Naily had to admit these two were incomparable.
Gerard quickly returned carrying Melissa, who had her eyes closed and was unconscious. Just as Naily’s heart tightened, the magician calmly broke the suspense: “She’s just asleep.”
“It’s good that she’s fine,” Naily smiled, making space for Melissa by the fire, and stood up. After walking a few steps, she turned back and asked Gerard: “Do you know where we are?”
He tilted his head: “I don’t know.” He looked even more innocent than Naily: “Gerard is familiar with every inch of Kalinsiya, but knows nothing about the north. Even the elemental spirits cannot tell me our location.”
They couldn’t even determine if they had crossed the Mermaid Sea. Naily quickly pondered a solution: Unable to seek help from the system, she could only ask nearby people about their location and then make plans.
Now they could only wait for Melissa to wake up.
Gerard paced back and forth, asking: “May I ask how you and the hero came to be… with him?”
Naily forced a laugh: “The hero found this teammate himself. I’m not clear about the details.”
The magician’s cat-like yellow eyes narrowed slightly, and he gave a light laugh: “Interesting.”
“Do you know something?” Naily looked up.
Gerard said casually: “Gerard only heard that this imposter actually requested to leave the Sage Tower, but the transmission array had a problem at the last moment, and his whereabouts became unknown.” He gave a mocking smile: “Please don’t misunderstand. Gerard is in Nafale not because of a transmission array error, but because the Marquis entrusted him with an important task.”
Naily was silent for a moment before speaking: “Regarding Carl… do you know anything more?”
Gerard narrowed his eyes meaningfully: “Unfortunately, Gerard has no interest in deeply understanding this imposter, so I cannot provide the intelligence you want.” He seemed to remember something, pinched his fingers, and conjured a strange coin. Leaning slightly, he presented the golden coin to Naily.
It was an unusual coin with an emerald embedded in the center, shining brightly. Ancient text was etched around the gem’s edges. Just by color, it was the embodiment of Gerard’s hair and eye color.
“Since you currently have no tasks to entrust to Gerard, when you eventually think of something, you can use this coin to find Gerard in Kalinsiya. Wherever there’s a magician, Gerard will know you’ve decided on a third matter.”
After dropping this statement, Gerard stepped back, spread his hands, and suddenly vanished into thin air, leaving Naily stunned for a moment.
At this time, someone grabbed Naily’s hand.
Carl had awakened.
“Sorry for saying something strange.” The youth’s voice was somewhat hoarse. He rarely revealed the emotions deep within his heart, appearing bewildered and at a loss. He slowly and hesitantly chose his words: “When I woke up, I couldn’t remember anything. The sage said I was an apprentice of the Sage’s Tower, severely injured in a magical accident.”
Karl seemed to let out a light laugh: “I only know I want to seek revenge in the demon’s lair, but I have no idea why or for whom, whether the enemy is the Demon King.”
Naily involuntarily turned around, staring blankly at him.
Karl gazed back, his eyelashes the same color as his hair, with light spots falling into his deep red eyes, unable to blend into his cold gaze.
It seemed that everything in the world, like these golden light spots, could not enter the magician’s eyes. What he looked at, what he was obsessed with, was the distant, ethereal grudge.
“But I don’t care if I can have my revenge,” he said, his tone no longer weak but indifferent, “I just want to know who I really am.”
He wanted to meet Naily’s gaze, seeking confirmation or obstruction in her eyes.
Naily struggled, hastily averting her eyes, but eventually met his gaze.
“That’s all,” Karl repeated softly, but the seeking in his eyes had disappeared.
After opening his heart for the first time, Karl showed no further expression, appearing uninterested in Naily’s reaction. He silently lowered his eyes, then turned sideways to face the campfire, saying nothing more.
Naily was unsettled by his sudden confession, staring blankly into the firelight.
For a moment, she was almost certain that the person lying by the fire was Karlsas. This strong intuition had appeared when she first saw him, resurfacing now and bringing her a pleasure so intense it was almost painful.
The assumption that Karlsas was right beside her actually made her feel more at ease.
A voice deep in her heart, which she had been suppressing, rejoiced at the thought that the system had not completely eliminated the off-track Demon King; he still existed.
Naily’s gaze slid to the youth’s back. There could be no better opportunity than now. As long as he falls asleep, and she raises her knife, with just one strike, everything could end.
But if she was wrong… what if he was just an unlucky magician? Did she really have the resolve to kill indiscriminately rather than let anyone go?
The sky was unusually clear, as if one could reach out and touch the cool celestial river, grab those flickering stars, and read the future from their trajectories.
Naily tilted her head back, her breathing becoming unsteady. She dared not inquire further into herself: Moreover, even if Karl was Karlsas, could she bring herself to act?
Starting over from zero, Naily gave herself no chance to organize her emotions. What she saw after holding that key was complex and intense; she wasn’t sure how to approach these memories. She had loved Karlsas enough to become a half-demon and was willing to die for him; but she also hated Karlsas for his obsession, coldness, and selfishness. Her hatred was vivid enough to make her tremble, yet she couldn’t conclude whether she still harbored any love for Karlsas.
Furthermore, Naily carried a heavy guilt.
She hated herself for getting involved with the Demon King on a whim; regretted that she could have stopped many times but only sank deeper; she felt profound remorse for the unintended destruction caused to innocent people. But in the deepest part of her heart, she was not entirely wavering about her unequivocal choice; she felt apologetic to Karlsas.
She had indeed pushed him to the extreme; she was equally culpable.
If she had to choose again, Naily was unsure if she could choose the world once more.
And now… Naily stole another glance at the figure by the fire, her heartbeat involuntarily quickening because of this familiar silhouette. Even in a second life with no knowledge, she would still be drawn to him. Let alone now, with all memories restored? How would she interact with this magician in their future adventures?
Naily desperately tried to drive these introspective and depressing thoughts from her mind, but the sea’s low murmur only further stirred her inner tide.
At the moment of her turbulent emotions, a red light suddenly brightened in the coastal forest, followed by an earth-shattering movement.
Melissa was startled awake, sitting up abruptly, looking around and immediately asking, “Where’s the sea monster?” Seeing Naily and Karl, her voice stopped, looking somewhat embarrassed as she scratched her hair, “It’s great that you’re both okay!”
“She frowned and thought for a moment, looking troubled, “Who else was there…”
“Mr. Gerard,” Naily sighed in relief, temporarily setting aside her own matters. “He has already left. We’ve arrived at the Balkan coast, not far from Harga Fortress.”
“Looks like we’re pretty lucky. The goddess seems to be watching over me, haha,” Melissa laughed a few times, then looked toward the source of the disturbance, “What was that just now?”
Naily shook her head, “I’m not sure.”
Melissa stood up and stretched, looking energetic, “I’ll go check it out!”
