Chapter 489 ·Castle Struggle (5)

“How about we decide in order of who’s the oldest?”

At ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Seolrang’s suggestion, the atmosphere in the reception room froze.

Even ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the men, who had been enthusiastically discussing the eighth floor moments ago—and Ryanga and Historia, who had been wearing expressions of admiration while listening to Nangwon’s analysis—all instantly fell silent.

For ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a moment.

“Ahem. ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I suddenly have something to do.”

“I’m ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍fine with any floor, so I’ll just take whatever remains.”

Deus ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍and Radan were the first to stand up.

“I think I’ll go take a look around the castle.”

Nangwon also subtly read the mood, approached the reception room door, and slipped out almost instantly.

Thus, six people remained in the room.

However—

“Ryanga.”

“Hm?”

Historia cautiously called out to Ryanga.

At her gesture, Ryanga leaned closer.

Then—

“Oh.”

The moment Ryanga let out a small exclamation—

“We’re leaving too.”

“...”

She hurried out with Historia.

And so only four people remained.

Yet none of them paid any attention to the people who had just fled.

“....”

“....”

“....”

“....”

The four seated figures stared at one another.

Seolrang wore a meaningful smile.

The other three remained silent, carefully gauging each other.

“So? Well?”

At that moment, Seolrang’s voice broke the silence.

The women’s expressions grew increasingly troubled.

In truth, the situation was actually advantageous for everyone except Seolrang.

Naturally.

Without question, Seolrang was the youngest among them.

However, for the others to gain an advantage over Seolrang, one condition was required.

A very important condition.

They had to acknowledge their own ages.

“....”

“....”

Seolrang looked at the three women.

Each one refusing to properly acknowledge her age in her own way.

Seeing them like that, Seolrang smiled inwardly in victory.

Beating Seolrang was easy.

They simply had to admit it.

But she knew that was precisely what made it difficult.

So she smiled and delivered the finishing blow.

“No one’s saying anything, so should I take that as meaning nobody objects?”

Then—

“No, wait a moment.”

“Hm? Why?”

“We haven’t agreed to that method yet.”

Magrina objected.

At her words, Rine finally emerged from her deep contemplation.

“That’s right, Seolrang. None of us have agreed to that method.”

Finally, even Yutia stepped in.

A trace of disappointment appeared in Seolrang’s eyes.

As though she had thought she could push it through as is.

Rine silently watched Seolrang before suddenly asking—

“I suspected it, but... you really did recover them, didn’t you?”

“Yep. Quite a few things.”

Seolrang nodded and smiled meaningfully at Yutia and Rine.

She had only just muttered,

“Then I guess we’ll postpone this wager for later~”

when—

“Let’s decide with a fair method.”

“A fair method?”

“How about rock-paper-scissors?”

At Magrina’s suggestion, Yutia smiled.

“My, that sounds nice.”

“Rejected.”

“No.”

However, Rine and Seolrang immediately vetoed it.

Magrina blinked in confusion.

“Why?”

“It gives one person too much of an advantage.”

“Exactly.”

“To whom?”

At Magrina’s question, Seolrang and Rine both glanced toward Yutia.

“My? Do you two think I’d do something strange in a game like that?”

“Yes.”

“Yep.”

Crack—

A tiny fracture appeared in Yutia’s smile.

“Then how about drawing lots?”

“Sounds good.”

“Rejected.”

“No.”

“Why...?”

“Because it favors one person.”

Rine and Seolrang answered immediately.

Another crack appeared in Yutia’s smile.

And thus began a fierce debate over how to determine ownership of the eighth floor.

Outside the room, the men who had quietly gathered by the door to eavesdrop on the women’s discussion exchanged looks.

“Why exactly is drawing lots considered unfair?”

“Hm~ Maybe because someone can somehow see what’s inside beforehand?”

“Honestly, that sounds ridiculous, but in this group it somehow feels possible...”

They nodded together.

This time, Nangwon voiced a question.

“Then why is rock-paper-scissors unfair?”

“Hm. Maybe because someone could change their hand at the last moment through sheer reflex?”

“That’s reasonable. Though even then, it doesn’t seem overwhelmingly advantageous.”

“Or maybe it’s because of experience.”

“...Experience?”

“Well, all of them have quite a lot of life experience—”

Just as Radan absentmindedly stroked his chin and continued—

Creeeak—

The door opened.

Standing there was—

“Radan. Do you want to find out?”

Yutia, smiling.

“Ah? N-No, this was just... another conversation—”

Cold sweat ran down Radan’s back.

However—

“My, there’s no need to think so much about it. Why don’t you make a fist?”

Yutia kindly suggested.

“No, I mean, this is—”

“Hurry.”

Pressed by her insistence, Radan found himself overwhelmed by the atmosphere and unconsciously raised a fist.

Yutia glanced at it once.

Then—

“Scissors.”

She threw scissors.

Tiny scissors made by fingers far smaller than Radan’s.

For a brief moment, Radan looked confused.

Then—

Tap.

The index and middle fingers forming Yutia’s scissors wrapped around his fist.

“Radan. Did you know?”

“...Know what?”

Crunch!

She squeezed.

“GAAAAH!?”

A scream burst from him as overwhelming pain shot through his hand.

His fist instantly opened.

“W-W-Wait!”

Radan collapsed to his knees, his legs giving out beneath him.

But despite his desperate cry, Yutia’s smile remained unchanged.

“My scissors beat rock.”

She tilted her head slightly.

Only after confirming that Radan had completely dropped to his knees amidst a final agonized scream did she release him.

Then she glanced toward Nangwon and Deus.

“Anyone else want to experience it?”

A perfectly ordinary question.

“....”

“....”

Naturally, nobody answered.

***

That night.

“So they decided to vote on who gets which floor?”

“Yes. That’s what they decided.”

“Hm.”

Honestly, the castle was enormous.

Did they really need to be this particular about individual floors?

The thought briefly crossed Alon’s mind.

Still, he nodded.

Though his memories were faint now, back in his old world people generally preferred higher floors over lower ones.

Recalling residential preferences, Alon convinced himself it made sense.

Then Evan spoke again.

“By the way, Lord Alon.”

“What is it?”

“What are you going to do about the airship?”

At Evan’s question, Alon nodded as though remembering.

“I already mentioned it to Lainisius, but I don’t know exactly how things will turn out.”

“Didn’t you say there was something related to airships that you were supposed to bring back from the Empire?”

“I did.”

The reason he hadn’t done so was simple.

He lacked information.

'I couldn’t exactly spend months searching everywhere for a single thing.'

Thinking that, Alon continued.

“Well, I’ve already spoken to Lainisius, so I’ll wait and see what happens there. As for the airship, I’ll probably have to visit the Mage Tower.”

“Won’t you go to Divine Land?”

“I should stop there too. Come to think of it, I need to visit Teria as well, and see Ard, and meet the divine-bloods.”

As he listed all the things he needed to do, Alon scratched his head.

Even though he had dealt with the most immediate concerns, there was still far too much left to accomplish.

After a moment, he decided not to stress over it.

Rushing wouldn’t help.

'First I’ll stop by Divine Land. After that, I should meet Star Root.'

Just as that thought crossed his mind—

“Hm?”

He suddenly realized something.

“Evan.”

“Yes?”

“Come to think of it, where’s Penia?”

Alon glanced toward where Penia usually sat.

She had been nowhere in sight for quite some time.

“I’m not sure...?”

“You haven’t seen her?”

“No. Though now that you mention it, it is strange. She’s normally always here.”

At Evan’s words, Alon looked toward Penia’s usual spot with a puzzled expression.

“Well, she seemed to have something urgent going on earlier. She’s probably taking care of business or relaxing somewhere. She’ll probably be back tomorrow.”

Evan’s carefree answer prompted Alon to nod and put the matter out of his mind.

***

When Penia first heard that Yutia had arrived, she felt despair.

The reason was the letter she had received.

Not just any letter.

A letter from Rosario.

A letter bearing the name of Cardinal Yutia.

Penia knew exactly what that meant.

Yet she had desperately ignored it.

Because she already had a fairly good idea why the letter had been sent.

And she was convinced that if she actually went to Rosario because of it, she might simply disappear without a trace.

Thus, after desperately avoiding the reformation letter, Yutia herself had arrived.

Naturally, Penia assumed Yutia had come personally to punish her.

She despaired.

But then she saw a glimmer of hope.

She realized Yutia hadn’t come because of her.

She had come because of the castle.

And when she heard that not only Yutia, but many others had arrived to claim the castle as well—she was overjoyed.

The more people competing for the castle, the more likely Yutia’s attention would be directed elsewhere rather than toward Penia.

So Penia began thinking:

'Maybe I survived this time?'

With that hope in mind, she planned to temporarily take refuge in the Blue Mage Tower.

Instead, she quietly returned to Palantio.

Still, just to be safe, she decided to stay at an inn for a day or two.

After paying for a room—

Creeeak—Thud!

“Whew!”

The moment she closed the door behind her, she let out a massive sigh of relief.

“My, you seem quite tired.”

“Yes, that’s right, very— ...???”

Penia automatically answered the voice.

Then froze.

Because she was absolutely certain she had just heard a voice that should never have been heard in this place.

Slowly, she looked forward.

“Hello, Penia.”

“Y-Yutia... Sis— no... Lady?”

Sitting calmly on the bed was Yutia.

“H-Haha... I think I got the wrong room. Sorry about that.”

Maintaining an awkward smile, Penia turned around and opened the door.

But the moment she did—

“Hello.”

She saw Rine standing there.

Click.

Penia immediately closed the door again.

“Haha... It seems the doorway got blocked somehow.”

She laughed awkwardly.

Yet Yutia merely continued smiling.

“Haha, but I should leave, right? Yes, I’ll leave. I clearly entered the wrong room.”

Looking at Yutia’s smile, Penia immediately walked toward the window and opened it.

“It’s been a while.”

“Long time no see.”

“...Ah.”

Outside stood Magrina and Seolrang.

Both smiling and waving.

Click.

Penia calmly closed the window again.

“I don’t think you entered the wrong room.”

Yutia spoke with a smile.

At last, Penia slowly turned around.

“Please spare me.”

That was all she could say.

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