"I didn't expect to run into Hilichurls and Abyss Mages in a place like this! How did these guys even get down here?!"
"Maybe they sneaked in back when Enkanomiya was opened in the past."
"Seriously… we came here for a trial, but we don't even know what the trial is. All we can do is explore bit by bit… at least there are treasure chests along the way! Treasure chests, treasure chests, my lovely treasure chests~"
After Lumine and Victor Wang had collected all the treasures from the exquisite chest, Paimon suddenly thought of something. "Oh right, Victor! Since Ei sent you here to find the Bloodbranch Coral, and Watatsumi Island also needs Bloodbranch Coral, did Ei tell you where exactly to find it?"
"No. She only seemed to know the name 'Bloodbranch Coral.' She learned of it from the previous Electro Archon," Victor Wang replied casually, though he had clearly weighed his words carefully.
"The previous Electro Archon…" Paimon tilted her head in thought. "You mean Makoto?"
"I think that was the name."
"I see… Hey, look! That building up ahead! It's the first complete-looking structure we've found since coming down here. Maybe it has clues about the trial!"
'Whatever the connection between Paimon and Celestia might be, it doesn't matter elsewhere, but here… I have to be careful. When Before Sun and Moon shows up, I'll pretend I have something to do and slip away.' Victor Wang made up his mind and chased after the already-flying Paimon.
"Yah!"
Paimon, who had flown ahead, let out a startled cry. Lumine quickly caught up to her. "What's wrong?"
"There's something upstairs!"
Startled, Lumine looked up toward the second floor of the structure—and indeed, there was a man with glasses and a scholarly appearance standing there.
The man peered down at them. "Who's shouting down there? Scared me half to death!"
Paimon scratched her head sheepishly. "Sorry! Wait—you're a human?"
"Hey, what do you mean 'you're a human after all'?" The bespectacled man was about to argue with Paimon when his eyes fell upon Victor Wang, who was the last to enter. He froze mid-sentence, lips curling slightly. "Interesting… You didn't sneak in here, did you?"
Without waiting for an answer, he pushed up his glasses again. "Doesn't seem like it. So, you three must be the brave ones sent to collect the coral?"
"Three!" Paimon cheered. "You're counting me too?!"
"Haha, well, I figured even if manpower at Sangonomiya Shrine is tight, they wouldn't send only two people, right? So, this little flying… brave one must have power that defies appearances?"
"Uhm… Lumine—Lumine's really strong!"
"Oh, so this young lady's name is 'Lumine'? Then what about this young man?" The bespectacled man turned his gaze toward Victor Wang.
"My name is Victor."
"Good. Then let me introduce myself as well. I'm Enjou, a researcher sent to assist. I'm mainly responsible for translating and organizing the trial clues—to provide you brave ones with guidance."
"Suspicious…" Lumine said warily. "Tsuyuko only just opened Enkanomiya."
"Tsuyuko is… ah, right, Tsuyuko. Didn't she tell you there would be a clerk coming down to assist the challengers?"
"You're the clerk? So, we do have a clerk!" Paimon exclaimed. "I knew it! Tsuyuko must've just forgotten to tell us!"
Having someone unknowingly help his story, Enjou sighed in relief. "Ah, Tsuyuko forgot to tell you? That sounds like her. Don't blame her too much—anyway, I'm here now."
Lumine still didn't trust him. "But the Key of the Deep is only in our possession. How did you open the same gate we came through?"
"Well… you see, brave ones like you use the main gate that awakens the trials, but we support staff have our own—quite literally—side door to enter through."
Seeing Lumine's frown remain, Enjou added, "Besides, it's useless for ordinary people to sneak in. Without using the Key of the Moon-Bathed Deep to open the doors, none of the trial mechanisms would activate, and no one could read the writings of the Byakuyakoku anyway. You can't read them either, can you? It'd take too long to teach you the ancient language, so I'm here to handle the translations and hints for you."
"'Key of the Moon-Bathed Deep'—to even know that tongue-twisting name… he probably isn't lying," Lumine muttered.
"At least it shows he knows something," Victor Wang said calmly.
"We do need a translator," Paimon whispered.
The three huddled together to discuss quietly. Enjou, as if having steeled his resolve, called out, "If you really don't trust me, then just beat me up! But please, don't drag me back to the surface afterward. I've still got business here, thanks."
"This guy… is he crazy?" Paimon said, blinking.
"I've never heard anyone request to be beaten up before…" Lumine murmured.
"Should we try it—just to test the feel?" Victor Wang asked, expression unreadable.
"Ahem, as you can see, I'm merely a scholar with a… healthy curiosity. All I seek is a certain text hidden in the Byakuyakoku."
Paimon, ever gullible, nodded. "Well, since he said that much, maybe we can give him a chance?"
Having read the script before, Victor Wang walked over to a nearby toppled bookshelf, picked up a few scattered tomes, and flipped through them. He then showed them to Lumine and Paimon. "I can't read these symbols. Can either of you?"
Lumine shook her head.
"Then I agree—we need him. We don't have to trust him, but we can use him. Treat him as a tool, and stay alert."
"This young man's got the right idea," Enjou called down from the second floor approvingly.
Lumine finally nodded.
"Alright, alright! Then allow me to guide the three brave ones to your trial!" Enjou announced, his tone bubbling with excitement.
"This place is the Byakuyakoku's library. Since it's closest to the passage upward, the first stage of the trial was set here for convenience."
"When I arrived, right at the entrance I found a booklet displayed in the most prominent spot. Written in the ancient script, it read: 'Seek the Golden Bridle in the back mountain of the library.'"
"So, the first step for you brave ones is to find the Golden Bridle."
After a round of deciphering and battle later…
"We found the Golden Bridle! What's next?"
"You three are quick! Seems you truly have the talent of heroes!" Enjou said, pleased.
"That towering structure outside—the one that glows and lights up the entire Byakuyakoku—you must have seen it, right? The texts say it was built by the craftsman Aberaku no Mikoto under royal order, to bring light to the Evernight, drive away the Bathysmal Vishaps, and even project barriers to protect the citizens."
"It was named the Dainichi Mikoshi—meaning Helios. Considering its function, the name is hardly an exaggeration."
"Now it's surrounded by a protective barrier. Back then, it shielded the people, but now, unless we lift it, we can't enter. The Golden Bridle serves as the key to dispel that barrier."
"Allow me to activate it for you. According to the records, first it goes like this… then this… hmm, and then this. There we go."
"With this, the Golden Bridle is activated. Take it to the Dainichi Mikoshi and command it to lift the barrier. But since it's such a ceremonial affair, we should do it properly—at the main gate of the Dainichi Mikoshi itself."