Koko was still dragging yesterday with her a little. She'd talked it through with Oruo, Tete had brought a major discovery, and she'd been the one to suggest calling everyone. That was true. But when she breathed in the morning air, her chest fluttered just a bit again. (Will everyone really come?) Thinking that, she stepped out of the atelier's entrance—and the three of them were already lined up. Agu was tall, standing with his arms crossed. His thick, messy dark green hair and golden eyes caught the morning sun. The faint scent of medicinal herbs drifted on the wind. Tete swayed her light blue long hair while clicking the lid of a collection vial open and shut. Her fingertips bore their usual traces of ink. Riche's fluffy crimson head was cradled in both hands, a large cloth bag bulging impossibly. A candy sat at the corner of her mouth, her yellow right eye and green left eye glowing cheerfully. The bag was, by any measure, completely stuffed. And Oruo stood a little behind, folding a map. Her silver hair was tied back, and the thin earring on her left ear glinted. Her usual calm eyes looked at Koko and gave the smallest nod. Koko took a deep breath and looked at each of their faces in turn. "[serious]…Thank you for coming," She bowed deeply. Not because someone had told her to, like yesterday. She wanted to ask them herself, and she lowered her head of her own will. For a moment, it was quiet. Agu started walking wordlessly toward the direction of Verde Forest. Tete's face snapped up. "[excited]Let's go, let's go! The moonlight fluorite is definitely there!" Riche adjusted the cloth bag in her arms. "[gentle]If our stomachs are empty, we won't have any strength. I made sure to bring plenty," Oruo stared at that bag for just a moment. It was easily three times the normal size. But she said nothing. The five of them started walking. 　　　　＊ When they reached the entrance to Verde Forest, the air changed. From stone path to dirt path. The trees grew taller, and the light filtering through the gaps in the leaves gradually narrowed. When Koko cast a single illumination spell, a soft sphere of light was supposed to float above her palm—but instead, the light slowly faded. "[surprised]Huh? It's not going out, but it's dark?" Tete nodded. "[excited]I think the trees in this forest are imbued with magic, so they absorb the light. That's why it gets darker the deeper you go," Agu continued. "It's an environment where normal plants can't grow. Lots of poisonous grass too," "[serious]We move while looking at the map. Koko, you take the lead—" "[excited]I'll go!" Oruo paused for a moment. "…Well, can't be helped," Koko took the lead eagerly. She gripped her blending brush and moved forward, relying on the remaining light of the illumination spell. Left, right, left again. The sound of footsteps on fallen leaves. Stepping over tree roots. Moving forward steadily. Ten minutes later. "Ah," Large red fruits hung in clusters. It was a tree she recognized far too well. "[laughing]We're here again!" "We saw this tree earlier too, didn't we?" Riche rolled the candy around in her mouth without a hint of blame. Koko's ears turned red. "N-no way… What do I do!?" Oruo silently unfolded the map. She checked it against her broad back, said "This way" curtly, and started walking. Agu followed behind her, Tete skipped along after him. Riche adjusted the cloth bag with a grunt and gave Koko's shoulder a gentle pat. "[gentle]It's okay. We're all here," Koko gave a small nod and fell in at the back. (This time, I'm not alone.) 　　　　＊ Partway through the forest, Agu suddenly stopped. "Stop," His voice was low. Everyone's feet halted. Looking down, yellowish leaves covered the ground. A pretty yellow-green color, looking like ordinary grass at first glance. "[serious]Poison Haze Grass. Stepping on it releases vapor. Burns your eyes and throat," "[surprised]…I was stepping on it. I almost stepped on it," "[serious]That's why I said it. Knowledge of medicinal herbs is useful," Agu pointed out a safe detour matter-of-factly. A narrow path, but one that completely avoided the Poison Haze Grass. The five of them walked in single file behind Agu. Riche spoke quietly from the back. "[gentle]Agu is actually really reliable, huh?" "[serious]Actually nothing," The reply came instantly. Tete burst out laughing. "[laughing]So straightforward!" "What's wrong with being straightforward?" Everyone giggled as they passed by the poisonous grass. 　　　　＊ When they emerged onto an open rocky area, Oruo looked up from the map. "[serious]We stop here. Not much further to the deepest part," Everyone collapsed where they stood. Koko also lowered herself onto a rock and let out a long breath. Her legs felt heavy. The forest air was humid, and it took more stamina than expected. Riche began fumbling with the cloth bag. What came out was—honey pie, dried fruit, a water flask, dried fruit, another honey pie, a bag of nuts, and yet another honey pie. Agu was watching. "[serious]…Why do you have so much luggage?" "[gentle]You need snacks for a long trip. It's basic," She said it like it was obvious. Agu started to say something, then stopped. Riche distributed honey pie to everyone. When Koko took a bite, sweet honey spread gently across her tongue. "[gentle]…It's sweet. Thank you," Her voice trembled slightly. She was tired, and happy, and a lot of things piled up at once. Riche gave Koko's shoulder a gentle pat. "[gentle]Koko says thank you properly, doesn't she? You're amazing," It was a casual remark. But for Koko right now, it landed perfectly. A small, warm word. Oruo took the water flask and said something short to Riche. "Helps a lot," Riche's face lit up. "[excited]Right?" Koko felt like she was hearing Oruo express gratitude sincerely to someone for the first time. 　　　　＊ Just before the deepest part, the grass rustled. A low growl. One, two, three. What appeared through the gaps in the trees ahead was a wolf-shaped magical beast—vines wrapped around its entire body, bulging like muscle. Its size was more than twice that of a Great Scaled Beast. Vine Wolves. Three of them, standing side by side. "[scared]So big…!" Oruo quickly scanned the surroundings. "[serious]There's a rock crevice to the right. That's our escape route," Koko gripped her blending brush. (If we're surrounded by three, we can't move. I have to draw their attention.) "[serious]I'll draw them in!" "[serious]Koko—" "It'll be fine!" She stepped forward and swung her blending brush wide. She fired illumination spells in rapid succession. One, two, three—light spheres burst with brilliant flashes. All three Vine Wolves' eyes turned toward Koko at once. "[excited]Now!" Tete dove to the ground and ran her brush across it. She quickly drew a circle with special ink—the moment one beast lunged, a membrane of light spread beneath its feet and its movement froze. A temporary barrier. Agu reached into his pocket. He pulled out two bundles of medicinal herbs and tied them together skillfully. He struck flint to ignite them and tossed them in front of the remaining two beasts. A dull boom, and gray smoke spread. The Vine Wolves shook their heads as if holding their noses. Their feet stopped. "[serious]Now, to the escape route!" Everyone ran toward the rock crevice. Koko ran at the back and glanced behind—Riche had stopped. She was searching through the cloth bag. "[scared]Riche!?" "Here goes!" Riche threw a honey pie with all her might right at the noses of the two beasts. The pie fell to the ground, and the strong sweet scent of honey spread instantly. The Vine Wolves—stopped. Their noses twitched as they began sniffing the pie. The five of them slipped through the rock crevice. Everyone slid into the shadow of the stone and breathed hard. For a while, no one could move. Koko turned back and looked at Riche. "[surprised]Riche, what was that!?" Riche shrugged. "[gentle]I don't have any other weapons…" Everyone burst out laughing. Agu leaned against the wall, laughing in a rare moment. Tete held her stomach and wheezed. Oruo quietly raised the corner of her mouth. Koko braced herself against the rock, laughing so hard tears nearly came. A honey pie had stopped the Vine Wolves. 　　　　＊ Beyond the rock crevice was darkness like night. The illumination spell was swallowed up, and only the light in her palm remained. Everyone moved forward quietly, feet aligned. Tete pointed ahead. "[whispers]Here," In a hollow of the rock face, there was a small light. Blue-white. Glowing softly, melting into the darkness around it. As they drew closer, they could see stones embedded in the gaps of the rock—moonlight fluorite. It only glowed this color in places as dark as night. "[excited]It only glows at night, so normal collectors never notice it," Tete pulled out a small vial and began collecting carefully. Everyone held their breath watching. Koko gazed at the blue-white light and thought quietly. (I could never have come here alone. But—because I said "let's call everyone," they're all here.) It's not the power to bring people together. Not the power to make plans. Just the ability to trust and ask for help. That's what I can do. When the collection was finished, Tete gently held up the vial. The blue-white light softly illuminated the dark rocky area. Koko spoke to Tete. "[gentle]Thank you for finding it," Tete looked at Koko. "[gentle]It's because you didn't give up," It was a short exchange. But it was enough. 　　　　＊ When they returned to the atelier, the mark on the outer wall was pulsing again. With the rhythm of two days remaining, fast and strong. In the workshop, they lined up the moonlight fluorite vial on the storage shelf. The blue light of luminous moss, the dull gleam of blue stone, the transparent vial of night dew—and now, the blue-white glowing moonlight fluorite was added. All four. Complete. No one spoke first. Everyone stared at the shelf for a while. Riche spoke first. "[gentle]We did it… We really did it," "[excited]We did it!!" Tete bounced up and down. Agu said "Hmph" and slowly released the tension from his shoulders. Oruo quietly unfolded a map. She'd combined the copies of ancient texts they'd gathered with her own knowledge of drawing magic—a diagram of the magical circle arrangement sized to match the atelier's outer wall. The design for the overwrite magical circle was complete. Koko asked. "[serious]Can you finish drawing it tomorrow night before the moon rises?" Oruo answered while looking at the design. "[serious]If we all work together, we'll make it," Then, after a brief pause, Oruo looked directly at Koko. It was rare. "[serious]If you hadn't moved first—this design would have meant nothing," Koko tried to say something. The words wouldn't come. Instead, she gave a small nod. The mark on the outer wall pulsed once more, stronger. One day remaining. Koko looked at the design. The center of the magical circle—the most difficult part, the most important part. That night, Koko quietly decided. I'll draw that part.