(Volume IV: Tower in the Sea of Stars)
Raiden Mei's Persona had awakened, and the three Will Seeds within her Palace had already been collected by the Manifestation Will Seed warriors dispatched by Hare.
After Shadow Mei's presence completely vanished, Ren even found the Treasure of Raiden Mei's Palace beneath the rubble of the classroom building where she had lingered.
All objectives for infiltrating Raiden Mei's Palace were successfully completed. Before the Palace could completely collapse, Ren swiftly led Hare and Mei back to the Palace entrance and used the Metaverse Navigator app on his phone to return to the real world.
---Flashback End---
"So, Ren, the reason you can freely enter and exit Mementos now is because of this Metaverse Navigator app? And this app was given to you by... that Evil God?"
Standing in the long-abandoned, deserted amusement park, after learning from Ren how he freely accessed Mementos and the origin of the MetaNav app on his phone, Hare's bluish-purple eyes filled with a subtle and complex emotion.
Although Ren mastering his own method to travel between Mementos and reality was something to celebrate...
The thought that Ren would no longer need her to open the gate, diminishing her own necessity, couldn't help but make Hare feel a little regretful and downcast.
"Can I see your phone? Hmm... Even I can't determine where this software came from. The data and power constituting this software clearly surpass this era by more than a little. This Metaverse Navigator app might truly be a program sent to Ren by that Evil God."
Hare took the phone Ren offered and activated her special ability to read information, carefully examining the data of the app named "Metaverse Navigator."
However, even Hare, a Stigma crystallization, couldn't fully decipher and analyze the MetaNav app. She could only tell that it was technology far beyond the current era and had been sent to Ren's phone from some world outside of reality.
Combining all these factors, along with Ren's own crucial testimony...
Hare had to believe that the MetaNav app, which had mysteriously appeared on Ren's phone, was indeed the handiwork of the Evil God attempting to seize humanity's future—Kevin Kaslana, master of the Previous Era's advanced science and technology, and leader of World Serpent.
Though she didn't quite understand why the Evil God would aid Ren, his enemy...
Hare knew almost nothing about the Evil God. Her impression of Kevin, the leader of World Serpent, was pieced together from World Serpent documents and Gray Serpent's occasional praises whispered in her ear.
"If the Evil God has tacitly permitted your existence, Ren, and even helped you, perhaps we don't need to specifically enter the Kaslana Palace to ask the Kaslana collective consciousness. I can just take these materials directly to the Velvet Room and commission them to craft something."
Hare handed the phone back to Ren. Then, she clapped her hands lightly and made a suggestion.
After collecting the three-in-one Will Seed and Treasure materials from Raiden Mei's Palace, although the component of Shadow Mei's remnant power was missing, Ren still tried to commission Hare, hoping she could replicate her actions from Yae Sakura's Palace and create new enhanced equipment.
Unfortunately, without Soulium, Hare couldn't make bricks without straw; she couldn't synthesize the materials into the powerful equipment Ren hoped for.
However, while Hare couldn't achieve Ren's goal herself, she knew someone who could.
During her communication with the Kaslana Stigma Will, Hare had learned what Ren's "Velvet Room" actually referred to.
The "Elysian Realm," located in the deepest part of World Serpent's headquarters. As a cadre of World Serpent, Hare had explored it before and even met a few of the Flame-Chasers within.
And Miss Vill-V, the self-proclaimed "Great Magician" in the Elysian Realm, was a renowned grand inventor who had created countless powerful tools and equipment for the Previous Era's fight against the Honkai.
Even the Divine Keys that had survived from the Previous Era to the present day were developed by this very Miss Vill-V.
Entrusting the materials Ren collected from Raiden Mei's Palace to Miss Vill-V for crafting would be a perfect match of expertise.
"Hare, you already know the location of the Velvet Room?... Then I'll leave it to you. I don't need a weapon right now; it would be best if they could craft these materials into an enhancement accessory, like a ring."
Hearing Hare's suggestion, Ren's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
But he quickly understood. Hare must have thoroughly questioned the Kaslana consciousness about the Velvet Room while he was still in the real world.
Taking the Sloth Will Seed crystal from Raiden Mei's Palace and a beautiful gem glowing with a blue-purple ethereal light from his pocket, Ren handed them to Hare's fair, slender hand, explaining his current needs.
The distorted sin in Raiden Mei's Palace was her sloth—her complacency, her unwillingness to actively break through and change despite enduring suffering.
But now, Mei had overcome her weak self and bravely taken a step forward. The sin of sloth in her heart had been completely stolen by Ren, the phantom thief of hearts.
"I understand. I will head to the Velvet Room immediately. Crafting accessories from these materials might take some time. Once I know the specifics, I'll send you an update via messenger, Ren."
Carefully stowing away the Sloth crystal and the Gem of Conquest Ren handed her, Hare nodded seriously. Then, before the Stigma's curse could spread further, she turned, opened a portal, and returned to the Imaginary Space.
"Mei-senpai, the Palace in your heart has been eliminated. Cocolia shouldn't target you anymore. But until she realizes this, you're still in danger, so it's best if we stick together... Mei-senpai?"
After watching Hare's figure disappear through the portal, Ren turned to Raiden Mei beside him.
Noticing Mei was still in a daze, seemingly not having heard him, Ren couldn't help but raise his voice and call her name again.
"...Huh? Ah! I-I was listening!"
Mei, startled from her reverie by Ren's call, shivered slightly and quickly collected herself. She rapidly replayed Ren's words in her mind and then replied.
"I'm fine! I also think it's better to stay with Ren-kun right now. Besides, didn't we already agree? After school, I'll take Ren-kun to my place. My house is quite big; Ren-kun can stay as long as you like!"
"What were you thinking about just now, Mei-senpai? If you still have any questions, feel free to ask me."
Recalling Mei's dazed expression, Ren couldn't help but wonder if she had withdrawn into herself after he saw the memories within her Will Seeds.
"The memories recorded in the three Will Seeds were all normal. Just Mei-senpai practicing kendo day after day, being the Raiden Queen at the top of the school's food chain, and memories of being bullied by students after her father's imprisonment. Nothing strange."
Under Ren's thoughtful comfort, Mei's expression, which had softened considerably, stiffened again.
Although she had already endured the far more socially devastating execution by her Shadow, the thought that three segments of her memories and thoughts had been completely seen by Ren still made Mei feel intensely embarrassed.
"I wasn't thinking about that! I was thinking... Ren-kun and Miss Misteln seem to get along so well. Miss Misteln already calls Ren-kun by his first name..."
Mei subconsciously retorted loudly, then her voice quickly trailed off, her tone light and airy.
"Mei-senpai can also call me by my first name. We're already friends, aren't we?"
Realizing Mei was actually hung up on this small detail, Ren couldn't help but purse his lips slightly, finding the flustered Mei increasingly adorable.
"R-Really?! Then, Ren-kun... no, Ren, you can just call me by my first name too, no need to add 'senpai'!"
After getting Ren's permission, Mei seemed to light up with excitement. A faint blush colored her cheeks as she said Ren's name, and then an irrepressible, joyous smile spread across her lips.
"I understand, Mei... Mei. We should leave now. Try to relax your whole body first and deactivate your phantom thief suit."
Ren nodded agreeably, switching directly to calling her "Mei." This intimate gesture deepened the blush on Mei's fair cheeks.
To demonstrate, Ren relaxed his body first, deactivating the phantom thief suit he had been wearing since leaving the Palace.
With a flash of blue-green flames, Ren was back in his inconspicuous Chiba Academy uniform.
Mei emulated Ren, gently closing her eyes. The black and red samurai armor she wore dissolved into lightning-like forms, scattering around her, and she was once again in her Chiba Academy sailor uniform.
Ren could wield Persona power in the real world because he had the special ability of Jizo Mitama to support him.
As for Mei being able to maintain her phantom thief suit in reality, according to Hare's explanation, it was because Mei's awakening method was somewhat special.
If she had transformed Shadow Mei into a Persona through the standard process, Mei would have found it difficult to use Persona power in the real world. But because she summoned Kurikara during her awakening process before defeating Shadow Mei...
Even in the real world, Mei could still summon Persona Kurikara, though Kurikara's strength would be much weaker than in Mementos.
However, because Kurikara had leveled up after defeating Shadow Mei, even in the real world, she could exert more power than when she was first born in the Palace.
Hare's explanation didn't exactly bring Ren enlightenment; he only found himself more confused the more he listened. But he didn't want to show he hadn't understood, so he just put on an act of complete comprehension, remarking how wondrous Personas were.
Although its strength was nerfed compared to in Mementos, having Kurikara, a Persona who could manifest in the real world without Jizo Mitama's assistance, undoubtedly greatly increased Mei's safety.
Of course, even if Mei now had the means to protect herself, Ren still thought it best for her to stick close to him for mutual support, just in case.
After all, who knew how many unknown trump cards the mastermind Cocolia still held? Ren had to be extra vigilant.
Led by the cheerful Mei, Ren left the deserted, dilapidated amusement park and set off towards the Raiden residence.
Upon arriving at the gate of Mei's home, Ren's eyes widened in astonishment, struck by the sheer vastness of the Raiden estate and its pervasive, understated luxury.
Although he already knew Mei was a genuine noble young lady and had even seen her spacious kendo dojo in the Will Seed memories, what Ren had glimpsed of the Raiden residence in those memories was merely the tip of the iceberg.
The real Raiden estate was even more luxurious than Ren had imagined.
"Because of the scandal of my father being imprisoned for economic fraud, all the servants in the house resigned and left. It's hard for me to manage the house all by myself, so some places might be quite dusty. I hope you don't mind, Ren."
Mei stood in front of the courtyard, taking out the key to the main gate from her pocket. As she opened the gate, she spoke to Ren, her voice filled with shame and apology.
"I believe I heard someone lamenting a lack of servants? My beautiful young lady, would you perhaps consider me? In just one hour, I can absolutely tidy up this entire estate, ensuring your little boyfriend here has an exceptionally wonderful and lasting memory!"
Before Mei could even push open the courtyard gate...
A melodious young woman's voice, tinged with a faint allure, suddenly sounded from behind her and Ren.