Chapter 16: Pohjola's Ordeal.

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In the dorms...

Lotte: So you just told us about reviving the seven Words and releasing the seal of the world reconstruction magic, but I'm having a hard time processing all that.

Akko: There are only four left! No matter what happens, I'm gonna find them!

Akko used the crystal ball.

Sucy: What are you doing?

Akko: I figured I should start by looking for info online. Okay, type in "Words", and then...

She wrote a request on a magic ball, but it was taking a while to find a result.

Akko: Too slow! I can't deal with this!

Y/N: -_- Do you seriously think that you can find the Words on the magical Internet? And by the way, welcome to the problem of the 00s.

Suddenly, the wand began to glow.

Y/N: 0_0 Oh, it really worked.

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Ursula: The rod is trying to tell you something. The fourth word is close.

Y/N: What is that?

Ursula: Mayenab Dysheebudo.

Y/N/Sucy/Lotte: Mayenab Dysheebudo?

Akko: Mayenab Dysheebudo! Mayenab Dysheebudo! Mayenab Dysheebudo!

Ursula: There is something important needed to see it through. Something you severely lack.

Sucy: That narrows it down to just about everything.

Akko: Professor, if you already know, then just tell me!

Y/N put his hand on her shoulder.

Y/N: I think you have to do it yourself.

Lotte: What about tomorrow?

Ursula: Tomorrow?

Akko: We were planning to go visit Lotte's house.

Lotte: I invited them to come over and have hapansilakka pie. But if the Word is close, you probably shouldn't leave school grounds.

Akko dropped her gaze from understanding.

Ursula: You should go. By the close, I don't mean distance. I meant that you are close to experiencing something important. You just may discover what is that you lack on your travels.

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Akko: All aboard the none-stop to Lotte's house!

Sucy: In your dreams.

Lotte: We can get as far as a nearby Leyline terminal, but after that, we will have to travel by train and bus.

Sucy, who was carrying the wizard, asked:

Sucy: Why did you leave your broom?

Y/N: Our relationship has become complicated. It wants to fly, and I have a lot to do.

He sighed.

Y/N: I don't know what to do, girls. He thinks It thinks that it is no longer interesting to me. What should I do?!

Afterwards, he fakely sobbed.

Sucy: •_•

Lotto: •_•

Akko: •_•

Y/N: Just kidding. I chained it up and locked it in the dorm.

Sucy: -_-

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In the town...

Y/N: You know guys. I missed these times. Just me and you in the style of the "Red team".

Sucy: Seriously? You did?

Y/N: Yep.

The group stopped at a small building with the sign "L Kiosk."

Lotte: This is my house!

Once inside, they found out that her parents were selling not only magic items but also food. A very large man came out of the door into the store. It was Lotte's father.

Mr. Jansson: Lotte! It's Lotte! You have grown so much since I last saw you!

He hugged her and began to spin her in his hands. He was followed by a short woman with black hair and glasses.

Mrs. Jansson: Please come in.

Y/N/Akko/Sucy: Thank you for having us.

Mrs. Jansson: Are you Akko?

Mr. Jansson: And this must be Sucy. Lotte told us all about you in her letters.

The wizard coughed twice to get attention.

Mrs. Jansson: Oh. And you must be Y/N?

Y/N: Mhm. What did Lotte write about me? That I'm wonderful, strong, or responsible? Maybe handsome?

Mr. Jansson: Well, actually, she wrote that you make this face all the time... -_-

Y/N: -_- ...

Y/N looked at Lotte with an annoyed look, while the orange-haired girl smiled awkwardly with sweat.

Mr. Jansson: Come in, make yourselves at home! We'd better take a photo before we forget.

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On the table were the aforementioned "Hapansilakka pies".

Lotte: This is it! Hapansilakka pies!

Mrs. Jansson: Our neighbor Janne makes them every year during this season.

Everyone thanked them before the meal and got down to the job. After one bite, Akko threw up on the trash can.

Y/N: -_- Don't react to food like that.

The wizard took a bite.

Akko: How can you eat it?

Y/N: We don't talk at the table.

The wizard took another bite.

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Y/N: How was the sauna?

Akko: There was too hot and stuffy!

Y/N: Of course, it's a sauna, after all.

The wizard turned to Lotte's father.

Y/N: Is it my turn now, Mr. Jansson?

Mr. Jansson: Wait for me! I'll be relax with you! I'll even take a bath room there!

Y/N: •_• Oh no...

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The next day...

Lotte's unexpected cry in the morning woke up the rest of the Red Team.

Y/N: Lotte, why are you screaming?!

Akko: What's wrong?!

Mrs. Jansson was frozen and covered in something green.

Lotte: Mom! Mom!

Sucy: Lotte!

Mr. Jansson froze outside and was also covered with something, as was his neighbor in front of him.

Lotte: Dad!... Janne!

Sucy approached Lotte's neighbor, happy.

Sucy: Nice to meet you! Your hapansilakka pies were delicious!

The boy facepalmed.

Y/N: There is no time for this, Sucy! What happened to them?! It's...

The wizard approached to analyze the green thing that they were covered in.

Y/N: It's moss.

The group entered back the house and approached the book in the hands of Lotte's mother.

Sucy: Look!

Lotte: "How to prevent infections causing Greenman disease."

Sucy: Seems interesting.

Lotte: "The condition for Greenman disease is so strict, an outbreak may occur but once every thousand years in this region. Depending on a specific astrological placement, the amount of CO2 exhaled by humans, the birth rate of local herring, the timing of pollen release, and more– When every possible thing has aligned in the worst possible way, an outbreak will occur when hapansilakka pies are baked at the perfect temperature."

Akko/Lotte/Sucy: Hapansilakka pie?!

Y/N: Is it a...coincidence?

Akko: Coincidence or not, I'll throw that pie away!

Akko hurriedly ran and threw the only pie left on the table into the trash.

Y/N: What will happen to them?

Lotte: "If there is a disease outbreak, the local witch is responsible for stopping it from spreading. The flesh will be progressively covered in moss until it eventually withers away."... Dad... Mom...

Tears began to flow from her eyes. She went up to the wizard and hugged him.

Lotte: Y/N...

Y/N: There, there, Lotte.

The wizard comforted her with some gentle pats.

Y/N: We will save them. We've been in worse trouble... Okay, just once, but still.

Akko: That's right! We have got three witches right here! Look, here is the recipe for the antidote!

Sucy: "Five items are required to create the antidote. Snowflakes from a pine tree forest. Berry leaves blown off by the wind. Fresh droppings from a reindeer raised by a Laplander. Green partner cap. A traditional medicine base made by a yeti."

Akko: Lotte, do you have the ingredients?

Lotte: No, but I know where we can find them!

The two witches and the wizard sat in one broom and rose into the air. On the other side, Sucy went to get the Green panther cap. They went their separate ways.

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In the forest...

Lotte: The first thing is the snowflakes of a pine tree forest. It says that needs to have fallen naturally.

Akko: What?!

Y/N: ._. ... -_-

Y/N looked at Akko and nodded, giving her permission to do something. With one kick, the brunette let snow fall from the tree. The next ingredient was a berry that had to fall by itself. Akko promised not to touch them and she kept her promise by sneezing at it. The two ingredients took a long time, so they sat on a broom and continued searching.

Lotte: You are kidding!

Akko: What's wrong?!

They flew up to an absolutely clear field.

Lotte: We need fresh droppings from a reindeer raised by a Laplander. But I don't see Nicholas's house anywhere around here! Where did he go?! We can't write or call him because he doesn't have a phone or computer.

Y/N: Is there at least some way to contact him?

Lotte: There is one...

Lotte took a breath and...

Lotte: Nicholas!!!

The echo of the girl spread throughout the area. But nothing changed.

Y/N: Oh yeah... The old-fashioned way.

Lotte: Let's go back for now. I might be able to find some way to contact him in my house.

The three returned home.

Akko: Wait... Sucy?!

Y/N: Sucy?...

The wizard turned to see a green witch... Oh wait, it's Sucy.

Y/N: Sucy!!! Oh no! No! No! No! Not Sucy!

The wizard began to shake her, with desperation and sadness. Akko put her hands on his back.

Akko: Y/N, it is useless! Calm down!

Y/N: NO!!! Why does something bad always happen to people dear to me?!...

Akko: Y/N...

Akko felt sad for his friend. She was also sad for Sucy, but seeing his friend in that sad state made her more depressed. She was going to try to console him.

Y/N: Sucy owed me ten dollars and she had to pay it back today!

Akko:...

Smack

Akko hit him on the head and he fell straight to the ground.

Y/N: Ouch...

Akko: Are you serious right now? We have no time for your dumb jokes!

Y/N: 0_0 Why are you so panicking?

Akko: Why you-?!

Akko began to shake him roughly.

Y/N: @_@

Lotte: Guys...

Akko: Wait for a second, Lotte! I want to teach this idiot a few lessons!

Lotte: Guys!!!

Akko stopped to look at her friend. The two saw her covered in moss... The next victim of the infection.

Y/N: Q_Q Lotte! Not you too!

Lotte: Please... make the antidote... before we all... wither away...

Akko: Lotte!...

But Lotte didn't respond. She was another moss figure.

Akko: Only two ingredients left! Let's go! We must find that Laplander!

Y/N: But how?

She looked up and saw a pigeon nearby. Having called this, the witch began to ask for a favor.

Akko: I need you to track down a Laplander traveling with reindeer. Please?

The bird didn't answer anything and the wizard grabbed it.

Y/N: Did you hear her? If you didn't, I'll burn you!

Pigeon: Coo! Coo!

Akko: Y/N!

The brunette handed over a bowl of seeds and the pigeon happily agreed. Akko grinned at Y/N as she showed him that violence is not always the solution.

Y/N: -_-

After a while, it came back and woke up them. She was able to find the reindeer.

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The reindeer chase was short. While they were doing this, they met Nicholas and he helped them get its droppings.

Akko: Got the fourth ingredient! The last one is a traditional medicine base made by a yeti.

Her voice sounded very tired and the boy patted her on the back to comfort her.

Y/N: Thanks, Nicholas!

Nicholas: You are welcome. Are you going to see the yeti? He lives at the base of that mountain. Ride this to get there.

Mr. Nicholas showed them a sleigh with a reindeer... The reindeer that Akko bothered.

Y/N: On the reindeer? I'm sure it doesn't like us.

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Y/N: Q_Q I wasn't wrong! I wasn't wrong at all!

While Kagari was on the sleigh, the wizard was riding the reindeer and it didn't like it very much.

Akko: There's only one ingredient left! We must hurry!

Y/N: Okay!...Q_Q Stop trying to throw me off!

By evening, the two magic users had arrived at an igloo-like house with a wooden door. When they opened it, they saw a cute room, but no the yeti.

Y/N: Where is he?

Suddenly, someone grabbed their shoulders and they screamed in fear. The witch and the wizard jumped to an chair of inhuman size. It was the yeti with a confused look.

Akko: Pardon the intrusion. We need you to make us a medicine base. Could you please do it?

The Yeti nodded.

Akko: You will make it? Can you finish in 30 minutes?

The Yeti nodded.

Akko: Thank goodness! Now we can complete the antidote.

He stared at them for a while.

Y/N: Um... Are going to make it or not?

He didn't even flinch. The wizard looked uncomfortable. He approached Akko a little and whispered:

Y/N: Why are he staring at us like that?

Akko: I think I know why... Please make it! I'm begging you!

Y/N: 0_0

And it worked. After 30 minutes of hard work, the "medicine" in the shape of a star was ready.

Y/N: Cool! Thank you!

Akko: Wait, isn't it wrong?

Y/N: Huh?

Akko: Look, isn't this pattern on the tip different?

Y/N: -_- What's the difference?

Akko: It says the antidote can't be completed unless it's exact, so please make a new one!

After another 30 minutes, the Yeti made another one.

Akko: Look, the color here is wrong. I would like a retake, please.

Yeti: -_-

For each new attempt, Akko managed to find even the slightest mistake.

Akko: Aren't there too many lines? Do it over!

The Yeti made another one.

Akko: This one isn't even close! Do it over from the beginning!

And in the end, the yeti gave up on it and started digging into his phone.

Y/N: Was it necessary to find flaws?

Akko: But we need to save Lotte's family. Yeti, get on your knees! Didn't you say you would make it!? Didn't you promise me?! Didn't I explain to you that I'm in big trouble If you can't make the medicine base for the antidote?! If you can't do it, then say so from the start! We don't have any time to waste! Aren't you an artisan?!

Y/N: Akko, you can't keep scolding someone just because they don't answer.

Akko: But he accepted this job, so he shouldn't give me a half-assed...

The yeti couldn't stand it anymore and ran out of his house, breaking his door.

Y/N: 0_0... Well, look what you've done.

Akko:...

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In the depth of the forest...

L/N and Kagari found him sitting in the snow.

Akko: Lo siento. Fui demasiado lejos.

He didn't answer and held the phone across his back. The two saw comments about the Yeti on the Internet.

Akko: "Yeti? If I see him, I will play dead."

Y/N: "The yeti is boring. You suck. Die." ... -_-

Akko: Did they hurt your ego or something? And now it's affecting your work?

Y/N: That's sad.

Suddenly, she threw his phone at his back.

Akko: Who gives a damn what society thinks of you?! You are cool, you are artistic, and you are a genius who can make that medicine base! I know you can make it!

He smiled and looked at her with a smile and then at the boy, who showed a thumbs-up with an awkward smile.

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During another process of making the medicine, Akko and Y/N praised the yeti from different sides.

Akko: You are way too talented!

Y/N: You are... cool!

Akko: Yo, genius!

Y/N: Ummm... Awesome guy!

After that, the medicine was finished faster than the last time.

Y/N: Cool! Thank you, cool and awesome genius! Let's go, Akko!

Akko: But... Isn't it kinda big?

The wizard covered the girl's mouth with his hand.

Y/N: Whatever. We need to get quick!

Akko: Yeti, thank you so much!

Y/N:...O-oh.

When the wizard left the house, he realized something very important.

Akko: What?... 0_0 You are kidding me?!

The reindeer ran away without waiting for them.

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The witch and the wizard had to walk through the cold night back home on foot. Y/N noticed that the brunette was colder and gave her his jacket.

Akko: Thanks...

When Akko was going to adjust her jacket, she looked at her hands.

Akko: Oh, no...

She was also infected with the disease. Her hands were already starting to get moss. But they had to continue their journey for the sake of Lotte's family. And then, as if on purpose, a blizzard began. The boy, noticing Akko's delirium, suggested an idea.

Y/N: We should stop here for a while.

She reluctantly agreed. The wizard lit his hands with fire so that Akko wouldn't be cold.

Akko: Can you teach me this when we get back?

Y/N: I doubt witches can do this. Brrr... We need to stick together.

Akko nodded.

Akko: What happens if you got infected too?

Y/N: No. I didn't. I have immune to this disease.

Akko: Then...

The brunette hugged him. She sighed.

Akko: It hurts.

Y/N: -_- I know... Hey, what the-?

The nose of their reindeer bumped into his nose.

Y/N: ._. The "prodigal son" has returned after all.

Akko: We are saved!

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They returned home and wasted no time quickly mixing all the ingredients. Akko threw them into the cauldron and began to mix.

Akko: Mayenab Dysheebudo! Patience is important! Mayenab Dysheebudo!

After casting the spell, her staff turned into a sprinkler, which began to spray the potion. The infected were cured instantly.

Akko: They are back!

The brunette exclaimed, happy. She turned to the boy.

Akko: Y/N, we did-!

Y/N: Sucy, give me back my ten dollars.

Kagari came down and quickly hit him on the head.

Akko: You idiot! Why didn't you get infected?!... You know what?! I'm going to strangle you here and now!

Y/N: AAAAH! Somebody help me! Sucy!

Sucy grinned.

Mr. Jansson: Ow, how cute friends you two are!

Y/N: She's really strangling me!

The wizard coughed.

Y/N: Help me...

Lotte chuckled.

Lotte: Akko, stop it.

Akko: No way I will stop! We have to remove one idiot from our team!

The wizard coughed again.

Y/N: 0_o You mean yourself?

Akko: Why you-?!

Y/N: AAAAAAAH!

End of chapter 16.