Hansel’s Enchanted Fairytale: Fill Me Up With Magic! - Chapter 73

Hansel called out Dante’s name through her sobs, even though she knew deep down that it was impossible for him to come.

But then, at some point, she noticed something.

The werewolf had frozen. He seemed to have realized something and stood as still as a statue, his expression turning pale. His face twisted in disbelief.

“God da—”

He didn’t even finish his curse.

Swoosh. A sharp wind blew through. Hansel’s hair whipped wildly in the sudden gust. At the same time, the werewolf let go of her and abruptly dropped to the ground, as if trying to dodge something.

In the blink of an eye, a flash of light slashed horizontally like a crescent moon. Reflexively turning to look behind her, Hansel’s face went ashen, just like the werewolf’s.

Rumble. An earth-shaking sound echoed as dozens of trees fell over simultaneously. It was as if the world itself were ending.

It was as though a giant had taken a massive scythe and cut them all down in one swing. The snow piled atop the trees shook off all at once as the trunks toppled slowly backward. Then, with a resounding crash, they all collapsed at once, shaking the ground violently.

The deafening noise of air splitting apart made Hansel let out a small scream as she clapped her hands over her ears. The shockwave rattled the earth as if an earthquake had struck.

But the disaster wasn’t over. The sunlight dimmed as Hansel was engulfed in a dark shadow. The impact of the falling trees had sent a wave of snow shooting into the air like a tsunami. It was an avalanche.

The color drained from Hansel’s face as the shadow loomed over her.

If it hits, I’ll die.

The thought came instinctively.

Clang!

The oncoming avalanche froze with a clear ringing sound. The wall of snow that had threatened to engulf everything transformed from the bottom up into a translucent ice barrier. It glimmered like crystal, reflecting sunlight in a breathtakingly beautiful display.

An enormous ice wall had formed in the middle of the winter forest.

Between the ice wall and Hansel, sunlight poured down, scattering like jewel dust.

Before she could process what had happened, a familiar sensation hit her first.

A sweet scent.

It was like the overwhelming aroma of sugar melting in a giant cauldron, filling her lungs and seeping deep into her chest. And then, she saw crimson eyes.

“……!”

Ash-gray hair fluttered in the wind, and standing with his back to the radiant ice wall was him.

“Da… Dan…”

Suddenly, her vision was obscured as he draped his gray robe over her. The hood covered her eyes, and as she hurriedly pulled it back, her heart sank. He had tossed the robe over her as if that was all there was to do.

Even after cutting through the forest, freezing the avalanche, and approaching to cover her with his robe, he wasn’t looking at her.

Just from his turned back, Hansel knew.

He intended to leave her here and head back into the forest.

The elongated, drawn-out moment snapped back like a coiled spring.

“Dante!”

Without realizing it, Hansel reached out and grabbed him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

Dante froze at her sudden embrace. But he didn’t look back. His gaze remained fixed on the forest ahead.

At the end of his line of sight, a massive wolf—dark blue and almost black—was retreating hurriedly into the shadows of the trees. The wolf weaved skillfully through untouched areas where the trees hadn’t fallen.

Dante’s gaze toward the wolf was icy cold.

I need to kill it.

Right now.

“Dante, please…”

“……”

“Don’t leave me. I’m scared.”

A sniffle followed as she tried to hold back her sobs. Slowly, he turned to look at her.

His crimson eyes landed on her trembling arms. The pale arms that peeked out from beneath his gray robe looked fragile enough to break. Beneath her hastily pulled-up skirt, her exposed white thighs were flushed red from the cold.

Dante silently took in the sight of Hansel. Her quiet sobs, her vulnerable, messy state.

“……”

His hot breaths, his darkened vision clouded by blinding rage, all froze in place.

The moment her small body’s warmth touched him through the fabric, all of it melted away as though it had never existed.

He couldn’t help it.

She’s crying.

She called for me.

For now, he decided not to think about the wolf.

His broad chest rose and fell heavily before he let out a long, deep sigh. The sharp, menacing air around him softened considerably.

Gently, he took Hansel’s hands and coaxed her arms away from his waist. Her strength was already drained, so she easily let go, following his lead. Dante turned around, knelt on one knee, and met her eyes.

“Look at me.”

Her face was a mess. Her platinum hair was disheveled, her lips swollen, and her large eyes brimmed with tears that seemed ready to spill at any moment.

He held out his arms toward her.

“Let’s go home.”

Hansel’s lips trembled violently. Then, as if waiting for those words, she flung herself into Dante’s embrace.

The overwhelming, sweet scent filled her senses.

His scent overtook her mind.

Just feeling his warmth against her made her turbulent emotions calm as though spring had arrived.