“What’s taking Letia so long just to drop someone off at the Guild?”
Inside Red’s Weapon Shop, the man set aside a newly forged Knight Sword and muttered to himself with a hint of worry.
‘I’ve already finished more than twenty Knight Swords… Surely nothing has happened?’
He quickly shook his head.
The public security in Nightbright Town was much better than in other places.
Besides, given the strength of Letia and Ymir, if they actually ran into trouble, the real question was who would be the one in more danger.
‘So, what’s the situation?’
After thinking it over, Red decided to head to the Adventurer’s Guild to see what was going on.
However, just as he stepped out the door, he ran into Ymir, who was walking past while clutching several commissions in her arms.
“Ymir? Where’s Letia?”
“Oh, that…”
Ymir looked toward the Adventurer’s Guild.
“She seems to be drinking with the members of Dawnblade. She probably won’t be back for a while.”
“Drinking?”
Red clearly hadn’t expected that.
But on second thought, the members of Dawnblade did enjoy their alcohol.
Back then, he had always been too busy with work to join them.
Plus, since they were mostly girls talking, it didn’t feel right for a man like him to force his way into their circle.
As a result, Red had rarely ever touched alcohol in the past.
Ironically, after leaving the party, he had started drinking more and more with Tos and that bunch of hoodlums.
After a moment’s consideration, Red decided to head over to the Adventurer’s Guild to check on the situation.
If that girl really was drunk, he should probably be there to carry her back.
Currently, Dawnblade’s base had been cleared out, so Liz and the others were staying at the Adventurer’s Guild for the time being.
Since Letia’s Adventurer’s License had been revoked, she wasn’t allowed to stay overnight at the Guild.
When he pushed open the door, Red saw exactly what he expected:
Letia was already dead drunk, slumped over the table like a pile of Slime.
Seeing her like this, Red couldn’t help but sigh.
For some reason, he now had a strange feeling… like he had gained a troublesome younger sister at home to worry about.
“Red?”
The members of Dawnblade, who had been laughing and chatting, suddenly grew a bit awkward when they saw Red walk in.
Liz especially felt a pang of guilt as she recalled the past, and she hurriedly averted her gaze.
“There’s no need to be so awkward,” Red said, acting as if nothing had happened.
“I just came to check on why this girl hadn’t come home yet. Now that I see she’s fine, I can relax.”
Red didn’t intend to disturb the girls’ drinking session.
He was about to turn and leave when Liz called out to him.
“Um, Red…”
To be honest, Liz had thought that when she saw Red again, she would be able to act as relaxed and casual as they once were.
But she hadn’t expected that when Red finally stood before her again, she would still be unable to express her true thoughts.
Looking at the man whose expression was as calm and flat as a still pond, Liz opened her mouth, but in the end, nothing came out.
Memories of the girl and boy from their childhood flashed through her mind.
When she first met Red, his family had already fallen.
It was the lowest point of his life.
He was all alone, like a piece of floating weed without roots, wandering through a cold world.
His family was scattered, and he had no friends.
She remembered him curled up in the corner of a dark alley, having endured countless looks of disdain and contempt.
She didn’t know how much hardship or grievance he had suffered, yet he never complained once.
He had simply sat silently in that dark corner, watching the rain outside grow heavier.
Back then, his gaze had been just as calm as it was now.
When he looked at her, it was exactly like this.
Indifferent, waveless, and gentle—but distant.
In contrast to him, she had been full of curiosity about everything back then.
And so, she had reached out her hand to that young boy.
She had pulled him out of the darkness herself, only to heartlessly push him back into that same darkness later.
If it weren’t for Litt… perhaps she never would have seen Red again.
Thinking of this, Liz’s face was filled with bitterness.
Even though her heart was heavy with guilt, she didn’t know where to begin.
Red had intended to wait outside the Guild, not expecting Liz to suddenly stop him—especially using a tone that was familiar yet unlike anything from their past.
“Would you like to sit down for a drink?”
Liz summoned her courage to issue the invitation.
Hearing this, a shallow, almost emotionless smile appeared on Red’s face.
He shook his head calmly.
“No, I have to work late tonight to restock the shop. I can’t touch any alcohol.”
This answer might have been the truth, or it might have been an excuse.
Regardless, it felt like a blunt knife slowly carving into Liz’s heart.
Disappointment and remorse, like heavy blocks of lead, slowly crushed the expression on her face.
Her lips moved fruitlessly, but she couldn’t make a sound…
But just then, the white-haired girl who was supposed to be slumped on the table suddenly stood up.
Her steps were unsteady as she naturally draped an arm—and her entire body weight—over Red’s shoulder, practically clinging to him.
“Hmm? Red…?”
She squinted her drunken, hazy eyes, trying to focus.
A wide smile spread across her face.
“Why are… you here, huh?”
“Can’t I come check on you?”
Unlike when he spoke to Liz, Red’s tone was sharp and annoyed.
“I was worried you’d get dead drunk and lose your way home.”
“That? No need to worry about that.”
Letia patted Red’s chest.
“I’m not drunk at all.”
“…You’re already talking nonsense, so stop trying to act tough.”
Red sighed and hoisted the stumbling Letia onto his back.
A warm smile, completely different from the one he had shown Liz, appeared on his face.
“Sorry, I’m going to take this… drunk troublemaker back first. I’d rather not have her start acting out and disturbing your peace.”
“Oh… okay.”
Before Red pushed the door open to leave, he paused and spoke to Liz.
“Liz, you don’t need to be so tense. Honestly, I’ve never blamed or resented you. And… thank you for looking after this handful of a girl.”
The sudden change in Red’s demeanor left Liz dazed for a moment.
After Red left, Jessica finally couldn’t help but pat Liz on the shoulder.
“Are you okay?”
“I… I’m actually fine.”
Liz’s tensed body slowly relaxed.
She sat back down on her stool and spoke to the other two.
“Let’s go get some rest early, too.”
Meanwhile, outside the Guild, the supposedly dead-drunk Letia suddenly let out a mumble.
“Red…”
“What is it now?”
Red sighed helplessly.
Although he had a thousand complaints about Letia, there was no denying that his heart now held an extra concern.
He really couldn’t bring himself to stop worrying about this drunkard wandering around outside.
“Nothing… I just wanted to say your name.”