As the tip of the knife pulled a trail of blood on his face, Fili Zeri bared his teeth and cursed lowly.

The half-shaved face in the mirror was ridiculous, and if he had just walked out like that, he wouldn't have frightened the delicate and timid ladies of the palace again, would he?

He wasn't deliberately unkempt, he just didn't remember to take care of it. Especially lately, even a good night's sleep has become a luxury, and how can he care if his beard has grown like a dwarf? If it weren't for the fact that he was taken for a ghost of Lockburg during his night patrols, and received a basin of cold water and a scream piercing his eardrums, he would not be in the mood to take care of it.

Yes, the ghosts of Lockburg...... The illusion of its existence has become the most terrible nightmare in Lockburg, and even the king wakes up in the middle of the night screaming. The vague legends grew more and more intrigued, and the people in the castle were terrified, with almost half of the people claiming to have seen the ghost, or heard him roar or laugh. Even the unseasonable withering of lupins under the stairs would be considered the work of ghosts, and there was no need for a gardener to come up with any other reason to pass the buck.

Moira had to dispose of a few people to prevent the rumors from spreading. Garter Carlos caught an unlucky thief who tried to fish in troubled waters, claiming that he was the one who killed Leohard Bofford at the king's coronation and was being taken as a ghost by hiding in the palace, and simply beheaded him.

After that, on the surface, the rumors seemed to have died down. But everyone knows that the shadow of the ghost has not left Lockburg...... It is also impossible to leave.

No one dares to say that name, everyone knows who it is. If that's really a ghost. He is also more likely to be hidden in everyone's heart, as long as people remember his name and remember his death...... He won't leave.

Even the Paladins didn't know how to deal with such an enemy.

Fili turned his head in frustration and tugged at his neck to examine his wounds, wondering whether to use the healing power of the goddess in such a ridiculous place, when there was a knock on the door.

"What?!"

Filly yelled impatiently.

The knock on the door paused for a moment, then cautiously sounded again.

"Your Excellency?" someone shouted timidly outside the door. "Lord Carlos has something important to do......"

Filly strode over and pulled the door open.

The guard in front of him looked apprehensive, his gaze unconsciously slid over his beard. was clearly stunned for a moment, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

――Very good.

Feely thought a little weakly, and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Yes!" the guard came back to his senses, "Lord Carlos has discovered a secret passage!"

Filly laughed dryly.

-- This is nothing new. Master Carlos discovers new passages every day.

Gard Carlos spends almost all of his time searching for secret passages in Lockburg. This castle, which belonged to the royal family, was between the walls. Beneath the ground, there is almost another world hidden. The thought of a person being able to walk through every corner in the dark without being noticed is chilling.

That unlucky thief was caught by Gard in the secret passage. He was obviously not familiar with the world, and was half starved to death when he was captured, and had no power to resist at all.

But this small discovery seems to have inspired the young knights who had begun to get bored. In order to find an entrance, he even began to chisel through a wall.

"He found a ...... Place. The guard hesitated to choose his words, "He said you might be interested in checking it out." ”

Fili raised an eyebrow - it was fresh.

The entrance to the secret passage was under the tapestry behind the throne of the Pomegranate Room—and Philip had nothing to say about it.

He knew that any dynasty was built on all sorts of dark secrets, but set up secret passages directly behind the throne...... This kind of justifiably sneaky. It's breathtaking.

Unlike the winding passages that Gard had discovered before, this one went straight down. It seemed to lead directly to a specific place, and was wide enough for two people to walk side by side.

Halfway through, Filly slowed down. The torches illuminate the strange symbols on the walls, carved into the stone bricks, in a seemingly irregular but even more eerie way.

“...... Lord Carlos didn't touch anything, did he?" asked Fili, a little uneasy.

He didn't recognize the symbols. It could be part of Lockburg's protective circle...... It's also possible that something worse.

The guard hesitated for a moment before whispering, "Your Excellency smashed open a door...... Because I couldn't find the mechanism to open the door. ”

Fili couldn't help but shake his head. The reckless guy didn't run into any traps, and he was lucky.

They soon came to the smashed door, which had been cleared of debris on both sides, and what seemed to be a small chamber lit by the firelight, and as soon as Filly entered, several of the guards silently made way for him - and a strange circular pattern appeared in front of him.

Garder, who was standing in front of the pattern, nodded back at him casually, looking a little strange, apparently unaware of his unevenly shaved beard. Fili walked up to him, and his heart skipped a heavy beat as he saw the pattern.

It wasn't some kind of decorative carving...... Rather, it is a few runes that are looped together. The sleek lines make this little circle look almost like some kind of work of art, but it makes people feel ominous. Especially the patches of dark brown marks that are applied to it...... Even under the dust, a human figure in the middle was faintly visible.

"What do you think this is?" asked Gard, his voice unconsciously much lower than usual.

“...... It's hard to say. Fili replied, but felt like a cold snake crawling on his back, and his heart was beating as heavy as a drum, "...... But it doesn't look like a good thing. ”

He wasn't lying...... But he could guess what it was. Judging by the way Gard looked at him, the young knight had the same guess, but no one wanted to say it.

"Why don't you just smash it?" suggested Gard.

“...... Forget it. "Don't touch it," Filly said...... It's better to close the door again. ”

Guardian nodded, not saying anything more.

Fili's throat was dry, and he hurriedly glanced around a few more times before quickly leaving. He had to find someone...... He thought that was why the Gard had called him in purpose.

"You know there's a secret passage behind the throne in Pomegranate Hall, right?"

Filly burst into the temple, slammed Scott's door open, and asked

Scott looked at him in silence, did not speak for a long time, and looked very calm, as if he had expected this moment...... But Filly saw in his pale blue eyes something he had never seen in Scott Christus's eyes—fear.

“...... You know. Filly sighed, "I'm going to smash the damn thing!"

"Wait. Scott opened his mouth to stop him, "Can't smash it...... It was part of Lockburg's magical protection, and its power was connected to the Triple Tower, and no one knew what the consequences would be if they smashed it. ”

“...... Goddess above, what kind of cursed castle is this!" Fili waved his hand angrily, "It would be hellish if it wasn't haunted!"

"In fact, it can't be haunted. Scott said, "A soul detached from the body cannot stay there." ”

“...... You know I didn't mean that. ”

“...... In short, leave it alone. ”

Filly opened his mouth and closed it again. He had a thousand questions to ask, but he couldn't answer a single one--did Scott know it existed when he gave the damn map to Ante, how did Ante know how to use it, which demon did he sacrifice Scott to...... After all, what was the power that gave them the final victory and put Ante on the throne?......

"Tell me, you won't know where that 'ghost' is hiding, will you?" he finally asked helplessly, "Or, tell me anything useful?"

“...... I don't know anything that would be 'useful' to you. Scott replied vaguely, "You...... Better be a little more careful. ”

Fili glared at him in exasperation for a long time and shook his head.

"You weren't so secretive before. He complained.

Scott smiled wryly.

"I never died. He said.

Fili left with a stomach full of resentment that he couldn't vent. That "wait and see, I'll figure this whole thing out" look made Scott a little worried that he would be too impulsive...... But Fili Zeri has survived by more than luck - maybe it's time for him to stop worrying about it.

He heard Filly's footsteps linger outside Sean Fletcher's room for a moment, but he didn't disturb the old man, who had not yet recovered, and deliberately slowed down as he left.

He was sure Sean could hear the same voice. If he wants, he can stop Filly. The paladin who had always respected Sean would still do anything for him...... But he didn't.

Scott hesitated, knocked on Sean's door, and received an immediate response.

"Come in. ”

Sean's voice was deep and clear, not powerful, but still full of momentum.

Pushing open the door, the picture in sight was not imposing - Sean was wrapped in a thick blanket and curled up in a chair, still thin as a corpse, staring at the white leopard squatting in front of him with interest, looking like he wanted to reach out and scratch a few handfuls.

"Maybe you're better suited to be a Ranger than a Paladin. Sean glanced at Scott casually, "I didn't know you were so popular with animals. ”

Scott smiled wryly again. This stubborn old man is not ignorant...... still refuses to admit that he is no longer a paladin, and refuses to admit that whether it is Isis or Xiaobai, he is by no means just an "animal".

"Sean...... I have something to discuss with you. He said.

(To be continued......)