Before the cracked stone wall where the Spirit Tree Forest had been breached, Nidhogg stood tall. Bloodhound's Fang in his hand was pointed diagonally at the ground.
He stared in that direction for a while, then turned, walked to the stone wall, grabbed the arrow that had pinned Morgan to it with one hand, and reminded, "Bear with it. It'll be over soon."
Before Morgan could react, he heard a SCHLICK! as Nidhogg easily pulled the arrow out with one hand.
He grunted and slid down the cracked stone wall.
Although Morgan's wound had been stopped from bleeding by Ivalera's scale powder, Nidhogg's sudden removal of the arrow caused the wound to bleed again.
The pain made sweat bead on his forehead. He couldn't even speak.
Nidhogg told Morgan to open his mouth, then poured a sip of Crimson Tears into it. Soon, Morgan's bleeding stopped again. The wound even noticeably shrank. The pain became much less.
"Thank you... thank you..." Morgan said to Nidhogg in a dazed manner.
"No need to thank me," Nidhogg replied.
Schierke, Farnese, and Ivalera watched this scene curiously, surprised and intrigued. The potion in the Flask seemed more effective than the little goblin's scale powder.
Seeing that Morgan was much better, Nidhogg put away his Flask and looked up at Schierke, Farnese, and Ivalera. "Long time no see."
In his eyes, the "spirit bodies" of Schierke and Farnese were not much different from ordinary ones, but they were close to pure white.
"Long time no see," Schierke smiled.
Ivalera fluttered before Nidhogg's eyes like a little butterfly. "It's great that you're back at such a time! We're short on people!"
Farnese remained silent, a little embarrassed.
The main reason was that before Nidhogg left, she had been quite resistant to magic. But now, a few months later, Nidhogg had returned, and although she had already learned magic, she couldn't help but feel a little awkward.
Nidhogg stared at her and said, "Farnese, I've brought your acquaintances."
"Acquaintances?" Farnese was a little puzzled. Following Nidhogg's finger, she saw three people emerging from the forest.
The first was a woman with short chestnut hair, dressed in a grey-green cloak, her left eye closed. She had a beautiful appearance and a slender figure. Farnese didn't know her.
She was, naturally, Nidhogg's Finger Maiden—Melina.
However, the two men who came out later, Farnese knew. One was stout and burly, carrying a double-headed iron rod. The other looked like a fox, with a longsword at his waist. Both were in armor.
"Azan? Serpico?"
Farnese covered her mouth in surprise, not understanding why they were here.
The "Iron Rod Phantom" Azan and Farnese's "half-brother" Serpico, leading their horses, were talking with some embarrassment, having walked far, just as they had in the Holy Iron Chain Knights.
"I'm going to see Lord Farnese. Please take care, Lord Azan." Serpico, squinting slightly, sighed.
Azan looked at his dirty armor, a little bewildered. Then he looked at Serpico, shook his head, and said, "You're not much better. I think we should find a lake to wash up."
"Huh?" Serpico noticed he was also stained with mud, frowned, and complained, "It was fine before. Probably when you just rode through the mud, the mud splashed onto me too."
Azan waved his hand and retorted.
"Alright." Nidhogg timely interrupted their conversation and said with a smile, "Don't overthink it. Farnese is right before you."
Recently, they had been walking on the road to the Spirit Tree Forest. But Nidhogg suddenly dashed off in one direction without a word.
Azan and Serpico had no choice but to follow Melina, not understanding what was happening. When they suddenly heard Nidhogg mention "Farnese," they were stunned and looked around in confusion.
Only when Nidhogg signaled again did they look up and see Farnese floating in the air.
They had followed Nidhogg to travel between the real world and the Junction, and they didn't know how many magical monsters they had seen and fought. By this time, their level was different, and they could make out Farnese's spirit body.
Of course, they also saw Schierke and Ivalera, and saw them clearly.
"Lord Farnese!" Both Azan and Serpico couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. Their expressions became strange.
Floating... Farnese is floating in the air?!
Everyone saw that Farnese was now in a spirit body. The teachings of the Holy See had not taught this.
So, after months of separation, Farnese had already stepped into pagan magic with one foot?
Just like the two of them?
Azan and Serpico couldn't help but look at each other.
Farnese understood the meaning of their changed expressions. But fortunately, she was now in spirit form. Otherwise, her face would have turned red.
She only calmed down and asked, "Why are you here?"
"It's a long story," Serpico shrugged helplessly.
Azan simply shook his head, not knowing where to begin.
Farnese glanced at Nidhogg, understanding that this was related to him again.
However, compared to over half a year ago, her dissatisfaction with Nidhogg for forcibly taking her had long subsided. Now, she was even a little grateful. If not for this, she wouldn't have seen the new world of magic.
Since Azan and Serpico had also been dragged into the water, dragging them in might not be a bad thing.
Only then did Nidhogg raise the bloodied arrow in his hand, turn to Schierke, and ask, "Who shot this arrow? What happened here?"
Schierke's expression darkened.
But, thinking that Nidhogg's return might break the current passive situation, she calmed down again and succinctly told everything that had happened in the past few months.
"'Magic archer'... And indeed, it was him."
Nidhogg looked at the arrow in his hand and recalled the distance he had estimated earlier. He surmised that this was that Apostle.
He thought for a moment, quickly made a decision, and said, "Azan, Serpico, please help Morgan up. He can't move now and needs further treatment."
Azan and Serpico had long noticed the wounded man, but didn't know why he was wounded.
"No problem."
They both readily agreed. This was also a habit they had developed along the way.
On the contrary, Farnese was surprised to see them so obedient and convinced—were these still the same Azan and Serpico?
"Schierke, Farnese, Ivalera, please lead the way. Take them back to Casca and the others and treat Morgan's injury."
"Alright." Schierke nodded in agreement, then asked, "And you?"
"I'm going to find the 'magic archer'," Nidhogg replied decisively. Then he looked at Melina and said, "Melina, can you escort them back?"
Melina knew he was worried. If he left, the "magic archer" might shoot another arrow, and no one would be there to stop it. So he arranged for Melina to follow and protect them.
"Yes," Melina said calmly. "But don't you need my support nearby to restore your faith and focus?"
Nidhogg looked at Bloodhound's Fang in his hand and said, "It's okay even without your prayers."
"That's good." With Melina's understanding of Nidhogg, since Nidhogg could make such a decision, it meant he had a certain degree of confidence. So Melina said no more.
Even if there was a chance, for example, if Nidhogg pursued him far beyond the distance they could be apart, Melina would be forcibly drawn back to him.
Even Nidhogg could directly touch the golden brand, and also summon Melina.
Schierke frowned and said, "Nidhogg, we know very little about that 'magic archer.' The only one who has fought him face to face is Guts. Don't you want to go back first and then set off after meeting Guts?"
Nidhogg whistled, summoned Torrent, mounted, and said, "I'm afraid if I don't catch up now, he'll run away, and then I won't be able to catch him."
Before Schierke could understand the meaning of Nidhogg's words, Nidhogg squeezed his horse's flanks. Torrent neighed, spread his four legs, and shot out like lightning!
After a while, the man and horse were galloping through the forest, their figures swallowed by the dense branches and leaves.
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