Shade stood up, but instead of walking toward Mr. Lathers, he walked toward the restored pulpit. He came beneath the holy emblem, placed both hands on either side of the lectern, and looked at the soul in the moonlight as though passing judgment beneath the emblem:
"Stone Osenfott is the Second Candidate. Your daughter, Miss Hillis La Ses, is the Third Candidate."
He paused, then asked:
"I have already told you the rules concerning the Chosen Ones and candidates. So is there a possibility that your daughter must be killed, and must die before Stone Osenfott, in order to prevent that man who made a contract with a Demon from becoming a Chosen One?"
"Yes, such a possibility exists. It is also related to its plan."
Mr. Lathers said. Shade immediately narrowed his eyes.
"I see. So that's how it is. I understand now. Then you people are actually..."
He did not say it aloud. Instead, he stared at the soul. All the questions he had harbored from his several encounters with the Guardians could now be answered:
"You are even more remarkable than I thought."
"Judging from what you have done, the truly remarkable one is you."
Mr. Lathers said calmly, looking at Shade beneath the holy emblem.
"Ordinary souls cannot protect this land. We merely did what we should have done. Compared to the Chosen Ones you described, you are more like—"
"No, I'm not."
Shade took the crimson gemstone and the key from his pocket.
"You recognize these, don't you?"
Mr. Lathers nodded gently.
"I had thought Hillis would be the one to find that place in the end. This is fine as well. The four gemstones can open that Graveyard, and that key can open the door in the Graveyard's depths. That door leads to the