Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/2912051601476634937
It had been a few days since Luciera left the capital.
At Serena’s guild, it was a morning just like any other.
“Good morning, Alt.”
“Good morning.”
Serena flashed her usual gentle smile.
Seeing that smile, I naturally smiled back.
“I guess we’ll start with sorting through paperwork again today.”
“Yeah.”
“I was planning to play with the kids once I’m done, wasn’t I?”
“Yes.”
“Everyone’s been looking forward to it since this morning.”
“Guess I can’t slack off then.”
As I gave a wry smile,
Serena chuckled softly as well.
“You’re really popular with the kids, aren’t you, Alt?”
“It’s just that I’m the only one they have to play with.”
“That’s not true.”
Serena gently shook her head.
“It’s because it’s you, Alt.”
Those words made me feel a little embarrassed, so I scratched my head.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
◇
Mid-morning.
After finishing up our paperwork, we headed to the orphanage.
“Alt Nii chan!”
“You’re here!”
“Let’s play tag!”
The kids all rushed toward me at once.
“Hey, hey, one at a time.”
“I’m not letting you get away today!”
“Oh man.”
Laughing, I picked up the kids one by one.
Serena, watching the scene, found herself smiling.
“Just as I thought.”
“Everyone really loves Alt, don’t they?”
“Kids sure are full of energy.”
“Hehe.”
It was a peaceful moment.
At least.
Until that moment.
◇
It was past noon.
When they returned to the guild.
The entrance door burst open.
“Please!!”
A woman’s voice, almost a scream.
Everyone’s gaze turned toward the entrance.
There stood.
A mother holding a girl who wasn’t even ten years old.
The girl was limp.
Her breathing was ragged.
Her face was bright red.
She was letting out small, labored breaths as if in pain.
“My daughter…”
“Please save my daughter!”
The mother collapsed right there on the spot.
Serena rushed over without hesitation.
“Alt-san!”
“Ah!”
I immediately picked up the girl.
Her body was surprisingly hot.
“To the infirmary!”
“Yes!”
The other party members also began moving frantically.
◇
The infirmary.
We laid the girl down on the bed.
Serena gently placed her hand on the girl’s forehead.
“……”
A soft light enveloped the room.
Healing magic.
The soft light gently enveloped the girl’s body.
After a while.
The light faded.
However.
The girl’s labored breathing remained unchanged.
Serena cast the spell once more.
This time, she checked her pulse.
She placed her hand on her chest.
She checked her breathing.
No one in the room spoke.
Not even Alt.
Not even her mother.
Nor the other guild members.
They simply watched over Serena in silence.
A third healing spell.
Even so.
Serena’s expression didn’t brighten.
If anything.
It grew increasingly somber.
“Serena…”
I spoke to her quietly.
Serena slowly opened her eyes.
And then.
She shook her head slightly.
“It’s not an injury.”
At those words,
the atmosphere in the room shifted.
“It’s an illness.”
The blood drained from her mother’s face.
“But… she’ll get better, won’t she?”
Her voice trembled.
Serena kept her gaze fixed on the girl
and replied quietly.
“Her life can still be saved.”
Her mother felt a wave of relief at those words.
However.
The words that followed.
Were far too heavy.
“But.”
“Healing magic alone cannot cure this illness.”
The room fell silent.
“N-no way…”
The mother collapsed right where she stood.
“Please…!”
“I’ll do anything!”
“Please, save my daughter!”
Serena gently placed her hand on the mother’s shoulder.
“Please calm down.”
“There is one way.”
At those words,
everyone looked up.
Serena took a slow breath.
“Night-Blooming Moon.”
“It’s a medicinal herb that only blooms on nights of the full moon.”
“And,”
“when bathed in the light of the full moon, it gains its healing power.”
“For this illness—”
“The Night-Blooming Moon is the only cure.”
“The Night-Blooming Moon…”
I spoke its name aloud.
It was a medicinal herb I’d never heard of.
“Where is it?”
“In the Moon Shadow Forest.”
Serena replied quietly.
The moment they heard that name,
the members in the room gasped.
“Moon Shadow Forest…”
“It’ll take several hours even on horseback from here.”
“But the bigger problem is the forest itself.”
Serena continued.
“Moon Shadow Forest changes its form only on nights of the full moon.”
“Changes its form?”
“Yes.”
“The moonlight changes the forest’s landscape, and the single path that’s usually there appears to split into many branches.”
“If you wander in without knowing…”
“You won’t be able to find the exit, let alone reach your destination.”
One of the guild members grimaces.
“So… it turns into a maze forest?”
“Exactly.”
Serena nods.
“The Night-Blooming Moon only blooms in the deepest part of that forest.”
“And—”
“The only time we can pick the flower is tonight—on this night of the full moon.”
I turned my gaze toward the sleeping girl.
“What if we miss tonight?”
“It won’t bloom again for another month.”
“But…”
Serena gazed at the girl.
“This child won’t make it that long.”
The room fell silent.
The mother shed tears as she clutched her daughter’s hand.
“Please…”
“Please, help her…!”
Serena smiled gently.
“I will definitely save her.”
There was no hesitation in those words.
And then.
She stood up quietly.
“I’ll go.”
“Wait.”
I called out to her immediately.
“Are you planning to go alone?”
“Yes.”
“Every moment counts.”
“That’s exactly why.”
“You can’t do that.”
I shook my head.
“Let’s start by requesting an escort from the Adventurers’ Guild.”
“If we get a skilled adventurer—”
“We won’t make it in time.”
Serena replied quietly.
“By the time they accept the request and gather a team, too much time will have passed.”
“Then…”
I thought for a moment longer.
“What about Leona’s guild?”
“If we explain the situation, they should be able to act right away.”
But.
Serena shook her head slightly.
“Even then, we won’t make it in time.”
“It only blooms tonight.”
“And the deeper into the night we go, the easier it is to get lost in Moonlight Forest.”
“We don’t have much time left.”
I fell silent.
All I could hear was the girl’s pained breathing.
“…I understand.”
I slowly looked up.
“In that case—”
“I’ll go too.”
“Alt-san?”
“Two is better than one.”
“If we get lost, we won’t lose sight of each other.”
“Besides—”
I smiled slightly.
“I’m not heartless enough to let Serena go into that dangerous forest alone.”
Serena’s eyes widened.
After a moment,
she gave a faint smile.
“……Thank you.”
“Alt-san.”
“It’s reassuring to have you with me.”
“You can thank me when we get back.”
I stood up.
“First, let’s go save that girl.”
“Yes.”
Serena nodded firmly.
And so, we began preparing to head for the Moon Shadow Forest, a place that only changes its form on nights of the full moon.
–
–
If you enjoy our content, feel free to donate, Thank you in advance !