Three months had passed since Lilith had gone into hiding in Strawberry Town, and Ethan had prepared thoroughly for her capture.

He set up a secure means of “transportation” to safely bring her back to his estate whenever he found her. He even sat in on academy classes to learn counterspells to counter her magic if she resisted or tried to escape.

Most helpful of all, though, was the “Whispering Leaf” he had managed to acquire, originally in the possession of the hero, that led him to Lilith’s location within just a week.

‘Explain to me why you are holding …