Ailin, in Danger!

Otolan's eyes fixed on the ruby still stained with black blood, and his lips moved slightly.

"Wait!"

Malachi suddenly spoke up, interrupting Otolan.

Otolan turned to look at the young Sorcerer from the Ban Ard Ritualists.

The companions around the young Sorcerer tugged at his sleeves, trying to stop him.

Senne frowned as he stared at him as well.

But under everyone's gaze, Malachi swallowed and ignored Senne's look. "I suspect the owner of this ruby is the being who created the Conjunction of the Spheres..."

Malachi took a deep breath and said solemnly, "It may be an Evil God!"

The battered Withering Woods fell silent at once. Only the mountain wind howled through the forest, rustling the broken branches and fallen leaves.

Everyone's eyes gathered on Malachi. Cold sweat seeped from his forehead as he stared straight at Otolan.

Otolan narrowed his eyes and studied Malachi for a moment. Then he glanced at Senne, whose expression had grown even uglier, and burst into laughter.

"This child is worried about me. I never thought there would come a day when Otolan would be worried over by a child."

Malachi was naturally no longer young enough to become a Sorcerer. In the Mortal World, he was old enough to be a grandfather, but compared to Otolan, he was hardly worth mentioning.

Even Senne was a child before him.

The Sorcerers of the Rissberg Civil Conglomerate around them immediately joined in with loud laughter.

For a moment, they seemed less like they were standing in the Withering Woods after a war and more like they were in some palace hosting a lively gathering.

At the same time, the Sorcerers of the Rissberg Civil Conglomerate shed their earlier indifference and smiled kindly at Malachi.

Senne narrowed his eyes. He tugged at the corner