1-4. No Footprints (Refusal)
5-8. Gradually Fading (Overwriting)
9. Beginning to Disappear (Decomposition)
10. Great Success/Extreme Failure♛
With a slight bow of the head, my gaze fell directly on the instep, and the scenery beneath me was unobstructed.
Like gazing into the distant horizon on a flat prairie.
"Ancestor, it seems your figure is even more regrettable than mine..."
Upon witnessing this scene, the Hero's heart surged with complex emotions, and she couldn't help but whisper a soft sigh.
There was a slight comfort in "So it's not just me," but also an uncertain wonder in "Could this be hereditary?"
Her consciousness was immersed in memories of the past.
The information contained in the Moon Phase Mark, the messages inherited deep within her bloodline, and her mother's tales...
These numerous conditions intertwined into a signpost to the past, activating her sorcerer's instincts, allowing her consciousness to dive into her own Abyss, and ascend upstream against the flow of time.
For a magician, pursuing one's own powerful lineage is the most basic ability, and also the most direct way to become stronger—provided the ancestors indeed had strong individuals.
Even though the Hero always kept a respectful distance from the Warlock Association, sorcerers by nature rely more on instinct and opportunities than on learning and training.
And as an Innate Sorcerer, the Hero's potential in this area is undeniable.
This experience of swimming upstream was not the first for the Hero; she had glimpsed lost history this way several times on the Highland, but never with such realism and immersive feeling as now.
It was as if she truly became the young Ancestor, experiencing grand adventures, leading the crew to the moon.
Watching the Hero meditating with eyes closed, her mother stopped narrating, fell silent, reclining against the soft chair, and waited quietly with an expressionless face.
Meanwhile, in her memory, the Ancestor's moon journey continued.
"——Who just sighed at my chest! Was it you!? Be careful when sleeping tonight, or I'll suffocate you to death!?"
The temper of the seafaring children remained fiery even in the pure white Moon City. "I" suddenly lifted my head, and a fierce light shone in my Emerald Eyes, causing the crew to wave their hands in panic.
"Don't joke, Captain, who among us dares laugh at you? Could it be the gaze of the Moon People?"
"...Is that so? An illusion?"
Seeing none of them lying, I frowned, muttering with half-belief.
How long has it been since I misheard something so badly? Could it be because the magic element environment on the moon is too special?
The sudden sigh disrupted my thoughts, and when I refocused on the ground, I discovered that all the footprints had vanished at some point.
The atmosphere in the Moon City seemed to carry a special magic power, and within a few steps, everyone's clothes became immaculate as new.
Were the footprints also cleansed away? Such a luxurious usage...
But it felt like something was off.
I stopped, staring blankly at the ground.
The more I gazed into this perfect cleanliness, the harder it became to ignore a lurking oddity.
It was a cleanliness that sent chills down the spine.
"Is there any problem, dear guests? Rest assured, the Moon City's magic is harmless to the people of the earth."
The guiding Miss Moon turned back to urge us, her voice remaining soft.
I was unable to calm down and analyze the earlier dissonance, and after confirming there was nothing unusual with my body, I resumed my pace.
Thus, the group followed Miss Moon, heading towards the center of the Moon City.
I couldn't resist looking back at the city's entrance once more, but aside from the gentle breeze passing by, there was no movement.
The wind conveyed no information.
Suppressing the unease in my heart, I clenched the short staff in my sleeve and quickly caught up with my companions.
When everyone's figures disappeared at the end of the street, the breeze suddenly intensified, emitting a brief, sharp howl, but it quickly subsided, as if a scream had been cut off.
Afterwards, sighs sounded, low laughter echoed, and murmurs began.
Continuous incomprehensible whispers crept in all directions, like omnipresent shadows, crawling on the ground, spreading and resonating in the deserted street.
[Immaculate Achievement Extreme Failure~]
10. Great Success/Extreme Failure
We then spent some time in the Moon City, hosted by the Moon People.
In fact, I wanted to add terms like "warm hospitality" or "honored guests" to this experience, or even compose a few poems about Earth-Moon friendship...
That way, once we returned to the ground, those bards would work harder to sing my story.
But unfortunately, the reception from the Moon People was merely basic hospitality.
The bland food and the consistent frosted street scenes, despite the living space being surprisingly spacious, the uniform pure white decoration became monotonous to the point of annoyance, bringing an inexplicable repression upon lengthy observation.
Some fools in our group were infatuated with Moon People women, attempting various clumsy methods of courtship, with naturally no success.
Fortunately, they retained a basic sense of reason, taking no outrageous actions during their pursuits, so they did not incur the displeasure of the Moon People. Otherwise, I would have had to tearfully cut them in half in the streets.
During this period, the Moon People who communicated with us maintained a gentle yet detached smile, displaying an apparently infinite composure and patience toward us, the so-called earthlings.