When Scott made his way through the crowd, no one recognized him.

In fact, there were only a handful of people who looked up at him. The vast majority of people reverently knelt on the ground, muttered, or in silence hoped that the gods would listen to the whispers of their souls.

Even the steps leading to the temple were filled with people, and some of them were piled up with rolled-up sheets—they were probably sleeping in the square.

You won't see anything like that at the populous Temple of Stunbuch, where the people are more calm and practical. But in this barren north, it is easier for the poor to place all their hopes in some supreme power, to yearn for salvation that can never be attained by their own efforts...... Longing to break free from his fate lying low in the dust.

Scott looked at the northwest sky, frowning slightly. The gray-yellow sky was low on the mountain peaks, and a summer storm was coming. In this barren wilderness, the sand and dust kicked by the wind had already hit his bare skin with a faint pain, and once it was hit head-on by the storm...... There was simply no room for so many people in the temple.

He quickened his pace and squeezed into the temple, where he was stopped from entering the hallway to the right of the main hall.

The place was no longer guarded by warriors dressed as hunters - perhaps inside, but when they wrapped themselves in a heavy, cold armor, their words and actions changed unconsciously.

They set up their staggered weapons in front of him and stared at him indifferently as if that were the best explanation.

Without a word, Scott tore off the cloth towel that covered his mouth and nose and looked back coldly.

Apathy turned to consternation, consternation turned to panic and even panic - Scott didn't know the two young men, but they at least recognized him...... After all, of course, the statue of the god carved according to his face stood in the hall not far away.

As they snorted in a panic trying to say something, Scott impatiently reached out and pushed away the spear that was still stupidly sitting in front of him, and walked straight inside.

A moment later, hurried footsteps caught up with him, and Risek hurried over, stopping in front of him, intentionally or unintentionally.

"I'm sorry, Sage. He saluted him respectfully, "We didn't know you were coming, and there are some young warriors here who haven't had the pleasure of seeing you......"

He sounded like the weary and hypocritical aristocracy of Lockburg.

Scott still remembers the former Risek Brin, who had the gentleness and caution that a northerner rarely possessed, but also retained his frankness and integrity...... Have those respectable qualities disappeared there, or are they still hidden somewhere?

There was probably something strange about his expression, which made Risek uneasy.

“...... Sage?" he asked in a cautious whisper, "Are you here...... Is there something important?"

“...... Where's Copas?" asked Scott bluntly.

"The Reverend isn't ......there," Risek blurted out, halfway through his words, and swallowed back in Scott's icy gaze.

At least, he hadn't learned to lie in front of him without changing his face.

"I think he already knew I was coming. Scott could hear a hint of exhaustion in his calm, deep voice, "Don't stand here. Send someone to bring people from outside into the temple, or find them a safe place if you can...... The storm is coming. ”

Risek agreed, leaving faster than he had come, almost looking like he was on the run.

Scott quickly found Copass's room, skipping the polite inquiry and pushing the door in.

Copas sat in his chair in front of the window, looking at him calmly and calmly, apparently with no intention of getting up to greet him. There was no light in the room, and the dim light fell on his white robe through the not-so-clean glass window, revealing a dull, mottled gray like peeling walls.

"I guess you're not really looking for me?"

After Scott slammed the door shut, he spoke.

When there were no outsiders, Copas didn't speak so respectfully to him – and Scott preferred that, too. But now, the middle-aged pastor's calm and indifferent look disgusted him.

"Ante Bofford. His tone involuntarily became stiffer and colder, "Where is he?" ”

Copas was silent for a few moments.

"I hope you understand. He said, "It's not about you—I'm just doing what God wants." I can't question or speculate on his arrangement. ”

"Where is he?"

Scott repeated word for word.

“...... Sorry, I can't tell you. Copas looked a little helpless, "You're obviously not calm enough, Scott...... My mission is to protect him. If you're on the urge to destroy him, I don't have enough power to stop you. ”

Scott took a step forward, and the invisible pressure instantly cluttered the air in the room...... And scorching.

"You really don't. He said coldly.

“...... You're so irritable. Copas sighed softly, "More irritable than ever." Don't you think that's the more serious problem, after you saw the danger of Ed Singel...... When you knew you might be in the same danger?"

"They can try again. Scott replied dismissively.

"They will. Copas looked at him calmly, "Don't you understand? They probably don't know...... Or perhaps, as we know, that this is simply not going to succeed - whether it's with Ed or you, the human body will never be able to withstand that kind of power. They will only fail again and again, and each failure will infuriate it...... You should know better than I know how dangerous that can be. Before the time comes...... All our efforts could be ruined. ”

Scott was silent.

Yes, he is well aware. Wrath...... That's where its power lies, it's powerful and terrifying, and if it gets out of control, it can be a disaster that can destroy the world. And he will inevitably be affected most directly, even if he tries to control himself as hard as he does now, trying not to use any magic...... His life was connected to it, and he couldn't avoid it.

“...... Where's Ante?"

He spoke again. There was finally a hint of frustration and annoyance on Copass's face.

"You told me you had no intention of revenge. "And now he's not going to do any harm." At the end of the day, he's just a prisoner—a prisoner who has already died once, so why can't he be spared...... Spare yourself?"

"From beginning to end, when the hell did I say I was going to kill him...... Or kill him again?" Scott finally raised an eyebrow impatiently, "He knows something, Copas...... He knows something that neither you nor I know. ”.

(To be continued.) )