"Elysia, was there some kind of accident earlier?"
"You're perceptive, Mei, figuring it out so quickly." Elysia's usual cheerfulness was tinged with apology. "I'm so sorry, Mei. It's my fault for not checking the equipment properly. I never expected the trial grounds program to malfunction so badly at such a crucial moment."
"Malfunction?"
"Yes. It hasn't been long since the last test run, but somehow, the exit and termination programs were disrupted and became completely unresponsive. And then Little Pardo stumbled into the trial area. If you hadn't dealt with that beast at the last moment, she might not have survived."
"...I don't blame you. As long as everyone's okay, that's all that matters." Hearing Elysia say the programs had malfunctioned, Mei had a hunch. She remembered that the mark of The Obsidian Concord had appeared around the same time. If she wasn't mistaken, the malfunction was most likely caused by The Obsidian Concord's intrusion.
"I'm truly sorry. For the rest of your journey, I'll protect you properly."
"That won't be necessary." Mei shook her head. She had come to the Elysian Realm for trials, not a vacation. Danger was expected. And if not for that critical situation, she wouldn't have realized she was capable of defeating such a powerful enemy.
However, this incident had given her a better understanding of the dangers within the Elysian Realm. Coupled with her earlier conversation with Mobius, her vigilance had increased. Comparatively, she felt more trust in The Obsidian Concord, who had entered the Realm with her.
"By the way, how long was I unconscious?"
"About a day. Your final burst of power exceeded your body's limits, causing you to pass out. I didn't expect you to be so much stronger than I anticipated. You truly are a perfect Herrscher, Mei."
"Perfect?" Mei didn't think so. Her growth had been too slow. Before joining The Obsidian Concord, she had even considered giving up in the face of despair. How could such a weak person be called perfect?
And if there was a perfect Herrscher in this world, it would only be her...
She quickly shook her head, dismissing the image from her mind.
So-called perfection was just a burden imposed by others.
In the past, due to her weakness, Mei had always been protected by Kiana. She had seen Kiana as perfect. But now, having embarked on her own path, how could she act like a child again, placing the meaningless concept of perfection on the girl, needlessly adding to her burdens?
As Mei's thoughts shifted, Elysia observed her closely, her expression changing from reflection to doubt, then finally to renewed determination. Such a transformation proved that Mei was a mature Herrscher with independent thought, and that was precisely what Elysia had hoped for.
Elysia was growing increasingly fond of Mei, but she kept her feelings to herself.
"No one is perfect, and I'm certainly not. I came here because I'm not strong enough, and I have answers I'm searching for."
"That's a wonderful answer, Mei. But you don't need to be so humble. Everyone who comes to the Elysian Realm is searching for something. And that's the reason for its existence."
"You're right." Mei smiled wryly, realizing she had been overthinking. She looked at Elysia and asked, "Besides the trials, I'm also looking for someone. I wonder if you've seen her."
"You can describe her appearance and name. If she's a trial-taker, there should be a record."
"Okay." Mei considered her words carefully. "Her name is probably Liuli, but it's likely not her real name. She's a young woman with long white hair and blue eyes, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old."
"Liuli?" Elysia pondered for a moment, images flashing through her mind. "I think I've heard that name before, but she's probably not a trial-taker. Ah, I remember now. World Serpent did send someone in, but she was unconscious, so she didn't go through the trial grounds."
"Really? Do you know where she is, Elysia?" Mei was thrilled. She hadn't expected to find a lead so quickly.
"She should be... with Aponia. If her consciousness is dormant, Aponia is probably the only one who can awaken her."
"Aponia." Mei silently noted the name. "Is she also a Flame-Chaser?"
"Of course. But she's special. Her space is relatively separate from the others, and she poses a certain level of danger to you right now. If you try to find her prematurely, you might encounter unforeseen risks."
After her recent experience, Mei had already anticipated danger. She was just curious about what kind of Flame-Chaser would be considered dangerous even by Elysia.
"It's alright. As long as I know she's here. As for the danger, it's something I have to face eventually."
"That's right, Mei, that's the spirit!" Elysia clenched her fist, as if cheering her on.
Then, her gaze fell on the laboratory door, a smile spreading across her face. "It seems someone is even more eager to see Mei than I am."
Mei was puzzled, following Elysia's gaze. She noticed a cat's tail peeking out from behind the door. Clearly, a cat was hiding there.
"Well, I've said enough. I won't disturb you any longer. If you need me, you can find me in the main hall." With that, Elysia, pretending not to have seen the tail, left the lab.
The person outside waited for a moment, making sure they hadn't been discovered, then quietly slipped into the lab.
"Phew~ Mobius-nee's lab is really dangerous. I hope nobody saw me." Pardo patted her chest, looking relieved.
She carried a bulging bag, which jingled with every step.
"I wonder if that big sister, Raiden Mei, is awake yet." Murmuring to herself, Pardo navigated around the maze of equipment and reached the examination table. Looking up, she saw a pair of purple eyes staring at her.
"Heehee, Mei-nee, you're awake! I thought Elysia-nee and the others were just coming to check on you." Pardo scratched her head and grinned. She had come to thank Mei. Although she had fainted, she knew Raiden Mei had saved her.
But because of Mobius's infamous reputation, even Pardo was a little scared, daring only to sneak in.
"Pardo... Thank goodness, you're alright."
Before she could react, she was suddenly hugged, startling her.
"Waaah, Mei-nee, don't!"