In the elf ...... After the half-elf left, Ed looked at Stallbel and stopped talking.

"I understand. Stobel calmly met his gaze, "You probably think that sincere fellowship with each other without reservation is the right way to communicate, especially in this situation...... But you see, the relationship between the Archmage Tower and Grivar is not so simple, and we all have our own problems. Rather than expecting us to quickly trust each other's 'sincerity', it is better to exchange benefits with each other, and as long as we can maintain integrity in such 'transactions', 'trust' will naturally form. ”

Ed nodded silently - he ...... to Corell His affection for the Silver Leaf King made him involuntarily want to do more for them, but this matter was indeed too simple for him to think about.

"But," said Stallbel's tired, calm eyes, with a little more than that, "you're still young...... It may not hurt to stick to your own beliefs. ”

.

On the way home, Ed kept thinking about Stobel's last words. He didn't think it was a compliment, and certainly not sarcasm...... There is a subtle, envious feeling.

Envy, and anticipation, as if hoping that he would be able to unexpectedly perform miracles in a way they couldn't. In the past, such expectations would always be regarded as unbearable pressure for him, but this time...... He thought very seriously about how he could do it.

In his own way...... Try as bold as Corell did.

Unsure if Stebel could no longer bear the power of magic in addition to being able to cast spells, Ed didn't even dare to use teleportation, and because they had to hide their tracks, they didn't return to the Archmage Tower until dawn, and talked about the present in the Mithril Hall...... He was tired enough, but he was very excited.

His mind was spinning, and he almost hit Is's nose as he entered the door with his eyes straight.

“...... You look like you breathe more than the dead. Is's face was full of disgust, "Get back to your room while Naria isn't there." ”

Ed nodded. He didn't want Naria to worry, but he couldn't sleep even if he went back to his room now.

"I have an idea. He grabbed Is's arm and couldn't wait to speak.

"Don't listen. Iss rolled his eyes.

But Ed ignored it. He dragged Isis into the garden, squatted under the osmanthus tree and grunted, even though Is's expression changed from impatient "then listen casually" to a seriousness that made him panic...... Serious to the point of coldness.

“...... Okay?" he asked, apprehensively.

"No, I can't. Iss flatly refused, and smashed the two words on Ed's head like ice cubes.

"Why?" Ed asked, reluctantly, "I know that the origin of power is different...... But you see, they all say that I have divine blood, but no one says that I can also be the descendant of a certain dragon, and if I can learn how to control the power of this world itself, why can't anyone else......?

"It's not because of this. Iss interrupted him, "I said 'no,' not because other people have the ability...... It's because they can't have it. ”

“...... Why?" asked Ed, holding his head pitifully.

"Because the strength that sustains the world comes from balance. Iss almost indifferently ignored his marmot-like, aggrieved and innocent eyes, "Stobel's understanding of 'balance' is too rigid, but it's not wrong. If there is life, there should be death, if there is gain, there should be giving, and only with reincarnation can there be endless life...... Dragons are gifted with strength, but when they die, they are only memories, and their bodies and souls return to this world, even when fighting the gods, the immortality and immortality we have pursued are only for victory. We have never made 'immortality' an end in itself...... But humans are different. ”

“...... I'm human too. Ed sullenly said, "So is Naria, so is Alan, so is Felicity, and so is Scott......"

"So is Lydia, so is Nine Toes, and so is Oylan. Iss coldly continued, "All necromancers are...... You, even if you want to make a deal with demons and want to be immortal, if there is another way, and it doesn't even sound so evil, I'm afraid most people will have a hard time resisting the temptation to do so. And this world does not have its own consciousness like the gods, it does not use some kind of harsh rules...... Tell you what you can't do from the beginning with absolute deterrence, and when it begins to punish your greed...... It itself must have been on the verge of collapse. ”

Ed bowed his head depressedly. What makes him more uncomfortable is not the fact that Isis has stated—he cannot deny that human beings are stronger than almost any race—but the "you" that Iss always unconsciously spits out at such times.

Sentence after sentence, it made him realize very clearly that they were not the same kind.

"But," he did not want to give up, "perhaps as you say, humans are greedy, and they ...... We, we are tenacious at the same time, and we will never give up when we are faced with a desperate situation. Maybe I don't have to do anything, and someone can find another way, the same as I said...... Or worse, if you can guide them in the right direction from the start, so that you can get a better ending, why not?"

He looked up at Is, and finished what he wanted to say in one go: "You should know better than I do that human beings were born without knowing anything, neither to this world nor to the gods. The elves and dwarves told us about the existence of the gods, and faith took root in our hearts. But now that the gods are gone, the rules we know are crumbling...... You can be the one who plants a new faith in our hearts...... Maybe one day all human beings will see themselves as children of this world, as you do, proud and free like you. Maybe one day humans will be able to turn into dragons and fly in the sky, just as you can walk on the earth like an ordinary human...... Maybe one day, we won't be so different again. ”

...... Naive.

Iss thought. Let's not talk about whether there can really be such a day...... Even if there were, when humans grasped the power of this world, how would the elves and dwarves who were more deeply tied to the gods deal with themselves?

He had countless reasons, but more rebuttals and rejections disappeared into the blue, blackened eyes that looked up to him.

There was a sparkle in his eyes...... Like stars in the night sky.

And the world is on the verge of destruction, but he still cares about his loneliness.

"You mean......" he began, "starting with Stobel?"