The Guardian of Beranti, who was always respected and feared, probably did not expect such a simple and brutal resistance.

The mage was knocked open by the door, staggering to the side, and the spell that had not yet had time to cast was naturally interrupted. Ed took out the speed he had practiced chasing rabbits on the ice field and sprang out without looking back.

For mages, preemptive strike is probably already a survival instinct. But Ed didn't really think that these mages would be deadly spells with a single shot, and no one could tell the difference. He would most likely be immobilized or unconscious, and after that, he could not tell whether the mage would take him directly or enter the collection room to check it out. It's bad enough to be treated like a thief...... It's even worse to be treated as an accomplice of a necromancer.

- Although he probably already is.

An angry roar came from behind him, and Ed had already rushed to the back of a flower tree, even having time to look back.

As he wished, the enraged mage chased after him without thinking. He breathed a sigh of relief, grinned self-deprecatingly, and fled to the front yard while starting to apologize loudly and incessantly, looking panicked.

There are many more people in the front yard than in the backyard. After making sure there were enough bystanders, Ed stopped, raised his hands in the air, and began to pretend to be innocent - in full view, he believed that the mage would not cast any lethal spells, and that if he was really unfortunate enough to be caught, at least someone would know where to save him.

He was born with a simple and innocent face, not very handsome and charming, but it is easy to lose your guard. His father often reminded him, explicitly or implicitly, that he should use this advantage to win more benefits for himself, but his mother always disagreed—she wanted him to live as he looked. Be honest and sincere, just like ......

Just like Scott Christus.

The shame of these uncontrollable memories and cognitions when he is acting a fool who inadvertently trespasses on the forbidden land without any flaws. melancholy and sorrow cut a slight wound in his heart.

The perfect outcome would be that he would leave unscathed, without even revealing his identity, and the doubtful mage would go back to check if any scrolls had been lost in the collection room, and Oylan had already disappeared by then......

Girond's presence dashed his hopes of a bright future. From the look on the mage's face when he repeated the surname "Singar", he was sure that he had guessed who he was.

But...... Ed Singall, who is a "sage", may not have any dignity and prestige left for him to destroy.

He lost interest in continuing to tour the library, and even gave up the opportunity to find out what Oylan was looking for in the quickest possible time. Instead, convince yourself that now is not the right time.

When we returned to the Croiffler family's mansion, it was much earlier than planned.

The Kroefler family does not have their own castle in Balach - or, as Fish Croiffler often says, "Balach is the Challer of the Krofler family." ”

The castle on the west side of the city, which belonged to the family of the previous ruler, was badly damaged by the war. Fish's grandfather simply tore it down entirely, building an unwalled mansion separated from the bustling city by a large meadow.

But that doesn't mean the Krofler family isn't well guarded.

Although not surrounded by high walls and towers, the main building of the Croiffler House resembles the temple of Anduch. Built on a high platform. At the end of the high staircase, one layer after another of sculptures shrinks inward, making the main building's doors look grandiose, but in fact they are just two double-doord doors of normal size and easy to defend. In addition to this, there is only one side door for access to the entire main building. Even if Balach falls, it will not be so easy to capture this place.

Ed hurried through the deep foyer. Probably the only thing that made him uncomfortable here was the unusually dim light even in a sunny day.

The people who live here are used to it. The flames, which burn day and night, shook as people walked by. The changing light and shadow made everyone's expressions look a little ambiguous, and it took a while for Ed, who was getting familiar with them, to realize. The expressions on many people's faces are really ambiguous.

Apparently something is going on here.

He didn't bother to ask, but unconsciously slowed down.

At first, he was a little flustered thinking that what he had done in the Branti Library was causing some trouble, but soon realized that this was not the case. Those who walked by him would salute him respectfully, but their attention was clearly not on him.

"Are there any guests?"

Eventually, he curiously questioned a young maid who had quickly blushed and stepped aside at one glance.

"The Earl has returned. The girl replied in a low voice, hanging her head.

Lord Earl—Ed was stunned for a moment before he realized, and that was Ethan Crooffler.

Despite the addition of several more titles, after the death of Fish Crofeller was made public, Ethan was still the Earl de Ville who inherited his father's title and territory, and Balach was rightly named, but never returned except to officiate at his father's funeral.

Ed smiled and nodded at the girl, watching her hurriedly bend his knees at him and run down the hallway.

"What the hell are you here for, seducing our maid?"

A cold voice floated behind him.

Ed looked back in shock. Ethan, who appeared at some point, stood not far behind him, looking tired, gloomy and irritable, and the aura exuding from his body reminded Ed that it was best not to provoke him.

"Uh...... Did something happen?" he asked, "why did you suddenly come to Balach?"

"This is my home, and I don't need to go through anyone or any god permission when I'm going to come back, and what I'm going to do. ”

Ethan's answer was rather rude.

Ed didn't care about his attitude, he was more worried about what unexpected trouble would happen. Ethan wasn't his friend, but he was Borenna's friend and the most faithful ally, and he shouldn't have left Llewellyn at a time like this.

"I have no intention of interfering with anything...... You've helped me though, and if there's anything I can do to help, please let me know. ”

He spoke sincerely.

Ethan glared at him for a few more moments, but suddenly shook his head and chuckled lowly.

"It's none of your business. He said, still rudely worded, but much softer, "It seems that you still don't have news of your wayward friend?"

Ed shook his head in frustration, "All I know is that he may have changed back into human form...... But finding a 'blonde-haired, blue-eyed young man' in Anktann is as hard as finding a bronze-bearded dwarf among the silvertooth dwarves!"

Ethan raised an eyebrow.

"If he had known that someone was looking for him, he might not even be blonde and blue-eyed. He said, "He's not a human being, and if he can become a human, he can become anything, isn't it?"

Ed's eyes widened in a daze—he hadn't thought about it at all!

He did know that Iss had mastered Transfiguration...... But in his mind, Isis will always be Iss, whether it is a human or a dragon, how could he become what he doesn't recognize?!

If he didn't even know what Isis looked like now...... How can he find him?

They may well have passed through the crowd.

He opened his mouth, but he didn't know what to say. There was a hint of despair in the exhaustion - what the hell was he doing, what was he supposed to do? Sio told him that what was lost in the crowd could not be found in no one...... So he returned to the crowd. But did he do anything meaningful all this time, did he find anything he lost?

"I know you're not as selfish as I am, Ed Singh. Ethan looked at him lazily and half-leaned against the wall, and whispered, "But sometimes, you better think about yourself...... Instead of running around so headlessly. ”.

After giving up more than half of his dinner and staring at the flickering flame on the candle for a long time, Ed realized that his biggest problem was that he simply didn't want to "think about himself."

He traveled away from home alone, and he wandered on the ice field for months. He thought he got rid of something, but he didn't...... He just added more than one lock to a certain door in his heart, and the black vortex behind the door still existed...... Maybe it will always be there. His anger, his resentment, his doubts, his unwillingness, all of them were shut behind that door.

He had only learned not to gaze into the endless abyss, lest he fall into it and never return to the light...... Is that growth, or escape?

Behind that door, is there also a real peace for him, who else can give him answers when he has given up on seeking answers from the gods?

There was a gentle knock on his door, but no one opened his mouth to ask if it was convenient.

For a brief moment, Ed felt bored and wanted to open his mouth to get him out of the way, but eventually got up and opened the door without a sound.

Jay Oylan smiled at him from outside the door.

Ed stood in astonishment for a moment, silently leaning sideways to let him in, without bothering to ask how he had come in.

"I'm not going to stay here for too long. Oylan said very dryly, "So...... You want to know about that boy?"

Ed looked at him, and suddenly realized that the mysterious necromancer in front of him might know more...... Something more useful.

Oylan smiled slightly in his silence.

"As a thank you for your help, I can answer you with three questions. He said, "You might as well think about it...... I don't think we'll ever see each other again. ”

Ed unconsciously lowered his eyes, avoiding his gaze that seemed to be perceptive.

(To be continued......)