A strange sensation enveloped me—a feeling of floating, yet not. It was as though I were caught in a black hole, somewhere between existence and nothingness.

I tried to analyze my current state, wondering where I was drifting, where I was headed. Yet, the fogginess clouded any answers, like riding a train bound for the capital but never quite arriving.

What had I been doing before this?

The blurry flow of thoughts eventually pieced together. Right, I’d asked Lia to help me grow the dandelion, and suddenly, it emitted a blinding light…

The realization brought clarity, and I began to feel the weight of my body returning, as if waking from a light nap, refreshed and ready. I flexed my fingers to regain control and opened my eyes, expecting to find myself in my room.

But when I looked around, my heart skipped a beat.

Wait, where was I?

"Huh?!"

Everything around me was unfamiliar. There was no trace of the scenery I was accustomed to.

What… what in the world?

Standing up, I looked around and noticed a path carved through dense foliage.

“Lia! Where are you?”

I shouted, thinking of Lia, but received no response. Maybe I was the only one caught up in the light.

A relief, in some ways.

So, I was here alone.

Clearing my throat, I tried to shake off my nerves.

Alright, a new space. No need to panic!

I’d been in situations like this before, like when I saved the Chef.

…although, Lia had been with me then.

But it’s fine.

“Uwaaah!”

I tried to keep my thoughts optimistic, but suddenly the weight of isolation hit, leaving me feeling oddly anxious.

What should I do?

Even though I was immune to most Foreign Entity mental attacks, there was only so much I could handle alone.

If a dangerous Entity appeared here…

“Is anyone there?!”

I called out cautiously, each step carefully measured as I moved around.

“...Why all the noise all of a sudden?”

A familiar, soft voice reached me. I froze, turning towards the sound with a mixture of hope and disbelief.

The rustling of leaves grew closer, and when I finally saw her, my heart filled with relief.

“Gardener!”

“Huh…? What, what is this?”

The Gardener stood there, apparently startled to see me, and it seemed like she’d just woken up, as she wasn’t even wearing the deer skull on her head.

Realizing my gaze had caught her without her usual covering, she gasped, then darted off, her hands clamped over her head.

“Wait! Just a second!”

“Don’t follow me!”

“Don’t leave me alone here!!!”

“I said don’t follow!”

Her voice, tinged with embarrassment, faded as she ran. But the thought of being left alone in this unfamiliar place was unbearable, so I chased her with all I had.

Stop running away already!

Eventually, we both settled on a rocky slope, with Gardener now seated beside me, her skull mask back in place. All this fuss… over a skull?

Was it like makeup for her or something?

The thought of wearing bones as an accessory seemed bizarre, but then again, Foreign Entities often defied human logic.

“…So, what happened?” Gardener asked, crossing her arms with a look of mild annoyance.

“You remember that dandelion you gave me?”

“Oh, that. It’s already grown?”

Gardener looked somewhat surprised at my response.

“I’ve been having Lia bring it close to the fire regularly. It actually took a while to bloom.”

“I see… the life force in that fire must be strong.”

She nodded thoughtfully. For a moment, I thought I noticed a slight blush on her face.

Wait, was she feeling alright? Concerned, I watched her carefully, but she turned her head away, almost bashfully.

Huh?

What was going on? What kind of thoughts were causing this reaction?

Before I could ask, Gardener spoke up again.

“Well, anyway, just relax for now. You won’t be able to leave right away.”

“Huh? Why not?”

She hadn’t explained anything, and now she was saying I couldn’t leave. Was she hiding something?

I shot her a suspicious look.

“…W-What’s with that face? There’s nothing I can do about it. There’s a meeting coming up.”

A meeting? Between Foreign Entities?

This was new.

Whoosh.

A soft, futuristic sound came from behind us, like something out of a sci-fi film. Then, another figure approached us, unhurried.

Only a Foreign Entity would show up here, of course.

The Entity looked like an ordinary, albeit beautiful woman, but her hair gleamed like crystal beads, creating a strikingly glamorous effect despite her otherwise simple appearance.

She approached Gardener, her expression dripping with displeasure.

“You summoned me.”

“Mm-hm.”

“And… who is this human?”

Gardener leaned in to whisper something into her ear, to which the Entity widened her eyes slightly and nodded in understanding.

“Ah, so this human is that one?”

“Yeah.”

“Well then, I have a lot to say about that. Shall we head inside together?”

“Huh? Oh, yes.”

Gardener, still glancing at me now and then, followed the crystal-haired Entity away.

I assumed I should follow them, but before I could take a step, I heard another sound behind me.

Turning to check, I froze as I recognized the face.

“Oh.”

“Oh.”

A moment of silence stretched between us.

In a flash, I tried to bolt toward where Gardener had been, but I didn’t get far before I felt a grip on the back of my neck.

“Oh-ho, so you know what you did wrong if you’re trying to run?”

“Well, I, uh…”

I turned to Nutrièce, who held my collar with a disturbingly sharp smile that made my skin crawl.

“So, where’s that fun dreamplay you promised?”

“S-Sorry! Spare me!”

“Spare you? What, do you think I’m here to torture you?”

Her smile was far from reassuring.

Due to my recent hectic schedule, I hadn’t been able to dream much, which meant I’d missed several of my promised visits to Nutrièce. Knowing her, it wasn’t the broken promise but the lack of my company that truly angered her.

How was I going to explain my way out of this?

“N-Nutrièce, next time, I promise I’ll bring something really amazing…!”

“What?”

Her voice came from behind, yet I realized with dread that Nutrièce hadn’t spoken. Turning around, I found Gardener standing there, her expression blank and unreadable.

Uh…

Why was she looking at me like that?

Glancing back at Nutrièce, I saw her face turn as pale as if she’d seen a lion.

Her mouth moved soundlessly, but I read the words clearly:

“You idiot! Why are you calling her by her name?!”

Ah.

The realization hit me like a brick.

One of the unspoken rules among the Entities was that calling their name was akin to making a request, something forbidden between us. I’d just casually called out another Entity’s name.

Gardener’s many eyes seemed to bore into me, betraying her hurt.

“...So, that’s how it is.”

“No, wait—”

“That’s what you really think.”

Gardener turned, her footsteps swift and agitated as she left.

“Wait…!”

I tried to stop her, but she kept walking, her back turned coldly.

I exchanged a look with Nutrièce.

I’m pretty sure we were both thinking the same thing:

I was utterly doomed.

Following Nutrièce, I eventually entered a chamber that looked like a conference room, with a round table surrounded by several Foreign Entities.

It seemed like only the Entities who weren’t hostile to humans were present since none of them showed aggression toward me. They merely watched with mild curiosity.

Deciding it’d be unwise to sit far from Gardener, I scanned the room to find her. She was glaring at me from across the table with a look that could ignite plants.

Uh, um.

If she stared at me with that much intensity, I’d be in serious trouble.

A little sign of forgiveness, maybe? But Gardener ignored me, turning her attention to the other Entities’ discussion.

“Haa…”

What was I supposed to do now?