Meanwhile.

In an inn a few hundred meters from the "Heart of the Stars".

There was a lot of commotion in the hotel. The outbreak of war provided an ample supply of customers to the hotel. The people of Erios are not worried that the fighting will spread to the pure white city, but many parents of students choose to rest here because they want to pick up their children from school.

In the evening, a boy got into a confrontation with his mother in the lobby of the hotel. He had volunteered for the army, but his mother insisted on taking him back. In the end, it was the instructor of the academy who came forward to persuade the mother to dispel the idea of taking her son away.

Even so, the mother repeatedly asked the instructor not to send her son to the front line. In her eyes, it was enough for the kingdom of law to be guarded by powerful mages. It took a lot of words for the instructor to make the middle-aged woman understand that she could not influence the soldier's scheduling.

After the hiccup subsided, the people in the inn foyer began a discussion about whether it was worth sacrificing for the country. In the end, the controversy did not produce any results. In the dead of night, people dispersed and fell asleep.

……

In a small room on the second floor of the hotel.

John?? Goth sat in a shabby wooden chair. As a large merchant who remained in the territory of Elrios, he took over a "sale" to raise military supplies. At a time when the merchants of Elrios were already complaining, it was a blessing for Goth to be able to do business at market prices.

"Are these amounts okay?" Gothic handed a piece of parchment to the "military representative" sitting across from him, "I can receive 80 percent of the market price." ”

"We'll pay you the full amount of the gold," the "military representative" said in a hoarse voice, "and won't pay for it with silver or other supplies." ”

Goth frowned. The other party didn't seem to even look at his list and accepted it. The officer he had never seen before was dressed in a dirty white robe, an old man, and a wrinkled face that looked like tree bark.

"Aren't you taking a closer look?"

"No, I don't."

"If you're not eye-catching," Goth glanced around, "I can light a magic lamp for you." ”

The second-class room in the corner was dilapidated, except for a few rolls of bedding scattered on the floor, with only a rattan glove compartment, two chairs, a small square table, and an oil lamp resting on the table.

No one would have imagined that an important transaction involving the military of Errios would be carried out in such a place. Goethe also questioned this at the time, but the French officials replied...... This is for the sake of secrecy.

"No," said the man in an old-fashioned manner, "although he is old, his eyes are very good. ”

Goth was silent for a moment. He was hesitating.

"Is there anything else you're looking for me?"

"What do you think?"

"Actually, you're not very old, are you?"

The other party did not speak.

"You're not from the army," Goth's voice cooled, "who are you?" What did you come to see me pretending to be an officer? ”

The old man laughed.

"I didn't expect to be able to see through the camouflage below."

"Presumably you are a clever illusionist," Goth said, his contact eyes with "True Knowledge" attached, accurately piercing the other party's illusion disguise, "I don't understand why people like you ......"

Goth didn't want to trouble the girl. The two Blue Sky mage bodyguards he hired at a high price were hidden in the next room, keeping an eye on the room at all times.

"You're not worried, I'm here to assassinate you?" The "old man" let out a weird laugh.

"There are also a lot of forces that have come into contact with me in the past two days, and there is no one who wants to kill me without saying anything," Goth said coldly, "and ......"

"You think you're prepared. As long as I'm not Blue Ocean level, your two Blue Sky level bodyguards are enough to keep you safe? The old man said leisurely, "Do you think I'm not Blue Ocean Grade, because this is at the foot of the White City, and the enemies of the French Power Kingdom will never send a Blue Ocean Rank here to die?" ”

Goth's heart suddenly rose to his throat.

In his understanding, even if he encounters an enemy of a blue ocean level spellcaster, he can resist it for a while with the assistance of his bodyguards, who is full of magic items.

This place is only a kilometer away from the Solidar Academy, where the "Lord of the Galaxy" is located, and there are dragons and crouching tigers everywhere, and the enemy launches a surprise attack here, and I am afraid that there is no chance to open the portal space and escape.

But in case...... Is the enemy indeed a Blue Ocean High Mage who dares to take risks?

"Be at ease," said the old man, softly, "I am not Ocard's dead man. I have come here for my master. My master was very gracious, and he charged me to tell you all the truth you should know. ”

"You think I'll believe it?" Goth sneered.

"My master is not like your hypocritical secret warrior friend," said the old man, "and she has hidden many things from you for her own benefit. Poor thing, she doesn't know...... The inside story she knows is only a drop in the ocean compared to her master. ”

"Nonsense. You say you know many things, but you won't even say your own name? ”

"It's rude. Please allow me to introduce myself again," the old man said calmly, "My name is David??" Sahel. ”

"You're the Empire's most wanted criminal!" No matter how fearless Goth is, he can't help but show surprise, "The Imperial people have a reward of 1,000 gold coins for your head......"

Just kidding, this David?? Sahel is the No. 1 accomplice in the "Imperial Capital Attack" not long ago! This notorious criminal......

Sahel let out a low chuckle.

"That's a lot worse than your head."

"Huh?" Goth was a little confused. He originally wanted to send a secret signal to summon the bodyguard next door, but suddenly changed his mind.

"Your bounty in the underworld in the past is ten times greater. Countless bounty hunters, and even illegal mercenaries known as 'mage killers', dream of taking your life. It's a pity that they don't come back one by one. ”

"You're crazy. I never knew anything like that. ”

"That's because you erased your memories in order to hide your identity."

"What ridiculous joke are you talking about?" Goth said.

"You see, you're actually interested in this topic, aren't you?" Sahel said, capturing the hesitation in Goth's eyes, "Let's start at the beginning." Start with who you really are. ”

"My true identity?"

"John?? Alfred?? Goth," said Sahel, "Lord of the Black Floating City, sixth student of the great Palamedes, first day mage of the Dark World, 'the brightest star of the stars'." If I were faced with you in the past, then I would have to prepare for death from the moment I saw you. Even now...... You don't remember who you are, and I'm still going to be the most vigilant in front of you. After all, you're still the center of attention. ”

“……”

What nonsense, Goth thought. However, no matter how much he thought, he could not find the contradiction in Sahel's words for a while.

While it can't be true, the story ...... It's funny......

Sahel observed the change in Goth's expression.

"You think my words are ridiculous?" Master Sahel said.

Goth quickly recalled everything that had been going on recently. Especially the people who have come into contact with themselves on behalf of the major forces in the past few days: Renee who represents the hidden force "Hand of the Sea of Clouds", Victoria who represents the Empire, and ......

"The Butterfly of Hades says she is a pupil of Mr. Palamedes," Goth suddenly realized something, "and if you are right—she is my fellow disciple?" ”

"Exactly."

"There is no basis for words," said Goth, shaking his head at last, "I could make up ten similar stories." ”

"You can ask your Mystic Warrior friend, and she'll tell you something of the same — if she's willing to tell you. Now, let me tell you the ins and outs of things......"

"I have one more question. You've been 'master, master' since the beginning. Who is your master? ”

"My master's name is 'Emperor of the Eternal Night'. He was your teacher's first apprentice. As the preeminent 'First Black Apostle', he knows far more than the 'Butterfly of Hades', who only later joined Mr. Palamedus' command, and much more than your secret warrior friend. Sahel said.

Goth was silent. A sense of foreboding rose from his heart.

Maybe...... Sahel didn't deceive himself?

……

In the wee hours of the morning.

The two bodyguards who had been guarding next door for most of the night didn't hear anything. Later, they tried to burst into the room, but Goth came out unharmed. The young merchant didn't say anything and returned to his "Heart of the Stars" alone.

He had a lot of questions for the girl. But the girl is no longer in the store. On the table was a letter she had left behind, and on the envelope was neatly written "Enchanted" "Only by John?? Gothic opened" and "burned after reading".

"Victoria ......"

Victoria seemed to be in a hurry. In this long letter, Victoria apologizes for her "goodbye" and then makes good on her promise, briefly describing the reasons for her contact with her.

That is, the sixth black apostle, the "star of the stars" John?? Goth's story.

It's exactly the same as the wanted Sahel said.

"It's true." Goth muttered to himself.

.。 m.