kscans

Chapter 64 - The Full Moon's Gift and the Moonshadow Wolf

When Leonhard went up to the third floor with a cup of coffee sweetened with a single lump of sugar, Mireille had spread Helkaarn paste and other materials all over the desk and was making Monster-Repelling Bells.

"We're out of the small bells, so I thought I'd try making larger ones. They're heavy, but their size might actually produce a better effect."

"Are the small bells the last of what we have?" The Monster-Repelling Bells were absolutely essential... Leonhard asked with concern.

"No, if I get the bells back after their effect wears off, I can process them again. It's recycling," Mireille said with a proud look.

"But it's always better to have a lot, right?"

She spread the Helkaarn paste she had previously made onto magic paper and attached it to the bells. Then, she spread her hands and channeled her mana, wide and strong, over the entire bell.

Guh... Sweat trickled down Mireille's forehead. This continued for about five minutes.

Seeing her pained expression, he wanted to do something, but this was her job, so he couldn't interfere. All he could do was watch her pained face and share her feelings.

When it subsided, Mireille let out a breath.

"Now we just wait for the effect to set. I can't do any more alchemy right away." Mireille wiped her sweat, drank her coffee, and took a breather. Her hand trembled slightly. Leonhard gently touched her trembling hand.

The light of the moon seeped in from outside.

"Leonhard-san, I want to go to the waterside one more time."

"What? Right now?"

Outside, the moon shone brilliantly in the night sky. But this was the Tree Sea. A place where one feared the shadows of monsters even in broad daylight.

"It's a full moon tonight. We can gather Moon Dew Grass and Sleep Moss that are more potent than usual."

He couldn't refuse when she said it with such sparkling eyes. The Sleep Orbs were indeed very important... It's my fault for not letting her rest, but I'm worried about the strain on her body.

Leonhard strapped on his sword and left the tower alongside Mireille.

The waterside is right in front of the tower, so it should be fine.

But tonight, it was like a different world. From the surface of the water illuminated by the full moon, firefly-like lights were floating up softly.

"Whoa, it's beautiful."

"Wow...!"

When Mireille scooped water into a jar, the particles of light flew inside as if they were being drawn in on their own.

"This is... light-attributed! It's incredibly rare."

The lights gathered around her as if drawn to her mana. As if they had been waiting. It was a fantastical sight, but Leonhard couldn't help but shout.

"Mireille!"

As if responding to his call, the particles of light also scattered around him. He was enveloped in a soft warmth, and his heart felt suddenly light. It was a feeling as if nature itself was on their side.

"This is... a gift from the Light Fairies, the 'Wings of Light.' Spirits usually don't show themselves... maybe my master was liked by things like this."

The lights floated softly, swirling and dancing as they filled the jar.

"With just this, I can create a protection that rivals a defensive magic circle. It will make the best tool for the battle at the Magic Furnace. Thank you."

Mireille offered her thanks to no one in particular. The lights faded away like shooting stars.

After that, they collected Sleep Moss and Moon Dew Grass that had absorbed plenty of moonlight at the waterside and headed back. The path illuminated by the moonlit night was strangely bright, and it even felt as if they were being protected.

But then.

The ground rumbled. The earth shook, and a cloud of dust rose in the distance.

"Back to the tower."

Leonhard instantly sensed that something dangerous was coming. The bell was ringing, but it wasn't working. This was seriously bad.

He grabbed Mireille's hand and broke into a full sprint. He pulled her close as her legs threatened to tangle, and took all her luggage.

Approaching were the sounds of multiple footsteps. The harsh breath of beasts. Glowing eyes.

They dove through the tower door at almost the same instant a wolf's head lunged in. Mireille stabbed its neck with her dagger and pushed it back. The door closed just in the nick of time.

"Hah... hah...!"

The two of them panted heavily. The roar of something pounding on the door still echoed.

"Ah! I just had a great idea!"

Mireille ran up, grabbed a Sleep Orb from a shelf, and threw it out the window where she had previously cut away the vines. A dry pop sound.

After a short while, the pounding on the door stopped, and silence fell. They cautiously opened the door, and there, under the moonlight, lay a pack of wolves, collapsed all over the ground.

"The wolf monster of the full moon night, the 'Moonshadow Wolf.' As expected, a stampede surpasses the effect of the Monster-Repelling Bell, so it has no monster-repelling effect. Since they're already crazed, messing with their semicircular canals is meaningless."

As she calmly spoke, intently observing the sleeping Moonshadow Wolves, she was already an alchemist. Then, the eyes of the woman holding a dagger glittered.

"This is material that's incredibly hard to come by. It will definitely be useful. Let's make use of every last bit of it."

That night. Mireille and I were completely absorbed in the task of dismantling 'Moonshadow Wolves' until dawn.