Someone Needed an Answer

Amid the boundless silence and everyone's gazes, Little Barney frowned and looked behind the Execution Knight.

At the man who had suddenly appeared, leaning on his scabbard, with a brand on his face as well.

"It's you." Little Barney spoke softly, his voice carrying a hint of disdain.

At last, Sakrael, who had been listening silently all this time, sighed and slowly turned around.

He gave the person behind him a powerless smile:

"I'm glad you're all right."

"Semir."

The former Royal Guard's Vice Standard Bearer—the culprit who had brought the Calamity Sword here, and the person Yordel had just knocked unconscious—Colin Semir stood behind Sakrael, his cold eyes open.

Tales suddenly felt a pang of emotion.

Eighteen years had passed. The nine remaining former Royal Guard members, each bearing an ugly brand that would never fade, had reunited in the deepest, darkest, most gloomy, filthy, sunless place of all: Bone Prison.

At the sight of Semir, many people wore complicated expressions.

"Wow, everyone's here," Naki's voice cut in at an inopportune moment. His smile was strained, but Tales could tell he was trying hard to ease the atmosphere:

"Barney, Sakrael, and of course you too, Semir. I really think we old friends should sit down and—"

But Semir ignored them. He simply pointed at Sakrael, interrupting Naki:

"And him!"

"Revered Sakrael. The reason he kept his mouth shut and refused to say a word, choosing to answer with force instead..."

"Was that it concerned the deepest, filthiest, darkest secret in his heart."

Semir spoke one word at a time, yet every word seemed imbued with some kind of magic. Everyone's breathing grew ragged and labored, and the atmosphere in the room grew heavier.

Tales frowned as he watched Semir.

The latter let out a cold laugh, his gaze sweeping