Two weeks had passed since that strange and astonishing encounter.
And this morning… was bright and beautiful.
The sky was clear, and the sunlight danced across the hallway floor as if playing.
Ronwa was sweeping the floor with energy,
her silvery hair flowing around her shoulders and down her back.
She wore a cloth tied behind her head,
looking every bit like a "little lady of the house" in full enthusiasm.
As she swept, she was replaying everything that had happened…
"When I got home that day…"
She smiled, remembering how Ron had been standing there waiting for her.
She had said to him, still panting from running:
"I met him! I met the bearer of the third key! His name is Oda!"
He raised an eyebrow in surprise and said:
"Oda… Oda Shinsou?"
She replied with excitement:
"Yes! And he said his real name when he was alive was Akamori Onkayo!"
At that moment…
Ron was stunned, as if a jolt of electricity had shot through him.
But he quickly regained his composure and asked with concern:
"Did he give you the key?"
She answered blankly:
"Huh? No."
He lowered his head and smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand, saying:
"Ugh, I'm such an idiot… No!, you're the idiot!"
Then he turned to Lucas, and with exaggerated seriousness, patted his shoulder:
"Well, congratulations to you, at least — you got to meet your favorite author!"
Ronwa laughed, but her train of thought was cut off by a familiar voice…
"Ronwa… stop staring into nothing. Sweep!"
She looked up and saw Lilia sitting at the table,
twirling a ribbon through her hair and stretching her legs lazily like a princess waiting to be served.
Ronwa said, still sweeping enthusiastically:
"I am sweeping! I was just… reliving my heroic memories!"
Lilia replied with sarcasm:
"Your memories always end with you doing something stupid."
Ronwa laughed and shook the broom:
"But they're beautiful memories!"
Lilia stood up from the table and stretched as she yawned,
raising her arms overhead.
As she walked lightly, she said:
"There's another broom in the storage, right?"
Ronwa lifted her head with a smile and said:
"Yes, on the second shelf… but, why?"
Lilia raised an eyebrow and answered:
"Because I came to help you, of course!"
She said it confidently, lifting her nose proudly.
Ronwa smiled in surprise:
"Ah! Then I'm lucky today!"
They began sweeping together, chatting in low voices.
Then Lilia leaned in slightly and whispered with a mysterious tone:
"By the way… I heard something strange last week…"
Ronwa paused and stared at her:
"Huh? What is it?"
Lilia waved her broom like she was telling a horror story:
"From the radio… they said a new contagious disease was spotted in the distant city… it's called Black Wither."
Ronwa felt a small chill but muttered defiantly:
"Heh, weird name."
Lilia nodded and took a dramatic breath:
"The symptoms? First: black lines appear on the skin… like burnt nerves.
Then the fingertips turn black… the skin withers and peels… the complexion becomes pale, like the dead.
Then… comes the delirium.
And finally? Madness."
Ronwa gasped:
"That… sounds like a nightmare!"
Lilia leaned closer and whispered:
"Over a hundred people have died from it already…!"
Then she suddenly screamed:
"And there's a big chance one of them is in the village right now!"
Ronwa jumped back and screamed in panic:
"Liliaaa!!"
But Lilia was laughing loudly, holding her broom like a victorious sword.
Ronwa said with childish anger:
"Stop scaring me! I'm going to sleep next to my mom tonight because of you!"
Lilia laughed even more:
"Oyaa~? Are you scared?"
Ronwa muttered while dusting:
"I'm not scared! Just… a little concerned, that's all!"
Lilia laughed as she set the broom aside:
"Alright, alright! I won't scare you anymore."
Then she tilted her head and asked curiously:
"By the way, where's your mother? I haven't seen her since morning."
Ronwa replied as she wiped her forehead with her sleeve:
"She went to buy some vegetables… and said she'd pass by the forest to pick some mushrooms."
Lilia's eyes widened slightly:
"To the forest? Alone?"
Ronwa nodded:
"Yeah, mama's strong. She knows the place well and always goes there around this time."
Then she added with a smile:
"By the way, if you're not busy, you can stay for lunch with us. Mom would love that."
Lilia's* face lit up with joy:
"Really? I'd love to stay! Your mom's cooking is irresistible."
Ronwa chuckled as she picked the broom up again:
"I know! Especially when she makes her vegetable and mushroom soup…"
Then she added excitedly:
"This time, I'll set the table myself!"
They laughed together and resumed cleaning, unaware that this bright day… might not end the way it began.