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From Dolce, With Love - Episode 5
⭠ last episode | Episode 5 | next episode ⭢
We all followed after Owen and the one-legged sign, and headed deeper into the forest.
The forest was filled with sights stranger and more peculiar than the last. Everything looked delightfully bizarre.
Akira: Wow. Look at this mushroom! It's glowing!
Rustica: Oya, what a rare find. It's a will-o’-the-wisp mushroom.
Shino & Chloe & Akira: A will-o’-the-wisp mushroom?
Figaro: It's a mushroom that lets off a pale glow when living creatures get close to it. Doesn't it remind you of a will-o'-the-wisp at a glance?
Faust: Still, it's notable that it's grown to a rather large size.
It seems like this one and all the other magical plants around here have been modified quite a lot in one way or another...
Nero: If there's no issue with its taste or quality, how about a quick serving of grilled mushrooms? I think it'll go great with a light sprinkling of salt.
Mithra: You should have said so earlier. I've already taken a bite out of it.
Owen: How many times do I have to tell you, stop putting everything in your mouth without a second thought.
Akira: (The inside of Mithra's mouth is glowing...)
Rustica: Fufu. They glow so adorably with each step we take. It's just like being welcomed by a parade of lights.
It was just as Rustica said. It was endearing how these mushrooms gently lit up one after another, each of them shining a pale light that led us forward.
Akira: (It's kind of scary, but this world looks like it came to life from a children's storybook, or a fairy tale. Like one of those worlds where fairies or other cute little things appear.)
(I still think that the red sap dripping from the trunks of sanguine trees is a little bit eerie though...)
Faust: Kenja.
I was taking in the sights all around me when Faust joined my side.
Faust: Are you alright? You look like you were afraid of these sanguine trees.
Akira: Yeah. Thank you for earlier, by the way. I find everything here so bizarre yet so fascinating, that's why I was just looking around.
Even so, Faust, you're quite the expert on these magical plants. Is it because they're often used in curses?
Faust: Well, that too... But in the past, someone had tried to frighten me in the same way they did to you.
Akira: Wait, really? Who on earth...
Figaro: Hey, what's up?
Figaro appeared behind Faust. He walked up to stand next to him, and he started chatting away.
Akira: We were just talking about sanguine trees. Faust mentioned that long ago, he'd heard the same spooky tale that Owen had told me.
Figaro: Mmhm......
Faust: What's with that face?
Figaro: It was when you were still under my tutelage, wasn't it? You had just just gotten the hang of things, and you were in the midst of a journey for your training, and then sanguine trees saved your life.
Faust: ...... Well, that's not untrue. I was told to fend for myself for a number of days in a forest where fiends nested. I was mentally and physically exhausted when I came across a mysterious tree.
That was a sanguine tree. Its red sap was unsettling, but I had nothing else that would pass for sustenance. I drank the sap, and somehow I made it through the forest.
Akira: I see... You did say that these trees were filled with magical power. It might even have had a similar effect to wizard's sugar.
Figaro: This sap is also used in the preparation of magical medicine after all. I think it worked fine as an emergency intervention.
After Faust successfully completed his training, I heard all about his experience. That's when I told him that one tale about the trees. Didn't I?
Faust: ...... 'There's a rumour that that type of tree sprouts from corpses.'
'What you drank might have been the blood of the dead, tangled up in the tree's roots,' was what you said.
Figaro: Yep, that's exactly it. You made such a face then, but then you added, 'That's what we call the circle of life. I'll have to properly say my thanks to that dead stranger.'
Akira: T-That sure is a positive way to look at it...!
Figaro: Ahaha, right? I didn't think he'd be scared, but I su~re didn't expect how forward-looking and serious he was about that entire business.
Faust: Hmph. It's in the past.
Chloe: Whoa!?
We turned to look at Chloe, who had cried aloud in surprise.
The scene I saw unfolding before me was shocking.
Akira: Owen...! W-What are you eating!? H-Human fingers, and... eyeballs...?
Owen: What do you mean, what? They're growing over there.
Owen popped an eyeball into his mouth, while pointing along the entire path. The reddish liquid dripping from the corners of his mouth made for quite the grisly sight.
Faust: ... I see eyeballs and fingers all neatly lined up on these trees. This looks a little, no, quite grotesque. Are these sweets too?
Shino: They look pretty real to me. They make a solid impression, that's for sure.
Nero: The blood is all strawberry sauce, and the eyeball itself is made of some jelly-like substance... I guess they’re more than just sweets.
Figaro: They have an uncanny quality, like a jumble of many things. The trees and fruits native to this place have all been modified with magic, spellcraft, and chemical substances.
It is what it looks like: a candy-bearing tree.
[ Mithra CG ]
Mithra: Oh. Found it. These will do for the Southern brothers.
Akira: AAH!?
Mithra: Ah?
Faust: That's... How about you look around a bit more before deciding?
Mithra: Why should I? Those children wanted the exact same sweets their mother loved.
Tiletta used to gorge herself on these. Whenever she bit into one, she would talk about how much fun it was when the insides erupted in wet goop and goo.
Figaro: What a crude way of putting it...
Owen: Haha, I think it's a splendid idea. Bring some back for them.
Look. These green eyeballs over here match them perfectly.
Nero: Hey, aren't these a bit too gruesome for children? Those eyeballs have realistic veins and all...
Mithra: Is that so? Well, I'll pick some anyway. If they don't want it, I'll eat them all myself.
Akira: How about we pick lots of other things to add to these! They come in other shapes too! See, this is shaped like hand, and…… (squeak) One of its fingers came off!
Rustica: What about those animal-shaped cookies over there? They look slightly feral, but they're staring right at us — adorably!
Chloe: They're all baring their fangs. Is it okay to approach? Won't they bite us?
Shino: Are those orangettes I see hanging off those trees over there? Heath might like 'em. Be right back.
Faust: Hey, don't wander off so far! Stay close to the group.
It seemed like this forest was just as wondrous to the wizards as it was to me. It was filled with things we'd all never seen before.
They each reacted in their own way; some of them gingerly approached the sweets, while others were bold and curious.
We quenched our thirst at a bubbling stream of blueberry juice, and picked lollipops that grew like wild flowers. It was like a childhood fantasy come to life.
[ Sparkle! ]
As we continued along the forest path, the little sign leading the way bounced around to face us.
Faust: 'Up ahead, chocolate ladies await!'
Figaro: 'Don't forget to get your ingredients for the special dolce from them!'
...... Or so it goes. It must be referring to those noblewomen over there.
Rustica: Oh, they seem to be worrying themselves silly.
Right where the sign was pointed at, three life-sized dolls in dresses stood in a row.
One of them had her eyes cast downward, another was crouched on the ground, and the remaining one had a hand on her hat, and was staring up at where it was caught in a tree.
Akira: You're right... They're all in different colours, but their bodies and hair and clothing are all made from chocolate.
Shino: If we ate these too, we'll be too full to eat more.
Mithra: The sign said to collect ingredients from these dolls, but dolls can't talk to us. Shall I melt them all?
Chloe: They're so intricately crafted, and they look just like real people, I feel sort of hesitant to…
At those words, the milk tea-coloured lady with her eyes cast downward suddenly covered her face with her hands.
Nero: Guh, it moved.
Faust: Her shoulders are trembling. Is she sobbing?
Shino: It's all Mithra's fault. He wanted violence.
Mithra: Says the one wanted to eat them.
It was Rustica who stepped up. He approached the lady, knelt down by her side, and spoke to her in a kind voice.
Rustica: Ms Beautiful Chocolate Doll. Please, do not shed tears all by your lonesome.
I should hate to see your lovely face melted by tears. Perhaps I may be able to help?
Milk Tea Choco-Lady: .........
The noblewoman finally raised her head to look at Rustica when addressed. Her finely-crafted lips slowly parted.
Milk Tea Choco-Lady: ʀɪɴɢ... ʀɪɴɢ. ᴍʏ ... ʀɪɴɢ.
She repeated those words over and over, and she pointed to her finger. Then, she looked all around herself.
Chloe: You lost your ring?
Shino: What did it look like? If you dropped it somewhere, then you should at least tell us where you lost it.
Milk Tea Choco-Lady: ʀɪɴɢ. ᴍʏ, ʀɪɴɢ...
Akira: I think she can't say any more than that. If we can find a clue...
Rustica: It's alright. I understand her, even without any words.
Rustica: ... Pardon me, my lady. May I have a moment of your time?
Rustica gently touched the hairpiece sitting on the noblewoman's hair. It seemed like he had an idea of what to do next.
Rustica: I shall borrow this for just a moment. You see, I am a master of looking for missing things, for I am always searching.
Rustica: « amorest viesse »
As soon as the last syllable of the spell-word sounded, the lady's hairpiece turned into a little bird.
The bird flapped its wings and circled the vicinity of the area. It soon returned, carrying something sparkling in its beak.
Chloe: It's a ring made of chocolate!
Shino: It's been polished to a shine... It's even shinier than the dorodango I make.
Milk Tea Choco-Lady: ʀɪɴɢ... ʀɪɴɢ. ᴍʏ, ʀɪɴɢ!
Rustica: Fufu. It seems like this is her missing item after all. What a relief that this bird successfully traced her ring’s presence.
Here you go, my lady. It's your precious ring.
The little bird flapped its wings again and presented the ring to the lady. She happily took it, and in return, she held an object out to Rustica.
It was round, and had a glossy shine to it. It was the colour of black tea with milk added into it.
Rustica: A milk tea-coloured drop... for me?
The noblewoman nodded, and took Rustica's hand in hers. She placed the candy drop into his open palm, wrapped his fingers around it, and sensually caressed the back of his hand.
Episode 6 ⭢
We all followed after Owen and the one-legged sign, and headed deeper into the forest.
The forest was filled with sights stranger and more peculiar than the last. Everything looked delightfully bizarre.
Akira: Wow. Look at this mushroom! It's glowing!
Rustica: Oya, what a rare find. It's a will-o’-the-wisp mushroom.
Shino & Chloe & Akira: A will-o’-the-wisp mushroom?
Figaro: It's a mushroom that lets off a pale glow when living creatures get close to it. Doesn't it remind you of a will-o'-the-wisp at a glance?
Faust: Still, it's notable that it's grown to a rather large size.
It seems like this one and all the other magical plants around here have been modified quite a lot in one way or another...
Nero: If there's no issue with its taste or quality, how about a quick serving of grilled mushrooms? I think it'll go great with a light sprinkling of salt.
Mithra: You should have said so earlier. I've already taken a bite out of it.
Owen: How many times do I have to tell you, stop putting everything in your mouth without a second thought.
Akira: (The inside of Mithra's mouth is glowing...)
Rustica: Fufu. They glow so adorably with each step we take. It's just like being welcomed by a parade of lights.
It was just as Rustica said. It was endearing how these mushrooms gently lit up one after another, each of them shining a pale light that led us forward.
Akira: (It's kind of scary, but this world looks like it came to life from a children's storybook, or a fairy tale. Like one of those worlds where fairies or other cute little things appear.)
(I still think that the red sap dripping from the trunks of sanguine trees is a little bit eerie though...)
Faust: Kenja.
I was taking in the sights all around me when Faust joined my side.
Faust: Are you alright? You look like you were afraid of these sanguine trees.
Akira: Yeah. Thank you for earlier, by the way. I find everything here so bizarre yet so fascinating, that's why I was just looking around.
Even so, Faust, you're quite the expert on these magical plants. Is it because they're often used in curses?
Faust: Well, that too... But in the past, someone had tried to frighten me in the same way they did to you.
Akira: Wait, really? Who on earth...
Figaro: Hey, what's up?
Figaro appeared behind Faust. He walked up to stand next to him, and he started chatting away.
Akira: We were just talking about sanguine trees. Faust mentioned that long ago, he'd heard the same spooky tale that Owen had told me.
Figaro: Mmhm......
Faust: What's with that face?
Figaro: It was when you were still under my tutelage, wasn't it? You had just just gotten the hang of things, and you were in the midst of a journey for your training, and then sanguine trees saved your life.
Faust: ...... Well, that's not untrue. I was told to fend for myself for a number of days in a forest where fiends nested. I was mentally and physically exhausted when I came across a mysterious tree.
That was a sanguine tree. Its red sap was unsettling, but I had nothing else that would pass for sustenance. I drank the sap, and somehow I made it through the forest.
Akira: I see... You did say that these trees were filled with magical power. It might even have had a similar effect to wizard's sugar.
Figaro: This sap is also used in the preparation of magical medicine after all. I think it worked fine as an emergency intervention.
After Faust successfully completed his training, I heard all about his experience. That's when I told him that one tale about the trees. Didn't I?
Faust: ...... 'There's a rumour that that type of tree sprouts from corpses.'
'What you drank might have been the blood of the dead, tangled up in the tree's roots,' was what you said.
Figaro: Yep, that's exactly it. You made such a face then, but then you added, 'That's what we call the circle of life. I'll have to properly say my thanks to that dead stranger.'
Akira: T-That sure is a positive way to look at it...!
Figaro: Ahaha, right? I didn't think he'd be scared, but I su~re didn't expect how forward-looking and serious he was about that entire business.
Faust: Hmph. It's in the past.
Chloe: Whoa!?
We turned to look at Chloe, who had cried aloud in surprise.
The scene I saw unfolding before me was shocking.
Akira: Owen...! W-What are you eating!? H-Human fingers, and... eyeballs...?
Owen: What do you mean, what? They're growing over there.
Owen popped an eyeball into his mouth, while pointing along the entire path. The reddish liquid dripping from the corners of his mouth made for quite the grisly sight.
Faust: ... I see eyeballs and fingers all neatly lined up on these trees. This looks a little, no, quite grotesque. Are these sweets too?
Shino: They look pretty real to me. They make a solid impression, that's for sure.
Nero: The blood is all strawberry sauce, and the eyeball itself is made of some jelly-like substance... I guess they’re more than just sweets.
Figaro: They have an uncanny quality, like a jumble of many things. The trees and fruits native to this place have all been modified with magic, spellcraft, and chemical substances.
It is what it looks like: a candy-bearing tree.
[ Mithra CG ]
Mithra: Oh. Found it. These will do for the Southern brothers.
Akira: AAH!?
Mithra: Ah?
Faust: That's... How about you look around a bit more before deciding?
Mithra: Why should I? Those children wanted the exact same sweets their mother loved.
Tiletta used to gorge herself on these. Whenever she bit into one, she would talk about how much fun it was when the insides erupted in wet goop and goo.
Figaro: What a crude way of putting it...
Owen: Haha, I think it's a splendid idea. Bring some back for them.
Look. These green eyeballs over here match them perfectly.
Nero: Hey, aren't these a bit too gruesome for children? Those eyeballs have realistic veins and all...
Mithra: Is that so? Well, I'll pick some anyway. If they don't want it, I'll eat them all myself.
Akira: How about we pick lots of other things to add to these! They come in other shapes too! See, this is shaped like hand, and…… (squeak) One of its fingers came off!
Rustica: What about those animal-shaped cookies over there? They look slightly feral, but they're staring right at us — adorably!
Chloe: They're all baring their fangs. Is it okay to approach? Won't they bite us?
Shino: Are those orangettes I see hanging off those trees over there? Heath might like 'em. Be right back.
Faust: Hey, don't wander off so far! Stay close to the group.
It seemed like this forest was just as wondrous to the wizards as it was to me. It was filled with things we'd all never seen before.
They each reacted in their own way; some of them gingerly approached the sweets, while others were bold and curious.
We quenched our thirst at a bubbling stream of blueberry juice, and picked lollipops that grew like wild flowers. It was like a childhood fantasy come to life.
[ Sparkle! ]
As we continued along the forest path, the little sign leading the way bounced around to face us.
Faust: 'Up ahead, chocolate ladies await!'
Figaro: 'Don't forget to get your ingredients for the special dolce from them!'
...... Or so it goes. It must be referring to those noblewomen over there.
Rustica: Oh, they seem to be worrying themselves silly.
Right where the sign was pointed at, three life-sized dolls in dresses stood in a row.
One of them had her eyes cast downward, another was crouched on the ground, and the remaining one had a hand on her hat, and was staring up at where it was caught in a tree.
Akira: You're right... They're all in different colours, but their bodies and hair and clothing are all made from chocolate.
Shino: If we ate these too, we'll be too full to eat more.
Mithra: The sign said to collect ingredients from these dolls, but dolls can't talk to us. Shall I melt them all?
Chloe: They're so intricately crafted, and they look just like real people, I feel sort of hesitant to…
At those words, the milk tea-coloured lady with her eyes cast downward suddenly covered her face with her hands.
Nero: Guh, it moved.
Faust: Her shoulders are trembling. Is she sobbing?
Shino: It's all Mithra's fault. He wanted violence.
Mithra: Says the one wanted to eat them.
It was Rustica who stepped up. He approached the lady, knelt down by her side, and spoke to her in a kind voice.
Rustica: Ms Beautiful Chocolate Doll. Please, do not shed tears all by your lonesome.
I should hate to see your lovely face melted by tears. Perhaps I may be able to help?
Milk Tea Choco-Lady: .........
The noblewoman finally raised her head to look at Rustica when addressed. Her finely-crafted lips slowly parted.
Milk Tea Choco-Lady: ʀɪɴɢ... ʀɪɴɢ. ᴍʏ ... ʀɪɴɢ.
She repeated those words over and over, and she pointed to her finger. Then, she looked all around herself.
Chloe: You lost your ring?
Shino: What did it look like? If you dropped it somewhere, then you should at least tell us where you lost it.
Milk Tea Choco-Lady: ʀɪɴɢ. ᴍʏ, ʀɪɴɢ...
Akira: I think she can't say any more than that. If we can find a clue...
Rustica: It's alright. I understand her, even without any words.
Rustica: ... Pardon me, my lady. May I have a moment of your time?
Rustica gently touched the hairpiece sitting on the noblewoman's hair. It seemed like he had an idea of what to do next.
Rustica: I shall borrow this for just a moment. You see, I am a master of looking for missing things, for I am always searching.
Rustica: « amorest viesse »
As soon as the last syllable of the spell-word sounded, the lady's hairpiece turned into a little bird.
The bird flapped its wings and circled the vicinity of the area. It soon returned, carrying something sparkling in its beak.
Chloe: It's a ring made of chocolate!
Shino: It's been polished to a shine... It's even shinier than the dorodango I make.
Milk Tea Choco-Lady: ʀɪɴɢ... ʀɪɴɢ. ᴍʏ, ʀɪɴɢ!
Rustica: Fufu. It seems like this is her missing item after all. What a relief that this bird successfully traced her ring’s presence.
Here you go, my lady. It's your precious ring.
The little bird flapped its wings again and presented the ring to the lady. She happily took it, and in return, she held an object out to Rustica.
It was round, and had a glossy shine to it. It was the colour of black tea with milk added into it.
Rustica: A milk tea-coloured drop... for me?
The noblewoman nodded, and took Rustica's hand in hers. She placed the candy drop into his open palm, wrapped his fingers around it, and sensually caressed the back of his hand.
Episode 6 ⭢