When she passed through a curtain of drooping flower vines and arrived at a more open garden, she unexpectedly saw Kosma and Aponia standing face-to-face.
The atmosphere between them seemed tense, even to the point of being drawn-swords-and-bows.
Griseo stood quietly to the side, uneasily watching the two of them.
Very quickly, Griseo noticed Raiden Mei.
"Big sister Mei?"
Raiden Mei stopped walking, sensing that something wasn't right.
"Looks like… I've come at a bad time."
Griseo shook her head, her voice soft, "No, not at all. Whenever Big sister Mei comes, we're always happy."
However, the silent standoff between Kosma and Aponia still continued.
The air was filled with a strained silence, with absolutely no feeling of welcome.
Kosma was the first to break the silence, his tone stiff, "…Forget it. I don't want to say it for the Nth time."
Aponia's expression remained calm, but her words carried weight.
"If you insist, I naturally won't press further. But sometimes, letting the truth drift away with the wind… might not be the better choice."
Kosma immediately retorted, "It would only be a bad thing."
Aponia shook her head slightly, "The word I used was 'better'… And what if this is what Griseo herself wishes for?"
Kosma fell silent for a moment, his gaze sharp as he looked at Aponia, "…How can you prove that this isn't just an excuse of yours? And how can you prove that you haven't, without realizing it, placed 'pressure' on her?"
Caught between the two, Griseo let out a faint whimper, looking even more uneasy.
Raiden Mei clearly felt Griseo's gloom and fear.
Such a tense standoff atmosphere was absolutely not good for the sensitive and delicate Griseo.
Considering her special nature of being easily influenced by others, whether out of safety or simply wanting to protect this child, Raiden Mei felt she couldn't just stand by. She had to do something to ease the situation.
Looking at Griseo's unease, Raiden Mei took a deep breath, stepped forward, and shielded her behind her back.
Raiden Mei's arrival also broke the heavy tension that had surrounded the garden.
"Even if this might be meddling…" Raiden Mei said, "But since both of you claim to be Griseo's protectors, shouldn't you at least first consider her current feelings? This kind of atmosphere isn't good for her."
Kosma paused, then stiffly admitted, "…'Meddling'? True enough."
He seemed to realize that the situation was inappropriate, though his tone was still blunt.
Aponia then turned to Mei, her expression still gentle, "Mei… recklessly interfering in disputes between the Thirteen isn't wise."
At that point, she paused slightly, then that familiar word slipped out again.
"'Please' rest assured, Kosma and I… were only recalling some old matters, we wouldn't actually do anything."
Raiden Mei frowned slightly and said bluntly, "If you didn't use that word when speaking to me, maybe I'd trust you a little more."
She had always remained wary of Aponia's way of subtly influencing others' will.
Aponia gave a soft sigh, seeming a little helpless.
"Aiya, this really is… embarrassing you. My original intention, truly, was only to protect your safety, Mei, and keep you from unnecessary trouble."
At her words, Kosma gave a cold snort, his tone obviously mocking, "'Protect'? Hearing that word from you only makes people more uneasy. Just like what you once did to him…"
At that, a trace of guilt flashed through Aponia's eyes.
"Perhaps you're right… this is my sin, and I won't deny it. But until the judgment that belongs to me arrives, I will continue in the way I believe is right…"
Kosma, "…Forget it."
[No, Kosma, don't 'forget it'! I still want to hear the truth of that matter from you!]
[So curious, so curious! I really want to know what exactly that thing was!]
[I remember Raiden Mei once saw intel from Aponia's 'Vessel of Recollection,' Aponia's 'Precepts' once caused very bad influence]
[So what exactly was it!!!]
———
[Back to the Video]
Just then, a light and familiar voice approached from afar, breaking the tense atmosphere of the garden.
"Mei Mei! Good news, the typewriter's fixed, and I specially brought it over~"
Raiden Mei turned her head, only to see Elysia bouncing over, carrying the typewriter that looked no different than before.
And when Elysia saw the scene in front of her, she blinked and asked in surprise, "Ah… Did we come… at a bad time?"
But the fairy Ely beside her didn't care about any of that. She proudly puffed out her chest.
"What are you saying, Elysia! For fairies like us, radiant and beloved by all, of course we could only have come 'at just the right time'!"
Elysia glanced at the lingering tension between Kosma and Aponia, then at Raiden Mei, standing in the middle looking slightly helpless, and said doubtfully, "Mm… maybe?"
Seeing Elysia showing such rare hesitation and uncertainty, Raiden Mei couldn't help but tease, "How unusual. For you to show that kind of expression too. I think I might have figured out what your natural enemy is."
At her words, Elysia instantly regained her energy, playfully replying, "Ah… my natural enemy is, of course, beautiful girls like you, Mei. No matter what kind of request you make, I can't possibly refuse~"
"Aponia." Elysia turned her gaze toward the girl as serene as a spirit, her tone gentle, "Seeing your ever-energetic smile again… really puts me at ease."
"Me too, Aponia!" Elysia answered with a dazzling smile.
"Every time I see you, I feel so happy!"
On the other side, Griseo's attention was caught by the little one beside Elysia. She asked curiously, "Ah, Elysia little sister… there are two."
The fairy Ely immediately flew in front of Griseo, proudly introducing herself, "I am Ely, a fairy from the Kingdom of Serenata, and the archive room's fairy administrator! If there's anything you want to know, just ask me!"
———
[As expected of my Ely, instantly easing the atmosphere]
[By the way, why did Griseo call Elysia 'little sister'?]
[Could it be that although Griseo looks small, she's actually the oldest among them?]
[Oh? A legal l*li? Then that's even better! slurp slurp]
[Officer, it's this person right here!]
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