Ed lowered his eyes, a little flustered.

He knows this symbol...... From the Book of the Dead. He couldn't hide it, its appearance almost proved the suspicion that made him panic, and he should warn everyone. He could, of course, claim that he knew the meaning of the symbol from some ancient account, but he feared that Mondstadt had already guessed something.

In short, he had a weak heart. He'd already used spells from the Book of the Dead more than once - simple and easy to use, and didn't require much material...... Except for his own soul. Although he would pay a terrible price if he was not careful, he still couldn't help himself again and again, because it was so convenient...... Thinking about it now, even he felt a chill in his heart, and it was no wonder that Iss was so angry. Besides, he was still a priest, and he shouldn't have touched this dark spell at all. If Mondstadt were to get to the bottom of it......

"It's ...... A spell so old that I thought no one would use it anymore. Mondstadt's voice was low and steady, "It's more of a contract. The recipient allows the caster to manipulate everything about himself, both physically and mentally, without resistance. ”

“...... Sounds like necromancy?"

The air seemed to freeze for a moment before someone hesitated to speak.

"It's necromancy. Mondstadt tugged at the corners of his mouth, "Although most necromancy nowadays manipulates the souls of the dead, corpses...... But in the beginning, those who created this spell wanted to manipulate the soul, the living. But the soul has its own power, especially when it is not detached from the unique shell that allowed it to be born and exist—when that body still has the life force. For this spell to succeed, the conditions are extremely harsh, and it requires the recipient to accept it wholeheartedly and have no intention of resisting, just like ......"

— like a devout believer facing his gods.

Ed silently continued, bitter in his heart.

That's the original sentence from the Book of the Dead...... The original sentence is full of irony, because the inspiration for this spell comes from the sage who "wholeheartedly accepts" the spirit of the gods.

"It's like a slave who has never had a will of his own, but only obeys. "At the same time, it requires the caster to be far stronger than the recipient, otherwise it cannot even suppress the rejection of a body that does not belong to him." The question arises - if the caster himself is truly that powerful, how many cases will it take him to use such a spell to manipulate a person who is far inferior to him? There have also been attempts to use this spell to 'change bodies' for themselves at the point of their own dying, but it has proven impossible for the recipient to be 'completely resistless'...... Even the weakest soul will have an instinctive resistance, and even if that resistance will destroy it completely, it will also be extremely harmful to the soul that controls him. So this spell was eventually abandoned...... Forgotten. ”

"So, where did you find out?" asked Uso.

Ed looked at him speechlessly—did he think that this mage was just resentful of the priests, and that he was even stabbing his own "companions"?

Mondstadt ignored him.

"I'm sure I'm not mistaken. "But now, we have another problem before us – this 'Receiver' is a very powerful demon, cunning, calm, and intelligent...... Even if its soul would disappear completely the moment it died, it was undoubtedly still alive now. Whether everything it does is the result of manipulation by others or its own actions...... The High Demon is evil but also proud, and whether it is by strength or profit, who can make it willingly accept such a contract?"

When the last word dissipated into the air, the hall was so quiet for a few moments that it seemed that even breathing could be heard.

No one answered this question...... But anyone can realize the horror of the manipulator behind it.

Ed's lips moved—how could he voice his suspicions?

“...... I guess everyone is a little tired, right?"

Balk, who thought of himself as a spectator, smiled and spoke, as if he had no idea of the heavy atmosphere.

"Why don't you take a break?" he suggested, "for some wine, some fresh air, and some relaxation...... The sky hasn't fallen yet, has it?"

Ed felt that this sentence was a bit ironic in this situation, but Balk's tone was so calm and polite that no one could fault it.

So, no one objected.

.

Ed would love to find a place where no one was around to crouch alone, but even if he could throw Iss down, he couldn't throw Mork aside.

“...... Do you want to see the three-storied pagoda?" he whispered to the dwarf, "I can take you inside." ”

It's good anywhere...... He really didn't want to be here, especially when Mondstadt's gaze was glued to him with interest.

Mock blinked and jumped out of his chair.

"Of course. He said.

.

When he pushed open the door of the three-storied pagoda, the crisp sound of the bell brought some kind of comfort to Ed.

"This is my friend, Mock Brassy. He looked up and introduced his dwarven friend to his visible and invisible friends.

If anyone could understand this without knowing it, it would be the dwarves.

“...... It has a soul of its own?" Mock reacted immediately.

When answered in the affirmative, the dwarf looked around and marveled.

"The dwarves believe that every mountain, every rock, has its own soul, its own voice. "Our ancestors were able to hear ...... long ago," he said.

But I don't know when it started, and I don't know why, they gradually lost their innate ability, just like elves gradually lost the ability to communicate with trees.

He was silent for a moment, then changed the subject as he spoke.

"That Lord Balk, what an interesting man. He said.

He was invited to sit there without saying a word from beginning to end, and there seemed to be nothing to involve him...... It seemed that he was just a dispensable symbol, but he listened carefully to every word and observed everyone.

He didn't think his presence was pointless, nor did he think that Balk had just asked him to do an ornament.

"I've been underground for too long...... The dwarves have been underground for too long. "But there are some things that we are not ignorant of, and we are not unaware of the changes in the world." Scott Criesers, your uncle......"

He glanced at Is, who had sat lazily against the wall, but instead of glaring back as fiercely as he had expected, the dragon twisted its head to the side unconsciously.

"What the hell did he do?" the dwarf asked Ed bluntly, "what the hell did he want to do?"