As night fell, it was unusually quiet around the campfire. The slightest crackling sound in the fire can make people's hearts tremble inexplicably.

Normally, Cesyana likes quiet, but he doesn't like it.

He was just getting used to the red-haired girl's noise. No matter what kind of predicament or danger she encounters, she can always talk non-stop. He's just just getting into liking this kind of life—the life of the elves, which is called "adventure", has long been out of the elf's life...... Join strange but trustworthy companions in search of unknown ruins, lost histories, and mysterious treasures. In the end, there was nothing but mud, but ......

He loved it, but it seemed to be over at the beginning.

Since he met Norvi, he had never seen such uneasiness and confusion on that face that was always smiling, and there was even a faint trace of fear. And ever since the crow brought the ominous news, Tess's little face kept changing expressions in a miserable whiteness, panicked, frightened, angry, helpless, vigilant......

And she never said a word again, which is the most disturbing thing.

The Forgotten Cursed Lands - where the hell is that? Cesyana had no clue, he remembered that Norway had told him about the Light of the North, but even if the city was desecrated by the undead and overrun by humans, what did it have to do with Norvi?

But since they wouldn't say, he wouldn't ask. Everyone has their own secrets, and he should know this better than anyone else, but ...... He was also secretly expecting Rosa to ask something.

Rosa is clearly an old acquaintance with Norway and Tess. The concern in her eyes was not false, but she was just as silent as he was.

Sitting by the fire like a statue, Norway suddenly moved and exhaled slightly.

"I'll ......"

He had barely finished his sentence when he was interrupted by Tes.

"You're not allowed to go anywhere!" the red-haired girl declared brutally. He hugged Norvi's right arm tightly, his round eyes menacing and suppliing.

"But the fire is about to go out...... "Norway looked at her with a smile and a helpless look at Cesyana.

Sesyana stood up silently and burrowed into the dense forest behind him, the forest of early spring was still full of fallen branches, and he would soon be able to bring back enough firewood.

A light footstep behind him followed him, and he could hear it without looking back. That's Rosa.

"To be honest, I'm still a little hungry. The female warrior patted her belly and smiled at him. "Accompany me on a hunting trip?"

Sesyana had no reason to refuse—besides, he also loved hunting. It's better than sitting by the fire and continuing to be skeptical and in a daze.

The glow of the campfire in the forest was faint at first, and then only the moonlight and starlight illuminated their vision. Rosa is a good hunting companion, she may not know the forest as well as the elves, but she is quiet and agile. And she seems to be able to act easily and in harmony with others - she always finds her place accurately. Won't get in the way of anyone, and won't let anyone get in the way of her.

That also means...... She doesn't need anyone.

Sesyana always had a subtle feeling about it, and it was impossible to tell whether it was admiration or annoyance, as annoying as the itch left on the skin by the night breeze of early spring.

They ran a short distance to catch a pheasant, and Rosa's "leisurely" steps on the way back made Sesyana suddenly suspicious.

He silently quickened his pace, but when he returned to the campfire, the fire had not yet been extinguished, and Norway and Tess had disappeared. Only the big stupid man who couldn't speak sat honestly by the fire, looking at him blankly. It looks a little pitiful.

Their luggage was gone—it wasn't much luggage anymore, just a small bag that Tess had been carrying with her, and that and Norvi's fanny pack were probably the only things they had salvaged.

And, that fat little mongoose. He had hugged it for a short while, and that fluffy little belly did have an irresistible attraction......

Sethiana stood quietly by the campfire for a moment, he didn't hear anything around him, maybe Tess and Norway had gone hunting, too-

The fire dimmed little by little, and the elf casually threw the firewood on top of the dark red embers, not caring that it would only make the fire go out faster.

Rosa walked unhurriedly a few steps behind him.

"They're gone. Sethyana spoke suddenly. Although there was a faint glimmer of hope, he knew very well that they would not return.

"I know. Rosa replied lightly.

"You're trying to lure me away...... Did Norvi let you do that?" the elf's voice was angry. Even after years of training, he wasn't very good at hiding his emotions.

"He said as much to me as he said to you. Rosa seemed a little helpless, "But since they want to leave alone, why don't you give them a chance?"

"He can just say it!" Sesyana looked back angrily, "I won't stop him!"

"Wouldn't you?" Rosa tilted her head to look at him, "probably...... But whether you'll follow him secretly or not, that's hard to say. You're not the kind of elf who knows your friends are in danger and can ignore them. ”

“...... He's not my friend. As the words spoke, Sesyana himself could hear the weakness in his heart, and he couldn't help but twist his face.

Sure enough, Rosa chuckled lowly, "You really can't lie. ”

Sesyana was silent for a long time with some annoyance, but couldn't help but speak: "So...... You just let them go? I thought you were their friend......."

"The kind of friend who knows when to let go. Under the moonlight, the smile on Rosa's lips was more like self-deprecation, "It can also be said that the kind of friend who knows how to protect himself better." ”

“...... That's not you. ”

Sethyana didn't know why he said that...... He doesn't know her well at all, does he?

"That's not you. He stubbornly repeated, more like to convince himself.

-- What kind of person is she? What does it have to do with him?

Rosa looked at him in some surprise, and after looking at him for a long time, her gaze softened little by little. When Sesyana was so embarrassed that he wanted to run away. She smiled suddenly, "Norway always said that you are more agile than him and better at finding the enemy's traces...... It's not an enemy, but you can catch up with him if you want, can you?"

Sesyana nodded proudly.

"So," Rosa smiled and spread her hands, "what are we waiting for?".

Tess gripped Novi's hand hard. She knew it would slow down Novi - theirs. But she couldn't let go for a moment.

Ankeland ...... The shadows of the Cursed Lands have finally caught up with them.

She had almost forgotten about that place...... Forget the high, enclosed tower of atonement filled with the spirit who was unwilling to die alone, and the last despair and anger he left on the walls.

She wouldn't let her elves end up in the same way!

The fingers that had been exerted too long were so stiff that they almost lost sensation. But she couldn't let go.

Norvi had been taking her around on adventures when she was about ten years old, and didn't seem to mind putting her in danger, but it didn't take long for her to understand that the only way to be sure was that everything was under his control. It won't cause any harm to her at the time. He'll take her with him.

If there is too much uncertainty, he will leave alone.

It took her two years to realize that she would never be able to stop the elves from satisfying his boundless curiosity, and the rest of the time she learned to be stronger, to wait, to trust that Norway would always come back to her safe and sound, and that the elves never let her down.

But this time...... This time, for some reason, she just knew. In any case, she couldn't let go.

A great fear that has never been felt before. It clung to her heart like a cold hand, and she had never felt so strongly even when she saw Norway lying in front of her, covered in blood—that he would leave.

She remembered Ed's ominous prophecy, the terrifying light of her dreams. The Sunchaser...... She had never felt the surname so ominous.

Didn't his ancestors know that if he did catch up with the sun, the end would be nothing but ashes.

Her mind was a mess, and she stumbled and could barely keep up with the elves. She didn't know how long she had been walking, but Norway suddenly stopped and looked behind her warily.

“...... Did they catch up?" she asked, alarmed, and then annoyed by her panic. She was no longer a child, and even if the elves found them, they might not be able to defeat them if they fought to the death......

The biggest problem is that Norvi doesn't seem to have any will to fight at all.

If you can only follow him to escape, Tess will admit it, although the things hidden in the basement of Dumbbutch's small shop are really a bit wasteful, I wonder if there is a chance to go back and find out......

Those nonsensical thoughts unexpectedly calmed her down. There was no reason for the elves to find them so quickly - it was more likely that Sesyana and Rosa would be following them. Norway wasn't sure if it was a good idea to say goodbye without saying goodbye, but Tess pulled him away without saying a word, and didn't even allow him to say a word around the campfire.

He only had time to pat Akan on the shoulder and give the big man a blank look an apologetic smile.

She couldn't trust anyone right now - who knew if Sesyana would take Novi in exchange for a chance to go home, who knew if Rosa would have another bounty in mind? She had a bunch of siblings to feed and an old man to take care of, and she was forever short of money......

She wasn't too stupid to see that Rosa had given them a chance to leave, but who knew why she did it?......?

Her heart was so flustered that she couldn't think about it so much.

Her heartbeat almost stopped when she heard the elf's sigh.

- Don't do that!

She wanted to scream.

- I'm going to hate you! I swear I'm going to hate you!

She would scream in his ear if she could, but Norway didn't give her that chance.

Complete darkness descended on her, and she didn't have time to make a sound as she fell limply into the elf's arms.

(To be continued......)