Woo, woo, woo!

At the sound of three successive rapid horns, the huge and bloated convoy immediately panicked, and the civilians and wealthy businessmen in the convoy looked behind them in horror.

The only thing to be thankful for is that the knights who rode fast on both sides of the convoy quickly suppressed this panic.

After the men quickly followed the knights' command and turned the convoy into a simple fortification, the woman fell to her knees with her children and prayed to the gods she believed in.

The men, on the other hand, took up arms and acted as the last dike.

The sound of prayer soon spread throughout the convoy.

The panic quickly disappeared.

All that's left is calm and anticipation.

People firmly believe that their gods will not abandon them.

It's like taking them out of Navia in the first place.

This time, they won't be disappointed either!

Faith is such a wonderful thing.

It will always obscure something that can be seen, but not want to believe, but not everyone can rely on faith to 'survive'.

At least not Aterina.

From the moment she was able to plot the theft of the 'Holy Grail of Thorns' for the sake of her priestly position, this lady's faith can be imagined.

She looked at the back of the convoy with a sad face.

The knights accompanying the various temples had already gone to meet the enemy, but she did not feel the slightest sense of joy.

Because, she knew very well, this was just an omen.

An omen of being chased by a convoy of monsters and launching a series of attacks.

Even, she can imagine what the entire team will look like like being eaten away step by step.

"Erin, are you alright?"

"Did you think of it again...... He? ”

"Don't worry, he'll be fine."

Lilith looked at her friend worriedly.

Edrina's expression obviously made the priest of the Temple of Love have a certain misunderstanding, and in the face of such a misunderstanding, Aetrina did not explain.

After all, that's what she's supposed to be right now.

Without the man's support, the only thing she could hold on to was the legacy that the man left behind, and doing so would at least make her better off in the days to come, knowing that the other party was one of the few people who could take the initiative to stay against the 'Devourer'.

Moreover, it is the strongest one.

The sword that seemed to be about to cut through the sky, even if I think about it now, was enough to shock everyone.

If it weren't for that sword, the outcome of that battle would have been reversed.

They?

Don't say you escaped.

Death will be a gift.

Pity......

The man who was able to cut out such a sword died.

Edrina still can't figure out the other party's choice.

"There's a chance to leave."

"But it's going to fight."

"Sure enough, when the men are hot-blooded, are they just a bunch of fools?"

Aterina muttered softly to herself.

"Lord Ryan is not a fool."

"Yes......"

"Hero!"

Lilith heard this whisper to herself, and she emphasized.

However, the voice is soft.

She didn't want to rub salt in her friend's wound anymore.

Edrina looked at Lilith and shook her head, for this girl she could befriend, she knew very well that the other party was innocent in some aspects, otherwise she would not have become a disciple of the high priest of the Temple of Love, but it was doomed that she would not be able to tell the other party the truth about some things.

But even if it's talking......

I'm afraid no one believes it, right?

Etrina looked at the people around her, and they all looked at her with respect.

It didn't come from herself.

It's because of the man.

"The monster has been repulsed!"

"The monster has been repulsed!"

The cheers swept away the solemn atmosphere of the convoy.

Atelina and Lilith breathed a sigh of relief, but immediately, Atelina's face sank.

She saw many wounded knights.

More than she had guessed.

More than that are those who have died in battle.

Without any hesitation, Edrina picked up the medicine box that had been prepared long ago and walked towards the wounded knights.

Having that man's legacy doesn't mean it's all right.

There are some things that she still needs to work on.

Lilith, on the other hand, is much simpler.

The priest of the Temple of Love only hoped that no more people would die.

After the war, the work was in order, and the meeting in the carriage continued again.

"The enemy is strong."

"Only knight-level people can inflict damage on them."

The High Priest of the Temple of War was the first to speak.

He looked at the Temple of Thorns, the High Priest of the Temple of the Hunters.

The topic seems to be a bit off-topic.

But it is an implicit warning: in the face of such an enemy, parting ways is definitely not the best choice.

"The oracle cannot be disobeyed."

The High Priest of the Hunter Temple said in a deep voice.

"The tribulations of fate are like thorns, but we need to ...... Slash the thorns! ”

"I'm sure Lady Vanessa can't be wrong!"

Edson insisted, too.

Faith has long been ingrained!

The choice is inevitable!

"May you all ...... Peaceful. ”

The High Priest of the Harvest Temple stood up and addressed everyone present.

"Peace be upon you."

After everyone looked at each other, they said goodbye.

Not only as an old friend, but also as a blessing.

Because, they each know very well in their hearts that after this time, it will be difficult to see each other.

Edson sighed and stepped out of the carriage.

The new, older High Priest adjusted his mindset and summoned all those who belonged to the Temple of Thorns.

"We're going north."

"Go and inform the believers of Lady Vanessa that they will be tested by fate again."

Edson whispered.

"Others don't walk with us?"

Aterina was taken aback.

"Except for the Temple of Love and the Temple of Music, who walk with us, the rest ......"

"They all have their own directions."

"It's not something we can stop."

"It's like they didn't stop us – if you want to say goodbye, please hurry, we're running out of time."

Edson said.

Looking at the worried crowd around him, the old priest couldn't help but sigh again.

He regrets it now.

If he had insisted on it a little longer, he had chosen to stay, and let Ryan lead this team, I'm afraid the situation would have been many times better, right?

At least, the morale of the people around them won't be so low.

Nor will I worry about being chased by monsters.

Ryan's strength is enough to make those monsters fearful!

And he?

Now it's not as good as an ordinary knight.

What could he have done without Lady Vanessa's support?

The chaotic thoughts in his heart made the old priest more and more melancholy.

And such melancholy could not be expressed, when the whole team was divided into three, he looked at the smallest team belonging to his own team among the three teams, and couldn't help but take a breath.

"North!"

"All the way north!"

"Let's go!"

No more words of encouragement.

Those who can join this team don't need such encouragement.

It was a little less than expected, but Edson was in no mood to pursue those who had temporarily converted his faith.

All he has to do is take responsibility for those behind him.

Sitting in the carriage, Edson unfolded a cowhide map that had been given to him by the Thorn Lady when he left Navia.

It depicts the location of the hidden temple.

and the dangers you may encounter along the way.

"The Outpost of Aiya, the Plains of Yot, the Smako Hills, the Valley of Wyess, the Ranges of Linya."

With the movement of Edson's fingers, he pronounced the names of places that Lady Thorns had marked and needed attention, and then shouted outside.

"Eileen?"

"What's the matter, High Priest?"

Edrina stepped into the carriage.

"How many people do we have now who can directly participate in the battle?"

Edson asked.

"Including those who accompanied us, who had gone through previous battles, no more than 300 people."

"I haven't counted the temples of love and music."

Edrina replied.

With the deeds of the 'hero' Ryan, Edrina, who already had a certain status in the Temple of Thorns, has skyrocketed in this team.

To put it simply, with the exception of High Priest Edson, Edrina has become the second-in-command in the ranks of the Temple of Thorns.

And for Atelena, the 'lover' of the 'hero' Lane, Edson is also unusually convinced.

So, without any cover-up, he put the cowhide map in front of Etrina.

"What is this?"

Atelina was stunned for a moment, then reacted, her face changed, and when she had read the entire map, her face became even more solemn.

"The nearest Aya outpost to us could be our temporary camp."

"But the Yote Plains after ......"

With that, Etrina looked at Edson.

From the time he left the Aya outpost and entered the Yote Plain, he was already officially out of the confines of Navia City, compared to the 'completeness' of Navia City, there were not only dozens of lords in the Yote Plain, but also the terrain was gentle and extremely long, and it would take about four weeks for a normal caravan to pass through this area without any accidents, and at the speed of their convoy, it would take at least five to six weeks.

That's long enough time for the monsters behind them to eat their entire convoy.

And if you want to buy enough time, you need to build a defense line at Aya's outpost to stop the monsters in their tracks.

Or more accurately, to delay the monsters' footsteps with their bodies, to satisfy their appetites, and to buy more time for the evacuated army.

More concisely...... Abandoned son.

This is evident as more and more monsters gather.

The loss of the Aya outpost was inevitable.

Once lost, what the result will be, Edrina and Edson know it.

So, who will be this outcast?

"Erin, do you have any ideas?"

Edson asked.

Long enough age for Edson to have enough life experience, but no matter how much life experience he has, he is helpless for the current situation.

Whoever stays is killed.

As Edson with a 'butcher knife' in his hand, it was difficult for him to choose.

So, he would like to hear more.

However, the next scene surprised Edson.

"I'll stay!"

Edrina said categorically.

"Erin, don't get me wrong."

"I brought you here to discuss, not ......"

"I know!"

"But is there a better person than me?"

"Staying here is a life of death, and there is no one who is suitable for the status, and it is impossible to convince the public, even if it has the brilliance of Lady Vanessa!"

"And in this team, besides you, it's me."

"But you'll need to lead the whole team to the Northlands."

"Well, I'm the right person."

Edrina interrupted Edson's words, and she said with a straight face.

Edson looked at Atelina for a long time and didn't speak.

Finally, the old man sighed again.

"Is it because of ...... Ryan? ”

Edson asked softly.

Aterina shook her body and did not speak, but the sadness on her face could not be concealed.

"Ryan ...... with you"

"I respect your choice."

Edson tried to comfort Aterina, but after the words came out, he realized that there was nothing to say.

Between life and death.

Any description is an understatement.

Just like the death of the former High Priest of Slotu and the High Priest of Barry, Ryan and he inherited the positions of High Priest and Chief Priest respectively.

Then, Ryan chose to stay, and the high priest's position was inherited by him, the chief priest.

Can......

The burden is too heavy.

He couldn't breathe.

Even, when he thought of the death of the 'lovers' of Ryan and Edrina, he felt a heavy heartache.

Edrina left the carriage.

In the empty carriage, Edson fell to one knee.

He prayed for the 'lovers'.

"The road full of thorns is your test."

"Painful flesh. body, bringing the sublime soul. ”

"When you appear, everything will be in the favor of fate."

"May the song of the thorn bird never cease."

The thorn bird sings only once in its life.

At the time of its death.

From the moment he left the nest, he was obsessed with looking for the thorn tree.

When it got its wish, it plunged its petite body into one of the longest, sharpest thorns, and sang with tears of blood and tears—the poignant and graceful singing voice that eclipsed all the sounds of the world in an instant!

At the end of the song, the thorn bird finally died of exhaustion and died of martyrdom.

How Edson hoped that such an ending would change.

At least

At least

At least......

Don't be so lonely.

Edson, who had something in mind, began to pick up the quill and write something in the carriage.

Outside the carriage, there was a hint of hesitation in Aterina's eyes.

She would never do such a thing after breaking it off for others.

What she wants is to use the entire team as bait in exchange for a glimmer of life.

There's nothing wrong with that!

She told herself.

But the feeling of guilt involuntarily arises.

Moreover, as the Aya outpost got closer and closer, this guilt became more and more intense.

As the entire convoy entered Aya's outpost to recuperate, guilt nearly overwhelmed her as the convoy looked at her with respect.

"Sister Eileen...... Thank you. ”

"I finally know why Ryan chose you."

Just before dawn, a moment before the convoy departed, after resting for the middle of the night, Lilith found Aterina.

The priestess of the Temple of Love handed Etrina the 'amulet' she had woven overnight and sent her most sincere wishes.

After taking it, the 'amulet' made of three-color silk Etrina subconsciously wanted to say something, but before the words could be spoken, she was forced to swallow back.

I'm just trying to survive.

I'm sorry.

With such apologies in her heart, Etrina watched the convoy leave, and when the convoy almost disappeared, the priestess of the Temple of Thorns turned her head to look in the direction of the city of Navia behind her.

It was as if she wanted to say goodbye to the past.

But!

The next moment!

Her eyes widened!

A black line appeared on the horizon!

A black line made entirely of pitch-black monsters!

Like waves in the sea, rushing towards the Aya outpost where she was!