The Void, contrary to how its name sounds, is home to several beings and presences.
There's a serpent-like creature playing atop an ice cream truck.
A small child who drives the ice cream truck.
There's a man who meditates in the midst of the surrounding commotion.
And a figure, who appears to be letting several glowing feathers floats freely around her.
They all seemed occupied with their own pleasures, even the figure surrounded by drifting feathers. Closer observation revealed a diligent air about her, as she continued her work even in such an environment.
Quite impressive.
If only she did not wear that particular expression, like someone about to ask for money, she might have looked better. Despite her tanned skin, oxblood-red hair, and a mismatched outfit that somehow still worked… she could do better.
"Hey ▀▀▀, mind if I ask something? Why is there suddenly a side story up there?" She flicked her hair pompously. "And do you have a problem with how I look? Now then… what are you plotting?"
She began to take a look at a calendar nearby.
"There's nothing though? How could there be one in a place like this?" (Cera)
She had forgotten the calendar she'd placed under the table earlier.
"Table? Ch… narration manipulator," Cera pointed sharply at a table she had only just noticed. "Just so you know, there wasn't a table here a few seconds ago! Don't treat me like some grandma who forgot her glasses!"
Then she realized the date.
It was April first. So naturally, it was that time again.
"Don't tell me..." (Cera)
Indeed, she have come to know that.
"No." (Cera)
And yet, despite that knowledge, she chose to deny it.
"NOOOUUU!" (Cera)
April first. The perfect time for the so-called April Fools.
"No, no, no! I'm not doing this!" (Cera)
Unfortunately, she had no other choice but to do it.
"NeVER hEArD anD i nEVer kNoW ABouT tHAt!!" (Cera)
It wasn't something planned or written into a schedule, but rather something that occasionally slipped past their awareness. Things like April Fools rarely had much effect on those burdened with deadlines.
"Like I care about your deadline!" (Cera)
Suddenly, a portal opened beneath her feet.
Naturally, she ran from it.
She knew this kind of portal was a door connecting the Void to another world. She had seen them many times before, but never one like this, one whose appearance felt so violently forced.
The portal even walked, then ran to her side, trying to drag her inside.
"Don't fuck with me!!!" (Cera)
The moment it reached her, it tried to pull her in. But instead of surrendering and stepping inside to accept her fate, Cera fought back, struggling with everything she had to stay out.
She struggled with all her might to keep herself from being dragged into the portal.
"Hold it!! Ughhh!!! yOU cAN'T maKE mE!!!" (Cera)
At the same time, just as Cera sounded like she was in desperate need of help, the supposed aid finally arrived. It was the man, the Fool butnotfromLordofMysteries, and the being who had soared higher than anyone else in this story, Zeimachi.
He approached casually, mostly because her shouting had become far too distracting.
"What's wrong, Cher? Shouting like some kind of Outer God. Hey, snake, you know sum'? " (Zeimachi)
Elsewhere, the snake observed them from atop its throne, the ice cream truck. It seemed to understand that this was not a matter it should involve itself in, the madam's business and all.
So the snake remained where it was, idly watching from the top of the moving vehicle.
"You are a foolish being who behaves like one, human, can't you see..." (Yjor)
But when Yjor thought that the vehicle was about to stop beside the man, granting a higher ground to look down on him, the ice cream truck rumbled past him without slowing.
"Miss, you missed him. Miss, miss?" (Yjor)
The truck slowed.
Then it looped back.
It passed him again, closer this time.
"Don't laugh." (Yjor)
"It wasn't funny to begin with." (Zeimachi)
"...Can't you see the Madam is in distress while doing her work? Look at her warrior's face." (Yjor)
"Ohh naruhodo! Better don't bother her then." (Zeimachi)
Deciding not to get involved, Zeimachi and Yjor began to distance themselves from Cera.
There's no point in meddling with matters far beyond their control. Casually, the human walked away, leaving her behind, while the snake continued to refuse the ice cream truck driver's increasingly unnecessary apologies.
"💢💢💢" (Cera)
And clearly, that only made her even more upset.
The veins in her hands stood out as she gripped the edge of the portal.
"Excuse me!? What do you mean far beyond your control, huh?!" (Cera)
With her emotions boiling over, Cera forced herself forward, even as the portal continued to pull at her. She pushed on regardless, dragging herself step by step until she reached the man's back.
Then she grabbed the foolish man by the face and squeezed.
"Gyaaaaaa!!!???" (Zeimachi)
Like the grip of a Godzilla.
"You also get in! Don't ever think I'll suffer that alone!" (Cera)
The man screamed, his voice echoing through the Void.
As the portal prepared to claim yet another victim, Yjor the snake, who had been observing the entire incident in silence, finally intervened. The reptile instructed the driver to make a U-turn and approach them.
Perhaps it was best to separate them, even if only a little.
The truck responded with a majestic blast of its horn, then spun into a reckless donut across the Void's empty roadway. After parking at last, the driver stepped out of the vehicle.
Both hands are bowls of choco-mint ice cream, held out toward the two soon-to-be victims.
"Zei, Cera, what are you two doing?" (Hylia)
Unaware of what was actually happening, the girl stepped closer to the two struggling figures.
"Whia! Peffect gibe me thaz ize sream! (Lia, Perfect give me that Ice cream!)" (Zeimachi)
Spotting the dangerous weapon in Hylia's hand, he chose to act like a truly wicked adult.
Without mercy and without permission, Zeimachi snatched Hylia's ice cream and shoved it straight into Cera's mouth, staggered her. He then used the moment of shock to break free from her grip.
"Ahhh?!?! My ice cream! Zei!! Give it back!! Give-it-back!" Hylia cried. "That one was for you! There's already a lot of mint mixed in!"
"A-Ack! Don't pull my shirt, it's just ice cream! And you really want me to eat that toothpaste, don't you?!" (Zeimachi)
"AHHGGgKKK—uhhggghhmm—khhhaaaahhh! (You idiot! It's choco-mint ice cream, you fool! Not toothpaste!)" Cera yelled, muffled by the ice cream in her mouth.
The three of them struggled, pushing and pulling against one another, and without realizing it, they had all crossed the threshold of the portal. They're in a perfect position for it to swallow them whole.
"HHMMMMMMMMM!!!! (NOOOOOO!!!)GULP… Zei! Link us with your feathers! Make sure to include Hylia as well! Don't let go, Lia!" (Cera)
"Huh?! Aight!!!" (Zeimachi)
"Y-Yes, Cera! But my ice cream~" (Hylia)
"Just put it on your father's tab!" (Cera)
"It annoys me that you're the one saying it, but both of you, don't let go! Oi Yjor, watch this place!" Zeimachi yelled back.
A pair of shimmering feathers drifted down, settling gently atop the two women's heads. Moments later, the portal reacted, finally fulfilling its original purpose and transporting them to another world.
Silence returned to the Void, as though the earlier disturbance had never happened.
"…Sure…" (Yjor)
In that quiet, serene space, only Yjor the snake remained, once again regretting the choice not to join the others in their adventure. Perhaps, just maybe, Yjor should have slipped its tail closer, so one of them might have "accidentally" grabbed on.
"Why did I stay…" Yjor contemplated.
------------
——————|◼️-🔷|
------------
~To the people of this land, I'm sorry~
~I failed to become the figure worthy of the title I carried~
~Though we tried to bend this fate, I did not succeed as the many heroes I once encountered did. Because of that failure, you now stand on the brink of extinction. I am not far behind, soon to follow my fallen companions~
~I offer you countless apologies once more. Even so, please... I ask you not to surrender in despair~
~Though this world will grow ever more tainted, do continue to chase the beginning that lies beyond this tragic ending~
~To you whose name and face is unknown~
~Keep moving forward, aim for new start~
~Our last hope, the key lies in the desert, where the oldest remnants of waste are scattered~
~Search and protect her~
~From me, the nameless protector who failed to protect~
...
....
.....
「Unknown Land, desert area」
The land was covered entirely in sand, stretching like a barren wasteland.
The wind swept tumbleweed across it, dragging dust and grit along its path. Trees stood only as hollow trunks, stripped bare, with no color left beyond the dull tones of dry, lifeless sand.
The dunes lay smooth like an endless blanket, bearing no trace of any living creature.
Except for one massive mound of sand, where three humanoid figures climbed beneath the scorching sun. Moving side by side, they complained to one another as they went.
Or perhaps it was only two of them. The third simply endured it.
"PWahAGH! Oi Lia! Stop throwing that sand to me! Sorry... sorry. I'll give you Magnum and Cadbury later, so forgive me, okay? For now, just take this Rokka, okay? I've got nothing left in my pocket." (Zeimachi)
"My Ice cream is gone... why did you have to take it from me??? Zei you idiot!" (Hylia)
Observing the commotion caused by the man and the girl, the woman beneath her parasol simply smiled at them. Unlike the two, who were visibly troubled by the heat, she barely flinched at the temperature around her.
For her, the heat had never been much of an inconvenience.
"Ro...ka? Hmm? Is this a ball of chocolate? It's also frozen cold." (Hylia)
"Yeah, both me and Cera usually have those in case we want to eat sweet and cold things. Go ask her if want more, but please stop crying, okay?" (Zeimachi)
A remarkably professional move from an adult.
Bribery, followed by a neat diversion tactic that redirected the problem to someone else.
After happily accepting and chewing on the freezing chocolate candy from his hand, Hylia promptly slid across the sand and clung to Cera's waist, as if attempting to multiply her cuteness by two… perhaps three.
Her attention shifted with alarming speed. The choco-mint ice cream Zeimachi had sacrificed moments earlier seemed completely forgotten, replaced by the frozen chocolate she was now enjoying.
"Cera! Do you really have more!? Can I?" (Hylia)
"Hmm?" (Cera)
"...Can I..." (Hylia)
"Yeees???" (Cera)
"...Nothing..." (Hylia)
Fortunately, she failed.
"Zeeei... Cera being scary again..." (Hylia)
"Alright, alright, don't mind it. Honestly, it was very brave of you to even try." Zeimachi ruffled the little girl's hair. "Anyway, want to learn how to roll down a sand mountain? It's almost the same as when we're on a snowy one. Let's go."
The two of them rolled around for a while, spinning down the slope like a pair of blue hedgehogs.
Elsewhere, Cera continued to gaze across the desert stretching as far as the eye could see.
"A side story strays from the main narrative," she said calmly, "but it's still connected, isn't it?"
An expression difficult to read crossed her face, hidden beneath the parasol she had pulled from thin air. The dark, wide parasol was not something she had brought from the Void, but an item retrieved from her own inventory.
Much like her personal treasure vault.
Which meant she could have produced another candy with ease.
"You want to rot her teeth? But I see, so this me... still have ties to Zei. Maybe in the future?" She crouched slightly, letting sand slip through her fingers as she smiled faintly. "Am I right?"
She straightened, the parasol tilting just enough to cast a deeper shadow.
"I'll take that as a yes. You've always been a silent reader." (Cera)
Feeling she had allowed the two of them to roll up and down the sand dunes pretending to be hedgehogs for long enough, Cera finally decided to approach their improvised race track.
"If this were my story," she added casually, "Rolling Girl would fit the scene rather well."
Playtime aside, there were things that needed to be done when arriving in another world. Besides, there was something she could sense here. Nothing particularly special, but interesting enough to warrant a closer look.
The two of them would surely be curious as well, or so she assumed.
"Done playing around?" Cera called out. "Let's head that way. First one to arrive gets to do whatever they want to Zei. Second place gets any reward they want from him. Third place gets nothing."
They followed her, even if they were still rolling as they did. Especially Zeimachi. He looked both pressured and oddly energized, clearly determined to protect what little dignity he had left.
"I got second place! The runner-up gets any reward they want from Zei!" Hylia declared triumphantly.
"I don't remember ever agreeing to this deal! This was Cera's idea out of nowhere from the very beginning!" (Zeimachi)
"Just do as she wishes," Cera replied calmly. "Besides, you still owe her ice cream."
Much like Zeimachi, who occasionally liked to run away from his problems, Cera's behavior could be remarkably irresponsible at times. Paired with Hylia, who was far too easy to deceive, there was little that could stop them from acting however they pleased here.
"Well, if Yjor were here, things would probably be different." (Cera)
"Yjor? Ah… hopefully Yjor won't be too angry about being left behind. Fuwa is there with him, at least." (Hylia)
"More importantly, Lia, could you check what's around that sand circle over there first?" Cera pointed toward a stretch of sand marked with an unusual pattern. "If it looks dangerous, come back immediately."
"Okay!" Hylia rolled off toward the destination.
With their immediate problem successfully redirected, Zeimachi finally picked himself up and stood again, stepping closer to the shade cast by Cera's parasol. He scratched the back of his neck lightly.
Sand had worked its way into his clothes, as expected.
"That was kind of fun, so… what is it?" (Zeimachi)
"Can you sense what's buried underneath?" (Cera)
"Oh, so it's underground, I thought you were talking about something above us." (Zeimachi)
He placed his palm against the ground and knelt, letting his fingers sink beneath the sand.
Only then did his expression harden.
A variety of unfamiliar sensations surged through him at once.
His skin burned, similar to the feeling of touching a pulsing generator. His head swam, the dizziness oddly reminiscent of playing first-person shooters for too long. Even his energy felt as though it were being drained directly into the earth beneath him.
"Hm… borrowing knowledge from the archive. Implementing anti-hazard measures across the body. Same principle as Mahoraga's Dharmachakra." He exhaled slowly. "Nah, I'll adapt."
Only then did the discomfort subside enough for him to relax, allowing him to speak more freely to the woman beside him who, strangely enough, had shown no symptoms at all when she touched the sand earlier.
"Done suiting up? So, what exactly is buried under here?" (Cera)
"A lot, Honkai-like energy in cubic form. Crystallized mana. Frozen magic veins. Even something similar to Originium, I can feel it down there. But… that's probably not all. There's more the deeper I probe." (Zeimachi)
"Such as?" (Cera)
He crouched again, releasing a long sigh.
"Ether reduced to ash. Condensed essence from something that used to be alive. Maybe a soul. There's also traces of both malice and virtue mixed together. Weird. Did some kind of century-long war happen here or something?" (Zeimachi)
He glanced at the dunes around them.
As he finished his probing, Zeimachi brushed away all of the sand from his hand. His demeanor was a mix of peculiarity and enthusiasm, as if he had seen something rarer than water in the middle of the desert.
But Cera's expression sharpened into something openly sarcastic, her gaze fixed on an indistinct point in the distance with unmistakable hostility. It was clear she was blaming someone, or something.
Possibly a specific someone who absolutely deserved it.
'I am looking at you ▀▀▀, Zei doesn't have a good thing with Honkai you know?!' (Cera)
As she continued glaring at her invisible target, the man beside her suddenly raised both hands without warning. The abrupt movement startled her. Not because it was threatening, but because it made holding the parasol unnecessarily difficult.
What exactly was he trying to do?
"That means... there's Fu Hua!" (Zeimachi)
"Y-Yeah…" Cera replied, hesitating. "Maybe she is. Or was."
Only then did he lower his hands, allowing her to hold the parasol properly again.
He fell unusually quiet after that.
"Zei?" (Cera)
"IKKKUZOOOO!" (Zeimachi)
After a brief, dangerous moment of silence, his eyes suddenly lit up with whatever reckless purpose had ignited in his head. Without warning, he grabbed the parasol from her arm and bolted toward the hill, sprinting off to catch up with Hylia.
He left her utterly flabbergasted behind him.
"Huh? What?! That's mine, you idiot!!" Cera snapped.
What she knew was not always correct. Especially when it came to that Fool.
"Nyenyenye! Your father sells fried fish dumplings and tofu! Hey! Wait!" (Cera)
Judging from their direction, the two of them were attempting to catch up to Hylia.
The little girl herself had already entered the sand circle and was moving toward its center. She traced every line etched into the sand in a brushing motion, her hand never leaving the surface.
Her gaze lingered on the landscape before her, though the wind and sand continued to cause discomfort. The woman's voice soon reached her again, breaking the moment.
"This pattern… how did they draw this? Ack! Sand again…" (Hylia)
"Oi~ Lia~~ You okay, girl?" (Cera)
She rubbed her eyes with her sleeve and turned toward the voice. Cera was waving both hands while being carried by Zeimachi, the two of them moving in her direction.
"Over here~! Hurry!" (Hylia)
"Don't ask the impossible. This dead weight is more than enough of a burden. Hurry up and get off already! And your umbrella! Carry it yourself!" (Zeimachi)
"Just accept these blessings. You can enjoy the softness on your back, and I'll shield us from the sun with my parasol. In exchange, you can be my carriage. Ohohoho~ w-hua?! Don't jump!" (Cera)
"Hah?! What softness!? You're as flat as Misaka!" (Zeimachi)
"Huuuh!? Say that again, you peroro prick?!"(Cera)
"They're doing this again… but… um… if it's about being carried… I want in too!" (Hylia)
Although she could only observe their quarrel from the side, a faint gleam appeared in the girl's eyes. Whatever that gleam meant, she rolled across the sand toward them once again.
She leapt forward and pounced on the man.
"Zei! One roller incoming!" Hylia shouted.
"Huh?! Then come— Bhuuuggh…" Zeimachi grunted as she clung to him from the front, her limbs wrapped around him like a spider. "What are you, Teio or something? Some kind of Chinese spider?"
In the end, not long after, Zeimachi had no choice but to carry Hylia in his arms. He said little as he moved on, burdened like a man with a koala clinging to his back and a small beaver latched onto his front.
It was an apt comparison for those two.
After that, Zeimachi asked about the strange pattern, half-joking about aliens. Hylia then explained that it was more likely an entrance for some creature, though she sensed no living presence beneath it anymore.
"Hmm. How about over there? I saw something shiny." (Zeimachi)
"Shiny? Drop item maybe?" (Cera)
All three raised a handmade telescope to their eyes, but Hylia's view drifted slightly off, so he adjusted her chin until their views aligned, earning a soft sound of wonder from her. She lingered there a moment longer, as if reluctant to pull away.
"Ehehe, Zei it's tickles!" (Hylia)
Their next destination has been decided, and he warned them to hold on before moving.
"Put in your gas, Sir Driver." Cera said, leaning forward expectantly.
"Don't worry about me! Go as fast as the sword of light!" Hylia added, clutching tighter.
"We're over capacity." (Zeimachi)
As encouragement, Cera began patting his shoulder.
He soon broke into a run at the promised speed, sand scattering beneath his steps as the pats turned into rhythmic slaps against his back, like urging on a horse, all the way until he came to a halt.
SLAP
"We're already here?!" (Zeimachi)
"Oh... desert mosquito." (Cera)
———————————
Time.
Space.
Nature.
Chaos.
And Civilization.
From these concepts, a Council once stood. Its members were manifested principles, beings whose authority over their respective domains was inherent and absolute from the moment of their birth.
"Ohh… so basically, this girl is like the hands and feet of their concept, right?" (Hylia)
"I prefer to think of it as molten chocolate sealed inside a lava cake." (Zeimachi)
"Cake!" Hylia exclaimed, still in her beaver form.
"You two… perhaps I really should open a class just for you," Cera said, still being a koala. "Now then, let me explain a little. About what a Manifestation Avatar is… it goes like this…"
At times, they manifest as heralds of catastrophe. At others, as benevolent helpers. Some choose only to observe from a distance, while others act as Guardians, directly accompanying the evolution of their respective domains.
In this world, they may be regarded as arbiters of its continuity.
That said, they are not gods of this world.
Even their disappearance would not signal its end.
The underlying principles would continue to function as they always have, so long as no one attempts to interfere. For disturbances involving such forces carry consequences of immense scale.
"That's the explanation." (Cera)
"…What? Explanation for what?" (Zeimachi)
The Warden of Time, who deals with those who meddle with temporal flow.
The Speaker of Space, who frequently confronts phenomena such as reality warping.
The Mother of Nature, who answers to those who destroy or seek to exploit the natural world.
The Leader of Chaos, who intervenes when instability is deliberately cultivated and systems are driven toward collapse.
The Guardian of Civilization, who stands against threats capable of bringing about the end of entire worlds.
"Now, as an evaluation, repeat what I've just explained," (Cera)
"Like I said, what?! I heard you say nothing!" (Zeimachi)
And whether by coincidence or not, one of the Concept Avatars—the Guardian of Civilization—was sleeping right before them. She was buried at the very spot where they had noticed something shiny, as though she had been swallowed by living sand.
No one knew how long the Guardian had been there, but she still appeared to be alive.
"But… she really looks fine. Not like someone who was almost killed by quicksand." (Cera)
"Fifty-fifty. Maybe her avatar went through too many mishaps and mashups," Zeimachi replied. "Just in case, we should check her condition. There might be something we can find beneath her clothing."
He was slowly being choked from behind by the "koala" as he spoke.
"Yeah, being a Guardian should make them strong, right?" (Cera)
"C— Can't— breathe!" Zeimachi choked out.
Meanwhile, as the noisy voices continued to reach her ears, the Guardian slowly opened her eyes.
Still lying on the heated sand and exposed directly to the harsh sunlight, it was likely too much for her. Zeimachi stepped forward, positioning themselves to cast enough shade for her awakening.
Her chest rose and fell, breathing steadily.
"Hello?" (Hylia)
As she noticed the unconscious girl squinting, Hylia immediately dropped down, trotting with her feet and slumped down at her side. Without hesitation or suspicion, the small girl moved closer and helped the Guardian sit up.
"Are you alright?" (Hylia)
"How many fingers am I holding up?" (Cera)
"Do I look handsome?" (Zeimachi)
This marked their first contact, two of them attempting to overwhelm her at once.
"Who... are you? Where is me? Am I who?" 「Guardian of Civilization」
She was the Guardian of Civilization, and she remembered none of it.
Unfortunately, much like the typical protagonist of a gacha game, this Guardian appeared to be afflicted by the same familiar debuff: amnesia. A complete loss of memory.
As if understanding the situation at once, Cera and Zeimachi nodded in wordless agreement.
"Looks like you're the MC. Ahh... so this is how my life actually is~" (Cera)
"Indeed. We're nothing but NPCs in your story," Zeimachi followed, striking a dramatic pose. "But it doesn't matter. We shall be the passing by trio who help you grow! Now rise up! This is your first chapter!"
"Both of you, stop fooling around! Um… do you really not remember anything at all?" (Hylia)
The two of them fell silent at once, shifting into the role of shade-givers and leaving Hylia to speak with the girl. Seeing how confused the Guardian looked, Hylia gently began introducing herself, and the others.
"Please call me Hylia. Just Hylia is all I have now," she said.
"Ore wa Natsuki Subaru. Ore no waifu wa Emilia-tan, soshite Emilia-tan wo aishiteru," Zeimachi declared proudly, and both of his cheeks were immediately pinched by Hylia afterwards.
"I'm Zeimachi. Nice to meet you," he corrected himself.
"I'm Cera. Don't worry, we're not the bad guys." (Cera)
"…Nice to meet you too. Sorry, I… can't remember my name." 「Guardian of Civilization」
"Don't worry about that. Take my hand." (Zeimachi)
After a brief hesitation, the Guardian reached out and grasped the arm offered to her. As their hands met, Zeimachi revealed a single feather, already fused with his own power.
After all, he was someone who frequently dealt with cases like this. Amnesia. Lost memories.
He knew what to do.
"Abaha Kadhabra! With this, we can skip part of the Main Story." (Zeimachi)
As the incantation ended, a gentle light slowly enveloped her.
A faint sense of drowsiness washed over the Guardian, her eyes slowly closing. Yet within the darkness behind her lids, a name surfaced, drifting back into her awareness.
"Mu... mei? Nanashi... Mumei?" 「Guardian of Civilization」
Her eyes opened once more, a brief glimmer of light and something that resembled hope flickering within them.
...
....
.....
After gradually restoring the Guardian's memories, they decided to bring Mumei along with them. As they traveled across the desert, they carefully tried to grow closer, receiving explanations directly from the Guardian of Civilization herself along the way.
Her name, her origins, her birthplace, her favorite food, and many other small details.
Both Zeimachi and Hylia listened with clear interest, enjoying every bit of it. Cera, on the other hand, mostly listened in silence while holding the slightly enlarged parasol, still riding on his back.
Even so, she occasionally produced several items out of thin air to help.
"Some water?" (Cera)
"Where… how did you get this? I didn't see you carrying a bottle." 「Nanashi Mumei」
"Try it first. You can comment later," Cera replied calmly. "You're thirsty, right? Especially after explaining so much to those two." She handed another bottle over. "This one's for Lia."
"That's because you're not explaining anything!" (Zeimachi)
The man carrying her nudged her slightly, silently asking for the same treatment. However, instead of receiving a bottle of water, Zeimachi was rewarded only with a gentle pat on the head.
From there, as they continued walking through the desert, the two began bickering again.
"Hey, Mumu… what exactly does the Guardian of Civilization do?" (Hylia)
"As the name suggests, I protect the continuity of civilization, I don't only observe from afar. I can also assist and protect civilizations when they face threats that could completely wipe them out." 「Nanashi Mumei」
In the middle of their casual conversation, Cera suddenly climbed down and handed the parasol to Hylia instead. She wanted the freedom to argue properly with Zeimachi, face to face.
The feasty haired girl and the Guardian of Civilization gradually walked ahead, leaving the two behind.
"…Excuse me, Hylia?" 「Nanashi Mumei」
"Yes, Mumu?" (Hylia)
"Mumu… that's me, right?"
"Yes. Mumu is Mumei. What's wrong?"
Mumei seemed as though she wanted to correct something, but decided against it. There's something else she wanted to ask instead. As far as she could remember, she hadn't come to the desert alone.
There had been a friend with her. A small one. A dusty, paper-like friend.
"Eh?! Then it might've been left behind over there! I'll go back and check!" (Hylia)
"N-No, it's alright. I can look for it myself," Mumei said quickly. "We haven't gone that far yet."
But Hylia didn't listen.
She handed the parasol to Mumei and immediately rolled back toward the sand mound where they had first found her. The two adults briefly glanced in the direction the child rolled off to.
"Gyagyagyagya!" (Cera)
"Heuheuheuheuheu!" (Zeimachi)
The two continued their pointless quarrel.
Left standing alone while watching Zeimachi and Cera argue, the Guardian found herself unsure of what to do. Fortunately, only a few minutes later, Hylia returned with something in her hands.
"Mumu~ Is this it? This paper bag with a hole in it? I found it floating near the spot where we found you! It looked like it was searching for you too—ah! Calm down, I'm not trying to hurt you." (Hylia)
Something inside Hylia's pocket struggled to break free. Once released and able to breathe fresh air again, it immediately darted toward Mumei and pressed itself against her cheek.
"Hey, little guy. I missed you too," Nanashi Mumei said softly.
Fluttering gently, the small brown paper-bag-like creature seemed delighted as the Guardian touched its cheek. The reaction was noticeably different when the little girl tried to do the same.
"Don't worry, she's good. Thanks, Hylia. I can't do much without this guy." 「Nanashi Mumei」
"Hee~ What's his name?" (Hylia)
"You can call him… Friend, yes. His name is just that. Friend." 「Nanashi Mumei」
"So your friend's name is Friend?" Hylia giggled. "That's easy to remember!"
Somehow, the two of them grew a little closer.
Unlike the other two, who were still arguing over trivial matters.
"That's exactly why reptiles with thick tails are superior!" Cera shouted. "Their tails store nutrients, perfect for surviving in a wasteland like this! What's the point of a skinny tail besides running fast?!"
"That's precisely why they can dodge threats and blend in better!" Zeimachi shot back. "You're only saying that because you like Tomimi, aren't you?! I know you own her white-dress figure!"
"I actually want to make that dress myself! You think I wouldn't look great in it?" (Cera)
"Huh?! Is that so? Well… yeah. I think you'd look mesmerizing in it." (Zeimachi)
Useless things.
…
….
…..
There comes a time when the sun must sink below the horizon, giving way to the moon's pale light.
After spending the day walking across the desert from noon until dusk, night finally arrived. Although they could have continued their journey if they wished, stopping was a decision they all understood.
The four of them decided to rest for the night, careful not to let their guard down even after setting up a simple tent Cera pulled from her magical storage. No matter how calm it looked, this wasteland was far from a place that could be called home.
"Can I hug you? I usually sleep while hugging my pillow." (Hylia)
"Oh… yeah, sure." 「Nanashi Mumei」
"Hug please." (Cera)
"Nein." (Zeimachi)
Indeed, this land could be called an anomaly in its own right. It made no sense for energies originating from different worlds to gather and pile up beneath the soil like recycled debris, stacked layer upon layer.
And this wasn't gossip or a half-remembered legend.
They both already knew that much. That alone was proof enough. But knowing was not the same as understanding. And beside them stood someone who did understand why this land had become what it was now.
"Can I… tell you some stories?" Mumei asked softly.
A testimony from someone who had watched castles crumble and homes vanish beneath the passage of time. Someone who had witnessed not only the end, but also the beginning, and the long, grinding process in between.
A small lantern flickered, radiating warmth instead of bonfire.
"Of course. We're listening," Zeimachi said, then shoved Cera away. "And get off me, redhead."
"Long ago..." 「Nanashi Mumei」
A long time ago, the world this land came from was fertile and whole. Plants thrived, animals flourished, ecosystems formed and evolved, with or without the guidance of intelligent beings.
Heroes rose and were remembered. Sacred places existed where godlike entities were said to dwell. Mumei had seen countless versions of such worlds. But for reasons of their own, eras began to change.
Technology that once sought only to harness lightning eventually reached for the stars themselves.
"At that point," Mumei said quietly, "chaos became difficult to stop."
Those who discovered and accepted foreign powers tried to pierce the boundaries of their world, seeking new resources and energies to exploit. To the world with magic, martial arts, and each of their kind.
That was why this land held remnants from so many different worlds.
At first, it was said to be nothing more than a dumping ground for nuclear waste. But as civilizations advanced and hardened, becoming something closer to raiders than pioneers, more varieties of processed energy waste were discarded here.
For centuries, this place became a trash heap for progress.
Sadly, after putting aside the health of their own planet for so many years, the people of that world eventually united, determined to make their planet the center of everything. And then they reached outward, into space.
…And that was where they made a mistake.
"What kind of mistake?" (Hylia)
"Oh! Did they discover some alien race that wiped them out? Like the Qu?" he shoved Cera away once more. "Hey, I told you not to hug me! We're getting into the interesting part."
"No, they did encounter alien civilizations. But none were strong enough to stop that unified race. In the end, those aliens either became allies… or were erased. I saw it myself while traveling with them." 「Nanashi Mumei」
"Whew. That's one terrifyingly competent civilization." (Zeimachi)
"But what happened to them in the end?" Cera asked, finally giving up on hugging.
Mumei hesitated.
"I… don't know," she said. "Maybe my memory still hasn't fully returned."
It was a lie, spoken to protect the beings in front of her.
"But I do remember what happened to this land before it became a desert, like what I've told you." she continued. "And this 'Friend' of mine is also one of the results of that era."
The small paper bag fluttered and flittered, extending its tiny paper hand in greeting. Zeimachi and Cera seemed ready to continue the discussion, but sensing Mumei's fatigue, they decided to rest instead.
"Thanks for sharing, Nanashi-san. You should rest." (Zeimachi)
"You use -san while calling her? What a stiff guy." (Cera)
As she says so, Cera still stubbornly trying to cling to him.
"Lia, stay with her, okay?" (Cera)
"Get off! Use your own tent!" (Zeimachi)
They both leaves the current tent and build another two outside.
Leaving the two of them arguing again, Mumei and Hylia settled down to rest.
Inside the tent, large enough for four, they lay on their backs, staring up at the lantern swaying faintly above. The Guardian still seemed uneasy over the earlier conversation, while the feisty-haired girl quietly reached her own conclusion.
"…Does that mean Mumei was discarded here too?" Hylia whispered, her voice barely more than breath. "…Does that mean… they decided Guardians were unnecessary?"
There was a pause.
"…Maybe, yeah. Sorry for telling you such a heavy story, little one." 「Nanashi Mumei」
Gradually, the night deepened.
When silence finally settled in, the Guardian of Civilization stirred. Careful not to wake Hylia, she gently loosened the girl's arms from around her, gathered her belongings one by one, and slipped out of the tent.
Quietly. Deliberately.
She did not look back.
"I'm sorry, but this is my responsibility. I can't let anyone else get hurt again." 「Nanashi Mumei」
"Now that's some heroic line. Is that responsibility really so heavy?" (Zeimachi)
She froze. Mumei hadn't noticed him leaving his tent.
Seeing Zeimachi standing there caught her completely off guard.
"…It is, I can't let it happen again. Not just because it can. If there's even a chance…" Her gaze remained calm as it met his, but her thoughts were anything but. "…I have to do something."
She lowered her eyes slightly.
"I'm truly grateful to all of you. But I can't afford to drag you into this." 「Nanashi Mumei」
"Why?" (Zeimachi)
"Because the story I told you was the truth. What else?" 「Nanashi Mumei」
"Yeah?" he laughed softly. "Did you think we don't trust you? No, no. We do trust you. A threat that can overpower even the most advanced civilizations across countless races, something that can even challenge a concept like you?"
Zeimachi shrugged again and knelt. "We believe something like that exists."
He pressed his fingers into the sand, pausing as if listening to the desert itself. Light unraveled around his hand, thin strands gathering as energy was drawn directly from the wasteland.
It shimmered, condensed, and pulsed in his palm.
Then he stood and extended his hand.
"You… you can control that kind of energy?" Mumei's eyes widened. "Are you one of the old human races?!" She stopped herself almost immediately. "No. Human race couldn't manipulate energy directly. Then… what are you?"
"I am human, just not the kind from this world." (Zeimachi)
He flicked his hand, dispersing the gathered energy until it faded harmlessly into the air. Then he stepped closer. The girl reaches for her dagger. Mumei remained alert, but she didn't retreat.
"I know what they are," Zeimachi said quietly. "I know what you're up against."
He met her gaze.
"So let me help you." (Zeimachi)
"Help? Do you even understand what kind of monstrosity that thing is?! Knowing about it isn't enough. Can you move a planet and smash it into that thing? Can you?" 「Nanashi Mumei」
She scoffed. "If it's just materializing energy, even Bae could do that."
The man only smiled and patted her head.
"…What?" Mumei blinked.
"Nah, it's just… I want to do it." (Zeimachi)
"Just so you know," Mumei replied, frowning, "I'm over thousands of years old."
His hand ruffled her hair even more after that.
"All I'm saying is this, keep traveling with us. We can carry our own weight." (Zeimachi)
"And if you can't?" Mumei asked quietly. "What if I'm the weight that drags all of you down?"
Along with the dagger, he casually displayed a few small items resting on his palm. Buttons. Straps. Even thread. It didn't take long before she realized they were from her clothes.
Her hands scrambled instinctively as she tried to cover herself.
But just as she thought her outfit might come undone, everything in his hand vanished.
"If you drag us down? Then I'll find out why you became heavy. Cera will keep you light, and Hylia will cheer us on. That means three out of an infinite number of duties as the Guardian of Civilization are already covered." (Zeimachi)
He smiled faintly. "Not bad, right?"
Mumei said nothing.
She lowered her gaze, staring at the sand beneath her feet as she let out a slow breath, as if weighing something she hadn't intended to confront yet. After a moment, she brushed his hand aside and quietly slipped back into her tent.
She didn't say a word.
But before disappearing inside, she glanced back at him, just briefly.
When dawn finally arrived, it'll be a mark for the beginning of yet another journey across the scorching wasteland. Along with something far above turned its gaze toward her, the final piece needed to conquer this world, Mumei closed her eyes again.
But that is something they've already know.
"How about it?" (Zeimachi)
"Hmm! Shut up you Kazuma freak." (Cera)
———————————
In this land, there exist countless sources of power.
"Must... need... more POWER!!!" 「A son of Sparda」
In pursuit of that power, the people of this world ventured beyond their own, crossing into countless other worlds. Disturbing peace of many calm and innocent soul, along those of dangerous one.
"Luffy!!!! Guys??!! Jeez, where did those idiots wander off to this time? And what is this place, a desert?!" 「Marimo head」
Beneath this desert lies nothing but refuse. Things that have already served their purpose. Cast aside once their value was exhausted. However... what of those who still hold meaning? Those who still possess function?
If only they could see what lay beyond the desert, they would understand.
"Everyone ready? Don't forget your dagger." Zeimachi tossed a few forgotten items her way. "Now then, where should we wander next, Nanashi-san? You know this neighborhood."
As she caught it, Mumei looked faintly surprised.
"I wonder… is it really fine for me to do this…" 「Nanashi Mumei」
"I mean, it's up to you," Cera said lightly. "You could tag along with those guys, the approaching storm, or that professional lost cause. Or you could go alone, now that you've found your friend. But if you come with us… it's not that bad either, right?"
Both of them spoke in clear, easy tones. Cera's was open and inviting, while Zeimachi's carried his usual politeness and careful sense of distance. And then there was Hylia.
"Don't go alone~"
Despite sensing that they weren't malicious, Mumei still hesitated.
Should she really follow them?
What if she brought undisclosed misfortune with her?
Even after receiving their help, there were things she couldn't yet reveal. About what lingered in her memories. About the greater scheme tied to this world. About the danger that might come for anyone who stayed too close to her.
Just as she had explained the night before.
Her fingers tightened around her dagger, the only weapon she had truly mastered.
'But if it happens again… this time…'
"If you wouldn't mind," Nanashi Mumei said softly.
But for now, she chose to walk alongside them.