“Looks like you still can’t hear me this time.”
“…Yes.”
Since then, Yuria repeated herself numerous times.
She tried speaking indirectly, using just words, and even tried talking backward.
She explored countless methods, but nothing reached the end.
“It’s strange. Unlike Charlotte, even if you’re not a challenger, you should be able to hear me without any issue…”
Frustration, which had just settled, started to flare up again.
“There’s nothing to be done… haah… today feels odd.”
Finally, giving up, she slumped onto the sofa.
Everything about the challengers was clear and understandable, yet…
It didn’t make sense why the secrets of the world were beyond her grasp.
The only being capable of such feats… must be Lilith.
Is it because I’m a Shaman?
Could a regular person hear it?
What about Noah…?
Though she was engulfed by questions, she shook her head to dismiss them.
She didn’t want to think any further.
Her mind was already swarming with information, and she didn’t want to contemplate something else before sorting it out.
But… she still had things to hear, so she reluctantly straightened her posture.
This wasn’t just for her.
It was for Noah, so she absolutely had to listen.
“Charlotte, just now Sirin… interrupted. Can you tell me about the Trials?”
Charlotte, who had been leaning on her chin and doodling on paper, suddenly perked up.
“Hmm? Ah, the Trials… right. Where did I leave off?”
“Um… I think you mentioned the Trials of Erden.”
“Oh… right. Good memory. Yeah, the Trials of Erden are about facing and overcoming trauma… what a hellish ordeal, right?”
“Uh… sure.”
“This is about confronting and resolving your trauma.”
Trauma… resolution?
As she tilted her head, pondering the difference between overcoming and resolving, an annoying smile crept onto Charlotte’s face.
Feeling irritated, Yuria tried to process her thoughts even faster.
“Unlike just overcoming, it’s about steering it in a positive direction… right?”
“Exactly. But the difference is, unlike the Trials of Erden, this… can lead to death if you mess up.”
“Why…? Aren’t all Trials conducted in the Inner Realm?”
“Erden might be, but this one isn’t. In reality… um… it’s really hard to explain in words, but once you enter a certain space, the scenery changes dramatically—whoosh!—and everything becomes vivid as reality… no, it doesn’t just resemble reality, it IS reality…”
With a scrunched expression, Charlotte added gestures to her explanation.
“Ugh, this is too complicated. Yuria, explain it.”
Slumping her shoulders, she shifted the explanation to Yuria.
“Okay, um… The Trials…”
Taking on the explanation, Yuria also frowned, tilting her head as she chose her words carefully.
“Charlotte’s explanation is… not quite right. The scenery changing is accurate, but rather than just changing, it, in a way, manifests… or am I getting sucked in? Uh, um…”
“See? Yuria finds it tough too. Anyway, Rubia. This is not happening in the Inner Realm, but in reality. Moreover, your appearance will change according to the time frame… meaning you could die if anything goes wrong.”
Though the vague explanations didn’t provide detailed clarity, one thing was certain…
“Anyway, since it’s a Trial occurring in reality, the risk of death is definitely present.”
“Yeah. That’s for sure.”
“Of course, others can’t enter, right?”
“Of course not.”
“I see…”
Charlotte seemed drained and began rummaging through drawers, sighing in irritation.
“By the way, did you go through the same Trials as Charlotte, Yuria?”
“Yes. I also underwent the Trials at the Temple of Memory located near Cartia.”
“…The Temple of Memory?”
“Yes. Do you know it?”
Of course, I do.
Since that’s where I’m heading now.
But does that mean I will also face a Trial there…?
Could I also unlock my unique abilities as a Shaman…?
“Yes… I’m heading to the Temple of Memory.”
A look of curiosity crossed Yuria’s face.
“Do you also know its location?”
“…Yes.”
“Hmm…? How does Rubia know that?”
Charlotte, who was flipping through pages, also chimed in with curiosity.
“Um… I heard it from someone.”
It was awkward to say…
“From whom?”
“…Do I really have to say?”
Charlotte approached me, adopting a mock-serious expression.
After glancing at Yuria for agreement, she finally spoke.
“Um… I’m not doubting Rubia. But could it be that Lilith heard this story through Rubia?”
“About that… I can’t really guarantee it. But hasn’t everything already been said, about challengers and all?”
“That doesn’t matter. Lilith knows about the existence of the challengers too. Uh… damn Lilith!”
“…What?”
Charlotte suddenly launched into a tirade about Lilith.
“What a messed-up lady. A gloomy, pathetic woman. A pompous loser who leads others without power. A trashy woman. A perverted creep.”
After ranting for a while, Charlotte summoned her magic and then nodded.
“Okay. That should be… fine. Honestly, if she didn’t react after all that, it seems she isn’t listening.”
“Charlotte. A deity isn’t… foolish.”
“I know that, but… sigh. Since if Rubia knows, Lilith might know too, I’ll just say it anyway.”
Ruffling her hair in frustration, Charlotte finally spoke.
“That’s a place known only to challengers and a handful of approving figures.”
Lowering her voice significantly, she plopped down next to me.
“And it’s one of the few places in this world where the goddess Lilith’s gaze can be evaded. So, who you heard it from is a significant issue. If it’s linked to someone from this side… we could be in grave danger.”
“…Well, I suppose it can’t be helped.”
In truth,
I felt embarrassed to say it.
“Uh… um… a, a ghost…”
“Hmm? I can’t hear you well.”
“A g-g-ghost… suddenly sprang up from the blanket and told me. But… I was too s-scared and missed parts of it, but anyway, they said to go to the Temple of Memory located north of Cartia.”
That’s right.
A ghost told me.
But I was so terrified that…
I shed a few tears.
Just a tiny bit.
It happened because I was shocked.
Of course, I was young then.
Not exactly as a child, but…
Right after I became a Shaman, around the age of 21…
Yeah, younger than I am now.
I was terrified of ghosts back then.
People might say, “Why would a Shaman be afraid of ghosts?”
But it had only been a short while since I became a Shaman, so… I think it’s understandable.
In fact, it’s not even embarrassing.
Everyone is scared of ghosts when they’re young.
I’m not the only one, right?
So there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.
Clearing my throat, I composed my expression.
Then I spoke again.
“Ahem… I’m not sure what kind of being it was, but five years ago, I heard a voice while sleeping. It told me to go to the Temple of Memory located north of Cartia in five years. It said that if I go out the north gate and use my Divine Power, I’ll feel the path naturally.”
Charlotte and Yuria tilted their heads.
Ignoring them, I continued.
“When I arrive, I was told that the method to enter is to let my blood spill at the place that feels like the entrance.”
“Rubia’s blood?”
“Yes.”
Charlotte and Yuria’s gazes met in the air.
I could see that they were having a conversation without words before they nodded.
“That could be possible… since you’re a Shaman. Then, could you also share why you were told to go there? No, wait. This… um, I think it’s better if someone else mentions it.”
“Someone else?”
“Yeah. You’ll find out who in time. I shouldn’t blurt it out. Huh… what? I’m starting to sound like that kid Sirin. Um… is this how it feels?”
Chatting away to herself, laughing, and understanding solely on her own made Charlotte quite annoying.
I had no idea why everyone else around me was speaking in ways I couldn’t comprehend.
“Anyway, you, I, and Yuria… must all have our heads spinning, so why don’t we just stop for today and rest?”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
I nodded eagerly.
I needed time to sort my thoughts.
And time to buy jelly and… well, not ropes, but other supplies.
“Alright then, Rubia and Yuria, it’s best to stay here, right?”
“I’m… fine with it.”
“I like it here too. Free and comfortable.”
“Right, right. So let’s each use an empty room and have a good rest.”
Charlotte waved her hand while pulling the paper she had doodled on earlier.
*
Two days later, news of Carpen’s whereabouts arrived at the Central Guild.
Hephaestus began crafting equipment, while Yuria started making various potions and supplements.
Charlotte remained buried under a mountain of paperwork, not having left her office.
And so, half a month passed.
The days grew slightly cooler.
The equipment made from Carpen’s materials entrusted to Hephaestus was finally completed.
Yuria’s potion crafting was also finished.
Charlotte’s pile of documents was starting to shrink.
But Noah…
Was still asleep.
