--"Just as I thought."
In the silent, deserted mountain forest, Mimosa set down the tambourine in her hand and opened her eyes from her meditative state. She looked around, her face thoughtful. "With my eyes closed, I can hear the sounds of battle. But when I open them, all the sounds disappear."
She had only discovered this pattern by accident a moment ago.
Whenever she used the sensory abilities of her Magic Armament, she habitually closed her eyes and focused on her hearing, which was how she had noticed it.
Although she did not understand the reason behind it, after repeated attempts, she could now confirm that the pattern was real: with her eyes closed, she could sense the movements of her companions, but with her eyes open, she could not.
But why?
After thinking for a moment, she could not help but raise her head and look toward the Blue Moon overhead.
This moon, which should not have existed in tonight's sky, now hung in the pitch-black night without the slightest sense of incongruity, as though it had always belonged there.
But Mimosa knew it was not a real moon. The predicament her group now faced had begun with the appearance of this Blue Moon.
That naturally made it the prime suspect.
Was there something strange about the moonlight? Or did looking directly at the moon itself cause some kind of cognitive interference? Or was it something else entirely?
With that thought, Mimosa chose to close her eyes again.
It was the method most likely to help her find the truth. She had no other choice.
This time, when she closed her eyes, she heard breathing directly in front of her—so close it was practically within arm's reach.
Then came a puzzled voice from the owner of that breath: