"Ed Singal is safe, Lydia Bell is not something you can deal with, the mission is over, you should go home. ”

Hearing Kormit's "order", most people couldn't help but smile on their faces. They had been leaving their villages for months in pursuit of dangerous enemies, and some of their companions had fallen deep in the forest, never to return home. Before you know it, spring has arrived...... There is no better call than "coming home."

A few, including the Haryat, seemed to prefer to run as warriors in the forests and wilderness, but they could not disobey the priest's orders.

"You can go to the temple in the Sidney Basin. ”

Kormit told them. He was referring to the magnificent temple near the city abandoned by the elves.

"It has not yet been built, and there may be dangers hidden in the ruined city, and you still have much to do before the believers wade through the mountains and rivers to pray there. ”

“...... Don't you need a couple of good fighters to accompany you to Balach?"

Haryat asked him, "They can protect you, or they can ......"

He didn't finish his sentence, and suddenly became embarrassed.

Kormit planned to travel to Balach with Enoch. Judging a pastor is not an easy matter, and in Balach they have more ways to gather the necessary people to make a final decision.

He also had more opportunities to learn more about things that he had been overlooked all along.

Kormit knew he had an easier option. He could get the news directly to Scott and the Sage, especially when the new king of Lutgar had just been crowned...... But he believed it was enough to get his attention.

I don't know why. He stopped himself from doing so.

It's not yet time—he told himself.

"Leave Durou. After thinking about it for a moment, Kormit decided. That calm young warrior witnessed everything from beginning to end, when necessary. They will need his statement.

Khaliart was still hesitant—even dissatisfied—perhaps he felt that he was the one who should accompany the priest to Balach, but Kormit didn't need a brave but impulsive, overly self-righteous escort at the moment...... Moreover, according to others, he has a very close relationship with Enoch.

"The temples of the Sidney Basin will need you even more. Kurmit stressed again.

Khaliat was silent for a moment, no longer insisting.

The matter was decided. The young people began to noisily pack their few belongings, and the dull and oppressive atmosphere of the past few days seemed to be immediately swept away in the joy of returning home.

Kelian will also travel with them to Balach. It's like a "deal" made outside the town of Kawague. Kormit wasn't worried that he would reach out the moment he entered the gates of Balach and ask for the rest of his pay, and then turn around and leave without hesitation - no, he wasn't worried at all. The young man was no less interested in the whole thing than he was.

After saying goodbye to Gabriel, after walking some distance, Kormit looked back at the peaceful village on the shore of the lake, and at the black cliffs on the opposite bank.

Not all questions have been answered...... He had a hunch. He might come back here again.

When embarking on the trail to Balach. Enoch looked calm. Without enough horses, he had to walk, his bound hands hidden under his cloak, and the arrows that could be fired away from the string in the blink of an eye by Kellian guaranteed that he had nowhere to escape...... And he didn't seem to want to run away.

That emboldened attitude made Kormit very unhappy, but also worried. He didn't know what would await him in Balach...... But at least there he could find someone he could trust who knew how to behave in such a situation.

He'd used a spell to send the message, but he never heard back. This is another thing that worries him.

They moved slowly, silent all the way. After nearly two days of travel, I saw the shining spire of the Blandi Library again.

This ancient city, under the rule of the Croiffler family, was attacked more than a month ago, and the outer city was severely damaged, but the inner city gates were never breached. Although some of his troops had been drawn to accompany the king, Balach still had enough troops, and its strong walls had more than once made the invading enemy taste defeat.

Balach has always been heavily guarded, and even more meticulous in times of war. When entering the city, Kormit had to identify himself as a priest, otherwise he would not be able to explain why he was carrying a young man with his hands tied.

"He's a ...... Necromancer?" one of the guards asked in a low voice of curiosity, but quickly shook his head again, "No, you don't have to tell me that. ”

Kormit smiled and said nothing.

As he expected, Kellian had no intention of taking the money and leaving, but in the bustling city streets, he seemed very uncomfortable, almost unconsciously glaring at everyone who came towards him, and he didn't know whether he wanted to avoid unnecessary contact or find someone to bump into and scuffle.

This made Kormit, who didn't want to cause any extra trouble, nervous. finally arrived at his destination, and the closed doors and windows raised a new uneasiness in his heart.

He knocked nervously on the door, and a moment later, it opened.

When he saw Travis Ives' pale, gloomy face, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Travis glanced at him, then frowned at the three young men behind him.

"Don't touch anything!"

When he opened the door with a dark face and let them in, the owner who was not in a good mood sternly admonished him.

"Why didn't you reply to my message?" asked Kormit as soon as the door closed, "I thought something had happened to you!"

"Need I remind you again?" Travis said angrily, "I'm not a priest! I can't say a spell to get 'It's none of my business, don't come to me!' in your ear!"

"Don't do that, old friend. Kurmit sighed wearily, "I won't bother you if I don't really need your help." ”

Travis glared at him for a few more moments, and finally shook his head helplessly.

Travis Ives was a thin, middle-aged man, about the same height as Kormit, but his size was in stark proportions. After all, Comit was a blacksmith, and he was a craftsman who made a living restoring books.

From the hall, every corner of his house seemed to be stuffed with all sorts of books, some carefully tucked away in wooden boxes on the shelves, some casually piled up on the floor, leaving people with little place to stay.

"Go to the basement!"

Travis waved his arms and drove the three young men like ducks, "Stay there!

Duru looked at Kormit, Enoch sneered, and Kelion's fingers hooked the bowstring.

“...... I'll be coming to you right away. Kormit reluctantly added.

Duru nodded, nudged Enoch lightly, and walked down the steps, but Kellian glared at Travis for a few moments before walking away with a cold face.

Travis ushered Kormit into his small meeting room. It was the most normal room in the whole house, delicately furnished and comfortable, for those who were willing to spend a lot of money on repairing old books, or who came to him in search of some precious books to collect.

Kurmit thrust his stout body into a chair so comfortable that he barely wanted to stand up again, looked back at Travis, who was still standing by the door, and suddenly realized that the friend he had known for decades didn't look right.

Travis's face always had an unnatural paleness. This was normal for a guy who stayed in the house all year round and rarely went out, but at this moment, there was a certain expression on that pale face that Kormit had never seen on his face.

“...... What's going on?"

Kormit sat up straight with a sense of foreboding, "Have you heard anything?"

Travis of Balach was neither a priest nor a warrior, just an ordinary believer, but for decades, in addition to hiding his identity and taking charge of some necessary contacts in Balach, he had been immersed in various ancient texts to find proof of Nesses's existence, and at the same time wrote some small stories that circulated quietly—his existence was more important than that of a priest, and his news was far better than that of ordinary people.

“...... You really shouldn't be here, Comit Ansel. Travis looked at him with a twinkle in his eyes and replied softly, "You don't know what kind of enemy you're messing with." ”

As he jumped out of his chair, Kormit's heart sank—he thought of all the possibilities, the only thing he didn't expect was that even Travis could no longer be trusted.

He rushed to the door and tried to get out, but Travis dragged his arm with all his strength.

"It's too late to leave!" he yelled at him, pointing out the window, "They just want to take Enoch......"

Kormit glared at him fiercely, shook off his hand, and rushed to the basement.

At least Travis didn't want to hurt him...... This is somewhat of a consolation. But those who came to take Enoch didn't necessarily spare Duru and Karian.

He's led them into a trap - he hasn't even paid the balance to Kelion!.

(To be continued......)