Vill-V said: "A very reasonable deduction, but you'll find you can't even pinpoint a suspect. Are you still suspecting Griseo?"
Mei said: "From her performance just now, she truly doesn't know these monsters—but that's as far as it goes. Griseo doesn't lie…"
"But conversely, she's easily exploited. Therefore, everyone, including her, is a suspect."
"This series of upheavals happened in such a short time—it's impossible not to suspect someone silently pushing everything from behind."
Vill-V said with a light chuckle: "I have to say, according to Miss Mei's deduction, the mastermind is already obvious."
"Who??" Mei hurriedly pressed.
Vill-V continued: "Time stagnated in five thousand years of silence, only recently beginning to flow again slowly. Dormant stories unearthed, conflicts reignited—every Flame-Chaser in the Elysian Realm has been involved to some degree."
"And all these upheavals are because of the arrival of a special successor—a Herrscher!"
"It was her who brought the opportunity for change! Her who drew the Flame-Chasers' attention! Her who brought revolution to the Elysian Realm!"
"How's that? Not convincing enough?"
Mei said: "You're suspecting me?"
Vill-V said: "Ah, of course, I have one hundred percent trust in Miss Mei. I'm just kindly pointing out where your reasoning might lead."
Mei challenged: "Then do you have any brilliant insights? Glib-tongued great magician?"
"Me?"
Vill-V replied: "Of course I wholeheartedly believe in my comrades. After spending so much time together, I know best what kind of people they are."
"I said it already—I'm investigating to prove every memory body's innocence. I won't suspect any Flame-Chaser—that's my answer."
Mei said: "If your assumption holds, then there's only one possibility left: someone else has invaded the Elysian Realm and created this chaos."
Vill-V flatly denied: "Unfortunately, that guess is impossible too."
"As you know, part of the Elysian Realm was built by another me. Though I don't quite approve of her serious demeanor… I have absolute confidence in my own talents."
"The barrier system I constructed can intercept all intruders. It's not some loophole you can sneak through by picking locks—it's absolute rules."
"Besides successors qualified by the Stigmata Project's executor—that is, the Kevin outside—no one else can step foot here."
"I can guarantee it with my expert reputation: the only outsider in the Elysian Realm right now is Miss Mei."
Mei said: "You're saying the mastermind is neither among us nor possibly someone outside… how is that possible?"
Vill-V said: "That's up to your judgment. I can only tell you everything I've seen."
"Deductions are just deductions. To clear everyone's suspicion, you need solid evidence."
"…"
Mei sighed.
Now it seemed they were at another dead end.
For the moment, she had no more directions.
Vill-V said: "Who do you plan to investigate next? Since it's to clear suspicions, I suggest starting with the one with the least suspicion."
Mentioning the person with the least suspicion, Mei immediately thought of Fairy Ellie.
So she said: "To be safe, let's go back to the amusement park and ask the fairy administrator. About the destroyed typewriter—maybe she can provide some clues."
"Wait, here…"
Mei suddenly sensed someone had been following them.
She flashed directly to the bush: "Tracking others isn't a good habit… Pardofelis? Why is it you?"
"Big Sister Mei, calm down, calm down a bit—don't point your sword at me."
Pardofelis extended two fingers, cautiously pushing the blade away, grinning awkwardly at Mei: "As expected, couldn't escape Big Sister Mei's eyes. So you noticed me long ago?"
Mei asked: "You've been following us from earlier, haven't you? Why?"
Pardofelis said: "I came to join you! I already checked all the hidden paths and alleys as Sister Eden instructed, but found nothing… I was so frustrated."
"Then I heard Big Sister Mei and Sister Vill-V were teaming up to investigate the truth, so I wanted to join you and investigate together."
Mei said: "I've never heard that 'investigating together' means hiding in the shadows and secretly tailing us."
Pardofelis was a bit embarrassed: "Well… because I was worried you'd refuse. After all, Big Sister Mei, you know better than anyone how weak I am."
Mei said helplessly: "…What a brazenly honest answer."
Pardofelis laughed: "Knowing my limits is my strong suit! But even if I can't help in battle, I can definitely be useful elsewhere."
"I've thought it through seriously. Though I hate seeing everyone suspect each other, just waiting around isn't my style."
"Better to regret doing something than regret doing nothing! So I decided, even if… cough, I'll get to the bottom of this."
"What are we doing now? Going to find that fairy who looks just like Sister Ellie, right?"
Mei asked helplessly: "Pardofelis, you were secretly following us just because you were afraid of being rejected?"
Pardofelis hurriedly said: "Of-of course! In this tense moment, how could I be thinking about stocking up… even if I was, it was just a thought—I absolutely didn't do anything!"
"…Wait wait wait, Big Sister Mei, you're not suspecting me, are you?"
Mei just stayed silent.
Pardofelis hurriedly said: "Big Sister Mei, that's a huge joke. Even if I had ten times the guts, I wouldn't dare do anything to Big Boss Kevin."
"If I really had the ability, I'd first snag Sister Eden's Golden Courtyard, then have Big Boss Kevin and Brother Kalpas deliver goods for me. Oh wait, having Sister Ellie and A-Hua watch the shop wouldn't be bad either…"
Vill-V said: "I can vouch for her—that's exactly the kind of thing little Pardofelis would do."
Pardofelis said: "Sister Vill-V gets me. Stirring up chaos in the Elysian Realm like this, with no business to do—what benefit do I get?"
Mei said: "…Leaving aside motive, you clearly don't have the ability to be the mastermind."
Pardofelis hurriedly said: "Right? I'm totally innocent."
"So, can I join the investigation? Big Sister Mei, Sister Vill-V, let me tag along?"
Mei said: "That still doesn't clear your suspicion. But on that point, we're all the same. So, I don't mind."
Vill-V said: "Miss Mei is truly calm and cautious. Mm, I like this side of you—perfect for a detective."
Pardofelis got excited: "Then it's settled! Hehehe, now I'm part of the detective team too!"
Vill-V said: "Very good, very good… since the show has already started, who would refuse a new audience?"
The three continued onward, heading to find Fairy Ellie.
Pardofelis said helplessly: "This scene feels so familiar. Too bad, with all this happening, I'm not in the mood for treasure hunting anymore…"
As the three arrived at the amusement park and searched around, they still found nothing.
Even splitting up.
The final result was still nothing.
Vill-V asked: "Keep searching? This kind of mechanical work doesn't fit my aesthetic at all."
"Maybe she'll pop up on her own sometime. For now, let's switch directions."
Mei asked: "Do you have other clues?"
Vill-V said: "Hehe, now it's time to reveal my secret weapon—ta-da—"
Vill-V pulled out a large hat from somewhere.
Pardofelis shouted: "Wow! Such a gorgeous hat! Sister Vill-V, where do you even pull out all these weird props from?"
Vill-V said: "Great reaction—little Pardofelis really knows how to play along. That's what I like about you."
"So, what about the other audience member? What do you think?"
Mei said very coldly: "You had me tour the amusement park alone earlier just to prepare this? I can only tell you obviously have a hobby of collecting hats."
Vill-V said: "Don't just look at the surface, my lovely audience. This isn't an ordinary hat—it's a magic prop I specially developed: the Consciousness Collector."
Mei asked puzzled: "Consciousness collection?"
Vill-V said: "In simple terms, this hat lets you enter someone else's brain and view their memories. With it, you can check everyone's alibis—of course, and prove our innocence."
Pardofelis said in astonishment: "View… memories? Wow! So cool! This is really just magic, not some spell?"
Mei saw right through the principle: "For us in the Elysian Realm, it just reads memory data and visualizes it, right?"
Vill-V said: "Always trying to reveal magic tricks takes away the fun, lovely audience?"
"Well, Miss Mei? I specially invite you to view my memories—this is proof of trust."
Mei said decisively: "I refuse!"
"Great, I knew no one could resist this temptation…" Vill-V was shocked: "Wait, refuse? How is that possible?"
"This is the most efficient tool I can think of. Aren't you curious about our thoughts? Setting that aside, a genius magic prop full of surprises like this—you have no reason to refuse."
Mei said: "Your credibility so far isn't enough for me to test some suspicious prop of unknown origin with you."
Vill-V said: "Don't say that. I deliberately didn't bring it out at first, but went around with you verifying guesses—to build trust between us."
"You're still standing here perfectly fine, which proves my magic props are absolutely safe and reliable."
Mei said: "Safe and reliable? If they don't suddenly explode in place or summon monsters to attack, then yeah, barely."
Vill-V said: "Those were just little surprises added to the base. That's the essence of magic, after all."
"But I can promise you—this prop was made specifically for life-or-death situations like now. I absolutely didn't add any pranks."
"The mastermind behind this might still be watching us from the shadows. Time is tight—are you really going to take the long way around?"
Pardofelis also said: "Big Sister Mei, Sister Vill-V has a point. I trust she wouldn't prank at a crucial moment like this."
"How about… test it on me first?"
"Pardofelis?" Mei was a bit surprised.
Vill-V said: "Oh my, looks like little Pardofelis is still hung up on you suspecting her."
Pardofelis said: "Hung up isn't quite right… the situation's still unclear, so it's normal for Big Sister Mei to be vigilant. But then Big Sister Mei would have no helpers at all, right?"
"If I can prove my innocence sooner, I can investigate the truth with Big Sister Mei."
Vill-V said: "As expected of little Pardofelis. But… have you considered this possibility?"
"What if the Miss Mei right in front of you is the real mastermind?"
"Ehh—?!!"
Pardofelis was instantly startled.
Vill-V laughed: "Looks like little Pardofelis never considered that. If it were true, you couldn't clear your suspicion—you might even be erased without a trace~"
Pardofelis said: "Big Sister Mei is the killer… how could that be…"
"No way! She's the one who wants to know the truth most—she wouldn't do anything to Sister Ellie or Big Boss Kevin…"
"No no no! Big Sister Mei definitely isn't the killer—I'd stake my life on it!"
"…" Mei was somewhat surprised.
Vill-V laughed loudly: "Hahahaha, of course it's just a joke. Otherwise, how could I hand such an important prop to her?"
"Well, Miss Mei—are you really going to betray me and little Pardofelis's trust in you?"
Pardofelis looked at her: "Big Sister Mei…"
Mei nodded: "Alright, I understand."
Pardofelis said excitedly: "Great!"
Vill-V said: "Please, my dear leading lady."
Mei took the hat and, under Vill-V's guidance, placed it on the girl's head.
In that exact instant, she noticed Vill-V's sly smile at the corner of her mouth.
"Vill-V, you…"
Vill-V said: "Feeling nervous? But now… it's too late…"
As Vill-V snapped her fingers, at almost the same moment, a strange mist burst from the hat. Then, darkness enveloped her vision.
Like walking in darkness, in the thick blackness floated eerie, dim light points. Reaching out to touch them, the light points gathered, as if to drown her consciousness.
Opening her eyes, the scene before her rippled like spreading water waves, slowly forming a familiar picture.
Light footsteps passed by her side.
The girl seemed unaware of Mei's presence, single-mindedly chasing a light brown shadow ahead.
"Canned food, wait for me! You're running too fast!"
"—Meow~"
Pardofelis in front of the shop: "Haven't been back in so many days. Sister Ellie says new guests have visited the Elysian Realm—wonder what kind of person they are?"
Mei saw at a glance this was the scene before she met Pardofelis—she was clearly referring to Mei as the guest.
Pardofelis opened the shop drawer—countless gold coins filled it.
"Wow! So many gold coins! What a sucker… cough cough cough, I mean, what a generous guest!"
Mei: "…"
Mei was certain—this was Pardofelis's memory.
Let's look further ahead.
As the thought formed, the scene shattered and reformed, following her gaze—
A new picture appeared.
Time didn't pass in the Elysian Realm. The girl still leaned against the small pavilion outside the shop, but now wore a troubled expression.
"Meow meow—"
"Canned food, be quiet for a bit. Let me think seriously."
"Oh no, the more I think, the more my head hurts!"
"Do we really have to keep going deeper with Big Sister Mei? Even good-tempered Amo is starting to stop us. Sister Ellie looks worried too."
Mei recognized this as right before she entered the depths of the Elysian Realm.
"If this keeps up, Sister Nia will definitely fight with Big Sister Mei."
"Jeez, can't everyone just sit down and talk nicely?"
"I know… everyone's not the type to talk things out. There's complicated history between them."
"But why does it have to be endless fighting? They're comrades who've even faced death together… right? They should be comrades."