Chapter 169: Chapter One Sixty Nine

Judging from what just happened, the Mask amplifies the user’s inner thoughts and takes on the form of the person being imitated, almost flawlessly.

But as time goes on, the user’s personality is gradually replaced by that of the impersonated, and Otto speculates that once the replacement is complete, the function that prevents death will also fail entirely.

So, when the Mask can’t be removed, there’s no such thing as using death to take it off.

Otto’s plan was becoming clearer in his mind.

He examined the Mask in his hand once again and spoke to Ella, who was slowly retreating.

“I need you to help me conduct an experiment.”

His voice was very low, as if he had made some kind of firm decision.

“After I put on the Mask, use this sword to pierce my heart.”

Ella was silent for a long time.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“For the absolute success of the plan, and to eliminate any possible danger.”

Of course, Otto wouldn’t gamble with Letia’s life.

To ensure safety, he had decided to use his own life for the experiment.

Thinking of this, Otto once again put on the Mask.

“Go ahead. Don’t hesitate.”

Deathly silence filled the room.

Ella’s movements were completely frozen.

She stared at Otto’s incredibly serious expression and confirmed once more, “Are you serious? What if you really die? Is it really necessary to go this far?”

“I should have died long ago. For me, death may be a kind of release. More importantly, if I die, that’s still better than Letia dying.”

Otto had already made up his mind.

If his guess was correct, then… Litt’s death might be worth it.

After Litt’s death, Red would finally have the motivation to move forward.

Driven by hatred, his potential would be fully awakened, and only then would he have a chance to rival that legendary mage — Gandalf.

Once Litt died, Letia could completely bury this matter in her heart.

When Red was consumed by grief, she could take the opportunity to comfort his wounded soul—and take her place.

After all… only a dead Bright Moonlight is the best Bright Moonlight.

Under Ella’s gaze, Otto slowly opened his arms and closed his eyes, as if quietly waiting for death to come.

Faced with Otto’s appearance, Ella could only take the sword he handed over.

Taking a deep breath, her hands trembled slightly.

As if asking for Otto’s last words, Ella spoke slowly.

“Do you… have anything to say?”

“No need for words. Please do it quickly.”

With Otto’s urging, Ella gritted her teeth, grasped the Short Sword tightly, and stabbed it hard into his heart.

“Achoo!”

Letia, walking down the street, suddenly sneezed hard.

She rubbed her nose and muttered,

“Who’s talking about me?”

After leaving the Weapon Shop, she hadn’t gone to the White Church but was instead planning to return to Dawnblade’s base.

Her official leave from the White Church was about to end, and of course she couldn’t slack off in Red’s shop forever.

Even though she really wanted to keep slacking off…

Sigh~ life isn’t easy, Letia sighed to herself.

She was really flat broke.

Don’t ask why she didn’t ask that dog Otto for money.

If she could get any money from him, she would have done so already, okay?

So, why was she heading back to Dawnblade’s base now?

“I’m back…”

Letia sounded cheerful, but mentally she felt as worn out as a wage slave dragging themselves to work on a Monday.

“Hm? Just in time for dinner?”

As soon as she entered, she saw the three members of Dawnblade, plus a dopey goose, all sitting around the dining table.

It was piled high with Fast Food bought from outside.

Just some bread, vegetable salads, fried cutlets, and the like.

The room’s lighting was a warm hue, but the atmosphere felt cold, bleak, and utterly miserable.

The temperature inside seemed much lower than outside.

Maybe it was because Liz always had that cold face?

Letia shrugged—she was used to it, and casually picked a seat.

“Come to think of it, how long has it been since we ate together like this?”

Letia’s offhand remark left everyone a little dazed.

It seemed that ever since Red left, they hadn’t all sat down for a meal together.

There was always someone missing, and even when they did eat together, it felt like sharing a table with strangers at a restaurant—the atmosphere was icy.

Liz, for her part, stayed completely silent, unable to say a word.

Compared to Red’s tiny Weapon Shop, this place was much more luxurious.

The furniture, the lighting, the decorations—everything was far more upscale than his little shop.

But… when she passed by at noon, she’d secretly seen…

Litt fast asleep in Red’s big bed.

It was such a shabby environment, yet that scene had left a sour ache in her heart…

Why—why did it all turn out like this?

“Letia…”

Liz spoke up first, searching for a topic, “A few days ago you and Red went to the Twenty-Seventh Floor?”

“Yeah,” Letia shrugged.

But as if remembering something, she turned to Liz, “Wait, don’t tell me, Liz, you still want to compete with Red about who’s better?”

Honestly, Liz and Red had been pretty close when they were kids.

But now, Red had already made up with Liz.

However much he reminisced, it was always a sigh for the past, not real longing.

In other words, there was no chance of anything between them anymore.

Liz’s hand froze in midair, trembling a little.

She bit her lip, unwillingly saying,

“I… never wanted to compete with him about who’s better or worse. I just can’t stand the way he slacks off.”

Letia was just a salted fish—she couldn’t be bothered to argue with Liz.

After all, when the time came, the one biting her handkerchief in the next room wouldn’t be her, so what was the point in fighting?

“No point.”

“What Letia said is true,” Jessica sighed with a touch of nostalgia, “It really has been ages since we all ate together… But wasn’t it mostly because you kept disappearing, Letia?”

“Well, people have their needs~”

Letia said carelessly as she bit into some bread.

“It’s not like I can go to Succubus Street, but I can’t ask you two to help me relieve my stress, can I?”

At this, Bethany and Jessica silently shifted their chairs closer to Liz.

Even before, Letia often spouted flirtatious remarks, but at times like these, Red would usually be there to smooth things over.

And back then, what they ate was never so meager.

Red’s cooking was excellent—those dishes, even Liz who came from the Imperial Capital had never seen them, and she had no idea where he learned his skills.

“I called everyone here so we could talk while we eat…”

Liz let out a long breath.

“Our Dawnblade has rested long enough. It’s time to prepare to enter the Dungeon again.”

“What about the new teammate?”

“Can’t find one for now,” Liz answered Letia’s question honestly.

“But I’ve rented a teammate.”

As she spoke, she patted the dopey goose beside her, who was still gnawing on a baguette.

“Someone from Judgment Holy Night is willing to let us borrow her for a while.”