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yumemory[Location: Starry sky]
We flew through the night sky on Murr’s broom, and the ride was nothing short of flashy and thrilling. He’d speed up, then slow down, then spin around before plummeting downward.
It was like being on a roller coaster or at a circus—it made my head spin, but my heart was dizzy with excitement all the same.
Murr: How’s it goin’? Are you havin' fun, Master Sage?
Akira: Y-Yes! It kinda makes my heart race, but it’s a lot of fun!
Murr: I didn’t get to play with you back at the bar.
Murr: So trick or treat! It’s the perfect spell for tonight!
Akira: Murr, you said that before too, but how did you know…
Murr: The previous Sage told me!
Murr: I don’t really get what it means, but I can play some tricks if I chant this spell, right?
I couldn’t help but laugh at his typical ‘Murr’ behavior.
Akira: Ahaha, you’re not wrong.
Murr: I have lotsa tricks I wanna show you!
Murr: Like making it rain frogs, or remodeling your room upside-down, or making you glow in a rainbow of colors!
Murr: But the moon is beautiful tonight, so I’m more up for a flight through the night!
Akira: (I-I almost glowed in a rainbow of colors instead…)
I sighed in relief, and looked up at the sky.
There weren’t any clouds to obstruct the view of the elegant curve of the moon. It shone so brightly in the night sky, resembling someone’s smile.
Akira: It’s really beautiful… Thank you, Murr. I think I’m also in the mood for a stroll in the sky.
Murr: That’s our Sage! This is the perfect night to say hi to the moon.
We stopped flying around in a zigzag and finally slowed our pace, and the ride started feeling more like a slow drive on the night road as we enjoyed the cool breeze.
The moon in the sky, as well as the faint twinkling lights of the world below… I felt like I could take in the splendor for as long as I wanted, like they were all mine.
Akira: (When I was still in my world, strolling across the sky like this was something I never even dreamed of…)
The thought reawakened the awareness that I am, indeed, in a world where wizards who hold strange, wondrous powers exist.
Murr: You’re even much more beautiful tonight, my beloved.
The moon illuminated Murr as he gazed back at it, enraptured by its beauty.
Though he was a little different back then, Murr was the first wizard I met when I first arrived in this world.
“It would bring me great pleasure if we could become friends.”
That was what he told me inside the elevator.
Akira: (Some time has passed since then, but…)
Akira: Murr, do you think we’ve become friends?
Murr looked at me over his shoulder, a meaningful smile forming on his lips.
Murr: I wonder? The decision isn’t mine to make!
At that moment, something caught my attention.
Something strange floated some distance away from us, sparkling in the air. Both Murr and I chased after it with our eyes.
Akira: ...What’s that? A bird?
Murr: Let’s catch it and see!
Murr sped up his broom at once.
The distance between us and the strange light rapidly shrunk, as if it was also flying towards us.
Murr: Master Sage, try to reach for it!
And so reached for it I did, extending my arm until my fingertips touched the shimmering and strange light.
Akira: …!
The light burst, and what greeted us next was the voice of a cheerful man.
???: To the most respectable Sir Murr Hart. My long years of research have finally reached their end. I believe I’ve become closer to the moon than anyone else ever has.
???: On the night of the new moon, I would like to invite you to my castle, where I shall show you the true potential of the moonwolf crystal. I am very much looking forward to the day we meet.
???: From Larry, with love.
And just like that, the voice and the light disappeared.
Akira: ...Just now…
Murr: A party invitation to a duel! That was a provocation, right?
Akira: I-I’m not sure… But if it’s an invitation, does that mean he’s a friend of yours?
Murr: Dunno.
The speech in the letter insinuated a close relationship between them, but Murr couldn’t seem to remember who this person was.
Murr: I love party invitations! And that one just now felt like someone whispered to me that they’ve set up an explosion!
Murr: I wonder what kind of party it’ll be? I gotta go, ‘cause it was such a passionate invitation. You’ll go too, right, Master Sage?
Akira: Me?
A mysterious invitation sent by a mysterious person.
It sounded a little scary, but maybe because I was with Murr, my curiosity got the better of me.
Akira: If you don’t mind, then please take me with you.
Murr: Yaaay! ‘Course I’ll take you with!
Murr: I’ll ask Chloe for special outfits, so we can look real special for the occasion!
Murr: I wonder what the real moonwolf crystal is like? Was he able to listen to the voice of the moon?
His broom bounced up and down.
I wonder if it was just my imagination. But Murr’s eyes were curved like a crescent moon, with a hint of cold light reflecting on them.
Murr: The party will start at the night of the new moon, which is three days from now. Let’s get ready!
[Location: Lounge, morning]
The next day, I went to the lounge to inform the other wizards of our plans to attend the party.
Akira: (I already told Murr that I’d go last night… But I should probably at least inform everyone.)
In the lounge, I found Arthur, Mithra, Bradley, Figaro, Rutile, Mitile, and Riquet.
Strangely enough, they were all wearing a puzzled expression, giving me the impression that they weren’t having a pleasant chat.
Akira: (The atmosphere feels weird... Did something happen?)
Arthur noticed me before I could greet them.
Arthur: Master Sage, what perfect timing. I was just about to call for you.
Arthur: Actually, we received two strange requests, sent from the same place at the same time…
Akira: …Two from the same place?
Arthur nodded, and proceeded to read to me the details of the requests:
Arthur: “After the last Great Calamity attack, a werewolf appeared at my estate. I want you to exterminate this dangerous being.”
Arthur: “After the last Great Calamity attack, a werewolf appeared at my estate. I want you to save this woeful man.”
Akira: ...Huh?
The requests confused me. They looked the same at first glance, but they actually asked two completely different things.
Akira: What could they mean… Who did they come from?
Rutile: They seem to have come from the same person. Someone named Talbott from the Western Country…
Riquet: Perhaps they made a mistake? I often make mistakes when I write, too.
Bradley: Or maybe y’all are just overthinkin’ it. One of these could be a fake.
Figaro: Even if that’s true, I don’t think we have enough time to verify which one is real.
Mithra: Why should any of that matter? Just kill what needs to be killed and it will be over.
Mitile: N-No, it won’t! There’s a request to save too, remember?
While the others were exchanging opinions, Arthur was deep in his own thoughts.
Arthur: If this is a request to exterminate a magical beast, it would be best to leave it to the Northern wizards. But if it’s a request for a rescue, then the Southern wizards would fit the role better.
Arthur: But I’m at a loss on which one we should prioritize…
To exterminate or to rescue. Faced with such contrasting requests, Arthur found it difficult to come up with a decision.
Rutile: Master Sage, Prince Arthur. The Southern wizards will go. It’s only right for us to lend a helping hand to someone in need.
Mithra: You don’t have to. Bradley and I will go.
Mithra: You won’t be of much use on an extermination mission, anyway.
Bradley: Hey, don’t go decidin’ things on yer own. Don’t drag me inta this, just go by yerself.
Arthur: It’s true that extermination missions are the Northern wizards’ expertise, but we cannot rule out the possibility of this being a rescue mission.
Figaro: Right. And in that case, if we leave it to Mithra and Bradley, we cannot guarantee that what needs saving will be saved.
Mitile: Maybe the Southern wizards should go, after all…
Mithra: No. The Northern wizards will take this mission.
Riquet: How about we take the middle and let us Central wizards go?
Murr: Trick or treat! Do you mind if a Western wizard also comes along?
Rutile, Mitile: Wah!?
