…Had he heard correctly?

Of course, Froy had also suspected that the bird sometimes understood human speech.

But understanding speech and being able to speak were worlds apart.

“Ahem, you must have been rendered speechless by my magnificent presence.”

The white parrot puffed out its chest, as if to say, ‘Behold my greatness.’ Seeing this, Froy’s expression gradually became peculiar.

‘I didn’t expect the phoenix’s personality to be so narcissistic.’

Though unable to see, Rosha could roughly imagine the scene and offered an explanation.

“Even looking like that, this one taught me magic.”

“What do you mean, ‘even looking like that’!”

“Koko, be quiet for a bit.”

She conversed naturally with the bird.

She had expected surprises after making the covenant, but she didn’t think this would be the start.

Sensing his gaze, Rosha smiled sheepishly and exhaled lightly. Then, with a solemn expression, she began her story.

“The truth is…”

One day, she was suddenly transported to another world, where trials were already in progress.

After awakening her innate ability there and enduring countless trials, she was finally able to return home. But similar events started unfolding here as well.

It wasn’t a particularly long story, but one by one, the lingering questions he had began to unravel like ribbons tugged loose.

However, there was one aspect he couldn’t comprehend, separate from all that.

‘She endured for 18 years, just to reunite with her family?’

Eighteen years was longer than Rosha’s current age.

Yet the driving force that allowed her to persevere through that immense span of time was merely ‘family.’

How could that be?

To Froy, family was simply a ‘blood relation’ – meaningless, as he had never had a choice in the matter.

But she…

“…”

He gazed at Rosha’s scarlet eyes.

They faced forward but were out of focus due to her blindness. Yet they seemed capable of perceiving something beyond his realm of understanding.

Looking into those eyes, it felt like they could provide answers to any question.

As if sensing his gaze, Rosha lifted her head and called out to him.

“Froy?”

“…Yes, Rosha.”

Composing his voice, Froy responded naturally.

“It was truly an astonishing story. I understand now.”

Excluding his recent question, everything else made sense.

That the ‘Hardmode’ shackle currently bound her, and the force of death he had sensed was the punishment for failing the blue window’s mission.

Also, that the trial contents she knew were changing due to Hardmode.

In other words…

‘It means Rosha has drawn closer to the essence of something.’

From his perspective, he felt a colossal, indeterminate entity was watching over her.

By being with her, he too could draw closer to that essence.

Then perhaps he could find answers to the lingering questions he had harbored about this world since long ago.

“Hm, your brain structure is quite different from that fool back home.”

The white parrot nodded approvingly, as if impressed. Indeed, for a speaking phoenix, its vocabulary was quite sophisticated.

It was then that Rosha, who had been smiling faintly, suddenly spoke as if remembering something.

“Then may I ask something as well? It’s nothing major.”

“By all means.”

“Has anything special been happening in the capital lately? Like an important visitor arriving?”

She had a reason for asking this.

Koko had mentioned that the view of the capital from the window had shown quite a bustle these past few days.

-From the way they’re pointlessly repairing perfectly fine roads, it’s clear someone important is coming!

However, since Rosha had so few people to meet currently, there was a limit to how much she could find out.

Berri and Cassis seemed unaware of the details, while Cedric had insisted she focus on recovery, refusing to reveal anything.

“Ah, it seems you haven’t heard yet.”

Fortunately, Froy seemed willing to share the information with her.

“Envoys are arriving, from the kingdoms and principalities gathered on the southern coasts of the Empire. It’s highly likely because of you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. By now, rumors of the trials in the capital must have spread across the continent, so they’ll want to establish some connection with you one way or another. From what I know, the atmosphere in those regions has been quite tense lately. Perhaps…”

After a brief hesitation, the man continued.

“It’s because the Princess’ prophecy about the location of the next trial being near the coast has been announced.”

* * *

Apparently, during the time Rosha was away clearing the second trial, the Emperor had officially revealed the existence of the Princess with the ability of prophecy.

Given Rosha’s high profile thanks to the capital’s trials, it seemed like a move to assert the imperial authority.

…But the Princess’ prophecy?

‘I had dispelled her brainwashing and even gave her a magic-inscribed stone to protect against further suggestions… Will she be alright?’

She couldn’t immediately retrieve the Princess from the summer palace, so this had been her best alternative for the time being. But having met the Emperor directly, she couldn’t help but worry.

To her eyes, hardened by 18 years of trials and tribulations, he was not someone to be trifled with.

‘…What’s done is done. For now, I need to focus on recovery.’

Shaking her head, Rosha dismissed those thoughts.

Fretting now wouldn’t change the fact that her only recourse at present was to restore her physical condition.

Speaking of which, she had something else to do.

“The symmetry is off. Try shaving a bit more from the left side.”

In the afternoon sunlight streaming through the window, Rosha, seated in an armchair, diligently manipulated her mana according to Koko’s instructions.

With each tiny movement of her fingers, the suspended crystal mass was gradually chiseled away.

Indeed, it was the very crystal golem body she had dealt with previously.

‘Froy must have remembered and sent it to me.’

Unlike ordinary crystals, the golem’s body had a high mana conductivity thanks to the intricate circuits running through it.

Moreover, a device in the central trunk could store mana, making it quite useful.

Rosha was utilizing it to sculpt a shrine for the Guide God.

The ‘Guide God’ wishes to have a proper shrine.

The ‘Guide God’ says you need one to resolve your curiosities.

Her deity, realizing a shrine was being made for it, excitedly sent these messages.

According to the God, a ‘proper shrine’ was necessary for meaningful communication.

Not a makeshift one hastily constructed from stones and twigs, but a durable shrine made of highly resilient mana-infused materials.

-Discussions without a shrine are no different from shouting nonsense in a public square for all to see. Understand?

She recalled the Guide God’s plea from long ago. Well, even without that, she had intended to craft one from suitable materials.

‘It will also aid in mana cultivation.’

After fully recovering from her mana backflow symptoms, Rosha had been striving to practice mana manipulation within reasonable limits.

Delicately ‘feeling out’ and chiseling the crystal mass with her magic power was part of that effort.

“Phew… maybe I’ll take a short break.”

After gently setting down the shrine sculpture, she exhaled deeply.

Then, just as she was about to rein in the mana permeating the room, there was a knock at the door.

“I’m coming in, miss.”

Rosha flinched at the youthful voice from beyond the door. It wasn’t Berri, who had said she would secretly bring some snacks.

‘I’m supposed to be resting, so who could it be?’

However, before she could respond, the door opened.

It was an ordinary-looking maid, someone Rosha felt she might have encountered a few times in the mansion. Even hastily scanning her with mana revealed nothing particularly unusual.

Of course, that was only her impression before peering into the maid’s mind.

“…Damn it.”

The now-familiar magic of suggestion flowed through the maid’s blood vessels.

But more importantly, the maid’s trembling hands were retrieving a dagger concealed inside her apron.

‘What is this now?’

Rosha sensed not just magic power, but another force entering through the door the maid had opened.

It was an innate ability containing someone’s ‘gaze.’

Swooosh-

Like mist or wind, that power gradually seeped into the room. Then, as if an invisible spy, it leisurely began surveying the interior.

Her eyes narrowed at its brazen movements.