Their location was still at the forest's edge, just a long way around from before.
They had once again hollowed out a cavity inside a giant tree to serve as a temporary resting place.
The round-trip raid and battle had severely drained Law's Aura and stamina. Under the soothing massage of Cookie, he fell into a deep sleep.
Biscuit did not sleep.
She leaned against the entrance to the tree hollow, gazing through the air vent at the forest under the night sky. No one knew what dangers lurked beneath that tranquility.
After finishing Law's massage, Cookie walked quietly to Biscuit's side.
Biscuit gave Cookie a slight nod. The latter pressed her lips into a faint smile before dissolving into points of white light and vanishing.
The night suddenly became terrifyingly quiet, a stark contrast to the noise of the day.
Looking at the pitch-black shadows, one would instinctively think of the shadowy mass they had seen during the day, a feeling of spectral figures looming everywhere. If that shadow hid itself motionless, walking a night path would be fraught with danger at every turn.
Biscuit let out a soft sigh, recalling the expression on Law's face when he had returned.
It was evening then, the light in the forest growing dimmer. The fragmented, orange-red light of the setting sun filtered down through the leaves and branches, a small patch of it illuminating Law's exceptionally weary face.
It had allowed Biscuit to barely discern something in his dark eyes.
Perhaps... a faint hint of hesitation.
At the time, she hadn't asked any questions, letting him rest immediately.
She thought that after Law lured away the demi-human Magical Beasts and the shadow, he must have seen something that shook his previously unwavering determination to press forward.
An hour later, Law woke up.
Kuro had returned to the back of Law's hand soundlessly. Bruna and Tonpa were still asleep.
Law got up and immediately saw Biscuit leaning by the entrance.
He walked over quietly and sat down on the other side.
Thanks to Cookie's massage, just one hour of sleep had restored Law's spirit and stamina to their peak condition.
Biscuit looked at Law and asked, "Do you still want to go to the World Tree?"
Hearing this, Law fell silent for a moment. Watching the silent forest through the air vent, he said, "I have some concerns."
"It's because of us, isn't it?" Biscuit glanced silently at the sleeping figures of Bruna and Tonpa.
"Of course not…" Law immediately refuted, "It's that I'm not strong enough. If-"
"You are already very strong," Biscuit interrupted him, her voice low, "You're afraid someone will fall behind."
It was a direct hit.
Law fell silent at her words.
He was indeed worried about that.
While he very much wanted to see the World Tree, the forest likely held other potential threats like the shadow, the demi-human Magical Beasts, and the unknown slashing attacks.
As Biscuit said, someone might fall behind during the journey.
'Falling behind' meant death.
"Back then, maybe Chairman and the others made a wise choice by giving up," Biscuit sighed softly, speaking from the heart, "This place... it's truly unreasonable."
Law slowly looked up, studying Biscuit intently, trying to see something in her eyes. Perhaps regret, or something else.
But the things he was afraid of seeing were not there in Biscuit's eyes.
At the very least, there was no regret or complaint.
As if unaware of Law's gaze, Biscuit suddenly pulled the Restarite from her pocket. Starlight flowed like a stream between her fingers, reflecting in her eyes like a field of stars.
"But thankfully I came, otherwise how could I have gotten this? I absolutely love it."
Biscuit rubbed her cheek against the Repeating Starstone, a look of intoxication, fangirl-like delight on her face.
Law watched her, pursed his lips, then a faint smile finally appeared at the corners of his mouth. The shadows that had accumulated in his heart during the day quietly dispersed.
Humans truly are social creatures.
Law suddenly thought of Don Freecss, 'If that man was still alive, where had he gone? Walking alone for hundreds of years... it seemed his indescribable passion had completely overpowered the loneliness humans naturally resist.'
"Biscuit, I want to go to the World Tree. No matter what, I want to go. If possible, I even want to measure the World Tree's height with my own hands and feet." Law said, his gaze shifting to look out at the forest, his tone serious, "But if the path ahead is too dangerous, I will retreat. Because you all are more important."
Biscuit put the Restarite away and let out a soft sigh, "You little brat, do you think that makes me feel all touched?"
"Uh..." Law was speechless.
"If you want to go, then go. There's no need to tie your own hands before you've even taken a step." Biscuit said gently, carefully putting the stone back, "Isn't 'charge forward courageously' the only phrase in an adventurer's dictionary?"
"No, there's also 'retreat in the face of difficulties'." Law said with a smile.
Biscuit laughed too. Propping her cheek on her hand, she looked sideways out of the forest, suddenly changing the subject, "What was that dish called again?"
Law was taken aback for a second, then quickly understood, "Stuffed Chicken."
"Oh, right, Stuffed Chicken. If possible, I'd like to taste it again." Biscuit said.
"As many times as you want. There will be dishes even more delicious than Stuffed Chicken. As long as we're still in the Dark Continent," Law promised.
"Mm." Biscuit nodded, closed her eyes, and murmured, "I'm going to sleep for a bit."
"Okay," Law agreed. After a moment, he added, "Biscuit, after we get back from the World Tree, let's go to the mountain range to the south. There should be plenty of rare gems there."
Biscuit's head moved slightly. A curve appeared at the corner of her mouth, and she soon fell asleep.
Law looked at her sleeping face and whispered in a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum, "Thank you."
'It's really good that I met you.'
'It's really good that I could come to the Dark Continent with you.'
Law turned his head, staring out at the forest under the night sky. Everything was still, yet subtle threads of killing intent churned beneath the surface.
In the corner of the tree hollow, further inside, Tonpa lay on his side, his back to the entrance. His eyes were buried in darkness, a faint glimmer moving within them.
He was awake, and he had heard the conversation between Law and Biscuit.
He also wanted to taste that delicious Stuffed Chicken again.
'Also... crossing that forest would mean death, right?'
Tonpa sighed inwardly. Since moving forward was an unchangeable fact, perhaps he could face it with a more optimistic heart.
'In this life of mine...'
He thought of those many Hunter Exams.
'What was the reason for wanting to become a Pro Hunter in the first place?'
He'd actually forgotten.
'After those first few failures, I had already started giving up on himself, hadn't I?'
'That's why I became the 'famous' Rookie Crusher.'
A self-mocking smile appeared on Tonpa's face.
Somewhere during those dozens of Hunter Exams, he had lost the reason he originally wanted to become a Pro Hunter. To this day, he couldn't remember what it was.
'I must make it back alive. No matter what, I have to get that license.'
...
At the demi-human settlement, the large collection of skeletal racks was gone.
A shadowy figure blended into the night, moving swiftly around the bases of the giant trees nearby, more precisely, near the entrances of the burrows dug amongst the roots.
The movements of the shadow seemed somewhat... frantic.
It continued until deep into the night. Perhaps growing impatient, the shadow finally left the settlement.
After an unknown amount of time, a handful of eyes shone from the tree hollows, each filled with deep fear.