"There's also an empty cup on the table. A very old-fashioned puzzle and trap, in the style of the Fifth Epoch—I've read many similar stories. It seems we have to drink these liquids to obtain the badge."
The well-informed Miss Sabelle said this, and Shade had actually guessed the outcome as well. He simply did not want to do it:
"How about we think of another way? These liquids definitely aren't ice water."
"We don't have much time."
Miss Sabelle said, examining the liquids more carefully:
"I'll go first."
Her hand reached for the empty cup, but this time Miss Reinhart beat her to it. The Sun's Great Witch was not trying to show off, nor was she unwilling to give the strange Miss Sabelle a chance to prove herself:
"You two have already gone through two trials, and neither of you is in very good condition now. Besides, I'm the highest-level person here. How could I let you go first? The strong look after the weak—that's how a tribe, I mean, a team can continue to grow. I'll go first. From what you described earlier, that maid probably doesn't intend to poison us outright."
The ice wineglass successfully scooped up the first cup of liquid from the soup bowl. Due to the bowl's depth, she filled only half the glass. Shade made a rough estimate: if they filled the glass as much as possible each time, they would probably obtain the badge after only four rounds.
Miss Reinhart naturally did not drink it immediately. Instead, she tried to pour out the liquid in the cup. She succeeded, but the liquid in the soup bowl returned to its original level. She then asked Shade for a new cup, and the new cup indeed could not break through the surface.
"Looks