24

"*COUGH*... *COUGH*..."

Hazel Blaze's eyelids flickered as she battled to open them.

"Thank goodness... Blazel, wake up," I said, shaking her gently.

"Nnn..."

"I know it's hard for you, but you'll die if you don't stay with me now."

"Ghh... Huh- AHHH WHAT THEFDSFSFFS- *COUGH*... *COUGH*..."

Her eyes flew open and her muscles quivered, but she was unable to make any large movements. 

*?*

I wondered what got her so worked up all of a sudden, but I turned to find the Obsidian Basilisk staring at us. To me, it was so helpless that it almost looked like an oversized puppy, but I'm sure to Hazel Blaze, that wasn't the case.

"You know, I actually have to thank you this time," I said to it. It would've taken me a lot longer to get her this awake.

The Obsidian Basilisk shyly looked away causing Hazel Blaze to calm down ever so slightly.

She could barely move and didn't make a sound, but her pulse and respiration were firing on all cylinders. Sweat beaded up on her forehead and she was shaking like a leaf. She squeezed her eyes shut and forced out deep labored breaths.

"Hey, look at me," I said, slapping her lightly. "You gotta tell me what to do with this thing."

I waved the Grimmia in front of her face, and her expression changed.

"You... got it?"

"Yeah. Is this supposed to cure you or what?"

"Um..."

"Spit it out. We don't have much time."

"The thing... is... Grimmia alone... can't... *COUGH*- *COUGH*..."

She devolved into another coughing fit and spat out the same tar-like substance from much earlier. Unable to do anything, I simply waited for her to finish.

"Fire magic... is needed..."

"Ah, I see."

Putting it like this, it made sense as to why Hazel Blaze wanted Grimmia and Grimmia alone.

If what the red-haired man I met in the Adventurer's Guild building, Emerald, said was true, Hazel Blaze was having a bit of a hissy fit from whatever drama was going on with their adventuring party. The behavior I noticed after clearly indicated she didn't want to be associated with anyone, even one that was trying to save her.

*You idiot. Why would you attack me when you were in such a state?*

No one dared approach her even when she collapsed on the ground, and even I had to forcefully carry her away.

According to multiple sources, the Obsidian Basilisk's curse could be rectified with a hot-cold treatment method, and the girl in the hotel was even willing to lend a hand. But with the way Hazel Blaze was behaving, who would help her?

*... Other than that girl, I suppose. But hey, my life was on the line, too. Plus, meeting her was just a coincidence.*

But now, we were here.

"How much fire magic? Tell me what to do," I said.

"You... know how to-?"

"Yes, now just tell me how much fire magic you need."

Hazel Blaze scrunched her face. "Not... easy... you need 7000 Muryokku... at least..."

"... A what now?"

"..."

"What is Muryokku?"

"Are... you kidding... me? This is... hopeless..."

"Just tell me what it is," I said, agitated. "I promise I can cast fire magic."

In this moment, I was grateful for Emma's miniature magic lesson. Repeating the steps she taught me, I produced a flame on my fingertip. It was marginally bigger than my first attempt - it was nearly the length of my finger itself.

Hazel Blaze's eyes widened for a brief moment before she devolved into another coughing fit.

"Jeez... No need to be so surprised. Now just tell me what Maryokku is."

"It's... Mur... yokku..."

"..."

"Ugh. It's the... amount... how do you... not... know..."

*Yikes.*

Looks like another common piece of information I was unaware of popped up. To make matters worse, her condition was worsening by the minute.

But, a glimmer of hope arose from where I least expected.

"M A S T E R ... I , C A N , M E A S U R E , M U R Y O K K U ..."