The night on Lake Starnestle is as peaceful and beautiful as ever, but how many people will be able to sleep soundly tonight?

Some people bowed their heads and prayed silently, while others looked up to the sky from time to time, hoping for the return of the ice dragon. The generous and pious king turned on each other in the blink of an eye, and the cold and murderous alien is now a reassuring ally. The elders may still be able to calmly see it as a test, but the younger clergy are somewhat hesitant.

The guards of the temple have increased several times. In the long corridors, in the shade of the trees in the courtyard, people kept coming and going. There was an uneasy commotion in the air, and even though the moonlight still flowed gently like water on the paladin's armor, it didn't bring them much comfort. The vigilant and restless gaze is always unconsciously cast into the distance—the dark shores of the lake, the forests beyond, the swaying flowers and the heavy shadows of the trees, there seems to be an enemy hidden everywhere.

But all night, nothing happened. The ice dragon returned exhausted at dawn, and somewhat angrily told Scott that he had not found the Anktann soldiers.

The procession of hundreds of people disappeared without a trace. The ice dragon circled back and forth countless times, and even gave up hiding itself, and flew low through the forest, whether it was south or north, but did not find them, but frightened several hunters in the forest.

Even if it was to withdraw Anktan, it would not be possible to have such a speed.

"It's like going underground!" said Is, indignantly.

As the words came out, he suddenly remembered something, and looked at Ed unconsciously.

"Dark River!"

They cried out in unison.

After a few years of failed adventures, the only thing they found was probably the dark river that flowed beneath the Karnak Mountains...... and the lonely skeletal knight among them. Isis still remembers. The armor on the knight's body proves that it came from Anktan.

"If you're talking about the one that goes through the depths of Dragonwing's Peak......" Scott frowned slightly, "I've been there. It also knew that its exit was there - as many hunters in the nearby forests knew. But the passages inside are intricate...... If those soldiers really intend to pass from there...... It was a very dangerous road, and it was difficult to tell where the river would suddenly rush in, depending on the season, and depending on the weather, a sudden rainstorm could wipe them out...... I think there's a good chance they're just hiding somewhere. ”

“...... Shall I continue looking for it?" asked Is, a little frustrated. He hated the monotonous and repetitive task, and even flying became no longer a pleasure.

"Of course not!" Ed replied immediately.

Ise glared at him in exasperation.

"I'm going to get some sleep!" he said.

It didn't last long before the ice dragon flew north again.

Even if the danger lurks. The funeral of Lowell Turner was still extraordinarily grand.

As a paladin, Lowell's swordsmanship is not top-notch, and the spells he can use are even more limited. His combat ability was not even as good as that of many of his companions who were ten or twenty years younger than him, and as a former mage, his spells were completely at the level of more than ten years ago. But the respect and trust he received in the temple was no less than that of a high-ranking paladin like Fili Zeri. After all, not everyone can be like him. Sacrifice for the sake of your choices. Giving up status and wealth and spending ten years of everything you have learned, starting from scratch with another decade, no matter how hard it is, never giving up.

And his humility and calmness are things that many people will never learn in a lifetime.

Scott always felt guilty about his death - if he stayed a little longer, if he looked at it more, he might have recognized Borena who was carried by Rosa's father on his shoulder, and avoided what happened afterward...... So although he didn't want to set foot on the island of the Holy Sepulchre again, he silently joined Ed and Brooke. All the way to the burial chamber.

The chaotic aura of the island sent a shiver down his skin. Icabold is trying to seal the gap to the Atlas, as they have said. But apparently it has not worked out yet.

The tranquility in the Holy Sepulchre does not seem to have been disturbed. The glimmer of the torch swept past the familiar and unfamiliar names, and in the midst of grief and nostalgia, Scott found a long-lost peace in his own heart - until he was caught off guard by his name.

Surprise made his steps pause slightly, and suddenly fell into an indescribable panic.

Of course, he knew that there was no body of his own inside...... But the silent sarcophagus seemed like some kind of proof - or accusation.

He should have died...... But he abandoned what was more precious than life and lived in the world. Even if he could regain his peace one day, he wouldn't deserve to lie here.

As he looked away in a panic, he didn't know, and he didn't bother to notice if anyone had noticed his suddenly pale face and hasty steps.

But at least, Ed, who was walking in front of him, was completely unaware. After placing Lowell's body in a sarcophagus and completing the funeral, Ed even stopped to show him Scott's sarcophagus as he walked towards the exit.

"Sean must love you very much...... Although he would never say that. He whispered to him, innocently moved and hopeful, "We'll find him...... He'll be fine. ”

Scott forced a smile. In fact, he didn't worry much about Sean's safety - no matter what the situation came his to, Sean could handle it...... Of course, he knew that Sean Fetcher was not perfect, but the almost blind trust that had been engraved in his heart since he was a teenager was still stubbornly present today.

He was only twelve years old when his parents died...... Growing up under everyone's care, he was at a loss when the nightmare came. He didn't even have much time to mourn the loss of his parents, and he was surrounded by a bunch of "loved ones" he had never seen before. Even if they are no longer in their former glory, the Chrysers still have many descendants, most of whom have the name of nobility but no territory of their own. Crissus is a ruined castle with a small territory, but it's always better than nothing.

At that time, if it weren't for Sean Fletcher walking into the castle in the armor that never seemed to take off, Scott didn't know who he and the castle would fall into. Before that, he didn't like this uncle who was too serious and always had no smile on his face. But by the time Sean settles everything out of his way and walks up to him and tells him that the castle is still his, the territory is his, but that he has to start learning to solve everything on his own, he has become Scott's hero.

If it weren't for Sean...... He won't be a paladin.

Unconsciously brushing his gaze over his name again, Scott suddenly noticed that the sarcophagus was unusually clean, as if it had just been wiped down not long ago, without much dust.

That's not what Sean would do—even his only sister's grave was once at the funeral, and he never mourned it again.

A hint of doubt came over me. Scott hesitantly reached out his hand, touched the cold lid of the coffin, and silently withdrew it.

That strange feeling......

When he suddenly noticed that everyone was waiting for him, he smiled apologetically and quickened his pace, leaving all his doubts and worries behind him for the time being.

Time passes slowly in an anxious wait. Nothing seemed to have progressed throughout the day, neither from Stabuch nor Visa City, nor from Limestone Fort, but no new news had been returned, and Iss still hadn't found the group of soldiers who had been hiding somewhere. It seems like everyone is waiting with bated breath to see who lands a piece on the board first.

Not long after nightfall, a small white boat sailed from the temple to the island of the Holy Sepulchre. The ship's paladin hurriedly but carefully sent some fruit into the old tomb, not daring to open his mouth to disturb Ikaboy, who was staring at the drawings in front of him in a daze.

But he didn't leave the Old Temple right away. Cautiously making sure that there was no one else around, he glanced up at the ancient statue of the goddess, hesitated for a moment, and quietly burrowed into the burial chamber on the other side.

There was no permanent light in the Holy Sepulchre, and the heavy tomb door slowly closed, blocking out the faint starlight, and the entire tomb was plunged into complete darkness, and the infiltrator stood silently for a few moments before slowly groping his way forward.

He didn't dare to light the light, but he was familiar with the layout of the place, and it didn't take long to find his target.

All along, he thought he was looking for something hidden in an old tomb, but when he saw Scott Christos standing in front of his sarcophagus, he realized that he might have been in the wrong place all along.

Standing in front of the sarcophagus, he hesitated. He didn't have any doubts about his mission...... But is this really the right way?

After standing still for a long time, he finally made up his mind, bent down, and began to move the heavy lid of the coffin. It wasn't a struggle, but the little sound of the stones rubbing against each other was particularly harsh in the silence of the tomb.

He stopped, even holding his breath, and then, annoyed by his panic, moved the lid of the coffin halfway with a force of his arms.

Even if you are mentally prepared to raise your eyes to see the contents of the sarcophagus...... He staggered to his feet, staggered backwards, and almost fell to the ground, forgetting not only to breathe for a moment, but also to stop his heartbeat.

I don't know how long it took for him to get close to the sarcophagus again, stiffly and carefully moving the lid back into place, at a loss in his heart.

A little fire lit in the darkness, but he was stunned for a moment before he realized that someone else had entered the tomb, and looked around in horror and confusion for a place to hide.

But this is not an old tomb. There was nowhere to hide in the neatly arranged sarcophagus, and in desperation, he could only keep retreating, and finally had to crawl into an empty coffin and lie down, resigned to the sound of footsteps approaching little by little—if found, he could only choose death.

Counterpart...... or his own death.

(To be continued......)