Ed fell to the ground along with the overturned chair, and got up again to continue.

"I want to share it with you. He said, "I want to ...... I want your blessing. I've gotten a lot, I'm a lucky bastard, but I don't want to lose you for that. You say dragons are greedy by nature, and you say you're greedy...... Me too, Is...... Me too. ”

He is not only greedy, but also mean. He couldn't even wait to give Isis a little peace and acceptance, and he desperately needed to make sure he wouldn't lose his friend because of it.

He knew that this was by no means the best time, but if he hadn't taken advantage of the courage that was born in the midst of joy and excitement, he didn't know if he would have been so cheeky to say such things in the future.

“...... Sorry ......"

In the silence of Is, his voice grew lower and lower, and gradually fell to the ground. All the bubbles of joy burst into frustration and guilt, wrapped up in this stupid fish that had to be inches, and threw it into the oil pan and fried it black.

He stood there with his hands and feet shrunk, like a sinner awaiting a verdict.

It seemed to be a long, long time, so long that he almost dug a hole and buried himself in it, before he finally heard Is's voice.

"So, did she promise to marry you?" he asked.

Ed shook his head in amazement. That "well" was of course just the beginning, and there was still an extremely difficult journey to get to another, better beginning—not to mention the messy world that could well be finished, and Alan Caver alone was a mountain even more difficult to climb than the Giant's Spine.

"So, what do you want me to bless you?" asked Is, angrily, "Do you wish you success?"

"Also...... It's pretty good, too. Ed cautiously asked, "I need this ...... very much."

“......”

There was another long silence. Ed squirmed his toes as uneasily as he did when he was a child, not even daring to lift his head.

"If I really can't take it. "You were frozen into a lump last night when you fell into that lake. I can guarantee that if I wanted to, even you would be an eternal ice sculpture and never come back to life. ”

With a hint of hope, Ed stole a glance at him and nodded vigorously.

"But that's when you're defenseless. "...... And you really don't have any defense. So, lucky bastard......"

He stood up and tapped Ed's chest to make him look up.

"You'll be blessed by me, whenever you need it – if you don't worry about a dragon's blessing turning into a curse. ”

Ed shook his head desperately.

"But if you do something sorry for Naria......"

"You can freeze me into ice and throw it on a rock and smash it, or slap it on the ground and trample on it so that you can't pick it up, or eat it and turn it into poop. Ed didn't blink, "Although before that, I had probably been stabbed to death by Naria's sword, plus the two holes that Tess had filled. ”

The corners of Is's mouth curled, and he pulled it down again.

"It's good that you know. He bluffed and threatened with a calm face.

The panic that was stuffed in his chest finally dissipated. Ed opened his arms hopefully, smiling brightly and his eyes glowing.

"A hug?" he said.

He knew it was a bit unrealistic to expect Isse to say things like, "Of course you're my best friend, always will be...... So, just have a tacit hug.

He didn't actually expect him to get ...... Kois embraced him.

"Ed," he said in his ear, "we're going to win." ”

Even if it's just for yourself...... For a better future that seems within reach.

.

For several days on a back-to-back basis, it was a sunny day. Bertram sat on the steps facing the garden, enjoying the scent of osmanthus flowers that filled the garden, and tasted the good wine that had been transported thousands of miles away.

The wine from the north is as cold as the wind of his hometown, and as warm as the sunshine of his hometown.

On the other side of the garden, the shadows of the three young men could be faintly seen—two young men and a dragon. The inexplicable awkward atmosphere a few days ago has now become an intimacy and tacit understanding that is difficult for others to join, and there is a special meaning in the tacit understanding, which is more subtle than the wine in his bottle...... and wonderful.

"Young man......" he muttered as he sighed as a middle-aged man.

The dispute between young people did not deliberately avoid anyone, and a "middle-aged man" like Bertram could guess the approximate idea by hearing a few words sporadically. And now, when the younger people, who were closer to each other after the dispute, began to discuss more important issues, he thoughtfully moved a little farther away, and by the way, guarded the entrance...... It's like that shadowy elf in a corner out of nowhere.

Although the dragon had a keen sense of perception, it didn't have much experience. The few servants in the mansion, which the master did not frequent, were not as loyal and reliable as the servants of the Cloud Castle, although they all seemed to be honest, but Bertram did not intend to let Ed know about them...... The young man's hair was already gray, and there was no need to add to his troubles with such a trivial matter.

.

The gray-haired young man didn't actually try to turn himself back into black hair, but it was neither an injury nor a disease, but more like an irreversible exhaustion of aging. After a few failed attempts, Ed silently gave up - he feared that if he kept trying, he might be bald. What's more, since those who love him don't care, what else does he have to care about?

At this moment, he calmly held the gray hair on his head, and took a branch to write and draw on the ground.

"That's it. "I also found that story in 'Distant Mirror'...... Felicity should have had the same suspicions, and Brooke ...... His soul is most likely in hell. ”

Although that wasn't supposed to be his home.

The story in "Distant Mirror" is about a saint who voluntarily entered hell, and his strong will and devout faith allowed his soul to walk through the flames of hell and return to the realm of the gods. But what he went through in hell is unknown.

"I suspect Brooke can even somehow keep in touch with Icabird or Sean. "What's the point of him risking so much into hell otherwise?" said Ed, "if he can't tell the secret he has discovered." ”

He thought that if he went to Ikabard again now, the middle-aged priest might tell him something...... After all, he had proven that he was not so useless.

"Maybe you're not looking for the fat guy who never talks well. "Maybe someone...... Or some guy who is not human, knows more. ”