[Okay. Let's take a break.]
First, Heumi entered the magic barrier that Rune had set up, smiling brightly.
âWow! Oh... amazing. Heumi, this is the first time Iâve met so many friends!â
Although she hadnât made many friends, she had continuously met various creatures and enjoyed it in her own way.
Next, Amelia entered the barrier without seawater.
The girl naturally changed her mermaid tail into legs and sat down.
Amelia, looking exhausted, placed the window beside her and started to rest.
The Durahan volunteered to patrol around the barrier.
âLetâs see, we should replenish our energy now.â
Rune took out a picnic basket from his subspace pocket.
âWow! It smells like sweet apples!â
Rune was impressed by the excited Heumi and Baekya.
âTheir sense of smell is definitely sharp.â
When he opened the basket, a freshly baked, warm apple pie came out on a plate.
It was Runeâs special apple pie, made by simmering apples and nutritious honey.
As expected, Heumiâs eyes sparkled like they were hit by sunlight when she saw the apple pie.
âAmazing! It must be delicious!â
The apple pie, enchanted with a rejuvenation spell on each apple and honey, was still warm from the magic heat.
It was a perfect snack for those who had been running around in the slightly cool deep sea.
Heumi, who opened her mouth to take a big bite, looked at Amelia, who was hesitating.
âSister, arenât you going to eat?â
[Well, I... Iâve never eaten with my hands...]
When their eyes met, Amelia lowered her head, mumbling shyly.
Heumi, not minding, held out the largest piece of pie she had to Amelia.
âWooh. Iâll teach you. Here!â
She smiled warmly at the flustered girl.
âYou hold it like this with both hands and eat it!â
Amelia, who hesitantly took the apple pie, saw Heumi skillfully break off a piece and blow on it, saying, âWatch me, sister!â
The young fox girl took a big bite out of half the pie.
The sweet scent of apples and honey quickly spread around.
âThis is hot! Blow on it and then take a bite!â
Ameliaâs fox ears perked up, and she puffed out her cheeks, chewing and explaining, which made Amelia smile.
Amelia blew on the pie and then took a small, neat bite.
[...! Ah, itâs really delicious. So sweet.]
âHeh. Master Runeâs cooking skills are the best.â
Heumi gave a thumbs-up, and Rune nodded in agreement.
[Yeah... Thank you, Rune. This... is too delicious.]
[Itâs good that it suits your taste.]
Rune also enjoyed the pie he had made, feeling satisfied.
âIndeed. It was a good idea to make magic food for energy replenishment and fatigue recovery the main dish.â
While it basically restored magic power, mental care was even more important.
Rune took out a milk bottle and offered it.
Heumi eagerly took it and opened the cap.
Seeing this, Amelia also took a bottle, opened it, and drank the milk with a slurping sound.
[...! Itâs amazing. Such a... warm taste...]
The soft and fragrant milk, along with the sweet pie, quickly disappeared into their mouths.
After finishing her meal quickly, Heumi went to greet the Durahan, who had completed the reconnaissance. Meanwhile, Amelia, who had regained her energy, took a deep breath and spoke softly.
[Rune. You... know. Actually, I... thought I could do better.]
[Youâre doing well now, why?]
Her silver hair swayed from side to side.
[Because I couldnât... properly use âPurificationâ. I... kept making mistakes.]
â...? Youâre doing better than expected, though.â
But even if he said that, it might make her doubt herself.
Rune, tilting his milk bottle, pondered for a moment before putting it down.
[Amelia, youâve saved hundreds of marine monsters and creatures today with your purification.]
[Yes. Itâs your first time monster hunting, and youâve done that much. Do you want to do even better?]
The young girlâs eyes, which had been filled with a sense of accomplishment, now showed a hint of determination.
[In short, youâre feeling greedy. You want to do better. Itâs very natural. That kind of greed is a good thing.]
Amelia, unable to deny it, rolled her eyes shyly and took a big bite of the apple pie.
She seemed to be chewing thoughtfully, trying to figure out what to say.
[Itâs not a small thing... but doing well at something you think is trivial isnât insignificant.]
Rune stuffed the remaining pie into his mouth and chewed with a satisfied expression.
[Youâre doing well. Youâll do even better in the future.]
Feeling her secret exposed, Amelia lowered her head and swallowed the pie.
The calm, matter-of-fact words.
They were what Amelia had most wanted to hear.
âStrange. I heard Rune is just a little over 10 years old, but he feels much more mature than me.â
It felt like she was receiving guidance from an adult.
Amelia, who had been chewing on the warm pie, glanced at Rune.
âCan I... become like that too?â
After a momentâs thought, the girl shook her head.
The mature child in front of her was the only survivor of the dark clan, without even parents.
He was a hatchling destined to become an elder representing the dark clan.
So, she could understand that he had to mature faster than anyone else.
âIâm not like Rune. I donât even know how to help... our parents.â
Amelia, who had been hesitating, cautiously lifted her head.
[Desire... maybe... I do. Because...]
Her voice, filled with earnestness, trembled as she asked.
[Our mom and dad... might... be... cursed... right?]
She might have already suspected it, but she was afraid to hear the answer she didnât want to hear, so she couldnât bring herself to ask.
It was a situation he had anticipated, and he had decided to be honest if she asked, so Rune nodded.
The mermaid, gripping the window tightly, lowered her head.
She mumbled, âThatâs why...â and her shoulders slumped.
Rune saw that her eyes were welling up with tears but didnât mention it.
âOh! Sister Amelia, are you crying?â
Heumi, who had just returned with the Durahan, looked flustered for a moment before rolling up her sleeve and gently tapping Ameliaâs eyes.
âDid something sad happen? Iâll help you. So donât cry.â
The girl, trying to suppress her tears, shook her head.
It wasnât something Heumi could help with.
[I can tell you how to solve it.]
Ameliaâs trembling shoulders stopped.
[Now youâve probably noticed, what weâre doing isnât just about simple monsters. Itâs training to enhance your âPurificationâ ability.]
âI can interpret her silence as agreement, right?â
The deep sea was dark, but the artificial darkness had made it even darker, almost like a black sea.
But now, much of the darkness had been dispelled by Rune.
Moreover, the training in âPurificationâ had also cleared the cursed field.
[Youâre doing well now. Increase the proficiency of your âPurificationâ ability. Strengthen that power to free your parents from the curse.]
[B-But... my parents... are strong... even they couldnât...]
Amelia, who was about to say, âHow can I...,â stopped when she saw Runeâs confident smile.
[Right. You canât do it alone.]
âBut youâre not alone, sister! Iâm here. And Master Rune, Baekya, and the Durahan are here too!â
Seeing Heumi enthusiastically mentioning her companions one by one, Ameliaâs lips twitched in a dilemma.
[Thatâs... t-thank you... but with just our power... itâs... difficult...]
[I can make it possible.]
Ameliaâs mouth opened wide.
Then she quickly shook her head and said,
Rune pondered for a moment, then his tone became a bit more serious.
Are you going to give up without even trying with this team?
[Whether itâs possible or not. If someone suggests a way to achieve what you want, thereâs no need to start by saying itâs impossible without even asking how.]
It was about giving up without even considering trying.
But Rune understood Ameliaâs situation.
She must have felt powerless countless times, being consumed by the darkness.
The first thing she learned to accept, unable to expel all the darkness and leave freely, was âgiving upâ.
âItâs impossible to change her mindset all at once. I need to make her recall her deepest desires.â
- I want to wake up my parents.
- I want to escape from the darkness.
âAnd more desires are being added.â
- I donât want to be alone.
- I want to improve my abilities.
- I want to eat delicious food.
- I want to see the world.
Thinking this far, Rune smiled, lifting one corner of his mouth.
âHer desires are endless. Very good.â
Despite her seemingly passive and quiet appearance, her growing aspirations were clearly visible.
âIf I can change her habitual tendency to give up, she might become more greedy than anyone else.â
Rune foresaw that Amelia would have even more desires than himself.
After the break, they continued their hunt.
The monster standing before them now. A gigantic Leviathan.