The Hall of Glory, said to be the most important facility in the outer district of paradise.
Nox even stated that the Hall of Glory was a 'means of control for paradise', but unfortunately, that was a view full of the former Emperor's insight.
It was clear from his inability to properly answer why he thought so when asked.
'Moreover, he doesn't seem to know much beyond that.'
So... they decided to go and check it out themselves.
"Your ordered drink is ready."
At a quiet outdoor cafe somewhere in paradise.
Rosha, who had received the fresh strawberry milk that had just come out, sucked on it with a straw. The tangy pulp of strawberries and the smooth taste of milk sweetly enveloped her tongue.
'Yes, this taste.'
She had forgotten this taste while being chased for so long.
Froy, sitting across from her and watching her, asked:
"You look happy. Did you like sweet things? I didn't think you did."
"I don't particularly like them, but I do like milk with fresh strawberries. I tried it for the first time in another world and it was so delicious."
"...Why for the first time? Even if your family had a lot of debt, you should have been able to enjoy this much."
"Because of my uncle."
Rosha answered lightly.
In the days when she didn't even know what trials were, her uncle wouldn't let her eat sweet things properly, saying she needed to be managed from a young age.
'Come to think of it, there was such a time...'
Rosha's expression naturally became wistful.
The time when she lived with her uncle at home feels like a distant past.
What is her uncle doing now?
Is he even alive in the first place?
"...Hmm."
Froy furrowed his brows seriously upon hearing her answer.
She might not know, but in fact, he was deeply regretting the past.
Even though he roughly knew the circumstances of the Aper County at the time, he hadn't paid any attention.
'Knowing about the atrocities of the Marquis Lycaon, and even having the ability to stop it.'
If only he had stepped in properly just once, but that one time was regrettably missed.
If he had known about Rosha earlier...
"What are you thinking about?"
He, who had been lost in thought, suddenly raised his head.
Rosha's face had somehow come very close. Her golden eyes, containing a strong soul and sparkling like the midday sun, stared at him intently.
Was it because of the divine ability dwelling in them?
Although there couldn't possibly be any physical force in her gaze, when their eyes met, it felt as if he couldn't move an inch.
"So..."
Her face comes closer and closer.
Of course, he knows that's not her intention, but he can't help his heart beating a little faster than usual.
"How is it? Have you found out anything?"
Froy smiled bitterly as he heard her whisper.
That's right. There was a reason why they had chosen to sit at an outdoor cafe even in paradise.
This cafe was in an excellent location where the 'Hall of Glory' was within visible range.
The Hall of Glory.
A massive cuboid structure with no windows or decorations, too plain to be called a palace.
Connected to the outside only by a few entrances, Froy slowly shook his head as he looked at that pure white building.
"It's no use. I can't see inside at all."
"Oh no..."
It seemed like Froy's ability would make spying possible.
Rosha thought quietly after confirming that even her unusually keen magical sense among magicians couldn't detect anything.
'In this case, wouldn't it be better to just go in and see?'
There was also what the God of War said about not touching promotion candidates.
"We can't just charge in without a strategy, Rosha."
If it weren't for Froy, who seemed to have uncannily guessed her thoughts, she would have immediately put it into action.
"...But still."
"Didn't we agree to split up and survey the situation first? At the very least, we should share with the others in our group."
Ahem. Rosha, at a loss for words, kept clearing her throat.
To say it now, they had split into pairs to quietly explore paradise.
Nox and Hajin, and Froy and Rosha.
Actually, Nox had to be separated from Froy because he was unilaterally picking fights with him, and Rosha needed Froy to spy on the Hall of Glory.
As a result, they naturally ended up in this configuration.
Ah, Koko went with Nox's side here. Apparently because they didn't know which way he might jump.
"Ugh... Then there's nothing we can do right now."
"It seems so. It might be good to enjoy some leisure time while we're at it."
Froy replied, leaning back in his chair and looking up at the sky. Rosha, who had also run out of things to do, followed his gaze to the sky.
A sky of pure blue without a single impurity.
Sheep-like clouds in the distance are pushed by the wind towards them.
'For having entered enemy territory to explore... it's too peaceful.'
Seriously peaceful.
The more so, the more a corner of her heart grew impatient. She felt anxious as if a fireball might fall on her head at any moment, and her body fidgeted as if she should be doing something.
Had she become incapable of enjoying peace?
"I said to enjoy the leisure."
Froy said, watching Rosha who couldn't keep her hands still.
But it wasn't a mind that could be fixed with just words.
"It's not that easy. I guess it's become a habit."
Come to think of it, she had been living with trials for over 20 years now.
In the very beginning, she couldn't even sleep properly, and often woke up with a start. Plus the attacks from those aiming for her ability.
Perhaps that's why.
While desiring peace, it seems she's caught a disease where she can't adapt when it's actually peaceful.
"When everything is over, will this peacefulness continue? Of course, it would be nice, but..."
There's no way it wouldn't be good, since she had been running towards peace as her goal all along.
However, she had an intuition that if she actually achieved peace, she would be at a loss like a child who had lost their way.
Is this what it feels like to achieve your life's goal and drift without a next goal?
At that moment, Froy stopped Rosha's fidgeting hand.
"Here. Close your eyes."
"Huh?"
"Hurry."
She closed her eyes at his look that said not to argue. There was nothing else to do anyway.
"Take a deep breath, and try to let all distracting thoughts sink away."
"...They're not sinking."
"I must have explained it too difficultly. Imagine a space in your head where there's nothing. Then create a small door there, and you enter through that door."
"...And then?"
"Let's draw the house you want in the air. Since you like looking out windows, the windows should be big, and it would be nice to have a garden outside too."
"Then we need a gardener too."
She liked gardens, but had no intention of tending to one herself.
She could feel Froy trying to hold back laughter at her words, but she didn't open her closed eyes.
"Alright. Let's do that. While we're at it, how about planting strawberries too?"
And so, a small mansion with an impressive wide terrace was drawn in her mind.
It was a place with an always green garden, and even well-ripened strawberries that could be picked anytime.
Of course, the strawberries were only possible in imagination, like a poetic license.
"Isn't it exciting? The days we'll live."
"...We?"
"Yes. I am your fiancé for now, after all."
Is he doing this on purpose?
She chuckled at the sight of him naturally inserting himself into her imagination as if it were obvious.
But once it was mentioned, Froy appeared in the imaginary mansion on his own.
That scene... wasn't too bad.
Rather, it was quite good. It would definitely be more fun with two than alone.
A faint smile appears on Rosha's lips. The impatience that had been chasing her until just now was nowhere to be found.
It was then.
"You two seem to be having a good time."
At the sudden voice, Rosha slightly lifted her eyelids.
A resident of paradise sitting at the next table nods his head leisurely as if greeting them.
His face was young without wrinkles, but judging by his way of speaking and expression, he didn't seem young in age.
Taking a sip of tea, he continued:
"You've caught a young friend as your fiancé. You've got skills."
"Pardon?"
"His hair is still black. He's clearly young, why are you pretending not to know?"
"..."
At the voice whispering in her ear, Rosha gave an awkward smile.
In this place where everyone lives an eternal life, even as they age, only their hair turns white while their appearance remains the same.
Perhaps that's why they see Froy, with his black hair, as very young.
"Very nice. You're truly a lovely couple to look at."
"Thank you."
She was about to say they weren't lovers, but Froy quickly accepted it. Rosha, unable to deny it now, awkwardly nodded her head.
It was at that moment.
Swish-
A cold wind blew. Along with the cool breeze, a whitish fog passed through the street like a ghost.
Froy flinched at the phenomenon that didn't suit paradise.
Rosha knew what it was.
The Guardian of Paradise.
"Oh? The Guardian is moving. I wonder if something happened over there."
Rosha and Froy exchanged glances and hurriedly got up from their seats.
Somehow, an ominous thought crossed their minds that it might be related to their companions.