Eth once again held the Staff of Eternity in his hand, and the red marks on his palms became more distinct as he let go—he was met with even more fierce resistance, as if the holy and great symbol was outraged by his repeated blasphemy.

He sneered in return.

Under that red mark, the gray-green symbol has become very blurred, and it will not fade, and it will still be disgusted.

"Maybe I can...... Try again......" Ed whispered.

He knew that Iss didn't like him to invade his soul, and he knew that there was another thing that was wrapped around his soul that he might not be able to power...... But Is's revelation of the symbol before his eyes was in fact a plea for help—almost unimaginable for a dragon.

Needless to say, his disgust was greater than his pride at the sign that he had taken him as something against his will.

But at that time, if it weren't for Ed's own cleverness, he wouldn't have been painted with this symbol at all.

"I'm sorry......" Ed hung his head, even though he knew his friend didn't like to hear it.

“...... I really shouldn't have listened to your stupid idea back then. Is's voice was a little cold, "You have no idea how dangerous and unpredictable magic is—even now, it obviously hasn't made much progress. ”

Ed silently lowered his head.

"But I know. "And I listened to you...... It doesn't seem to be much smarter than you either. ”

Ed understood. What he meant was that they were all at fault in this matter...... But that didn't make him feel any better.

"So be it. Iss shook his hand irritably, "This thing doesn't really do anything to me. ”

It's just that...... It's just nasty, like a little filth that can't be washed off.

“...... So, what about the other ...... 'thing'?" Ed asked, slurring.

He couldn't see the thing that was imprinted in the depths of Is's soul, but it just felt ominous.

"It's a contract. Isis didn't hide it, even a little careless, as if it didn't matter: "I promised it myself, and it has nothing to do with you." ”

- For some reason, it feels even worse.

Ed opened his mouth, trying to ask, but Ise shook his head at him.

A moment later, the door opened as if it had never been tethered at all, and Tess poked her head out of the door, her amber eyes rolling around to look at them, and at the Staff of Eternity, which had been tossed aside.

“...... What are you doing behind closed doors?" she asked confidently, "is there something bad that you can't let your sweetheart know?"

Isis strode over, pushed her away by pressing her forehead, and walked away on his own.

Tess grunted disappetly and turned her gaze to Ed, only to be deflated before Ed could make any excuses.

"Forget it. She said, "You can't even make up a good story to deceive people!"

Disgusted, Ed was glad to keep his mouth shut.

.

Tess didn't say anything at dinner, and Naria didn't ask anything. They didn't even talk about what was going on in Ston Butch City, just chatting about inconsequential topics and enjoying delicious food. There was laughter and warmth in the room, and there seemed to be nothing to worry about...... Until there was a knock at the door.

Naria put down her glass and sighed softly.

"Alright," she shrugged, "I guess that this is the end of Lord Balk's patience—at least he let us finish dinner." ”

Sure enough, the one who came was sent by Balk, and invited Ed, Is, and Mork.

"The messenger of the Silver Leaf King is also in Lockburg. He said.

Ed looked at Naria, who shook her head.

"I have other things to do. She said.

She would love to stand by Ed's side...... But that's not her only place.

.

The three-storied pagoda stood proudly under the inky blue night, and the black shadow was not as majestic as the sun. The hazy starlight blurred its lines, and in the dead silence of the city, it seemed to show a little sadness and loneliness.

And yet it's still an amazing miracle. Mork stopped and looked at it for a while, and praised it heartily: "I can't imagine that humans can build such a tower." ”

He already knew that the tower wasn't like that before, but he also knew that this was what it was.

Ed blinked—the tower was most likely built by a dwarf...... But this doesn't seem to be the time to talk about that.

In Lockcastle, the only place where they walked was brightly lit, and as far as the eye could see, the guards standing straight were clearly armored and tall, as if the king was still in the castle. Their momentum even overwhelmed the decadent aura of the deserted courtyard, giving Ed a little respect for Balk.

That old man was not a warrior, not a nobleman...... He has spent most of his life hiding in the shadows, and when he has to stand up, he shows the courage of any lord.

They were ushered into the flower hall where Moira was most often used to receive guests, and it was the place where Ed was most familiar in the castle. Except for Moira's position, the chairs in the flower hall are extremely cleverly arranged, seemingly scattered randomly, comfortable and intimate, no matter how you sit, you can't distinguish between the superior and the inferior, even if you sit in the two camps that "almost got into a fight".

Moira's somewhat old high-backed chair was naturally empty, but Ed's gaze lingered on it for a moment before turning to Sean.

The Paladin Leader appears to have regained his health. Even if it wasn't as robust as it had been when he first met, it was very different from the one he had seen a month earlier, when the oil was running out. His short silver-white hair was neatly pulled back, and his blue eyes were sharp and bright when they looked at him.

- Yiyi is very abnormal.

Of course, Ed wanted him to recover, but he knew full well that Sean was weaker than half because he had reached the point where he needed to be weak—he was old.

That's not something that any force can reverse.

But at this moment, he could only suppress the doubts and uneasiness in his heart and bow his head to Balk.

Balk, as his master, had already risen and greeted the dwarf and saluted.

"Welcome to Stonebutch, King of Charlene Hall. He said, "Forgive us for not receiving you with due courtesy...... We didn't know who you were at first. ”

“...... I'm just here as a friend," Mock replied, "and there's nothing rude about you. ”

He'd heard Ed mention the beauty of this ordinary-looking old man. He didn't think that he really didn't know his identity before, but this scene at this moment did make the expressions of many people present change slightly.

A title that is noble enough for most people...... There's always something different.