We started gathering all of the pebbles we can see in the miniature land. Every single pebble suddenly plays a big role in this tale and I believe what Daisy said was true. She herself wanted to turn into a great leader like the father that she admired.

However, the events the unfolded in her life left her no chance of becoming the person she wants to be so she looked for something compensate for this dream that she cherished.

Daisy hasn’t said anything but through her actions, through her expression, and through her steadfast beliefs of what a leader should be, everyone can guess that she has this fleeting dream to follow her father’s step.

I heard that since olden ages in the beast kingdom, the subspecies of the lion was always looked up because they are a primal race that dictates supremacy in their hierarchy. Even in the food chain, lions are always placed at the top, if not, always clustered as one.

Higanbana showed everyone that she is far supreme.

Being a child of Izuna, an inheritor of an ancient blood of the Fox Clan, and Astlan Lionheart, the man who rages against God with the power called Astlan’s Ira, she attained power and talent far imaginable. But the real problem with her is that unwavering attitude and cunningness.

And personally, I find her excessive. This is coming from me, her closest friend...?

Now that I think about it, Boss, the leader of the party we are currently fighting with, and Higan are quite similar in the way they smile and mock people. Now I can’t help but see them as one person but I’m pretty much sure Higan is way worse but she doesn’t have any reason to perform such act to delay a war.

I hope…

“Asagao, there’s one in your feet! Please stop dazing off!”

“I’m not dazing off! I’m in deep thought!”

“You are always like that, you know! Completely immersing yourself in your own world…”

Daisy admonished me for being a slacker, which is not. What does she take me for?

I am in deep thought because I am thinking of something philosophical and genuinely wise. To confirm it, I look at everyone.

“Everyone is aware that I am in deep thought because I have something in mind that needs attention, yes?”

Upon my sudden query that received raised brows from everyone, the next thing I know, I’m receiving a negative feedback as everyone shook their heads.

The betrayal!

“I always know that Asagao is kind of floaty most of the times but she can be really attentive when it matters.”

“It’s exactly that! She’s kind of absorbed in her own fluff of a world. When you are in what you called deep thought, you exude this atmosphere that really pulls in the eyes of the people around you.”

Hibiscus, you mean I’m standing out…

The twins readily gave me a little bit harsh of evaluation regarding this habit of mine. But truly, I am thinking of something philosophical!

From time to time, I’ve been giving a lot of thoughts about our situation and what’s happening in this world and plans I need to take. Other than that, well, I admit that I do think a lot of useless thoughts but that’s just to amuse myself.

Okay, I’m guilty of what they described me. I feel like we had a similar conversation in the past.

Reflecting on this situation, I faithfully picked up the pebble that Daisy pointed to earlier and brought it to the scale.

One by one, the scale started tilting again until the crow was lifted almost to equal with the pile of pebbles we are gathering.

Every pebble we see in the miniature kingdom were brought to the scale, however, we immediately noticed one problem that made us despair.

“Um…the scale is a little bit lacking…like there’s a one-millimeter difference before the scale hits middle.”

Topaz said as she stares hard at the scale’s meter. Even we are grumbling at the hard-pressed difference. It’s like we can already reach the top but there’s a sudden blockade that prevents us from proceeding further.

We searched for one last pebble in the miniature kingdom but to no avail, none was found. I don’t think there is anything around that could actually substitute for the missing pebble.

There was no penalty for overshooting the measurement of the scale so we’ll be fine if we try various things.

“Let’s try something else other than a pebble. There was no rule for substituting for it, right?”

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“I cannot accept that!”

“Eh?”

Daisy immediately rejected my suggestion with a furious countenance. Her voice of objection left me speechless as she stares at me badly.

“Why are you so angry?”

“What in the world are you saying, Asagao?! Are you telling us to forfeit one life for just!?”

“But this is just pebble we are talking about. Rationally speaking, we should be finding a way to get out of this place.”

“No, no! A good king never abandons even a single subject. The one pebble you are talking about, what if it is a real person that needs help?!”

“A good king you say…”

“The king, first and foremost, should never think of sacrificing his people. That’s why, throwing away even a single subject, even if it is just a pebble on the roadside, is unthinkable for a great king.”

Ahh…

This girl, I underestimated her.

“Okay, let’s find the last pebble.”

I decided.

Daisy’s dream isn’t as shallow as I thought. It was meaningful, bright, and I can even describe it as naïve. Her heart is proud and valiant, yet stubborn and persevering.

That’s why she didn’t look down when she lost all opportunity to become the queen of her kingdom, instead, she looked for a way to become helpful to her people while looking up to Higan as someone great, not despising her for stealing the future she dreams of.

Daisy came to us in need of power to improve her own self because she knows what she lacks. It was not just blind faith for pursuing up until now. She truly knows that she will improve through experience. That’s why she earnestly tried to study Ki under the guidance of Tzari.

We head back to the miniature kingdom and start rummaging here and there again.

All the house aren’t left untouched and even every street are skimmed through. We even contemplated of overturning the kingdom but settled with just running our hands from the bisected area.

“We’ve looked at everywhere but I don’t think we can find another pebble.”

Mimi complained as she sulks while plopping down on her butt. It was an understandable gesture as we’ve been in this room for several hours now.

Even I started feeling drained and helpless. I know that this is a worse feeling one could have and it’s giving us a negative outlook on the situation.

“Are we missing something…? Is there something we need to do or to realize just to find the last one…?”

“Mimi…”

“Everything…will be in naught in the end. Kingdoms, emotions, everything, all of it are bound to disappear. What’s the point of prioritizing one little pebble?”

Her words are faint but since I’m close to her, I was able to hear her words.

The words coming out from her mouth felt weird and out of character and one glimpse on her countenance, I immediately saw a face devoid of any hope.

The situation is annoying but it’s not to the point of being hopeless.

“Snap out of it, Mimi!”

“…Wah?! Ah?! What am I doing again?!”

“You were muttering depressing words. It’s not like you to do that.”

“Yeah?! Did I? That’s weird…”

“Are you bothered by something?”

“I’m sure I’m not as I happy just being on an adventure with you and the others. Hell, it will be even difficult for me to hole myself up again in the fairy forest after all of this!”

“Mimi…tell me the truth…”

“…It’s not the time for that.”

“So there is something!”

“L-Like I said, not now.”

Mimi looks troubled as her countenance pales a little. I can’t help but to worry about her wellbeing, especially now that we are in a place such as this labyrinth.

“Then rest for a while if you feel exhausted.”

“Thank you.”

I don’t want to pry further on her thoughts. I don’t want to take half-assed solutions in a place like this and if ever, I want to talk with her in a place where she is comfortable.

SPLASH

The sound of water immediately heard within earshot and in panic, I turn to where the sound came from.

“I found it! This one was drowning in the river! Good thing we were able to find him!”

Daisy shouted as she held on her hand the last pebble we are looking for. She has a satisfied smile on her face and she gleams in a rather cheery mood. The only thing that makes the situation worse for her is that she is drenched all over.

Although, I’m quite elated too that she found the last one so we hurried and gather at the scale once more.

“You did it, Daisy.”

“That’s to be expected!”

“Well, toss it in.”

“Yeah…”

The last pebble was cast and the last millimeter of distance that we’ve been stressing about finally aligns perfectly in the middle. It took ten seconds of stillness before something happens.

RUMBLE

We aren’t really that surprised anymore as everyone stared at the miniature kingdom started parting in half. Everyone has an expectant face but not a flabbergast one.

From below, another flight of staircase appears.

“This dungeon really loves their stairs, huh. I wonder if they can just install an elevator or something.”

“That’s really expensive, Asagao. We do have some establishment in the capital with elevators though. It runs with magical energy.”

“…Your place really has everything.’

Also, don’t say it with really dead eyes, Hibiscus.

“Where’s Emby by the way?”

“Hmm? He is resting.”

“Where?”

“He dematerialized.”

“……”

God freaking damn! That sounds so cool!

Although I want to complain about why that dumb bird doesn’t do that all the time?!

And so, what are we going to do? Of course, go down the stairs and blindly follow our instinct to save us when a trouble comes. It’s not like we can prepare against everything but there’s no point staying in one place.

“It’s a little too shabby.”

“You mean anticlimactic. Honestly, the pebble thing was so hard that everything else that happened doesn’t matter anymore.”

“I want to get back at that guy for throwing us in a loop.”

“I heard you right. Let’s think of something to piss him off when everything is over.”

It was a really deep and scary conversation between Topaz and Casablanca. You wouldn’t expect revenge theme topics between them in any situation. They aren’t even that well-acquainted and yet, they started camaraderie.

I’m interested though, getting back at the nameless wizard.

Not long after, the staircase ends up in a whole new room but this time, there’s a person standing, or should I say a bulk of huge armor.

“Welcome, chosen one.”

“There are actually six of us.”

“That’s troubling.”

“That’s how you respond…’

The bulk of metal armor started scratching the back of his head as if he is really troubled. It really doesn’t give us a fright anymore as we are done with all this shit going around.

The seven feet tall knight clears his throat and stands up proudly in front of us while putting an air of majesty.

“I welcome you, brave warriors!”

“I don’t know if you are blind or something or if there’s even an eyeball beneath that helmet but we are obviously a bunch of little girls.”

“Ah, well, I can perfectly see that.”

“So?”

“How about brave little girls?”

“Whatever fills your cup…”

The standing hulk of scrap readjusts his form and started calling out to us again.

“I welcome you, brave little girls! This is the final trial you are about to face! Fight me in a match! Test your skills, abilities, and mettle in a fair round of a fight with me!”

He said as he drew a beautiful ornate sword that gleams in a golden color.

“You are a chivalric knight. Why would you want to fight little girls?”

“Ah, uh, well…”

“Isn’t it in your code that you won’t hit a girl?”

“That’s, yeah…it is.”

“We don’t necessarily need to fight you in order to pass too, right?”

“Well, the job description that I have here dictates none.”

“Job description?!”

“Wait…”

The hulk of scrap started looking for something in his body. The clanging of metal was so annoying that I grit my teeth.

Finally, after several seconds, he found what he was looking for, a paper. However, as he took out the paper, it crumbles like sand.

“It’s been a lot of years since I last looked at it.”

“That’s bound to happen though.”

“Yeah, I really don’t remember well what’s written on there. Fuck it, it’s not like I’m willing to hit girls even if I am ordered to. Go pass so we can end this hassle.”

“If I were your employer, I would have fired you the first day you talked to me that way.”

This guy’s a pain in the ass I bet.