The wind was getting colder and colder, and the sun began to recede helplessly. Ethan stood up, staggering to his feet. His body was already half drunk, but he could no longer feel the rare ease and comfort that he had before, for his consciousness would always involuntarily tighten to the extreme, as if it would be completely broken at the touch of a touch - Eli had at least succeeded in depriving him of his only enjoyment, and wondered if he would be happy about it.

...... No, he won't. He could only be angry that he wasn't dead or crazy, and now, I'm afraid even his mother was just as angry.

He lowered his head, the corners of his mouth hooked up self-deprecatingly, and let those dark emotions come in like a black tide.

He won't be swallowed up, just survive the short suffocation.

But another weight came over. Borena put his shoulders on his back...... also led him forward, staggering, and making them live like two drunks who had just come out of the tavern, and could fall to the ground at any time.

"Say," he asked him a serious question, "if I invite Behrin Greon to a meeting in Visa as the leader of Nighthawk, will the countess smash my head with their heirloom hammer?"

Serious, but stupid.

"He won't leave your brother behind. Do you want the little prince who lost his soul to appear in front of everyone?", Ethan Crooffler was able to answer even if he was unconscious, "if you have to invite him, why do you have to add a title to him? Who he is, who he represents, can be left to him to decide." ”

“...... That's right – I mean the part that comes after 'what if'. Sersio's soul was not lost, and he would wake up when he had slept enough. But if ......"

Stupid questions followed, the black tide was torn apart by the scattered reefs, and the archon had to straighten his back and slow down his pace in order not to be pressed down, but walked more steadily step by step.

The night chased after them...... But it doesn't matter if you get caught up.

No, there's still such a big moon.

.

Ed looked up at the moon, which was still full of energy, refusing to wait for the sun to set completely, and refusing to lose half a bit. Without the bells of Lockburg, he could not tell if night had come earlier, but he could accept the presence of the full moon more and more calmly...... He even felt that even the original moon seemed to accept the reality, not struggling, but not giving up, just calmly and self-care.

But to the average person, such a bright night sky is clearly still unsettling. The streets leading to the Temple of Anduch were not as desolate and silent as Tonbuch, but they were not as lively as they once were. It's not that the shops that are still open sporadically are not without business, but both the owners and customers look frightened and dazed, and all their movements unconsciously speed up a lot as the sky gradually darkens.

Most people don't know what kind of crisis the world is facing, but they don't get to it without knowing it.

Borena didn't use any lies to appease the Anktanians, and he didn't even try to curb the rumors too nervously, including those that had been deliberately unleashed. He just told them very scoundrelly, and he wasn't sure what was going on, but it was said that the situation in Lutgar was much worse, and their little king even had to give up the royal city built by his ancestors, and the whole royal family moved elsewhere, but the Lutgars were still holding on.

There is no collapse, no turmoil, and although it is uneasy, it is still trying to live.

The Anktan, who had never looked up to the "soft southerners," could not have behaved more uselessly than their neighbours! And these words, even if they reached Frederick's ears, were not a big deal—he was telling the truth, and he had greatly praised the courage and tenacity of the Rutgers, and if they had to deal seriously with him, they would have lacked the heart of a king in the face of all kinds of problems together.

Most people from noble backgrounds can't use such tricks, but Borena, who has dealt with all kinds of adventurers at the mouth of the Kuz River, uses it handily, and doesn't care about the cynicism of those nobles.

This is something that even Laval admires.

"I used to think that he would hardly be a worthy king," said the old man, "after all, he never concealed his attitude towards the crown, but he did what a king does, whatever method he may be...... And for someone in his position, it's never what he wants to do, it's what he does. ”

They walked very slowly, and their voices were lowered to speak. Ed felt that he was exhausted, but it was not good to treat him without permission, and besides, if the priests of Anduh failed to restore him, Ed suspected that he would not be able to do much.

But at the moment, to the eyes of the few pedestrians on the street, their slow steps seem to be almost relaxed. People always salute respectfully as they walk by—more respectfully than ever before.

The high priest's white robes were a symbol of hope and strength in the night...... But for himself, it may be a heavier burden than before.

Ed felt that the old man, who had not yet recovered his health, chose to appear after the chaos two days ago, perhaps for this reason - to alleviate the uneasiness that people had forced in their hearts, and to make those who were about to move more scruples.

As he climbed the steps of the temple of Anduhe, Laval did not refuse his support, nor did he hide his heavy breathing.

"I've ...... Lose my power. ”

Halfway up he suddenly spoke, "The demons told me it was because Anduhe had given up on me...... For I, as a high priest, have chosen to submit to them. ”

"You don't. Ed was convinced.

Laval laughed. He didn't really need anyone's affirmation, but the trust was still pleasant.

"They have a ...... Strange spells," he said, "were able to cut off the flow of magical power, like cutting off a river. ”

The old man struggled to speak, and then stopped slightly. His expression and tone were calm, as if he had accepted reality.

“...... Isis had been put on an iron ring that made his natural magical power inoperable, not even able to turn back into a dragon. Ed immediately remembered this: "That iron ring was taken down by Inglis, the archmage of the Distant Valley...... Maybe there will be some kind of records left in the Enshi Valley?"

Even if he was born in different worlds, he believed that spells with similar effects would always have something in common.