Isabella Had Even Started Manipulating the Machine Soul

Theus froze. Why was this happening?

After hesitating for a moment, he still let his will continue extending inward. He had come to speak with Isabella, and he had yet to even see her.

He had assumed that aside from the Machine Soul, Isabella would be the only one inside the furnace. Yet the next person Theus came into contact with was...

"Bazel?"

Theus instinctively became wary. Although he had yet to encounter anything capable of harming him on a soul level, there was no harm in being cautious.

Especially considering Bazel hated him to the bone.

Yet there was not a trace of hatred in Bazel's gaze. Instead, it was somewhat similar to the Machine Soul's, closer to...

Relief?

Now Theus was confused. No, what exactly had you all gone through inside this furnace?

Was this place really that terrifying?

Then Isabella hadn't met with any mishap, had she...

After all, Theus was contacting them through his will. Communication between souls could not be faked.

As he thought this, Theus saw another girl.

The girl's features were somewhat blurry. Just as Theus was about to call out Isabella's name, he suddenly felt that something was wrong.

The Empress of the Empire had fiery red hair and eyes of the same color. Her entire presence was incomparably sharp.

But although he could not make out the girl's features, she did not possess that unsheathed-blade-like feeling.

She was the exact opposite. Her entire being felt especially... lost.

As though she were standing in the mist, unsure where to go, not even knowing whether she should take a step forward. Completely and utterly lost.

Who was this?

Theus had no impression of her at all, yet he inexplicably felt a sense of closeness to her, one that came from his soul.

"That's