35

Dark clouds covered the sky.

The lighthouse was hidden in the darkness, like an old man with one foot in the grave. The top of the lighthouse was dim, and the flame of life was about to be extinguished.

Birds screeched and fled up and down in the storm. It was hard to tell if they were seagulls or crows. They crashed into the city wall, and the dirty blood was washed away by the heavy rain.

The dark and strict castle stood under the thunderstorm. The lightning was threatening, as if it was the castle's vassal, warning any creatures to come near.

Was the sea breeze crying out for them?

No, it was the spirit that was crying. It was crying for its own injustice, for its own tragic death, and for the injustice of the world. It was wandering outside the castle all day long, looking for the next unlucky person that it could possess.

The tall iron fence was stained with either blood or rust.

Countless people in the castle came here to escape, but they all failed on the way. They were caught by the jailers, their arteries were bitten by the hounds, they slipped and fell into the sea to be bitten by the sharks … The end was always in sight, but never reached. The prisoners were desperate gamblers, and they lost the biggest bet in their lives.

This was an island, this was hell, this was the Chateau d 'If.

Tachika Fujimaru was wearing a prisoner's uniform. The rain kept pouring into his collar and cuffs, as if it wanted to merge him into the water.

Why am I here?

The command spell on the back of his hand disappeared, and the magic circuit in his body was no longer painful. His body was also a few sizes bigger than before.

Tachika trembled and touched his chest. Under the thin prisoner's uniform, there were knife marks.

Who am I?

Tachika raised his head and saw the jailers and hounds in front of him. They seemed to be in slow motion. They were very close to him. The fishing net was wide open, and the long spears were piercing towards him. The beasts opened their bloody mouths.

Tachika's pupils clearly reflected the fanatical expression on the human's face. He stood still.

What was waiting for him was eternal damnation?

Suddenly, a clap of thunder exploded in his ears. It was like a human's roar, like the guidance of fate, like the evening bell of redemption.

"Wake up, the Green Crutch fell!"

Li Xiang, who was on the verge of death, sat up in shock, "Green crutch?

Who?

Director Ken or Chen Gong? "

However, there was no such thing as a green crutch in front of him.

Tachika found himself in the darkness with his back against the wall. His left leg was in so much pain that he was about to lose all feeling.

He touched it with his hand and found that it was swollen.

He only sprained his ankle after falling from such a high place?

Tachika suspected that his Luck had reached EX. Perhaps he could even help offset the Gunner's E Luck.

But … what about Hasebe, who fell with him?

It was so dark that he couldn't even see his fingers in front of him. Even the air had a rotten smell. He was afraid that he had fallen into some kind of secret passage. There were bugs, ghosts, and monsters …

Tachika had goosebumps all over his body. At this time, a hand was placed on his shoulder, scaring Tachika so much that he cried out, "Ahhh!"

"… Why are you shouting so loudly? It's me."

Eh?

Tachika thought he was hallucinating. He pinched his thigh and cried out in pain again.

"— — Why are you here, Count?"

36

"How have you been, my co-conspirator?"

The Count that Tachika mentioned, the King of the Grottoes, the Count of Monte Cristo, Edmond Dantès, appeared without saying a word. Tachika was not only surprised, but also puzzled. How long had he been following him?

"You haven't met the king who always laughs all day long, right?"

"Don't you laugh all day long yourself …" Tachika couldn't help but complain. "No, you found me at that time. Why didn't you show up?"

The man flipped open the lighter with a "pa" sound. This time, Li Xiang finally saw him. He had short gray hair that was slightly curled up, golden eyes that were bright even in the dark night, a handsome but cold face, and as always, an avenger?

Flame, it was the Count himself.

Count lit a cigar. "I have to investigate some issues. It's inconvenient for me to show up."

No, you took out a lighter to light a cigarette. Don't you plan to use it for light?

Count seemed to be able to read his mind. "I can't find anything that can be used as a torch."

Then why did you light a cigarette?

"I can see clearly in the dark.

I'm an avenger born from the darkness. It's ridiculous that I don't have the ability to do that. "

After a rustling sound, Tachika heard him say in front of him, "Come up."

"You, you, you want to carry me?"

"Why," he couldn't hide the teasing in his laughter. "Do you want to be carried in a princess carry?"

The man said and was about to turn around to take action. Tachika quickly felt around in the dark and lay on the man's broad back.

He patiently waited for Tachika to find a comfortable position. When he was done, he took his master's knee and deliberately avoided the injured part.

Tachika hugged his neck. The smell of tobacco made Tachika feel at ease.

Every time he encountered a tricky situation, Count would always be the first to appear. He was indeed the best boyfriend on the moon.

"Where are we going now?"

Count answered vaguely with a cigarette in his mouth, "To find an exit."

Tachika thought for a moment and asked, "Lord Count, what did you do with the real Hasebe?"

Hasebe, who was originally in the same situation as himself, disappeared without a trace. Instead, the Cave King took his place. Obviously, "Compressional hasselblad" had been replaced before or during the departure.

A suppressed laughter rolled out of his throat. If it weren't for the fact that he had to prevent the cigar from falling, he would have laughed out loud. "Are you afraid that I'll kill him?"

"Funerary Deities can't be killed. Besides, you have no reason to do so."

"Interesting.

My co-conspirator, ignorance is bliss, but excessive ignorance will not continue to bring you good news. "

The man stopped and then chose one of the forks. "You have to face the naked truth."

37

Meanwhile, This Pill.

The tall building made of small blocks of wood swayed and was on the verge of collapse. However, the stress points were still being pulled away one by one, and the balance was becoming more and more precarious.

Tsurumaru Kuninaga concentrated and walked around the table. After observing for five minutes, he still shamelessly refused to take the wooden stick.

Candlestick Qie allowed him to act shamelessly and made another cup of tea.

Outside the window, the children left behind to guard This Pill were playing hide-and-seek in the courtyard. Qing Jiang and the others were playing inside, and the members of the second troop were preparing for the expedition.

It was a sunny day with a gentle breeze. It was really a good day.

"Ahhhhhh …!!!"

Except for this scream.

All the Funerary Deities in This Pill were attracted to the stable. Hasebe climbed up from a pile of horse grass with a dusty face and asked in panic, "What time is it now? Is Tachika safe? Has he been kidnapped?"

"Lord Tachika set off to the underground city with the first troop a few hours ago."

Izumi Morikansei's long hair fluttered in the wind. Seeing Hasebe's embarrassing appearance, she kept trying to hold back her laughter. "Did you oversleep and didn't go out with the first troop?"

"I didn't expect that Hasebe, who is always punctual, would sleep in …"

"Shh, Qing Guang, you're too loud!"

"Oh, oh, oh, the Hasegawa Tribe's sleeping fetish is really special, it's actually in the stables …" Qing Jiang calmly picked up the rake and began to clean up the scattered horse grass, "Do you want to move a bed here …"

Everyone was joking, but Hasebe was already covered in cold sweat. Only Candlestick Qie noticed his abnormality and quickly helped him up.

"What happened?"

Hasebe pursed his lips and threw out a sentence that scared the Funerary Deities to death.

"Lord Tachika must be in danger!"

The stable was suddenly silent.

Everyone stared at Hasebe, silently urging him to explain what was going on.

Hasebe was about to continue speaking when the door of the warehouse, which was far away from the stable, opened with a bang. The glittering Hero King rushed over as if he had sensed something. His face was so ugly that it looked like he was about to kill someone.

"Did something happen to the mongrel?"

The Funerary Deities looked at each other and swallowed their saliva in unison.

…

"— That's about it."

The Hero King was so angry that he wanted to slam the tea table. Fortunately, Little Fox Ball was quick enough to pull the table in his direction. Otherwise, this old piece of wood would have been killed and turned into slag on the spot.

"You said that someone disguised as you got close to the mongrel and even went out with him?

Ha, don't make This King laugh! "

Gilgamesh's patience was limited. He felt that Compressional Hasselblad was simply spouting nonsense and shirking responsibility. "Then tell This King, do you have an Assassin here who can do such a thing?"

The Funerary Deities were dumbfounded.

What was Assassin?

It was clear from their expressions that it was more reliable to ask if there was a second Compressional Hasselblad than to ask them such a question.

However, if they obtained the same sword when they went out, unless Tachika summoned them again, the Funerary Deities would not awaken.

Because Tachika's spiritual power was limited, the duplicate swords he obtained were all placed in the storage. There was no possibility of a second machine appearing for the time being.

Could it be that the Funerary Deities had awakened by themselves?

According to Hasebe's explanation, that person had knocked him out and left him in the stables when he was unprepared. If they were both Compressional Hasselblad, the change in personality shouldn't be too far apart. Why would he do something like "I hit myself"?

Everyone fell into deep thought and ignored the angry king. In the end, the king couldn't take it anymore. He suddenly stood up and walked towards the torii.

"Hero King -sama?" Qie Guangzhong had a bad feeling.

Tachika had told him to keep an eye on the king because the king was a very honorable guest, and his status was the same as his own.

Now that Tachika's life was uncertain, if something happened to this lord, how could they bear the charge of disloyalty?

The king stood in front of the gear table with his arms crossed, raised his face, and ordered in a tone that brooked no argument, "Tell This King how to use this device!" Hasebe quickly stood up. "Hero King -sama, you can't touch that device!

Are you going to find Lord Tachika? Then I'll go with you — "

"…"

The king glanced at him arrogantly, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Hasebe changed his tone and solemnly requested again, "You are an important companion of Lord Tachika. Since Lord Tachika isn't here, you are our king.

Please allow us to accompany you. We will definitely find the whereabouts of Lord Li Xiang for the King! "

"Heh, This King has no interest in being your king. Don't think too highly of yourself, you bastard!" The king turned around to face the torii. "This King only needs a pointer to lead the way. Remember!"

And so, the Hero King and the second unit set off for Osaka Castle in order to find Tachika, who might be in danger.

38

The dark labyrinth seemed to have no end. Only the sound of Tachika and Count's breathing could be heard in the silent passage.

Count's pace was steady and light. He was just short of telling Tachika a bedtime story. Tachika was so comfortable that he was about to fall asleep on Count's shoulder. If it weren't for Count's sudden call, Tachika would have fallen asleep.

"Hmm?

You're asking me where I get my leisurely confidence from?

It's all because Edmond is here. "

Tachika was about to slide off his back. Count had to ask the others to hold him tighter. He was in a good mood as he continued Tachika's words. "That magician should have told you not to let down your guard against servants, right?

Tachika, at the end of the day, the Valiant Spirits obey you only because of the restriction of the command spell.

The Valiant Spirits are like tigers that are difficult to control. If they get out of the reins, you'll be helpless. "

"Will Edmond be disobedient?"

"Who knows? I'm an avenger from the other side of hatred." The man threw the extinguished cigar aside. "If you cry and beg me like a helpless, pitiful person, I may be tempted by my vanishing compassion and obey you for the time being.

Well, this question is not up for discussion. The answer is — completely impossible. "

"You're like an old man teasing a high school girl."

"But you're not. You'll never have the chance to be a high school girl again, right, Tachika?"

Tachika was silent.

When he became a master, he naturally gave up the possibility of returning to an ordinary life.

But sometimes, he would miss and think, if he didn't get on the blood-drawing car and come to Chaldea, his life, the future of mankind, what would it be like now?

There was no if.

It was not that he was looking for regret medicine, and he had never backed down because of any decision. It was just … a little regretful.

That was all.

The count felt that the person on his back was suddenly depressed, so he brought up another topic.

"Tachika, do you know where we are now?"

"… Isn't it the underground city?"

"Logically speaking, yes."

Tachika sensed something unusual. "Have we been 'led'?"

Count did not answer but told Tachika about the past. "Do you still remember the time when you were under the Magic King's evil gaze and your consciousness was imprisoned in the Prison Tower for seven days?"

"Yes."

Tachika opened the box of memories after hearing his words. "If I didn't defeat the seven rulers of the Judgment Room, my soul would forever drift between the Prison Tower and Chaldea … But what does this have to do with this time?"

The Magic King was dead, and the Demon God Pillars were all annihilated. How could there be a second Prison Tower?

"This is where the anomaly lies."

The man suddenly lifted his leg and kicked forward. The heavy iron door was forced open, and the eyes that had adapted to the darkness had to quickly close when they saw the light.

Tachika hugged Count with one hand and covered his eyes with the other. After a while, he dared to look out through the gaps between his fingers.