A new choice

Before Lovia could ask, she shook her head again. "As for the one who tempted Sasrir-I can't speak his name either."

That alone explained a great deal, and Lovia asked no further questions. In fact, she no longer had the time.

As the clergyman passed away, beastlike roars suddenly rang out, one after another, in the streets outside and throughout Afternoon Town.

An enormous face pressed against the window. It had a single distinctive eye, and its face was densely covered in short black fur.

Thud, thud, thud! A similar monster came charging out from within the church. It was the height of an ordinary human and had two eyes, but its body was likewise covered in short, beastlike black fur.

Lovia was about to order her people to stop it when Neph raised a hand. The monster charged straight toward the church doors as though it hadn't seen them at all. Lovia looked at Neph, who made a shushing gesture and said,

"Let's go outside."

After leading the Exploration Team out of Afternoon Town, Neph stopped. She turned to Lovia and winked.

"Cleaning up isn't my responsibility. I'll leave this place to you."

Lovia had no objections. She was curious about that power to pass through monsters unnoticed, and even longed for it-with an ability like that, exploration would become far easier for the City of Silver!

But Lovia asked no further questions. She watched Neph walk into Afternoon Town with the lantern, then gave an order.

"Don't split up. Stay with me. We'll try to investigate the monsters first."

With no one watching her, Neph naturally had no intention of walking back one step at a time. Within a few breaths, she stood before the illusory ocean and recited that ancient honorific name.

The illusory ocean parted.