The night was cold, but the campfire crackled with life.

—I think… there’s someone who might help us —said Shiro, wrapped in his blanket, staring at the flames.

Everyone looked at him.

—Who? —Kaien asked, intrigued.

—His name is Nim. He’s a gnome. A bit eccentric… or completely insane, depending on the day. But he knows a lot about magic.

Akari leaned in with hope.

—Can he help us replace the ingredient?

—Maybe. Although… he hates humans. All of them.

Kaien sighed.

—Great.

—

The next morning, Shiro led them through a mist-covered path glowing with a soft light.

—Are we following a light? —Akari asked.

—Yes. Magic fireflies. Nim uses them as a security system… and floating karaoke.

They crossed a waterfall, and then they saw it.

A clearing filled with dancing lights.

In the center, a half-meter-tall gnome with a pointy beard, elf ears, and a neon pink hat that changed color every moment, was dancing ridiculously with a broom and singing to the sky.

—SHINE, LITTLE ORBS! YOU KNOW MY SONGS! YOU KNOW MY LONELINESS!

—What… in the world am I looking at? —Kaien murmured.

—Shhh, this is the best part —Shiro whispered.

Nim spun, slid on a puddle of firefly honey, slammed into a rock… and then saw them.

He froze. His hat turned furious red with black spikes.

—HUMANS!? WHAT IS THIS INVASION OF MY PRIVACY!?

—Hi, Nim —Shiro said, raising a hand.

—YOU!? I told you not to come back until you stopped smelling like horse!! AND NOW YOU BRING A GANG!? WHAT DO YOU WANT!?

—Uh… help.

—HELP!? YOU WANT HELP!? —The hat turned electric purple—. HUMANS ONLY SHOW UP WHEN THEY WANT SOMETHING! THEY DON’T MIND DESTROYING OR KILLING FOR THEIR OWN GAIN!

He turned to Kaien, wrinkling his nose.

—AND YOU! LOOK AT YOU! Why is your sword that big!? What are you compensating for!?

Hat: radioactive orange.

Akari stepped forward.

—We just want to save a life without taking another.

Nim looked at her, and his hat dimmed slightly. Dark blue.

—Saving without destroying… how noble. How boring. But alright… you don’t seem like the type who understands magical contracts or the concept of “daily baths.” —He turned to Shiro—. And you… still haven’t discovered soap?

—The what? —Shiro asked, genuinely confused.

—Nothing. Forget I mentioned it. You depress me.

Hat: depressing gray.

Then he saw Kumo.

And screamed.

—WHAT IS THAT BEAST?! IT’S A HUGE MONSTER!! IT’S LOOKING AT ME LIKE IT UNDERSTANDS!!

Kumo, sitting with dignity, blinked once.

Nim threw himself to the ground and covered himself with a pot.

—YOKAI ARE DEMONS PRETENDING TO BE CUTE!! I’M NOT FOOLED!!

Kaien leaned in, laughing.

—Are you afraid of a cat?

—OF COURSE I AM!! IT’S BIGGER THAN ME! AND THAT IS NOT A CAT!

—

After several failed attempts at negotiation, Nim crossed his arms.

—FINE! You want my help… YOU HAVE TO EARN IT!

—How? —Kaien asked.

—MAKE ME LAUGH! ONE BY ONE! IF YOU FAIL… YOU GET NOTHING!

—

Round 1: Kaien

He did a parody of a monster with a squirrel voice and a paper eyebrow. Then he tripped on a root and fell.

Hat: dull gray.
Nim: “Was that comedy or a cry for help?”

—

Round 2: Akari

She told a joke about magical translation spells with a pun.

Hat: black with specks of disappointment.
Nim: “I’ve seen gravestones funnier than that.”

—

Round 3: Shiro

He tried to imitate Nim dancing, spinning with a makeshift hat made of leaves.

Nim blinked.

Hat: brown… hesitant.
Nim: “That was… intriguing. But not funny. Just depressing.”

—

Everyone gave up.

Kumo, meanwhile, tried to climb onto a table. He got tangled in a rope, fell into a cauldron, a potion exploded, and he was launched into the air… covered in ink, with a twig on his head and completely puffed up.

Silence.

Then Nim burst into laughter.

Hat: rainbow with strobe lights.

—I’M DYING!! THE MONSTER EXPLODED!! BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!

—

Still laughing, Nim tossed them a glowing vial.

—Here. It’s a symbiotic essence. Magical. Powerful. Doesn’t require killing anything. Just… don’t open it while breathing heavily!

Akari hugged him, overjoyed.

—Thank you!

Nim fell silent for a moment.

—Saving without killing… I guess you’re not as rotten as I thought. Maybe. Possibly. Even if humans smell terrible.

Kaien bowed slightly.

—Thank you.

—I didn’t do it for you. I did it for the cat. And because that vial was about to expire anyway.

—

—Oh, and before you run off… be careful out there. The forest’s been acting… weird lately.

Kaien (frowning):

—Weird how?

Nim (his hat turns dark purple with black veins):

—Rumors. Monsters with empty eyes. They don’t hunt out of hunger… they hunt on command.

A glowing mark. An ancient rune. Of control.

Akari (alarmed):

—They’re being manipulated?

Nim (nodding slowly):

—Like puppets searching for something. Something cursed.

Weapons. Swords. Relics that should’ve been buried with their owners.

And someone… or something… wants them all. The next one might be the one you carry, compensator sword-boy.

As they were leaving, Nim shouted:

—AND REMEMBER!! IF YOU EVER NEED ME… DON’T!! DON’T NEED ME!! FIND SOMEONE ELSE!!

And with a magical sneeze, he vanished.

| Author's Note |

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