"What?"

Tess's eyes widened in confusion. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info

Her acting skills have always been perfect, but Nia is just grinning.

"Another person will be deceived by you. He praised her.

Tess immediately pulled her face down.

Nia slipped into the room without a notice, looking at her with a smile.

"Show me?" he said.

Tess folded her arms and glared at him coldly.

“...... Why is it that every time I do something bad, everyone thinks I'm brave and loyal, and occasionally I want to do something good, but no one believes me?" Nia, sighing and scratching at her ears, ripped off her shirt.

He was smaller than Tess, but his muscles were well-proportioned and strong. Tess was inexplicably a little jealous...... But she guessed that this wasn't what Nia wanted her to see.

On Nia's chest, a blue-black mark slowly emerged, dark and light as her heart beats—different colors, but exactly the same pattern as the one in her palm.

“...... What's that?" Tess asked, not showing too much curiosity.

"A marker. Nia patiently replied, "It means that I belong...... To put it mildly, it's no different from the brand on a horse's butt. The only difference is that when the horse dies, it's over, and when I die...... My soul is still not free. ”

Tess was silent for a moment.

"I've heard that Scott has given you freedom. She said, "He made a deal with your master." ”

"Yes. Nia's smile was a little bitter, "But you see, the problem is...... Manista wasn't really my 'master'. ”

“...... Why didn't you tell Scott?"

"Because that's not something he can handle. Nia replied calmly, "It would not hurt if it could make him feel that it had solved a problem that worried him somewhat." ”

“...... Why are you telling me?"

"Because I need your trust. Nyara got dressed, "I guess Anclam left the same mark on you...... Either in the chest or in the palm of the hand. ”

Tess didn't answer.

"I can lift it. Nia said.

Tess scoffed, not convinced.

"You still have that thing on yourself, and you tell me you can lift it?" she said.

"Because Ankeland is just a ghost...... To perform such a spell, he must borrow the power of others - power that does not belong to him, and such spells will always have loopholes. "I don't know much about magic, but trust me, there's no one who knows more than me...... I've spent too long researching it. ”

"And you're so kind just trying to help me?" Tess still didn't believe it, "Thanks." ”

"Not just for you. Nia said, "It's also for Ed." He's in ...... A rather delicate situation. Yes, it only takes one glance at that mark and he'll know what's wrong, and he might even find a way to get rid of it...... But at the same time, one second look at me and he will see that I lied, and I didn't want him to know about it - no one should know about it. ”

“...... You just told me. Tess said dryly.

Nia smiled.

"Smart girls know how to keep secrets. "And you're smart, Tess...... Just as smart as I am. ”

He even remembered nodding to the little mongoose: "You're smart too." ”

"Tsk. Nori replied politely and cautiously.

“...... Maybe Ed can get rid of your mark, too. Tess said.

Nia shook her head: "He's not strong yet...... And I took the trouble to do everything I could to save their lives, not so that he could provoke an existence that he couldn't afford to provoke. ”

The green tendons on his forehead jumped unconsciously, and his eyes showed a little irritability.

Suddenly, Tess believed.

She exchanged a look with the little mongoose and made a quick decision.

"So......" she spread out her hand so that Nia could see the blood-red mark on her palm, "what needs to be done?"

"Like I just said. Nia grinned, "First of all - a little bit of trust." ”

He held a small dagger in his right hand and a green gem in his left hand.

“...... That's the Elven Eye of House Quinard!" Tess finally recognized, "How did you get it!"

It was one of the few treasures that Tonbutch didn't even dare to get her hands on!

“...... I'll tell you. "When we're done—don't you smell the scent?," said Nia, "and in a little while, Nalya will come up!"

.

When Naria, the big monster that everyone talked about, walked up the stairs with a dinner plate, Nia was sitting on the highest staircase, absentmindedly playing with his dagger.

Naria thought for a moment and leaned down to deliver the plate to him.

Nia quickly poked three squeaky sausages with a dagger and stuffed them into her mouth, so happy that her eyes narrowed.

"Delicious!" he said mumbly.

Naria smiled. She was confident in her craft, but she wasn't sure how much of the smile on Nia's face was real.

Father's friend, her friend...... Of all the human and non-human, the one she couldn't see through the most was this seemingly most harmless thief.

Keis believed him...... That's probably enough.

She took a few steps and looked back thoughtfully.

"Where have you lived lately?" she asked.

There were no rooms in Nia—the small building in Stonebuch could afford to live in a well-to-do family, but it had only three bedrooms, one for Ed, one for Is, and one for her and Tess. Nia used to live in the Temple of Nesses, which had only been renovated after a fight between Scott and Shaun, but since Scott was not there...... Naria suspected that Nia would not want to go back to that cold place.

Even though the three-storied pagoda has changed owners...... The place that hides under the shadow of the tower all year round is still eerie.

Nia blinked as she bit down on the sausage, wondering if it was so delicious that it bit her tongue, or if she didn't know how to answer for a moment.

"I'll clean up the little pantry at the back of the living room, and you'll live there. Naria rightly said that she did not ask for Nia's opinion.

Nia watched her walk down the hallway with wide eyes before swallowing the sausage in her mouth and sighing slightly.

He staggered against the railing, his mind churning with all his wavering choices—he knew how suspicious he looked, and inevitably became more suspicious, and they were still willing to leave it to him...... A location like family.

What the hell is he going to do?

Why the hell did he come back?...... Even if you live in hell, it won't be harder than it is now.

.