The dagger fell to the ground with a crisp thud.

Ed stared at the hilt of the fine gold and the dull, broken blade for a moment, and didn't come back to his senses for a moment.

He didn't know what was more shocking - the knife that could "kill" a ghost that was too powerful to be called a "ghost" like a murder, the knife that saved their lives, or the last name she left behind.

Ankeland ...... So, she's Ankeland's mother?

That's really ...... Unbelievable.

He couldn't help but look at Novi - the pale elf stood there with a blank expression in everyone's eyes, completely losing his usual composure and composure.

Nigel staggered over, his body trembling slightly as he bent over. That gave Tess enough time to react, and rushed over to quickly snatch her knife back, but she was unusually careful to hold on to the hilt, not daring to put it back in its place.

Then, everyone began to stare at Nigel.

"Aren't you dead?" said Narya, bluntly asking the question everyone wanted to ask.

They even suspected that Scott burned him...... The burned, twisted and distorted ring he left near the old mine outside Balach is proof of that.

"Have you seen my corpse?" asked Nigel with a straight face.

- It's true that no one has seen it. But the man who was burned to ashes by Scott could not have left the body behind.

"What are you doing here?" asked Nalya, unflinching.

“...... What is this?" Nigel spread his hands unhappily, "I saved you. And instead of thanking me, you are asking me - do I owe you anything?"

"Oh, of course you owe. Tess pointed her finger at him. "You lured us here as your bait - if it weren't for us, you would have died a long time ago!

"I lured you here just to know where the fool ran around here, and somehow wasted spells to light up the whole place, lest people didn't know you were here!" Nigel grimaced, "I really don't want you to know I'm here...... But I really didn't expect you to be so stupid as to touch these two coffins that you shouldn't have touched!"

"You could have warned us!"

"He's an elf! his hand was on before I could stop it!"

Norway sighed helplessly, covering Tess with one hand and pressing her back into his arms, and snatching the dagger she held in her hand with the other. Give it to Ed.

"Thank you for your help. The elf had quickly regained his composure, and nodded sincerely to Nigel, "We have joined forces more than once, even if not friends. Definitely not an enemy either. ”

The corners of the priest's mouth twitched, as if he felt awkward because of this.

"That can also be called 'help'?!" Tess shouted unconvinced, pulling his hand away.

"At least he didn't leave us and run away. Norway said calmly.

Tess rolled her eyes at the sky, speechless.

"But I still want to know, why are you here...... If it's convenient for you to tell us. Ed said politely.

"Inconvenient. Nigel threw back three words at him.

Ed was silent for a moment. Not angry at all. Instead, he grinned - he had forgotten what Nigel Lowe was. This foul-tempered, hard-tempered priest was not an easy person to get along with, even when pretending to be a follower of Nesses...... But he's not a bad guy either.

"Anyway, I'm glad you're still alive. "If there's anything you need help with, you can tell me that I'm a little more useful than I used to be...... Moreover, I am still very rich. ”

He didn't mean anything else...... But Nigel glared at him like a complete fool. After a while, he slowly shook his head.

"How come you haven't changed at all?" he said, his expression indescribably emotional. Still irritated.

"Probably born too stupid to be hopeless. Naria replied solemnly and earnestly, but her eyes were full of smiles.

“...... If you can tell me who 'Ankland' really is, I might as well consider telling you why I'm here. Nigel seemed to be reluctantly relenting.

"Oh, don't think about it so reluctantly—no way!" Tess told him very dryly.

Ed hesitated for a moment, and asked Norway with his gaze.

"Whatever you want. Nigel looked nonchalant, "It's not like I can't find answers elsewhere anyway." ”

“...... Have you seen anyone else here?" Ed simply changed the question without Norvi's permission.

"Do you mean dead or alive?" Nigel asked rhetorically, "and you are the only ones alive." ”

Ed froze.

“...... There are other ...... here Ghosts?" he asked, apprehensively.

Nigel shook his head: "No...... There was only a bunch of dead people. ”

He raised his hand and pointed in the direction they were coming from: "A large crowd died under the cliff at the end...... They have also been purified, apparently because they don't want to be undead. ”

“...... Anktan's soldiers?"

"I don't know. Nigel glanced at Ed, "Their weapons and armor have been taken, but whoever it is, it's been done in a hurry. ”

“...... I didn't do it. Ed unconsciously glanced at the helmet they had thrown aside, "This one we picked up halfway through!"

“...... Did I say it was you!" Nigel's eyebrows furrowed impatiently, "I can't believe it...... Are you really the Sage of the Water God?!"

"I don't know. Ed replied honestly, a little ashamed, a little frustrated...... I don't care too much.

Nigel glared at him for a few more moments, his eyes growing a little desperate...... Or relieved.

“...... Good bye. "Although it is better not to say goodbye, it is always not good to meet you." ”

He turned around and left.

"Wait!" Norway said to stop him.

Nigel turned around and looked at the elf quietly.

"I can tell you a few secrets about Ankland. "As I said, we are not enemies...... And we need friends more than ever. ”

“...... I'm against it!" Tess cried out to her feet.

"Even the Silver Leaf King didn't make me swear never to talk about it again. Norway looked down at her earnestly, "If I shy away from it for fear or other reasons...... How different is it from the Arctic Lights guys who put an innocent elf in a tower and try to act as if nothing had happened?"

Tess bit her lower lip, but her amber eyes were still raging, glaring at Nigel fiercely.

The pastor twisted his head to the side as if nothing had happened, as if he hadn't seen it.

“...... It will take a little time, and this may not be the right place to be. "We don't know if there's any danger here." ”

"We can go back to Kriesburg!" Ed suggested.

"I'm 'dead'. Nigel said angrily, "Remember?" - I didn't disappear for no reason!"

Ed scratched his ear in embarrassment.

"I know a place. Narya began, "Eren used to meet his friends there...... It's secluded enough there. ”

Nigel raised an eyebrow noncommittally, and the matter was decided.

Tess picked up the things she had thrown everywhere, but was careful not to touch the sarcophagus. As she was about to leave, she reluctantly turned around and stared at the sarcophagus for a long time.

“...... Maybe there's no danger in opening them now. She said to herself.

"If another ghost is summoned...... Or Anclam herself, what are you going to do?" Naria asked her helplessly.

"We've got this!" Tess excitedly raised the dagger in her hand.

Ed reached for his fanny pack blankly—he remembered he had put the knife in!

Norway shook his head in resignation, snatched the knife again, and put it directly into his bag.

"Tell you, we'll regret not opening them!"

As she was dragged away, Tess lamented loudly, "I have a hunch that we will regret it......"

Her voice faded away. When darkness and silence reigned again in the world, a figure came out of the rock.

Lydia Bell walked up to the sarcophagus and stood for a moment, hooking her fingers, and the lid of the sarcophagus that had been touched by the elf made a dull grinding sound, and little by little it rose into the air, and fell to the side almost silently.

Lydia propped up the sides of the sarcophagus and leaned over slightly, looking at the corpse lying inside. The flesh and blood had long since rotted, and the clothes had long since turned to ashes, and in the female mage's slightly glowing eyes, there was only a pale dry bone, still intact.

The corner of the female mage's mouth hooked, and she laughed softly, and her deep voice was almost gentle: "Hello, beauty...... I will take you to meet your son. Perhaps, though...... Would you like to do me a little favor too?".

(To be continued......)