Above the gray mist, within the palace supported by stone pillars, "The Sun" Deric swiftly recounted his experiences to "The Fool." "The Dark Angel" Sasselar... the names and titles of these angelic kings seem to have been washed away by the river of time, nearly forgotten. Had it not been for the discoveries made by the younger "Sun" in the land abandoned by the gods, and had it not been for encountering an ancient malevolent spirit believed to be the very essence of "The Red Angel," I would have known scarcely any of them—perhaps only the name of the family of Amun, but never delved into the "Profane Ones." Where is this "Dark Angel" now? Is he still alive? Is he still among the foremost of the "Red Rose of Redemption"? Kline felt a deep sense of reflection. Fearing that the young "Sun" might inquire about these matters and find him unable to answer, Kline instantly paused his thoughts, lounging comfortably against the back of his chair. "Your difficulties are now resolved. Your companions are on their way." Meanwhile, he never gave little "Sun" a chance to speak, cutting the connection right away. As for the question of how to explain little "Sun's" unusual circumstances if they were ever discovered, Kline didn't even feel the need to prompt him to fabricate an excuse. Isn't it quite normal for something strange to vanish, then reappear, accompanied by all sorts of odd occurrences? At this moment, Derek was deeply grateful that the "Fool" hadn't asked him more questions, for he had been afraid that once he had separated from that distinct afternoon in the town of Delyr, he would either be exposed to a lethal darkness or become the target of some hidden monster. Thus, he had been eager to quickly grasp his current physical situation in order to respond most effectively. Should the "Fool" have raised any questions, however, Derek would have answered them seriously and patiently. As his consciousness returned to his body, his senses rapidly resumed. He opened his eyes and saw before him a candle nearly burned down to its wick, the wick supporting a small flame that trembled slightly under the breeze. Then he noticed that "Chief" had appeared beside him, Heinrich standing tall and slightly behind, Joshua a step or two back with both hands resting on his red-gloved arms, watching him with guarded attentiveness. How long had they been watching me like this…? Although Deryck had already thought through his reasons above the gray mist, he still felt a bit uneasy and tense. Colin, with his prominent forehead lines, remained expressionless, gazing steadily at Deryck Berg, and in his usual tone asked, "What happened just now?" Derek didn’t answer immediately—that would have suggested he’d already rehearsed his words. Following the small technique taught to him by the Empress of the Tower, he paused for several seconds, speaking in a fragmented, reflective manner as if recalling and describing: “As soon as I entered the basement, I saw the altar. I thought it was an altar, and I tried to make out the words and symbols still visible there. I recognized three names, among them Ulrois, the Angel of Fate. Then, the light from the lantern suddenly went out. When I turned around to look back, Heinrich and Joshua were gone. I created light and stepped out of the basement to check outside—there, too, it was still afternoon in the town, yet many houses still had candles lit, as if people were still living there.” "I couldn't bring myself to leave this house and go back down to the basement, to try again what I had done before. Well, Chief, that afternoon in the town, the inscriptions on the altar were complete—there were three in total: one in Giant language, one in Dragon language, and a third one I didn't recognize. However, the first two conveyed the same meaning—namely, the titles and names of the three angels, and the phrase 'Redemption Rose.' Later, I found myself back here." He spoke the entire truth, complete and clear, though he omitted the details of how he had returned. Derek did not expect to fool the "Chief"—he had already prepared to be vague when questioned, attributing the anomaly to his own unfamiliarity and lack of understanding. This will certainly make the "Chief" suspicious, but both the "Penitent" gentleman and the "Audience" path's "Justice" lady have said he wouldn't ask many questions about similar matters. In fact, my unusual behavior will only make him value me more, seeing me as a pawn to balance the Elder Lovie's influence. The outside world truly is complex—only recently have I truly begun to grasp their thinking. Dariq found himself murmuring a few heartfelt thoughts in his heart. ——In the Silver City, where strength is fragile and a loss of it means immediate peril, such occurrences have been rare. Even when they did happen, they mostly centered within the "Six-Body Council." The first lesson the other extraordinary beings learned through patrols and adventures was cooperation. Colin nodded gently, walked to the altar, and went through each of Dariq's attempts as described, yet he did not vanish—remaining steadfast in his place. "It seems the remaining strength has fulfilled its purpose," the "Hunter of Monsters" murmured softly. There’s no need for me to invent any reasons… Dariq thought, a little embarrassed. Colin paused, then turned his head toward Dariq. “What are the titles of Medici and Sasriel?” “Red Angel and Dark Angel,” Dariq replied without hesitation. Colin nodded thoughtfully. “Among those few texts, the title ‘Red Angel’ is mentioned, though not with a specific name. As for ‘Dark Angel’ Sasriel, he completely fades from the long history.” Dariq had just been about to ask about the other Angel Kings when he noticed the candlelight at the entrance of the basement dimmed slightly, as if a shadow were approaching from outside. “Let’s get out of here first,” Colin said, equally aware of the change, speaking with caution. Dariq immediately moved toward Heinm and Joshua, forming a battle formation with them. But as he took a step forward, he noticed Heine moved two meters to the side, and Joshua raised his left hand, gloved in bright red, his face displaying clear caution, his gaze sharp with assessment. Daryl knew their reactions were entirely normal—there were specific teachings in the exploration courses: observe, don't engage too much when your companions have just emerged from an eerie situation! Yet he still hadn't been able to clearly explain how he himself had escaped that strange afternoon in the town. Daryl opened his mouth to explain, but then closed it again, silently. He felt both embarrassed and wounded, his lips pressed tightly together, holding onto the "Fury's Axe," and turned to follow the "Chief" from behind, stepping steadily out of the basement. The four of them moved quickly to the door, ready to step outside, only to be startled by the now darker, more somber appearance of the town outside—the once-gray, layered afternoon town seemed to have deepened in hue. Almost instantly, one candle after another flickered from windows across different houses, casting a soft, yellow glow—some isolated, some connected—quiet and silent. ... Klein didn't linger long above the gray mist; he swiftly returned to the bathroom and collected the corresponding items. "Hope there's no further mishap at the little 'Sun' end, or else these frequent bathroom visits won't look too good. Those who know will understand it's a secret hiding in plain sight, while those who don't might think Germán Sparo has prostate issues. Honestly, it's a complete disaster for his image!" "Though I've fully absorbed the 'Faceless' potion, Rosagor, the Master of Secret Figures, rose through the ranks one sequence at a time. His exceptional trait must therefore also contain a portion of the 'Faceless' potion... Using this trait as my primary ingredient means I've effectively consumed not just one, but several bottles of the 'Faceless' potion, the 'Magician,' the 'Clown,' the 'Oracle,' and possibly even more." "Ah, I still need to adhere to the various rules I've previously summarized—otherwise, these excess components will overwhelm me." Klein prepared a glass of clear water, washed his face, and then stepped out of the bathroom. Just as he was considering whether dinner had arrived and reached for his gold-shell pocket watch to check the time, the room suddenly darkened, and his fingers nearly vanished in the dimness. Night had fallen again... the transitions were becoming increasingly irregular. What if a monster appeared, and a battle was already underway—what then, when the sky turned dark? Monsters are also beings—they should also need to sleep, otherwise they would likely vanish during the night… Hah, both parties, engaged in conversation, gradually lay down together, fall asleep, and wake up to continue. Isn’t this a story that can’t be described below the neck? After successfully advancing, Klein relaxed and offered a few comments before briskly heading toward his bed. Just as he lay down, he suddenly thought of a question: "The nights here are dangerous—beings who don’t sleep will disappear completely, vanishing without a trace. 'Stillness of the Gods,' as well as the darkness in Silver City, are equally perilous. If humans fail to dispel the darkness with light, they may vanish after just five seconds. This is remarkably similar… Could there be some connection?" Klein shook his head and, through meditation, entered a dream. In his dream, he had just woken up to find that his position had changed once again! The last time he had woken from his dream, he had been seated on a massive stone with Lady Galadriya cradled in his arms. Now, however, he stood at a stairwell entrance. The golden hour light filtered through the colorful glass above, illuminating the black staircases winding downward, adorned with intricate reliefs, and making them exceptionally elegant. By instinct, Caine turned to the side, and there, indeed, he saw Lady Galadriya standing at the stairway leading upward. The woman with the chestnut hair had shed her previous dress with the front opening; now she wore a white blouse with lace and ribbon accents, paired with a simple navy jacket, and her usual beige trousers and black leather boots. Though Caine believed that the combination of trousers and boots might occupy an entire wardrobe—or even an entire room—of her. "What is it?" Caine asked promptly. Lady Galadriya gently stroked the handrail as she descended slowly: "Confidence can sometimes be a flaw. You've placed too much trust in that bronze whistle and that paper crane. Perhaps one day, your very confidence will become your vulnerability." Klein grew somewhat uneasy, though he did not show it: "I don't understand what you mean." "The queen of mystery" repeated: "Confidence can sometimes be a flaw. Gardeleia placed too much faith in the seal she gave to Hisdal. If I hadn't joined the ship, Nina would have died, Frank Lee would have died, and so would she—only you might have survived." "In fact, that seal couldn't block the murmurs that permeate this sea, could it? So Hisdal would undergo transformation?" Klein keenly picked up the subtle implication. "The queen of mystery" nodded: "Normally, it can. But do you know who the murmurs that fill this sea actually come from?" Without waiting for Klein to respond, she simply stated the answer: "The true Creator."