Chapter 222: Please Look Forward

It was undeniable that Letia’s words brought a flicker of comfort.

However, Red knew all too well that the bone-deep pain might be slightly diluted by a brief moment of warmth, but it could never truly be erased or forgotten.

It had simply sunk beneath the dark undercurrents of his consciousness for a time.

Halfway through their walk, Red’s footsteps seemed to be tripped up by an invisible chain.

Without any warning, he came to a complete stop.

He stood frozen in place, his gaze unfocused as he stared at the path ahead.

Even though the road was clear, he acted as if he couldn’t see it, standing there motionless.

“What’s wrong?”

Letia immediately noticed his abnormality.

She turned her head and asked with concern, “Why did you suddenly stop walking?”

“It’s nothing.”

Red was startled awake by her voice.

He shook his head slowly, almost mechanically, his voice low and drifting.

He tried to hide it, but the look in his eyes betrayed a profound, almost suffocating sense of confusion.

At this moment, the simplest question had become his heaviest shackle.

‘Where should I go?’

‘…Home?’

But that house belonged to Litt.

Going back would only make him suffer more.

But if he didn’t go back, where else was he supposed to go?

“Hey.”

Letia’s voice, which carried a hint of playfulness yet remained exceptionally clear, interrupted Red’s thoughts at just the right moment.

It was as if the young woman could see right through his internal struggle.

“…”

“It’s still early anyway.”

She tilted her head, the corners of her eyes curving slightly as she made a firm suggestion.

“Shall we… go out together to clear our heads?”

Her gaze drifted forward, her voice carrying a deliberate lightness and temptation.

“You see, Nightbright Town is so big. There are actually quite a few interesting things here.”

Red was stunned.

He looked at the girl beside him in disbelief.

She was grinning at him.

Her face, which usually seemed so punchable, looked incredibly cute at this moment.

“For example…”

But as soon as she opened her mouth, everything was completely ruined.

“Shall we go get a foot massage together?”

“At least have some consideration for my feelings!”

Red covered his face in a breakdown.

“Can’t you see? Is this the kind of atmosphere for having fun?”

“Fine then…”

Letia spread her hands with a hint of regret.

“Then I don’t know where to go.”

“So, you only know that the Succubus Street in Nightbright Town is… interesting?”

“What else? A bunch of people from the Holy Church travel thousands of miles to Nightbright Town just to experience the Succubus Parlor here. Even many prominent figures from the Capital would rather hide their faces just to come here for a visit…”

Speaking to this point, Letia glanced at Red and continued.

“If you don’t want to go, then let’s just head back together.”

“Yeah.”

Red nodded habitually, but before he had taken two steps, he suddenly reacted.

He turned to Letia and asked.

“Back where?”

“Where else? To your Weapon Shop, of course.”

Letia spoke speechlessly.

“You haven’t forgotten that you’re a Weapon Shop Owner, have you?”

Facing Letia’s slightly disdainful gaze, Red could only cough awkwardly.

“I haven’t forgotten.”

If it weren’t for Letia’s reminder, he really would have forgotten that he still had such a place to go.

However…

Red looked at Letia’s nonchalant expression and couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.

She must have seen through the confusion in his heart and offered this suggestion for his sake, right?

“I feel like it’s been a long time since I’ve eaten your cooking. I don’t know if your skills have regressed.”

Letia let out a yawn.

“Don’t disappoint me. After all, you are my direct disciple.”

Hearing this, Red paused.

He asked tentatively.

“Since I left Dawnblade… you haven’t cooked a single meal, have you?”

“That’s right. That’s why I’ve been gnawing on that hard bread every day. My mouth is so bored it’s practically growing wings.”

For a moment, Red truly didn’t know what to say.

This woman, Letia, would rather starve than cook a single meal.

Her laziness had truly reached a certain peak.

After a few more brief words, Red continued to carry Letia forward.

This girl was truly light.

It was like carrying a cat; he couldn’t feel any weight at all.

But her strength was ridiculously immense.

Every time he recalled that kiss from the night before, Red felt a lingering ache near his collar.

It was just that, at a time like this, the only person he could pour his heart out to without reservation seemed…

To only be Letia.

After hesitating for a while, Red spoke slowly, asking Letia.

“Letia… can I ask you a strange question?”

“Go ahead.”

“What should I do from now on?”

Red had always been a rational person.

After the pain of loss, the deeper and heavier feeling currently weighing on him was confusion.

Undeniably, he was filled with hatred and hostility toward Otto.

But at the same time, he did not want to turn into a machine that forgot everything around him just for the sake of revenge.

That would be unfair to everyone else.

Litt’s spirit in heaven probably wouldn’t want him to become that kind of person either.

But to just stop here…

Recalling the strength Otto had displayed, if he relied only on himself and Mason, it would be impossible to defeat the man.

‘So, should I enter the Dungeon again just to become stronger?’

Red couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Facing Red’s sudden question, Letia pondered for a moment before a sly smile appeared on her face.

“Please look forward. At least… you still have me by your side, don’t you?”

“Even if you want to stop and rest for a while now, I will be waiting for you patiently up ahead.”

The girl’s heartfelt words left Red stunned.

Finally, he gave a heavy nod.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“How does it taste?”

Red watched the girl in front of him devouring the food, his lips twitching uncontrollably.

“Eat slower. No one is going to snatch it from you.”

Of course, Letia didn’t care what Red said.

She was like a starved ghost reincarnated, stuffing her face aggressively.

Putting aside the mysterious fact that she had slept for an entire day, even on the night before, Letia hadn’t eaten a single bite.

By now, she was so hungry her eyes were practically glowing.

She looked like she wanted to eat the plate itself.

After several failed attempts to persuade her, Red could only sigh.

“I’ll go get you a glass of water. Don’t choke.”

Although Letia’s eating manners were somewhat subhuman, it was undeniable that… seeing her eat every bit of the food until there wasn’t even a drop of soup left…

A small sense of satisfaction and warmth rose in Red’s heart.

For some reason, compared to Litt, he felt a greater sense of reality with the girl in front of him.

Even though this girl always teased him, to Red, the young woman before him was a real existence that he only needed to reach out to touch.

Perhaps Litt really was a bit too perfect…

To the point that even now, she felt unattainable, someone he could only watch from a distance.