The soldiers opened the door for Ed and the elves behind him, and didn't ask a word even when they found that there was no shadow of Sacse.

Ed felt grateful that he trusted others so easily...... Probably because a lot of people want to believe him.

The three-storied pagoda did not refuse this special guest, but was silent and did not greet them with a crisp bell. In fact, ever since Ante broke into the Triple Tower and fought Ed, and then Ed and Ise fought here again, it had been a bit listless, much slower than when it was first reborn, like a young warrior quickly turned into a sleepy old man. Ed suspects that it may be a little ...... Exhaustion?

He was a little weak-hearted.

Saxes' gaze swept over the statues on the four walls.

"I've heard that there are many precious books here. He said.

"Ah, do you want to see that?" Ed scratched his head in shame, "that ...... Not much left. ”

By the time the three-storied tower cracked, most of the books that had lost their protection had rotted to ashes. When the three-storied pagoda reverted to its original form, the books that were not in the "original" naturally did not change back. Hoylan regarded them as the tower's most precious treasures, and Ed didn't fail to understand their value, but for the three-storied tower, the perishable scrolls weren't that important.

It's not a person after all.

"There are also a small part, on the second and third floors. Ed pointed upward, considering whether he should take the books out and put them in a safer place...... But then my heart sank.

When he thinks so, he is already preparing to accept the possibility of failure.

"Can I see the foundation at the bottom of the tower?" asked Sacthisse, "what is gone...... It's not that it can't be recovered. ”

Ed hesitated slightly. Of course, he knew that what was gone could be restored, and it wasn't that he didn't believe in the abilities of the Sacses, but he ......

The slightest sound, like a drop of water falling on the surface of a lake, tapped in his ear.

“...... Of course. He said.

.

The bottom of the main tower is where the entire three-storied tower changes the least. Sackses leaned over to examine the clear, shiny sapphire with subtle cracks, and his fingertips suddenly became transparent the moment they touched it.

"It absorbs my power. The elf retracted his hand and leaned out again, looking a little excited, like a child poking a jellyfish on the beach.

"It was designed to be ...... like this," Ed smirked. He wanted to say that it was because of the magic that created the tower, but he clearly felt the eagerness, even greed, of the three-storied tower at that moment.

In its opinion, the sacks seem to be quite tasty food.

He had to reflect again. Again and again, he used this place as a place where he could fight with impunity, did he let it suffer any harm...... However, the power they released when they cast spells, it can clearly be absorbed.

He tried to communicate with the three-storied tower, but at this point he was clearly not the one it was more concerned about.

Is it so easy to fall out of favor?—— he thought sullenly.

"That's ...... It's good. The elf said.

He reached out and pressed it against the gem.

Ed was slightly startled, and there was no time to stop it, and with a low roar like a cheer, the blue gem suddenly brightened like a star.

The light was not dazzling, but flickered with the runes drawn by the elf's other hand, full of joy and satisfaction. Ed almost instinctively wanted to pull the elf away—a wave of irritation rose in his heart, as if his beloved thing had been touched by someone else.

But the three-storied pagoda does not belong to him.

He retracted his steps and stood quietly, staring intently at the flickering and disappearing runes. If Saxes tried to control the place, he would know that even if he couldn't read all the runes, he could feel the change and flow of power.

But that's giving, not taking.

Light flowed out of the gem, as if blood was flowing out of the heart, winding on the ground. Once again, the hidden circle appeared, shining brightly under the wash of power, and spread all the way up the four walls.

Outside the three-storied pagoda where he couldn't see, people looked up in surprise and stared at the light that pierced the sky, and the entire three-storied pagoda lit up, and the dazzling white light silently pierced the darkness, overpowering the pale light of the full moon, as if it was pointing at the sky, proud as if it was provocative.

“...... Not that. Isis whispered to Naria. The girl who ran to the yard with the dough in her hand nodded, slightly embarrassed by her nervousness.

Some, like them, who knew more, calmed down after a moment of panic. At first glance, this scene looks like a sacrifice that has already taken place several times...... The ritual of creating, or destroying, the stars will instantly take away all life and soul around them.

But only the cold night breeze blew through Stunbuch, and there was no fear in the joyful chirping of night birds.

When the white light dissipated, the black three-storied pagoda still shimmered with a shimmering light, as if it was dressed in new armor. However, in the three-storied pagoda, the sacksis surrounded by the circle faded little by little, as if they were about to melt into it.

“...... Wait!" Ed had to stop. He didn't understand why Sachses was doing this, whether it was planned or immediate...... But he didn't want this powerful soul to disappear.

The light quickly receded from the four walls, retracting into the gem embedded in the center of the ground. In the blink of an eye, everything was back to normal, and the half-kneeling elf had not disappeared.

He looked up, his translucent body replying little by little.

"Don't worry," he said, "I don't want to give it all my power, just help it...... Untie some of the shackles. ”

“...... Thank you. Ed spoke softly.

He didn't know if the Triple Tower would say thank you, but he was genuinely grateful to the elves for their efforts—it wasn't without harm to him.

He could hear the high-pitched chirping of the three-storied tower, like the day it was reborn. It has finally broken free from the shackles it had put on before it was born...... Even broke free from him. The followers of Nesses could no longer break into this place through an ancient contract, and even he could no longer use its powers at will, unless it allowed it.

It's completely free.

That's certainly a good thing...... Although Ed's heart is a little sour.

He had never wanted to take control of the Triple Tower, but it wasn't the same as if he had lost it entirely. He even kindly blamed Sackses for doing things on his own, without even asking him...... He's the "guardian" of this tower, isn't he?

Sachses shook his head and stood up.

"If you knew what I really was for...... I'm afraid you won't thank me like that. He said.