*** A few minutes earlier: Kutani

  The eerie forest I’d entered in search of the Moon-Evening Grass. Thinking of it as my own land made me feel a bit bolder than usual.

  I wandered through the woods, circling around in search of the herbs.

  That old man was incredibly rude, but then again, it would be awkward if he jumped on me and started crying out of gratitude.

  (That Bear-Goblin that attacked me first... I hope there aren't any more around here.)

  Filled with unease, I continued my search until I emerged into an open area with a clear view.

  "A cliff... huh."

  The sky had faded almost to black, and a massive full moon had taken its place in the east.

  Looking closely, I saw a cluster of plants that looked like Moon-Evening Grass growing right at the edge of the cliff.

  "Oh, there they are."

  I walked toward the edge and confirmed that they were indeed Moon-Evening Grass.

  I began to carefully pluck the wild herbs, which were shrouded in a faint aura.

  Completely unaware that a sinister black shadow was looming behind me.

  *** Lurdona

  Creek. Her body groaned. Chipped fragments fell to the dirt, and her movements grew slower and slower.

  Now, even stretching out her arm, she could only advance a few centimeters.

  The scrap heap fell silent. The night wind carried the scent of damp iron, and the shadows of the junk grew long.

  Amidst those watchful gazes, the clay doll Lurdona let out a small, faint breath.

  The wooden puppet, who had been scowling for a long time, spat out a mutter.

  "...Tch. Fine. Guess we’ll lend you a hand. Hey, get up! All of you!"

  "Yeah!" "You got it!"

  As if they had been waiting for the word, a broken-legged chair, a backless sofa, and a cracked bed slowly began to move, lining themselves up.

  "It might shorten our lifespan, but I'd rather trim my life for someone cool than live just to rot away."

  "...Eh?"

  Lurdona’s eyes widened in surprise.

  "Whoa, don't say a word. Your desperation... it really reached us, you know?"

  Thumping his chest, the wooden puppet spoke. In his raspy voice, his comrades swayed their bodies in agreement.

  Soon, a faint light began to bleed from all their bodies, enveloping Lurdona.

  *** Kutani

  There, at the edge of a cliff with a commanding view, grew a cluster of Moon-Evening Grass, its yellow leaves shimmering with a fresh, dewy radiance.

  It was beautiful, as if the very color of the moon had been poured into the plants.

  As I picked one with the best-looking leaves, a cute, small, round root came up with it.

  People weren't kidding when they called it a "small yellow turnip."

  "I’d better take a few extra, just in case."

  At that moment—

  < THUMP! >

  Something shoved me hard from behind, right in the backside, sending me flying off the cliff.

  It was a drop about the height of a rooftop of a small building. And I began to fall.

  (Ah, I might be dead.)

  I wondered what happens if you die in another world. As I stared at the ground rushing toward me, my only thought was: I really hope I don't get reincarnated back to reality.

  *** Kutani & Lurdona

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  < SHATTER! >

  The sound of something breaking echoed in my ears. Ah, so that's the sound of me dying. Not a bad sound at all. No, wait a minute.

  "That didn't sound like a human breaking."

  I timidly opened my eyes. I was being held in someone’s arms.

  "Kutani, are you safe?"

  "Eh... Lurdona?"

  A girl wrapped in a mysterious red aura held me firmly.

  "You're okay now."

  She gave me a powerful smile to reassure me.

  I looked into her eyes and slowly, silently nodded—like a gunslinger from an old Western movie.

  —While being carried in a perfect bridal carry.

  ***

  "You seem fine standing on your own."

  She set me down on the ground, and I stood on my own two feet.

  Fragments of Lurdona's cast were scattered all around our feet.

  That dry sound from earlier had been the sound of her cast shattering.

  "Thank you. You saved me."

  Unlike before, Lurdona was shrouded in a red and yellow aura.

  It was as if she had gained some kind of different power.

  (Come to think of it, there was almost no impact when she caught me. Did she use some kind of magic...?)

  While I was lost in thought—

  "Ahem! So, those things in your hand are the Moon-Evening Grass?"

  The first complainer—or rather, the old man who was our client—was standing there.

  "Yes, but... why are you here?"

  "Why? Because this is right next to your shop, you fool!"

  Following the old man’s pointing finger, I saw my shop a short distance away.

  "...I see. I must have been wandering through the forest and ended up at the cliff out back before I knew it..."

  I handed one of the three Moon-Evening Grass plants in my hand to the old man.

  "Anyway, is this enough to make it in time?"

  "Aye, this is more than enough."

  "Here," he said, thrusting a thick envelope at me. Inside was a stack of bills—easily a hundred of them.

  "I can't accept this much!"

  "Hmph! I've got money to burn. Besides, on a full moon night, this is a universal panacea. It's worth every bit of this! Besides, I’m busy preparing for the moon-viewing. If you don't take it... I'll commit harakiri right here!"

  "Wait, please don't! I'll be reported to the cops!"

  "...Blast it! Just take the damn money and be done with it. ...I owe you one."

  Suddenly switching to a rowdy downtown dialect, the old man hurried away. His retreating figure looked awkward, like a novice stage actor forced into an unfamiliar role.

  ***

  "Phew. Well, I guess that’s settled for now. But Lurdona, did you... power up?"

  She was enveloped in a glowing red aura, overflowing with power.

  "I don't know. But everyone at the scrap heap gave me their strength."

  "The scrap heap?"

  "Yes. I was discarded there before I knew it. ...Kutani, you didn't throw me away... right?"

  Usually so strong-willed, she now gazed at me with eyes full of anxiety.

  "Of course not. I was looking for you the whole time."

  Her face brightened instantly at my answer.

  "In my dream, I felt like I was being tossed out with other pieces of scrap wood..."

  Other scrap wood? I put my hand to my chin and thought.

  "...Ah. The renovation contractors must have thrown you out by mistake."

  "Then make sure I don't get thrown away next time. It seems I can't stay conscious during the day, no matter how hard I try."

  "I'll be careful from now on. I’ll enshrine you in a special place."

  Lurdona gave a happy smile at my joking response.

  Then, I finally noticed something wrong with her body.

  "...Wait, hey, is your arm okay!?"

  Looking again, I saw that Lurdona’s right arm was covered in large cracks. No, it looked as if the piece that had broken off had been forcibly reattached.

  "I'm fine. There's almost no pain. It stuck back on when they shared their strength with me. But it's incomplete, so... will you repair me again?"

  "Yeah, of course. But... how did this happen?"

  "I don't know. But since I know I wasn't abandoned, I'm okay now. Don't worry."

  "I see..."

  I let out a sigh of relief.

  (I guess I just need to knead some more clay and herbs to treat it again?)

  As I was lost in thought, Lurdona asked me a question.

  "...By the way, why did you fall off the cliff?"

  At her question, I looked up at the top of the cliff.

  "I was pushed off by something. Maybe a monster?"

  "I don't feel any presence now, but maybe. You have such lucky-bad luck, Kutani, you shouldn't go into the forest alone."

  "Anyway, let’s get inside. It's been a long day."

  "You're right. We have a lot to do for the shop, too."

  And so, our chaotic full moon night came to a safe and peaceful end... Or so I wished I could say.

  ***

  Late that night. The full moon was high in the beautiful sky.

  I was lazily kneading clay while moon-watching when another guest arrived.

  "Excuse me..."

  "Welcome—"

  Lurdona had been making me prepare extra "clay poultices" for her, so my response was a bit half-hearted.

  "I heard you have Moon-Evening Grass here."

  The late-night visitor wore a deep hood. This wasn't Igora-kun. She was tall, slender, and had the voice of a woman.

  "Oh, I have some."

  I pointed to the Moon-Evening Grass displayed on the top shelf.

  "It’s true! But... I only have a little money. I desperately need it tonight... Um, can I pay the rest later?"

  She held out a few meager bills.

  That old man had said it was worth a million. This was clearly not enough.

  The eyes visible beneath her hood held a look of tragic desperation.

  —I’ve always had a weakness for eyes like that.

  Now, what should I do?