The torches were much brighter in the Holy Sepulchre, perhaps because it was cleaner than the tomb on the other side.

The polished floor and walls reflect, rather than absorb, the light, but looking at his shaky shadow, Ed felt that every step he took was harder.

He walked past Scott's empty coffin and involuntarily stopped, his hand holding the torch trembling slightly.

The sarcophagus next to it was also empty in his memory, with the lid leaning to the side...... But now, the lid is closed.

He took a deep breath before he stepped forward and used the torch to illuminate the name carved into the sarcophagus.

-- Browder Sanks.

Ed jerked back, his eyes blackened, as if he had been hit in the head.

He wasn't unprepared...... He had expected this, and it was even the better of all his guesses—that someone had buried the dead properly.

But he still couldn't accept that the familiar faces in his memory had become cold corpses under the stone cover, even though he knew that many people had died, even if he had seen the corpses with his own eyes...... He still hoped that the people he didn't see were actually alive.

But they died, dead in the mist. He failed to protect them...... Even to this day, it is not possible to determine who exactly is the murderer.

What has he done in such a long time?

Self-blame is like a cold thread that rises from the bottom of my heart and flows down the blood all over my body...... But his face and palms began to burn.

He gritted his teeth and walked step by step, forcing himself to read the names of each of the deceased. That's his fault...... It's a responsibility he can never let go.

He must know...... He had to remember.

He was covered in sweat as he walked through the entire tomb. But I can't tell if I'm cold or hot.

He trembled uncontrollably, but he counted clearly—thirty-seven dead.

There were a few names he wasn't so familiar with, probably shortly before the accident. Someone who just came from the temple in Stonebug...... The words carved into the sarcophagus inevitably seemed a little rushed, but Ed was still grateful to all those who had held funerals for their dead companions under such circumstances.

- But where did they go?

At that time, the priests and paladins gathered in the Temple of Collins totaled more than a hundred...... Where have the rest gone?Why hasn't there been any news yet?Did Icabold take them?Even if they didn't believe him anymore, they should at least contact Lord Brooke?Xiuan. But according to what Allen got from Tonbuch, Brooke didn't know where they were...... But he doesn't seem to care much about it.

Does he actually know?

Ed pressed his head and felt it fall heavily.

He shuffled back, knowing that he couldn't figure everything out by standing here - unless someone suddenly jumped out and told him.

But he probably didn't have such good luck.

He stopped as he passed Scott's empty coffin again. Realized that something was wrong with that coffin.

The lid of the coffin is crooked. It's like someone once opened it and never closed it properly.

But everyone knew that Scott's sarcophagus was empty...... What are they opening it for?

Ed hesitated, but couldn't help but reach out. Push the lid of the coffin open.

It was empty, of course—no body, only a long sword, just the same as the old priest had told him...... Sean placed a sword that Scott had used in the sarcophagus.

But the sword was placed in the lower right corner of the sarcophagus, as if it had been thrown there casually. Instead of being placed in the center of the sarcophagus.

Ed didn't think Sean would be such a casual person...... So what's going on? Has anyone ever used this sarcophagus to hide something?

He shook his head in confusion. Dragged the lid back into place and stood there in a daze until a faint cry came from the entrance.

It was Eric's voice, sounding angry and surprised.

Ed jumped to his feet and rushed to the entrance. He didn't think there would be enemies here...... Why did he leave Eric out alone?!

He rushed into the temple. Eric wasn't there anymore, and there was not a trace of a fight around.

He looked around in a panic and shouted, "Eric!"

No one answered, but a little light from the armor seemed to flicker through the fog outside the door.

He immediately rushed over. But he almost tripped on the steps.

His heart quickly sank to the cold bottom of the water—and he realized, to his horror, that he had kicked as if it were a corpse in armor.

The goddess is above.

Squatting in his chair and watching Eric pale and haggard. With a scruffy face, Ed genuinely praised Nyeo's name in his heart, even though he had just said that she probably didn't exist...... Or something that is not worth believing at all.

Eric is not dead. He just fainted on the steps, a large wound on his forehead that looked more like he had fallen on a stone himself.

Ed couldn't ask him what had happened. The mist didn't hurt him, but it did absorb magic, and his healing skills were of no use at all...... But it also saved him from his troubles, and he had no choice but to bring Eric back to Criesburg.

It took him a lot of effort.

Now, the wound on Eric's forehead is gone, but he is still unconscious...... He really needed a good night's sleep.

Ed jumped out of his chair, feeling a little complicated - the last time he woke up watching another paladin like this...... What he got was betrayal and hurt that he couldn't bear.

He left the room and closed the door softly, only to see Naria approaching him.

"Is he awake?" she asked him, "I have prepared something for him to eat—he must not have eaten anything decent in a long time." ”

She held a tray with just a simple bread, milk, and a little bit of fruit, but it looked delicious.

Ed shook his head, nodded again, reached out and pushed the door open for her, followed her step by step, watching her place the tray on the table next to the bed, and then followed her out of the room.

“...... What's wrong with you?" asked Naria, raising an eyebrow.

Ed opened his mouth, but said nothing.

“...... You're worried he's going to hurt me?" Narya quickly understood, her eyes and voice softening at the same time.

Ed nodded, admitting with a look of frustration, "I think it sucks...... Like this, you can't trust others anymore...... Even if I really want to trust Eric, I'm still worried about ......"

"Oh...... At least you can trust me. Naria gently touched his shoulder, "I'm not that easy to deal with. ”

Ed stared blankly at her—she didn't look like she was in a hurry. No longer so listless and gloomy.

“...... So, will you come with us to Grivar?" he asked, hopefully and cautiously.

Naria smiled

"Nope. "At least not yet." ”

Ed stared blankly as she walked away—not now...... So when is it going to work?

"Idiot...... Won't you say something nice?"

Ed turned his head dumbfoundedly and looked at Tess who was frowning at him disapprovingly.

"What do you say?" he asked sincerely.

"'I need you, sweetheart, I don't know what to do without you'...... and so on. Oh my God, no one taught you this, no wonder you can't catch up with girls!" Tess patted him the chest, looking like she hated that iron was not made of steel.

"I ...... Something like that I used to say......" Ed hung his head in frustration, "that wouldn't be of any use to her...... She doesn't need me, at least not ......."

"yes, she rejected you. Tess nodded sympathetically, her face changed instantly, and she jumped up and slapped him on the back of the head, "Just because she rejected you once doesn't mean she'll reject you forever!

Ed was dizzy from her sudden attack, and as he dodged, he argued, "I didn't give up...... No, these are two different things at all...... No...... How do you know she rejected me?!"

He screamed, blushing involuntarily. He didn't think Naria would tell Tes...... No, she probably didn't take that seriously at all......

"I eavesdropped. Tess glared at him with a straight face, "How?"

"No...... Not so ......much," Ed snorted.

What did he dare to do with her?

"I gapped to say, if that was a confession, it was a terrible confession. Tess sighed sadly, "You didn't even tell her plainly 'I like you!' from beginning to end...... You're just saying, 'What if I didn't just want to be your friend?' -- what kind of bullshit! I could speak better than that when I was five years old!"

“...... Is it really that bad?" Ed reflected, grimacing. To be honest, his mind was so confused that he couldn't remember what he had said.

"It's just that bad. "She's so worried that she'll break your heart—your heart should be smashed a few times and recast, maybe a little stronger." ”

Ed lowered his head and stopped talking.

“...... Well, it's not that bad. Tess relented, "Tell you something, maybe it will make you a little happier - she'll just do the same if the guy has the guts to confess." In Sweetheart's words, it's—"

She cleared her throat, "'Do I have to like this childish and headstrong, childish guy who doesn't understand anything?'"

She learned Naria's voice vividly.

“...... Huh?" said Ed, his mind desperately trying to spin, but it couldn't.

Childish??......? It turns out that Naria prefers mature men?

And...... Does Isis like Naria too?!

No, maybe he shouldn't have been so surprised......

"Come on, Ed. Tess smiled and tiptoed his head, "I think you're a little more hopeful than Is—at least you're trying to grow up!".

(To be continued.) )