who knows every dangerous corner of those woods, watched them while finishing his drink. He was their guide, the man the mayor had assigned so they wouldn't get lost in the green immensity surrounding the town.
It was in that moment of apparent tranquility when a voice, calm and with a nuance of confidence that didn't fit the surroundings, broke the background murmur.
"I hope I'm not intruding" - Theo said, stopping right in front of their table. - "But I need to talk to you..."
The siblings' reaction was electric. In a blink, Hansel already had his hand brushing the butt of his weapon hidden under the table, and Gretel had tensed her shoulders, ready to draw. Their faces showed no panic, but a contained and professional surprise. They had spent years hunting beings that hid in the shadows; their instincts were tuned to detect the slightest change in the air. However, this boy had simply appeared there, as if the shadows themselves had deposited him in front of them.
'How the hell did he get so close without us hearing him?' - Hansel thought, his eyes scanning Theo's figure. He was truly surprised that he hadn't noticed his presence. He thought perhaps he was a mercenary sent by the sheriff or some kind of itinerant assassin. His presence didn't fit that of a simple frightened villager.
Hansel was the first to break the silence, maintaining a hard expression.
"We're not here to talk, kid. Find another table" - he snapped, appearing indifferent, though his fingers didn't move away from his weapon.
Gretel, on the other hand, tilted her head slightly. Her eyes evaluated Theo and his relaxed posture. She knew that someone who could bypass their senses in that way wasn't a peasant seeking attention. Jackson, for his part, looked at Theo with suspicion based on his experience; as a local deputy, he knew perfectly well that this stranger wasn't from around here. His clothes were too good and his gaze too sharp.
Theo smiled slightly, noting Hansel's defensive hostility, and raised his hands in a gesture of peace that didn't seem entirely submissive.
"My apologies for the scare" - Theo said, which made Hansel make a face of irritation. - "But what I have to tell you is of the utmost importance. It's about the missing children."
That phrase was the perfect bait. Hansel's feigned disinterest wavered for a second, though he quickly recovered his mask of cynicism. He let out a heavy sigh and leaned back in his chair.
"Listen, if you're coming with tales to collect a reward, save your breath. We don't have time for small-time informants" - Hansel said, assuming Theo was looking for coins in exchange for empty rumors.
Gretel, however, intervened before her brother could dismiss the young man.
"He doesn't look like one of those, Hansel" - she murmured, staring fixedly at Theo. She looked at his appearance. His confidence is not that of someone who comes to beg for alms. To her, he looks like someone who knows he can start a fight and not end up losing.
"Thank you, Miss Gretel" - Theo nodded. - "I would prefer if we spoke in a place with fewer ears. The tavern is a bit crowded for what I have to tell."
Hansel made a face of annoyance, but the exchange of glances with his sister indicated that she wanted to listen. Gretel nodded toward Theo.
"We'll go upstairs. We have a room" - she decided.
Theo looked at Jackson, who seemed ready to stay and finish his alcohol.
"He should come too" - Theo added. - "He's your guide, isn't he? We're going to need him."
Jackson was surprised to be named, but after an imperative look from Gretel, he finished his glass in one gulp and stood up, adjusting his belt.
Before even getting up, Hansel stopped and looked Theo in the eye.
"If this is about money, I'll tell you right now we don't have any. You'll save us the trip if that's your intention."
Theo let out a small laugh. He was sure it was a lie, but he didn't care.
"Don't worry, Hansel. I'm not looking for your money" - Theo replied calmly.
Once inside the room, Hansel leaned against the wall near the window, maintaining his disinterested attitude, while Gretel sat on the edge of the bed and Jackson stood near the door, watching the scene with the caution of a man who has seen too many strange things in the forest.
Theo introduced himself briefly and then went straight to the point.
"The situation is more serious than you imagine" - Theo began. - "It's not just about witches kidnapping children to feed. There is a Grand Witch, named Muriel, and her followers are organizing a massive ritual. They call it the Ritual of the Blood Moon. This ritual will take place on the fourth day when the moon turns blood red."
The siblings shared a quick look. The name of a specific ritual was always a bad sign. Although the good thing is that it seems they still have time.
"They need twelve children" - Theo continued. - "But not just any children. They must be twelve, each one born in a different month of the year. But the main ingredient for this ritual is the heart of a Grand White Witch."
Theo kept his face expressionless, avoiding looking directly at Gretel. He knew perfectly well that she was that grand white witch Muriel was looking for, but he decided it wasn't the time to drop that bomb. If he told them now that Gretel was one of the creatures they swore to hunt, the most likely outcome would be immediate violence.
Theo explained what a white witch was, but of course, neither of the siblings believed him.
Hansel let out a dry, mocking laugh.
"A white witch? What fairy tale did you get that from, Theodore? Witches are monsters that make pacts with demons. There's no such thing as a 'good witch'."
Gretel also frowned, confused.
"We've never heard of that" - she said. - 'Witches are demonic beings by nature."
Even Jackson, from the door, nodded. In his years traversing the forests, he had only found traces of death coming from witches.
Theo sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He knew that incredulity would be his greatest obstacle.
"I understand that you don't believe me about the existence of benevolent witches" - Theo said, murmuring to himself that it was logical for them to think that way. - "But don't ignore the rest. If you want proof, check the information on the children who have been kidnapped. Check their months of birth. You'll see there are no repetitions. Muriel is completing her calendar."
The seriousness in Theo's voice made Gretel take out some sheets of paper she kept in her gear. They were the notes the mayor had given them about the disappearances. She and Hansel leaned over the papers, reviewing the names and dates they had gathered from desperate parents. As they moved down the list, their expressions changed. Hansel's expression shifted from mockery and skepticism to a grimace of deep annoyance upon confirming that, indeed, there were no month repetitions.
"January... February... March... he's right, they're all from different months" - Gretel whispered, surprised.
Theo crossed his arms with a small smile of self-satisfaction. Then he turned to Jackson.
"Tell me, Jackson... many years ago, didn't they burn a supposed witch and hang her husband in a house not far from here?"
The old guide tensed, his eyes widening in surprise that he was being spoken to, but he still replied after remembering for a moment.
"Yes..." - Jackson replied in a raspy voice. - "It was a long time ago. A tragic story that many prefer to forget. The house is still there, swallowed by the forest."
The siblings looked at each other with furrowed brows.
"What does that have to do with anything?" - Hansel asked, not knowing why he asked it.
"Because that woman they burned was also a Grand White Witch" - Theo replied. - "It's possible that in the ruins of that house you'll find some relevant information, or about the Grand White Witch she is looking for. Personally, I plan to go there to see if Muriel appears. She knows that place is key and will surely be lurking around the area. I recommend you go prepared; if Muriel is there, it will be the fight of your lives."
Gretel looked at her brother, seeking a decision. Hansel looked out the window toward the darkness of the forest surrounding the town.
"We'll go tomorrow morning" - Hansel declared with authority. - "It's night now. In the dark, witches are twice as fast and powerful. If we face a Grand Witch, we won't be so stupid as to give her the advantage of night terrain."
Theo nodded, satisfied. He didn't need to force things; the siblings were professionals and knew when to take risks.
"Sounds good to me" - Theo said, walking toward the door. - "I'll see you on the road, then."
He didn't set a time or a meeting point, and they didn't ask for one either. Theo knew his role was one of support, an observer who would intervene when things got ugly. And they didn't seem very interested in him either after he gave them the information. After all, to them, he was just someone who arrived with very important information but lost that relevance once he had provided it.
So Theo left the room, leaving the siblings immersed in a reflective silence, analyzing the new and disturbing information.
Theo left the tavern and walked away from the lights of the town. He settled on the branch of an ancient oak on the outskirts, from where he could watch both the road to the forest house and the entrances to Augsburg. Thanks to his enhanced constitution as an adventurer from Konosuba, sleep was not an urgent necessity; he could spend days awake if the situation required it.
While looking at the stars of this world, so different from those of Axel, Theo meditated. He knew that the forest house was Hansel and Gretel's old home. He knew that the discovery of their past would be an emotional blow for them. But he also knew that Muriel would stop at nothing to get Gretel's heart.
'Tomorrow the real work begins' - Theo thought, closing his eyes for a moment to sharpen his hearing, attentive to any sound that broke the silence of the night.
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Honestly, I was thinking of not continuing to upload this because of the lack of support I was getting. I understand that being made by AI wouldn't have the same impact as a fanfic written by a person, but I was hoping for more support. After all, it was turning out quite well, even if that's just my opinion.
But despite all this, it was just me seeing how far AI can go in creating a fanfiction story. I uploaded it so more people would have something to read, nothing more.
So I'll continue uploading it, but I can't give a schedule for uploading chapters.
I hope you liked the chapter.