The Shadow Sprite wandered along the lakeshore without a care.
Annan took off his soaked Gray Robe, used the Cleaning Spell to dry it, and crouched by the lake. When he held out his hand, the Shadow Sprite darted over eagerly. Annan reached out to touch it.
"Do any of you have any Humanity left over to eat?" Annan asked the Oddities.
They all fell silent.
"...I'll pay you back double."
"Warden, I have some left." The Humanoid took a few fragments of its True Body from its evening clothes.
Annan took them and scattered them into the lake like fish food.
The Shadow Sprite gobbled up the fragments, circled Annan once, then swam toward the Belsa River.
At first, Annan thought it was going to bring something back. But after watching for a while, he realized it really had left.
Well... I thought even Oddities couldn't resist my charm. Turns out I'd just met an Oddity mercenary.
"While it's still noon, let's head to the Royal City."
Rescue the Princess and bring the Strange Tales City incident to an end. Help the Crimson Princess carry out her scheme and become her ally. Then attend the March festival in the Flower Capital. That would bring Annan's trip south to a perfect close.
No... not quite. He still hadn't encountered the Ratfolk.
Annan first followed the Skeleton King back to the Tomb and watched as he solemnly buried Little Boy's bones at the edge of the woods. Then Annan told the fat Noble, "I'm going to the Royal City once more. When I get back, I'll take you to the Flower Capital."
An inexplicable sense of dread rose in the fat Noble...
Annan picked up the flowerpot containing an Otherworld Tree Branch—the key to getting into the Royal City without trouble.