Guided by High Priest David, Nellin and Godric's companions arrived at Fresia's room.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

"Saintess Fresia, it's David."

A moment after he knocked, Fresia opened the door and appeared.

"High Priest David? What brings you... Oh?"

Seeing Nellin standing behind David, Fresia was lost for words. Nellin raised a hand with a smile, speaking in her stead.

"Fresia, it's been a while. You're as pretty as ever, even if you've gotten old."

"Nellin...!"

It was a reunion with a companion she hadn't seen in years. Fresia threw her arms around Nellin. The joy of their reunion made even Fresia, The Saintess of Healing renowned for her calm grace, embrace her friend the instant they met.

"It's been so long. I'm truly glad to see you."

Chuckling, Nellin returned the embrace and stroked her back.

"What's this? You're clingier than you used to be. Were you lonely?"

"You really haven't changed. You're just as I remember you."

"So are you, apart from being a little clingier."

"You just said I'd gotten old."

"It's what's underneath that matters. Underneath! Besides, you've aged beautifully, you know? Don't the old men around here hit on you?"

High Priest David, who had been quietly listening, suddenly raised his voice.

"Lady Nellin! How can you say such a thing to the Saintess!"

"Oh, come on. Don't humans say you're always young at heart, no matter how old you get?"

"Hehe. You really are the same as ever, Nellin. Come inside first. Your companions, too."

Godric was the first to answer Fresia's invitation, his voice tense.

"Y-yes, ma'am!"

"So that's the legendary hero, The Saintess of Healing... That kindly aura is something else."

"Wow, I-I've never seen the Saintess before!"

"Me neither. She's a hero too, but she's nothing like Big Sis Marin. I mean, Nellin."

"Sgol, do you want a knock on the head too?"

"No, ma'am!"

"Sigh. I'll take my leave now."

"Of course. Thank you."

High Priest David withdrew, and Nellin and Godric's companions entered Fresia's room.

"Th-the room is so pretty."

"Boss! There's even a sofa!"

"This, too, is what it means to be a Saintess. Hehe."

"Don't make such a fuss in front of the Saintess."

"You'll tire yourselves out standing. Please, sit down."

At Fresia's invitation, Godric and his companions all sat on the sofa. Fresia took the sofa opposite them, with Nellin beside her.

Nellin looked around the room and asked Fresia,

"Didn't you say you disliked anything too fancy?"

"I declined, but everyone insisted that my position as Saintess required at least this much, so I had little choice. Still, I think getting this sofa was a good decision."

Fresia gently stroked the sofa she sat on.

"It's a good place to listen to the troubles of the brothers and sisters who sometimes come for counsel. It's also convenient for receiving guests like this."

"It is comfortable."

"So, Nellin. What brings you to the Great Church? Would you introduce your companions as well?"

"Oh. Well, about that."

As she introduced Godric's Party, Nellin briefly recounted her journey so far: meeting the slime in Green Elf Forest, then having no choice but to let it go because of the elder's nagging; leaving Green Elf Forest to investigate after reading Count Rudendion's letter; and speaking with the count's daughter, who had been closest to the slime, only to find that it resembled the one Nellin had seen.

She explained that an ominous feeling had prompted her to leave the forest to see the world, while looking for the slime along the way. Finally, she described meeting Godric's Party, who had encountered an intelligent slime but had been separated from it in an accident.

"That's when it clicked. It was a bit different from the slime I'd known, but the one traveling with these guys had to be the same one. So I was putting them through their paces while we searched for it together. Then I heard the rumors about the lich and came here. Finding the slime matters, but how could I sit around when my friend might be in danger? Right?"

"..."

Fresia, who had listened to Nellin's entire account, was looking at Godric and his companions with an intrigued expression. Meanwhile, they blinked at Nellin.

"... Big Sis Nellin."

"Hmm? What?"

"B-Bouncy was at Count Rudendion's mansion? Didn't it just meet us after meeting you?"

"Huh? Didn't I tell you?"

"You never said a word!"

"Heh. So Bouncy had a taste of noble life! No wonder it was strong."

"What does living with nobles have to do with strength? Huh? Wait. Now that I think about it, sometimes when you called Bouncy, you'd trail off after saying 'Al...' Don't tell me you were about to use the name that noble family gave it?"

'Sgol, why the hell are you so sharp all of a sudden?'

"Ah, yes, that did happen. Sorry. I meant to tell you, but I forgot. Hahahahaha!"

"Big Sis Nellin..."

"Um, B-Big Sis Marin, ah, no! Big Sis Nellin!"

"Call me whatever you like. Nellin or Marin. What is it, Def?"

"What was Bouncy's name when it lived at the count's mansion?"

"Oh, that. Alexandros II."

"Alexandros... the Second?"

"Gah! That's such a cool name. For Bouncy, of all creatures!"

"What are you getting upset about, idiot? But why the Second? Is there a First?"

"B-Bouncy is a cuter name!"

"Def, why are you getting competitive?"

"Oh, I asked that too. Apparently it's the Second because it's small and cute."

"I'll never understand how nobles think."

While Nellin and Godric's companions were bantering, Fresia addressed Godric.

"Mr. Godric."

"Y-yes, Saintess!"

"There's something I'd like to ask."

"Please, ask me anything!"

Fresia smiled kindly at the tightly wound Godric.

"Please don't be so nervous. I may know where the slime you and Nellin are looking for is."

"R-really?"

"What? You know Bouncy too, Fresia?"

"That's what I'd like to confirm. Mr. Godric, would you tell me how you became separated from the slime?"

"Yes. What happened was..."

Godric explained the incident during the lesser troll extermination request that had caused their abrupt separation from the slime. After hearing his full account, Fresia nodded in understanding.

"It seems my suspicions were right. I've seen the slime you and Nellin met."

"Is that really true?"

"What? Seriously?"

"Yes. You see..."

This time, Fresia told Nellin and Godric's companions how Amelia, the next Saintess, and Paladin Paulen had met the slime. She also told them what it had been named and how it had lived at the church.

"The next Saintess and a Paladin picked up Bouncy?"

"What! Then if we'd just headed to the Holy City back then, we'd have found Bouncy right away!"

"Such is fate's cruel jest."

"S-so it was called Quivery. I think that's cute too."

"Wait, what do you mean it sparred with a Paladin? And what? Exercise...?"

"What, it was here? Then is it with your successor now?"

"No. Unfortunately, Quivery is no longer at the Great Church. ... The lich took it away."

"What? Where did the lich suddenly come into this?"

Just then,

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Saintess Fresia. It's Gracie."

"Ah, the very person who can explain in detail has arrived. Come in, Miss Gracie."

With Fresia's permission, Gracie entered the room and saw Nellin and Godric's companions.

"Who are these people?"

"Let me introduce them, Gracie. This is my friend Nellin. These are her companions, Mr. Godric, Mr. Hawein, Mr. Sgol, and Mr. Def."

"A friend of Saintess Fresia, named Nellin? Don't tell me! Th-The Starlight Archer!"

"That's right."

Flustered, Gracie greeted Nellin and began introducing herself.

"I-it's an honor to meet you! I am Gracie Frail, proud descendant of Ventus Frail, The Mage of a Thousand Spells!"

"Oh, really? But a descendant? Did he get married?"

"Ah. Well. Strictly speaking, I'm the granddaughter of his older female cousin."

"Aha. Well, you share the same blood, so I suppose that makes you a descendant."

"Miss Gracie, please explain the incident at the Mage Tower to them."

"...!"

Nellin, The Starlight Archer and one of the legendary heroes, had arrived unexpectedly and was now in this room with her companions. And Gracie was being asked to explain what had happened that day.

Naturally, Gracie took this to mean Nellin had heard about the lich and come to help.

"Yes!"

Retracing her memories once more, Gracie explained the events of that day to Nellin and Godric's companions.

"Then the lich disappeared again, taking the slime with him."

"B-Bouncy really was kidnapped by the lich!"

"Bouncy?"

"So it captured even a lich's heart..."

"Stop talking nonsense! Where are we supposed to look now? A lich's lair?"

"Big Sis Nellin, this is more serious than we thought."

"It sure is. Hmm, but that's pretty mild behavior for a lich. I thought it'd be incredibly dangerous. All it did was yank out the tower master's beard."

"Yes, I was surprised it ended there too. But the terrifying aura the lich gave off felt real. Still, you called the slime... Quivery, 'Bouncy' earlier."

"Miss Gracie, these are the people who were with Quivery before Amelia met it."

"What!? Really?"

"Yes. If you don't mind, would you show these four to Amelia? Nellin and I have something to discuss in private."

"Oh, of course! Please follow me, everyone."

"Um, even if we meet the next Saintess..."

"Would you share stories about how you each became close to the slime? Lately, Amelia has been blaming herself for failing to protect it from the lich. Please, keep her company and listen to her."

Def was the first to answer Fresia's request.

"Yes! I-I was really sad when we suddenly lost Bouncy too! I know how that feels!"

"Well, I can understand blaming yourself."

"Another soul who shares our pain..."

"I don't know if talking will make it any better, though."

Not only Def, but Godric, Hawein, and Sgol understood what it was like to blame themselves for their sudden separation from the slime.

After Godric and his companions followed Gracie out of the room, Fresia rose.

"Nellin. Thank you so much for coming now. I haven't known what to do on my own."

"What are friends for? But you haven't known what to do? Is the lich that strong? If you're really worried, should we ask Kachal to come too?"

"That's not what I'm worried about. Besides, Ore Village is in the south, so even if we sent a request, it would take Kachal a long time to arrive."

"Knowing him, he'd snort at us for worrying over nothing and come anyway."

"Hehe. I think so too."

Fresia went over to a drawer, took out the composite sketch of the lich, and returned to the sofa.

"Nellin, does this remind you of anything?"

"What's this?"

Nellin took the sketch and studied it closely.

"A skeleton? Is this that lich? What's this? It's even got an ornament on its head because it's a liiich? Haha! I guess even a mage turned monster wants to look impres—what? I feel like I've seen this before."

In the middle of her laughter, a memory surfaced. Nellin's expression froze, and she continued staring silently at the sketch.

After a moment, she set it down and looked at Fresia.

"Hey, Fresia. What... is this?"

Nellin's eyes trembled, as though she'd seen something she couldn't believe.