"Geling, why didn't you come back with Carl? Did that brat bully you?"

After inviting Ogre into the house, Mima brought out the ginger tea she had already prepared.

"No..." Ogre shook his head.

He guessed that Macal was probably still arguing with Eve.

He had initially thought about going to watch the show, but after thinking it over, Ogre ultimately decided against it.

Considering the situation, it wasn't necessary for him to add to the trouble at this time.

He had already troubled Mima's family enough.

"That's good. If you ever get bullied, you must tell me. I'll teach that brat a lesson," Mima said, placing a white porcelain cup in front of Ogre.

Then she picked up the teapot and poured the steaming ginger tea.

"I added some brown sugar. Drink more; it's good for your health. In this cold weather, you should drink something warm." After pouring the tea, Mima smiled at Ogre.

Indeed, just looking at beautiful things can lift your spirits.

"Th...thank you." Ogre picked up the ginger tea and gently blew on the surface.

Actually, with Ogre's current constitution, he could drink boiling water without any problem.

"No need to be polite with me."

Mima picked up her own cup of ginger tea and blew on it, just like Ogre.

She had brewed this pot of ginger tea partly to warm her hands.

"When that brat comes back, I need to have a good talk with him."

Blowing on the tea, Mima took a small sip and then casually started talking about Macal.

Ogre just smiled and didn't say anything.

He thought that when Macal returned, Mima probably wouldn't care why he came back early.

'If this matter is resolved, Macal should be able to live a good life...'

Watching the chatty Mima, Ogre thought of his own father...

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If he couldn't find a partner, his father would probably start urging him too.

Hmm... maybe not.

"That Carl, he used to wet the bed when he was little, back when his uncle was still around..." Perhaps worried that Ogre was bored, Mima started recounting embarrassing stories from Macal's childhood.

People are like that; once they start reminiscing, they can't stop talking.

Especially about the past they've lost.

"The family's situation wasn't as good as it is now..." Whenever she talked about the past, Mima's happiness was unmistakable...

"It's a pity, though, that they all became successful later..."

At this point, Mima's expression was not one of pride but rather a slightly melancholic reflection...

It's hard to tell whether she preferred the prosperous days now or the times when the whole family was together.

'Maybe she likes a bit of both...'

Ogre listened patiently.

From time to time, he would nod along, which was when he most wanted to speak—he had an urge to talk...

But in the end, he chose to be a good listener.

"I really want to hold a grandchild... Sigh, you young people are different from our time, not in a hurry at all."

Unknowingly, Mima's ginger tea was almost finished.

Her conversation had shifted to the present.

"Mm..." Ogre responded.

Seeing Mima's expectant gaze, he silently shook his head—indicating that he was just a kid and didn't know much.

"If only I had a daughter like you..."

Mima knew Ogre wouldn't stay.

But she couldn't help expressing her wish.

Ogre remained silent.

In the end, he shook his head, put down the cooling porcelain cup, and stood up.

Ogre didn't go along with Mima's wish.

Because he knew that if he nodded, it might lead to becoming a goddaughter or something...

It's not that Ogre didn't like Mima's family, but his journey wasn't over yet; it wasn't time for him to stop.

Ogre wouldn't stop—at least not before despair, he wouldn't stop on his own.

"Miss Geling..." Mima raised her hand but eventually put it down: "I'll go prepare lunch."

"Mm..."

Ogre nodded, stepped aside to let Mima pass, and walked up to the attic.

"This child..." Watching Ogre's thin back, Mima felt a pang of heartache for some reason.

...

'How long will I stay here...' Ogre silently calculated his plan.

He finally came up with a number—three days.

He would stay here for no more than three days.

If everything went smoothly, this time might be even shorter.

'Gentle places always make people complacent...' Ogre reached out his hand and clenched it slightly—he hadn't held a gun for two days.

Just two days...

And he already felt a slight desire to stay.

'Is it a weakness...'

Ogre lowered his hand, walked to the window, and gazed into the distance.

In the past two years of his life filled with killing, Ogre had never felt confused.

But just a short time of interaction...

He indeed felt a bit shaken.

For a moment, Ogre even had the impulse to nod...

The harsh environment hadn't dulled Ogre's blade.

But the gentle environment almost made him hesitate.

'It's not the right time, even if I want to stay, it's not the right time—I am still too weak, too weak to need a disguise to protect myself.'

Ogre understood very well.

All good things must be built on strength; otherwise, even if you have them temporarily, you never know when you'll lose them.

Moreover, this goodness is fake.

It was obtained using a false identity.

'I must become stronger, I must continue to become stronger!'

Ogre took out the silver emblem left by Yard...

Then he closed the window, sat on the bed, and began to ponder over the silver emblem.

Yard never worried that Ogre would leave on his own.

He knew that with Ogre's eagerness to become stronger, he would never give up going to the bell tower.

Unless... Ogre was willing to let go of his hatred.

So he gave Ogre a month to think.

During this time, Ogre could investigate, escape, or enter early.

A month was more than enough.

From the moment Ogre took the emblem, the choice had already begun... both for Ogre and for Yard himself.

'To go... or not to go.'

Ogre had made up his mind countless times, but countless times he hesitated for various reasons.

This hesitation stemmed from a lack of fulfilled security.

Ogre had both the courage to risk everything and the principle of being cautious—

But sometimes, the two couldn't coexist.

"Bell tower... blood race..."

"Sigh..."

Finally, Ogre reached for his forehead.

That was where Fra had left a restriction on him.

It was a holy power left by a priest equivalent to a senior Professional, which had a strong restraining effect on Mutants.

Ogre wasn't sure if it would work on a former priest—but it gave him some confidence.

"And there's Thran's matter..." Ogre lowered his finger.

He understood that to figure these things out, he had to face his former teacher—Yard.

Unless he wanted to escape.

"Geling, it's time to eat."

As Mima's call came, Ogre realized what he truly wanted in his heart.

Some things are unavoidable, and all he could do was try his best to balance the scales in his favor.