Quests

1Humbled, Crumbled BeginningsComplete "Quest 57: Clear Stage 1-22"Crystals×100›

Berry Yogurt Cookie skimmed the mercenary guilds' commissions board, attempting to find the request with the best compensation. Beside him, an unfamiliar Cookie with dark cherry-colored icing rested a hand on her sword and muttered, "Heh... Is this the next opponent I'll cut down?" Getting a rather unsettling feeling from the unfamiliar Cookie, Berry Yogurt Cookie took a step away. (Please don't let me end up in the same guild as her...) Just then, the heady scent of grape juice rolled in from his other side. This was no ordinary aged juice. “Ahaha. With the three of us, I'm sure we can finish this little ol' commission in no time!" The scent of grape juice practically rolling off this Cookie was so strong, it could practically cause any Cookie within sniffing radius to become tipsy along with her. This did not stop her from tearing a commission off the board, brandishing it to the two Cookies beside her. Berry Yogurt Cookie quietly attempted to remove himself from the situation. (Nope. No. Definitely not.) However, it was too late. The guild receptionist beamed. “Great! I'll register all three of you as one team!” That was the day Berry Yogurt Cookie learned that if there was one thing more terrifying than a bounty commission, it was getting stuck with the wrong party.

2The First Drill on the PlainsClear Stage 1-30Crystals×100›

The plains on the outskirts of the Choco Drop Kingdom were peaceful. The Crumble Mercenaries were merely passing through on the way to a commission. Then they spotted a giant X marked in the middle of the grass, along with Cool Mint Cookie holding a drill. “I'm telling ya, there's a massive vein right beneath our feet!” Dark Cherry Cookie placed a hand on her scabbard. “What kind of vein? And before that, identify yourself.” At once, Implant Order members burst from the tall grass as though they had been waiting for the question. “Then we have no choice but to tell you! We are the Implant Order!” “Every day, we mine with all our might to build the ultimate Landmark!” Grapevine Cookie gazed at the torn-up earth with an easy smile. “You can't just dig up a perfectly good meadow. What a waste...” Cool Mint Cookie paid her no mind and thrust her drill into the air. “That's none of your business!" That day, the Crumble Mercenaries learned an important lesson. Some construction projects needed to be stopped before the monsters were.

3[News Report] “Portal Stones” Found Across Kingdom: Do Not Touch!Crystals×100›

Portal Stones, mysterious rocks suffused with glowing blue light, have been discovered across the Choco Drop Kingdom. At first glance, they may look like simple decorative minerals, but careless handling can cause them to resonate with other dimensions. Possible consequences include turning the neighbor's door into a Dungeon entrance or sending tomorrow's Jelly flying backward through time into your hands today. Arrange and stack smaller Portal Stones according to the proper ritual, however, and they can transport travelers across vast distances within this world in an instant. Get even one step of the sequence wrong, and instead of arriving at the Royal Castle's front gate, you may find yourself on the ceiling of King Choco Drop's bathhouse. More troubling is the timing of these discoveries. The Portal Stones began appearing just as the Implant Order recruited a new boss and started expanding its influence through an uncanny knack for locating Crystal veins. The Implant Order claims they “just happened to dig them up.” Rumor has it, however, that their warehouse contained piles of Portal Stones, blueprints for a suspicious tower, and a proposal titled “World Domination Begins with Cutting Transportation Costs.”

4Invoice for Castle RestorationClear Stage 2-20Crystals×100›

A thick envelope arrived addressed to the Crumble Mercenaries from the Palace Administration of the Choco Drop Kingdom. "Official Invoice for Restoration of the Royal Castle" was written across the front in immaculate handwriting. Inside, the letterhead was filled with a long list of numbers far outstretching the compensation for defeating castle dust bunnies. Restoration of partially collapsed castle wall. Reshaping the tip of a King Choco Drop statue. Replacement of chocolate tiles in the Royal Castle corridors. Emergency overtime pay for Sugar Gnomes. Compensation for the emotional distress suffered by His Majesty, King Choco Drop. The final line of the invoice read: “In the event of additional damages, a portion of the mercenary guild's future earnings may be seized in advance.” Berry Yogurt Cookie read the sentence three times. Dark Cherry Cookie quietly slid her blade back into its scabbard, while Grapevine Cookie set down her juice just a little more slowly than usual. That night, a new item appeared in Berry Yogurt Cookie's household ledger. “Commissions involving the Royal Choco Drop Castle: Request payment in advance. Fleeing not possible in case of damages."

5[Breaking News] Must Daily Dungeons Be Daily?Crystals×100›

Suspicious Dungeons have been appearing throughout the Kingdom, opening at a set time every day. Need Coins? The Coin Dungeon. Need experience? The library Dungeon. Need ore? The mine Dungeon. The problem is that these Dungeons really do open every single day. Some Cookies have complained, “I saved the world yesterday. Do I really have to run another Dungeon today?” Others have demanded that rewards be included in daily rewards regardless of Dungeon conquest participation, while still more insist that required daily check-ins are scarier than the Dungeons themselves. In response, the Kingdom Adventurers' Guild explained that “consistently striving for improvement is an important value in Cookie society.” One mercenary Cookie, speaking on condition of anonymity, had this to say: “Getting stronger is all well and good, but why do we have to get beaten up every day for that to happen?” Meanwhile, the librarian in the library Dungeon was reportedly delighted by the report. “I'll teach you another lesson with these books tomorrow.”

6Together Again at the Beach!Clear Stage 2-30Crystals×100›

A salty breeze swept across the beach. As the Crumble Mercenaries crossed the sand, a familiar voice rang out, and the Implant Order came swarming into view. “Heh! We meet again!” Cool Mint Cookie grinned with her drill slung over one shoulder. The members behind her raised their voices as though they had been waiting for their cue. “You've got this!” “Smash 'em into the ground!” Berry Yogurt Cookie hurriedly waved both hands. “Wait, wait! If this is about last time... Nothing good will come from fighting now! Let's just pretend this all never happened.” One Implant Order member wavered. “Huh... Does he have a point?” Cool Mint Cookie only grinned wider. “What happened, happened. And on top of that, the boss asked me to give you a real taste of what my drill can do!” Dark Cherry Cookie placed a hand on her scabbard. “Blah blah blah. Let's get to the fighting!” Grapevine Cookie glanced toward the nearby juice bar's signboard, then spoke with rare solemnity. “... I will fight for the honor of the Coconut Juice Bar.” Berry Yogurt Cookie sighed. “Can't we ever get a break...”

7Rumors About the New BossCrystals×100›

At first, the rumor that the Implant Order had recruited a new boss seemed unremarkable. Small organizations change leaders all the time, and usually all that came of it was a fresh coat of paint on the signboard. This time was different. Once the new boss appeared, everything began going suspiciously well for the Implant Order. Everywhere they dug, they struck Crystal veins. In abandoned tunnels, they discovered Portal Stones. Yesterday's shoddy digging had become today's development enterprise. Devil's Tooth Cookie studied the ledger and murmured, “This is... too precise to be luck... Some kind of plan...” Cool Mint Cookie cut in, a gleaming drill slung over her shoulder. “So all we've gotta do is keep digging, right?!” Rumor also has it that the Implant Order's warehouse was recently found to contain Crystal samples, Portal Stone fragments, suspicious tower blueprints, and a scroll labeled “Map of Subterranean Resonance Across the Continent.” Naturally, the Implant Order issued an official denial. “The ground was there, so we dug it. There is no suspicious plan...”

8The One Who Reigns Over the RuinsClear Stage 3-30Crystals×100›

The faint glow of blue displays flickered among the collapsed sugar buildings. Melted cream signboards, half-dead surveillance lights, and scraps of propaganda stripped of their names tumbled through the ruins. An unfamiliar Cookie stood at the center of it all. “How pitiful.” GingerCraven slowly looked over the Crumble Mercenaries. “And yet, you have not yet crumbled under the pressure. How annoyingly persistent.” Dark Cherry Cookie furrowed her brow. “Uh... Who's this guy?” “There's no need for you to know.” Grapevine Cookie tilted her head. “Are you the boss of those white, toothy guys... The Implant... whatever?” For the briefest moment, GingerCraven's smile dimmed. “The boss? Hm... It is not a title I requested of my own accord.” Berry Yogurt Cookie muttered softly, “So it's on them, huh...” “I have no interest in landmarks, ore, or anything of the like.” GingerCraven looked toward something beyond the ruins. “... Nor did I ever desire to stand at the end of this road. However, lost crumbs... always strive to gather underneath a common cause.” Grapevine Cookie kept her easy smile, though her eyes narrowed. “Something about this Cookie's really suspicious...” GingerCraven turned his gaze back to the mercenaries, this time with a trace of interest. “You are quite an amusing group, aren't you? You're all running from something in your pasts.” Berry Yogurt Cookie flinched. “This Cookie gives me the creeps...” In a rare show of seriousness, Grapevine Cookie let her smile fall and slowly lowered her stance. “... Normally I'd want to run from something like this... But today, I want to fight.” Dark Cherry Cookie rested a hand on her scabbard. “Heh. How can I back down after hearing that from you of all Cookies?” The wind groaned low as it passed through the ruined city. Beneath the blue light, the Crumble Mercenaries stood face-to-face with a world that had lost its name.

9[Special Report] Warning Issued Over Excessive Star Candy Consumption!Clear Stage 4-30Crystals×100›

In the Cookie World, Star Candies are a symbol of growth. Eat a few and gain experience. Eat enough and grow stronger. Recently, however, reports have emerged of Cookies suddenly becoming extremely muscular after consuming too many Star Candies at once. Their arms grow several times thicker, their footsteps go from soft little pats to thunderous stomps, and their confidence reportedly increases by roughly 300%. Experts have named the phenomenon Acute Star Candy Growth Response and claim it is “probably temporary.” Probably being the key word. The Kingdom Health Center has urged all Cookies to consume Star Candies only in moderation. Some Cookies are already shaking bags of Star Candies and wondering, “If I eat just a few more, maybe I can one-hit K.O. the next boss..." One Cookie, however, finds this trend especially troubling. “NO SUCH THING AS UNEARNED GAINS! Bulking up is a battle against yourself! There are no shortcuts! Pick up those dumbbells!!!” Thanks to Muscle Cookie, who shoves a dumbbell into the hands of any stray Cookie who makes eye contact or attempts to reach for a bag of Star Candies, screams now echo throughout the Kingdom as Cookies discover the true effort it takes to get lasting gains.

10Excerpt from Berry Yogurt Cookie's LedgerClear Stage 5-20Crystals×100›

Three days' worth of Meat Jellies, 450 Gold Grape juice “to ease pre-battle nerves”, 320 Gold Grape juice “for post-battle recovery”, 320 Gold Grape juice “just because”, 320 Gold Premium cherry blossom whetstone for maintaining Dark Cherry Cookie's blade, 780 Gold Leather pouch for Dark Cherry Cookie to draw the whetstone from dramatically, 240 Gold Torn cloak repair, 160 Gold Emotional cost of agreeing not to ask how the cloak got torn again, Incalculable Antidote for suspicious mushrooms, 500 Gold Patience required to not demand an explanation for eating suspicious mushrooms, Incalculable Broken window at lodgings, 900 Gold Handling fee for the excuse of “I was trying to make a cool entrance”, 0 Gold (Psychological damages, incalculable) Mercenary Guild emergency fund, previously well saved... Current balance of Mercenary Guild emergency fund, a big fat 0. In one corner of the most recent entry in the Mercenaries' ledger was a sentence written down with seemingly much more presure than the standard calculations. “A sword... can cut through Jellies and budgets alike.”

11The Implant Order's Most Proactive MemberClear Stage 6-30Crystals×100›

The Square in the Cookie Village was bustling as usual. Jelly vendors called out to passing customers. Water splashed in the fountain. Footsteps crossed the square in every direction. Then came the familiar whine of a drill. Cool Mint Cookie marched into the center of the Square with a group of Implant Order members in tow. “Heh, heard you finally met our boss, huh? What'd'ya think? Cool, right?” Dark Cherry Cookie considered the question for a moment. “I wouldn't say he was cool... He was strong, though.” Berry Yogurt Cookie shook his head, looking slightly pale. “I'd prefer not to meet him again.” Grapevine Cookie smiled lazily. “I think I'll give him a piece of my mind next time we meet!” Cool Mint Cookie's expression hardened at once. “How DARE you talk bad about our boss?!” “How DARE you anger Cool Mint Cookie?!” “Who do they think they are?!” Berry Yogurt Cookie hurriedly waved his hands. “We... We didn't—” Cool Mint Cookie had already hoisted her drill into the air. “The Boss is the only reason the Implant Order came this far!” Her voice rose louder and louder, drowning out even the whirr of the drill. “URGH! My drill'll make easy work of you!!!” Every Cookie in the square backed away at once, while the sugar pigeons beside the fountain burst into flight.

12A Revolution! Revo...lution?Reach Oven Lv. 8Crystals×100›

One afternoon, Sugar Gnomes toiled before a crumbling castle wall, shedding sugar sweat profusely as they stacked brick after brick. As usual, Sugar Gnome No. 1 groaned and rubbed his hunched back. Clunk. His old mallet fell to the ground, and for a moment, he saw within it a vision of the sweet, peaceful leisure once enjoyed in the Dessert Village. A solemn fire flashed in the eyes of the usually obedient Gnome. His comrades flinched at this alien air of insurrection. With grave resolve, he stroked his cream beard and declared, “I can't take this anymore! I will stand before King Choco Drop and demand our rights as workers—Oh! Thank you for the one-Coin overtime bonus!” He hurriedly stuffed the jingling Coin into his pocket and picked up his mallet again. No flame of revolution burned at his back... All that remained was deep shadow of one who had surrendered to capitalism.

13A Certain Cookie's Escape from the OvenClear Stage 7-20Crystals×100›

It began like any other escape from the Oven. Blazing flames. Platforms collapsing underfoot. The heat closing in from behind. He believed that if he kept running, jumping, and sliding, he would eventually make it out. That was how the story was supposed to go. Then, without warning, a searing light swept through the Oven. After that, the Cookie understood. He would never escape this place. No. More precisely, even if he escaped, he would only find himself running again. Whether he plunged into a pit or burned black, he would rise again on shattered legs and return to the starting line. In time, he forgot what kind of Cookie he had once been. His past, his name, even the reason he had begun to run. All that remained was the path ingrained in his feet and an escape stripped of all meaning. Yet at the very end of the end, the Cookie who finally walked out of the Oven spoke. “Well... I guess I can find a new meaning for it all.” His voice was rough and cracked from going unspoken for far too long. Strangely, however, those words sounded as though they had been waiting for him since the very beginning.

14[Lost and Found] Cookies Who Lost Their NamesClear Stage 8-10Crystals×100›

Cookies throughout the Kingdom have recently begun losing their names. There have been reports of Cookies opening their mouths to introduce themselves as usual, only to find themselves unable to speak. In other cases, a strange skull symbol has appeared where a name should have been. The symbol does not appear to be mere graffiti. It is believed to be a trace left when a Cookie's hidden fears and weaknesses rise to the surface. Fear concealed behind a brave name. Hesitation buried beneath the role of villain. The urge to run, smothered beneath a savior's badge. Old wounds laughed away whenever someone calls them a failed creation. If you encounter a Cookie exhibiting these symptoms, please report the matter to the nearest guild reception desk or the Kingdom Administration Bureau. Exercise caution. Staring at the skull symbol for too long may cause your own name to feel unfamiliar. The following sentence was found engraved beneath several recently discovered symbols: “Does the name you believe in truly belong to you?” A second line had been added below in smaller writing. “Does that make you uncomfortable? Good. You're finally being a little honest with yourself.”

15What Lies Beneath the SnowClear Stage 8-30Crystals×100›

The tundra laid completely silent. Snowflakes continued to fall gently, and the trees in the distance were hardened like frozen sugar decor. The Crumble Mercenaries stood still, just watching in silence. The first Cookie to break the silence was GingerCraven. "Why..." He seemed composed at a glance, but there was a faint tremble in his voice. "Why haven't you given up yet?" Dark Cherry Cookie tightened her grip on her blade while catching her breath. "We will continue so long as there is a path." For just an instant, GingerCraven seemed to lose his temper. "... Exactly the kind of answer I despise the most." Then, he muttered under his breath, too low for anyone to hear. "It makes it seem like I'm the one in the wrong." Berry Yogurt Cookie hesitated before mustering the courage to speak. "I... I think Dark Cherry Cookie is right this time." Grapevine Cookie watched GingerCraven through the falling snow. She smiled in her usual carefree way, but spoke with a slightly subdued voice. "Hmm... Now that I think of it..." Grapevine Cookie pondered her next words for a moment. "... You've just been waiting for someone to take your side, haven't you?" Berry Yogurt Cookie timidly added on. "That's... kind of sad." GingerCraven's expression hardened in an instant. Then, a thin, chilling smile spread across his lips. "I see..." The Cookie slowly tilted his head. "It was my mistake to expect mere crumbs to consider anything outside their own pitiful lives." The winds blowing across the tundra stopped. The snow covering the ground started glowing with a faint blue light. "I'll make you regret getting in my way."

16Holy Golden Drop Observation LogClear Stage 9-20Crystals×100›

The first day the Holy Golden Drop appeared above a distant tower, the Kingdom's scholars recorded it as sunlight reflecting through the air. When it appeared a second time, they claimed it was an ancient, malfunctioning decoration. The third time its enormous golden body appeared and spread its snow-white wings, the scholars quietly started a new record sheet. “Unidentified giant drop-shaped entity.” “Emits a powerful golden light.” “Has wings.” “Extra chonky.” “Observation inspires an inexplicable sense of reverence.” The Holy Golden Drop never spoke. It merely floated in silence above the distant tower, gazing down upon the Kingdom. Yet that silence only gave the Cookies more room to imagine. The final observation record read, “Do not report this to His Majesty King Choco Drop yet.” On the next page, however, someone had scrawled a message in chocolate syrup: “I have already seen it.” Beneath that was another sentence, written with far greater force. “Size alone does not make a drop magnificent.”

17Tales of Crumbs (1): The Dust-Covered SwordClear Stage 10-20Crystals×100›

"Why are you so obsessed with getting stronger, Dark Cherry Cookie?" Dark Cherry Cookie answered Berry Yogurt Cookie's question as though the answer were obvious. “Because being strong is cool.” "But strength is only a means to an end. What do you want to do with it?" Dark Cherry Cookie fell silent. Back when she shut herself away in her room and spoke to no one, she would often stare at the dust-covered sword hanging on the wall. It had hung there like a decoration for years without cutting a single thing. Somehow, it reminded her of herself. Then one day, on impulse, Dark Cherry Cookie ran away from home. She stole the sword from the wall... or rather, borrowed it. From that moment on, she was no longer a Cookie confined to her room. She was a wandering swordswoman who cleaved through darkness and cut down fate itself. Granted, she had no money for lodgings on her first night and slept beside a stable. Even that felt like a trial befitting a wanderer. There was no grand calling behind it. She simply felt that both she and the sword could use a breath of fresh air. And since she had already ventured out, she decided she might as well become incredibly strong and incredibly cool. "Well, I guess I can't really be one to judge..." Berry Yogurt Cookie murmured under his breath, and Grapevine Cookie gave an easy smile. "Not every Cookie has to do what other Cookies consider right, y'know?" Dark Cherry Cookie rested a hand on her scabbard. “I refuse to accept that there's a 'right' way to live a Cookie's life in the first place. Besides, being cool is all that matters to me.” "Hehe. Cheers to that!" Grapevine Cookie raised her glass to no one in particular.

18Memories of the Oven LabyrinthClear Stage 12-30Crystals×100›

In the Oven Labyrinth, the exit was always in sight. Always. Yet whenever he ran, it receded into the distance. Whenever he stopped, the heat drew closer. Whenever he fell into a pit, he returned to the beginning. At first, he ran to escape. Then he ran to remember why he existed. Eventually, he ran because he feared he would truly vanish if he ever stopped. The Cookie who built the labyrinth had probably wanted to prove something. That even bravery crumbles when baked for too long. That names, roles, and beliefs all burn to a crisp in the end. Oven Wanderer Cookie could not say that thought was entirely wrong. He had known fear. He had wanted to run away. He had broken down countless times. But the labyrinth had taught him something else as well. Running alone was faster. It also always brought him right back to where he started. Holding someone's hand slowed him down. Yet each time he did, a slightly different path opened before them.

19Appraisal of a Suspicious CrystalClear Stage 14-20Crystals×100›

An appraisal of the Crystal veins recently discovered throughout the Kingdom arrived at the Guild. At first glance, the Crystals appeared to be ordinary energy minerals. According to the appraisal, however, some samples exhibited resonance similar to that of Portal Stones. The appraiser's report read as follows: “Presumed to be a resource of considerable value.” “May produce a powerful energy reaction when processed.” “Contact with matter from another dimension may trigger unpredictable phenomena.” “Beautiful, expensive, and dangerous.” The ink on the final sentence was unusually dark. “Which means, of course, everyone will want it.” Berry Yogurt Cookie read the line and quietly remarked, “If it's dangerous, that means we can charge hazard pay.” Dark Cherry Cookie held a Crystal fragment against her sword and nodded. “It would look really cool set into a blade.” Grapevine Cookie laughed from a safe distance. “Haha, never change you two...” At that moment, a tiny blue light flickered deep within the Crystal, as though someone in a faraway place were peering through from the other side.

20Failed Experiment Storage Log No. ???Clear Stage 16-30Crystals×100›

Signs of life detected. Determined capable of independent movement. Delayed response to Oven escape. Excessive fear response to extreme heat. Observed aversion to the world beyond the Oven door. Remarks: Dough structure resembles that of the first escapee, but behavior at critical moments differs. Difficult to classify as “brave.” Temporary designation: GingerCraven. The cowardly one. At the bottom of the record sheet, someone had scratched a sentence into the page with an old fingernail. “Does being the last to run make you a coward?” Beneath it, even fainter writing remained. “Why is the one who was first to turn tail and run called brave?”

21A Wanderer's Tattered MapClear Stage 19-30Crystals×100›

The weathered map Oven Wanderer Cookie carried was covered in strange markings. The Oven. A forest. A Kingdom. A tower. A road that had collapsed. Yet another road joined together again. A road that did not exist yet. Cookies seeing it for the first time called it a hopeless mess. Oven Wanderer Cookie never threw it away. One day, someone asked him, “Why do you carry that map around?” He studied it for a moment. “I used to draw it so I could find the exit.” “And now?” “I'm not sure. So I don't forget where I'm going, I guess.” In one corner of the map, a short sentence had been traced over many times. “Even if I have to start all over again, I'll take a different path this time.” Perhaps Oven Wanderer Cookie was no longer searching for an exit. Perhaps, now that he was outside, he was learning for the first time how to choose his own path.

22King Choco Drop's DiaryClear Stage 22-20Crystals×100›

Light reflected upon the giant mass of the Holy Golden Drop glimmered from beyond the Castle's eastern tower again today. The absurdly enormous drop appeared out of nowhere, and to make matters worse... it even has wings. The entire spectacle is deeply unsettling. Honestly, what is so remarkable about a golden drop? Chocolate brown is the true color of refinement. Sweet, rich, and, most importantly, nearly impossible to remove once it stains something. Credit must be given where it is due. That creature is... conspicuous. Far too conspicuous. It has neither castle nor crown, yet it steals every Cookie's gaze with nothing more than its massive body and snow-white wings. Still, I, on the other hand, have a crown, a cloak, and a Royal Castle. The question of which drop is superior has therefore already been settled. Probably. Tomorrow, I shall ascend the castle's highest tower. I must stand taller than the Holy Golden Drop and present a far more commanding sight upon my subjects. Naturally, this has nothing to do with something as petty as jealousy. If two giant drops must stand beneath the same sky, it must be established which stands in glory as the true King to rule above all. For lore... and things like that. I am absolutely not jealous. Not at all.

23Dimensional Rift Observation LogClear Stage 27-30Crystals×100›

In the rift between dimensions, nameless Cookies lay piled as high as mountains. Dough that had never baked properly. Stories that had never begun. Failed creations no one would ever seek again. Among them, one Cookie spent ages staring through a portal. A Cookie who rose after every fall. A Cookie who fled, yet was still called brave. A Cookie who failed, yet was always given another scene. The earliest observation record read: “Subject displays signs of cheering for the Cookies beyond the portal.” The records that followed grew shorter and shorter. “Supportive response declining.” “Envious response increasing.” “Exhibiting increasingly invasive jealous tendencies.” “Confirmed expressed hatred.” On the final page, someone other than the recorder had left a message. “Must be nice.” Beneath it, in even smaller writing: “Your story keeps going even after you're broken.”

24The Light at the End of a Dark PathClear Stage 35-20Crystals×100›

Brightseeker Cookie spotted a lone Cookie standing at the end of the path among the darkened ruins. Clutching a weathered map, the stranger stood so still that they might have been waiting there for ages. “Are you lost?” Oven Wanderer Cookie looked up, his gaze settling on the glowing candy atop Brightseeker Cookie's staff. “I'm not sure. Maybe it wasn't the path I lost.” “Then I'll light the way for you. It's scarier when you can't see what's ahead.” Oven Wanderer Cookie rubbed at a corner of the map. One path there had yet to be drawn. “Light doesn't make the road any safer." “No, but it lets you see where you might stumble. Besides, the world outside is full of more beautiful things than you'd think!” Oven Wanderer Cookie fell silent. It felt as though someone had once said the same thing, either long ago or in some distant future. As the staff's light touched the map, a slender line appeared across the empty space. “I've never taken this path before.” Brightseeker Cookie beamed. “Doesn't it feel like something good might happen?” Oven Wanderer Cookie nodded instead of answering, then slowly followed the light.

25Rancidian Code of Conduct: Revised EditionClear Stage 35-30Crystals×100›

1. Never place too much faith in a name. A name is merely the first part one learns to play. 2. If the Cookie beside you begins to tremble, report it at once. The moment you conceal it, you become an accomplice. 3. Do not pretend to be brave. It only looks more pathetic when the truth comes out. 4. Weakness does not belong to the individual. It is an asset of the state. 5. The denial of one's cowardice simply proves it. At the very bottom, someone had added a line in tiny writing. “This world has not failed. It simply has yet to discover how to move forward.” A dark stain of ancient, hardened red syrup had spread across the words.

26D'vine Abbey Code of ConductClear Stage 44-20Crystals×100›

1. Pray diligently each morning and preserve the peace within your heart. 2. Devote yourself to your fellow Cookies, and do not squander Jelly or syrup on frivolous luxuries. 3. Do not secretly remove and consume the sacred vintage grape juice stored beneath the Abbey. 4. Never seek private contact with vampires or any other creatures that covet jam in the darkness. 5. Do not go on a private late-night date with a vampire at a Jelly juice bar. 6. Do not applaud and call it cute when a vampire performs a bat transformation trick. 7. Do not... take a weekend trip outside the Abbey with a vampire. 8. Do not... do that... with a vampire. 9. For the love of everything sacred, DO NOT GIVE A VAMPIRE THE PASSWORD TO THE REAR DOOR OF THE ABBEY'S UNDERGROUND WAREHOUSE!

27Excerpts from Rancidia's Administrative RecordsClear Stage 51-20Crystals×100›

Initial policy name: Program to Encourage Weakness Disclosure Objective: Encourage citizens to acknowledge their own fear, hesitation, and cowardice. Results of first implementation: Sharp increase in citizens reporting one another. 312 reports stating, “That Cookie was trembling.” 97 reports stating, “That Cookie looked as though they wanted to run away.” 44 reports stating, “That Cookie's attempt to act brave was unconvincing.” Following the second implementation: Fear became complicity. Hesitation became a defect. A name became a part one was forced to play. A brief note had been written in black ink on the report's final line. “Even fear becomes remarkably efficient once made into a system.”

28Portal Stone User ReviewsClear Stage 54-20Crystals×100›

The Kingdom Magical Logistics Association created a review board to promote the safe use of Portal Stones. The idea was that accidents could be prevented if users shared their experiences firsthand. Within a day of opening the board, however, the association began to wonder if the decision had been somewhat hasty. “I tried to reach the Royal Castle and landed on the chocolate roof.” “I tried to reach the Jelly market and landed in a swamp of strawberry jam.” “I tried to go home and arrived at the house I baked yesterday.” “I saved on delivery fees, but the cake box hasn't left yet.” “I went to a pudding shop. Somehow, I ended up inside the pudding.” This review received the most upvotes: “I arrived. I don't know where. The air does smell sweet, though.” Experts maintain that Portal Stones allow for safe travel when arranged according to the prescribed spell formula. Most users counter that the formula is too long, all the stones look alike, and they assumed turning one upside down couldn't possibly hurt. The Kingdom soon issued a new set of safety guidelines. “Portal Stones are not to be used as decorative macaron towers." “Do not lick them just because they sparkle.” “Do not enter a portal even if you smell grape juice coming from it.” “If your destination is the ceiling of a giant bathhouse, close your eyes immediately.”

29Excerpts from the Plaque Tower BlueprintsClear Stage 59-20Crystals×100›

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary tower blueprint. Exterior landmark walls. Crystal vein junction. Portal Stone transport rails. Observation deck. Planned site of a souvenir shop. Yet another set of lines lay hidden within the design. Portal Stone resonance angles. Dimensional rift amplification device. Collision points between names and parts. At the very top, a single sentence had been written in black ink. “The higher it rises, the more easily the world begins to shake.” Devil's Tooth Cookie stared at the sentence for a long while, then quietly closed the ledger. A new boss spoke from behind. “Don't worry. It's just a tower. A very tall, very useful tower that occasionally scrapes against the bottom of the world.” Devil's Tooth Cookie did not answer.

30Tales of Crumbs (2): A Fleeting Taste of BitternessClear Stage 65-30Crystals×100›

Dark Cherry Cookie polished her sword while Berry Yogurt Cookie studied the household ledger and Grapevine Cookie lounged by the fire, sipping grape juice. Just an ordinary night. Crackle. The instant a spark fizzled off into the darkness, Grapevine Cookie's smile faltered. A little child playing with fireworks. A closing door. The warmth that lingered in a tiny hand. Berry Yogurt Cookie quietly raised his head. "Are you... all right?" Grapevine Cookie's eyes immediately curved into a smile. "Ahaha! This juice isn't quite as acidic as what we usually get, is it? The bitterness really creeps up on you." Without a word, Dark Cherry Cookie slid her sword back into its scabbard. Berry Yogurt Cookie asked nothing more. A moment later, Grapevine Cookie swirled her glass. "You're both such kind, young Cookies..." Then she added with perfect ease, "Surely such kind Cookies would be more than happy to pay for today's juice, wouldn't they?" Berry Yogurt Cookie silently opened the household ledger again.

31Dignity LostClear Stage 70-20Crystals×100›

The Mercenary Guild's bulletin board is once again covered in suspicous commissions. “Track down the Cake Hound that stole the crown.” “Investigate strange noises beneath the Jelly market.” “Recover His Majesty King Choco Drop's Lost Dignity.” Berry Yogurt Cookie quietly removed the last notice. The compensation was generous. By now, the peculiar details hardly mattered. “We'll take this one.” Dark Cherry Cookie rested a hand on her scabbard. “Dignity... Is that really something one can cut down?” Grapevine Cookie sipped her juice with a smile. “Usually, once you've lost something like that, you can't just go looking for it.” Berry Yogurt Cookie pointed to the small writing at the bottom of the notice. “Consolation payment available upon complimenting His Majesty.” That afternoon, the Crumble Mercenaries stood before the Royal Castle and proclaimed with utmost sincerity: “Your crown is exceptionally lustrous today.” “... Your chocolate is... really chocolatey.” “Your dignity is... hmm, about three bottles' worth of grape juice. Amazing!” King Choco Drop was thoroughly pleased, and the consolation payment was issued at once. A new item appeared in Berry Yogurt Cookie's ledger. “Compliment commission: High return. Damages and costs to personal pride yet to be determined.”

32Transcript of the New Boss's SpeechClear Stage 75-30Crystals×100›

Transcript from an orientation session for new Implant Order members. GingerCraven: You think you're simply digging holes in the ground. Recorder's annotation: Subject rolls a Portal Stone fragment between his fingertips. GingerCraven: You're not. We're finding just how deep this world goes... GingerCraven: The true depths of the emptiness. GingerCraven: Where the collapse begins. GingerCraven: ... And who is the first to get scared. Cool Mint Cookie: That's our Boss! That's so deep!!! GingerCraven: Yes. Quite deep. After all... Cookies who fall into deep holes tend to back step and call it their philosophy. Devil's Tooth Cookie wrote the following in the margin of the ledger: “Boss's objective: ???”

33Thoughts About That CookieClear Stage 80-30Crystals×100›

Whenever Oven Wanderer Cookie thought of GingerCraven, the first thing that came to mind was the Oven's heat. The heart faltering before its blazing door. The moment when fear screamed at him to run, yet his feet refused to move. The shame of wanting to live. He knew that feeling well enough. The world needs Cookies who run away. It needs Cookies who sense danger before anyone else. Some Cookies live to carry the story forward precisely because they chose to retreat. Yet, trapping other Cookies in a labyrinth just to prove that truth was another matter entirely. Oven Wanderer Cookie folded his weathered map and murmured to himself. “There's nothing wrong with being afraid.” After a moment, he added, “But that doesn't give you an excuse to hurt others.”

34[News Report] Petty Villains' Alliance Express Strong ProtestClear Stage 86-20Crystals×100›

As the Crumble Mercenaries began rounding up every small-time villain they could find to repay their Royal Castle restoration debt, the Petty Villains' Association issued a formal protest. “It's not like we're evil 'cause we want to be!” “Does being petty mean you can arrest us whenever you please?!” “Even lousy villains have lousy rights!” “Ensure adequate time to escape... Or else!” To save on venue costs, the association planned to hold a press conference in an abandoned warehouse. Unfortunately, that very warehouse had been listed on the bounty bulletin board as a “small-time villain hideout,” so the conference failed before it could even begin. Berry Yogurt Cookie confiscated the protest request before it could be submitted to the mercenary guild. The reason was simple: There was a bounty on the villain carrying it. Dark Cherry Cookie drew her sword. “Lousy rights... Not a bad choice of last words.” Grapevine Cookie murmured lazily beside her, “Mmm... I hope their next conference at least has snacks." Meanwhile, the Petty Villains' Association is reportedly drafting its next protest. Of course, its author is still on the run.

35The Abbey's PursuitClear Stage 92-20Crystals×100›

On one page of an old register at the D'vine Abbey, a name remained unerased. Grapevine Cookie. Remarks: Departed the Abbey. Confirmed record of entry into the underground warehouse. Suspected contact with a vampire. Retrieval required. Pinot Noir Cookie, the Abbey's abbot, closed the register. “That was a long time ago.” Chardonnay Cookie stood by the door and answered quietly. “Even so, it has yet to come to conclusion.” A short while later, the abbey's rear gate opened. Two Cookies slipped out in silence, following a road still heavy with the damp scent of grapes.

36Portal Stone Resonance Experiment: Trial 7Clear Stage 96-30Crystals×100›

Affixed a name tag to the subject Cookie, then exposed the subject to Portal Stone resonance. Result: The subject repeatedly checked their own name. After three minutes, observed anxiety response triggered by a discrepancy between name and role. After five minutes, the subject murmured, "Is this really the kind of Cookie I am...?" The recorder paused their pen. “Once a name begins to waver, a Cookie falls apart more easily than you'd think.” GingerCraven gazed through the glass at the Cookie beyond. “Well, it shouldn't come as a surprise. Most Cookies trust their nametags more than they trust themselves.” From inside the laboratory, the subject Cookie asked in a trembling voice, “Who... am I?” GingerCraven did not answer. At the bottom of the record sheet, a line remained in tiny writing. “I spent a long time asking the same question.”

37Tales of Crumbs (3): Money, Coins, Gold... What Comes Next?Clear Stage 101-30Crystals×100›

Berry Yogurt Cookie sometimes thought back to his days as a young maid-in-training. He had assumed that working in a wealthy household might make him privy to some secret method for saving money. He soon learned the truth. Before any "secret method" could help, one needed a wallet already stuffed with Coins. Growing up poor had taught Berry Yogurt Cookie to count Coins long before it taught him to smile. And so, today as always, he opened the household ledger. Meal expenses. Lodging. Juice. Sword maintenance. Unexpected breakage. Expected but unavoidable breakage. Just then, his two companions approached awkwardly from a distance, looking very much as though they had caused some kind of trouble. Instead of sighing, Berry Yogurt Cookie picked up his pen. “What did you break this time?” Grapevine Cookie smiled. Dark Cherry Cookie looked away. Berry Yogurt Cookie added a new item. (Companion upkeep, incalculable.) He considered removing it, but in the end, he left the words uncrossed. The ledger was already in the red, perhaps one more expense like this wouldn't be so bad. After all, perhaps the best part of a Cookie's life was that it never went entirely according to plan.

38Notes on the Name “Brave”Clear Stage 104-30Crystals×100›

An old book was discovered. Its title had almost completely faded, but one page was covered in annotations written in red ink. “GingerBrave.” Crooked writing crowded the space beside the name. Being the first to run is bravery. Being late to run is cowardice. A hero gets back up after falling. A failed creation trembles before rising. How convenient... neat, clean lines by which to classify Cookies. Another sentence had been written near the bottom of the page. “You started it all.” Beneath it, darker writing remained. “If that's the case... can the standards set back then be baked anew?”

39[Special Report] Are Cookies Happier After Escaping the Oven?Clear Stage 109-30Crystals×100›

Once, every Cookie shared a single dream: To escape the blazing Oven and run into the wider world beyond. Yet even after leaving the Oven behind, the Cookies never stopped running. Some ran to build Kingdoms. Some ran to save the world. Others ran in search of the truth. And some still run each day to the mercenary guild bulletin board, hoping to claim whichever commission will cost them the least. Experts describe this as “a new stage in Cookie society's development following the escape from the Oven.” Some Cookies, however, have begun raising cautious questions. If we escaped, why are there still Stages left? Thousands of them, no less? If we're free, why does every commission event still have a deadline? If we made it out of the Oven, why is life still so hot we all risk burnout? Most Cookies have decided not to think too deeply about it. Too much thinking slows the feet, and slow feet run straight into obstacles. Upon hearing this report, GingerBrave reportedly flashed a bright smile and declared, “Something's bound to turn up if we just keep running, right?!” Whether those words express genuine hope, mere momentum, or some ancient curse left by the Witch remains unknown.

40The Reply Never SentClear Stage 112-30Crystals×100›

Oven Wanderer Cookie found writing left on a wall of the Oven Labyrinth. There was no need to ask who had written it. If you tell me I was wrong, then what did I destroy you for? Oven Wanderer Cookie closed his eyes, searching for the words of a reply with nowhere to go and no Cookie to receive it. I know. The world needs Cookies who run away. It needs Cookies who sense fear before anyone else. Retreating to survive isn't always wrong. But what you did proved nothing. You only trapped other Cookies inside your Oven. Oven Wanderer Cookie held his breath for a moment. Behind him, the Oven's heat was catching up once more. Cowardice has its place... But you can't use it as an excuse to imprison others. With a heavy sigh, Oven Wanderer Cookie began to run again, hoping the time would come when he could finally deliver that answer.

41A Certain Scientist's Crash LandingClear Stage 115-20Crystals×100›

Beside the blue portal stood a weathered sign. “Rancidian Code of Conduct.” Do not trust your name. Your weaknesses are an asset of the state. The denial of one's cowardice simply proves it. Below it, someone had scratched another sentence into the sign. “We are not all failed creations.” The portal soon closed. Then, someone broke into a brilliant grin. “Excellent! Oppressed Cookies, suspicious codes of conduct, and a message from the resistance! What a spectacular disaster!” The Cookie produced a suspicious-looking whisk. “The portal may be closed, but traces of it are still left here. Let's solve this like proper scientists.” The whisk whirred to life. “Run!”

42Graffiti on the Walls of the Oven LabyrinthClear Stage 122-30Crystals×100›

There is an exit. There is no exit. Run, and it draws closer. Run, and it slips farther away. Go alone, and you will be faster. Go alone, and you will find yourself right back where you started. “If bravery stays in the Oven too long, will it bake until it crumbles?” Farther down, someone had scrawled a rough reply. “No. Someone will still escape.”

43[Economy Pages] Jelly Prices Soar as Commission Fees Remain FrozenClear Stage 126-20Crystals×100›

Jelly prices have been rising at an alarming rate throughout the Choco Drop Kingdom. The costs of Meat Jellies, Restoration Jellies, grape juice, and even cherry blossom whetstones for blade maintenance have climbed across the board, leaving mercenary Cookies' finances increasingly brittle. B-rank mercenaries have been hit especially hard. Their commission fees remain unchanged while lodging and equipment repairs have skyrocketed, and post-battle snack expenses simply cannot be reduced. “The bill scares me more than the dust bunnies now,” one mercenary testified. The mercenary guild defended its freeze on commission fees as “an unavoidable measure to stabilize the Kingdom's economy and maintain balance in the commission market.” Yet the following notices remain posted in a corner of the guild bulletin board: “Investigation of Dangerous Dungeon: Average compensation.” “Recovery of Suspicious Portal Stone: Transportation not covered.” “Assistance with Royal Castle Restoration: No compensation. Honor and exposure provided.” Berry Yogurt Cookie fell silent for a long while after reading the article. Then he quietly opened his ledger and added several new items in immaculate handwriting. “All commissions must be paid in advance.” “Hazard pay charged separately.” “Honor cannot be converted into meal expenses.” Experts predict that Jelly prices are unlikely to stabilize anytime soon. Of course, their consultation fees have already risen as well.

44Tales of Crumbs (4): The Price of Shelter on a Rainy DayClear Stage 130-15Crystals×100›

On a night of torrential rain, the Crumble Mercenaries came to a halt outside a weathered inn. Warm light spilled through the doorway, carrying the scent of soup, while the three Cookies outside stood soaked from head to toe. The problem was the price. Even the cheapest room cost far too much. Two rooms were out of the question, and as for three... everyone quietly pretended the thought had never occurred to them. Dark Cherry Cookie spoke in a low voice “Heh. I can sleep in the darkness.” Grapevine Cookie laughed and shrugged, “A stable has a certain charm! Just as long as the roof doesn't leak.” Berry Yogurt Cookie looked from one to the other. A sodden cloak. A dripping scabbard. The scent of grape, somehow even more limp and wilted than usual. Then there was the cost of cold medicine, the fee for drying their equipment, and the risk of failing tomorrow's commission. At last, he closed the household ledger. “We'll take one room. Just... no extra juice with dinner." That night, for the first time, the three of them fell asleep in the cramped room feeling a little less awkward around one another. The rain continued outside. Inside, however, things were surprisingly comfortable.

45The Crumble Mercenaries and GingerCravenClear Stage 136-30Crystals×100›

When GingerCraven first laid eyes on the Crumble Mercenaries, he thought nothing of them. A Cookie drunk on swords and bravado. A Cookie who hid his fear behind money and cynicism. A Cookie who blurred her past with an easy smile. They were neither great heroes nor perfect villains. They were Cookies hounded by debt, worried about meal expenses, and quick to express discontent whenever payment for a commission ran late. Yet somehow, they refused to break. GingerCraven smiled. “Impressive. You manage quite well for yourselves, despite being called no better than crumbs.” Berry Yogurt Cookie closed the household ledger. “Was that a compliment?” “Of course not. Compliments are generally reserved for opponents of value.” And yet GingerCraven's gaze lingered on them for a long while. For mere crumbs, they were remarkably stubborn.

46A Meeting Somewhere, SometimeClear Stage 139-30Crystals×100›

GingerCraven smiled quietly. It was a clammy sort of smile, the smile of someone who knew exactly where their opponent's deepest wound lay. “Did you know?” Blue light from the portal shimmered between the two Cookies. “You were the only Cookie to survive that labyrinth.” Oven Wanderer Cookie gave no answer for a long while. The Oven burning on relentlessly. The starting line repeating without end. Cookies vanishing into the fire before he could even reach for them. “I know. I couldn't save them.” For the briefest moment, GingerCraven's smile disappeared. There was no excuse in that answer. No anger. Only the weight of a memory carried for far too long. A moment later, GingerCraven smiled again. “How convenient. The survivor gets to say that.” Oven Wanderer Cookie raised his head. “No. I don't just get to say it... I have to say it because I survived.” The light of the portal wavered softly. For one brief moment, across some distant time, the two Cookies remembered the heat of the same Oven.

47Tales of Crumbs (5): The Sword, the Ledger, and the Empty BottleClear Stage 145-20Crystals×100›

One morning, three objects sat in a row on the small table in their room at the inn. Dark Cherry Cookie's scabbard. Berry Yogurt Cookie's ledger. Grapevine Cookie's empty juice bottle. To anyone else, they would have seemed an odd assortment. To the three Cookies, each held its own importance. Dark Cherry Cookie picked up her scabbard, proof that she would not remain shut away in the room today. Berry Yogurt Cookie leafed through his ledger, searching once again for a way to minimize their losses. Grapevine Cookie gave the empty bottle a shake. “Aww, it's empty...” “That doesn't mean you get to buy a new one.” “Ahaha. How'd you know that was what I was thinking?” The three of them did not entirely understand one another. They probably never would. Even so, when the time came for their next commission, they would surely grumble all the way there, running side by side as always.

48GingerCraven's Private ThoughtsClear Stage 152-30Crystals×100›

“Must be nice.” GingerCraven smiled as he gazed beyond the portal. “When you run away, it's strategy. When you keep quiet, it's caution. When you fail, it's an opportunity for growth. What a convenient world.” Blue light from the portal washed over his face. His lips were smiling. His eyes were not. “One moment of hesitation was all it took to earn my name.” He tapped the Portal Stone with one fingertip. “So this time, it's your turn. Let's see what breaks first: your name or your dough.” Silence lingered for a moment. “Don't worry... After all, I am the craven one, aren't I?”

49[Kingdom Administration] Temporary Name Tag DistributionClear Stage 157-30Crystals×100›

As reports spread throughout the Kingdom of names fading away and Cookies forgetting their own names under the influence of a suspicious skull symbol, the Kingdom Administration Bureau began issuing temporary name tags. The tags are intended to help Cookies retain a clear memory of their own names. Supposedly, they take effect after being affixed to the chest and used in at least three self-introductions. Several side effects have been reported. A Cookie wearing a tag labeled “GingerBrave” suddenly began charging recklessly ahead. An otherwise ordinary Cookie whose tag read “Villain” started practicing sinister laughter for no particular reason. Another Cookie, upon receiving a tag that read “Savior,” began preparing to flee from the pressure. The Administration Bureau explained that “the name tags are strictly a temporary measure and may not reflect the wearer's true name.” At the bottom of one of the distributed boxes, however, a small note of unknown origin was discovered. “Put it on. You'll soon find out whether it suits you.” The Administration Bureau announced that the note had been confiscated immediately. Yet before long, the name tag worn by the Cookie assigned to retrieve it bore a new label. “Cookie Who Saw Nothing.”

50The Letter That Never LeftClear Stage 160-30Crystals×100›

The letter was never sent. No name had been written on the envelope, and the pages inside were marred by lines begun and abandoned over and over again. You understand, don't you? What it feels like to want to run. That moment when your feet refuse to move. The feeling of seeing an exit and no longer being able to trust it. I made you that way. If you tell me I was wrong, then what was this all for— The sentence ended there. Farther down the page, another passage appeared to have been added later. No. Forget it. It's better if I don't send this. It might be even worse if you understood. At the end of the letter, one final line had been pressed deep into the page. Say you need me. No, never mind. Don't say it. The letter remained unfolded on the desk. GingerCraven was going to burn it, but in the end, he could not bring himself to light the flame.

51Say You Need MeClear Stage 163-30Crystals×100›

“Say it.” GingerCraven was smiling, though his voice trembled ever so slightly. “Say that cowardice has its place. Say the world needs Cookies who run away, and Cookies who sense fear before anyone else.” Someone answered with care. “That's true. But what you did—” GingerCraven's expression hardened. “Don't say it so easily.” All formality vanished from his voice. “If that one sentence was going to settle everything... then everything I destroyed becomes no more than a joke.” The Portal Stones began to glow blue. He smiled again, this time with a thin, icy curve of his lips. “No, never mind. Don't say it.” Silence lingered for a moment. “It would only be more pathetic of me if I had to force it out of you.” Countless portals opened behind him. One by one, Cookies whose stories should have belonged to other worlds turned their heads toward the Crumble world.

52[Daily Report] Another Crumbling Day on the Continent!Clear Stage 168-29Crystals×100›

Portal Stones. Crystal veins. The Holy Golden Drop. The Implant Order's sudden rise to power. The Kingdom newspaper gathered these events into a single report and declared them a continent-wide crisis. King Choco Drop announced, “In any case, our Kingdom is perfectly safe.” The Implant Order insisted, “We're only digging in the ground like we always have.” The Mercenary G stated, “We can handle anything, provided the commission fee arrives on time.” Crumble Mercenaries read the newspaper in silence. It could be an ancient secret. It could be a conspiracy that would shake the entire continent. It could be a threat to the entire Cookie world as they knew it. Berry Yogurt Cookie spoke at last. “... So there's money in it.” And so, the continent crumbles a little more with each passing day... This is... Crumble!

53[Kingdom Library] Books Are Meant to Be ReadClear Cookie EXP Dungeon Stage 100Crystals×100›

A surprisingly... aggressive new method of studying has recently gained popularity at the Kingdom Library. Some librarians have taken the phrase “put knowledge in your head” far too literally and begun attempting to drive books directly into visitors' heads. Most victims responded with comments such as, “It hurt... but I think I learned something,” “For some reason, I only remember what was on the page that hit me,” and “I finally understand the weight of a book return deadline.” The library has dubbed the phenomenon “extreme rote EXP learning” and recommends wearing safety helmets in the library until further notice. Once reports emerged that being struck by a book could actually grant EXP, however, several Cookies began seeking out shelves stocked with even thicker volumes. The Kingdom Library concluded its announcement with the following notice: “Books are meant to be read. Throwing, being struck by, or eating them is not recommended.” Of course, the notice was printed in such an enormous book that no Cookie has managed to read it to the end.

54King Choco Drop's Emergency AddressReach 100000000 points in Crumble DungeonCrystals×100›

King Choco Drop delivered an urgent address in the Kingdom square. The podium stood slightly taller than usual. His crown gleamed a little brighter, and an unusually enormous flag hung behind him. “The recent rumors concerning the Holy Golden Drop have no bearing whatsoever on the stability of this Kingdom!” King Choco Drop continued emphatically. “A golden drop appearing from nowhere and blocking a small portion of the sky will never shake the dignity of our Kingdom!” It was a rather commanding speech. The problem lay in the budget proposal tucked behind the address. “Construction plan for a giant statue to restore the dignity of His Majesty King Choco Drop.” Target height: Slightly taller than the Holy Golden Drop. Essential requirement: Must appear more dignified despite having no wings. Chocolate luster maintenance costs not included.” The Kingdom's treasurer collapsed quietly upon reading the proposal. The Sugar Gnomes picked up their hammers without a word. Then they found the clause at the very bottom promising “additional pay” and, just as silently, set their hammers back down.

55Joyous Crystal(?) VeinsClear Plaque Tower Floor 100Crystals×100›

This story took place long ago, back when the Implant Order had only two members. It was midday. Cool Mint Cookie was happily drilling into the ground while Devil's Tooth Cookie carefully studied an estimate with a sigh. As usual, the construction site was filled with nothing but choking dust. CRRRACK! With a deafening sound, a towering column of water erupted from the ground. Cool Mint Cookie's face immediately lit up with delight. “THAT'S MORE LIKE IT! We finally hit a Crystal vein! We're RICH!” Drenched by the deluge, Devil's Tooth Cookie slowly raised his head. Standing beside what he alone recognized as a ruptured municipal water main, he closed his eyes and silently calculated the damages owed to the local authorities and the cost of repairs. “Crystals are a mineral, Cool Mint Cookie. Not a liquid."

56The Lollipop WorkshopOwn Brightseeker CookieCrystals×100›

A sweet scent always permeated throughout Brightseeker Cookie's workshop... Or rather, the smell of something sweet beginning to burn. The nutty, almost overwhelming smell of sugar as it begins to caramelize against a blazing hot surface. Prototypes exploding. Spare parts rolling around. One, two... Three soot marks scattered across the ceiling. "It's going to work this time. I've just got this feeling!" Brightseeker Cookie hoisted her lollipop staff into the air with all her strength. It glimmered a moment longer than the previous attempt... a glimmer, or rather a glint, that gave a hint of the danger that was to come. BOOM! Four soot marks on the ceiling. Brightseeker Cookie coughed as she attempted to wave way the thick smoke, taking up a pad of sticky notes in her other hand. "Failure opens the door to discovering the next, improved version of your invention!" The sticky note was calmly torn off the pad and stacked upon ten other sticky notes bearing the same message—with varying levels of soot or damage.

57The Day the Map was IlluminatedReach 1★for Brightseeker CookieCrystals×100›

The first time Brightseeker Cookie laid eyes upon the map was in the middle of absolute ruin. Collapsed pillars. Embers fizzling out. Oven Wanderer Cookie, standing on his lonesome amidst the destruction. The map—if you could call it that—had a few routes hastily drawn across it. However, the great majority of the page was left blank. "Are you lost?" Brightseeker Cookie was the first to speak. The Cookie in front of her's answer was delayed, almost as if he had lost not only his way, but any idea of how to respond to such a question. Unbothered, Brightseeker Cookie simply held the candy topper of her lollipop staff over the map, casting a light across its emptiness. "The light lets you see where you might stumble. Besides, the world outside is full of more beautiful things than you'd think!" Following that fateful meeting, the map was slowly but surely filled, one path after another.

58The Time Spent TogetherReach 2★for Brightseeker CookieCrystals×100›

Occassionally Brightseeker Cookie allowed herself to think back to the past. A small, dilapidated hideout somewhere in Rancidia. A shared workbench. A map spread out that never had a chance to truly dry. Scarce supplies—even scarcer for everything they wished to do with them. One always taking the lead. One always keeping watch from behind. And herself, between the two, always with a bright smile upon her face. "There's nothing we can't handle so long as we're together!" Someone was always there to say that... Though she can no longer recall how many their party was when it was said. Now here she stood, alone, spreading out a new map. Would they ever be able to meet again? Or have things already proceeded past the point of no return?

59Another MeReach 3★for Brightseeker CookieCrystals×100›

Occasionally, the edges of her dough tingled. Almost as if another hand laid over hers, grasping the same tool. It wasn't an unfamiliar sensation—for once, just once, she had created something with a much colder and much more precise touch. Or rather, she had a memory of doing so. At this point, Brightseeker Cookie was unsure if that memory was hers, or a phantom memory of what could have been. Brightseeker Cookie found enjoyment in invention. However, occasionally the enjoyment was chased down with a brief chill of something akin to dread. "The world isn't all sunshine and smiles!" She said those words to herself, letting a smile return to her face. "So why don't I go make some fun of my own?"

60And So She Decided to Remain BrightReach 4★for Brightseeker CookieCrystals×100›

Someone once asked Brightseeker Cookie why she's always acting so bright. She simply replied with a smile. "Someone has to be! If not, who else would brighten up the way?" The world is filled with countless dark paths and alleys. Brightseeker Cookie had experienced a good handful of them herself, so she knew them all too well... She also knew just how utterly terrifying it could be to be lost in a darkness so deep you couldn't even see where you might trip up and fall. So she takes up her lollipop staff today, just like any other day, preparing to light someone's way. "I'll explain it all someday... Maybe." For now, those words were more for herself than for any other Cookie. Though she hoped, deep within her heart, that she would have the opportunity to say them to someone else.

61Morning in the D'Vine AbbeyOwn Pinot Noir CookieCrystals×100›

Mornings in the Abbey always began with the thick, permeating scent of grapes. Wake up at the prescribed time. Offer prayers in the prescribed order. Pour the same, exact amount of juice in the prescribed glasses. Another day without a single leaf or seed out of place. Pinot Noir Cookie faced the beginning of a new day with the exact same expression on his face as he had the last hundred—no, thousand times he'd repeated the same routine. Almost as if even the minute details of his expression were a part of the decree. There was only one exception, and it was the brief moments when a certain former Sister came to mind. The one who was out there, somewhere, living her life freely. Once those moments passed, the same, familiar expression returned to Pinot Noir Cookie's face as if nothing had happened.

62Obtaining the Shadow SerpentsReach 1★for Pinot Noir CookieCrystals×100›

Serpents lurked in the deep shadows beneath the expanses of a massive terrace supporting grape vines. None dared approach them. It was only natural, as the darkness was something to be feared. However, Pinot Noir Cookie was not afraid. "You are Divine creations, just as all else is." Pinot Noir Cookie created history as he became the first Cookie in the Abbey's history to calmly reach out his hand to these beings of darkness. From that day forth, the serpents followed Pinot Noir Cookie. Not because he had offered them teachings or enlightenment, no... Simply because he'd reached out his hand. To this very day, they watch over him, following him quietly in the shadows wherever he may go. They are not his weapon. As he puts it, they are both his companions and a symbol of his faith.

63To Our Cookie SistersReach 2★for Pinot Noir CookieCrystals×100›

Once upon a time, even the D'vine Abbey was filled with the sound of laughter. A small Cookie atop a flight of stairs. For the longest time, these corridors were that Cookie's home. A peculairly worry-free gait. A particularly troublesome habit of letting her hands "slip" and swipe away this thing or that. The carefree manner in which she brushed even those conflicts off with a simple, "What does it matter if it was all in good fun?" Those words, her way of speaking, were fresh in his ears. Almost as if he'd just heard them. Even now, whenever Pinot Noir Cookie walked through the quiet corridors, he was occasionally reminded of that Cookie's voice. Especially on days when the scent of grapes lay particularly thick throughout the Abbey's walls. On such days, he often poured more than the prescribed amount of juice into his personal glass. "... The Divine is gracious. They shall blame not a Cookie who has gone against the Divine Precepts for a single day." He muttered these words into the empty corridor and proceeded to empty his glass.

64Closing the RegisterReach 3★for Pinot Noir CookieCrystals×100›

On one page of an old register, a name remained unerased. Grapevine Cookie. Remarks: Departed the Abbey. Confirmed record of entry into the underground warehouse. Suspected contact with a vampire. Retrieval required. Pinot Noir Cookie opened the register to the familiar page before closing it. Only to open it, and close it once again. Countless times. "That was a long, long time ago." He spoke those words to himself as he always did. However, the words Chardonnay Cookie spoke standing nearby weighed heavily on his mind. "Even so, it has yet to come to conclusion...!" "Indeed... But have you any idea how many years must have passed since that Divine Juice was downed into Sister Grapevine's belly?" Chardonnay Cookie found herself unable to respond. "Still... Rules are rules." Those were the words he spoke as he once again flipped the register closed.

65When We Face What We MustReach 4★for Pinot Noir CookieCrystals×100›

Pinot Noir Cookie knows. He knows that one day, they must put an end to this seemingly endless pursuit. He knows that nobody knows what lies at that conclusion. Will it be punishment? Reconcilation? A simple exchange of words as they catch up with each other? "One day... I must meet her again, face to face." His hand slowly stroked the top of one of the shadow serpents. "However, today is not that day." A breeze mixed with the scent of grapes passed by outside the window.

66Looking After the ChildrenReach 5★for Pinot Noir CookieCrystals×100›

Although not officially recorded in the records, there were actually two young children who grew up within the D'vine Abbey's long corridors. The day they were first welcomed within its walls, the Abbey was quite loud and lively. Pinot Noir Cookie did not say much about it. "Children are just that... Children." One of the two was the first in the pews for prayer each morning, quietly reciting the Abbey's precepts. She was also often the first to point out if any member of the congregation recited a verse incorrectly. The other rarely attended the morning prayer, even after the bell to summon them to gather rang the third and final time. When he finally graced the congregation with his presence, the first thing he reached for was the nearest juice glass. "He's far too similar to her..." Pinot Noir Cookie often found himself muttering about the child's likeness under his breath. And yet, he was also the only Cookie to ensure a serving of the communion juice was saved for the young Cookie each time he overslept. While these actions were not a part of the precepts themselves, they also were not forbidden by them. That was enough to give Pinot Noir Cookie brief peace of mind. On the day the young Cookies left the Abbey, Pinot Noir Cookie carefully hung a small ornament around that Cookie's neck. "What's this for?" "That... you will come to know with time." Pinot Noir Cookie has heard the young Cookie still wears the ornament. He has also heard the young Cookie no longer remembers where he received the ornament. Whether Pinot Noir Cookie's blessing became his salvation or his shackles all depended on that Cookie's fate.

67An Overly Acidic MorningNew in 1.5Own Chardonnay CookieCrystals×100›

Another morning in the D'Vine Abbey. Chardonnay Cookie awakens from her rest, following the same prescribed routine as every other day. Reciting the same prayers without a single stammered or mispronounced word. Filling the hall's basin with the exact, prescribed amount of sacred water. Chardonnay Cookie was extremely exact, doing everything correctly without any errors, just as she always did. However, today, it seemed as if the fragrance of crisp green apple was stronger than usual. The usually mild notes of acacia, powerful enough that even an untrained palatte may pick them up. Above all else, the stinging acidity rising up beneath all these notes was sharp and impossible to ignore. "This... is simply a momentary inconvenience. It will be nothing so long as that Sister returns..." These words were muttered under Chardonnay Cookie's breath as she set down her glass. Soon after, she reaffirmed the placement of the sacred water basin. Once. Twice. A third and final time before wrapping up her morning routine. Today seemed to be playing out to be quite an unsettling day... Or rather, a day that called for increased caution. "The decrees of the Order are unwavering... It is simply that I have wavered."

68The Empty Space Alongside PrayersNew in 1.5Reach 1★for Chardonnay CookieCrystals×100›

Chardonnay Cookie cracked open her transcription notebook while reciting a prayer. Nearly every sentence was written down neatly, wtihout hesitation... However, there was one empty space remaining after the final line. The prescripts of the D'Vine Abbey had no room for error. The Cookies of the Abbey had to follow what must be followed... and the Cookies who had departed it were destined to come back. It was only right that the empty place left behind by Grapevine Cookie's departure was fated to be filled. And so, Chardonnay Cookie took up her pen. (Grapevine Cookie will return to repent.) She paused to think. (Grapevine Cookie will return to return the sacred articles.) She thought again. (Grapevine Cookie will...) Her pen hovered over the page, unmoving. It was simple enough to write the reasons for which she would return. However, who or what she would return to was a different matter altogether. The thought had Chardonnay Cookie grasping the pen a bit too tightly. Ultimately, the space was left blank. (This prayer has yet to come to a conclusion.)

69The Thin Line Between Sacred Water and PoisonNew in 1.5Reach 2★for Chardonnay CookieCrystals×100›

Chardonnay Cookie's sacred water is a blessing to allies, and a poison to her foes. The Cookie herself is very well aware of this fact. A glass for her allies. A mere drop for her foes. Sometimes, the glasses felt like they were never enough to represent her dedication, and yet the miniscule drops felt like an utter waste. Chardonnay Cookie raised a small glass, within which a clear liquid swayed quietly with the movement, reflecting the light. (Power follows the ripened heart of the one that uses it.) That was the teaching of the Order, and a principle that Chardonnay Cookie believed with no doubt. That was also exactly why Chardonnay Cookie's "heart" was proving such a problem. Whenever she thought about Grapevine Cookie, the sacred water she managed became dull and muddied. The refreshing, crisp flavor of green apples, the sweetness of acacia, all overwhelmed by a heavy, smoky aftertaste. Chardonnay Cookie set down her glass, muttering an excuse meant to be left unheard underneath her breath. "That Sister... is the reason why my sacred water keeps turning into poison."

70Someone's DiaryNew in 1.5Reach 3★for Chardonnay CookieCrystals×100›

The living quarters for the clergy were located within the deepest reaches of the Abbey. One room was filled with a particularly notable number of photos. Anno Dulcis 0000, Month of 00. Grapevine Cookie laughing within the vineyard. I took care of a Jellysnake that was approaching her from behind. She does not seem to be aware of this fact. Anno Dulcis 0000, Month of 00. Grapevine Cookie dozed off during prayer. I sat stiffly in front of her so that she was blocked from the priest's line of sight. Will she have realized this time? Anno Dulcis 0000, Month of 00. Grapevine Cookie broke one of the precepts, and gazed absently past the Abbey's walls. I noticed Pinot Noir Cookie approaching, so I purposefully spilled the juice that was meant to become sacred water, making a fuss about it. Grapevine Cookie snuck away while attention was elsewhere. I hope she noticed this time. The diary of a younger Chardonnay Cookie was packed just as full of entries involving Grapevine Cookie as her walls were with photos. Where she went, who she spoke with, what she was hiding... Chardonnay Cookie did not miss a single moment. Others occasionally commented that Chardonnay Cookie's actions were crossing the line as far as her friendship with Grapevene Cookie was concerned. Chardonnay Cookie did not pay them any mind. She knew that she was the only one who properly looked after Grapevine Cookie. That also meant that she was the only one who could protect Grapevine Cookie. Then, one fateful day... Grapevine Cookie departed the Abbey, and she did not return. For one day. Ten days. One hundred days. And then beyond... Chardonnay Cookie wrote a new entry beneath the final picture. "Days since Grapevine Cookie departed: 0000" The world outside the Abbey's walls was certain to be far more dangerous than within, where the Cookies' biggest worry was the occasional Jellysnake. She must be struggling out there without me— (I will go to her.)

71We'll Meet Again, SisterNew in 1.5Reach 4★for Chardonnay CookieCrystals×100›

Chardonnay Cookie stands before the back gate of the Abbey. There are many paths leading away from the Abbey. Some are overwhelmed with the scent of ripe grapes. Some give way to paths of footprints that suddenly break off. There is no way of knowing which of these paths that Grapevine Cookie chose to take. Pinot Noir Cookie's voice came from behind her. "One day, she will come to understand, Sister." Chardonnay Cookie repeated the words in her mind. She did not understand what it was that Pinot Noir Cookie insisted that Grapevine Cookie had failed to understand. Was it the rules of the Order? The true reasons for Grapevine Cookie's departure? Or perhaps... the truth that she had been seeking for all this time? Chardonnay Cookie took up a small bottle of sacred water. "I will retrieve her." Pinot Noir Cookie asked, "To make her repent?" Chardonnay Cookie stood in silence for a moment before replying. "That... I will decide after I meet her." That was the most honest answer that Chardonnay Cookie was able to give. The back gate to the Abbey swung open with a heavy, metallic sound.