“…… It's a pity. Azrika, the warden, said quietly. Then she thought for a moment, and then continued, "Originally, I was sure that this year's academy representative swordsman would be the two of you. ”

"That's what I was going to do." He really couldn't say anything like Yi Yan, and his left eye had already begun to heat up slightly, so Yugeo hurriedly raised his face.

In May, the sky was washed away by last night's rainstorm, and there was not a single cloud in sight. Countless small birds perch on the branches of trees that have just grown tender green leaves. On a day like this, a nap on the lawn of the central plaza would probably be in a good mood - but the Eugeo will never take a nap in the academy again.

The two of them spent the last night in the gate behind them, that is, in the underground punishment room of the Sword Cultivation Academy's management building. The rooms, which had hardly been used since the school's founding, were cleaned, and the beds were in the style of elementary practitioners, but Eugeo still couldn't close his eyes all night.

Although Yi Yan worked hard all night to heal Yugeo's right eye through divine magic, it was already difficult to plug the wound without a catalyst, and it was even more difficult to regenerate his organs. It is also unclear why the right eye, which has not been injured from the outside, is broken. After trying various techniques, the divine power of the surrounding space had been exhausted, and even Yi Yan, who didn't know how to give up, could only let go of this idea for a while.

After daybreak, the morning sun entered through the narrow window**, and with the sound of the clock at nine o'clock in the morning, the lock of the punishment chamber was also opened. I thought it would be the Imperial Guards who would come to take the two away, but surprisingly, standing on the other side of the door was Teacher Azrika from the junior trainer's dormitory.

It made people feel that there was a twenty-seven or eighteen-year-old female instructor, and the corners of her mouth softened slightly after hearing Yi Yan's words, and then she looked at Yougeo. The blue-gray eyes reminiscent of polished blades made Yugeo nervous when he thought of Azalia, the nun of Loulid's village, but now he didn't look away, just looked at the warden.

Ashrika wanted to say something, but immediately shut her mouth and took something out of her jacket pocket. It was a small pale green orb, which looked like a glass ornament but was not, but was the crystallization of divine power gathered from the four sacred flowers cultivated in the academy's flower beds.

Without hesitation, the fingertips of the warden's left hand twisted the precious catalyst that had been removed. With a light sound, glittering particles flew through the air. She then pointed to Eugeo's right eye and began chanting, "System Call. Generate Luminous Element……”

The high-speed chanting of subject teachers far beyond the divine arts. While Ugeo and Yi Yan were standing there, the complex multiple surgeries had been fluently combined, condensing into a warm light at the wound on Ugeo's right eye—

"Open your eyes." The last whisper heard made Yugeo's right eyelid, which had been closed for sixteen hours, tremble. Then, vision on the right side returned as if it were taken for granted, and Eugeo let out a sigh of surprise and exclamation. After looking around a few times, he noticed the situation and lowered his head deeply, "No, thank you very much, Teacher Azrika." ”

"It doesn't matter. Compare this ...... The swordsman of Yugio, and the swordsman of Yi Yan. There is one more thing to say before handing you over to those who have come to meet you. After saying this quietly, Azrika showed a rare hesitant expression, and then placed his right hand on Yi Yan's shoulder, and his left hand on Yugeo's.

"From now on, you will be punished for violating the taboo catalogue and undermining the destiny of others. However, don't forget. Contraindications...... No, even the Congregational Church itself was created by human beings who could not become gods. ”

"Huh...... That's, that's, how ......" Yugeo asked reflexively.

No matter how young a child is, he knows that the human world was created by Stysiah, the god of creation. And the church that rules over this world was also founded by God.

"Today...... That's all I can say. But you will soon know the truth about this world. Then Azrika wrinkled her face and closed her right eye. Eugeo intuitively knew that she was suffering sharp pain.

"Eugeo Swordsman. You broke the seal I failed to break. Therefore, you will definitely be able to go where I can't go...... Trust your sword and your friends. ”

The wardener nodded, and turned his face to Yi Yan again, "Then there is Yi Yan Cultivator." Who the hell are you...... Even I don't know. But when you get to that tower, you're bound to trigger something. I will always pray in this place for a glorious future thereafter. ”

Although this sentence is more puzzling, it seems that Yi Yan has understood. He nodded, wrapping Azrika's hand, which was resting on his left shoulder, around his hands and moving it to his chest.

"Thank you, teacher. We'll see each other again someday. When the time comes, I'll be sure to tell you everything you want to know. After Yi Yan finished speaking, he gently pressed the thin fingertips wrapped in his hands to his lips. Azrika blinked in surprise, and a slight color appeared on her face—a faint smile though it might have been an illusion.

On the way, Yi Yan wrinkled his face as if someone had pulled his hair, but the wardenman didn't seem to notice. She gently pulled her right hand back from Yi Yan's hands, and then withdrew her left hand from Yugeo's shoulder—

"Well, let's go. Those who greet you have come. "The campus, which has always staggered with students as they move from classroom to classroom, is now silent, and not a single person can be seen. Instead, Yugeo saw something unexpected in the square of the Great Cultivation Ground, and his newly healed eyes suddenly widened.

It was a gigantic creature that reflected the light of Thalls on a sunny day, shining dizzyingly. In addition to the metal armor on the chest and head, the triangular scales that cover the whole body also glow with a silver glow. It was a wyvern with folded wings that looked like two spires when stretched out and a tail with a long arc in sight, driven by the integrated knights of the Congregational Church that guarded law and order, and was the largest and most powerful spirit animal in the human world.

No riders were seen around. Ignoring the Wyvern looking down on the three from above, Azrika brought Yugeo and Yi Yan to the entrance of the training ground, where they stopped. The warden, looking at the two of them one by one, nodded slightly, and turned away without a word. Yugeo and Yi Yan bowed deeply to the back of Azrika Warden, who was walking towards the junior trainer's dormitory with his boots on, and did not raise his head until he could not hear the footsteps, and after confirming the appearance of the flying dragon, he walked back to the gate of the training ground.

“………… Since there are Wyverns here...... In other words, it is the integration knight who comes to greet us...... Right. There was a slight tremor in Yugeo's whisper, and his partner snorted as usual, and held out his hand to the closed door.

"You'll know when you see it." With that, he pushed open the door and strode in. Eugeo made up his mind and followed him.

I don't know if the windows used for lighting are closed, and the inside is a little dark. Whether it was on the floor of the training ground or in the surrounding auditorium, it was natural that there were no students and instructors. On the white wall in the depths of the façade are paintings depicting the three goddesses of light who repelled the dark god Bekuta. And in the center of the vast cultivation ground, there was a person who looked up at the mural with his back to this side-

Eugeo had seen the Church's Integration Knights at a considerable distance in the past. That was, of course, when young Alice was taken away. Named Desorubat Synthesis· Seven's integrated knight has a burly body that is nearly two meters tall. Now, however, the man standing in front of Eugeo was one size smaller than the knight. If you only talk about height, I'm afraid it's a little shorter than Eugeo.

The blue mantle, which hangs from the clasps of both shoulders, is embroidered with the coat of arms of the Congregational Church, which is a combination of a cross and a circle. But what caught the eye even more was the long blonde hair that ran down from the top of the cape. It was a much brighter color than Lyos's hair, shining like molten gold in the faint light.

The figure didn't move. Yugeo and Yi Yan looked at each other for a moment, and slowly walked forward, until they passed through the cultivation ground, stopping at a distance of about five Mel from the diminutive man.

"Affiliated with the Imperial Sword Cultivation Academy of Santoria North, a senior sword cultivator of Yugeo." It was not easy for Ugeo to squeeze out this sentence, and then his partner also said, "Yi Yan of the same genus." ”

As usual, don't skip the name of the self-proclaimed one! Although the idea of criticizing him appeared in Yugeo's mind, the slightest thought of that kind did not come to light now. And not just because of nervousness. The blue cloak and blonde hair that swayed in the breeze from the still-open entrance a few steps ahead of him made Eugeo begin to feel strange in his heart.

- Where have you seen it?

This combination of blue and gold, somewhere, seems to have been seen before......

The feeling of agitation that wrapped around the whole body turned into a shock that was enough to stop the heart after a few seconds.

"The city of Santoria is under the unification of the Congregational Church, and the Congregational Church is the Knight of Alice A. Synthesis· Thirty。 ”

The knights, who were still facing away from them, reported their names. It's impossible to mishear this voice. In the nearly ten years since I became sensible, I can hear the voice almost every day. And that name. Although the surname is not familiar to me, the name is definitely heard-

Alice!!

It's no longer possible to think of this as an accident. Yugeo moved his weak legs in two steps, squeezed out his voice and whispered, "...... Alice......? Is that you......? You are...... Is Alice ......? ”

Although Yi Yan on the left hurriedly stretched out his hand, Yugeo pushed that hand away and took another step forward. The blonde hair and cloak swaying in front of him exude a faint fragrance. Like a field of flowers under the scorching sun, it is a gentle and nostalgic fragrance. It was the fragrance that floated on the blue apron of the childhood sweetheart.

"Alice......!" Again, this time with a slightly clearer sound, Eugeo wanted to reach for the knight's right shoulder. In this way, the knight who turned back would greet Yugeo with a clear smile like a mischievous face—

This premonition was shattered by a flash of light that cut through the field of vision. The right side of his face received a shocking impact, and Yugeo was knocked into the air in an instant, and his back fell to the ground of the training ground.

"Eugeo!" Although he immediately stood up with Yi Yan's help, Yugeo didn't even realize this, and could only keep his eyes open wide.

The knight's right hand, still facing away from this side, stretched out horizontally, and that hand was already holding a long sword at some point. However, the sword was not drawn, but was tucked away in its scabbard. In an instant, the knight removed the sword from the belt along with the scabbard and struck Eugeo with its tip.

Lowering the sword in a fluent motion, the integrated knight said, "...... Be mindful of your manners. I have the right to reduce your destiny to seventy percent of the punishment. The next time you want to touch it without permission, you will cut off that hand. ”

After uttering the words in a voice as clear as the water that melted the snow, but with a stern voice, the knight finally turned around.

"Alice ......" Yugeo couldn't stop, and the name came out of his mouth again. The Knights of Integration, who wields the Sword of Gold, are undoubtedly Alice Bassbeck, who grew up as Yugeo's childhood friend and daughter of village chief Gashut and sister of Serka, who was taken from the village of Loulid.

The attire is certainly different from then. The chest, shoulders, and waist were covered with thin armor with ornate carvings, and the long skirt reached almost to the feet. However, you can't be wrong with the face. Flawless fresh blonde hair. Snow-white skin with a sense of translucency. And there are also the big eyes that are slightly upturned, as deep blue as clear lake water, and even if he arrives in Yangdu, Yugeo has never seen it in anyone other than Alice.

It's just that the light that appears in these eyes is completely different from what I remember. The glow of life and curiosity that had been in Loulid's village had completely vanished, leaving only a cold gaze on Eugeo as he fell to the ground.

Sakura's lips moved, and once again a cute but extremely cold voice flowed out, "Oh...... It was expected to reduce the blow of the Mandate of Heaven by thirty percent, but it was only reduced by half. If I unload a part at the moment of the hit, I am appointed as a senior swordsman...... Or maybe it's a set for people who have committed serious homicide. ”

Although her tone seemed as if she didn't need to exhale Yugeo's "Window" to see his destiny, Yugeo couldn't even think about it.

The words that flowed into his ears were unacceptable to Eugeo no matter what. That gentle Alice could not have said such a thing. No, before that, Alice didn't react when she saw Yogeo, and hit Yogeo on the cheek mercilessly, after all, she was standing in front of her as an integration knight, and Yugeo couldn't believe the matter itself.

Eugeo was about to ignore the warning and call out its name again. I heard Lin Yiyan's short whisper in my ear, "That knight is the Alice you're looking for." ”

Even in such a situation, the voice of his partner, who was still so calm, made Yugeo regain a little calm. He finally nodded slightly, and Lin Yiyan whispered again, "...... In this case, it is better to follow the instructions. Even if you are a sinner, if you can enter the central cathedral, you can understand something to some extent. ”

Entrance – Central Cathedral. Hearing Yi Yan say this, Giugio finally noticed. Instead of the original idea of being appointed as an integrated knight by constantly winning from the Imperial Sword Martial Arts Conference to the Four Empires Unification Conference, he entered the cathedral for violating the taboo, and the result was more than a year earlier than the intended time to get close to the goal.

Enter the Central Cathedral and meet Alice. That's what Gigeo is all about.

Although the order is different, and it is not known why Alice is like another person as an integrated knight, at least now that purpose has been halfway achieved. Then, if you enter the cathedral, you will definitely find a way to transform Alice back into her original Alice.

As Eugeo finally regained his composure, the knight Alice retracted the sword she was holding in her right hand to her left waist again. She flipped her cloak and began to walk towards the gate.

"Stand up and follow me." There are no more options to go against the instructions. Eugeo, who stood up with Yi Yan's help, chased after Alice wordlessly.

Alice, who came out of the training ground, walked to the Wyvern who was waiting in the square, and gently stroked the tip of the Wyvern's scary nose with her right hand. She then pulled out the strange prop from the large shelf behind the saddle. The iron rope, connected by three thick belts, was a restraint. It's almost the same as the restraint that tied young Alice eight years ago.

Alice, who walked over with a set of restraints in each hand, made Yi Yan and Yugeo stand up straight and began to announce coldly. The voice was quieter than the shouts of Lyos, who wanted to cut down Yugeo, but it was as stern as the voice of the Acting God, "Superior Swordsman Yugeo." Superior swordsman Yi Yan. They were arrested and handed over for violating taboo clauses and will be sentenced after interrogation. ”

The bodies of the two who stood there were bound by Alice. His arms, chest, and waist were tightly wrapped around the belt, and he couldn't even move his body. Alice returned to the wyvern with the locks that came out of their backs, securing the two chains to the clasp of the armor that covered the beast's thick feet. In this way, Yi Yan was tied to his right foot, while Yugeo was tied to his left foot.

Eight years ago, young Alice was tied to the dragon's feet and flew away by the same integration knight named Dissorubart. However, it takes a whole day for the Wyvern to travel from Lulid to Santoria, the capital of the central capital. I can't imagine what a painful and frightening experience it would have been for an eleven-year-old child who had been hung up all this time.