As Gleipnir spoke, she took out her staff and lightly tapped the ground.
In an instant, starlight flickered.
Countless points of starlight rose from underground, forming a gate of stars before them.
"Please."
Gleipnir pointed at the starry gate and spoke to Edward.
Edward looked at the starry gate. From outside, he could not see what lay within, only a void-like darkness and several bright white stars.
It was as though it connected to a distant, ancient land of stars.
After a moment of silence, Edward asked, "Behind the gate is...?"
Gleipnir said, "A safe place to talk."
If Gleipnir had simply led him to some hidden space, Edward might actually have been willing. But this kind of unknown portal made him extremely cautious.
Once before, one misstep had sent him into the Instrument World, where he became one of its characters.
Edward stood where he was for a long time. In the end, he sighed. "I hope my instincts don't lead me into a pit."
In the end, Edward closed his eyes and walked in.
Once Edward vanished through the starry gate, Gleipnir turned toward the other side of the room. "Come along as well."
In the empty space, an elegant silhouette slowly emerged.
It was Butler Fan.
He had actually followed Gleipnir into the hairdressing area, but Gleipnir had been discovered by Edward after using the power of the stars. Butler Fan, on the other hand, had left no trace from beginning to end.
After some thought, Butler Fan prepared to refuse. It was not that he did not wish to go, but that he felt Gleipnir alone should be able to handle matters here.
He had followed them mainly because he feared Edward would put up a cornered beast's stubborn resistance. But now that Edward had chosen