CHAPTER 47: DETERMINATION!

As Mimi recalled that legendary event, a warm wave of pride and nostalgia washed over her. It was like... in a sense, Marshmallow wasn’t just her companion. She was truly her beloved child.

"Wait—wait, wait, wait! You mean... the Tower of Light event is going to begin again soon?!" Mimi blurted out, her fur practically bristling in excitement.

"Yes," said Siamelumis with a calm nod.

"And when will that be?" Mimi leaned forward, ears perked high.

"Around ten years from now."

"Ten... years..." Mimi muttered, her tail flicking back and forth in thought.

Siamelumis’s voice rumbled with quiet authority as she went on.

"So, if you manage to complete the trial and once again reach the top five, you can obtain another Orb of Divine Light of Creation. With that orb, we would be able to fuse it with Marshmallow’s very data—thereby legalizing her existence in this world."

"Oh! I see...!" Mimi gasped, her eyes sparkling wide.

And just like that, her new goal was set in stone.

Win the Tower of Light again.

Bring Marshmallow back to her side!!!

"However," Siamelumis cautioned, her expression turning stern, "there is very little time left. Only ten years remain until the tower reopens. By then, you must reach at least Nine Stars. Only at that level will you have the strength to compete."

"Oh damn..." Mimi muttered, her ears drooping. "Ten years... Nine Stars?"

Once again, Mimi looked down at her tiny Noctifelis body, her fluffy paws and little frame.

Yeah... this was going to be just a little challenging, to be honest. Even with her newly learned skill easing some of the Sixfold Sacred Suppression curse’s effects, she was still stuck in the body of a small, squishy cat.

"Well," Siamelumis added almost teasingly, "if you cannot, then perhaps you can simply wait another fifty years for the next cycle."

"What? NOOO!" Mimi instantly yowled, fur puffing up like a startled kitten. "That’s way too long!"

"And besides," she went on, tail lashing furiously, "ten years plus another fifty years—that’s sixty years! My Master’s going to be so old by then! How the hell could I even compete at that point?!"

"Huh? That’s not a problem, you know? Silverveins are actually a blessed bloodline," Siamelumis remarked. "Similar to elves, they can live for hundreds of years. Emilia’s great-grandfather, for example, is still alive and well, despite being over a century old. Ah... that reminds me, it’s been a very long time since I last saw that child..."

"Still, that’s way too long!" Mimi cut in again with a stubborn huff, cheeks puffing out adorably.

She then turned back to Marshmallow, determination blazing in her big eyes.

"Anyways, don’t worry! Master will try her absolute best! Master will beat that tower’s ass and bring you back—no matter what!" Mimi declared with fiery conviction, her tiny paw thumping against her chest.

"Nn! Marshmallow believes in Master!" the little cat chirped, eyes shining like stars.

Thus, fueled by her companion’s faith, Mimi spun back toward Siamelumis, fire practically burning in her gaze.

"Mark my words! Ten years—just ten years—I will do it! I’ll reach Nine Stars!"

"Very good! I’m glad to see such motivation," Siamelumis said with a satisfied smile. "I believe you can do it as well. You were the strongest beast tamer player in the game, after all."

"YEAH! And I already beat that tower once—I’ll do it again!" Mimi shouted.

"Yeah!" Marshmallow chimed in too, puffing her tiny chest proudly.

"Excellent." Siamelumis gave a small nod of approval.

"That aside," she continued, her expression grew more serious as she changed the subject. "There’s one more thing I need you to do before you go..."

"Huh? What is it?" Mimi tilted her head.

"It’s regarding Emilia’s summoning ritual. You do know... that someone deliberately tampered with her summon, correct?"

"Oh shit, that’s right..." Mimi muttered, her ears twitching.

"But wait..." she suddenly froze, staring up suspiciously. "It wasn’t you?"

"Huh?" Siamelumis exclaimed. "Why would you even think that was me? Why would I put an Albinite Shard there just to try and kill the Silvervein girl?" she asked flatly, her golden eyes narrowing.

"Well, Emilia wasn’t hurt! So maybe you used your power to protect her?" Mimi shot back. "And besides... I thought that was how I got reincarnated here? Because Master’s spell malfunctioned?"

At that, Siamelumis exhaled deeply.

"That’s... quite the crazy conspiracy theory, Claire," she said, shaking her head slowly. "But unfortunately, the sabotage was real. It was done by people who genuinely wished harm upon your master."

"No..." Mimi gasped, her little heart sinking as her eyes widened in horror.

"And even you really don’t know who did it?"

"Unfortunately, that’s the truth." Siamelumis sighed again, heavier this time, her wings shifting slightly as though weighed down by the burden. "Well, "I already have some suspicions about who might be behind this... but without stronger evidence, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly who the culprit is."

She paused for a moment, then continued,

"Honestly, the clan is in complete disarray right now. Schemes, power struggles, hidden daggers at every corner... It’s such a hot mess. And right now, it’s probably the most dangerous place in the entire world for you and Emilia to remain."

"Even under... your watch?"

"Yes, even under my watch."

"I-I see..." Mimi murmured, her tail twitching restlessly. Her paws clenched against the ground, claws digging in.

"So," she asked again. "You must already have a plan, right? To deal with this matter?"

"Yes,." Siamelumis gave a slow nod. "Though it’s just a temporary solution, at least it would be able to buy us some time to investigate."

Then she began explaining the plan she had already discussed with Emilia’s parents.

...

A moment later...

"As you can see, I’m about to send that girl into the outside world by having her participate in the Rite of the Dragon Vein trial, disguising her identity to keep her safe. But even so, I remain worried—for her, and for you as well..."

"Then... what do you want me to do now?" Mimi asked at last, straight to the point.