The words rumbled through Ed's head, refusing to go away. It was a long time before he asked Nigel, "Are you ...... too Isn't it against it?"

If he didn't intend to accept this request, Nigel would not delay or be vague, and he would tell the other party bluntly at the first time: no.

Ed knew this, and so did Ogro. The "you" in the last sentence is actually only aimed at Ed.

But he still asked this sentence with no giving up. He didn't believe in the "unhappy pastor" who never preached anything, but could see the misery of the most ordinary people, just a disguise.

“...... Yes. Nigel glanced at him and slowed down: "I have no objection, as he said, when there is no other choice, it is better to have a way back than nothing." ”

"We've got a way back...... Ed snapped out, swallowing the latter.

"So, your 'back road' doesn't need to sacrifice anyone?" Nigel asked calmly, and replied on his behalf, "Obviously, it's not ...... That's probably why you haven't made it public. ”

Ed pinched his fingers hard, unable to speak.

Yes, he is well aware that the "garden" cannot accommodate everyone. Even though the news was no longer a secret and would eventually spread, he hesitated to mention it to more people. Not because it might only belong to the whisperers, but because of what Ryan mentioned, "choice".

How different is it from Ogro's words of "sacrificing the lives of thousands of people to save this world" when choosing some people into the garden and throwing others into a world that will be destroyed, or better yet, ruled by a god who is not merciful but unique and cannot be disobeyed?

But, at least, he struggled to convince himself that at least, if he chose "who can enter the garden", he would always try his best to give ordinary people a chance to be chosen, even if it was a lottery, there was always a little bit of pitiful fairness, but if it was a choice of "who to sacrifice", there was no doubt that the first to be sacrificed would always be the weakest.

“...... I can't take it. Ed's voice was hoarse, even trembling slightly, but between the words, little by little, it became more stable and firm: "If the victim has no right to choose, and no power to resist, then it is not sacrifice...... That's murder. ”

Nigel nodded unsurprised.

"Of course you can stick to your choice," he said, "and there is no doubt that Ogro will stick to his, and I, too, will have my own insistence." So...... Do we have to be enemies of each other because of our differences?"

.

Ed didn't answer the question right away, and wasn't in the mood to think twice about how to activate the circle. Distraught, he ran back to the City Lord's Mansion, but Isis didn't know where he had gone.

Sitting alone in his room made him feel almost suffocated, so he went to the garden, and went round and round, but not even the sun could dispel the chill in his heart.

Then he crashed into Borena - though the King, who had been so busy lately, probably had him on purpose.

"What a coincidence!"

Borena's exaggerated yelling at least pulled him out of the gloomy mire and made him barely squeeze out a smile.

"This bare garden is a great place to relax, isn't it?" said Borena, as if he had not noticed his ugly face, "and you think, 'Oh my God!' if such a garden deserves to be admired by the great lord of Balach, then the stupid things I have done are not so bad. ’”

“...... Just because Master Croeffler isn't here can't be used to discredit his favorite gardener. Ed perked himself up and deliberately lowered his voice in an effort to cooperate.

Borena laughed, looking up and rubbing his listless gray hair.

"I don't know what's going on, but if you don't take it seriously, it's not a big deal, right?" he said.

He didn't ask much, but Ed was more eager to talk. After much thought, he didn't say anything specific, just told Borena: "We'...... I, Nigel and Ogro, had a little argument. We have a somewhat different view of certain things. ”

"Ah...... 'different'. Borena dragged out his tone, a little nonchalant: "Ethan and I always have many different opinions, if we really can't reach a consensus, no one will compromise, the big deal is that he does his, I do mine, just see who can beat whom." This is not a bad thing, in fact, there are many 'differences', there is no absolute right or wrong, and it is not necessarily one or the other. The complex result of their collision is what makes the world so wonderful – at least that's what I think. Besides, isn't there a little similarity among your 'differences'?"

Ed thought for a moment and nodded, "Also...... There are still. ”

At the very least, they all want the world to continue to exist well.

"Heading north along the Vienz River, not far from Balach, you can see the Fran River flowing into the Vinz River. Borena spoke in a relaxed tone, as if he were just telling a casual story: "The river flows out of the mountains and forests, and there are few people along its way, and the water is so clear that it makes a very clear mark in the murky waters of Vinz. But whether it is clear or turbid, all the water flows eventually merge into one, running in the same direction and the same destination. You can call it a collusion, or you can call it a ...... Cleanse. If you're strong enough, you'll be able to change the entire river, and if you have to break out of another river yourself, you can do even more damage...... Of course, it is also possible to become another river of life. ”

Ed's eyebrows furrowed in anguish. He felt he really needed a little bit of buy-in...... Or a little advice, but Borena just gave him a lot of possibilities, making it more difficult for him to decide.

He wanted to say something and stopped, but His Majesty just smiled and patted him on the shoulder, and walked away slowly, ignoring him.

"Advice from others" can be medicine or poison – young people have to learn to make their own decisions.

.

The young man turned in the garden to almost dark and finally made a decision.

"Then let him try. Ed returned to the Anduch Temple and told Nigel.

In order not to misunderstand his attitude, he explained very seriously: "After all, even if I refuse, he will not give up......, right? Give us the opportunity to face the 'mad mage' directly, take a little initiative, and maybe control the situation better. ”