"How would we know if we don't try?"
Shade stood in the stable and said:
"Once I've dealt with the Demon, I'll go to the Heart of the Earth to find you."
"Before that, I'm afraid there will be some other matters."
The Guardians watched Shade:
"Even if hundreds of souls join together to resist the Earth's twisted power, and even if the Heart of the Earth protects me, by the time you see this Clay Avatar, I will probably have already descended into madness."
"Mm."
"I will do my best to seal myself underground, but there is also a chance that I will break free from beneath the earth and become... some terrifying evil thing."
Shade was not surprised in the least:
"Is there a way to reverse it?"
"If the power of the Heart of the Earth can return to normal, I can return to normal as well."
The Guardians said expressionlessly.
"That is impossible. The purpose of holding the ritual is to restore the Heart of the Earth to normal."
"Then there is another way to let me temporarily regain consciousness—a new soul can become part of the Guardians."
Shade frowned at him:
"You left behind so many clues. Is there really no suitable candidate now?"
"The Demon's hostility toward me over the past century has caused certain problems with the Guardians' Inheritance. Since La Ses joined several decades ago, no more suitable candidates have appeared. But there are still two now."
"Stone Osenfott and Siris La Ses, right?"
Shade gave the answer he had already known. The Guardians nodded slightly:
"Besides them, a very special young woman recently came from the Northern Kingdom. She would also be suitable. You have met her. Seventeen years old, long brown hair, and her surname seems to be Beias. But