-1561- I must be dreaming

At the same time, when the Vebel side was in an uproar over the incident of the Ninth Artificial Floating Island, Rozen also welcomed a guest.

Moreover, it was a familiar guest.

"You really manage to stir up big trouble every time, Rorelei."

River Endycase appeared at the hotel where the Mistgun representative team was staying, and as soon as he saw Rozen, he wore an extremely perplexed expression.

Seeing this, Rozen chuckled.

"I'm not the one stirring up trouble. In fact, I helped you all by defending against the troublemakers. You should be thanking me, not giving me that look."

Rozen found it rather amusing.

But River still wore a perplexed expression.

"Couldn't you have solved it in a more normal way?" River said, "The sea of crimson flames was one thing, but what's the deal with the dragons?"

This was likely the question on the minds of everyone who knew the inside story of this incident.

However, Rozen maintained an innocent look.

"How would I know what's going on?"

Rozen acted like an outsider.

"Stop it." River immediately exposed him, saying, "Don't think I don't know. The person who made the dragons appear was you."

River was so sure of it.

Clearly, aside from Leysritt and the Vebel representative team—who knew who Leysritt's target was and what kind of person her opponent was—nobody else knew that the appearance of the dragons was connected to Rozen.

Yet River was still so certain.

The reason was simple.

"I can't think of anyone else capable of pulling off such a thing other than you."

That was the basis for River's assumption.

But Rozen wanted to say:

"That's not even evidence, let alone convincing."

Rozen rolled his eyes.

"Can you deny it wasn't you?"

River pressed.

"Of course! Why wouldn't I?"

Rozen responded directly.

"I don't believe you!"

River responded firmly.

"Whether you believe me or not is none of my business."

Rozen didn't even want to talk to him anymore.

As Rozen prepared to close the door, River hurriedly stepped forward and blocked it.

"Okay, okay. I won't make it difficult for you. But at least be honest with me—is this incident really related to you?" River said with a troubled face. "Because of this whole thing, the Pope didn't sleep a wink last night. She looked seriously disturbed, as if she was thinking about something terrifying. Her face was pale, then green, then pale again. I've never seen her like this before. Today, she couldn't sit still any longer and sent me to bring you to her. She said she wants to talk to you face to face. So, this matter is really important."

Upon hearing this, Rozen squinted his eyes.

"The dignified Pope... actually scared by something like this?"

Rozen smiled meaningfully.

"I have no idea why the Pope is reacting so strongly."

River said this with a frustrated expression.

At that moment...

"I'm done..."

A weary voice came from Rozen's room.

"Huh?"

River was stunned for a moment and looked into Rozen's room, only to realize that there was someone else inside.

It was a girl who looked like a white fairy.

"Leysritt Flowerchild...!"

River immediately recognized her and his expression changed.

But Leysritt ignored River, her face filled with exhaustion and dark circles under her eyes. She dragged herself forward as if she were enduring suffering beyond her years, looking like she was about to ascend to heaven.

"You... you two..."

River looked at Rozen and Leysritt in shock and suspicion.

Because of the connection between Emilie and Cris on the human side, those who knew about the existence of humanoid Armored Beetles were well aware of Leysritt's identity.

As such, the top brass in the human faction, including the Pope, already knew that this incident was orchestrated by Leysritt.

People, including River, had assumed that Leysritt had been eliminated by Rozen in this incident, or that she had fled the Ninth Artificial Floating Island and returned to Zeth.

But to think that Leysritt was here—how could River not be shocked?

Yet Rozen ignored River completely, extending his hand toward Leysritt.

"Hand it over."

Rozen ordered.

Leysritt immediately placed a stack of papers in Rozen's hand.

Seeing this, River instinctively looked at the stack of papers.

He soon saw the bold words on the top.

"Reflection paper...?"

River was stunned.

Yes, it was a reflection paper.

And not just one, but numerous reflection papers written over who knew how many times.

What... what is going on here?

Completely ignoring River's bewilderment, Rozen put away the reflection papers. After glancing at them, he nodded.

"It seems you've truly repented, writing all these reflection papers properly."

Rozen seemed satisfied.

"Can I go to sleep now?"

Leysritt asked with a hopeful expression.

It should be noted that she hadn't slept all night in order to write these reflection papers.

But who could blame her? On the way back with Rozen, she had been acting up the whole time.

"I don't want to be your pet! No! No no no no no no no!"

Leysritt had been throwing tantrums like that the whole time before.

Unfortunately, no matter how much she acted out, under the constraints of the contract, as Rozen's shikigami, Leysritt had no choice but to obediently follow him, unable to disobey his commands.

Thus, as punishment, Rozen had made her write reflection papers all night long.

Now, the girl had finally quieted down.

"Go ahead."

Rozen finally gave the order.

"Yay!"

Leysritt cheered, turned around, dashed to the bed, collapsed on it, and immediately fell asleep, showing no signs of waking anytime soon.

"This..."

River was once again completely thrown into disarray.

What in the world is going on?

What is going on?

Why is the Master of Servants from the Armored Beetles faction here?

And not just here—what is she doing?

Writing reflection papers?

The Master of Servants, who commands legions of monsters, writing reflection papers in Rozen's room?

I must be dreaming.

As River fell into a state of self-doubt, Rozen suddenly spoke.

"Let's go."

Rozen said.

"Go... go where?"

River dumbfoundedly asked.

Rozen could only roll his eyes at him.

"Who was it just now saying that someone asked you to bring me over to talk face to face?"

In other words...

"Let's go." Rozen said nonchalantly. "We're going to see the Pope."

"Oh..." River hesitated, pointing at the now fast-asleep Leysritt. "What about her?"

"What else?" Rozen said with annoyance. "She's just a kid, let her sleep."

"..." River was speechless.

The two of them then set off together, heading toward the First Artificial Floating Island, making their way to the underground city.