The Witch's Curse
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I was born in a small village in the mid-14th century. In a place with a caste system, my parents were commoners, and I naturally became one. I grew up in an ordinary family, living an ordinary life. But as I grew older, I began to see strange things. Things that weren't human, with a distinct aura and a pungent, stench. We called them "demons." Those who saw them were believed to be cursed. Knowing this, I thoroughly hid my sight of "demons." I pretended not to see them even when I saw them, and I pretended not to notice them when I spoke to them.
I thought it was something only I and God knew. But there was no such thing as a perfect crime, and eventually, someone caught me. For nothing more than seeing the devil, I was in danger of being burned at the stake, commonly known as a witch hunt. Not only was I not seeing it of my own free will, and I had done no harm to anyone, but it was so unfair that I had to live such a short life and die. I wasn't a witch. I was just an ordinary child, yet people called me one.
A blazing, blazing flame gradually enveloped me from beneath my feet. People hurled stones at me, calling me a witch. Even when stones struck my face, even when I was engulfed in the blazing flames, I simply bowed my head and accepted death without a word. I firmly believed that God would be on my side, after all.
But after I died, I realized there was no god in this world. There was never a god to protect me. Embracing my venom for those who killed me, I decided to create a god. The bright moon, high in the sky, was impressive, carrying the vast sky on its shoulders. The sky must have been burdensome, but I never let it go. I worshipped the moon as my god. Like a shadow behind the moon, I resolved to take revenge on those who killed me.
So I was reincarnated, and while I had the ability to see "demons" in the Middle Ages, I now possess the ability to remember my past. My god, the moon, recognized my vengeful spirit.
Because of my past memories, I didn't trust anyone. The only thing I believed in was the moon. Perhaps because I spent every day silently staring blankly, thinking about curses, I was called a "witch" back in school, just like I had been in the past. The first time I heard it, I was furious, but as time passed, I became detached and unmoved by the word "witch."
That's how I gradually matured. Perhaps because of my past memories, my family wasn't a good one. My alcoholic father and my mother had an affair. Instead of being kind to me, they hurled foul language and resorted to violence. This fueled my desire for revenge. The thought that I couldn't trust anyone around me fueled my anger. My neighbors whispered, "Pity me, not only because I wasn't a good family, but because I was being bullied at school," but I thought to myself, "They're the ones who are even more pitiful and pathetic."
Before I knew it, I was an adult, old enough to seek revenge on those who whispered behind my back. I didn't think my immature child's body, so weak, was fit for revenge, so I waited for about 20 years. Perhaps even longer.
Even as an adult, people still call me a witch. With my long hair, long nails, heavy makeup, and almost always black outfits, some even called me mystical. Some even approached me, perhaps intrigued by my quiet demeanor, but they quickly backed away. But even now, as an adult, there's one child I've never let go of. The only one who didn't call me a witch and gave me her heart. But I hated him. Because I know people aren't meant to last forever.
“Stop chasing me around. Aren’t you tired of it?”
“Yeah, it’s always new?”
I was tired of him following me around every day. He wanted to follow me wherever I went, understood everything I did, and even came back to me when I said something hurtful. I was frustrated with him, so I spoke up.
“I don’t trust humans anyway, and I don’t trust you either.”
“Because humans are creatures that will betray anyway.”
“If even one rumor spreads wrong, they bite you as if they’re going to kill you. Sometimes they actually kill you.”
“Humans hate demons, but in fact, the most evil demons are humans.”
“You believe in the theory of human nature being evil, I believe in the theory of human nature being good.”
“What about the theory of human nature… Stop caring about me.”
“I’m not the kind of woman you want. You should just call me a witch and mock me like everyone else.”
“You’re not a real witch, I’m curious about you.”
“I am a witch, yes.”
If people call me a witch and believe me, I'll grant them their wish. He seemed quite taken aback by my words, so I chuckled and continued on my way. He didn't chase me, as if he couldn't shake the shock of my usually reserved joke, as if he thought I was serious.
I began a bloody revenge on them. I wanted them to suffer even more than I did during my witch hunt. My first target was my parents. Parents are responsible for the children they gave birth to. I first sought out my mother, who was probably having an affair with another man. I researched her for revenge, and judging by the time, she was undoubtedly at a motel. I pretended to be a police officer and knocked on the door, and my mother came out, looking as if she had dressed hastily.
"… what?"
“Mother, I came to see you because I have something serious to tell you.”
“Can’t you see I’m busy right now?”
“Yeah, I can’t see anything. I just see her having fun rolling around with a guy.”
My mother seemed furious at my words, spoke to the man, and then packed her bags and left. She grabbed my wrist tightly and led me to a place where there was no one, not even a security camera. For the first time, I was grateful to her for choosing such a place.
“What were you talking about that you were saying that over there, are you crazy?”
"You're crazy. Mom, I can't have sex with men anymore. What should I do? I haven't had my fill yet."
“I’m going to kill my mother here. I don’t want to see her calling herself a parent when she’s of no use to me.”
I went to those who called me a witch, disguised as one, and exacted bloody revenge. Killing people, of course, is a crime, I know. I felt guilty, but anger and pleasure overcame it. Thus, I succeeded in my bloody revenge, and I chose myself as the final target of my revenge. In front of the man who loved me, I exacted revenge on myself.