Everyone in the church waited a long time, but neither "Gehrman Sparrow" nor "Bob"—that was, Klein and Odys—returned.
Since the church was no longer safe either, Danitz came out to look for them, hoping he might be able to help.
Instead, he happened to see Odys and Klein bare-chested. They had just been cutting away the rotten flesh formed by the curse.
Danitz said he had seen nothing, while thinking, These two really have some nerve. At a time like this, in a place like this, they still have the mood for that?
The scene immediately fell silent. Klein wanted to say something, but suddenly realized he had no idea what to say.
Just then, Odys suddenly said, "I suspect you've been cursed too. Take off your shirt!"
Danitz froze. "Huh? Ah... a curse?"
Klein also resumed Gehrman Sparrow's cold demeanor. "Take it off. Do you want to die here?"
Hearing the lunatic say that, Danitz hurriedly took off his clothes, realizing at the same time that he had misunderstood.
After he removed his shirt, Klein took the dagger from Odys. He held Danitz's shoulder with one hand and made a cut with the other, causing a thumbnail-sized piece of normal flesh to fall to the ground.
Danitz jumped from the pain. "Wh-what kind of curse is this?!"
Odys put on an act and scattered a handful of powder. Danitz's piece of normal flesh quickly dissolved as well. They were destroying the evidence.
As the three of them got dressed, Odys said, "If it isn't dealt with in time, you'll end up like those dried corpses, with your head and esophagus pulled out."
When Danitz saw that "Gehrman Sparrow" and "Bob" each had a thumbnail-sized wound on their backs, he immediately believed them. "Thank you."
Otherwise, he would have remained