After enjoying my chat with Camellia and Rosmiel, I prepared to seek out Lilliwood using the card Camellia had given me.
However, on my way toward the entrance of the venue, an incredibly energetic voice rang out.
"Master! Master!"
"..."
It was Blossom. Glancing toward the source of the noise, I saw her waving enthusiastically from a nearby table, looking overjoyed to see me.
The image of a large dog wagging its tail came to mind... and as usual, her voice was booming.
I felt a bit awkward under the sudden spotlight of attention, but since it would be rude to ignore her, I made my way to her table. Lilie was sitting there with her.
As I approached, Blossom moved to leap from her chair with explosive energy, but Lilie spoke up quietly just before she could.
"...Blossom."
"!? Ah, right... I’ll sit quietly."
Lilie had only spoken her name, but Blossom’s shoulders twitched as she aborted her jump and settled back into her seat.
The power dynamic here was clear; it seemed Blossom was utterly unable to defy Lilie.
"Hello, Lilie, Blossom."
"Hello, Kaito. Following the Harmonic Symphony, I am pleased we could meet again like this."
"Good work, Master! To think we’d cross paths in such a massive venue—what a wonderful coincidence! It must be the result of the powerful bond between this humble one and her Master!"
"...Blossom, lower your volume."
"Ah, yes. My apologies."
Just as I thought. Blossom had a habit of ignoring others when her excitement spiked, but that wasn't the case when she was dealing with Lilie.
In fact, I wondered what kind of relationship allowed Lilie to pacify the hyperactive Blossom with a single word.
As the thought crossed my mind, Lilie seemed to read my surface consciousness and guess what I was wondering. She offered a slight smile.
"The answer to your question is simple, Kaito. I have been guiding Blossom since shortly after she gained a physical form as a spirit. You could say we are mentor and disciple."
"I see..."
Blossom had an athletic club vibe about her, so I suppose she was simply conditioned to obey her mentor.
"Yes, Lady Lilie provided me with a great deal of beneficial guidance! At times gently, at times strictly, at times very strictly, and at times... ruthlessly strictly..."
"..."
Ah, never mind. Her obedience wasn't just respect; it was rooted deeply in fear.
The fact that she had to emphasize "strictly" three times suggested she had gone through some truly intense training.
Still, it was a bit surprising. Lilie always seemed so gentle, but she was apparently a terrifying Spartan when it came to instruction.
As I processed this, Lilie let out a soft sigh.
"To be honest, I wanted to guide her gently, and I did so at first. However, Blossom has a tendency to make wild assumptions and gets carried away far too easily. As a result, the necessity for 'strict' guidance naturally increased."
"...Ah, that makes a lot of sense."
I found myself nodding in total agreement. Blossom really did jump to conclusions, and once her energy surged, she stopped listening to anything around her. She was definitely the type who needed a heavy-duty brake to keep from charging off a cliff.
"At any rate, it is no exaggeration to say that I am who I am today thanks to Lady Lilie’s guidance! Even if it was harsh, I felt the love behind every lesson!"
"...Unfortunately, I wasn't able to correct her personality. Such bottomless positivity is a problem in its own right."
Seeing Blossom clenching her fist and speaking with tearful emotion—her earlier trembling forgotten—Lilie sighed with a look of weary exasperation.
Well, personally, I knew someone whose positivity surpassed even Blossom’s.
"...Someone even more positive than Blossom? Who might that be?"
"It’s Tre, from Kuro’s family."
"I see. I know the name, but I haven't had much chance to speak with her."
"That woman is truly something else."
In fact, when it came to Tre, I doubted she was even capable of a negative thought. She was constantly being scolded by Ein and Zwei, yet she never seemed frightened of them or learned her lesson in the slightest.
Then again, that boundless optimism was part of her charm, so it wasn't all bad.
Bonus: Stories Passed Down in the Demon Realm
The Monster of the Black Forest
The Black Forest is a terrifying place. Between hungry monsters, trees of delusion, and flowers that consume magic power, everything within seeks to lure the wayward soul to their death.
Once you step into the Black Forest, escaping on your own is nearly impossible. The mists conjured by the trees of delusion will rob you of your sense of direction in an instant.
Only one of two fates awaits you: to be devoured by a savage beast, or to have your magic drained away by horrific flora.
However, if you find yourself lost in those woods and still wish to live... try shouting for help as a last resort. Cry out with every ounce of strength you have left until your voice cracks.
If you are lucky, a giant Lamia will appear. If you tell her you are lost, she will lead you back to the edge of the forest.
But you must never, ever become friends with her.
No matter what she asks, you must always reply: "I cannot get along with you," or "I cannot be your friend."
If you ignore this warning and accept her friendship, in that very instant, she will transform into the most terrifying monster in the Black Forest.
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Note: This is a story told in the Demon Realm to warn people away from the Black Forest. Another version exists where people are captured by the Martyr of Death to be used as research material.
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In reality, because of Alice’s supervision, these entities do not actually harm ordinary civilians.
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The reason Caraway, Eta, and Theta referred to Tiamat as the "Monster of the Black Forest" was due to the influence of this legend.