Ed stared at the ice dragon with wide eyes open, and it took almost longer than it could endure before finally it seemed to understand the simple response.

His deep blue eyes seemed to be illuminated by the sun, and the smile diminished from the corners of his mouth that gradually cracked out. The young man, known as the "Sage", erupted in a cheer of unknown meaning and lunged at his friend.

Human arms can't hug a dragon. Overexcited, Ed leapt upwards and threw himself on the nose of the ice dragon, lying there in a gesture that had no image to speak of.

“...... Get down!"

The ice dragon roared uncontrollably, but it clearly lacked a terrifying momentum.

"Don't get out!" the cheeky Sage grinned and squirmed, stepping on its nose and grabbing the thorns on its forehead, clumsily crawling awkwardly to the top of its head, the ice dragon frustrating as he wondered why he would tolerate such behavior.

Nothing could stop the stunned gazes of everyone in the square, and even a little boy had the audacity to point at them and laugh loudly and loudly, and then staggered towards them, as if he wanted to join in this fun game.

His father hurriedly picked him up, with a look on his face that he wanted to laugh but didn't dare to laugh.

The mighty dragon shook his head in exasperation, seriously considering whether to put the fool in his mouth or throw it into the water, but instinctively reached out his front paws and grabbed him as he fell headfirst to the ground...... Then thoughtfully help him to stand firm.

Ed persistently spread his arms and looked up at it expectantly.

The chilly gusts of wind swirled and dispersed. The ice dragon, which had reverted back to its human form, stood there straight, glaring at him angrily, but it didn't stop him from pounced. Give him a long-lost hug.

Even though he was eventually pushed away impatiently by Is, Ed smirked contentedly, heard footsteps behind him, and looked back at Sean Fletche as he walked towards them.

At that moment, the helplessness that flashed in the paladin leader's eyes made Iss almost sympathetic. Having such an unreliable sage on the stall is probably not what Sean wants.

No one showed any respect for Ed, and the meticulous Paladin Leader did not salute Ed in front of everyone, which made Iss realize. Ed's identity as a Sage remains a secret. Judging by the peace and devotion on the faces of the believers in the square, they should not even know about Felicity's death - what the hell is Sean waiting for?

"I want to talk to you...... Iscontia Christus. The Paladin Master stood still in front of him and spoke calmly.

For the first time, he heard his own name, a human name, come out of Sean's mouth. Let Isis have a subtle feeling. Not disgust, not anger...... He nodded his head in agreement without much hesitation, and followed Sean to the long corridor to the left side of the temple leading to the back.

Ed, however, grabbed his arm with some trepidation, and stopped talking.

“...... I'm not going to eat anyone. Or break it...... Break your temple again. Iss comforted him in an awkward way.

"I can guarantee it. He won't get hurt...... Unless he's trying to hurt someone. Sean looked back and looked at each other with a comfortable expression.

"So, can I join in?" Ed puffed up, trying to look more confident and imposing.

Sean glanced at him and replied lightly, "...... Of course. ”

The unexpected surprise stunned Ed for a moment before he jumped over with a smile and followed closely beside Is. The corridor of the Temple of Collins was wide enough for four people to pass side by side, but he was trying to huddle around Is, like a cat that only liked to go around his master's legs, and almost tripped over Iss's legs several times.

Eth tolerated the dragon's undue intimacy. Even with rare patience, he answered Ed's ever-endless questions one after the other—how are Naria, are the elves safe?, where did you go before......

But he was also careful to ignore many issues. Ed didn't seem to mind anyway.

He thought Sean would take them into some unknown secret room, but the Paladin Master stopped on the platform in the middle of the corridor. In the center of the circular platform is the fountain that can be found throughout the temple, and under the surrounding railing, there are stone benches for resting, and the breeze that sweeps across the lake carries the fragrance of early spring flowers.

This is indeed a good place, Iss thought with some ill-willed thoughts. The view is good, and there is silence, so you don't have to worry about hearing anything, and you don't have to worry about causing too much damage to the temple if you don't say a word......

But Ed apparently didn't expect any of this, he just habitually jumped on the stone chair and squatted down, and then realized that the posture was too casual, and immediately jumped down in embarrassment, straightened his robe, and stood beside Iss with a serious face.

He chose his place so naturally that he seemed to remember only that he was a friend of Is, forgetting that he was also a sage of the water god.

Iss struggled to hold back the smile on his lips, so much so that the muscles on his face stiffened strangely when he faced Sean, and his expression was rather strange.

Sean looked at him, then at Ed, as if he had expected it.

"It looks like you've solved your misunderstandings...... "that's good." ”

"......'Good'?" Iss couldn't help but sneer, "I don't think you really care about any misunderstanding between us...... You just want me to stay away from him, don't you?"

Other than that, he really couldn't think of anything that Sean needed to "talk to" him.

Sean's answer was completely unexpected.

"It's the opposite. The Paladin's Captain looked him straight at him, "I want you to stand by him when necessary, just as he stands by your side at this moment...... I hope you can help him. ”

Is's eyes widened in surprise - he had only heard the same thing a day before...... It wasn't surprising that Scott said this, but he was in front of Sean Fletcher, the guy who had sent his knights across the continent to hunt him down......

"I know you don't want Ed to be a saint, but you know just as well that it's immutable. Sean just calmly continued, "We need him...... After Felicity's passing, we need another Sage to give all of us the courage and hope to face the darkness that is coming—a trustworthy and revered Sage. ”

Ed lowered his head and rubbed his foot against the ground in frustration. This sentence clearly told him that he was not the saint one expected.

"It was your God who chose him!" Is, angrily discerning his friend for the most hateful reason, "as you say, it is immutable...... Why do you doubt it?!"

Sean shook his head: "Ni'o's choice cannot be questioned...... But what I said is also true. Ed was young—too young. Ed Singhal was known as a rich young man who had no devout faith or great power...... The only thing that makes people talk about and be amazed is that he was able to tame an evil dragon and bring it back to his castle......"

Is's eyes narrowed dangerously.

Before he could say anything, Ed jumped up in frustration: "'Tame' a fart, he came back to save me, he stayed in the castle to protect my mother, I told you he wasn't evil at all......"

"It doesn't matter. Sean frowned slightly and interrupted him, "What do you think people will be more receptive to...... Or would you rather accept what? A dragon who has killed people and destroyed this temple more than once is not evil, or is it a powerful and proud being like an ice dragon who would also submit to a great sage?"

“...... You want to take advantage of me. Isis raised an eyebrow in understanding.

"If you have to describe it that way...... Yes. Sean candidly admits, "If we had enough time, I'd rather spend decades letting him grow up, but unfortunately, we don't seem to have that time." What could make him establish his prestige faster than a loyal dragon? There are only a handful of people in history who have been given the title of 'Dragon Slayer', and no one has ever dared to call himself a 'Dragon Slayer,' even among the proud elves......"

"Enough!" Ed roared pale, "there is no 'dragon tamer', and there will never be...... If you want proof, I can find you the barbarians of the Ice Plains, the heir of the Silver Tooth Pit, and the king of Anktan...... I can agree to any kind of play you want, don't beat Is's idea!"

“...... I'm glad you finally accepted my previous advice. Sean clasped his hands indifferently and said bluntly, "Humility is certainly a virtue, but sometimes we can only choose a more direct way...... But we still need your friends. If you're willing to calm down and think about it, it won't do him any harm...... I know you've always wanted people to accept his existence, and in my way, it's far easier to achieve than your naïve fantasies. ”

Ed glared at him, but was speechless.

“...... Are you going to ask me if you want to be 'used'?" the ignored ice dragon said in displeasure, "or is it 'not important'?"

Sean and Ed turned their gaze to him at the same time.

"You don't even need to pay attention to this!" Ed's expression was angry and worried, "I'll never ......"

"I promise. Iss interrupted, a smile on his lips, "Sounds funny, doesn't it?"

Ed stared blankly at him, his round, wide-eyed eyes like an overly frightened marmot in a garden.

"But you'd better also remember," Iss turned calmly and proudly to Sean, "that it's neither because of you nor because of your goddess...... Just for my friend. ”.

(To be continued......)