Fairy tale: Little Red Riding Hood's wolf mentor

"This is... the dwarf you killed?"

Poro's eyes widened as he stared at the small, headless corpse on the ground. Its ugly, ferocious face completely overturned Poro's fairytale-inspired impression of dwarves from his previous life.

Apart from the short stature, long beard, and wrinkled old man-like face... this was completely a monster!

"Yeah, there's something strange about this dwarf."

Lake thought for a moment, then pointed to the other side, to a pile of messy minced meat and the bear's bones, describing the scene when she fought the dwarf earlier.

Poro listened in astonishment, staring at the small bones on the ground.

He looked at the huge skeleton of the brown bear in the distance.

"This already... involves particularly strange magic, right?"

Poro was silent for a while.

So far, the strangeness in this forest has far exceeded his imagination.

Even if Poro didn't know magic, this dwarf alone, without setting a trap, was definitely not an easy opponent!

If even a brown bear could be instantly killed, what means of self-preservation did this wolf have?

Even with Lake, it would be extremely dangerous.

It might even be... comparable to facing a witch hunter in his prime!

The most rational and safest option was actually to leave this place of trouble!

Go outside the forest... anywhere!

"Lake, this place might be... a bit dangerous. Let's prepare and choose a direction to leave this forest."

"Leave?"

Lake was stunned for a moment, then pointed to the little dwarf on the ground, "I killed this dwarf, and you got the route to his home - why don't we go take a look?

Is it because of that... Snow White on the witch hunter's list?"

"What I mean is... there might be more than one such dwarf, maybe even six more."

Poro explained solemnly, word by word, "And if we really get involved, we might have to face... the Queen of the Sino Kingdom."

"Why?"

Lake's eyes revealed a hint of confusion as she asked, puzzled, "Didn't you say that if we pretend to be witch hunters and help the Queen complete the mission, we can get an... answer?

Where did that answer come from? How do you know what it represents?

Also, how do you know... there might be seven dwarves?"

Poro looked at the dead dwarf on the ground, was silent for a while, and finally said, "Lake, I guess... this place also originates from a distorted fairytale."

"Fairytale? What fairytale? Tell me about it."

A trace of curiosity flashed in Lake's eyes.

"This fairytale is called... Snow White."

"The same as on the witch hunter's list?!"

"Yes, exactly the same..."

Poro nodded slightly, organized his words, and began to tell the story.

"A long time ago, the King had a Queen. They were originally happy, but the Queen was weak and sickly.

One day, the Queen looked at the flying snow and made a wish.

She hoped that she could have a child - a child whose skin was as white as snow, whose lips were as red as blood, and whose hair was as black as ebony..."

"..."

//The image is the original Snow White, you can skip it if you don't want to read it.

"Snow White coughed up the apple from her throat and returned to the palace with the Prince, where they held a grand wedding.

And the evil Queen was forced to wear red-hot iron shoes and dance until she fell to the ground and died!"

After hearing this story, a look of astonishment appeared on Lake's face.

"But this story sounds... easy and beautiful?!"

"Yes, that's why I said that here... it has been distorted."

Poro said with a wry smile, "In this forest, we may encounter unknown dangers, just like... in the story of Little Red Riding Hood, there is no hellish 'Bishop'."

After hearing this, Lake remained silent for a long time.

She folded her hands and placed them on her chest, where the silk pouch hanging there glowed with a vibrant green light. Finally, she looked up and glanced at Poro:

"Poro, did you get that thing when you told the story this time—"

"Yes, but this time... it's quite special, or rather, very difficult."

Poro's ghostly green eyes flashed slightly. He stretched out his claws, and a golden light solidified, turning into two pages:

[Circular Regression: Snow White · Peerless Beauty]

[Fairytale Authority: Unknown]

[Unsealing Ritual: Kill the Queen and complete the finale of the story!]

[Description: The more you understand, the more you see, the more you know how big the world is, and the more you can feel—the weight of "peerless"!]

[This is not just a blessing, but also—a curse!]

On the page, there was a girl kneeling on the grass, her face covered by long black hair.

On the grass, rabbits, pine trees, and anthropomorphic flowers were all looking up at the girl's face.

"This is the first one."

Poro turned the first page with a complex expression, revealing the other page below:

The picture on it was a mirror. Inside the mirror, there was a magical picture connected by lines—

Rivers swirled in the sky, neon-colored clouds flowed underground, a majestic castle was built above the sun and moon, and giants stood between the mountains...

The colorful ink had a chaotic and intricate beauty!

[Circular Regression: Snow White · Mirror of Truth]

[Fairytale Authority: Unknown]

[Unsealing Ritual: Recite the incantation to the magic mirror and get... the answer you want]

[Description: Sometimes, the truth is the most difficult thing to obtain, but now, the answers to all questions—are readily available!]

"Answer..."

Lake's gaze slid over the first page and focused on the second page.

After a long time, she said softly:

"Poro, after I left the forest where I grew up, I realized that everything I know is still too shallow..."

I met other people besides Grandma for the first time, I learned what a town looks like for the first time, I learned what a capital city looks like for the first time, I met real evildoers for the first time, I bought things for the first time, I fought for the first time...

Everything is the first time.

I know Grandma is still alive, but I don't know... exactly what to do.

Lake said here, and then glanced at the picture on the [Snow White · Mirror of Truth] page, a trace of longing in her eyes.

"I have many questions, I want to know the answers... Poro."

Poro looked into the girl's blue eyes and asked seriously:

"But the magic mirror—is in the Queen's hands. Such a person will definitely not share the magic mirror with others!

Are you ready... to face the Queen and draw your sword against her?

You need to know that in most cases, the Queen represents not only an identity, but also—overwhelming power!

Even people like the witch hunters... are willing to be used by her, this is not simple!

If you want to complete these two rituals, you may face...

Enemies that are stronger than you can imagine!"

"I'm ready!"

This time, Lake didn't think for long, or rather, she had already realized this decision.

She clenched the silver dagger hanging on her waist, took a deep breath, and nodded, adding,

"If I encounter unknown dangers, I will retreat and hide in a safe place—"

Then... what's the difference between me and the millions of girls in the city?

And if I become such a person, how long will I have to wait before I can become... someone like my grandma?"

Lake once again felt the rhythm of the Forest Heart in her chest,

"I know, some things are much more difficult to do than imagined, but—"

I want to try!"

Poro closed his claws, and the two pages gradually disappeared into the air, replaced by his somewhat wanton smile:

"Lake, it's great that you think that way!

Now that I have this ability, it's not for stopping at fantasy!"