"Come to think of it, I nearly forgot this."
As everyone chatted, Miss Novare by the fire took out an ordinary-looking black key.
"This is the key to Safe Room 1024. Keep it as a memento."
With a light tap, though no one knew what power she had used, the key suddenly became five keys, which she distributed among them all.
Shade asked curiously:
"Room 1024 had a key?"
"Yes. When we found that room, the key was sitting in front of the shrine. But since there was always someone in the room, we never used it."
Holding the key meant as a keepsake, Shade thought again of that question:
"So why did Safe Room 1024 exist in the first place?"
"I know."
Lady Gerd said. Seeing everyone looking at her, she explained:
"I only suddenly learned it after leaving that place. The room Mother arrived in when she reached the hotel was Room 1024. When she made her deal with the god, she requested that Room 1024 become a resting place for those who arrived at the hotel afterward. However, she installed surveillance equipment there to monitor all later arrivals."
"But we never felt that we were being watched."
"That's right. The shrine's power prevented Mother's methods from taking effect. That place was no longer her room, so the god's power did not allow her methods to work. When Mr. Hamilton received hints from the god for each of us, my hint was—'Those longing to find their kin do not know to look beneath their own feet.' Mother's methods were actually hidden beneath the floorboards. I simply failed to discover them."
As she spoke, Lady Gerd took another item from the large book she held in her arms and handed it to Shade.
"I think you should handle this."