Madness

In some ways, Baron Bird's map was far more accurate than the one Guiweite had provided.

Bird's map was still medieval in its detail, but its depiction of waterways and major changes in terrain was largely correct.

As Xia Lun planned a route for Bird, he quietly committed the entire map to memory.

"The Saint above, you know so much," Mamma Sally said admiringly. "I never imagined we could avoid those terrifying Undead altogether."

Bird said nothing. He merely stroked the Cenwood Cane and turned Xia Lun's plan over in his mind. After a long while, he sighed.

At that moment, even someone as cunning and suspicious as Bird began to doubt his own judgment.

Xia Lun seemed almost too selfless. As an Evil Spirit, he had neither eaten anyone nor led anyone to their death. He acted like a selfless Priest straight out of a religious tale.

If Bird had not seen Xia Lun's abyss-like mental state with his own eyes, he might have thought Xia Lun was simply a knowledgeable, helpful man with no selfish motives.

Perhaps I really misjudged him.

Bird closed his eyes and slowly exhaled.

But none of that mattered now. Xia Lun was about to leave the refugees.

His only regret was that the Duke's newly appointed Intelligence Chief had not arrived before Xia Lun's departure. That meant he could no longer pit the two Evil Spirits against each other.

"In short, this should let you avoid the Tombdeep Crusaders completely, though it means taking a longer route," Xia Lun concluded.

Before either of them could persuade him to stay, he opened the carriage door and left without a fuss.

The cold wind howled against Xia Lun's face. He looked around and found that the Baron's Guards, the militia, and even passing refugees were