Red also glanced outside.
The sky was gloomy, as if a torrential downpour could begin at any moment.
But this seemed to be merely the prelude to the coming storm.
“Maybe the heavy rain will come in a few days.”
If a typhoon really hits, the White Church’s festival might be moved forward, or postponed.
But what actually happens will depend on what the organizers decide.
“By the way,” Brian seemed to remember something, his brows furrowing slightly, a hint of doubt in his voice.
“I heard that this time for the White Church’s festival, that guy Baphiste is getting involved too.”
“Baphiste…”
Red couldn’t quite figure out what Baphiste was thinking, but it wasn’t impossible that he might try something from the shadows.
“Yeah,” Brian sounded a bit perplexed as well.
“I just don’t know what he’s getting involved for.”
“Who knows?”
Red shrugged, his tone indifferent, as if detached from the whole affair.
He stood up, brushing off non-existent dust from his clothes, and spoke to Brian.
“I’m heading down to the Sixth Floor of the underground for a bit, see if I can find Tessaia.”
“Oh? Is there enough time now? A round trip will take a day or two, won’t it? Don’t be late for Sister Lit’s appointment.”
“It’s not exactly an appointment…”
Red sighed.
“Anyway, if anyone comes looking for me, please tell them I went to the dungeon and will be back in a couple of days.”
“No problem.”
Brian nodded.
“But do try to go and return early, don’t drag it out too long. If the festival gets postponed due to the typhoon, that’s one thing, but if it’s moved up, that’ll be quite a hassle for you.”
“I know, that’s why I’m just taking a quick look, see if I can find Tessaia.”
If he could confirm Tessaia’s safety, that would be the best outcome.
But if… he couldn’t find her, it probably meant something dangerous had happened.
After all, the Sixth Floor wasn’t that large—a day was enough to search every corner.
Add in another day for the trip, and two days in total shouldn’t be too long.
He should make it back in time for the Day of Radiance Festival.
***
After Red had set out for the dungeon, Litt returned home.
“Red’s not here.”
She breathed a sigh of relief.
After all that had happened, she really was a bit scared to see Red now…
Afraid she wouldn’t be able to suppress the murderous intent surging within her.
“Tch… If I’d known, I should’ve just used a large-scale Memory Erasure right then. If needed, erasing Red himself wouldn’t be a problem either,”
“But instead, I just reflexively kicked him in the face… What a waste…”
“Wait… I didn’t let him enjoy that, did I?”
Lost in her wandering thoughts, Litt walked into the house and entered the living room.
That was when she noticed a slip of paper sitting on the table for some unknown reason.
Judging by the handwriting, it was likely left by Red.
On it was written a single line.
“I’ll be heading to the Sixth Floor of the dungeon these next couple days, don’t worry about making dinner for me.”
Staring at the note, Litt fell deep into thought.
At a moment like this, and especially after what had happened, for Red to suddenly choose to enter the dungeon—it was hard for Litt not to wonder if he knew something.
“Could he have seen through my identity?”
Litt rubbed her chin, frowning.
“But judging by his reaction… it doesn’t seem like it?”
As she pondered what Red was doing in the dungeon, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her head.
Unfamiliar images and words appeared in her mind.
It was a night so deathly silent it chilled the heart.
Cold moonlight spilled onto the empty streets, and the wind howled across the cobblestones like a ghost’s wail.
A hunched old woman, leaning on a badly worn cane, was tottering through the chilly alleys.
Her white hair was tossed by the night breeze, and her wrinkled face was etched with profound anxiety and helplessness.
Those clouded eyes kept searching every shadowy corner, and her cracked lips moved, as if calling someone’s name.
Who was she looking for?
Who could it be?
Fighting through the stabbing pain, Litt focused on the old woman’s face, trying to see who it was.
But when she finally saw clearly, she froze on the spot.
She knew that face.
It was Tessaia’s grandmother.
But why would she be wandering the streets alone at such an hour?
Litt glanced at the time described in the script.
Tonight…
With that thought, she pushed open the door and hurried out.
Apathetic?
Selfish?
Litt had never denied what others said about her.
Experiences and circumstances from her previous life had left deep marks on her soul, making her instinctively avoid meddling in other people’s business.
Helping others was never her nature.
More importantly, the script was giving her a warning—there must be a reason for it.
Even if only for herself, Litt couldn’t just stay put.
Thanks to the script’s near-cheat-like “precise navigation” and advance alerts, Litt didn’t have to wait for the dead of night.
As dusk fell, Litt was already on that fateful street, where she spotted that familiar figure.
Seeing the agitated, restless old woman pacing the street, Litt took a deep breath, stepped forward, and asked,
“Natalie, Grandma, what are you looking for?”
Hearing Litt’s voice, Natalie looked up, stunned to see the somewhat familiar white-robed nun before her.
But she quickly remembered who Litt was.
“Sister Litt?”
“That’s right, it’s me.”
A warm smile blossomed on Litt’s face, as gentle as the morning sun, its warmth seeming to cast away a sliver of the night’s chill and the darkness on the old woman’s face.
“Are you in some kind of trouble?”
The moment she saw Litt, Natalie clung to her hand like she’d found a lifeline, and said,
“Tessaia…”
“She… She… She…”
Seeing the old woman at a loss for words, Litt responded gently,
“Don’t worry, Natalie, Grandma. Please take your time.”
Even though she wasn’t facing Red, Litt still maintained the demeanor her role required.
“The Lord once said, helping those in need is our duty, so you needn’t be anxious. I will listen patiently and help you.”
Litt’s smile gradually calmed the anxious Natalie.
But Natalie still clung to Lit’s hand, and after a few breaths, continued,
“Tessaia is missing.”
Litt had more or less expected this, but her heart still sank at the words.
Tessaia—one of Red’s future companions in the original story.
Because of her own interference, the script had already changed.
Tessaia shouldn’t have had any more connection with Red.
But now, with this new development, did it mean…the script would try to correct itself?
Just like how she rewrote Liz’s fate, but still couldn’t escape the retribution that followed.