With the power of the Dragon Tree Sword, I should be able to cultivate fields in the desert.
Having grown crops even in a dungeon-like environment gave me confidence in this assertion.
—However, something felt off here.
I poured magic power into the Dragon Tree Sword and plunged it into the ground.
This part was routine, but almost immediately, that strange sensation struck again.
「!?」
Unable to withstand it, I forcefully pulled the sword back out of the ground.
「W-What’s wrong?」
Martina’s surprised voice broke through my thoughts as she noticed something was off with me.
「Ah, it’s nothing…」
「Doesn’t look like nothing! You’re sweating buckets!」
Kiara exclaimed in alarm, and that’s when I realized I was soaked in sweat.
「This isn’t just a minor issue.」
「What on earth is happening…?」
Charlotte and Ailia also appeared puzzled by the sudden turn of events.
…And I felt the same way.
This was something I had never experienced before.
It felt as if the magic emanating from the Dragon Tree Sword was being rejected…
「Hmm.」
Just then, Hanon slipped past me and gently touched the ground with her hand.
Her actions made me realize something.
Being a plant-based monster known as an Alraune, she might have insight into the truth of the situation—my hunch turned out to be correct.
「Bale. The reason crops cannot grow in this soil…… isn’t just due to its quality.」
「What do you mean?」
「You’ve sensed it too, haven’t you? —Someone is absorbing the magic from the Dragon Tree Sword.」
Hanon analyzed my feeling of unease.
Someone is absorbing the magic from the Dragon Tree Sword…
「Could it be!?」
We had a suspicion about that presence.
「Most likely, a powerful Alraune is hiding nearby. —It must be my mother.」
The red-haired Alraune we encountered in the town we passed on our way to this village.
Aside from the color of her hair and her way of speaking, she resembled Hanon perfectly, claiming that their mother sought Hanon.
If that Alraune was involved in this incident in the Rem Desert, then surely she had set this trap to lure Hanon back.
「Are they trying to lure us out…?」
If that were the case, it was clearly a trap.
A trap to retrieve Hanon—but Hanon herself said,
「I will take this invitation.」
She slowly stood up and declared her intent.
「Wait! That’s way too dangerous!」
「That’s right! You can’t just dive into the enemy’s den!」
「But… I want to meet my mother, even just once.」
Her quiet yet strong plea left us speechless.
Has Hanon ever bared her emotions like this before?
At least, I couldn’t recall a moment like that.
「…Understood.」
「!? Bale!?」
「It’s alright, Martina. —I won’t let Hanon go alone.」
That’s right.
If Hanon was going to dive in, then I would go with her.
Hearing my words, the other members seemed to come to the same conclusion: ‘Now that’s a plan!’
「Y-You all…」
「It’s pointless to try and stop us, Hanon.」
「…You really are a bunch of strange people.」
Hanon’s voice had a hint of exasperation, yet she also sounded somewhat happy as she spoke.
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