Merka's legs had gone numb from sitting in the bushes. He slowly stood up, unable to help but stretch lazily.

He had many brambles stuck to his body, the thorns pricking through his clothes and causing a prickling pain to seep into Merka's skin. But Merka had chopped firewood and gathered wild fruits in the wilderness when he was a child at the orphanage, so this was nothing to him.

"I thought you were going to sleep here tonight."

The sudden voice startled Merka. He turned around and saw Mammon's figure.

"You scared me, Miss Mammon."

"Have you finished bathing?"

Mammon and Samael couldn't use anything from Erisburg except for living accommodations. As ghost-like residents, they had to make sure not to leave any trace of their existence.

So Mammon and Samael would bathe in the lakes in the wilderness. As for food and drink, they could consume raw beasts and drink from springs. If they grew tired of raw meat, they could also eat some cooked food.

In reality, they didn't need to eat, but they didn't want to appear so different from humans.

"I finished bathing a while ago. I played in the water for a bit."

Mammon's tone was calm, and her rich intonation and words revealed a childlike innocence and love for life. Perhaps wise individuals typically carried a sense of sorrow and negativity, but that clearly didn't apply to Mammon.

A hint of moisture lingered on her body, and her soft skin emitted a faint soap fragrance. But Merka knew that the true form of the person in front of him was actually a naked monster.

"It's getting dark."

"Do you know how dangerous it is here when it's dark?"

"Turing doesn't dare to stay here for long either."

Mammon casually stated.

"What?" Merka exclaimed.

Merka could hardly believe that there was something in this world that posed a threat to Turing, such a powerful mage.

"Are you saying that there are many monsters lurking in the forest at night, making it dangerous?"

"But I saw many huge monster specimens in Erisburg's basement. Those were all hunted by Turing, right?" Merka asked.

"It's not what you think." Mammon shook her head.

"Turing killed those monsters with a hunting rifle or a bow and arrow."

"This forest has a true master."

Mammon pointed towards one of the hills in the back.

"It's called Bixi. As the King of Monsters, it had a feud with the angels in ancient times."

"So, it's extremely sensitive to the magical power of powerful angels."

"Whenever Turing uses magic in this forest, it will be awakened."

"Although Turing might not necessarily lose in a fight."

"But why resort to violence? The entire mountain will be leveled."

"That's why, during the period when monsters swarm at night, even Turing doesn't want to stay here for long."

"Because she doesn't want to be forced to use magic, alarm the bixi, and eventually destroy the place that nurtured her."

Mammon stared in a daze at the mountain range covered in the lingering glow of the setting sun.

It was as if Turing was still there, active and lively—racing on horseback, shooting arrows, and singing loudly.

"...You both really like Turing, huh?"

"Do you mind if I ask why, even though you have the ability to gain the attention of Lord Oedipus, you still choose to stand with Turing?"

Mammon glanced at Merka strangely and rolled her eyes.

"Men, so clueless."

"Turing has been with me since I was a child, and I know everything about her."

"If you want to know why I like Turing, why don't you ask yourself?"

Merka remained silent and awkwardly smiled.

Turing is pure and innocent—a person who is pure when being cute, pure when being kind.

But she can also be pure when being evil, and pure when being terrifying.

She needs guidance, she needs comfort.

She is like a pure white kitten, with snow-like fur that makes her innocent and susceptible.

She's so cute that people unintentionally form a connection with her.

"Merka."

"To my knowledge, you are the only card that Oedipus cannot control."

"In the past, anything that began to form a connection with Turing—be it friend, servant, or even a pet—was destroyed by Oedipus."

"So in the end, Turing could only rely on her mother."

"You are the only one who survived."

Merka swallowed nervously, and her heart trembled slightly.

"Just by staying alive, you can have a great impact on Turing."

"You are the key to disrupting Oedipus's plans and giving Turing a new life."

Mammon looked at Merka seriously. Her face, so young and innocent at seventeen or eighteen, seemed as if it had accumulated decades of frost.

The dye of the setting sun splashed on Merka's profile. The pressure, like stone, condensed in the surrounding air, making it difficult for Merka to breathe.

"I'm dying, Merka."

"But I can't even say goodbye to Turing; she doesn't know me."

"Even though I played with her when she was a child."

"Watching her grow up."

"Ultimately, I can only have a silent parting."

Merka was shocked and fearful, carefully staring at Mammon's face, hoping to see a trace of deception or resolute acceptance of death.

But she was too calm, like a glass of unsweetened champagne—fragrant but without taste.

"Why are you dying...? Because of Oedipus?"

"Is it all Oedipus's fault?"

Mammon shook her head again.

"It's no one's fault. If anything, it's the fault of this world."

"Why did the gods create humans to be so insatiable?"

Mammon smiled helplessly, a bleak smile that contained a sense of tranquility.

"But don't worry, before I die, I will definitely ensure your safe departure."

Mammon brushed off the dust on his body and walked in front of Merka.

"Go back quickly. On the way home, I will tell you stories about Turing's childhood."

Merka nodded silently and followed behind Mammon.

However, in a dark corner not far away, a boy with cat ears lurked under the tree roots, completely motionless.

Even when mosquitoes and bees landed on him, it seemed as if he didn't notice at all.

"How could anyone else enter the Altria Estate?"

"Could it be a servant? Doesn't seem like it..."