Rose and Gerbera watched the heartwarming scene play out.
“That settles things, then,” Gerbera said.
“Yes, it does,” Rose agreed.
By overcoming this break in relations, Rose’s best friend had regained what had once been dear to her. Rose was happy for them from the bottom of her heart. She’d been sure that things would go well. She knew Katou Mana better than anyone, after all. And she knew what came next too.
“All that’s left is to take clear responsibility,” Rose added.
“What did you say?” Gerbera said, when...
“Ah.” Katou Mana raised her voice as if suddenly remembering something.
Mitarai Aoi made a curious look, wondering what it was, when Katou Mana suddenly squeezed both her hands. That squeezing quickly turned to a firm grip. It was as if she was making sure Mitarai Aoi couldn’t get away.
“I forgot to mention one thing,” Mana said, her beautiful smile implying something entirely different now.
“Hwuh?”
“It’s fine and all that you apologized to me, but do make sure to apologize properly to Majima-senpai too, okay?”
✦ ✦ ✦
✦ ✦ ✦
This was this. That was that. Watching it from the sidelines, Gerbera shrieked in fear. One had to take clear responsibility for what they’d done. This was Katou Mana’s nature, and it was amplified whenever it came to the boy she loved.
“You’re seriously, seriously pissed?!” Mitarai Aoi screamed fearfully as all the color drained from her face.
✦ ✦ ✦
Immediately after reconciling with Mitarai Aoi, Katou Mana went on the move.
“Huh? Mana, you’re gonna go see Sir Harrison? You’ll be glad to have an escort on the way? Mm, I’ll go too. Leave it to me.”
And just like that, she had one more traveling companion. Mitarai Aoi was exceedingly reassuring to have along. Despite her recent behavior, she was the Stalwart Snow White, one of the foremost combatants in the exploration team.
“Hee hee, I’ll do my best to make up for Yuna-senpai being injured too!”
“Yes... Right. I’ll be relying on you,” Iino Yuna said, having far less energy by contrast.
“What’s up, Yuna-senpai?” Aoi asked.
“It’s nothing. I was just thinking about how I couldn’t do anything earlier.”
“You don’t gotta worry about that,” Aoi said. “That was my problem and all.”
“Our problem, Aoi,” Mana corrected. “I’ll also be relying on you.”
“Relax,” Aoi said with a tremendous smile. “Even if Jinguuji-senpai comes at you, I’ll beat him to a pulp.”
Jinguuji Tomoya had traveled to another world, so there was no way he would show up, but there was no point in saying that when she was so motivated. The girls left the room and made their way toward Harrison.
“Waaah?! Mana, you confessed to Majima-senpai? Huh? Really? B-But you seem to really get along with Rose and Gerbera too?”
“I don’t see why that should bother us?” Gerbera chimed in.
“I mean, I’ve been supporting Rose’s love this whole time,” Mana said.
“I’ve also been rooting for Mana’s love,” Rose added.
“Huh? Wah? What does that mean?”
Because of her animosity toward their master, Mitarai Aoi hadn’t had many interactions with his servants. However, perhaps due to a change in perception, she was eager to talk with them while on the move.
“Now that I think of it, Ishida isn’t around,” Mana commented. “How rare. He’s usually always with you, Aoi.”
“Aah, Tetsuo went after those Dimensional Cornerstone things.”
Ishida Tetsuo was a nicknamed cheater of the exploration team and Mitarai Aoi’s childhood friend. They spent enough time together that his absence seemed an aberration.
“He’s the Indomitable Will and all,” Aoi continued. “I didn’t go along because of this thing with you.”
“All we’ve been talking about is me and Senpai, but what about your side of things?” Mana asked.
“With Tetsuo? Ha ha. Nothing at all. We’re like siblings. I’ve gotta look out for him as his big sis, though.”
“Is that so...? Poor Ishida...”
“Hm? What’s that mean?”
So they kept chatting as they made their way to Harrison’s room.
“Oh yeah, Mana,” Aoi said. “When we left the room, you asked the knight there to let Sir Harrison know that we were on the way. What’d you mean by ‘If you won’t allow it, I’ll go wild’ at the end there?”
“Insurance in case of the unlikely,” Mana answered. “That said, it was just a bit of a joke. Don’t worry about it.”
It hadn’t come across as a joke at all, but they’d gotten permission. Upon arriving at their destination, the knight guarding the way let them through.
“Okay, take care!”
Mitarai Aoi hadn’t been informed about the truth of this world, so she couldn’t participate in these talks. Katou Mana felt bad for making her wait and had told her that she could leave, but Mitarai Aoi insisted on being a proper escort and waited outside the room. She puffed herself up and stood next to the door, getting a bewildered look from the knight who was also standing guard. She seemed satisfied with this role, so Katou Mana let her be. The peaceful atmosphere only lasted until they entered the room, though. Hazel eyes stared at them as they came through the door.
“What did you want to talk about?” Harrison asked.
He was covered in bandages and lying down in bed. He’d forced himself to get things ready for the operation to chase down Jinguuji, and his exertions had drained all the color from his features. His eyes were sunken and he looked practically on the verge of death. Nevertheless, his sense of duty had driven him to accept this meeting.
“Regarding the Dimensional Cornerstones, of course,” Mana said. Despite the heavy atmosphere, she didn’t falter. “There’s something I want to ask you. You’re going to answer me.”
“If it has to do with a threat to this world, then I won’t refuse.”
“Then let me go straight to the point. I want to know how the storage vault’s location was identified. Do you have any ideas?”
“Like I thought...” Harrison sighed. He’d apparently somewhat expected such an inquiry. “I’ve been asking the same question.”
“Meaning, at the very least, that situation wasn’t one where it could’ve been identified.”
“Of course,” Harrison declared. He was certain of it. “The only ones who knew the whole truth about the Dimensional Cornerstones were Lord Gerd and I. Naturally, the same went for the storage vault’s location.”
“What about the knights who guard it?”
“They only knew that the Dimensional Cornerstones possess the power to create other worlds. They weren’t told about the storage vault. It was also impossible for them to identify its existence on their own. The path to that world only opens when a Dimensional Cornerstone is used on the Dimension Door. If you go through that door without knowing anything, it leads to a plain room with nothing in it.”
“Meaning it was kept strictly confidential.”
“Exactly. That’s why I find this inexplicable too. How did such sensitive information get leaked...?”
“Isn’t it possible that nothing leaked at all?” Katou Mana asked.
“What...?” Harrison gave her a dubious look.
“It’s easier to consider the possibility that someone discovered it without hearing a secret that nobody knew. In truth, Majima-senpai was capable of sensing it, right? Naturally, that’s something he can only do because of his contract with the Misty Lodge Salvia, a being capable of creating worlds.”
“You’re implying another being like the Misty Lodge exists?”
“Not necessarily. Salvia really is an exception among exceptions. However...I want to know if there are other ways of finding out about the truth of this world.” Katou Mana’s tone remained sincere. “Majima-senpai is with the exploration team chasing Jinguuji Tomoya. I’m sure he’ll succeed and stop him. So, we must identify who instigated Jinguuji Tomoya. If we don’t...the fundamental problem will remain unresolved.”
“To protect the world, you mean...” Harrison closed his eyes.
“Does the Holy Church possess any knowledge about that kind of being?”
“As far as I know, it doesn’t...” After thinking it over for a while, Harrison opened his eyes. “But the same might not apply to Lord Gerd.”
“Archbishop Gerd?”
“Yes. He was the one to tell me about the truth of this world. He only taught me what I needed to know to fulfill my duty, but Lord Gerd was privy to secrets that he never shared with me.”
“...”
Archbishop Gerd was dead, meaning his knowledge was lost.
“No.” Reading her intent, Harrison shook his head. “It’s not entirely gone. Lord Gerd left behind his knowledge just in case the worst came to be.”
“Meaning there’s something in writing?”
“Of course. We couldn’t allow all those who knew the truth to vanish due to some unforeseen accident, after all.” Harrison nodded. “The reason the Holy Church didn’t know about the truth until the Grand Calamity was that knowledge inherited from the first savior had been lost over the ages. In all likelihood, during the dawn of the church before it had any real power, monster attacks or the like wiped out such knowledge. The knowledge we now possess regarding the truth of this world has been reconstructed over the last eight hundred years. We couldn’t allow the same mistake to be repeated.”
“Meaning Gerd has some kind of insurance?”
“Yes. He left behind a will in case anything happened to him. There should be a safe in his mansion that contains all documents related to the truth of this world. I’ve been entrusted with the key. The safe has been passed down in the Kruger family for generations, so it’s made to be impossible to open so long as Lord Gerd is alive. There might be some kind of clue inside.”
Harrison came to a quick decision.
“Let’s go to Lord Gerd’s mansion,” he said. “I have connections with the Kruger family. They should have been given detailed instructions in case this happened. If we show his will, we shouldn’t have any problems getting through.”
“You’ll go personally?” Mana asked.
“Of course,” Harrison answered. Despite being deathly pale, there was clear determination in his eyes. “There’s no way I’ll let Lord Gerd’s sacrifice go to waste.”