Seeing Roswaal's bitter smile, Hayashi Maki said,
"I've already obtained the qualifications for the trial. Next, I'll take the first trial together with Emilia."
"I'll fulfill the promise I made to you back then—Echidna will be revived."
Roswaal smiled faintly. "Then I'll leave it to you, Lin."
He didn't look particularly happy.
Hayashi Maki didn't care. As long as he revived Echidna, the promise would be fulfilled.
Besides, Roswaal was the sort of man who dragged others down with him.
Hayashi Maki had a bad feeling he would still pull some tricks—like sneaking into the Sanctuary's core control point and using magic to make it snow.
If the Sanctuary started snowing, the mana could awaken the Great Rabbit—one of the three great mabeasts that had been dormant here for four hundred years.
For the people living in the Sanctuary, that would be an extinction-level disaster.
Hayashi Maki left Roswaal's room. After waiting a while, Emilia came over.
"Hayashi Maki."
"Emilia, you're awake. Do you feel unwell anywhere?"
Hayashi Maki asked with concern, then naturally slid an arm around her slim waist and had the silver-haired half-elf sit beside him.
Warmth rose in Emilia's chest. She shook her head.
"I'm fine… it's just that… I can't remember what happened earlier."
As she said it, anxiety crept into her expression.
Hayashi Maki gently stroked her silver hair and smiled as he soothed her.
"It's okay. Next time I'll go through the trial with you. Emilia—if I'm there, you might be able to face your past a little more bravely."
"The first trial is about recognizing yourself. You have to recover your past—only then can you understand what really caused the Frozen Forest to exist."
"Mm. I'll do my best." She clenched a small fist, eyes full of resolve.
Whether it was for herself, or to find Puck again, or to live up to Hayashi Maki's expectations—she had to reclaim the person she used to be.
"Then you already know what's going on here now, right?" Hayashi Maki asked seriously.
"Yes. Ram told me—if the trial isn't cleared, everyone here can't leave."
"Looks like you've gotten stronger, Emilia." Hayashi Maki nodded. "Next, let's go meet the other faction inside the Sanctuary."
He took her hand and led her out. Then he summoned Beatrice and held her small hand as well.
Beatrice was quiet. Returning here had clearly stirred up painful memories.
Her closest friend, Ryuzu Meyer, lay buried here along with Mother.
Ryuzu had fused with the crystal, providing mana for the Sanctuary's barrier.
"There, there, Beatrice. It'll be okay," Hayashi Maki said softly. "When I get the chance, I'll find a way to save your friend too."
Beatrice nodded hard. "Mm! Betty believes you!"
Her mood instantly brightened, and she instinctively tightened her grip on his hand.
Emilia heard them and looked confused, but she didn't ask.
If it was something she needed to know, Hayashi Maki would tell her.
And that was exactly the case.
They arrived at a room and waited a moment.
Soon, Ram brought two people in.
One was the Sanctuary's guardian, Garfiel Tinzel. He shot Hayashi Maki a jealous glance, then snorted in defiance and dragged a chair over to sit down.
The other made Beatrice stiffen.
That person didn't openly react to Beatrice, but their eyes flickered with complicated emotion.
She was a small, pink-haired girl—less than 140 cm tall—holding a wooden staff.
She wore a long black high-collared coat. Her slightly pointed ears marked her identity.
She was an artificial spirit—one of the copies of the Sanctuary's core, Ryuzu Meyer—carrying part of the original's memories.
Which meant the Ryuzu standing here definitely knew Beatrice.
Four hundred years ago, Beatrice and Ryuzu had been close friends. Beatrice had even promised to teach her magic.
While Hayashi Maki was thinking, Ram finished brewing tea and gracefully set the cups down—except she pointedly didn't bring one to Garfiel.
Garfiel immediately pouted and shouted, "Ram, make me a cup too."
"Only rough tea."
"I'll take it anyway. Everyone else has tea—why am I the only one left out? Don't discriminate, Ram!"
"…Fine. But it really is rough tea. Just leaves I picked up outside."
Ram said calmly and turned away to brew.
Only then did Garfiel look satisfied.
"Alright, back to business," he said. "That half-elf—Emilia, right? And that guy who annoys me… you both understand the situation now, yeah?"
"Yes," Emilia nodded earnestly. "We have to free the Sanctuary so the villagers who took refuge here can leave and return home."
Emilia really was honest—and so simply, genuinely cute.
Garfiel quietly withdrew his gaze and nodded.
"Since you understand, we'll start preparing tonight."
"I'm Garfiel Tinzel, guardian of the Sanctuary. While you take the trials, we'll provide lodging and food—but don't disturb the locals' peace!"
Hayashi Maki smiled and nodded.
"Don't worry. We don't plan to keep the villagers here long-term. And I have the qualifications to take the trial too."
"The Sanctuary will definitely be freed. Garfiel, you should start thinking ahead about persuading the people here to move out with us and live elsewhere."
Garfiel's face turned sour.
He was about to snap back, when Ram set a cup down in front of him.
"Tea's ready. Drink up."
Garfiel happily took a sip—
And immediately spat it onto the floor.
"Blech! This is so bitter! You really did brew it with rotten leaves!"
Ram gave a mischievous smile and said, perfectly straight-faced, "I told you it was rough tea."
"Liar!" Garfiel felt his soul leave his body.
"Everyone else's tea smells amazing—mine really is made of trash leaves!"
Ram wore an evil little grin but didn't even bother replying, leaving Garfiel to stew in misery.
Hayashi Maki couldn't help laughing.
Ram really was protective. Garfiel's stance was still shaky, and he'd attacked Hayashi Maki earlier—so she deliberately didn't give him a nice cup.
"Alright," Hayashi Maki said, "back to the main point. Miss Pink-Hair—shouldn't you introduce yourself too?"
"Yes. Pardon the discourtesy," the girl said in an old-fashioned tone despite her childish voice. "This old one is Ryuzu Bilma. You can consider me the highest-ranked elder here, and the villagers treat me as their chief."
Ryuzu Bilma spoke in a tiny girl's voice, yet with aged composure, even calling herself "this old one," which was oddly funny.
But in truth, she really was the most senior figure here…