?
After decisively abandoning that small fortress on the Empire's border—and giving up the perfect opportunity to kill Vargas, commander of the Flame Dragon Corps, one of the Empire's four great legions—Elwynn, Hain, Liana, and the legendary archmage Jessica, who had joined them along the way, finally arrived before the abandoned ancient capital of the Kingdom of Baldia late that night, just before dawn.
By the time they entered Baldia Castle, built beside the lake, and approached the throne where the sealed holy sword was supposedly hidden by torchlight, the sky had already begun to brighten.
"Archmage Jessica!"
"Is the holy sword just ahead?"
After extinguishing the torch in his hand, Elwynn looked at the dawn shining obliquely through the ancient castle's windows, then at the quiet passage ahead. For some reason, he suddenly had a bad feeling.
"Mm."
"It was originally ahead, right there on the throne..."
"But now, I can't guarantee that."
Looking at the still-fresh footprints on the ground, Jessica's heart sank along with Elwynn's.
After discovering yesterday that the seal had been disturbed, she had immediately informed Elwynn and the others, then met up with them on the way and hurried here. But looking at the footprints on the ground, and seeing that their toes pointed both inward and outward, it was not difficult to guess that the situation she feared most had likely already occurred.
Even now, her insistence on going in to look was merely because she still clung to that final sliver of hope.
"I'm still a little worried."
"Look!"
"There are many fresh footprints on the ground. There aren't many people, but if Teacher Jessica's guess is correct, the holy sword was probably taken by someone not long ago."
Following behind, Hain studied the footprints on the ground and analyzed the situation