What do you mean by "this is a dating game"?

I don't know how much time passed.

Nepha opened her eyes.

He felt better than ever before. A year ago, his foundation was damaged, and his body fell into an endless and unstoppable decline.

However, at this moment...

Within his spiritual sea, above the heart fire, a cluster of emerald green flames steadily emitted light and heat, nourishing his limbs and bones, easing the constant pain and nourishing his foundation.

[The King's Gift].

Nefa savored the moment, and a small flame flickered up again in his heart, which had already turned to ashes.

Weak, but stable.

Does this mean...?

Nefar was overjoyed, thinking, "My inner fire has been restored! Since the embers can be rekindled, will this tiny flame also continue to grow stronger? Do I... have a chance to return to my peak?!"

The answer is yes, but there are prerequisites.

The Demon King's skills are incredibly powerful, capable of burning Nefarian's inner fire to its absolute limit.

However, Nepha must remain loyal to Sig.

Otherwise, the Azure Fire would backfire, and he would suffer severe damage.

"Ah. You're awake."

A voice sounded in front of me.

Nepha looked up and saw a campfire burning inside the cave. Sig and Xiyou sat side by side opposite him, scrutinizing his expression.

Grapefruit asked, "Nefera, how are you feeling now?"

"I……"

Nephallus glanced at Sieg.

Sieg's expression remained normal.

As the former chief court mage, he certainly knew what he should say and what he shouldn't say.

Grapefruit clearly didn't know who Sieg was.

He immediately smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, I feel great now."

I can see that.

The old man's face no longer showed any signs of death; he was completely different from before.

Grapefruit was quite puzzled. She asked, "What happened? You look...much better."

"I possess a secret technique, extremely profound. It is only activated when I am on the verge of death, and it can ensure my safety."

"what……"

Being secretive, if you don't want to talk about it, then so be it.

Grapefruit pointed to the aluminum pot on the campfire and said, "We made some meat soup and saved some for you."

"Thank you so much! I was just about to get hungry."

Nefa chuckled, took a square metal lunchbox from his bag, and scooped himself a bowl.

Adventures in the Fire Palace take a long time, often a week or two, and pots and pans are essential items.

Sig and Grapefruit each brought their own luggage.

Sieg carried seven days' worth of rations: a few loaves of old bread, smoked meat and pickled vegetables, plus a few cans of food.

Xiyou brought an aluminum pot and lunchbox, emergency medicine, and a bunch of snacks.

Sieg said, "Nefarian, if you're feeling good, let's head to the evacuation point after we finish our drink. That spellbreaker came on strong, and he might have accomplices. Grapefruit and I discussed it, and we think it's best to leave as soon as possible."

"That's what I meant too."

Snore!

Nafa finished a loaf of bread in just a few bites with this hot soup.

He stood up and said, "I'm ready to leave at any time."

"..."

There's no rush.

Sieg stood up: "The sooner the better, let's go!"

"Time to go home!"

Xiyou stood up and stretched her limbs.

From then on, the journey was smooth and unimpeded.

Nefarian had been unconscious for a long time. Looking at the Flint pocket watch, he realized it was the second day since Scarlet Fortress had opened.

The vast majority of adventurers are gathered in the mountaintop fortress, and are currently most likely active in the dungeon.

The wasteland outside the fortress was sparsely populated; when adventurers were occasionally encountered, they would keep their distance and deliberately avoid them.

The rewards for this beacon are concentrated in the mountaintop fortress. Those still wandering around outside at this time are weaklings with little strength, scavenging for scraps and posing no threat.

The evacuation point was reached quickly.

A white lighthouse built on a cliff.

The lighthouse's top shone brightly, guiding all adventurers.

In front of the lighthouse, there is an open-air altar.

Four ferocious beast statues guard the altar, and the gray-white stone surface is carved with obscure and mysterious runes.

Grapefruit climbed the steps, stood in the center of the altar, took out a long, standard magic crystal from his pocket, and inserted it into the groove.

The runes lit up one by one, and the air vibrated.

Xiyou sighed softly and said, "Evacuation costs twelve magic crystals each time, and six magic crystals cost one gold dragon coin. Why does everything in the Sui Palace cost money?"

Sieg ignored her.

A powerful impact pressed down on my shoulder, and the feeling of suffocation returned.

Sieg's vision blurred with black and white, and he subconsciously exhaled a breath of stale air.

Look up again—

They had left Scarlet Fortress and returned to the large square outside Fire Stealing Grounds.

As the sun sets, it paints the sky crimson.

Time flows at the same rate as outside the palace; by calculation, it should be dusk of the second day.

"A close call, but no real harm done!"

Nefa let out a long breath, feeling both relieved and conflicted.

He had too many questions and urgently needed Siegel's answers.

He looked at Xiyou and said, "Miss Xiyou, this time, it's all thanks to you and Dagen! Because of my personal grudges, you almost lost your lives, which makes me feel really guilty... As for the final payment, I'm too embarrassed to ask for the thirty gold dragon coins again, let's call it even."

Grapefruit is clear about right and wrong.

"Since you've put it that way, then I won't give it to you. It's not that I'm stingy or can't bear to part with those few coins, it's just that you put us in such great danger!"

She spread her arms wide, like an eagle spreading its wings.

"And then you expect me to pay you the final payment? I'd feel really wronged!"

"It's my fault... You don't need to pay any more money."

Nefer looked at Sieg and asked, "Mr. Daigen, where should I go if I want to find you?"

Ok?

Before Sieg could speak, Grapefruit became alert.

What does that mean?

Is this old man trying to poach my employees?

Also.

Sieg's strength is outstanding, and his combat prowess is evident to all. Nefarian did not witness the battle firsthand, but he must have been attracted by Sieg's decisive decisions and efficient style!

The one who broke the law was aggressive and determined to succeed.

But Sieg was not intimidated at all.

Even without a contingency plan, impromptu solutions can be effective.

If he hadn't remained calm and directed his troops to flee in different directions, they would probably have been wiped out in the dense forest.

Grapefruit took a step to the side and blocked Sieg's way, trying to use its small body to shield the big Sieg.

Adopting an aristocratic demeanor, she looked at Nefa with cold indifference and seriousness, and said without any preamble, "Sieg is my teammate. If Senior Nefa wants to find him, you can come to me first."

"..."

This person has completely misunderstood!

Nefa was momentarily embarrassed and stood frozen in place.

"Xiyou is right. If you want to find me, you can find her first."

Sieg stood behind Xiyou and inexplicably tugged at the backpack on his back.

I tugged at it again.

He added, "Let's work together again next time, Nefarian."

Nefa understood.

He said goodbye and turned to leave.

He hadn't gone far when he opened his bag and began rummaging through it.

Soon, he found a note in his baggage.

Upon opening it, I found a simple ritual written on it:

[Holding an item imbued with magical power, such as a standard magic crystal, is sufficient.]

[At the same time, recite the incantation: "I want to verify the talisman."]

[Thus, one can have an audience with the Lord of the Fire Palace and the God of Conquest.]

"??"

Nephallus turned his head and looked at Sieg's back.

What is this?

Is it a ritual to summon evil spirits?

The meaning of "Lord of the Fire Palace and God of Conquest" is completely unclear.