Chapter 219
[The situation had reached a tense standoff, with Kosma and Mei poised to strike at any moment. Then, a sneeze echoed through the air, drawing everyone's attention.
"Ah... well... um... ahaha, Sister Mei, A-Mo... uh, how are you doing?"
The adorable cat girl awkwardly greeted them. "Pardo, what are you doing here?"
"I just caught a whiff of gunpowder from far away and came to seize the opportunity..."
Suddenly remembering who she was talking to, Pardo quickly corrected herself: "Ah, no... I mean... to mediate, yes, I came to mediate! Who knew you hadn't started fighting yet... ah no, I suppose that's a blessing in disguise!"
Mei was speechless, and Kosma didn't know what to say either, simply telling Pardo: "Felis, you came at just the right time."
"Think of a way to take them away. I'm counting on you."]
[March 7th]:"Is this Pardo's good luck at work...? Without that sneeze, they definitely would have started fighting."
[Theresa]:"Would Pardo really listen to Kosma and take them back?"
[Pardofelis]:"Hey, even with me added, the three of us are no match for him! Of course we'd have to find another way to slip through!"
[Kosma]:"..."
[Kosma]:"...Forget it."
[After entrusting this task to Pardo, Kosma turned and left without looking back. Pardo never expected to meet them here—she thought Mei had come to find little Griseo.
"You'll have to ask Elysia about that. She promised to open the entrance to the Deep for us, but that door led to this place instead."
"Ah? The Deep... oh... I think I understand now."
Then, seeing Mei's expectant look, Pardo quickly shook her head and stated it was impossible! No amount of money would make her take them there.
"I really don't want to stir up so much trouble all at once… A-Mo, Snake-nee, Sakura-nee, Jie-nii, Nia-nee, and maybe even Kevin-dono… I'd die, I'd really die! Absolutely not!"
"I think... let's listen to A-mo this time and head back first? You can go find Elysia-nee and ask her what exactly happened, right?"
"That way, even if A-Mo gets really angry, Elysia-nee will take the heat, and it won't fall on me... ah, no, I mean..."
Mei looked at the cat girl desperately trying to dissuade them and said, "...I won't make things difficult for you. You're right, I should go have a proper talk with Elysia."
Mentioning Elysia made her expression turn somewhat 咬牙切齿 (gnashing teeth).] (TL/N : Idk what's more fit for the tl in here)
[Sparkle]:"Poor Mei~ She already betrayed Kiana by selling her body to Elysia for that map, but it turned out to be a fake~~ Boohoo, so pitiful~"
[Kiana]:"That damn Elysia!!"
[Qingque]:"Is the Deep really that terrifying...? Even money-loving Pardo said no amount of money would convince her."
[Pardofelis]:"I do love money, but I need to be alive to spend it! Taking others to the Deep would get me killed, really killed!!"
[Aventurine]:"If you were in our universe, Pardo, I'd definitely invite you to join us."
[Pardo]:"Thanks for the appreciation, Brother Aventurine, but that won't be necessary. I prefer being free and unfettered—your life-risking work style doesn't suit me."
[March 7th]:"Pardo plus Aventurine... I don't even dare imagine how lucky that combination would be..."
[Stelle]:"Look at you—I dare to imagine!"
[When they returned to the hall, Mei saw the familiar Kevin and learned from him that Kosma was originally a member of Kevin's squad. This made Mei understand why she felt Kosma's silence and enigmatic nature seemed familiar—it was taught by Kevin.
That explains it, that explains everything. Since Elysia hadn't appeared yet, Mei decided to ask Pardo about that place they were just at.
"A unique place? Which one do you mean, Mei-nee? Snake-nee's operating room? Su-nii's vegetable garden? Or… Jie-nii's wardrobe?"
"...Alright, I really didn't know there were so many... unique places in the Elysian Realm."
Mei described the place in detail, and Pardo told her it was little Griseo's art studio. Kosma was just guarding there to prevent others from disturbing Griseo.
"Raven and I didn't have any such intentions. Yet he offered no explanation for his actions."
"So I told you A-Mo isn't a bad person... He really just doesn't like talking."
"He's always thinking very, very... very many things in his heart. By the time he's done thinking... maybe he doesn't know where to start, so he simply says nothing. That's why he's often misunderstood."
"Hmm... Sometimes even I don't understand it, but anyway, that's what Elysia-nee's book says." "...Book?"]
[Elysia]:"Ahem, the book I wrote must be useful, right Pardo?"
[Pardofelis]:'Oh no oh no oh no, now everyone knows about these things!!'
[Mobius]:"Pardofelis! I never expected you enjoyed visiting my operating room. How about coming here for a proper experience right now~"
[Pardofelis]:"Elysia-nee, save me! Snake-nee, I was wrong!!"
[March 7th]:"So you basically need to be seriously unwell to qualify as a Flame-Chaser, huh? I hope the people we meet in Amphoreus won't be like this."
[Stelle]:"Quick, shut your mystically-enhanced divine mouth!!"
[After waiting a while, Elysia walked over. The first thing she did upon seeing Mei was ask how enjoyable her time in the Deep with Aponia had been. Mei just stared at her with the inheritance she obtained from Kosma.
"Oh my... it doesn't seem very enjoyable. Even your horn has turned red with anger. Did something go wrong somewhere?"
Mei didn't give her any friendly looks: "Yes, something did go wrong—Raven and I never reached the Deep at all."
After Mei recounted her experience, Elysia finally told her that Griseo's art studio was actually the necessary path to reach the Deep. Seeing her expression, Elysia naturally guessed that Mei had met Kosma.
To help Mei communicate better with Kosma, Elysia gifted Mei her own literary work. Mei politely declined because she hadn't finished reading the previous book "One Hundred Questions About Kalpas' Mask" yet.]
[Elysia]:"See? I told you I didn't lead you wrong. You have to trust me!"
[March 7th]:"Mei angrily went to confront Elysia only to realize she was mistaken herself. But wait, wasn't Mei's horn always red?"
[Stelle]:"No no no, a maiden's blush surpasses all love words!!"
[Silver Wolf]:"Red from overheating counts as blushing too, right?"