Momona's Potion Shop (6)
Flames flickered to life in the demon tribe member's hand, hurtling toward Mimu.
"Mimu!"
"It's okay! I have Momona's potion!"
She tossed an explosion potion at the ground in an instant, blocking the flames with the resulting blast. I let out a sigh of relief.
"Ugh, do I really have to just sit here watching? Isn't there any way I can help?"
I wondered if we really could've helped if we'd gone together. But honestly, I doubted I'd be much use even if I had.
"Even if I'd tagged along, I probably wouldn't have helped much, right?"
"Ugh! Who's got no combat skills? And aggro? That's too harsh!"
I focused back on the fight amid the viewers' dumbfounded reactions. A blaze incomparable to before roared to life in the demon's hand. The surrounding trees ignited without even being touched—it was that intense.
"That... that's ridiculous, right? It's way too strong! How do you even beat something like that?!"
Whoosh! With a ferocious roar, the serpent of flames charged forward, devouring the forest as it lunged to swallow the two of them.
"Aya, Mimu, dodge!"
The flame serpent moved too fast for my eyes to track. I knew my shout wouldn't reach them, but I couldn't help yelling anyway. Getting caught in that thing would leave no trace—just ashes.
"Thank goodness Momona's so prepared!"
"Agreed. Great insight."
As if mocking my worry, the two looked right at me. Well, they both looked up at the same time, and since I happened to be there, it felt like they were staring straight at me.
"Huh?"
They both chugged potions simultaneously as the flame serpent engulfed them. I think they said something, but the shock of that greedy blaze swallowing them whole left me stunned, just staring blankly.
"Wait, no way? Huh?!"
I blinked my eyes over and over. No matter what, the flame serpent kept sweeping through where they'd been standing, showing no signs of stopping.
"...No way? They're really dying just like that?"
I wanted to believe it wasn't true. For it to end like this... it was too much.
Momona's Foot Mat has donated 1000 fruits!
"What?"
Come to think of it, the round hadn't advanced this time. But last time, it ended while they were fleeing from the trolls... I stared back at the flame serpent to figure out what was happening.
Something emerged as the flames gradually weakened and died out.
"That, that thing! No way?!"
As the flame serpent faded, I spotted Aya and Mimu, charred and soot-covered but intact. Unharmed. They'd endured that blaze unscathed.
"Impossible! How the hell did they survive that?!"
Even the demon who'd unleashed the flame serpent stared at them in disbelief, dropping the potion vial in his hand. I recalled what must've been inside it.
"That was... oh! Flame resistance potion!"
The potions used different vials, so I remembered. But even a flame resistance potion shouldn't have withstood that inferno.
"Our friend's pretty amazing, you know!"
"Genius alchemist. So proud."
Feeling like my potion had saved them, I slumped in place. They were fine. Their clothes were a bit singed, but no injuries.
"Your attacks are weak. So we win."
"I'll finish you quick! We gotta gather materials and get back to our friend!"
Realizing fire wouldn't work anymore, the two charged boldly at the demon.
"Grr! You think some puny potion can beat my flames?!"
Whoosh! Even as fresh flames erupted, they pressed on fearlessly, each handling what they could. Mimu blocked the demon's movements with various potions, creating an opening for Aya's contracted wind spirit magic to strike.
Slash! Blades of wind tore across the demon's chest.
In disbelief, he clutched his chest and slowly collapsed, the surrounding flames dying down with him.
"Whew! Tough fight, huh, Mimu?"
"Right. But we won! We're strong."
"Pfft, you'd have lost without Momona's help, right?"
"That's right too. The three of us are the strongest."
I couldn't help chuckling at their beaming conversation.
"Ahh, so glad you're both okay. Right, Mokong-i?"
A floating sensation washed over me as we returned to the shop. Round 6 now... the ending was coming soon. And I had a feeling I knew which one we'd get.
"Alright! Let's push to the end! The ending's almost here!"
With the viewers' cheers, we headed out for potion materials again this round. Saving the World Tree would take more effort.
"Off to research!"
*
"Ughhh! Mokong-i! This is really the final stretch!"
I'd spent all of round 6 on potion research, and the start of round 7 was more gathering—enough to dive right back in. It had paid off big time.
"Just need to check the ratios and the materials they're bringing now."
I knew the tree biter's weakness now, and the recipe to restore the World Tree's depleted energy was solid. Creak, creak. Footsteps approached from outside. I dashed over and flung the door open.
"Welcome back!"
"Whoa! You knew we were coming?"
"She must have prophecy powers we don't know about. For sure."
I chuckled at their reactions, ushering them inside and seating them on the sofa.
"Tea here. I added potion—should help recover stamina."
"Thanks. Ehehe, we keep getting so much."
"We'll pay back next time. Definitely."
A bittersweet smile crossed my face at their words before I nodded.
"Got it. I'll collect next time for sure, so show me what you brought?"
"Yeah! Got some rare and important stuff this time."
"Right. And we helped the elf village too."
I took their bags and checked the contents: purple round candies, a red fruit I'd never seen, and the demon tribe horn from the fight I'd witnessed.
"What's all this?"
"First, this is processed twin serpent heart. Poison if eaten raw, but can be medicine if used right."
"This is World Tree fruit. Need World Tree's power to save it. This is just spoils. Thanks to Momona, we won."
I patted Mimu's head at her cute V-sign toward the horn.
"Wasn't too tough?"
"Nope. Not tough. All thanks to Momona."
"Yeah. Without your potions, we'd have lost."
"Aw, you think my potions guaranteed the win? You two did great—that's why."
I'd watched their fight, so I could say it confidently.
"Anyway, yeah, I can picture how to make it. Wanna try right now?"
"Sweet! Can we watch?"
"Wanna see Momona work. Okay?"
"Of course."
I nodded and stepped to the cauldron with the materials. First up: potion to remove the tree biters.
I eyed the materials, grabbed the demon horn, ground it to powder, and tossed it in with the rest.
"Eh? That's not one of the brought materials."
"That was a souvenir."
"Nah, this feels right."
I grinned at their surprise and focused on the emerging minigame. Press panels matching the cauldron's color changes in sequence—not easy, but I felt like I'd nail it now.
"Here goes!"
Red, yellow! Blue... green, red, red, yellow! I hit the panels in rhythm with the shifting colors.
Even I had to laugh at how flawlessly I'd done it. The resulting potion was perfect.
"Yes!"
I couldn't break this flow. This was the moment for the ultimate potion. I added the whole mandragora and World Tree fruit. Bubble. As the cauldron boiled, in went the twin serpent heart. Bubble bubble. Swallowing hard, I added the rest: unicorn horn, red dandelion, green armone. Even the main ingredients for recovery and regen potions—all in. The liquid shimmered ethereally.
This was no ordinary brew. It stood worlds apart from anything before.
"This... feels ominous?"
The boiling stopped, and I gulped at the cauldron's iridescent glow. Maybe nothing special for the finale? But then a window popped up above it.
Sing for the finale.
A familiar melody filled the shop—one I could never forget.
"Of course! How could I forget?"
I chuckled at the chat and cleared my throat. The song that put us on the map in Another World—I'd never forget it.
"Alright, Another World's We're Here! Let's go! Scream it out, Mokong-i!"
With the viewers' roaring support, I launched into the song. It'd been a while, but... it was familiar! No problem.
Time to nail the grand finale!