The Mist Has Arrived

"Chuck, what does it feel like to grow a tail?" Norris, who had already gotten along with several patients of the Self-Study Phenomenon, asked one of them.

The Orc-like tail behind the patient named Chuck twisted, and he replied, "It's like—having an extra finger that's a little long, and in a slightly weird place."

"Hmm—is that so—" Norris looked at that tail, no one knew what he was thinking.

Just then, a seven- or eight-year-old child crouching weakly in a corner mushroom patch spoke up in a small voice. "Big Brother Norris, I want to go home. I miss my mom."

The child's nails were different from ordinary people's, long, thin, and sharp. When they touched the mushrooms beside him, the Mushroom Caps were sliced off without the slightest resistance.

Norris crouched in front of the child. The child instinctively drew his fingers back, and just as they were about to cut his own palm, Norris caught them in time.

When this little boy had been found and brought back by members of the Mushroom Worship Cult, he had just cut off a playmate's arm while playing. Because of that, they had even used some of the Water of Life Linden had distributed before keeping the matter from blowing up.

Norris took out his small iron piece that could suppress nail growth and helped the child file his nails as he said, "Little Kai, I know you want to go back. Everyone here wants to go back. But we have to solve the problems with your body first, don't we? If you went back like this and hurt your mom, you wouldn't want that either, right?"

After hesitating for a moment, the little boy said again, "But Mom will worry."

"Don't worry. We'll tell your mom that you have talent