I’m more worried now because you have a gun.
When you reach the age when you don’t need a gun, I will be at ease to have you carry me through the dungeon.
[TN: “Carrying” is a term used in team games where one person wins the match for everyone else.]
Annan stuffed the complaints down his throat and didn’t voice it out blatantly.
Instead, he nodded slightly and held Benjamin’s sleeves. His reserved and weak act effectively induced Benjamin’s youthful desire to protect.
He felt Benjamin’s body flinch a little.
Having Evelyn holding his cuff, the youthful Benjamin didn’t dare to move at all.
He was likely worried about accidentally throwing away Evelyn’s hand that was holding his cuff. Hence, his arm was hanging in the air, motionless.
What a fool. Annan couldn’t help but sigh from the bottom of his heart.
This is a great opportunity. When a girl gently holds your cuffs or corners of your clothes and seemingly could let go at any second, it’s your opening to hold her hand.
If she can hold onto you tightly, would she still need you to hold her hand?
Benjamin didn’t have the guts. Of course, it could also be because he was too innocent and couldn’t read the signals.
What an innocent child… Annan sighed again.
However, this also revealed another clue for Annan at the same time.
“Evelyn” should be a person with low self-esteem.
It was understandable given that she was an outstanding teenage dancer, but her face and skin were ruined. Even though her future was gone, she didn’t give up on her life. In some sense, that was commendable.
Annan could also feel it when he was controlling her body. Although she had left the stage, she had not neglected her daily practice.
Otherwise, her body wouldn’t be so flexible, and her footsteps wouldn’t be so light.
In this case, if Benjamin shook Evelyn’s hand away by accident, it might be a blow to her self-esteem.
Benjamin’s left arm was stiff. He didn’t even dare to walk continuously but stopped for every two steps to make sure Annan could keep up.
That’s too much trouble. Annan took the initiative and held Benjamin’s hand.
Facing Benjamin’s surprised gaze, Annan showed a soft and firm expression on his face, “I want to take a look.
“I think She should be here.”
“…Alright.” Benjamin hesitated as if he couldn’t bear “Evelyn’s” troubled state.
However, he still took out his gun, held Annan’s hand tightly, and marched into the church ruin filled with cobwebs.
Annan keenly captured Benjamin’s fleeting emotions.
He quickly realized that Benjamin should have been to this place before.
Annan roughly sorted out the clues of the matter.
—”Evelyn” might have lost her memory for a while.
Judging from Benjamin’s reaction, Evelyn should have met the Dancer Under the Moon. She then wanted to find the Pale Princess and discovered the location of the church ruin.
She told Benjamin about the incident, hoping that Benjamin would come with her.
Not surprisingly, Benjamin should have come to explore it by himself before she came—probably with his parents and others. So, he should have known in advance that there should be no danger here, but the person or thing that Evelyn was searching for wasn’t here either.
This should explain where Benjamin got the weapon and how his family could be assured to have a young man like him go out with a gun.
It was simply because his family had already accompanied Benjamin here once, knowing that this was only a “ruin”.
However, was there really nothing here?
Not really.
Annan heard the “voice” clearly.
“—Did you go to Her Highness’s ball last night?”
“—Yup.”
“—Why not? It’s such a grand ball.”
It was as if one man and two women were chatting among themselves while passing by Annan and Benjamin.
Annan looked at Benjamin subconsciously and realized that he was inching forward cautiously with his gun, which the safety pin hadn’t yet been unlocked. Strangely enough, he didn’t hear the conversation at all.
As he noticed Annan’s gaze, he turned his head curiously, “What’s wrong?”
“Thank you so much.” Annan naturally wouldn’t reply, “nope, nothing.”
If he had done that, those “voices” would notice Annan could see them.
So Annan changed the subject and said casually, “Thank you.”
“…Ah, ah. It’s okay. I just came to accompany you… No, no. I mean, it’s not a big deal.” Benjamin coughed a few times and replied incoherently.
He also sneaked a glance at Annan, obviously not knowing whether his answer would satisfy the girl.
Annan ignored him completely.
He just nodded, indicating that he heard it. At the same time, he was still listening intently to the “voices” around him.
“—Huh, isn’t that little girl…”
“—Um. I saw her yesterday.”
“—What a pity…”
“—She is a good dancer. Her Highness will be fond of her.”
“—Her Highness cares more about a pure and bright soul.”
“—Let’s not forget she also has a pure heart!”
“—So what…”
In front of Annan, this was a half-collapsed ruin.
Some columns lay on the floor. The ground was covered with dust and gravel. All the decorations were taken away, and there was no light.
However, many voices could be heard discussing him—or instead, commenting on “Evelyn”.
Annan didn’t see anything.
Benjamin still did not hear these voices.
Are those voices from the Pale Princess’s ghosts?
Annan seemed to realize something in his heart.
He had some speculations about the ending of “Evelyn”.
Did she get transformed into a “Half-dead Enchantress” in the end?
When Annan walked near the basement, he subconsciously looked to the left.
The head of the soldier statue had gone missing. The soldier statue was also pushed to the ground, covered with dust.
That painting that blocked the entrance into the secret room wasn’t here anymore either.
—The path leading to the secret underground room was also opened up.
“Do you want to explore the basement?” Benjamin spoke in a slightly hoarse voice.
He hesitated for a while, then pulled out a palm-sized metal box from his pocket.
He opened the metal box and took out a hollow silver lantern about two fingers wide. After the lantern was unfolded, it was connected to the metal box with an iron chain, which looked like a pocket watch.
Benjamin vigorously rotated the lantern’s head. After turning it for three complete circles, he finally ignited the flame in the lantern.
He carried the hollow lantern like a pocket watch. Although a green flame was burning inside, only bright yellowish brilliance shone from it.
Benjamin bragged, “This is the Green Fire, Evelyn!
“It’s not the same as Black Fire… It can be used as a stable light source.
“I heard that Swamp’s Black Tower will soon spread the Green Fire Lamp to the public. In that case, we will no longer use candles at night!”
Benjamin’s hoarse voice during the teenage period revealed a trace of longing, “I want to go to Black Tower too, Evelyn!
“Did you know that the wizards who made the Green Fire were called alchemists in ancient times? They can even turn stones into gold! The ointment is also their work…
“I think… I mean, if we can’t find any clues here, don’t worry too much.”
Benjamin, who was walking down the stairs, said seriously, “If I can enter the Black Tower, I will invent an ointment that can treat your injury!”
When he said this, he held Annan’s hand tightly again.
Annan looked at Benjamin. His gaze was a little evasive at first, but he quickly became firm and looked back at “Evelyn,” who was suddenly silent.
He was a little nervous, waiting for “Evelyn”‘s response.
Annan was in a trance, feeling the power of time.
It turns out that Benjamin’s motivation to become an Alteration Wizard is right here?
To become a Gold Rank, one must have a strong desire for it. Is this Benjamin’s desire?
Benjamin, at today’s age, definitely can do so. Not to mention the scars left by the fire, even if the skin is peeled off, he should be able to heal it easily.
But…
Where is Evelyn now?
Annan had a bad hunch because he suddenly remembered the keyword of this dungeon instance was “dead”.
—So, who is dead?
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Credits to MindMatrix for editing this chapter and improving the readability.