Until the next day, when she walked with Naria on the empty streets of Stonebutch, Tess was still a little out of breath.

"What the hell are you angry about?" Naria couldn't help but laugh at her bulging cheeks, "What did he say wrong? Aren't you the most familiar with the city, or are you unwilling to accompany me?"

"That's right," Tess angrily kicked a gravel at her feet, "but his attitude is very problematic! When he used to praise me, he was sincere and full of adoration, and now he ...... Why does it sound so much like coaxing a child?!"

Naria almost burst out laughing, but it was very difficult to hold back.

"Probably because...... He's grown up. She said.

“...... Didn't I grow up at all when he was older?!" Tess was even angrier, "Is he older than me?!"

Naria laughed, then abruptly stopped.

When the mongoose's warning cry sounded, they could already feel the vibration under their feet. It's not intense, it's staccato and staccato, like waves crashing against rocks, and there's an unsettling rhythm.

Naria subconsciously looked up at the towering Triple Tower to the west - the last time Stamp Buch moved because of the rebirth of the Triple Tower, this time it wasn't even its problem...... It probably knows what is going on as well.

But the only one who can listen to it is not here.

The tremors intensified, as if the water was about to break through some obstacle, and the old wooden houses on both sides of the street made an overwhelmed muffled sound, shaking off clouds of dust in the sun.

“...... This way!" Tess reached out and led Naria to the nearest and more open place.

There were already several people standing in Stoke Fountain Square, all of whom seemed to be fairly composed—there were few people who remained in Ston Butch at this time, and few were timid.

No one spoke, but it was unusually noisy, and the trees on the edge of the square shook their branches and leaves almost frantically, as if they wanted to pull out their roots and flee far away, and there were already thin cracks in the flat stone slabs on the ground. When there was a dull loud bang in their ears, everyone involuntarily turned their heads in amazement as the fountain that had long been closed burst into the sky and fell weakly.

The dry pool was soon filled with water, with an ominous dark red, bubbling like a boil, and the uncleared gutters were piled up with fallen leaves, and the water that shook with the earth spilled out of the edge of the pool, winding on the stone slabs, and flowing to the feet of the people.

Everyone involuntarily retreated, as if the current, which had once been the pride and symbol of the city, had turned into some kind of terrible monster.

Naria touched the silver bird pinned to her chest. Ed returned it - she could call them back at any time.

This realization was enough to reassure her. She lowered her hand and calmly waited, observing, and even stepped on the water on her tiptoes.

It's really just water.

When the shaking stopped, she knew it wasn't over.

"Do you have a ...... How does it feel like you're about to be struck by lightning but haven't been struck yet?" Tess asked her in a whisper as she rolled up her sleeves to show her, "My cold hair stands on end!"

"Tsk!" the same fried-up mongoose echoed with a serious face.

Naria didn't answer. Someone on the other side of the square came hurrying up, stopped at the sight of them, and waved his hand.

.

Ed's heart plummeted for a moment, like something was pulling it and couldn't beat properly. But by the time he reacted, the throbbing had disappeared again.

He touched his chest in confusion and looked back at Stonebuch—the only thing he could see at the moment was the three-storied tower, the sunlight reflecting off the tower's body making it look like it was shaking...... It can't really move, does it?

He straightened up, trying to see better, but the ice dragon had already leaned down and rushed down.

Here they are.

The small mirror lake is embedded in the boundless green forest, and the small temple by the lake is inconspicuous, but the surrounding dense foliage shimmers with metallic light. It was the paladins guarding the place, and perhaps because they had already been discovered, they had no intention of hiding it anymore.

“...... Wrong. "They're preparing to attack." ”

Ed froze for a moment - it wasn't meant to attack them, was it?

But neither the weapons nor the spells pointed to the sky...... The direction in which they ran was the temple.

The ice dragon swooped down and landed on the grass in front of the temple before someone stopped in front of it.

“...... You'd better stay here. The strange middle-aged pastor looked calm, but his tone carried a warning that could not be misunderstood, "It would be better if it could be farther away." ”

Ed jumped off the ice dragon's neck and spoke eagerly, "I'm ......"

"I know who you are. The pastor interrupted him, "Whatever you're here for, it's not the right time. ”

He knows who he is...... But he only treated him as an unwelcome guest.

The uncomfortable feeling of being alienated and ostracized when I walked in the temple of the water god yesterday came back. Ed gripped the Staff of Eternity tightly and took a step forward.

"I think you should understand," he said, "that since I am already standing here, it is impossible to leave easily, and instead of holding me back pointlessly, tell me what is really going on." You may have a lot of suspicion and resentment about me, that's understandable, but at least...... As far as I know, no one has yet been able to erase my name as a saint. ”

His toughness was clearly somewhat unexpected. A hint of surprise passed through the priest's eyes, and he unconsciously looked at the Staff of Eternity, the water at the head of the staff had not begun to spin, but he did know that the young man was able to use it with ease...... Just like Felicity.

However, that didn't make him let his guard down...... Who is he losing trust in?

He was in a complicated mood and hesitated, but someone in the temple behind him yelled impatiently: "Fletsche let them in!"

The voice was hoarse and unpleasant, and it didn't seem to have any respect for Sean, but the priest immediately stepped aside without a word.

In the hall of the temple, a burly knight stood in front of the statue of the goddess, slanting a cold glance.

He didn't look much younger than Sean, and the wrinkles on his face were mottled with scars, as if he had been injured so badly that even spells could not heal him. His gray hair, half long and not short, was draped in a mess over shoulders as wide as two Ed's, mixed with the same messy beard, and at first glance he looked like a savage, but his gray eyes were as sharp as an eagle, and it was difficult to look at or escape.

Ed's feet were beaten. He recognized him, but it was Mork behind him who called out his name.

"Paflo Quinn. The dwarf nodded, "Long time no see." ”