"I wish you the best of luck, young adventurer. May you achieve what no one else has been able to."
With those final words from Idan, Edward stepped into the forest just beyond the village. If the village already carried a heavy, oppressive aura that weighed down on his body, then this forest felt like blades being driven into his flesh.
"There's no way a doppelgänger could've escaped after Lucas's end and the headmistress's cleansing," Edward muttered to himself, eyes scanning the eerie surroundings for any movement. Then he asked Noctua,
"What do you think is going on here? Aside from the curse, what kind of monster could be causing this? The effects alone would be enough to justify its extermination."
"Unfortunately, I can't give you an answer," Noctua's voice echoed in his mind. "The energy here is so chaotic, I can't distinguish anything clearly…"
As Noctua spoke, a sharp buzzing pierced the air—followed by a thin red line forming on Edward's cheek. Blood dripped.
