The Flower's Secret
After crossing the barren forest and the wasteland where the Void Core once stood, we arrived at the Moonlight Forest at the far edge of the West.
Now that the Void Core was gone, perhaps this forest would flourish again someday.
But for now, it was every bit as desolate as the rest of the ravaged West.
That light is ominous.
It's a typical case of contamination and erosion caused by Void energy.
I'll go in first and scout the area. Please wait here.
Depending on the conditions, we could suffer fatal injuries the moment we enter.
All right.
Lydia walked deeper into the forest.
Ceres stared anxiously after her.
She'll be fine.
Yes. It's Lydia, after all.
A short while later, Lydia returned, tension visible on her face.
...I have good news and very bad news. Which would you like first?
I'll defer to Master's wishes.
Then the good news first.
The residual Void energy in the forest is at a level we can withstand.
We should be able to enter without any problems.
And the very bad news?
There's a Void Ravager at the center of the forest. I've only ever seen one in books.
A Void Ravager?
It's a Voidborn formed when beings consumed by the Void merge together into the shape of a tree.
A Voidborn blocking our path is the very bad news?
Then we defeat it. Is it that dangerous?
It is dangerous, but... the presence of a Void Ravager can only mean...
This forest has already been completely consumed by the Void.
What about the Sunblossoms?
Lydia's expression darkened.
A Ravager is born in a specific type of environment.
...A land where only Voidborns can survive.
The fact that one was born here means...
Lydia trailed off, but Ceres understood.
...I see. So that's how it is.
Ceres wore a complicated expression.
Even she seemed unsure whether she was relieved or saddened to learn that the flowers were almost certainly gone.
But the hero who had devoted her entire life to reclaiming the West quickly regained her composure.
As always, she did so by suppressing her own feelings.
Then there's only one conclusion. There's no possibility the flowers survived.
There's no reason to take an unnecessary risk.
We're going back. There's no point in fighting a meaningless battle...
But things were different now. Beside her stood the friend who had remained with her all these years.
And more importantly, right now, she was a maid who had yet to fulfill her master's wish.
My wish voucher is still valid, Ceres.
...!
If all of this turns out to be pointless, you can blame me afterward.
But nothing will ever begin if we don't even try, right?
Try it, Commander.
You're the one who always says nothing can begin if you start by doubting everything.
But you know more about the Void than anyone.
And you're the one who said no plant could survive here.
Well, remember how the saying went? Sunblossoms aren't weak.
I know plenty about the Void, but plants? Not so much. So we'll just have to trust the old saying.
...
If the flowers are there, we'll see them together...
If they're already gone, we'll call this job environmental cleanup. That's your specialty, isn't it, Commander?
We still have to fulfill the Captain's wish, remember?
Yes... A maid must fulfill her master's wishes.
I don't believe in miracles or impossible odds.
But... I believe I'll be all right even if there is no miracle.
Because I have you and Lydia.
Yeah.
Heh.
Besides, if there's nothing there, I can simply blame the Captain.
...R-right.
You'll have dragged me all this way and gotten my hopes up for nothing.
So to make things even, you'll have to give me a wish voucher of your own.
I'll give you as many as you want.
Then I'll take the lead as usual. Cover me, Lydia.
Leave it to me.
We headed into the forest where the Void Ravager awaited us.