Several hours earlier.
Red stepped out of the White Church’s monastery.
“Where did Litt go?”
He had planned to catch up with her and retrieve the good book he had bought.
But judging by the current situation, it was very likely that Lithe had already unwrapped the package…
“What a stroke of bad luck.”
Red sighed and looked at the book wrapped in yellow parchment paper in his hands.
According to the people inside the monastery, this seemed to be Litt’s apocrypha.
For a nun, an apocrypha was as important as her weapon.
No wonder that man named Otto told him it was something very important to Litt.
“Maybe she’s already gone back?”
With that thought, Red could only set off for home again and pray that Litt wouldn’t be angry.
After all, it wasn’t intentional on his part.
“Red?”
Just as Red was about to leave, a familiar voice sounded beside him.
Turning his head, he saw Bethany jogging over.
She looked urgent, panting heavily as she ran.
“Bethany?”
Seeing his former teammate in such a flustered state, Red was a bit puzzled about what she wanted.
“It really has been a long time, Red.”
Bethany scratched her head with a playful grin.
With that expression, Red knew she definitely had something to ask of him.
“How have you been lately? A few days ago, Brian mentioned you were looking for a place to rent. Need any help?”
Faced with Bethany’s concern, Red answered frankly.
“That’s no longer necessary. I’m now living at a nun’s place.”
Bethany froze.
She had suspected Red had some kind of relationship with that nun, but she didn’t expect them to already be living together.
If Liz found out about this, she’d be as furious as a cat caught stepping on its own tail, hissing on the spot.
“That nun… is she the White Nun named Litt?”
Bethany wasn’t quite sure and asked Red again.
“Yes, she’s a good person.”
Red wasn’t surprised that Bethany knew Litt.
From his understanding of Liz, she definitely shared things that happened in the guild with the others in Dawn’s Edge.
Perhaps, Red had already been reduced to nothing within Dawn’s Edge.
Hearing Red’s words, Bethany’s expression stiffened.
She had come to Red hoping he would help with the plan.
Liz had tasked her with drafting a combat plan, but so far she had no clue where to start.
Just looking at the massive map of the 24th layer was enough to make her head explode.
She had originally intended to use a little temptation and some benefits to get Red to help her finalize the plan.
Like giving him some perks or arranging a place for him to stay.
For that, she even wore a low-cut outfit, but Red didn’t even glance her way—and he already had a place to live.
Thinking of that White Nun named Litt, who had played unfairly and taken advantage of the situation, Bethany felt a gnawing irritation.
Now what was she supposed to do about the combat plan?
Maybe… use their past feelings as leverage?
“Red, are you still mad at Liz?”
Bethany stepped in front of Red, slightly bending forward to show off the advantages of her low-cut dress.
“Actually, ever since you left, I’ve been worried about you. You left in such a hurry, leaving a lot of luggage back at the Stronghold, and you didn’t even have a place to stay…”
Red just shook his head.
“I’m not mad at Liz.”
Bethany lowered her head.
Usually cheerful and lively, she looked very downcast at the moment.
“Maybe you don’t know, but Liz only looks stubborn. After you left, she wasn’t feeling great either. Just last night, she trained with her sword alone in the training ground all night…”
At this, she raised her head, looking at Red with pleading eyes.
“Let’s make up. If you come back, Liz will definitely be happy.”
Red sighed once more.
“Whether Liz will be happy or not is another matter. What about my feelings?”
“Ah?”
Bethany was caught off guard.
After three seconds of silence, she put on a touched expression and said,
“We’re still friends, aren’t we…”
Looking at her like that, Red was speechless.
He had never seen Bethany care about him like this before.
Sure enough, she had something she wanted him to do.
“Sorry, I’m really tired,” Red pushed Bethany aside.
“Please move out of the way. I’m heading back or Lithe will worry.”
“Heading back…”
Bethany bit her lip, paused for a moment, then said,
“I just saw Litt heading toward the Granny Merchant Guild. She didn’t go home.”
“Is that so?”
Red’s indifferent expression made Bethany anxious; she knew it was because he didn’t believe her.
So she emphasized again.
“I’m telling the truth! She really went to the Granny Merchant Guild.”
After saying this, Bethany took out a Photography Crystal.
Through it, it was clear that Litt had indeed gone to the Granny Merchant Guild.
“She most likely went there to…”
Bethany tried to imply that Litt was involved in some secret dealings at the guild, hoping to cast a bad impression on her.
But Red interrupted her directly.
“What others do is none of our business, just like you all told me back then.”
Red recalled what Liz said to him.
He had devised a plan that, if executed smoothly, would safely get them to the next layer.
But Liz, wanting to hunt magical beasts, had said to him,
“I want to do what I want, and I don’t need you, Red, to command me!”
Bethany had been present then, too.
She chose to stay silent.
“All right, move aside.”
Red pushed Bethany aside and left without looking back.
***
After some time, Red found himself outside the Granny Merchant Guild.
Since he had clashed with this guild before, he had naturally investigated them in advance.
So he was aware of the crimes they had committed.
Still, seeing the Knight Order surround the guild members completely surprised Red.
After all, he hadn’t yet exposed their crimes—how did the Knight Order move so quickly?
Normally, these people wouldn’t act so fast, right?
Looking at the Granny Guild members tied up and bound, Red fell into deep thought.
Could it have been Litt’s doing?
“Red?”
The Knight Order Captain looked surprised to see him.
“What are you doing here?”
“Have you seen a nun from the White Church? About this tall, wearing a cyan and white nun’s habit?”
“You mean Miss Litt?”
The Knight Order Captain hesitated.
“She seems to be looking for a Demon Girl named Tessaia.”
“Heh… hahahaha!”
Granny, tied up on the ground, suddenly burst into a harsh, wild laughter, his face twisted with malicious glee.
“Well done! Very well done!”
“Count the time—ten minutes from now, that building will be engulfed in flames! Hahaha!!”
Granny looked like a cornered beast, utterly mad, with nothing but madness left.