"It has indeed been a long time. Five years, to be precise..." Ignoring the strange expressions on Erza's and Sugarboy's faces beside him, Faust gazed solemnly into the eyes of the man before him. A trace of hesitation and fear flickered in his eyes, but he forcibly suppressed it. Drawing a deep breath, Faust slowly said in a low voice, "I came here for only one reason. I want to ask you—"
"Do you want to regain your freedom?! You legendary Demon Reaper—" Faust paused briefly, then stared fixedly into the man's eyes and slowly pronounced each syllable. "Achill!!!"
"You want to let me out?!" A terrifying gleam flashed through the black-haired figure's eyes. This was "Achill," the legendary Demon Reaper Faust had spoken of. He threw back his head and gave a mocking laugh, brimming with amusement. "Gahahaha! It looks like the Kingdom—no! The entire world of Edolas—is in trouble!! Otherwise, with how cautious you people are, you would never even consider letting me out unless you had absolutely no other choice!!! Hahahahahaha—"
Everyone fell silent. Once "Achill" had more or less finished laughing, Faust continued in a low voice, "Then do you want to get out or not, Achill?! I only want a definite answer—of course, if you're afraid, that's another matter!"
"Afraid?! You think I would be afraid?!! Gahahahahahaha! Don't parade that laughably childish provocation in front of me—" As though he had heard something hilarious, "Achill" could no longer restrain himself. He threw back his head and burst into another fit of wild, exaggerated laughter! Then his tone abruptly changed. His face, which had been grotesquely contorted with laughter, instantly became utterly calm. With a cold, indifferent expression, he slowly said, "Get out! Why wouldn't I?! I've long since had enough of this sunless place!! Since