…… It's just because you have a gun, so I'm not at ease.

When you reach the age where you don't need a gun, it's just a little difficult, and I'm sure I'll let you take me to brush it.

Annan complained silently.

But he didn't say much.

just nodded lightly and pinched Benjamin's sleeve - this kind of reserved and weak performance can stimulate the desire to show and protect in the young man's heart.

He clearly felt Benjamin's body pause.

was pinched by Annan's cuffs, and Benjamin, who was still very young when he was a teenager, didn't dare to move at all.

Presumably for fear of accidentally throwing out Evelyn's hand that grabbed her cuff, his arm was even dangling in the air, motionless.

…… What an unenlightened idiot.

Annan couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

What a great opportunity this is for a girl to gently pinch a little of your cuff or the corner of your clothes, as if she might come out at any moment, just to make you hold her hand tightly with your backhand.

If she can hold it herself, what else do you want to hold with your backhand?

But Benjamin didn't have that guts...... Of course, it may also be because he was simply stunned and didn't expect to be able to do this.

What a rare honest child......

Annan sighed again.

…… However, this also reveals another thing for Annan.

That is, "Evelyn" herself is a person with some low self-esteem.

And that's understandable.

For a teenage girl with a great talent for dancing...... Her face, skin, and future dreams have all been destroyed, and it is not easy for her to live strongly.

And Annan can also feel it from her body...... Although she has moved away from the stage, she has not neglected her daily exercise.

Otherwise, her body wouldn't be so flexible and her steps wouldn't be so light.

…… In that case, if Benjamin unconsciously shook off Evelyn's hand, it could be a blow to her.

In order to keep up with Annan, Benjamin's left arm was so stiff that he didn't even dare to keep going, but stopped after taking two steps. In order for Annan to keep up.

- It's too much trouble.

Annan simply stepped forward and shook Benjamin's hand with his backhand.

Facing Benjamin's surprised gaze, Annan's face showed a look of weakness with a hint of perseverance: "I'm going to see."

"I think...... It should be right here. ”

“…… Good. ”

Benjamin hesitated, a look of reluctance and hesitation on his face.

But he pulled out his gun, held Annan's hand tightly, and headed for the cobweb-strewn ruins of the church.

Annan keenly captured Benjamin's fleeting emotions.

He quickly realized—

Benjamin should have been to this place himself.

In Annan's mind, he roughly sorted out the clues of the matter:

- Evelyn may have lost her memory for a while.

Judging from Benjamin's reaction, Evelyn should have seen the dance of the dancers under the moon first, and then wanted to find the Pale Princess. And learned the location of the ruins of this church.

She told Benjamin about it, hoping that Benjamin would come with her.

If nothing else, Benjamin should have come to explore on her own before she arrived—and possibly with her parents and others. And had learned in advance that there should be no danger here, but there was no person or thing that Evelyn was looking for.

It could also explain where Benjamin got his weapons and how his family was reassured that one of his children was going out with a gun.

Quite simply, because his family had already been with Benjamin once. Know that this is a pure "ruin".

- But is there really nothing here?

Not really.

Because of Annan, the "voice" was heard very clearly.

"—Did you go to His Highness's ball last night?"

"-I must have gone."

"—why don't you go, such a grand ball......"

It's like a man and two women, three people talking about something, passing by Annan and Benjamin.

Annan subconsciously looked at Benjamin.

He was found only holding a pistol that had not been opened by the safe, and was so cautious that he looked at the road ahead with some nervousness, as if he had not heard anything.

Noticing Annan's gaze, he turned his head with some curiosity.

“…… What's wrong? ”

“…… It's really hard for you. ”

Annan, naturally, would not say "it's okay".

In that case, if those "voices" could also see them, Annan would be exposed.

So Annan changed the subject and said softly casually: "Thank you." ”

“…… Ahh It's okay, I'm just here to accompany you...... No, it's not. I mean, nothing is too much trouble. ”

Benjamin coughed a few times and said with a somewhat confused order.

He also stole a glance at Annan, apparently not knowing if his answer would satisfy the girl.

And Annan ignored him.

He just nodded, signaling that he heard - all the while, he was still listening intently to the chatter of the "invisible voices" around him.

"Hey, that little girl isn't ......"

"-yes. I saw her yesterday. ”

"—what a pity......"

"—she's a good dancer. Her Highness will love her. ”

"—Your Highness is more concerned with a pure and brilliant heart."

"—but she also has a pure heart!"

"—but only pure......"

In front of Annan's eyes, this is a half-collapsed ruin.

The pillars had toppled over, the floor was covered with dust and rubble, and all the ornaments had been taken away, not even light.

But in Annan's ears, he could hear many voices talking to him—or rather, to "Evelyn".

But Annan didn't see anything.

Benjamin still didn't hear them.

…… Are these talking the ghosts of the Pale Princess?

Annan seemed to realize something in his heart.

He already has some speculation about the final ending of "Evelyn......

Was she finally transformed into a "half-dead daughter"?

When Annan walked near the basement, he subconsciously looked to the left.

The head of the soldier statue has fallen off and is missing. And the soldier statue itself was pushed to the ground and covered with dust.

That famous painting, naturally, can't be here. It serves as a trap to block the entrance to the secret room.

- The road to the underground chamber is so generously open here.

“…… Are you going to the basement? ”

Benjamin uttered the characteristic voice of a voice-changing teenager.

He hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a palm-sized tin box from his pocket.

He opened the tin box and pulled out a silver openwork lantern about two fingers wide. When the lantern is unfurled, it is connected to a tin box with an iron chain, making it look like a pocket watch.

Benjamin swirled the lantern's head vigorously, and after three or four strokes, he finally ignited the flame in the lantern.

He carried a hollowed-out lantern as if he were carrying a pocket watch. Although a green flame burned inside, a bright glow of almost pale yellow appeared from it.

Benjamin made a boastful voice, "It's green fire, Evelyn!"

"It's not the same as Blackfire...... It can be used as a very stable light source.

"I've heard that Zedi Black Tower will soon spread the green flame lamp to the people. That way, you won't have to use candles at night anymore! ”

Benjamin's hoarse voice, which is characteristic of the voice-changing period, revealed a hint of longing: "I want to go to the Black Tower too, Evelyn!"

"Did you know that the wizards who made the green fire, known as alchemists in ancient times, could turn stones into gold? Healing ointments are also their work......

"I think...... I mean, if we can't find any clues here, you don't have to worry. ”

Benjamin, who was descending the stairs, said seriously: "If I can enter the Black Tower, I will definitely be able to invent and cure you...... Wounded ointment! ”

As he said this, he held Annan's hand a little tighter.

Annan looked at Benjamin, his gaze was a little evasive at first, but he quickly hardened and looked back at "Evelyn", who suddenly fell silent.

He was a little apprehensive, waiting for Evelyn's response.

But Annan was in a trance and felt a little ...... The power of time.

It turns out that the motivation that made Benjamin aspire to be a transforming wizard, is it here?

To become a golden-level person, you must have a strong enough desire - Benjamin's desire, is this it?

- Benjamin is clearly able to do this now. Not to mention the scars left by the fire, even if the skin of the whole body is peeled off, it should be able to heal easily.

Can......

Where is Evelyn now?

Annan vaguely felt a slight bad breath.

Because he suddenly remembered.

Keywords for this copy...... It was the "dead".

- So, who died?