During lunch, Eda and Jun reluctantly filled their stomachs, preparing once again to search the study. Well, to be precise, Jun was the only one who still had the enthusiasm. After eating the soup that Jun had made for lunch, Eda, wavering between eating and not eating, found herself unable to get up from the dining table.
"Eda, you need to eat something."
Approaching her, Jun tried to spoon-feed her, but Eda only managed to chew reluctantly.
"Jun... Could you get me some fruit?"
"Fruit? Sure."
Jun retrieved a few fruits from the makeshift refrigerator he had set up and began slicing them for easy consumption. Placing the neatly arranged fruits in a bowl and bringing them to Eda, she started eating.
Muttering.
Eda, who had been silently moving her mouth as if the fruit was passing well, suddenly stopped.
"..."
Trembling.
Eda's body was shaking. She was engulfed in fear that the foundation of her life, the faith in her master, might collapse in an instant.
"Jun..."
Eda searched for her husband with a trembling voice.
"That... What does it mean? A witch like me appears every few decades. I... What am I exactly? And master knew about it. Maybe more than what was written in that note. So... Why did master... What was the intention behind... Adopting me..."
Jun couldn't provide an answer. Those were things even he couldn't figure out. So, he decided to do the best he could at the moment. Jun embraced his wife without saying a word, to alleviate her trembling. As she nestled in his arms, her tremors noticeably decreased.
Holding her until Eda seemed satisfied, Jun released her and knelt before her. Looking directly into her unsteady eyes, Jun spoke.
"Eda, I don't know what your mother was thinking. So, I can't give you an exact answer to your questions. However, based on what I've heard from you so far, I don't believe your mother had any ill intentions. She took you and Remi in, sought redemption for her actions in the war through plant trading, and protected you until the end."
In truth, Jun's words were ones that Eda could have countered at any time, but Jun decided to comfort her first. Whether it had an effect or not, Eda looked at Jun and murmured.
"...Do you really think so?"
"Yeah. Of course."
As Jun rose to his feet, he placed a hand on Eda's shoulder and spoke.
"Eda, take a break for a moment. I believe there are still clues in that study that I haven't found. I will definitely uncover them."
Oops.
After uttering those words, Jun felt a moment of panic internally. Since the adventure in Thousand Peaks, or more precisely, since Kay's death, he had tried to develop a habit of 'think before act', and he had succeeded. However, in the moment of seeing Eda filled with fear, his old impulsive habit resurfaced. He had spoken without thinking.
"Really?"
But the spilled water couldn't be gathered. Hope sparkled in Eda's eyes. Jun, who had received his wife's expectations, couldn't bear to disappoint her.
"Yes."
"…My master wrote a diary. I haven't seen it since she disappeared, so it might be somewhere in the study."
"A diary, huh? Got it."
/
Having laid Eda down in the bedroom, Jun returned to the study alone. Until evening, he turned the study upside down, but found nothing. There were plenty of interesting materials - hidden recipes of lumen plants, methods to refine lumen ginseng, an introduction to cosmic trade, contemplations on the nature and cycle of Ignis, and more.
He even found another novel. Titled 'Rocket of Whispers'. It depicted a man and a witch struggling to conduct a cosmic funeral on a planet devastated by a pandemic during winter. The portrayal of the witch was quite different from what Jun was familiar with.
Under different circumstances, he would have loved to sit down and read through these materials. Just going through the books in Red's study seemed like it could earn him a degree.
...Even the two novels seemed quite interesting.
However, it wasn't important now. The problem was that, despite searching the study until evening, there was no clue to be found. There was nowhere else to look.
Except for one place.
The desk in Red's study. Jun had searched the desk thoroughly, but there was one drawer at the bottom, securely locked, that he hadn't touched. Now, if there was any remaining hope, it lay in that drawer.
However, Jun found himself perplexed as he gazed at the drawer. It could be forced open; the material wasn't that tough. Yet, breaking into a memento of his wife's mother was something Jun couldn't fathom.
Calling Eda to ask for the key? Amplifying expectations that way, only to disappoint her if the result was negative, seemed unwise. Just the thought of her sadness made Jun feel uneasy.
"What should I do..."
When Jun was wandering around the room, lost in thought, he heard footsteps outside the door, which creaked open. Startled, Jun looked at Eda, who had entered. Though she still seemed weak, her face showed determination.
"E- Eda? You could rest a bit more."
In response, Eda shook her head and said, "No. My husband is making so much effort for me; I can't just hide and tremble. Whatever kind of person my master was, it's a problem I need to face head-on."
After lunch, Eda lay on the bed, pondering. She recalled the first time she met her master. She was a Level 4 witch, intensified with determination, who had trespassed to Level 5 on her own desire to see her 'friends,' only to collide with Red.
Upon hearing Eda's words, Red pointed out that she didn't even know why she behaved that way. Why she wanted to follow her friends, why she wanted to become a witch. Eda didn't know anything about herself.
And then Red accepted Eda as her disciple. Controversy arose over the fact that Red, the once greatest witch, accepted a girl who couldn't even sing as her personal disciple. However, Red simply ignored all criticism.
Eda continued to ponder. Why did Red accept her? Was it because of her lack of self-awareness? A rebellion against the witching tower that participated in wars and sent children to the army? Or... because of the six moles on her neck?
She couldn't know for sure now. How could one understand the human heart? Therefore, Eda decided not to dwell on Red's motives but to focus on her actual actions.
Red initially gave Eda the vocalizer she got in the military, teaching her how to sing with a small voice. Alongside the education to become herself. Thanks to that, a few years later, Eda could sing at a level somewhat similar to her peers. But by then, the tower had already collapsed.
Afterwards, Red formally took Eda in and started lumen plant trading. It was during this time that Eda received the name Edalune and the surname Grant, believed to be helpful for her neck, along with a plant sharing her name.
For several years, Eda followed Red, learning trade, gaining experience, and receiving various teachings. In the meantime, a new family was formed when Remy was taken in. Until she was conscripted once again by United Mining, Red remained consistent. Always stern and strict, she passed on everything to Eda. Thanks to that, Eda could meet Jun.
Therefore, Eda reached a conclusion. The fact that her master was her mother remained unchanged. She owed her current self to her. Whether she found something in the study or not, it was something she had to confront directly, not something to hide behind her husband for.
Jun had to admit that he had misunderstood Eda. She had always been wiser and stronger than him, and in a momentary lapse, he had tried to see her as a simple object of protection, attempting to solve everything for her. Yet, she was the one who had led him to where he was now.
Nodding, Jun spoke to her, "...You're right. Indeed, Eda, you are strong."
"It's nothing. By the way, did you find anything?"
Eda asked with eyes filled with a bit of expectation. Jun responded with a puzzled look.
"Well... I searched everything except the bottom drawer of this desk, but nothing noteworthy came up. I couldn't open that drawer; it's locked."
Eda approached the drawer, lowered herself, and carefully examined the keyhole. Then, with an exclamation, she stood up and told Jun, "Oh, right! After master left, I found a strange key while packing up. I didn't know what it was for, so I kept it. Where did I put it..."
Eda, pondering for a while about the key's whereabouts, finally succeeded in recalling.
"Yes, Red Chamber, it's in my room in the Red Chamber. I found it when I was moving my belongings to the Lee Clan. I haven't touched it since then, so it should still be there. But I don't exactly remember where it is, and I might need to go in and check."
"If it's in the Red Chamber, Remi might have it. Do you think she can come over?"
Eda and Jun contacted Remi, inquiring if she could bring the Red Chamber here. Fortunately, she was still in New Iran, examining the new modification parts for the Red Chamber.
The next day, unable to land the spaceship in the flower garden, Eda and Jun met Remi at a landing pad a short distance away. Remi, leaning out from the ship, muttered with a bewildered expression, "Guys... Why did you call me during your honeymoon?"
Seemingly flustered, Eda awkwardly replied to Remi, "I have something to check in my cabin."
As Eda climbed up the ladder, Jun followed and said to Remi, "It's something important. I'll explain."
"You better be. By the way, Eddie, why did you ask me to buy fruits?" Remi asked, picking up a bag full of fruits placed beside her. There were several more bags stacked, each containing a different type of fruit that could be found in New Iran.
"Huh? Oh, thanks, Remi. I just felt like having something sour."
"...Something sour?"
While Remi tilted her head, Jun grabbed her and began the explanation.
/
Thud.
Eda turned on the light in her cabin. A dim room greeted her. The bed itself remained unchanged, but all the items symbolizing her years that surrounded it were nowhere to be seen. The vocal adjustment device, Eda's spare uniform, the plant trade route map, and the pots of various plants were all gone. They had all been relocated to her room in the Lee Clan main residence.
After briefly sweeping her hand over the once-filled space with her belongings, Eda thought for a moment before lowering herself towards the bottom of the bed. In a corner connected to the wall under the bed, a small box was securely fixed.
Thunk.
Eda pulled out the box. Before opening it, she briefly hesitated, perhaps considering whether it was better to just bury it all. However, the hesitation was short-lived. She wanted to know, even if it turned out to be in vain.
Eda lightly opened the box. Inside, a small iron key sparkled.
"Master..."
Eda took out the key, held it in her hand, and murmured.
/
Remi closed Rodin's research notes with a serious expression. Then, she asked Jun, "Can we be sure this is real?"
Leaning against the wall in the study room, Jun replied, "The notes, that involved Eda's mother's name, were just sitting there in her study. It's highly credible."
"What? Her mother...? No, the title doesn't matter now. Anyway, so Eddie is retrieving this drawer key from the cabin right now."
Jun nodded. Remi sighed before saying, "I may not be the involved party like Eddie, but I can't believe Master had ill intentions. She's not that kind of person."
Jun nodded silently. Having only heard about Red, he couldn't judge her any further.
"By the way, when will Eddie..."
Click!
As if on cue, before Remi could finish her sentence, Eda opened the door and walked in. In her hand, the iron key gleamed under the light from the lamp.
"Is that it?"
In response to Remi's question, Eda answered with a tense expression, "This key should be the right one. Otherwise... I'll have to force it open, even if I have to break it."
Gulp. Eda swallowed nervously, knelt down, and slowly brought the key towards the drawer lock. She handled it carefully, not wanting it to break.
Click. Click, click.
"..."
Eda bit her lip. The key wouldn't turn. Jun noticed her struggling, trying to force the key to turn. He quickly grabbed her hand to stop her.
"Eda, you might break the key."
Eda responded with a suppressed voice, "Whether it breaks or not, what does it matter? It's just a useless key. This petty thing..."
"Eda, look at me."
Jun grabbed Eda's shoulders and turned her to face him. Silently, but with intensity, he looked into her eyes, applying pressure to her face. Remi also approached, taking Eda's hand.
"..."
The key fell from Eda's hand, powerless.
"...Sorry. I got a bit worked up."
Jun nodded in understanding.
"You held it together well. Eda, do you want to break the drawer to open it?"
Nodding.
Seeing Eda's approval, Jun turned to Remi and asked, "Remi, do you have tools for the Red Chamber? Bring something suitable. I'll break it open."
"Sure. Just a moment."
/
Grrrr. Clang!
When the two women stepped back, Jun inserted the crowbar into the gap of the drawer, applying force to twist it open. The wooden desk drawer, neglected for years and made of wood, couldn't withstand Jun's force transmitted through the crowbar. It crumpled, and the lock mechanism, along with the drawer, came out of place. Dust inside the drawer scattered as it fell to the floor.
Bending down to look inside the drawer, Jun called the two women who had been watching from a distance.
"Eda, Remi. Take a look at this."
Jun lifted something from inside the drawer and stood up. In his hand was a thick notebook with likely over a few hundred pages. It was a black notebook with Terra's symbol on the cover. What caught their attention was that it was locked with a padlock, an unusual feature for a notebook.
"It's a notebook they used to sell as souvenirs at the Witching Tower. I've never seen a lock like this..."
Eda received the notebook from Jun, and with trembling hands, she took out the key again. Meanwhile, Jun whispered to Remi.
"Remi, did they also sell souvenirs at the Witching Tower?"
"They do need to earn money for living. Before the war, they ran their own businesses and made money... that's what I heard from master."
Click.
The key smoothly turned.