Afterstory Episode 12: Former Townsman A Eats the Moon Magic Grass Seed

Note: Corrected typos identified by readers on February 15, 2025. Thank you very much.

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Although the situation was initially a desperate, one-sided struggle, we gradually grew accustomed to the onslaught. We searched for a way to land a decisive blow even as we focused on parrying the Dark Fenrir’s attacks.

The first thing we realized was that because the Dark Fenrir was targeting the Moon Magic Grass, it would only use its black lightning for harassment as long as we kept our backs to the plant. It was clearly afraid of damaging the goods.

This forced the beast to rely primarily on its Roar and direct physical strikes, which made the fight considerably more manageable. It might have been a cowardly tactic on our part, but we weren't in a position to care about playing fair.

The Hentai and the Witch of the Forest seemed to have some sort of history with a person named Mary who slept within these woods, and we absolutely required the seeds of the Moon Magic Grass to deal with the Staff of Guidance. To achieve our respective goals, we had to use every advantage available to us.

As for the Hentai, he was currently perched atop the cardboard box containing Milly, shielding it from the Dark Fenrir’s strikes. Apparently, the box alone wasn't enough to withstand a Divine Beast, requiring him to protect it personally.

"Wooooooooon!"

"Holy Ice Sedation!"

Another Roar ripped through the clearing, but Ana immediately used her magic to nullify the status ailment.

"Take this!"

I fired Saiga, aiming for the momentary opening the beast left after howling. Simultaneously, the Dark Fenrir wreathed itself in what looked like black lightning. The bullet I fired was repelled by that dark shroud, failing to inflict even a scratch.

No good, huh...

Even though Saiga’s muzzle velocity exceeded the speed of sound, the creature possessed terrifying reflexes. It didn't bother defending itself when I merely pointed the gun; it was clearly reacting to the bullet after it was fired. Even if it had fallen from grace, it was still a Divine Beast.

Consequently, while we weren't being killed, we weren't making any progress in repelling it either. As we continued this stalemate of offense and defense, the sky visible through the canopy began to brighten.

"...Is it dawn?"

"Allen! The Moon Magic Grass, quickly!"

Reacting to the Hentai’s sharp command from atop the box, I checked the plant. To my surprise, a single, large blue seed had ripened right where the flower had been blooming moments ago.

"Hurry! Split it in half and eat it!"

"Right!"

I rushed to the Moon Magic Grass and plucked the seed.

"Gwoooooo!"

"I won't let you!"

The Dark Fenrir let out a howl and charged. However, the Hentai and the Witch of the Forest sapped its momentum with their magic, followed by Ana, who drove her sword forward to force the beast back.

Taking advantage of the opening they created, I used my knife to split the seed into two pieces.

"Ana!"

"Yes!"

"Gwoooooooo!"

The Dark Fenrir lunged again.

"Allen! Anastasia! Hurry!"

The Hentai and the Witch of the Forest had moved from the cardboard box at some point and were now desperately holding back the beast’s charge.

"On it!"

I handed half the seed to Ana and tossed the remaining half into my mouth. It was hard and incredibly bitter, but I didn't have the luxury of complaining. I chewed it as fast as I could, endured the foul taste, and forced it down.

An instant later, a sickening sensation washed over me, as if the very blood in my body was flowing in reverse. My surroundings blurred and faded until I felt the dizzying illusion of drifting through a void of nothingness.

"A-gh... A-Ana..."

I instinctively called out her name.

"Alle... n..."

A pained reply reached my ears; it seemed Ana was suffering through the same sensation. Reaching out toward where I remembered her standing, my hand met a soft warmth. That warmth gripped my hand in return.

Ah, it’s Ana.

"Allen..."

"Ana..."

We called out to each other. We were floating in a pitch-black abyss, and I felt as though I might vanish into the dark at any moment, but her warmth acted as an anchor, holding us together.

As I relied on that warmth to endure the unpleasant transition, my physical senses suddenly snapped back into place.

"Ah... this is..."

My vision cleared instantly, and I felt a terrifying, almost overwhelming amount of magic power surging through my veins. Before me stood Ana, her eyes closed and her brow furrowed in a painful grimace. When I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, the tension in her face vanished, replaced by a look of peace.

"Ana? Are you okay?"

"Ah... Allen... Yes."

"Good. Thank goodness."

"You as well, Allen..."

We both let out sighs of relief, seeing that the other was safe.

"Wooooooooon!"

The Dark Fenrir interrupted our moment with another Roar.

"That’s right! Dammit!"

The sound snapped me back to the reality of the battle. I quickly checked on the Hentai, the Witch of the Forest, and the box where Milly was hidden.

The sight was grim. The Witch of the Forest was down on one knee, and while the Hentai had returned to the top of the cardboard box, his clothes were in tatters and he looked exhausted.

"Are you all right?" I called out to the Witch.

"...It seems you succeeded," she replied weakly. "From the look of things, the magic power you two possess now should surpass even that of the Dark Fenrir."

"Wait, what?"