"If you're willing, I can send the three of you to a Mysterious Realm in the city outside—the one closest to your entry point. You should consider yourselves lucky; there happens to be one nearby."
Jenkins, of course, had no objections. He nodded instinctively, almost without hesitation, but thankfully rembered to turn and ask his companions for their opinions.
"I have no problem with that. In fact, as long as he can open a passage, I don't even need a Mysterious Realm. I can return directly to the Prosperous Forest."
The elf shrugged, speaking with an air of ease.
"I'm fine with it, too. It's far better than staying here until my spirit withers away over the next thousand years."
Mr. Black Cat also agreed with the plan, although worry was practically written across his face.
"Good."
Jenkins turned back to face the profiteer. Though he already knew what the answer would be, he still had to ask:
"What's the price?"
"One coin per person. Fair, isn't it?"
It held out its open palm toward Jenkins.
"Just one coin per person?"
Jenkins had claid to have five Sin Coins when he entered the shop (though he actually had six), and he had expected the creature to demand all of them.
"If I were to take them all, you certainly wouldn't agree. But if I leave you with one, you'll feel my business is quite fair, won't you?"
It had read Jenkins's thoughts exactly, its sly expression perfectly embodying the image of a profiteer.
Jenkins paid the Sin Coins, leaving him with just two in his pocket. Afterward, none of the three had any desire to linger, so they agreed it was best to depart imdiately. Jenkins and Mr. Black Cat would face an unknown Mysterious Realm together, while the elf would head straight ho the mont the passage opened.
For a long-lived race like his, this ordeal was like an exceptionally unpleasant, extended journey. Upon returning ho, his family and friends would most likely still be alive.
Since the three of them were not taking the sa path, the elf asked Jenkins and Mr. Black Cat to leave first. He still had to visit a few friends he had made here and bring the bizarre creatures they were collectively sealing and guarding back to the Prosperous Forest for destruction, to prevent any further accidents.
The old bookshop owner didn't ask for a fee for the bizarre creatures, probably assuming Jenkins was out of money.
"Well then, farewell, my two friends."
After paying the three coins, the trio prepared to part ways in the old bookshop. The elf would be departing a little later.
"It was a pleasure to et you both. It's been a long ti since I even dared to imagine the day I could return ho."
"Thank you as well, Mr. Saramanda. Without your help, we couldn't have left this place so quickly."
Jenkins and Mr. Black Cat thanked him in unison.
"It may be bad luck to say this, but if you two ever have the chance to visit the Prosperous Forest, I will be sure to host you."
As he spoke, he closed his eyes, bowed his head, and traced a holy symbol over his chest that neither of them had ever seen before.
"May my Lord—the Lord of Blossoms—protect you!"
A violent shudder ran through Jenkins, as if a chronic ailnt had suddenly flared up. The tremor was so intense that even the cat on his shoulder began to tremble.
Ever since hearing the na of the world—the Prosperous Forest—he had guessed it was the domain of so great power. He had even suspected it might be the Lord of Blossoms, with whom he shared a strange connection. He just never expected the elf to utter that na as they parted.
"And may the Shield of Protection watch over you."
Mr. Black Cat offered the blessing out of courtesy. He likely assud the elf's faith was dedicated to so pseudo-god whose na he didn't recognize. But knowing less was sotis for the best; at least he wasn't constantly on edge like Jenkins.
All three had arrived here in a hurry and carried no keepsakes to exchange. After one final handshake, they parted ways.
But as Jenkins shook the elf's hand, the latter discreetly pressed a slip of paper into his palm. Though surprised, Jenkins pinned it with his thumb and casually slipped it into his pocket.
After watching the elf leave the old bookshop, the owner stepped out from behind the counter and, with a single motion, pulled open the red wooden door leading to the back courtyard.
The process was not smooth. The door seed to be held fast by so suction, resisting the pull. As it opened, a web of overlapping cracks spiderwebbed across the space around the doorfra, emitting a sound like fingernails scraping on glass.
Behind the door was a familiar, dazzling, endless white light.
"Farewell~"
The old man bowed, extending a hand in a gesture of invitation.
"No, I'd rather we didn't et again!"
With that, Jenkins and Mr. Black Cat stepped through, one after the other.
The wooden door swung shut without a sound, sealing the brilliant white light behind it. The bookshop owner clicked his tongue, shook his head, and had just turned around when he saw a pure white cat perched on the counter, staring at him.
"This... Oh, my heavens, you are..."
The cat paid him no mind. It leaped from the counter, snatched the parrot from its perch above, and pinned it to the wooden surface with its small paws.
The old man froze in place, like a machine that had lost its steam power, while the parrot struggled desperately beneath the cat's paw.
"Help! Help! I was wrong!"
The parrot flapped its wings, shouting in a voice identical to the shopkeeper's. But Chocolate was much stronger; even as the parrot shed its feathers in the struggle, it couldn't break free from the cat's grip.
"ow~"
Chocolate said.
"I know, I know! It's my fault! I honestly didn't know a being like you would be here."
"ow~"
she owed again.
"I beg you, I really..."
"ow~"
This was a threatening ow, and the parrot understood its aning perfectly.
"Fine, do whatever you wish. I'm just a helpless, pitiful old parrot..."
A pathetic whining sound erged from its throat, likely an attempt to mimic a pitiful human cry, but Chocolate had never possessed sympathy in the conventional sense.
She released the paw holding the parrot down, looking down on the pathetic bird from above. Then she patted its cheek with a fluffy paw—a clear warning.
With a flick of her tail, she hopped off the counter and gave the motionless old man a gentle pat. Instantly, all sorts of strange and wonderful things clattered to the floor.
Chocolate licked her lips, not greedy enough to take everything. She squinted, observing the pile for a few seconds, then pawed through it with a fluffy claw. First, she nudged the Sin Coins Jenkins had paid over to herself. Then she picked out a few scattered gems and bone-like trinkets, swallowing them one by one.
Having finished her business, she ignored the old parrot slumped on the counter, tears falling like strings of large pearls. She trotted over to the back door that had just been opened. It swung open again, just a crack, this ti without a sound, revealing the white light beyond.
"ow~"
She sauntered inside, and with a final flick of her tail at the doorway, she was gone.
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