Barbara's Wish

(Miluno)

October 4th, Saturday.

It's only 6:30 in the morning, very early.

Having ended her leisurely time as Yezi, the white-haired Miluno returns.

"Come on, let's go for a walk."

"Um..."

I teleported Mono out of the house, but we only got to the entrance of the Southern Suburb Forest Park.

It wasn't because I couldn't sneak into the park without paying; I just wanted her to relax and take a walk with me in the cool morning air...

"I'm fine."

Since she could hear my thoughts, she spoke first.

"I'm not used to you not being naughty... Are you still thinking about last night's dream?"

This kind of Mono doesn't even feel Mono anymore.

"Miluno, the civilization of those Natives... has it been destroyed, hasn't it?"

In order to perpetuate the Radiance of the "Great Will," all the people in the world spontaneously jumped into the Deep Well... The scene was tragic and desperate. Even if they all turned into firewood, it would only slightly postpone the destruction of the world.

Even as an observer, I understand; those Natives who jumped must have understood too—they simply had no other choice.

For the "Great Will," what use is there in continuing its light alone in a world devoid of all living beings?

"As for the 'Supreme Council,' it is merely an organization born from the ruins of Natives civilization. It cannot be called a civilization; it is simply a group composed of weapons of aggression... Even they are still on the path to destruction."

That Roller Planet doesn't have much time left.

But the time left for Earth is also very limited.

The Corruption Rate is rising. With increasingly frequent attacks from Sun Ji's Fake Magical Girl, Aldebaran's Magical Girl Soldiers, Special Monster transformed from humans, and the Supreme Council's Modified Witch and Witch Domain, the people will feel the pressure and panic. This panic will become a breeding ground for darkness, accelerating the arrival of the "Great Will."

Mono nodded in agreement with my opinion.

Why was that world destroyed?

"Let's wait for the declassification information about Betelgeuse for this kind of thing."

Barbara's hut is still in that big pit.

Even if one day she stops being a magical girl, she will still remain rooted here, watching over generations of Skyfolk.

"Don't flatter yourself; plants don't watch over humans."

"Other trees might not be able to, but Miss Barbara certainly would! Otherwise, how could she have been chosen by the Star Crystal?"

Knocking on the wooden door of the cottage, even though it was only a little past seven in the morning, the diligent Miss Barbara should already be...

A girl with long, emerald-green hair, wearing a nightcap, peeked out. She was still clutching a pillow in one hand, but holding up a tablet with the following words:

[Don't come without an appointment]

I forgot, she won't open the door if you just come looking for her, but all I have left in my Crystal is some hardware and general merchandise, nothing that would really interest her.

"Sorry, I didn't bring anything this time... but I'd like to ask you for after-sales service for the potion I mixed last time."

Barbara tilted her head, looking puzzled.

After all, that drug was given to me as an experimental drug, and they even said I would have to bear the consequences myself...

"Dear Ms. Barbara! It's a pleasure to meet you. May I ask if these fees can be paid as a consultation fee?"

Mono, however, produced a handful of loose gold, which pleased Miss Barbara greatly. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the glittering gold, and she immediately opened the door to welcome us inside...

The Ancient Tree magic girl is greedy for money; so it seems she sells medicine to the Association just to make money.

I nudged Mono with my elbow.

"Hey, where did you get this?"

She just smiled slyly.

"Where else could it be? It's from the Golden, of course! Last night before bed, I asked her to perform magic, and she conjured up tons of pure gold from stones for me! Ceruno- chan took all your money, didn't she? I need to have some on hand, otherwise it'll be inconvenient for us to go out, right?"

"You've got something out of this!"

That's good; she's back to her old quirky self.

Compared to when it first appeared, this little thing is making me more and more happy with it.

Although small pieces of gold are valuable, they are not easy to circulate and are not very convenient to use; it's still necessary to find a way to exchange them for cash...

Barbara's cabin remained unchanged, filled with the strong scent of Chinese herbal medicine, and its furnishings exuded simplicity, hardly befitting someone who loved money.

Barbara found an empty wooden box, carefully collected the loose gold pieces, and then picked up the tablet.

Tell me why you've come.

"I ordered a magic potion from you before, the one you said was a prototype... the one that could make people grow organs they didn't have."

Barbara glanced down at my crotch, then raised the tablet again.

Is there a disability?

Why are you asking so directly?!

"No, actually I accidentally gave that medicine to someone else, and that person might come... well, although she'll come and kill me sooner or later... Anyway, I wanted to ask if you could concoct an antidote."

[Can]

[But special medications are prepared.]

Barbara was poking at the tablet rapidly.

[Additional fees required]

"..."

Although I haven't met Barbara many times, I feel that she hasn't shown such blatant greed before.

I thought for a moment and asked:

"Miss Barbara, what are you working so hard to earn money for? I see that you don't seem to have any expenses besides medicine."

[I want to buy this park]

[I don't want the children in the forest to be cut down]

She took off her nightcap, thought for a moment, and then picked up her tablet.

Please help me.

Help... me?

This was the first time Barbara had seen this word on her tablet; she had never added a subject before.

"I understand what you're thinking, but unfortunately I'm also very poor. Besides, how long will it take for you to earn enough to buy a park by selling medicine all by yourself?"

What are some ways to make money quickly?

"This is easy. A quiet, non-human magical girl is sure to appeal to a lot of people's tastes. All you have to do is go and touch her in the tea house—"

I grabbed Mono by the back of her head and slammed her face against Barbara's dispensing table.

Ouch! That hurts! My nose is bleeding!

"If you had come up with any decent ideas, you wouldn't be suffering like this."

"Then what's your plan?"

I do have some ideas, but I'm still thinking about how to implement them.

"Miss Barbara, would you like to leave this little cabin?"

I sat down on the high stool next to the workbench.

[Never been anywhere else]

[Just staying here is enough.]

Really...

A tree doesn't have the concept of "going out," after all, it has been rooted here for thousands of years.

"If I told you... you could raise the money to buy the forest farm just by going out there, would you still refuse to leave?"

Barbara looked on with confusion.

[How do I do this?]

I circled around her, carefully examining the plant girl's appearance.

She's as tall as Ceruno (Mono: just short, huh?), has the build of me (Mono: flat-chested, huh?), her facial muscles aren't very active (Mono: expressionless), and she can't even speak (Mono: tsk, mute)...

In every respect, he is not suitable for showing his face in public (Mono: He's not presentable).

But I still reached out my hand to her.

"Miss Barbara, as the ace of the magical girl idol group 'Galaxy' (Mono: There are only two of you, and you call that an ace?), I'm now inviting you to join my team with Ceruno to launch a fundraising campaign for fans worldwide! Are you in? (Mono: Hey, you're just bluffing--)"

I like talkative little things.

I planted it in the autumn forest.