An Unresolved Problem
The next morning, I ran into Lydia when I stepped outside at the Western Liberators' base.
Captain? You're up early.
Yeah. More importantly, where's Ceres?
She's still in her room. I was just about to check on her.
Ceres was always the earliest riser in the Western Liberators.
If she still wasn't awake...
Is it because of what happened yesterday?
...Probably. But the Commander was right, too.
I can't just go around ordering everyone at Raven Wall and across the West, telling them...
"Starting today, no one is allowed to mention former Commander Venera!"
Like the Commander said, she can't stay trapped in the past forever.
She can't, but...
Lydia shook her head vigorously, as if to shake away her worries.
Why don't we go tease the Commander first?
She's always scolding me for being lazy in the morning. Today, I finally get to return the favor.
Sure. I'll help.
Now I'm curious how you're planning to help.
Playing along with Lydia's attempt to brighten the mood, we headed for Ceres' room.
Commander? Are you asleep?
...
There was no answer. Had she stepped out for a moment?
Commander? Are you in there?
The next moment, we heard Ceres groan in pain.
Hngh...!
Ceres?!
Commander!
We both threw open the door at once.
Ceres was curled up on the bed.
Her back was trembling, her face and hands were pale, and sweat soaked through her disheveled hair.
Are you okay?!
Ceres struggled to lift her head.
...This is troublesome. Did I oversleep?
This isn't a matter of oversleeping! You're sick, aren't you?!
Lydia hurriedly placed a hand on Ceres' forehead, but Ceres gently yet firmly pushed it away.
I'm fine, Lydia. I just didn't sleep well.
Another nightmare?
...It seems so.
I suppose it's because I haven't been doing my maid duties properly.
Sorry, but could you find another place that needs our help?
Ceres. I don't think that's really the solution—
Before I could finish, Lydia grabbed me and pulled me away.
Let's go, Captain.
Lydia?
Come on.
Her expression was completely serious.
I was worried about Ceres, but in the end, I let Lydia lead me out of the room.
She said she hadn't been having nightmares recently, right?
Yes... I even checked on her secretly at dawn, and there was no sign of anything wrong.
So I thought she'd be fine today too...
Captain. For now, let's find somewhere that needs volunteers.
Lydia. I think we need to find a real solution.
I know. But right now, I want to do what the Commander asked.
Please.
With Lydia asking so earnestly, I had no choice but to nod.
All right. I'll ask around.
After rushing around all morning, we managed to find one place that needed help.
But Ceres didn't look well.
Are you sure you're okay?
Her face was pale and haggard. Anyone could see that Ceres was far from okay.
I'm sorry. I'll shake this off soon.
If it's too much, don't force yourself...
No. If only so I don't take up any more of your time...
I'll forget the memories of my sister as soon as possible.
It was working until now, wasn't it?
This time, I'll forget her for good.
All right... Let's do this.
By the way, what is this place?
The place we'd come to looked like an ordinary warehouse at first glance.
But what was inside was anything but ordinary.
Those are slimes, aren't they?
Why have you captured so many monsters?
Nothing suspicious. They're for research.
We're studying ways to grow plants using the properties of slimes.
Ah, I think I know what you mean. Back when the West was contaminated by Void energy...
This was one of the few ways to grow plants here.
You use the slimes like living hydroponic planters.
Exactly! You know quite a lot about monsters and Void energy!
I didn't realize anyone was still researching this.
It's all thanks to you and the other Liberators reclaiming the West.
We should be able to grow ordinary crops here within a few years.
But what I'm trying to cultivate isn't an ordinary plant.
What, are you trying to grow some mysterious ginseng from the Eastern Continent?
If my research were that profitable, I'd probably be drowning in funding. Haha.
But research is supposed to be driven by dreams and hope, isn't it?
So what do you need us to do?
Please move the slimes into the other enclosures.
We've sedated them with medication, but they may wake up if they're jolted, so please be careful.
Understood. Then let's begin.
Ceres hoisted up a crate and carried it away.
Are you sure you're okay? Isn't that heavy?
This is nothing compared to my usual training.
I'll help too.
No... Let me do this myself.
I think I need to do at least this much to clear my head.
There was a restless urgency about Ceres.
I stepped beside her as she hurriedly moved the crates and picked one up myself.
Captain. Like I said, I'll do it.
And we said we'd find a way to stop your nightmares together.
I was fine for the past few days.
We might have caused more trouble than we actually helped...
But even so, I still saw people smiling and enjoying the peace we reclaimed for the West.
And yet I'm the only one showing such pathetic weakness.
Ceres looked up at me and smiled gently.
I never thought of myself as much of a talker, but...
I always seem to talk more when I'm with you, Captain.
Still, right now I should be moving my body, not my mouth.
Her expression was noticeably brighter than before.
After that, we moved the rest of the crates without incident.
Even Lydia, who normally hated this kind of manual labor, silently helped Ceres carry them. Before long, only one crate remained.
I'll take the last one.
Thank you so much. As for your payment...
Ceres shook her head while holding the crate.
A maid expects no reward for serving others.
I can't let you leave with nothing. Oh, right. Just a moment!
The researcher pulled a glass bottle from inside their coat.
Inside, a flower almost golden-yellow in color floated in water.
This is...
A Sunblossom. It's a sample we successfully cultivated using slimes.
I remembered what Lydia had told me. According to the old saying...
The flower that only blooms in the West?
So you've heard of it.
My mentor and I have been researching how to make this flower bloom.
It's called the Sunblossom because of this nearly golden-yellow color...
But apparently, in its native habitat in the deep forests of the West, it has a completely different color.
A sudden crash made me turn in surprise. Ceres was on the ground.
The crate of slimes she'd been carrying lay smashed beside her.
Startled by the noise, the other slimes began breaking out of their crates as well.
Some had already escaped from the lab.
Oh no! The slimes are getting away!
*Sigh...* And here I thought we'd finally get through one of these without an incident.
...Commander?
Normally, Ceres would've been the first to draw her sword. But something was wrong.
She was sitting there in a daze.
As though she'd forgotten how to stand, she simply stared at the slime lunging toward her.
Snap out of it, Commander!
Lydia quickly cast a spell, stopping the slime before it could reach Ceres.
Commander! Did you hit your head when you fell?
Ah...
Lydia's sharp voice finally brought Ceres back to her senses.
Ah, I... I'm sorry, Lydia. I made a mistake...
Ceres. Are you okay?
It was rare to see Ceres so completely dazed, but she quickly regained her composure.
...I'm fine. My hand simply slipped.
Ceres gritted her teeth and stood back up.
I'll clean this up. Let's go!
Ceres rushed out of the warehouse after the escaped slimes.