The well-maintained door shaft does not make a single sound. Murray quietly stepped into the hotel's backyard and stood for a moment in the thick shadow of a silver bell flower.

It was late in the night, but there was still a faint sound of singing coming from the front yard of the hotel. Even in the midst of a city made of rock, the spirits of Stonebuch stubbornly maintained their habit of softly singing ancient songs in the quiet of the night, as if they were sitting in the woods of Grivar, bathed in starlight...... At least, no matter where you are, the eternal starlight is always the same, and this elf inn on the edge of the upper town is named "Starry Night".

Murray's familiar singing voice always brought some comfort, but tonight, the turmoil in his heart turned the soft and gentle singing into an unbearable noise.

He endured it and hurried back to his room. The inn was built by human craftsmen according to the design of the elves, and in addition to the hall, several spiraling staircases divided the dozens of rooms into five small buildings independent of each other, which looked like five flowers in bloom or budding from a distance, while his room, located on the smallest bud, was dark and quiet, and no one could set foot except him.

It was only in this space that belonged to him that he could completely relax. Murray almost rudely unbuckled his belt and threw his sword on the table, reaching for the candle.

Elves don't usually need that faint candlelight...... But tonight, he needs fire.

The flames that had just been lit trembled in the breeze passing through the window. Murray stared down at the flames for a moment, then slowly straightened up. The right hand landed on the table, seemingly casually, beside the hilt of the sword.

The next moment he drew his sword sharply and stabbed behind him, his long flaxen hair flying out as he quickly turned. The wind extinguished the candlelight. In the room that returned to darkness, another figure flashed by, spun in a circle against the tip of his sword, and nimbly dodged his attack.

He flipped his wrist, his sword clinging to his opponent's back.

No one said a word—even if the other had drawn their swords from their sheaths. The moonlight flows on a similar blade...... Elve-made weapons have softer and smoother textures that are different from those of humans and dwarves.

They attack and dodge each other in a space that is not very large. Didn't touch anything in the room - neither did they. All the moves were quickly retracted or turned into another blow by the time they realized they wouldn't have the effect they wanted, with the sound of the blade cutting through the air being the only accompaniment...... Then, they are completely still at the same time.

The long swords stand on each other's vital points. No one can move a single thing.

Moonlight poured in through the half-open window behind Murray, two steps in front of him, a pair of green eyes as bright as new leaves.

“...... Norvi Sunchaser. He said coldly, "You shouldn't be here." ”

Norway smiled. The moonlight rippled golden in his eyes. He ignored the sword that was still in his chest. He calmly withdrew his weapon, and asked casually, as if casually, "So, where am I supposed to be?"

- You should be at the edge of the forest in Grivar, trying to enter the home you should never go back to.

Murray was silent. According to what he had received, Norway and his red-haired girl had crossed the Vinez River this morning and headed for the forest...... But obviously, this elf, who was evaluated as "more human-like", had both human cunning and elven agility, and he should not underestimate him...... He never underestimated him.

He just hated him from the bottom of his heart. I hate that he's rightfully different. I hate him for being so frankly self-righteous...... The overly strong disgust broke his reserve, allowing sentences that could almost be described as vicious to blurt out without thinking.

"You should be dead. He said. There was a rare rush and resentment in his cold tone, "The gods are above, and because of their mercy, even elves like you can return to the place where our souls were born after death and find eternal peace...... You should be there, even if you don't deserve it at all. ”

Norway was stunned, and his smile quickly dimmed.

"I know we're not friends...... he seems to pause before continuing, "and I shouldn't be uninvited at such a time." But I thought we weren't enemies at least...... We have known each other for hundreds of years, and we have the same teacher...... What have I done to make you hate me so much?"

Murray stiffened his sword and turned his gaze to the side, speechless for a moment.

They have known each other for almost two hundred years. From the beginning, he hated the Sunstrider Elf for being overconfident...... is also too bright a smile, but he is also disgusted with the sadness and confusion that wells up in his eyes at this moment.

That caught him off guard. Elves are good at hiding their emotions and are happy to do so...... This guy in front of him will always be so frank and direct at some moment that he doesn't know how to deal with it.

“...... What are you doing with me?" he changed the subject stiffly in a hurry.

“...... I need some news. Novi quickly regained his composure.

"'News'?" Murray sneered, "I'm sure your human friends are much better informed than I am." From the forests of Grivar to the mines of the Black Rock Dwarves, from the barbarians' tents to any small island that Neo's sea ships could reach...... Is there any news that humans don't know?"

"Don't do that, Murray. Norway sighed under his breath, "We all know that only elves know best...... And Starry Night is never a simple hotel, and you are not just the owner of the hotel. ”

Murray did not deny it, and there is no need to deny it. Grivar has official emissaries stationed in Stonebutch, but the Starry Night Hotel, which has been in operation in the city for more than a hundred years, is the real center of information exchange. Elves aren't stupid...... Human beings are not stupid, this has long been a tacit secret to everyone.

"Even so, why should I tell you?" Murray turned to light the candle again, disgust and anger rekindled with the flames, "and when did you start caring about 'elf business'?"

“...... Because I believe in you. Norway replied softly, "I believe in your loyalty—I should have died, and it was the Silver Leaf King who left me standing here, and I wonder if he was really in trouble...... I wanted to know what I could do for him. ”

Murray was silent for a long time, and a small roll of paper fell silently into his palm, light and hot...... Like a spark he couldn't extinguish.

"It's impressive. His voice was hoarse, and he couldn't help but smile bitterly, "It's a pity...... You're his biggest problem. ”.

(To be continued.) )