Chapter 14 – The Red Land

We were almost at the Desert of the Minotaurs, but before reaching it, we had to cross a bridge that stood between the forest and the stretch of red land leading toward the dungeon of the Demon Ogre Lord.

Little by little, the green began to fade. Trees, bushes, and grass gave way to scattered rocks and reddish soil. After about five minutes of walking, we reached the bridge connecting both regions.

It was made of sturdy wood, as if it hadn’t aged a single day. I could feel the mana flowing through it, preserving the planks from rot and decay. At both ends stood a lantern post, no doubt lit at night so travelers could cross safely without falling into the river below.

The river sparkled a deep blue, beautiful and alive, surely serving as the animals’ water source. Near the bridge, I spotted a small house. In front of it, an elderly man sat quietly, but as soon as he noticed us, he rose and approached.

With a raspy voice, the old man said:
“I see you wish to cross the bridge. Please, identify yourselves.”

Kori stepped forward.
“We are Magical Girls from the Royal Guild. We need to cross this bridge to reach the Desert of the Minotaurs. May we pass, please?”

Mizu added politely:
“Yes, please allow us through. We have a mission awaiting us in the desert.”

The old man nodded.
“Very well, give me a moment to check the Magical Girl registry. It will only take five minutes.”

Akane crossed her arms, clearly annoyed.
“Fine, but not a second longer, okay?”

I thought to myself, So he must be a royal guard, stationed here to make sure no one foolishly tries to cross and ends up dead. Makes sense.

From his side, the man produced a black tablet bearing a crown insignia on its back. With it, he browsed the kingdom’s records—Magical Girls, knights, and so on. After a short while, he found our profiles.

Smiling, he said:
“All seems in order. You’re indeed on this mission. Very well, I’ll let you pass. But listen carefully… rumors say that ogre is a pervert, fond of underage girls like you. Be careful. Kill him as quickly as possible, don’t waste time on nonsense that might cost you your lives. Understood?”

We froze at his blunt words, but we knew retreat wasn’t an option. We nodded, acknowledging his warning.

He stepped aside, granting us passage.

As we crossed the bridge, each step echoed against the planks. The air grew warmer with every breath—proof we were approaching the desert. Waving farewell to the old man, we pressed onward.

“Alright, girls,” I said firmly, “let’s head for that desert.”

They nodded, determination in their eyes.

Beyond the bridge stretched the Red Land—soil so crimson it felt as though we had set foot on Mars. Each step felt heavier, harsher than the forest trail behind us. I imagined that once we reached the desert proper, the heat would become unbearable.

Luckily, we had Kori and her water magic to cool us. Meanwhile, I caught glimpses of Mizu and Akane chatting quietly. I couldn’t tell what about, but it didn’t seem serious.

Mizuki walked over and whispered to me:
“Taiyaki, are you okay? You look like the heat’s getting to you.”

I forced a smile.
“Don’t worry, Mizuki. I’m fine. What do you think—will we run into trouble with the minotaurs?”

She shook her head.
“Doubtful. They’re stupid beasts, driven only by instinct. If we move carefully, we might even avoid them altogether. For now, let’s just finish crossing the Red Land.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Everything will be fine,” I replied.

Six hours later, the red soil began to give way to patches of sand—the desert was near. The air grew heavy and hot.

Then, suddenly, a raindrop splashed on my cheek.

“Hold on,” Akane said, glancing at the sky. “Let’s stop here for today. It’s going to rain. We’ll continue tomorrow.”

Mizuki frowned.
“But it’s just a bit of rain. It won’t rain in the desert.”

Akane shook her head.
“Better safe than sorry. Besides, you have the earth element, Mizuki. Can you make us a temporary cave for shelter?”

Annoyed, Mizuki groaned.
“Fine, but you’re wasting our time.”

“Just make it big enough for the five of us,” Akane replied calmly. “I’ll handle the camp.”

Kori stretched her arms.
“Then it’s decided—we’ll rest here tonight and resume tomorrow.”

Reluctantly, Mizuki used her magic to shape a cave into the hillside. Mizu and I layered the walls with our dark and light magic, reinforcing them and making the place more comfortable. Akane laid out the sleeping bags, and soon we had a proper shelter.

As the rain began to patter outside, Akane lit a small fire to cook dinner. We huddled together, chatting idly about our dreams for the future.

Mizuki spoke first.
“Once we defeat the Demon Queen, I want to become a famous doctor.”

Mizu smiled.
“I want to be a well-known writer.”

Kori raised her hand.
“I’ll join the firefighters.”

I laughed softly.
“As for me… I’d like to retire and become a high school teacher. I want to pass on everything I’ve learned about this world to the next generation.”

But deep inside, I knew it was a lie. I had no intention of living that long. My true plan was to sacrifice myself alongside the Demon Queen so she would be destroyed once and for all.

I could no longer live trapped in the body of a twelve-year-old girl. And even if I wanted to stay, Mizu and I both knew we were adults in disguise, carrying the burden of protecting these children. Whether they saw us as peers or not, our duty was clear. Even if it cost us our lives, we had to protect them.

Half an hour later, Akane finished cooking. Tonight’s meal was simple—leftovers from the foxes we had hunted, mixed with a few vegetables. We had to ration the rest for our journey through the desert.

After dinner, I washed the dishes and prepared to sleep.

“Already going to bed, Taiyaki? It’s only eight,” Akane teased.

“I need my strength for tomorrow,” I answered, slipping into my sleeping bag.

Akane smiled warmly.
“Fair enough. Sweet dreams, Taiyaki. See you tomorrow.”

I closed my eyes, hoping for pleasant dreams… or at least, a moment of peace.