Noah: Wow... This palace is huge. This is the first time seeing something so picturesque in the Red Demon Territory.
Ciel: It looks like the story of the Queen of Gold owning the best property in the Red Demon Territory is true.
Eve: It's quiet. No one's out to greet us. Maybe they're not aware of our arrival?
Elesis: Let's head in. We are guests with a proper invitation after all.
- (CREAK...)
Ain: Oooh!
Elsword: Huh? What? What is it?
Ain: Good job, opening the door quietly.
Elsword: I don't always slam the doors, you know.
- (SCREEK!!)
Laby: Whoa! What was that?
Elsword: Oh, my bad. It's a frame the Dream Demons gave me. I completely forgot I was carrying it on my back and it caught the door frame.
Ain: I take back what I said. It's a gift for the Queen of Gold, isn't it? Be careful not to break it.
Elsword: No. It's not a gift. They said to keep it on us at all times.
Ciel: For us...? What's it for?
Elsword: I don't know. The only thing they told me was to carry it around and not to open it.
Aisha: Huh, is that so? Well, I suppose they wouldn't have given us anything too suspicious.
- (TAP,TAP)
Aisha: Good job! Keep up the good work.
Laby: Keep up the good work!
Elsword: What are you on about... Let's just move on.
Ain: (......?)
Rena: Hm... Is there a holy beast inside this palace?
Chung: I didn't hear anything about it... What's wrong?
Rena: I'm sensing something. It's not exactly the same...
Rena: Hm... How should I put this... I felt something similar at the volcanoes in Lanox.
Rena: I guess... It's like there's a powerful being with the entire region under its influence. A guardian? Of sorts?
Noah: Guardian...? I'm not sure I understand.
Rena: Hm... Have you ever had an experience where, when you go to a particular location, you feel suppressed, or like something's watching you. Maybe a sense of holiness.
Ara: Hm... You're saying Lanox volcano was like that? I think I may understand...
Eve: You might be more sensitive as an Elf who regularly communicates with spirits.
Lu: But we're not in immediate danger?
Rena: It doesn't seem hostile at the moment, but I'll keep my senses open.
- [Palace of Gold Medovine Garden]
Medovine: Welcome, conquerors of the Abyss. I thank you for responding to my invitation.
Medovine: I apologize for the delayed greeting. I didn't think you'd come so early.
Ara: No, it's our honor.
Chung: We saw you outside, so we assumed you already knew of our presence. We apologize if we were not welcome to wander around.
Medovine: It's fine. Will you take a seat? I may not be able to serve you tea, but the sun should provide a pleasurable enough experience.
Chung: It's quiet in the palace. We didn't encounter anyone else. Are there no other Dream Demons?
Medovine: That's right. I ordered them to go when the Abyss began to expand.
Medovine: Thanks to you, the worst possible outcome has been avoided. Ah, I almost forgot.
Medovine: Thank you for ending the Abyss. Though you may not have intended to save my life, my life is undoubtedly saved thanks to you.
Ara: Oh, it's fine! There's no need for all that.
Medovine: If I may ask, the Heart Core...
Raven: We could not salvage it.
Medovine: Ah, huhuhu... A shame. Of course, it would have been no easy feat.
Noah: Did you seek us in hopes for a Heart Core?
Medovine: That is not the main reason. Of course, a Heart Core is highly coveted, but what I seek is something else.
Medovine: Let us cut to the chase. I have two problems that need to be resolved.
Medovine: I wish for you to handle one of them, and depending on the result, will also have you handle the other.
Laby: What do you want us to do?
Medovine: ... I am a collector. I spent all my life collecting valuable things. This palace reflects that.
Medovine: Though it's quiet at the moment... In its prime, visitors from all over would form a line that goes beyond the horizon for a mere chance to see my collection.
Rena: That must have been a sight.
Medovine: But... I am growing weak. As the sun eventually sets, so too, will my empire.
Medovine: I am in the process of getting ready for my final days.
Ara: That's... terrible.
Chung: Is it because of the Abyss...?
Medovine: The cause for my illness is something else. Though I suppose it's not completely irrelevant.
Medovine: In any case... Due to letting my servants go, it's been troublesome to take care of the palace. I'm not sure if you're aware, but a collector's residence is usually filled to the brim with magic.
Aisha: Because of artifacts with all sorts of curses... or unknown spells.
Medovine: Huhu, yes. And the whole palace is in disarray thanks to some spells going awry.
Aisha: Ugh... I get that. It's the worst.
Chung: Then is the first task to find and handle the problem?
Elesis: It's not... impossible, but our expertise is not exactly clean up.
Add: I would say it's more of a 'wipe out'.
Medovine: Huhuhu, like how you handled the Abyss? It's fine. There's no pressure.
Aisha: Hm... Alright.
Lu: I'm sorry, but I'd like to share some words with her. Can I let you handle it?
Elsword: Of course. We'll be back before you know it.
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