The flames came and went, leaving only a dull sound in the air. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

The ice dragon remained in a position of raising its wings, standing in place in confusion. Ed flicked his scorched hair in horror - he narrowly escaped Naria and the little mongoose in her arms.

Tess breathed a sigh of relief, but her eyes darkened, not knowing if it was because of the brighter and brighter light here, or because she was starting to find it a little difficult to breathe.

“...... I'm only a little bit late!"

Nia complained loudly and ran down the stairs, "What have you done? What have you done? The tower is going to collapse!"

Ankelan turned his head and stared at the little thief with interest.

“...... Why are you looking at me like that?" Nia took a wary step back, "though I occasionally wear a dress...... But I'm not going to marry you!"

No one could laugh.

Ankelan faintly withdrew his gaze and pulled Tess back two steps.

"You're right. He said, "The tower is going to collapse." ”

The flames instantly dried the blood stains all over the ground, and the charred blood clots turned into ashes one by one, and under the bloodstains, the huge, seemingly indestructible red gem was full of cracks at some point. The cracks spread like cobwebs, making small cracking sounds, and there was a dead silence, each one thrilling.

For a moment, no one reacted, just stunned, as if unable to comprehend the fact that the three-storied pagoda would fall, which they had been told since childhood that it would never happen.

Moreover, this space, which is the base of the tower, does not seem to shake much...... Only the light flickered more and more wildly, as if it were some ominous omen.

The ice dragon let out a low growl of unease—it felt a slight tremor before its strength collapsed.

“...... Run!"

Nia grabbed Naria and tried to run away, but was dragged back by a hand.

"No!" Ed's face turned pale, "The Triple Pagoda can't fall!"

At least not now...... No matter which way the tower falls, the unprepared will suffer countless casualties.

"Tell me what to do!" he yelled at the thief.

Nia stared back with round eyes and roared back: "I don't know everything when I said it!"

Ed involuntarily looked at Ankland, who just looked back at him calmly, clearly not intending to help.

“...... Do you want to be buried here together?"

Tess whispered in exasperation, feeling a slight sense of remorse.

Ankelan smiled at her, and Tess understood—"Impossible. ”

Of course he had a way to get out of here, and probably took Tess with him, who he had been refusing to let go. But the others, he doesn't take to heart.

Naturally, Ed can get out of here...... They all had enough time and ability to leave, but they couldn't just run away.

Unlike her, they never put too much responsibility on their shoulders.

Tess stomped her foot harder and more with increasing regret.

"Can't you replace this broken stone!" she cried out, "if it's broken, replace it!"

She knew it was a strong argument...... But if she didn't say something, she would be crushed by guilt.

"Can I change it?"

Ed, who had unconsciously squatted down in his agitation, jumped up again, something flashed in his eyes, and there was a kind of ecstasy that Tessy suspected that he had burned out his brain, and answered his own question: "...... It can be exchanged!"

"What do you get in exchange?" Nia, pouring a scoop of cold water and holding up a green gem the size of a pigeon's egg, "The biggest one on me is only that big!"

Tess felt ...... That gem is a little familiar.

Ed, however, had already lunged down, reaching out hopefully to the ice dragon.

"Do you have it?" he asked.

The ice dragon narrowed his eyes and muttered in exasperation.

A dark blue gem smashed into Ed's arms. It's still not big enough, but when it streaks through the air like a meteor, no one doubts the power that lies within. It looks like a corner of the clear summer night sky, and it looks like the sparkling deep sea, in which the light of countless stars flows, mysterious and bright.

Heart of the Deep.

“...... Where the hell are you putting it?"

Nia asked curiously.

Probably only he, at such a time, still has the leisure to pay attention to such inconsequential issues.

Tess watched in amazement as Ed scrambled to uncover the shards of the red gem that had seemed sacred a moment before—they were as dim as burnt glass.

She thought it was a little incredible...... It's incredible. When she turned her head, she even saw the same look of surprise on Ankeland's face.

Well, how could magic be such a random thing? It was nothing like what she had heard. The strict rules, the precise calculations, the equivalent exchange that the mages are always talking about...... Are they all liars?!

However, in addition to the surprise, there was a faint hope in her heart - this was Ed. Ed Singal himself is an anomaly, like his friend...... Like the ice dragon beside him that neither laughed nor stopped, but just watched him quietly.

Without hesitation, Ed pressed the Heart of the Deep into its original hollow. His expression was calm and focused, as if he was sure that it would work.

And when he opened his mouth and said the incantation...... Tess couldn't help but believe it.

It wasn't like any kind of spell she'd ever heard—it wasn't like any language she'd ever heard. Even if she couldn't understand any of the syllables, she could feel an indescribable pressure, like a flame that had just disappeared, filling the entire space, giving her a sense of awe that she had never felt before.

The spell was short, so short that she was a little stunned. When silence returned, Ed remained on his knees. Thin blue runes seeped out of the gem and crept up his right hand like silk, binding him in it like a net. For a moment, Tess felt as if he was being ...... by the Heart of the Deep Ingested by this tower, it became its real, living cornerstone, and could no longer break free.

Naria let out a low exclamation. Tess, who was closer, couldn't help but take a step forward, only to be pulled back by Anklan.

"He can't be interrupted. He said.

The ice dragon lowered its wings and stared at Ed, its muscles tensing under the scales. Once Ed is really in any danger, Tess suspects it won't care about any "can'ts...... Even if the three-storied pagoda would fall on their heads in an instant.

But the runes faded beneath the skin. The light and mist that had been as still in the air as dust and sand flowed slowly again, as gentle as the water in the forest.

Ed looked up and let out a long breath.

“...... Congratulations. Anclan began, "You've become the master of the three-storied tower. ”

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