Before Bertram could reply, Terry tugged at his sleeve.

"That's Ed Singal. He said, his voice trembling slightly.

Bertram gave him a surprised look. The little mage, who had always been calm like a missing nerve, had an unprecedentedly red face, and his eyes were shining, and he was full of excitement that could not be mistaken for it...... and worship, as if he was not a barely handsome young man, but his lover who had reunited after a long absence...... Or an elder who has admired him for a long time.

Bertram felt a little uncomfortable. Of course he had heard of Ed's name, but why did this dumb-headed little mage who was picked up by him not even look at the supreme mage of the Grand Mage Tower, so why did he show such an expression to Ed, like a puppy who couldn't wait to pounce on him and beg for his head?!

“...... Have you seen him?" he couldn't help but ask.

Terry's expression was a little subtle. He thought about it again and again, and then replied with determination: "I have seen it in my dreams." ”

Bertram froze, wanting to laugh but couldn't—is his little mage brain-broken?!

“...... I'm Ed. Even Ed himself couldn't take it anymore, so he had to divert the subject, "Iss is my friend...... Did you find him?"

When he no longer tries to hide anything, his frankness has an irresistible force.

"Sorry, no. Bertram replied.

Seeing the disappointment in Ed's eyes, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

"But he should be fine. "He set a trap on the reef and froze a pirate ship." ”

He observed Ed's expression—dismay, then deeper worry.

- Something must have gone wrong with that dragon.

"I forgot to introduce myself," he smiled, "I'm Bertram...... Bertram Grayan. ”

He needs more trust. And his surname did make Ed react quickly after a moment of confusion.

“...... Hammer Grean!" His eyes lit up, "You're Behring's brother?"

"Yes. Bertram nodded, "We met Isis in Booty Bay a few months ago, and he helped us reclaim the Unicorn from the Blacksail Pirates. You should know Rosa Latus and Cethiana? They were there at the time. ”

"I don't know. Ed was a little stunned, "He didn't tell me anything. ”

"He was very badly wounded. "I don't think he wants you to worry." ”

Ed grinned.

"No, I don't. "He probably just felt that it was too humiliating to deal with a bunch of pirates and get hurt." ”

Bertram laughed heartily, and the faint estrangement and even hostility that had existed before vanished.

Stobel looked at Ed, a little speechless—he didn't think Bertram's men were enemies, but the young man ...... Do you believe everything people say?!

.

Terry ripped the scale from Dab Stray's neck and held it in front of Ed with both hands, his eyes still shining.

"Uh......" Flattered Ed felt uncomfortable, so he had to smile at the little mage who looked younger than him, "Thank you." ”

Terry took a deep breath and carefully placed the dragon scales in his hand, shaking his head vigorously, his eyes red.

Ed felt as if he was about to cry.

He turned his attention to Bertram for help. Bertram lifted the little mage away with a stiff face, and explained with some embarrassment: "He's a little dumbfounded...... He wasn't like that before. ”

But apparently, Terry didn't want to tell them the real reason.

The little mage who was brought to the side crouched down, a little frustrated, but he didn't plan to leave. Ed looked at him and his heart moved—he liked to squat like that, too...... This little mage can't be some illegitimate son of River, it's his younger brother he's never met, right?!

Once this idea is born, even if there are all kinds of unreasonable places, it is like a worm net stuck to a dead branch, and it cannot be shaken off.

He froze, turning his attention back to the dragon scales in his palm. The scales were cold, bright and smooth, beautiful, but they frightened him. The scales of the ice dragon are very strong and by no means easy to fall off...... How badly had he been wounded, but he didn't tell him or Nalya a word.

“...... Stre must have relied on this scale to find here. Bertram saw that he was in a daze again, and couldn't help but remind.

Ed nodded. He knew about the spell, but since what Stray had found was just a trap, the spell had clearly been misled. It's just that......

"IMHO, trap or something, Is...... Your friend doesn't look like someone with such a heart...... Dragon. ”

Ed smiled wryly and nodded again.

“...... What had happened to him?" Bertram looked directly at him.

"I don't know. Ed lowered his eyes, "It's just...... If you guys run into him, you'd better be careful. ”

He may not be the one you know anymore.

Bertram scratched his beard and was silent for a few moments.

"I know a friend. "Sometimes he becomes like a different person, but as long as he knows who he is and why he is the way he is, try to accept it instead of rejecting it, but he can control himself better." ”

The "friend" walked behind them, deliberately aggravating her footsteps to express her displeasure.

Bertram turned a deaf ear.

"Maybe he forgets sometimes. "But that's okay, his friends will be there for him...... They will remind him. ”

He's got that thick skin.

Ed smiled.

"I'll find him. He said.

"We. Bertram corrected, "We'll find him." Although he refused to admit it and fled quickly, everyone on the Unicorn had already regarded him as a friend. ”

Ed blinked. He's glad that Iss had more friends when he didn't know it...... Although there is an undeniably sour corner of my heart, I am still happy in the end. But for now, he can only draw a line with these new friends for the time being, at least on the surface.

"My father was kidnapped by Black Sails. He explained to Bertram, "I can't those pirates until I rescue him." ”

He deliberately glanced at Terry more, but the little mage looked dazed.

“...... Do you have a father?"

Before Bertram could speak, Terry blurted out.

Bertram choked on his own saliva, and Ed darkened his face slightly.

- Without a father, where did he come from?!

The possibility of an "illegitimate child" was shattered in an instant. Ed jumped up uncontrollably and hurriedly said to Bertram, "Lend him for a while!"

He grabbed the little mage, who had finally reacted, and dragged him to the other side of the deck.

"Who the hell are you?" he asked.