That would allow the tragedies to continue. If they could not endure it and ventured out recklessly, all their efforts up to this point might go up in smoke.
They would vanish into history. Others would inevitably follow, but those successors would need to spend a long time working just to set foot on the path they had already walked... and whether they could reach the point they had now attained was still far from certain.
And how many more tragedies would occur in that process?
They would be beyond counting.
So, for now, they absolutely could not take risks.
Any such gamble would be irresponsible toward the future, making them accomplices in the countless tragedies yet to come.
Tetsu no Sosuke absolutely could not allow that to happen.
And everyone who understood their current situation was gritting their teeth and holding on, doing their utmost to endure.
Waiting for the final battle to arrive.
He gently patted Shinobu Kocho's head. "Everything will get better."
Shinobu Kocho nodded and began helping Tetsu no Sosuke pack up the stones.
Tetsu no Sosuke helped her, then searched the surrounding area again.
There were many things here, and perhaps the most precious were the Forging Notes. Many of the detailed entries gave Tetsu no Sosuke a sudden sense of clarity.
Besides those, there were also items... wind stones, for instance, and objects the owner of this place had left half-forged...
The place was not actually that large, and the two of them eventually reached its deepest recess.
There was an alcove here, with a small pedestal in the middle and a box resting on top.
The box looked familiar to Tetsu no Sosuke. He picked it up and tapped it lightly, but it made no distinctive sound.
There was only a letter resting