"Together?"
Faced with the Duchess's question, Fu Qian showed no hint of embarrassment at being caught. He simply pointed into the distance.
She'd appeared right on time. She must have been waiting here all along, and she clearly knew what he was after. There was no point in hiding it.
The Duchess had obviously never expected Fu Qian to be so frank. For a moment, she just stared at him.
"Didn't you hear what the priest said? This is extremely dangerous!"
"I know. But at a time like this, we shouldn't pass up even the slightest hope, should we?"
Fu Qian smiled at her.
"Don't you think so too? Or did you drop everything else and come here just to lie in wait for me?"
"Either way, I'm going. Unless you lock me back downstairs."
"Let's go."
The Duchess fell silent for a moment, as if debating whether to insist. In the end, she let out a heavy sigh.
"The tunnel was sealed off a long time ago. We'll have to find another way."
"I was born in the town as it is now, so I have no memories of the Old Town."
In the darkness, the Duchess led the way, speaking softly.
"What I know about it comes only from a few written records and what the elders in my family told me."
"But even those limited accounts make it clear how dangerous that place is. You must follow my lead once we get there."
"Understood."
The Duchess had clearly prepared in advance. It took her almost no time to find their bearings.
They hurried through the trees, and soon the temperature began to plummet.
Frost had already formed on the leaves and rocks around them.
It was a good thing he'd leveled up earlier. Otherwise, he might