The Witch and the Doll Swear

"Did you know? The recent team of adventurers, all made up of women, suddenly became famous."

The lobby of the Adventurer's Association never seemed to have a quiet moment.

But this is also a matter of course. For people who come and go here, whether they are the client or the client, intelligence is the most important part, and the so-called intelligence is often hidden in many unintentional words.

"Is there anyone who doesn't know now? It's called "Light Seeker", right? There are only 3 members, all of whom are women, consisting of a magician who is an honorary adventurer, a magic apprentice and an alchemist. "

"Yeah, let's not say that such a composition is enough to attract people's attention. In just two or three days after these people came to Alexandria, they completed the elimination of the bandits who hijacked the airship and captured the people who fled with precious cultural relics." The enlistment of the tomb robbers and the city guards of the Kingdom of Sinai was commissioned, and the latter two were completed on the same day."

Therefore, no matter where the Adventurer's Association is, there is hardly any quiet time throughout the year.

In the past few days, the entire Adventurers' Association has been talking about a name that is very unfamiliar to them.

"Lightseeker"

"All of them are A-level commissions. They must be the adventurer team that has completed the most A-level commissions in the shortest time in Alexandria's history. We may be in the same era as the real legend."

"Hmph, everyone's rumors are so powerful. Let me tell you, they are just lucky, do you know? It is said that when they registered at the Adventurer's Association, they were riding in the princess's carriage. It must be a group of noble ladies thinking Playing an adventure game, and then the princess is messing around with them, those commissions may have been completed by the imperial guards of the palace."

Now, at the front desk of this obviously elegant-style colonnaded building, raising her head, looking at the light sprinkled on the windows of the second-floor platform and the shining small obelisk, Tina felt sincerely, Too good ears are not a good thing.

Today, she came to get more detailed information about their next commission provided by the Commissioning Association yesterday. These discussions, whether loud or whispering, have been lingering in her ears since she entered the door.

There is also gossip, envy, questioning, and debate.

The association didn't seem to spread the fact that the date of the "Light Seekers" was revised. The most outrageous guess now is that they are all the little lovers of the princess of the Sinai people, and they became adventurers just for fun.

No one recognized her.

Touching the whalebone amulet on her chest through her clothes, Tinna tried her best not to be affected by the surrounding noises, maintained a polite smile, took the bag full of scrolls from the receptionist, and walked out of the lobby of the Adventurer's Association , across the street, took a seat at the open-air cafe.

"Really everyone is talking about us."

"Isn't Alice letting Lily use the "Ordinary Temperament" magic that Lily added to Miss Tina's talisman? Although Miss Tina always said that she looks very ordinary, but to be honest, Miss Tina. "

The paper bag was placed on the table, and Alice, who was sitting on the table, picked up a cookie baked with honey, and handed it the strong black coffee that she ordered "as mature as the master craftsman" because of her bravery, and now she couldn't even hold the cup steadily girl's mouth.

"Miss Tingna really thinks that you, who are taller than many men, are not conspicuous at all?"

"Ordinary and conspicuous are not strict opposites..."

Tingna could only retort in a low voice. After finishing speaking, she looked at the opposite side, and stretched her frowning eyebrows because of the sweet taste given by the little doll——then stared at the dark liquid bitterly and bitterly, because of shame And Ai, whose cheeks were dyed red, couldn't help but hook the corners of his mouth.

"snort."

Ah, I was stared at.

"...How much information about the entrustment has the Association provided?"

Beside Ai, the witch slowly sipped black coffee without sugar, gradually waking up from the sleepiness of being forced to get up early.

She reached into the sugar bowl, picked up a cube of sugar, and put it into Ai's cup.

The Witch's breakfast has always been very simple, a cup of coffee from a famous coffee-producing area or tea from Dongguo, and a small piece of cake.

Regardless of the price of these dim sum, this is indeed a simple breakfast.

After the brave little girl lowered her head and sipped the less bitter coffee, Liliana turned the opening of the paper bag to her side.

This is the second commission of "Light Seeker".

Investigate a nobleman's connection to certain disappearances.

"Most of them are entrusted to accept the request. For those around Alexandria, Miss Liliana took over the entrustment. The association seems to have only sorted out the personal information of the missing person and the time of the disappearance from the report of the city guards. ..."

The real information in the paper bag is only a few thin sheets, which record the disappearance—to be precise, the personal information and disappearance time of the girls suspected of being trafficked by illegal human traffickers. Except for a few people, even the missing location is unknown. These disappearances have not been recorded, and they have not been detected so far.

This commission was posted by a certain nobleman when he saw a girl who looked like she was on the missing person list when he was invited to the banquet of another nobleman's house that he was not dealing with.

Although neither the client nor the subject of the investigation directly named them, they obtained more detailed information about the nobles who needed to be investigated after asking for information. Obviously, this was another dark sword in the noble circle.

Why did Miss Liliana accept this commission? Although A-level, and the entrustment around Alexandria is indeed the only one now...

Ignoring the paper rolls entrusted to accept the request, Liliana picked up the information Tinna said and flipped through it, then Liliana put down the few papers.

"……Useless."

"Didn't the city guard investigate carefully..."

"The family background of the missing person is not good. Sometimes pursuing justice can only be done after food and clothing. Besides, if nobles are involved, the city guards can't do anything passively,"

Alice rested her chin on one hand and looked at the expressionless witch.

"What are you going to do, Lily?"

"...Since there are no clues, let's use some stupid methods."

"Stupid way?"

"...Stupid, but simple and effective."

Greeting the waiter and putting more than ten silver coins on the table, Liliana said so.

………………………………………………………………………………………

The so-called stupid way is that Liliana brought Tingna and Ai to visit the mansion of this nobleman who was suspected to have a significant connection with the disappearance case in the name of selling precious gems.

Although the slave who served as the noble housekeeper once regarded them as liars who swindled and deceived them, when Liliana took out a piece of warm black jade, which seemed to be soaked in the river Styx, he was stunned for a while, and then hurriedly Invite them to the reception room and report to their master.

Soon, in the reception room, Liliana and the others met this burly and strong nobleman. According to the Sinai tradition, they sat on the ground, and were served fresh grapes and dates on the low table.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the nobleman expressed that he was very interested in buying this deep gem that looked like it had been taken out of Anubis' palace, but the identification of gems is not what he is good at, and he needs to hire a special appraiser to do it. Identification.

The witch nodded to show that there was no problem, and she put the piece of jade on the table without any trouble, and chatted with the nobleman. The aurora-colored magic circle lit up on the young lady's hand under the table.

Singing silently without sound, the interpretation of singing was covered by the collision of gold-plated teacups and porcelain plates. Then, Tingna saw that the expression of this fair-skinned, blue-eyed Sinai nobleman became dull.

Spiritual magic "Mace's hypnotism"

In the earrings of black pearls, Ai explained to Tina in a low voice.

This is a classic hypnotic magic, which is powerful and highly concealed. After using it, the caster is not easy to detect. The disadvantage is that it needs continuous casting and only the caster can give instructions to the caster. In the current situation, The hypnotized nobleman will obediently answer all questions Liliana asks.

And this is the stupid but simple and effective method that the witch said.

The witch took out the list of missing persons she got from the Adventurer's Association, placed it where the jewel he was staring at, and questioned it in a cold voice.

"... Do you have any impression of the people above?"

"yes."

"Which ones are they?"

Then, Alice, who had been pretending to be an ordinary doll, also asked. After hearing this question, the nobleman pointed to the girls on the list.

"This... this... this and this..."

"...where are they now?"

"Pan Temple Street, the house with the picture of the Sphinx and Sekhmet on the gate, four stories high, with red glazed tiles."

"Are all four of you there?"

"No, there are only... two, and I'm tired of two, so I gave them a sum of money and asked them to leave..."

...?

If the witch hadn't kept reminding her that there should be no other words without her magic power when she used magic hypnosis, Tingna would have almost said "what" in surprise.

Even Liliana raised her eyebrows slightly, and she continued to question:

"...did you buy all these girls from human traffickers?"

"No, my guard captain... used to be a sand bandit. Occasionally, when I saw a commoner woman I wanted, I would ask him to abduct me back... But because it is very troublesome to become a slave, so after I get tired of playing with it, I will give it to her." A sum of money, let him take them somewhere else."

The witch and the puppet asked alternately, and the answers they wanted to know were quickly obtained one by one.

Then, the witch took back the paper, and after the magic circle in his hand faded and disappeared, the nobleman was in a trance for two seconds before slowly waking up. He coughed lightly and said embarrassedly to the witch.

"Sorry, this gem is so beautiful that I'm a little distracted, what were you talking about just now?"

"...I was introducing the production area of ​​this gem just now. It comes from Pefka in the elegant Inland Sea, but unfortunately, His Royal Highness seems to have no interest in it."

Picking up the teacup again, Liliana's tone didn't change a bit.

"Ah, yes, Pefka, the island of warriors, the land of heroes—"

The nobleman shook his head, looking quite disdainful.

"But there are liars, cowards, and scumbags out there, ha!"

"...It sounds like you've been there before?"

Liliana followed his words.

"I'm an elegant person. Before I came to Sinai and became a nobleman, I spent a period of time wandering in the elegant inland sea. Of course I have been there..."

After the conversation, the baron's butler also came back. He brought a gem appraiser, and after a friendly conversation, he bought this piece of deep jade from Liliana for a dozen gold coins.

From the beginning to the end, he didn't seem to realize that he was hypnotized.

After leaving the nobleman's mansion, Liliana stopped a carriage on the side of the road and asked the driver to drive them to Pan Temple Street.

"That's it, is it over..."

The carriage drove away from the white-walled house, and sitting opposite Liliana, Tingna opened her mouth in disbelief.

"..."

Nod, nod.

The witch just nodded silently.

"The biggest difficulty in this commission is actually the noble status of the person being investigated. Ordinary adventurers have neither the ability nor the courage to investigate, while capable adventurers worry about their status. It just so happens that Lily has both ability and no worries, but this kind of Evidence obtained by means of investigation cannot be directly used as evidence, in essence, this is against the law.”

"Eh?"

"Ah, I know this. It's the "Aristocratic Protection Law". Although the details are different in different countries on the mainland, this law basically ensures that nobles will not be cruelly tortured after they are imprisoned for crimes or captured on the battlefield. Treat, you can't use the magic of the mental system to control things...the former one is more common, but the latter one..."

"...As long as it is not discovered, there is no way to talk about it."

"..."

When Ai was still thinking about how to tell the story, the witch explained in simple words, although she would be more inclined to use aboveboard methods when they can achieve the same effect, but in essence, she is not a person who sticks to methods.

But after finishing speaking, Liliana hugged Alice again and fell into thinking.

"What is Miss Liliana thinking?"

"...No, something that might not matter..."

The witch blinked and shook her head slightly.

The carriage gradually approached in the direction of Panshen Temple Street.

………………………………………………………………………………………

Pan Temple Street is located under a slightly lower hill in Alexandria City.

At the top of the hill is the Temple of Pan, which was built more than a hundred years ago. Although the god of shepherds from the elegant inland sea has not gained many believers in the sandy sea of ​​Sinai, the elegant people of Alexandria still gather here. The land maintains the customs and beliefs of the homeland.

The street under the hill got its name because of this. After getting off the carriage, what Tina felt was that compared with the dark-skinned Sinai people, there were far more fair-skinned, blue-eyed, and blond-haired people like herself.

Of course, I was born on the southeast coast of the mainland and they were not the same race as they were born in the elegant inland sea.

"Master Liliana, what's wrong?"

When Tina felt that the scenery was more familiar, Ai noticed that Liliana frowned slightly.

"...No, it's just that when I came here, there was no such elegant neighborhood in Alexandria."

However, the witch's expression quickly returned to calm, she shook her head, and paid a few silver coins to the coachman.

"Although Pan Temple was built more than a hundred years ago, Pan Temple Street became like this more than ten years ago. Earlier, the noble lady was only a small child. At that time, Alexandra It is true that there are not many foreigners in China, and no such neighborhoods have been formed, but now, there are already several such neighborhoods in the city.”

After gratefully accepting the silver coins, the driver of the carriage looked at Liliana in surprise.

"... Ten years ago?"

"That's right, the last pharaoh returned to the embrace of the gods. When the current pharaoh ascended the throne, before that, Alexandria only saw a lot of foreigners in the port and the big library area, although in our capacity Can't comment on His Majesty the Pharaoh, but..."

"but what?"

Tina also leaned over curiously.

Only then did the driver of the carriage seem to realize what he had said, he looked around with some vigilance, and then lowered his voice.

"However, many people in the city say that His Majesty the Pharaoh is very kind to foreigners, especially elegant people. Elegant businessmen only need to pay very low taxes, and there are discounts for buying land and houses, as long as they make some contributions. , You can become a nobleman without going to battle to kill enemies, and some people say that His Majesty built the temple of foreign gods in Alexandria because His Majesty Pharaoh believed in those gods... Oh, Amon, please forgive my nonsense, His Majesty Pharaoh is How could a living god, Ra's incarnation in this world, believe in other gods?"

"..."

Looking at the coachman who suddenly slapped her face in panic, the witch nodded expressionlessly, and took out another silver coin and put it in his hand. After the coachman thanked him constantly, she looked at Faros Airport from a distance. direction.

"Miss Liliana?"

"...Let's go."

The buildings on Panshen Temple Street are more elegant. It is not difficult to find the mansion from the mouth of the nobles. The small four-story building and the red glazed tiles are enough conspicuous features. After scanning the sky for a few times, Tina, who was holding Alice, came to the door with the portraits of the Sphinx and Sekhmet.

"Is this the place..."

"...It looks like it is."

Seeing this door, Alice showed a very contemptuous expression.

"What is the relationship between the Sphinx and Sekhmet? Because they are both lions? When I heard about it before, I was wondering how someone could draw such a painting..."

"...Probably just out of curiosity. Today's elegant people are no longer the elegant people who respected the gods in the classical period. The Renaissance and the years of history dominated by temple beliefs have caused the belief in the original gods to decline. This It’s the same in all parts of the continent, but Sinai and Dongguo, two lands that have not experienced subversive cultural and social changes for several epochs from ancient times to the present, are relatively unusual.”

Behind the gate is the garden attached to the mansion. When Liliana and Alice were judging the painting on the gate, which had neither meaning nor good quality, the guard of the mansion also noticed the movement here.

Just like the guards of most noble mansions, they are fully armed and wear armor that not only has a certain degree of practicality, but also reflects the identity and wealth of the owner.

Just like most of the guards in noble mansions, in front of the witch and the dolls, they were transformed into several ice sculptures by magic in an instant.

It was early summer, but early summer in Sinai was already as hot as a scorching summer. Under the warm sunshine, they would be thawed well in about half an hour.

The house with a garden located in the mansion area is also in an elegant style. Because Liliana and Alice did not deliberately lower their voices, the guards who were attracted by the commotion were eliminated one by one. The witch and the doll took Tina and Ai, Entered the mansion.

Some waiters who didn't know what was going on saw the uninvited guests and yelled at them loudly, but these people were soon seen guarding the gardener and the maids who were turned into ice sculptures and hurriedly held hands and hid in the room. Among them, neither Liliana nor Alice had any interest in these people. After taking a rough look at the layout on the first floor, they walked up the stairs.

There is no wall on the second floor of the mansion that is used as a partition or barrier. There are columns with shell and flower sculptures supporting the ceiling. The entire floor is a completely open room. The bathroom, dressing table, bookshelf, and wardrobe are arranged along the wall. The room is in front of the room. In the center is a luxurious round bed.

"Who are you!"

The girl with blond hair and blue eyes was sitting in front of the dressing table, combing her hair with a gold and emerald comb. A thin velvet nightgown wrapped her light brown skin. Seeing the four people who suddenly broke in, her face clearly showed shock and nervousness.

"Do you know where this place is! Here..."

"You are the fishmonger's daughter, right?"

Ai spoke before she could. She had seen this girl in the information provided by the Adventurers Association, and her excellent memory allowed Ai to blurt out her identity immediately.

The girl's expression froze, and then, Ed's other words immediately changed her expression.

"Don't worry, you are free."

"……What?"

"You are free and no longer need to be imprisoned. The city guards should be here soon. By then you will be completely safe."

Seeing the girl's still confused face, Tina couldn't help but sigh and said this in a loud enough voice. .

At this time, there were rapid footsteps from the top of the stairs. Tina and Ai turned around and saw another girl wearing a long linen dress looking at them in disbelief.

"go home……?"

Her voice trembled.

"...can I really go home?"

Perhaps hearing Tina's words, her brown eyes were filled with tears. Ai quickly recognized that she was also a girl who was recorded as missing. She did not have beautiful clothes and accessories like the fishmonger's daughter. The days she was imprisoned here made her eyes reveal trembling fear whenever she came into contact with Ai, Tina and the others.

"Well, we will go to the city guards. As long as we verify your identity and you tell them how you were kidnapped here, you can go home and be with your family."

Ai patiently explained it to her again and performed a little magic - nothing could be more convincing than this.

"Ah, great Amon Ra, merciful Isis, you have finally heard my prayer..."

The Sinai girl knelt down on the carpet and offered prayers to the gods. She even wanted to lower her head and kiss the toes of Ai's shoes. This caught the girl off guard and extinguished the flames on her hands. She helped her up and looked towards the other side. A girl sitting blankly in front of the dressing table, wondering what she was thinking.

"If you want to thank me, just thank Master Liliana. However, it's better for us to leave here as soon as possible..."

"……leave?"

But after hearing Ai's words, the expression of the fishmonger's daughter suddenly turned ferocious.

"No, no, no, no! I'm not that dirty Sinai bitch, the stupid sow who won't listen. I'm the Baron's wife. How dare you, how dare you, a lowly servant, let me go back to that stinking water. Go somewhere like a ditch?!"

The girl with golden curly hair raised her hand, and what she held in her hand was a pair of golden scissors.

Ai was stunned by the suddenly raised voice. When the girl was stunned, the girl's voice was filled with only overflowing resentment and despair.

"You want me to go back to a place where there's nothing but trash and bastards, and you call that my home?!"

The scream and the scissors in the girl's hand were thrown together, towards Ai's face.

It was so sudden that the sobs of another girl who was still crying on the side were interrupted. Even Tina didn't react. She could only watch blankly at this moment. The girl was like a snake in winter and launched towards the girl who saved her. The backlash of spite.

But Ai is not a peasant woman who holds a snake to her chest to keep warm.

The pair of burgundy pupils suddenly shrank, and then the dark red flame-like magic light burned violently. The scissors thrown by the fishmonger's daughter made a clanging sound as if they had hit some indestructible invisible object before stabbing the girl. Crash.

The scissors fell to the carpet, but that wasn't the end.

"...trash and bastard? Wouldn't that suit you just fine?"

The cold nasal voice of the little doll in Liliana's arms caused the wind-condensed whip to leave bloody whip marks on the girl's face. Several teeth were whipped out, and the fishmonger's daughter screamed. He stepped back, blood spurting from his broken teeth.

But she was still cursing.

"Witch, evil witch! Are you jealous of my rich and happy life? Do you want to take away the wealth and happiness I deserve? You despicable hyena, a bug that eats vulture excrement... Oh, my gem , my earrings..."

The blood gushing from her mouth made her words muffled, and probably only she could hear clearly what she was saying. The little doll is not a benevolent queen. When the fishmonger's daughter threw the scissors, Alice's expression had darkened. Hearing her continued cursing, Alice raised her hand directly this time - —but was gently held down by Liliana.

"...She's just a normal person."

"……snort."

Tina looked at the girl who was cursing and looking for the gems on the earrings that had been knocked off by the whip of wind on the ground, and Ai who was standing there without saying a word, unable to understand what was going on.

Aren’t they here to help and rescue them?

Tina couldn't help but look at Ai. The former princess noticed Tina's gaze and tried to maintain her expression, but Tina could see that when her kindness was responded to by sharp scissors, there was also a deep look in her eyes. of confusion and disbelief.

Ai's lips trembled slightly. What did she want to ask? But she didn't ask anything.

The fishmonger's girl was still cursing endlessly. She covered her mouth, her face contorted in pain.

But the witch no longer focused on her.

"...If she thinks she is, or indeed is, the so-called Baroness, let her stay here. What matters is that you...do you remember how you were kidnapped?"

The second half of the sentence was spoken by the witch to another girl.

"Yes, yes... Those terrible guards stopped me on the street. Everyone thought that I had offended the nobles because of debts or other things. The city guards also pretended that they had not seen anything. They took me Take me to a deserted alley and knock me unconscious..."

Recalling what happened when she was brought here, the Sinai girl with black hair and brown eyes curled up subconsciously. After listening to what she said, Liliana nodded and walked down the stairs in the direction she came from.

"... Just tell the city guards the truth."

"Well, Master Liliana, don't we need to find more concrete evidence? We only rely on one person's testimony to bring down a noble..."

"...Ai, it's not that we want to bring down that baron, and..."

Walking out of the mansion, the witch pointed at the guards in the garden who were still very cold.

"...They are also good evidence."

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

After bringing the kidnapped girl to the Adventurer's Association, and having the Adventurer's Association send someone to escort her to the city guard station, Liliana, Alice, Ai and Tina who came to the association the next day received their entrustment Completion rewards.

Some gold coins, achievements in completing A-level commissions, and a medal issued by the city guard. The person who issued the commission had obviously prepared everything. When talking to the receptionist, Tina learned that the baron who had just bought a beautiful gem from the witch had been sent to prison before he could show it off, and his property and All the houses were confiscated. Although he was not sent to the gallows, it was foreseeable that he would never see the sunshine of freedom again in his life.

"It's not that the laws of the kingdom are so strict, it's just the result of the strife between nobles."

Alice was not surprised by this.

"So, where are the girls who were kidnapped."

"Except for those two, the others are still missing... No, because the other girls have been sold to various places in Sinai, even outside the kingdom. Even if their whereabouts are known, the most they will do is notify them. Their families, the City Guards are unlikely to make further efforts on this matter, because it involves many, many things."

After saying that, the receptionist also sighed.

"As for those two, they should have returned to their respective homes."

"Yes……"

After leaving the Adventurers Association, Tina looked at the girl who had been depressed all day since yesterday, and subconsciously reached out to touch her little head.

"Is Miss Ai still thinking about the fishmonger's daughter?"

"...There's nothing else to think about."

Rarely, this proud girl did not knock Tina's hand off impatiently. She looked at her toes and muttered gloomily.

"It always felt like we had done something bad."

The fishmonger's daughter kept cursing them. When they were taking notes for the City Guards, they also saw the girl, who had been hit on the cheek by Alice's whip. Looking at her own light blue eyes, she vaguely said that she is an elegant person with noble blood, while Ai and the others are evil witches sent by the God of Chaos to deprive her of the wealth and happiness that she had so hard to get. .

When the soldiers said that she was free and could go back to her home, she even yelled that that building was her home, and no one could drive her away from it...

"She is indeed a mulatto, as evidenced by her complexion, pale blue eyes, and blond hair. Perhaps her mother is an elegant person. Well, the word mongrel is very suitable for herself."

Alice leaned against Ai's arms and snorted very unpleasantly.

"...Well... But I still don't understand why she would say that... It is clear that she was kidnapped, taken away from her family, and imprisoned as a plaything... I know that there is a kind of victim who will Relying on the symptoms of the assailant, but... my intuition tells me that something is not right."

Ai still held Alice sullenly.

"...It may not be a psychological symptom that drives her to say that, but a more practical reason."

Like Tingna, the witch, who just watched Ai rummaging through various books yesterday, watching the city and pedestrians silently and thinking on the balcony, stood on tiptoe slightly and touched her student's little head.

"...If you are concerned, go and have a look. There are many things that cannot be understood by the words in the book. Anyway, it is foreseeable that there will be no commissions to accept in the future."

There are quite a few A-level commissions, but Liliana is not willing to do many. Miss Witch is also like a collection of contradictions in this regard. She obviously needs to complete a bunch of commissions in exchange for letters of recommendation, but she is not satisfied with the commissions. Choose carefully.

"……Um."

Ai looked at his mentor and nodded slightly.

The address of the fishmonger's daughter was also included in the information provided by the Adventurers' Association. The witch stopped a carriage, and after a while, she came to the other side of the hill where the Temple of Pan was located.

slums.

As rich as Alexandria, it seems that in places where the wide road does not extend, there are whitewashed walls, towering temples, mansions, and even green trees in beautiful parks. Inconsistent lighting scene.

It cannot be said that these houses made of mud are the most authentic side of the city, but walking down the main road, the bottom of the hill with the temple stands next to the canal that passes through the city. Xixi headscarves, the comparison between the people who are bent over by the load-bearing goods on the way to and from the pier and the warehouse, and the people walking on Ptah Avenue, talking about geography, history, and the business of the kingdom, can always make this city beautiful. It doesn't look so good anymore.

Where there is light there is darkness.

Where there is wealth, there must be poverty.

"I don't like this kind of place. If it rains, I can't even walk..."

Both sides of the street are low and old mud houses, with a subtle stench permeating the air. The road surface is not good if the soil is only compacted and sprinkled with some gravel. Although it has not rained, there is still a lot of dirty water on the ground The pit, where some children played and splashed.

Ai saw them and hid away.

"These people also want to live in a better place, who would be willing to live in this kind of place."

Ting Na couldn't help sighing, and was slightly dissatisfied with Ai's reaction.

——Is it the noble lady after all?

As soon as this idea came to mind, Tingna met the eyes of several children playing in the puddle.

Their eyes lit up, and then they ran over bouncing.

"My lord, by the mercy of the gods in the sky, please give us some copper coins."

"Wait, wait a minute, don't come over!"

— Foreword withdrawn.

This has nothing to do with being a noble lady or not. As long as it is a normal person, when seeing a group of children who have just finished playing in a dirty puddle rush towards them, their first reaction is to avoid it, so as not to let their clothes get dirty.

But those children with bald heads and only a small braid on the back or side of their heads ran towards Tinna and Ai as if they didn't hear them, shouting for the mercy of the gods.

But Liliana made a move.

A strong wind blew a cloud of dust across the street, also stopping the children.

Their footsteps stopped immediately. Although they were still muttering such and such words, none of the children dared to approach, and the pedestrians also stopped, looking at the black-haired girl blocking Tina with eyes of astonishment and awe. .

"..."

At this time, the witch let Alice sit on her shoulders, casually threw a handful of copper coins at the feet of those children, then walked to Tingna and Ai's side, took their hands, and left quickly.

The children's eyes lit up, and they immediately bent down and started picking...

"Ah, thank the gods for your kindness! That's mine!"

"That kind lady obviously gave me these rewards, don't take them from me!"

...No, it's snatching.

Ai turned his head and looked at the children wrestling together, unable to conceal the shock in his eyes.

"Salute to you, the great Amon Ra, you little brat, get out of here!"

And before crossing this street, Tina couldn't help turning her head because she heard adults cursing, and watched some adults drive those children to pick up copper coins on the ground—someone even kicked a After kicking him down on the child's back, he bent down to pick up the coins that fell from the child's tattered trouser pocket.

"Hey, you—"

She wanted to stop subconsciously, but Ai's reaction was more direct. She had already raised her hand and began to chant magic.

"Miss Tingna, Ai, it's not just adults who look threatening in places like this that need to be on guard."

Alice stopped Ai from chanting with just one word.

"See clearly."

Then Tina saw it.

The boy who was kicked flying got up and jumped on the man, and bit his dirty hairy leg with one bite, making the man let out a cry of pain. At this time, other children also rushed over. They were still fighting each other for a few copper coins in seconds, but now they are united. One raised his leg and pushed his knee between the man's legs, and the other bumped his head on the man's stomach. When the man fell down screaming, he bit him. The child with legs still bit his leg, and the other two kicked his head violently before kicking his legs. Perhaps because this was not enough, a boy even picked up a palm-sized stone from the ground, Hit the man hard.

Like a pack of vicious little hyenas.

The passers-by also stopped and gradually surrounded them, cheering and whistling one after another, as if they were watching a gladiatorial match.

No one tried to stop them.

They were just rooting for different camps and yelling "Kill these bastards" or "Smash this jerk".

The downhill road quickly made that scene disappear in front of the girl's eyes, only the man's screams echoed until it became smaller and smaller and became inaudible.

"Poverty and meanness have no cause and effect, but somehow they always go together."

Ai didn't seem to have recovered from the scene just now, she gasped for breath, and muttered what book she read from.

"...Such a place is also called Sin Street, Sinai Grotto by the Alexandrians, because of the high crime rate and the fact that almost all the poor in Sinai gather here."

Only then did Liliana let go of Ai's hand, turned around, and warned Tingna and Ai in a slightly serious tone:

"...Miss Tina, Miss Tina must never enter such an area without me, Alice and Ai Ren alone. Ai is the same, if you want to come here, at least Alice must accompany you or maintain the magic shield all the time And mage armor, it's too dangerous here, and I don't want to see your whole—or mutilated—dead bodies in the stinking ditch in Alexandria."

"Not at all."

The witch's small hands brushed over those beautiful and powerful rings one by one, and those deep eyes stared at her closely.

Except that the "Missile Queen" entered a state of silence for twenty days after using the "great magic" engraved on it, each ring has enough power to deal with ordinary people, but at that moment, Tingna and Ai never thought of using magic to protect himself.

Because it was just a group of kids.

"...well, I'll remember."

On the airship, when she decided to use that great magic, Tingna thought that she had changed because of these journeys.

But now it seems that there are still many things that need to be changed.

Ting Na lowered her head, a little afraid to look into those night sky-like eyes.

——If you must come to such a place in the future, please try to pick when I am free, and don't bother Master Liliana and Ms. Alice.

Ai's voice suddenly sounded in the spiritual link.

"……Eh?"

——Don't be surprised, Master Liliana solidified the spiritual magic array of transmission and reception for this pair of earrings. There is no encryption. Within a certain range, a qualified magician can easily contact you.

After finishing speaking, before Tingna looked at her, the girl turned her face away again, and walked quickly to Liliana who was a few steps ahead.

This ramp with date palms and unnamed shrubs on both sides came to the end, when a dilapidated house near the pier could be seen. The witch stood still.

A lot of people gathered there, and the city guards were there, driving them away.

According to the address on the information, there is the home of the fishmonger.

"what happens……"

"have no idea……"

"...just ask."

The crowd gathered there was quickly dispersed, and Liliana came to the guard with Alice in her arms. Seeing a little girl holding an obviously valuable doll in such a place, the guard immediately frowned. , but Liliana didn't want to spend too much time talking with him, she lit a flame in her hand, and then spoke under his horrified gaze.

"...what happened here?"

"Yes, dear Miss Witch, last night, this family committed suicide."

"suicide?!"

Tina froze.

"But, but, didn't the missing daughter of this family come back? Why did she suddenly..."

"About this, we have only been here not long ago, the detailed situation... Hey, you, come here!"

"Yes, yes, Lord Guard, what's the matter?"

"Tell these witch girls what you reported to the captain again. What did you hear last night?"

The guards brought a bearded man to one side. The creases of this stooped old man's face seemed to be filled with dirt. After he walked over, the guards couldn't help but backed away a little, and stopped him with a spear. Seeing that he would not let the man whose eyes were straight after seeing Liliana approach.

A beggar, on such a street, the beggar's news is always the best.

"...What happened last night?"

"Last night, ah, what a pity, old Laciferis was very happy to have his kidnapped daughter back, and spent two silver coins to prepare a big meal. I see he bought A piece of white bread the size of a fist, some fresh dates, the best piece of fish he had grilled and sprinkled with fennel he got somewhere, it tasted... tsk tsk tsk, but, his daughter seemed to think so Not happy at all, they had a big fight and everyone around heard it."

Hearing Liliana speak, the old man quickly told what happened last night in a flattering tone.

"...What are they arguing about?"

"Oh, pretty lady you don't want to know, that's gross...yes, it's gross, it makes even an old man like me blush, poor old Laciferis, whose daughter was kidnapped Afterwards, it seemed that not only was she not abused, but she was raised in a healthy way. How can she stand here now? They quarreled very fiercely, and finally the old Laciferis said to his daughter, you are no longer pure, you are no longer pure. If you are defiled, no one will want you anymore, even if you are sold to a brothel, you will not be able to sell for much money, I have raised you for more than ten years, and you will be my wife in the future."

"How can he say such a thing?! That is, that is his daughter!"

Tina was completely stunned.

Everything she heard here challenged her common sense and understanding. A twisted door seemed to be slowly opening. Behind the door was another abnormal world that made her suffocate and nauseated.

"Daughter? Oh ladies, old Raciferous has spent his life dissecting fish in this street, and he's ugly and stupid, and no woman would take him, let alone a classy woman."

But the old man took a look at Ting Na, and saw a mouth full of cracked yellow and black teeth.

"He picked up that girl from nowhere, old Laciferis kept muttering when she was young, wait until a few more years, and a few more years, when the girl grows up, he will sell her to the Temple of Pan The "Yellow Compass Grass and Sand Boat" on this street, or the "Peacock Butt" on this street, sell a gold coin, or dozens of silver coins, so that he can leave here..."

Tina couldn't say anything.

She had never really experienced poverty, and even the old town of Salt Sand City had never staged such absurd dramas that challenged her conscience. She even raised her head to see if the Saigon Sun was still hanging in the sky.

But the dazzling light just indifferently shines on everything and everything.

"After that, I didn't hear anything, but when I woke up this morning, I saw old Laciferis sitting on the stall in a daze. I asked him what was going on, but he didn't say anything, wait for me When I turned around twice and got two copper coins, I wanted to buy a small fish from him, and when I grilled it by the light somewhere, the guard told me that both old Lacifaris and his daughter committed suicide..." Said Here, the old man sighed.

"I don't know who brought this girl back. No matter what you do anywhere, it's better than here..."

"...Ai..."

The witch nodded calmly and looked at her apprentice. Ai, who hadn't spoken all this time, just silently looked at the dirty hut by the pier and the dilapidated paving. The city guards carried out two wet corpses from the house. Mosquitoes and flies were flying around them, with only two dirty cloths covering their faces, but the passers-by on the street seemed to take no notice of it.

"...You... haven't thought about leaving?"

She clutched Tina's skirt tightly.

"Where can we go if we leave? Almost no one can read here, and even the priests of the temple only come to preach once a year, and no matter where we go, we will be driven back in the end. Who among those decent people is willing to accept us Woolen cloth?"

Ai Moran listened to the old man's words. After a long silence, she took out a silver coin from the interspatial storage ring and handed it to him.

Amidst the beggar's repeated thanks, she turned to the silent witch with a deep sense of weariness.

"Master Liliana... I need to breathe..."

"……Um."

The witch nodded.

After a while, the witch led them away from the smelly street.

On the top of the hill, the gorgeous temple welcomes neatly dressed people, the priests are proclaiming the gospel of God, believers are praying to drive away disasters, and the flock of sheep symbolizing the family of the shepherd walks in the temple, leisurely chewing the grass moistened by the summer rain leaf.

Looking from the well-manicured gardens to the sea, the beautiful city-state enjoys the blessing of the sun. In the direction of the land outside the city, large tracts of farmland are full of green under the warm wind in late spring and early summer.

"……feel better now?"

"Well, I'm fine, Master Liliana..."

Sitting on the bench, Ai, who was hugging Alice, buried her face in the doll girl's chest. Alice stroked her hair and sighed softly.

"Don't think too much, Ai, this is not your fault."

"I know, it's just...a little bit of a shock. Although I have thought about it before, the outside world is not as beautiful as the story my mother told me, Master Liliana. There must be dangers. There will be unpleasant things, I know it, but, I just..."

Ai raised his head and forced a smile.

"I'm fine, I know, I'm fine..."

"...「The world is beautiful. The world is not beautiful.」"

The witch suddenly spoke softly.

"Eh?"

"...This is a proverb of the goblins. The translation is..."The world is extremely beautiful. The world is not beautiful." The second half of the sentence is not a negation of the first half. These two sentences are just juxtaposed, telling a fact. "

"I do not understand……"

"Even for elves with a long lifespan, there are many people who take hundreds of years to understand this sentence. Ai has just started traveling, so don't force it."

"Um……"

"... What are you going to do next?"

"It's good to be with Master Liliana..."

"...Then, go back and continue the alchemy course..."

"Lily..."

"...Ai, Miss Tina, where should we go for a walk?"

"Ah ha ha……"

After the conversation came to an end, Tina turned her head to look in the direction they came from.

"...the world is beautiful. Isn't the world beautiful...?"

The girl murmured.

The earthy gray block, hidden by the flower beds of the temple, was out of sight.