Enid stiffened to the side, as if even her soul was frozen with fear.

Moira understands that fear. Even though Scott never hurt her and gave her a lot of help without expecting anything in return, the same fear was always hidden in her heart...... She never forgot the blood-soaked night in Visa, the bloody, demonic figure. The scent of roses and the thick of blood that filled the air at that time haunted all her nightmares.

But now her heart is like a desert, and even the deepest fear has lost its meaning.

"It's a human, it's a ghost...... Or is it God?" she asked, her tone even bringing out a hint of the innocence that had died completely that night.

She was genuinely curious.

She reached out and tried to touch Scott's cheek. Her fingers were cold, and she thought that his flesh and blood probably had the temperature of a flame, hot and merciless, and would turn her to ashes at the touch of it.

Scott frowned slightly, tilting his head away.

"It's time for you to go. He said, his low voice still did not fluctuate, but it was a little more gentle.

Moira slowly withdrew her hand and laughed inexplicably. She had been bewildered by this tenderness, but now she could finally understand that it was not for her—that tenderness was a nostalgia for the sunny memories of many years ago, and a little beautiful cherishing that had not yet changed in that memory.

But who can stay the same forever?

"You're such a selfish man, Scott. She said.

“...... Yes. He said, "I'm sorry." ”

.

As the sun set, the heavy dark shadow of the Triple Tower fell heavily, engulfing almost the entire Lockburg ...... But it is not as frightening and ominous as it once was.

Since a few months ago, this eerie tower seems to have lost its chilling momentum. Its black tower still seemed to absorb all the light, but it grew more and more like a towering tree with a strange life, rather than the twisted tower of magic it had been.

In the shadow of the tower, there was more fire and noise in the castle than in the previous days—and Moira would leave Staple with the rest of the men the day after tomorrow. It was a somewhat abrupt decision, but it was expected by all.

In the midst of the chaos, no one noticed the shadow that had entered the three-storied pagoda...... Even if someone finds out, it won't be stopped.

Nia drove down to the bottom of the tower, froze slightly at the sight of the unexpected intruder, and then spoke briskly: "...... Long time no see!"

He was already smiling as he jumped down the steps, with just the right amount of curiosity.

"Didn't you bring Tess and Norway back?" he asked, "Naria is worried. ”

He had a lot of information in his hands – and he didn't mind letting the other side know. Even if the other party didn't answer, he didn't care.

He walked over to the man and followed the other's gaze to their feet. The jewel that had been set by Ed was no longer the original deep blue, but more like pure black, and the fine starlight flowed in it, but it was more dazzling than before.

"It's getting deeper. "It's like the ruby from before...... Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"

Scott finally looked up at him.

"Don't you know?" he asked.

Nia's heart skipped a beat, neither light nor heavy.

There was a moment of silence, and a sly smile broke out on his upturned lips.

"Ed owns the tower," he asked, "is it a good thing or a bad thing?"

"That's not a reason for you to cut off the connection between him and the three-storied pagoda. Scott looked at him calmly, "Good or bad...... It's up to Ed to decide. ”

Nia sneered, "If it was Isis who 'got' this tower, would you feel the same way?"

Scott didn't answer.

"You're so eccentric, does Ed know?"

Nia took advantage of the victory and pursued, accusing himself with a straight face, "Don't you feel ashamed that he believes in you so much?"

“...... He also believes in you. ”

Nia kept her mouth shut.

"No matter what method you use...... Disarm it. Scott said.

That's more like an order. Nia raised an eyebrow, anger frustrating.

He had suppressed it so long that the anger had uncontrollably overturned his prudence, and he burst out with a surging malice: "I may have other plans, but I can promise that I will keep them alive...... What about you?"

"Alive...... And not the most important thing. Scott replied.

"Of course that's the most important thing!!" Nia snarled under her breath, "why should they give up something that you can't even give up?!"

“...... I can give up. ”

"It's too late!" Niah roared back, "When you died more than ten years ago, you should have just died completely......"

He stopped abruptly, unable to believe that he had actually spoken, with a resentment so intense that he barely realized he had.

"But as you say...... It's too late. Scott's tone was still calm enough for him to grit his teeth, "I could die again, but not in a senseless death." ”

"For the sake of that 'meaning', are you going to drag your nephew and brother with you to the funeral?" Nia sneered.

"If they're strong enough...... It's not that it's impossible to survive. ”

"If you are not strong enough, you are not qualified to live?"

“...... Nia, you know you're arguing with words. ”

"yes, so what?"

Scott looked at him, and the faint helplessness in his eyes was the only emotion he showed from beginning to end.

Nia didn't believe he had really cut his soul apart - the broken soul was fragile, and he wouldn't be unaware. He probably somehow suppressed his emotions that were always too strong, and maybe it was really the idea of the haunting half-elf priest...... He should have been able to understand, he should have made good use of this......

But he had enough of the fake smile on his face.

He really wanted to have a good time. But when Scott silently drew his sword from its sheath, his eyes widened in disbelief.

“...... Are you going to kill me?" he muttered.

"It's the easiest way to do it. Scott replied lightly.

Easiest ...... Way.

Nia was stunned for a moment. In a trance, he could hear the sound of something breaking...... The things he had cherished so much were so beautiful as illusions, so distant as if he had never really had.

He turned back into the orphan who had no one to rely on and no one to worry about, a lonely soul wandering in hell, tormented and with nowhere to go.

That's fine...... He was no longer afraid.

"I've died once, Scott. He said, the corners of his mouth crooked, and his smile was cold and wanton, "And I'm a little ...... I don't want to die again. ”

.