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The first time Lance Team explored the Plains after encountering the Shadows, it ended in nothing, but it wasn't a gain at all, if anything, it should be a big gain to get to know Simon's team. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

"Sure enough, I still care a lot. ”

The surrounding scenery is still the same, and although the interweaving of pale yellow and fresh green can make people's eyes feel a little comfortable, if you look at it for a long time, the repeated scene may bring a little vertigo.

- Shadu once said that he was the commander of a "squad of four", so who is the fourth member besides himself, Simon, and Hekal?

"Why should I dwell on such a nonsensical topic?"

Compared to the feeling of being shrouded in inexplicable irritability when she came last time, the female magician was in a good mood at the moment, taking brisk steps under her feet, enjoying the "pleasure" and "benefits" brought to the elemental mage by bathing in the rich magical elements, Vina leaned over her slender neck - the recent maintenance was also the most in place, and set her caring eyes on the young man beside her.

"Troy, is it okay? I always feel that you haven't been in a good state of mind for the past two days...... If anything happens, just tell me, even if my power can't help you, at least, it will be better to talk about your boredom?"

"I'm fine. ”

The young man, who hadn't slowed down in the slightest, hadn't even changed a bit from Vina's words, replied quickly, but such a reaction would only make the sorceress think he was being reckless.

-- Definitely what's going on.

"Well, if something happens, just let us know, and gathering everyone's wisdom may be able to help you. ”

There is no doubt that Vina is not the only one who can detect something unusual in Troy, and after the Fire Elemental, Moore, the current leader of the team, has also issued his advice.

"Ha, I don't know what you're talking about, but Yo Troy, no matter what happens, Uncle Ben Ralph will be behind you! Wait, why behind? It's decided, I'll stand in front of you!hey!"

“......”

“......”

As for Ralph, the strong man in the Northwest with an innocent smile is simply "joining in the fun" no matter how you look at it.

"I ...... It's really nothing. ”

The concern of everyone made the young man feel a warmth, but even so, he still chose to be silent. Until now, Troy had not told his companions that the man they admired and revered was still alive—living in his own consciousness—and likewise he could not have told them what Lance had said to him late the other night.

"I can only give you this 'advice', and I have to admit that this is the best solution I can think of right now. Of course, it's up to you to decide...... You see, I'm already dead, and what can a dead man do?"

Visiting Lance, the deepest part of Troy's consciousness, in the quiet of the night when most people had fallen asleep, his meaningful words, and the helpless smile he put on when he said them, for days the scene of that night's "meeting" would always resurface when the boy closed his eyes.

- You, disgusting to me.

"It's no accident that you've met us, and it's no accident that the village you live in was slaughtered by 'conspirators'. Since there is no conclusive evidence, there are many things that I can't give you a definite answer. But only one thing I can be sure of is that for many people you are an extremely important being, to be precise, your 'power'...... Therefore, there will be many things that will happen to you in the future, and maybe there will be another tragedy of this kind and that. ”

As he said these words, the boy could sense the strange aura behind Lance's slightly sad expression, which was not quite similar to his usual life.

But what was that? Troy couldn't explain his feelings, and in fact, as he saw Lance more and more in that blank world, the boy always felt less and less like himself.

- Who is it like me, then?

"So, run away, the farther away the better. You are kind, Troy, and although you have been 'educated' to take the question of life and death quite lightly, I can understand the purest 'desire' that you do not want others to be harmed. You can attract the Shadow, and you can do so without being consumed by it, but those around you will have a hard time escaping the Shadow's clutches and finally ...... Perhaps, I mean maybe, the Shadows will swallow everything around you, everything you hold dear. ”

"It's too much to talk about. ”

The young man, who was walking firmly on the ground, suddenly spat out such a sentence.

"Hmm, Troy, did you just say something?"

"No, nothing...... Anyway, is there already the river in front of you? I always feel that it is much more obvious than the last time I came. ”

"Yes. ”

What should be said has been said, and Vina knows in her heart that teenagers also have the right to maintain their own opinions, which can be regarded as a part of growth. Swept away the uneasiness in her heart, the sorceress felt a little relieved for the growth of the boy, and for some reason, there was another feeling in her heart.

She didn't want to see Troy grow like that.

――I guess that's how I feel about my "children" as a mother...... Stupid, what was I thinking?

The fire elementalist quietly pinned his handsome cheek. The young man, who was not at all here, did not notice that Vina's face was already the same color as her seductive and capable suit.

Emotions, feelings, and in general, there is not much conceptual difference between the two, which are really quite elusive things.

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The last time I arrived, it was also because of a "coincidence", if it weren't for the fact that Wesley and the two of them were drowning down the river for some reason, even Moore, who used the Eagle Eye technique, would not have been able to detect the existence of this river.

Speaking of Wesley, the next day, Moore, who had to cancel his plan to continue exploring the Plains because he had received a notice from Dondal, happened to meet the young mage who had returned to the dormitory safely, and after a little chat, the warrior got good news from him.

Not only did he and Kamui recover with the help of the "healers" hired by Simon's team, but even Harley, the shield guard and the blessed philosopher's stone, who were seriously injured in the battle against the Shadow Giants and whose fate was unknown, were found by Simon's companions and rescued from the brink of death.