'Well, we can't just talk about it. Let's get down to specifics.
Hmm, yeah.

　For now, Wraith's lifting calmed down, and Lurimes calmly broke off the conversation. He made a weak statement, but he hadn't yet decided that he couldn't be cured.

''Um, do you know what caused the debilitating condition?''
No, we don't have the details.
We've never seen anything like this before...
We have no proof of that, either.

　The answer that came back to Lace's question was not a very happy one. As long as the problem hasn't been solved, it might be natural that the cause of the problem isn't known.

　But that doesn't mean that Wraith and Lurimes are familiar with the disease of demons.

''Hmm, do you know what they usually eat or where they are?''
''Crystal Dragons basically only eat metal and are usually with my daughter a lot. She doesn't go out to the garden, stay inside the royal castle, or take her somewhere far away.
Metal....hmmm, I see.

　With so little information, it's still hard to know what to do.

Can we get a little closer?
Permission.

　With forgiveness, the Wraith slowly approached the cage. The crystal dragon in the cage sensed the Wraith's presence and lifted its head in a slow motion. The jewel-like purple-blue eyes shoot straight through the Wraith.

　It's as if they can see through your heart, and I'm a little thrown off.

''I'm sorry, let me do some research.''

　Sincerely, Wraith spoke to him in a whisper, and the crystal dragon quietly lowered his head. It would mean that he was given permission.

''Thank you. ''Analysis (Analyze)''

　Wraith uses alchemy just like when he diagnosed Sylvia's illness. However, he is not familiar with the structure of a crystal dragon's body, so the place he examines is limited to the black discolored crystal area.

　After Wraith concentrated on it for a while, he discovered an abnormality.

''What's this...?''

　There is something in the crystals. Perhaps it's something fine that you wouldn't notice if you were just observing. The Wraith concentrates even more to grasp the identity and continues to observe.

　While the king and the knights are watching Wraith's appearance with bated breath - Wraith suddenly let out a big breath.

　He relaxed his shoulders and stepped away from the cage.

''What do you understand...!

　The king hurries for an answer, as if he can't wait. Wraith looks at the figure of the crystal dragon without seeming to be in a hurry and begins to speculate.

''This black discolored part, probably contains numerous fine metals inside.
The metal...?　But a crystal dragon is a dragon that lives on metal. The metal should completely dissolve in their bodies....
''Either they couldn't dissolve it, or something happened to it after it dissolved. Either way, I think the crystal dragon is in a jammed state right now.

　Wraith makes a circle with his finger and makes it squeak smaller. The circle, which is so large that a few grains of sand could pass through it, is the state of a pseudo-represented crystal dragon.

The black metal is blocking the tubes that would flow through the molten metal to the surface of the body like this. Then the liquefied metal that would come later cannot pass. As a result, I think the liquid is stuck inside the tube and accumulates. By the way, has the crystal dragon taken in any metal recently?
No, not so much these days...
Perhaps they instinctively sense the danger. If we hold too much liquid in the tube any longer, it could burst.

　Is it worth the rupture of a blood vessel, as humans call it? The pain is unimaginable. Furthermore, there is no guarantee of life.

　Even now, Shenglong must be feeling the pain continuously. Is it because he is over three hundred years old that he is showing such calmness without making a fuss even in such a state?

　Wraith honestly respected the dragon in front of him. At the same time, he also wanted to help her.

　The king looked at the Wraith with admiration. There was no doubt left in his mind about the Wraith that was unreliable not long ago. At any rate, the situation, which had no cause or any idea, had developed in a few minutes.

　Rulimes is also proud of him, and he is proud to say that he is a proud disciple. As for Orda, she narrowed her eyes and glared at the Wraith as if to say she didn't like it.

　The king turns his expectant eyes to Wraith and asks.

''Is there any way to cure it?''
'There are a couple of things I'd like to try here, but one thing I'd like to try here. May I have your permission?
I'll allow it.
Thank you.

　The Wraith approached the crystal dragon again and extended its right hand through the gap in the cage. The crystal dragon squeezed itself once as if in alarm, but eventually it spread its wings and exposed the crystalline part to the Wraith. The Wraith slowly let its hand touch the blackened area.

　The faint warmth of the wraith can be felt through the palm of the hand. It's as if blood is circulating through it.

　Wraith closed his eyes and took a small breath and focused his attention on his right hand. He uses alchemy to remove the metal that is eating away at the body of the crystal dragon. Nothing, alchemy is not only used for making potions. The processing of minerals and so on is the very domain.

''Transformation.''

　The crystals ripple and gradually change their shape. The idea was to change the shape of the crystals and remove the metal inside. It looks easy, but in fact it's a very difficult task.

　Unlike magic, which changes in scale depending on the amount of magic power, alchemy is a technique where the 'influence' of the magician on the substance is involved. It can change its shape at will, or extract a specific component.

　That 'influence' can be extended through training, but even so, there is a limit. And in that 'influence', Wraith surpasses even his master, Rulimes. In extreme cases, Wraith can even turn mere iron into gold.

　However, whether he can continue to do so is a different story, so I wouldn't put it into action.

　Anyway, this is an attempt to use its 'influence' to remove the metal from the crystal of the crystal dragon. The shape of the crystal is steadily changing, and when the metal finally appears, it is time for the metal to appear.

　Suddenly, the ever-changing crystals stop moving.

　Wraith disappointedly lets go of his hand and takes a breath.

''I knew it wasn't going to be a simple matter...''

　The surface part, which was exposed to air and degraded to some extent, could be broken through with alchemy. However, the middle part. This part is too hard. Even with Wraith's alchemy, it's tough to transform it. If he pushed it too far, it could put a strain on the crystal dragon's body.

''Seems impossible?''
Well, it's a good thing I'm not going any further.
Yeah, I get it. Okay, we'll find another way.

　Perhaps realizing his failure from the conversation between the two masters and students, the king looks a little disappointed. However, that was just a means to an end. There are other ways to do it.

''For now, that's all we can do here. If a solution can be found, I would like to visit again in a later date. Is that all right with you?
Yes, I understand.
Then I'll do the same.

　Both Orda and Seth followed Wraith and finished what they needed to say at this point. All that was left was to formally bow to the king and be told to leave.

　Guided to the gate by the guard man as at the beginning, the Wraiths walked out of the royal castle. Then they see a single carriage parked.

　On the side, there was a pattern on the side, identical to the one embroidered on the chest of Seth and the others' clothes.

'Don't get too carried away, commoner,'

　A moment after Wraith was distracted by the carriage, Alda said as they passed each other and got into the carriage. No longer did she even want to complain.

　It seemed as if Seth would follow, but he showed no sign of moving from his spot. He gestured to the carriage master to depart, and then turned back to the wraith.

'May I have a moment?'