Episode 9:The Scent of the Poisoned Forest Reveals the Truth of the World
The forest spreading near the port town of Elnea. The moment she stood at its entrance‚ Aria involuntarily tapped her fingertips. The surface of the leaves gleamed black‚ swaying eerily as if coated in an oil film. Fine particles drifted on the wind‚ covering the depths of the forest like mist. Small fragments floated from the tree bark‚ as if the forest itself was crumbling. 
「……This isn’t the concentration of normal residue.」 Aria felt a bottomless anxiety even as she calculated it theoretically. （Even if I triple the strength of the barrier‚ its duration is less than half…… The numbers don’t add up.） 
Cross dramatically put on a protective mantle and spread both arms. 「Alright! Now I’m fully equipped! Residue? Come at me if you dare!」 「……That mantle is just cloth‚ right?」 Aria calmly retorted. 「Ehehe‚ but it looks good on you!」 Iris laughed‚ and Rinne shrugged her shoulders. Amid the tension‚ a small bit of laughter was born. 
The team checked their equipment and reconfirmed the mission objective: investigating the residue contamination in the forest and preventing the spread of damage. Aria took a deep breath and noticed that the scent of the sea breeze had disappeared. The entrance to the forest was already exhaling a “poisonous breath.” （……From here on‚ logic alone won’t get us through.） 
The twilight light was swallowed by the forest’s mist‚ and the entrance had turned into an eerie darkness. The four exchanged glances and prepared to step inside. 
The moment they stepped into the forest’s interior‚ the air suddenly became heavy. The cries of birds stopped‚ and even the sound of the wind sounded dull. Black residue like lines dripped from the edges of the leaves and soaked into the ground. The soil underfoot trembled faintly‚ as if the entire forest was breathing unsteadily.
「……It’s too quiet.」 Aria muttered while tapping her fingertips. 「When the residue is thick‚ it absorbs sound too‚ huh.」 Cross readjusted his sword. 
Rinne observed the surroundings and suddenly stopped. 「Look…… the shrub withered in an instant.」 Where she pointed‚ the green leaves had turned black‚ and traces of mucus remained on the ground. 
Aria constructed barrier theory in her head. 「The residue drifts as particles and interferes with the barrier. Normal defense can’t repel it. If I layer multiple small barriers‚ I should be able to disperse the interference.」 When she voiced the logic‚ Iris reacted intuitively. 「Yeah…… it feels kind of “rustling.” Let me try……」 When she spread both hands‚ small waves of light were released. However‚ the waves shook unsteadily and quickly disappeared. 「……As expected‚ the residue is interfering.」 
Amid rising tension‚ Rinne took out a map and muttered. 「As I thought‚ we need a compass instead of a map?」 
「No no‚ my intuition is enough!」 Cross puffed out his chest. 「……Intuition is even less reliable than a barrier.」 Aria calmly replied. 「That’s harsh! My intuition is World Heritage class!」 「No one’s registering an asset like that.」 Rinne laughed‚ and the mood lightened a little. 
However‚ a low growl began to echo from the depths of the forest. The concentration of residue was increasing further. 
（……This isn’t just pollution. Something is beginning to change.）
As they advanced deeper into the forest‚ the air grew even heavier. Black mist drifted‚ and low growls echoed between the trees. The next moment‚ a grotesque magical beast burst through the bushes. Its fur was covered in black scales‚ and tentacle-like things extended from its back. Its eyes were clouded red-black‚ an abnormal existence harboring the poison of residue.
「……It’s a mutant.」 Aria tapped her fingertips and immediately began constructing magic. However‚ during the chant‚ residue interfered and the magic circle shook. The output became erratic and the magic unstable. （……The residue is tearing the chant apart. It’s not going according to theory!） 
The magical beast bared its fangs and leaped at Cross. 「Whoa there! My face is a high-class item!」 Cross shouted loudly. The exaggerated call made the magical beast pause for a moment as if thinking “What’s going on?” 「……Don’t do a comedy routine in the middle of battle.」 Aria retorted in her mind. 
Rinne blocked the impact with her shield‚ and Cross restrained it with his sword. Aria desperately corrected the magic circle and secured her companions’ paths of movement. 
At that moment‚ Iris spread both hands and released emotion magic. Light resonated like a melody and stopped the magical beast’s movement for an instant. 
However‚ the residue reacted by tearing the light apart‚ and the magic collapsed. Iris staggered and nearly fell to her knees. 「Iris!」 Aria reflexively reached out and supported her. She tried to smile‚ but her complexion was slightly pale. 
The magical beast roared again and swung its tentacles. The poison of residue shook the air‚ and the battle situation grew increasingly uncertain. 
（……This isn’t just a battle. The residue itself is the enemy.）
The mutant magical beast’s tentacles mowed down trees‚ and black particles of residue shook the air. The team was being pushed back. Aria desperately tapped her fingertips and rebuilt the theory in her head. （A large-scale barrier won’t hold…… In that case‚ I have no choice but to layer multiple small barriers and disperse the interference.）
「Cross‚ Rinne! Deploy triple small barriers and shift their positions!」 「Roger! Barriers are more reliable than my sword right now!」 Cross laughed as he moved‚ and Rinne nodded seriously as she deployed the barriers. The overlapping membranes of light dulled the magical beast’s movements for a moment‚ buying them time. 
In that time‚ Iris poured her emotions into playing magic like a melody. Light became a melody and echoed through the forest. The magical beast’s movements stopped and the residue shook. However‚ after outputting it‚ she lost her stance and fell to her knees. 
「Iris!」 Rinne rushed over and supported her. A stir spread in Aria’s chest. （……Her magic is powerful. But the burden is too great.） 
The magical beast had not been completely defeated yet. Aria calmly judged the situation. 「Annihilation is impossible. To prevent the spread of damage‚ we retreat here and seal it off.」 
Cross laughed while swinging his sword. 「Alright! Retreat! Next time let’s fight in a place with good bento!」 
「……Don’t choose battlefields based on bento.」 Aria calmly retorted. Rinne smiled bitterly‚ and Iris laughed weakly too.
The team distanced themselves from the depths of the forest and began retreating while redeploying barriers. Tension remained‚ but the weight of the decision supported them. 
On the way back to the port town after retreating from the forest. The moment they reached the outer edge‚ Aria stopped. There‚ a black mist thicker than anything she had ever seen was hanging. It was as if the forest was spitting out poison and trying to encroach on the town. Within the mist‚ the trees glowed abnormally and the leaves emitted black light. 
The town’s residents looked anxiously toward the forest‚ and reports of small damages were already spreading. The well water had become cloudy‚ crops in the fields had begun to wither‚ livestock were crying in fear——the signs that daily life was slowly breaking down were certainly there. 
Aria tapped her fingertips and felt something heavy in her chest. （……This isn’t just a problem with my magic power restriction. The entire world is being eroded by residue. It’s not personal fear‚ but a crisis for the kingdom itself.） 
In the silence‚ Rinne smiled slightly and said. 「Next time I’ll properly buy souvenirs! ……Normal cookies‚ not residue.」 At that innocent remark‚ Cross burst out laughing‚ and Iris laughed weakly too. A small warmth returned amid the tension. 
However‚ the black mist was certainly spreading. The lights of the port town flickered‚ reflecting anxiety for the future. They had to think about their next actions——investigation‚ strengthening barriers‚ mobilizing allies. The world’s crisis was already right before their eyes. 
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