When the nightingale finished speaking, the room fell silent, save for the occasional crackling of burning candles.

Roland's expression was serious, and he finally had a general understanding of the group of witches.

Most witches' awakenings occur during the Demon Month, the day the gates of hell are said to be opened. Generally speaking, adulthood is a dividing line between witches, and women who have not awakened after the age of eighteen are basically no longer likely to become witches, while those who awaken before the age of eighteen will suffer from the pain of demon devouring bodies every year on the day of awakening.

This kind of pain is unimaginable to ordinary people, and the nightingale has a trilling voice when she speaks of this part, according to her own experience, it is as if something wants to break out of the body, every blood vessel and tendon is swollen and painful, and in the end the skin will ooze blood, and the eyeballs will bulge out of the eye sockets......

If you can get through it, your body will slowly recover after four or five days of rest, but if you can't hold on, you will die in this torture, and the death is miserable.

Nightingales have witnessed the death of their companions several times, and their bodies have lost their ability to support themselves and become bulging balls of flesh. Blood and water spurted out of the holes in the body with internal organs, and when it encountered the air, it would turn into bursts of black mist. Eventually, when everything that could be sprayed was sprayed, all that was left on the ground was a layer of charred skin.

This is evidence that witches are seen as the embodiment of the devil.

Ordinary people were frightened when they saw this scene, and who would care about the real cause of death? Coupled with the church's promotion and proclamation of belief in the devil, this is the end, and over time, witches became the spokesmen of evil.

Regardless of what outsiders may think, this torture is real, and it is also for this reason that witches are generally short-lived. The more you go to the back, the more difficult it becomes, and many people choose to end their lives on their own.

The Demon Eater was one of the hardest levels to get through, in fact, the witch's previous mana was not complete, and it was only when she became an adult that this power was stabilized. After stabilization, the mana has been greatly increased compared to before, and even new branching abilities will be derived.

Unfortunately, the process of stabilization is extremely painful, and the phage magic is stronger than ordinary people can bear, and many witches will die on the day of adulthood.

After hearing this, Roland was silent for a long time before asking in a low voice, "It is recorded in ancient books that witches can obtain eternal peace in the Holy Mountain and no longer have to suffer from the torture of evil devourers, is this true?"

"No one knows, because the sacred mountain only appears in legends. However, taking them to a Mutual Aid camp gives them a better chance of survival. If a witch doesn't have to hide herself and can live freely, her body-phagophage power will be much weaker than before. ”

Roland was in a state of confusion, his plan was indispensable for Anna and Nanava's help, but he couldn't bear to put them at great risk because of his plan. Finally he said weakly, "Anna is downstairs, I'll go and call her, and if she wants to, you can take her away." Nanawa, I won't see her until tomorrow. ”

"Thank you for your understanding, I was right," the nightingale said in greeting.

Anna had not yet fallen asleep, and when Roland went to call her, she was lying on the table copying something. She looked a little surprised to see that it was Roland. When she heard that she was going to the prince's room, Anna didn't ask a word and obediently followed upstairs.

When she entered the room and found that there was another person inside, the girl was really startled. Roland took her hand and gave a brief introduction, and the three of them sat down around a round table. The nightingale repeated what she had said before, "...... There are many people like you in the camp, and they are all your companions. ”

"That's probably the case, Miss Anna, although I have an employment contract with you, I must respect your opinion in cases that may be life-threatening. If you promise—"

"I'm not leaving. ”

Roland was stunned, "What are you talking about-"

"I said I'm not leaving," Anna quickly interrupted Roland, "I'm going to stay here." ”

"Anna, I didn't lie to you," Nightingale said with a frown, "I can feel the magic surging within you, it's close to maturity. The Hive Moon in two months is your coming of age, and the sooner you get to camp, you'll be safer. ”

She ignored the other and turned her head to look at Roland.

"Your Highness, do you remember that you asked me if I wanted to go back to Teacher Karl's academy and study with other children, just like Nanawa?"

Roland nodded.

"I didn't answer at the time, what you said later...... I don't care if I live like a normal person or anything," Anna's voice was smooth and natural, "I just want to stay by His Highness's side, that's all." ”

Roland thought he understood Anna's psyche, but now he realized that he didn't understand it at all.

In the eyes of the other party, he could not read any emotions. It's not dependence, it's not love, you can't see anything...... There is only bottomless tranquility.

He remembered the scene when they met for the first time, and it was also such a calm look.

The difference is that at the moment, her face is full of life, like a bud waiting to bloom. She still doesn't fear death, but she doesn't expect it anymore.

"The Demon Devourer can't kill me," Anna said word for word, "and I'll defeat it." ”

Nightingale closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "...... Okay, I got it. ”

"So, you're going to leave alone?" asked Roland.

"No, I'll stay here too," she pulled up her hood and stood up, "the camp won't move until the end of the Demon Moon anyway." ”

"Why?" Roland was taken aback, did she have to spy on herself all winter?

"I don't think a chick that has never experienced it as an adult will understand its danger. I've struggled on the brink of death several times, and I've seen my companion disappear, and when that day comes, I'll be able to help her. Suppose ......," Nightingale shrugged, "if she doesn't make it, I've got experience in dealing with the aftermath too." ”

She walked to the door, drew her dagger, and curtsied to Roland again, "So, take your leave." With that, her figure faded into the darkness, like a mist that left no trace.

Is this what a nightingale is capable of? Roland's thoughtful, silent stealth is a natural assassin. And judging by that hand throwing dagger, she is definitely trained in the relevant aspects. Was the Witch Aid Society developing its own power in addition to its own kind, or had she mastered these skills before she was recruited into the Aid Society?

There was so little information about this organization that Roland couldn't find any useful information in his memory, but he had a hunch that he would definitely meet with this organization again in the future, as long as he insisted on following the path of witch farming.

"It's getting late, go back to bed," said Roland, patting the girl on the head.

To his surprise, Anna removed his hand and walked out of the room without saying a word.

The door was closed, the light was cut off behind her, and shadows hung over her. She leaned lightly against the door, her eyes no longer calm in her lake-like eyes.

She raised her head, put her arms in front of her face, and finally murmured in a barely audible voice.

“...... Fool. ”