After breakfast.
Hazuki stretched his arms and glanced at the folded map again, coffee finally finished, belly satisfied, and a pocket full of donated snacks he didn't even ask for.
"Ridan."
"Hmm?" the spirit replied, lazily spinning in midair above the table.
"This poison swamp... is it far?"
Ridan tilted his head thoughtfully.
"You can say that."
Hazuki sighed. "Maybe we should take a carriage then? No point walking across half the country if we're gonna die when we get there."
"Don't know, man. Depends if there's even a route that goes close. Most carriages avoid cursed zones like that."
"...Fair. Still, let's ask around. Gotta find out if any carriage at least heads in that direction."
Ridan floated beside him, arms folded smugly.
"Go ahead. You're the one who decided to pick up this death flower quest. I'm just your adorable floating sidekick."
"Says the guy who possessed me into taking the monster one."
"Don't change the topic."
