The four of us navigated our way through this side of the forest. Denz, Emilia, I (+ a humiliated mole goblin).

Emilia took care of stray monsters in our path with spell after spell after spell after spell, an unending barrage of mana might.

Earth magic, fire magic, light magic, plant magic, water magic, and even space magic were bestowed upon the lucky/unlucky four-eyed squirrels or mega ground hornets.

Denz led the way. I followed behind him, holding the mole goblin foot first. Emilia supported from the rear.

Our party progressed.

Eventually, we left the forest and entered a barren area at the foot of a hill. There was nothing but dead land around us.

The mole goblin pointed to a spot on the ground. It had faint traces of unnatural interference.

Semblances of scratch marks were seen.

"Hold it!" I was about to let go of the mole goblin before Denz stopped me. "Let's make sure he's telling the truth."

The mole goblin and Emilia shrugged.

Denz snapped his fingers and waited expectantly.

He didn't get any response.

"Hey! Where's my help?" he asked.

"What are you talking about?" retorted Emilia.

"You're supposed to dig up the ground with your magic. Wasn't that obvious?"

"No, it wasn't. What am I, your manservant?"

"Wrong. You're a beautiful woman. Don't forget that."

"You imbecile..."

With a huff, Emilia uprooted the ground.

"Ah..! I can feel it!" she remarked.

"Eh? Really! That's great!" Denz leapt forward with a youthful spring.

And up from the ground popped his beloved sword.

"My partner!" He exclaimed, running toward it.

He brushed off the dirt and embraced it.

"Ah! Ah! My precious sword! Without you, I am no swordsman-"

"That should be obvious, right?" Emilia remarked.

"-Finally, after all this time, we are reunited. The universe tried to tear us apart, but alas! Not even fate can separate this powerful, dynamic duo!"

"There he goes again. Just ignore him. He'll be going on like this for a while," Emilia said to me. "I think you can let the little guy go now."

"Is it alright to leave it like that?" I asked.

"Hmm... Since Denz made me go through the trouble of healing it, it should be fine. I don't want him nagging me later for killing the mole goblin that reunited him with his 'partner'... Even though the little bastard was why he lost his sword in the first place."

My eyes shot downward. I shuffled in place.

"Ah! Don't worry about it, don't worry about it. Really. It was an accident. In the end, you helped out too," Emilia comforted me.

Hesitantly, I nodded.

Hesitantly, I smiled.

Nonetheless.

I let go of the mole goblin. It looked back at the three of us before scurrying away.

"The little thing shouldn't bother us anymore," Emilia said. "After this, we'll return to our normal course." She smiled at me.

"What about the mole goblin subjugation?" I asked.

"Hmm? Oh that. I don't think Denz will follow through. I think he'll be satisfied with his puny little sword. He's probably raring to get some rest. That's the kind of guy he is. It's no wonder he can't get any work." Emilia giggled. There was no hostility in her voice. Just playfulness, and maybe even a little twisted admiration.

Then, she sighed. "What would we have done if we did encounter them? More mole goblins, I mean."

Around us were a few holes here and there. Local farmland was frought with these environmental disturbances.

Hence, the quest.

However, it appeared like we weren't going to follow through.

"Oh!" Emilia pulled out her own torn paper from her dress. "Our original job was this."

I read the title. Tibbar Meat: 100 PSO per kill.

The graphic below showed a familiar looking creature.

"Ah... I've seen this before," I muttered.

"Eh!? Really!? Where?!" Emilia exclaimed.

"Further back down the trail. I ran into the same one twice." I scratched my head, remembering the incident.

"By chance, was there a bed of lavender nearby?" she asked expectantly.

"Yes," I replied simply. "There was."

"Haha! Great! Hey Denz!" Denz looked our way. "Elias said he knows where the Tibbars are! Isn't that great?" she yelled.

"Wait! What about the mole goblin subjugation?" he asked, his voice distant.

"We're not doing that, you imbecile! Let's call it off! Just be happy you found your sword and we didn't get into any more trouble!"

"... Fine!" Denz was unusually cooperative.

He went back to whispering sweet nothings to his sword.

Emilia turned back to me. "It looks like we won't be leaving anytime soon, not with him in that state. Feel free to get some rest," she suggested. "I'm going to speak some sense to him. Honestly, he embarrasses me wherever we go. I wish he'd grow up." She looked a little sad for a moment, before standing up, rolling up her sleeves, and marching Denz's way.

They engaged in a heated discussion about who knows what. I looked fondly at them.

What was this feeling inside?

It's something distantly familiar...

I can't put my finger on it.

I closed my eyes. For now...

Let's get a little rest...

Magic is a little...

Exhausting...

My mind slowly drifted away to sounds of nature, and faraway banter.

I slowly opened my eyes.

I was back on a field too green and a sky too blue.

I breathed an air too fresh, then exhaled my internal impurities.

Three trees stood in the distance. A gathering of saplings, far greater than the number before, crowded the trees at intervals.

My head tilted sideways. The world rotated.

Something powerful filled me. Invigoration possessed my body, and I knew it wasn't really me.

I did not smile or frown. I relaxed, as if it were natural of me to. I breathed another deep breath.

I've returned.