Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

Lin Gui was stuck in the middle like this.

His lips twitched slightly as he looked at the group of residents in front of him.

Their expressions... were very strange.

It was as if she was trying hard to force a kind and gentle smile, but it appeared stiff because of nervousness and guilt.

The upward curve of his lips looked unnatural, and his eyes darted around, yet there was an urgency in them.

Several tall orcish half-demons attempted to bow in greeting.

As a result, his movements were clumsy, making it seem as if he was about to pounce on her.

The human aunt who pointed a pitchfork at Shia yesterday is now clutching a basket of fruits and vegetables tightly in both hands.

His knuckles turned white from the force, his face flushed red, and his lips trembled as he couldn't utter a word.

The entire attic was filled with a strong yet awkward atmosphere of "seeking peace."

Lin Gui turned his head speechlessly and glanced at Shia, who was still clutching his robe behind him.

I said…

His voice was still hoarse from sleep, and full of helplessness.

"Are you just going to push me out like this?"

Shia peeked half her head out from behind his shoulder, her blood-red eyes blinking.

He spoke with self-righteousness, even with a hint of disappointment:

"What else?"

"Hurry up and use your silver tongue to build connections, just like you did yesterday!"

"Just like the heroes who stood up for me last night when I was at my weakest!"

Her tone was urgent, as if she were urging a useless weapon to quickly come into play.

Lin Gui was silent for two seconds.

Then, I slowly closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

When she opened her eyes again, they were filled with exhaustion.

hero?

Cultivating connections?

His performance yesterday was clearly a calculated move forced by circumstances and a charade.

In this girl's mouth, it turned into some kind of heroic deed.

Do you expect him to do it again on the spot?

Looking at the group of residents before him, their expressions distorted, their eyes burning with desire,

Lin Gui felt his head was hurting even more.

Continuing in this stalemate is not a solution.

Lin Gui rubbed his throbbing temples, then grabbed Xia's wrist, which was clutching his robe, with his other hand.

With a gentle tug, he pulled her out from behind him.

"Come here, I want to say a few words to you."

He spoke in a low voice, and without further ado, pulled the still somewhat resistant Shia to a corner of the attic.

With his back to the group of residents whose expressions were a mixture of eagerness and embarrassment, Lin Gui lowered his voice and got straight to the point.

"They're probably here to apologize."

"Apologize?" Shia stared at him suspiciously, clearly disbelieving. "We were at each other's throats last night, and you're apologizing today?"

"Look, what are they holding?"

Shia peeked over secretly, then replied:

"Fruits, vegetables, and bones."

bone???

Lin Gui glanced over in confusion.

I just happened to see the bone that the werewolf from last night was holding, the one with the bow tied around its neck...

Lin Gui: "???"

He coughed, looked away, and continued:

"Look at their expressions, aren't they full of apology?"

Shea frowned as she recalled, then replied:

"I think it's more like... an urgent need to pee."

Lin Gui: "..."

Left with no other choice, Lin Gui had to tell the truth.

"I went out last night to the city lord's mansion to monitor the actions of that demon named Morpheus."

"During the conversation, they confirmed my identity as 'Rogge's nephew'."

"Recalling how they treated me yesterday, I regretted it. I told the residents, and they came to apologize first thing this morning."

Shia blinked. "Morpheus? That pure-blooded demon?"

"right."

"So...you were eavesdropping on him from above last night?"

"Um."

Shea paused for a moment, seemingly somewhat persuaded, but quickly frowned again.

She cautiously peeked out from beside Lin Gui and looked at the group of residents again.

He happened to meet several quick, seemingly friendly yet hesitant glances.

She recoiled as if she had been burned.

"But I still feel something's not right," she muttered softly, her bloodshot eyes still filled with doubt.

"If they feel guilty, it should be towards you, me, and Eve."

"But why do I feel like...they've been watching me?"

Lin Gui opened his mouth, then paused.

Immediately, a serious and determined expression appeared on his face.

"illusion!"

He said firmly,

"You're just too nervous."

After whispering a few more words in the corner, Xia finally nodded reluctantly.

She pushed Lin Gui's back as if he were a moving shield, slowly inching her way back to the residents.

Before Lin Gui could even open his mouth to warm up the atmosphere—

Among the residents, a petite figure, head bowed, carefully squeezed out.

It's Winnie, the green-haired half-demon forest elf.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her hands were clasped nervously in front of her.

When she looked up, her dark red eyes were filled with clear apology and unease.

"I'm so sorry..."

The voice was weak, but the speaker tried hard to speak clearly.

"Yesterday...we shouldn't have treated you like that."

"Avalon, the peace we enjoy now is too precious, and we are too afraid that it will be shattered by bad people."

"We really didn't know you were..."

She took a deep breath, as if gathering her courage.

Then, she stretched out a slightly trembling hand towards Shia.

"Um... if you'd like..."

"Could...could you come to my place for a bit first?"

Her eyes were clear, filled with a cautious anticipation.

Shea looked at the hand reaching out to her, and her body stiffened slightly.

Last night, something I had been dreaming about suddenly appeared before my eyes.

This left her stunned for a moment.

She was also thinking about how to integrate into these groups of people from various races who got along well, through her own efforts.

I wondered if I should do what the book says, and gradually lower the other person's guard by helping them day after day.

Then, after an unexpected disappearance, they were jolted back to reality by the loss of their kind little sprite.

After experiencing some thrilling adventures, I randomly succeeded in accepting myself.

result.......

I haven't even made a move yet!

What, you, whom I consider the ultimate reward, are the first to pack yourself up and throw yourself at me?

Have you all forgotten the harsh words you said to me last night?

The pacing in the storybook isn't like that!

Shea's mind was filled with questions, so much so that she hesitated to respond to Winnie's outstretched hand.

Seeing this, Lin Gui decisively stretched out his hand.

He grabbed Shia's wrist and pulled her hand forward without saying a word.

He gently placed it in Winnie's waiting palm.

"wait……!"

Shia hadn't even realized she needed to break free.

Winnie, however, seemed to have flipped a switch.

His previously timid gaze suddenly hardened.

The next second, she closed her fingers and gripped Xia's hand tightly.

Then--

Pull hard!

Winnie's strength was unexpected.

Despite being a lower-ranking superhuman, Shia was pulled by Winnie and stumbled forward.

"Wait, wait! What are you doing...?!"

Shea cried out in surprise, trying to steady herself.

But the surrounding residents had already gathered around in unison.

They didn't surround us, but rather formed a friendly yet undeniably welcoming human wall.

It subtly separated her from Lin Gui and Eve.

"Please don't be afraid..."

"We really meant no harm..."

"I just... wanted to show you Avalon..."

"Let us express our apologies."

Amidst the cacophony of whispers, Winnie held Shia's hand tightly, head bowed, but her steps were swift.

The crowd thronged around them, moving them toward the stairwell.

Shia struggled to turn her head and look at Lin Gui.

Panic and confusion mingled in his bloodshot eyes.

There was also a hint of accusation, "Are you plotting against me again?"

Lin Gui stood still, without moving.

He simply waved to her gently.

His gray eyes were calm and still.

It's as if it's saying: Go ahead, it's okay.

In the blink of an eye, Xia was half-invited and half-led down from the attic.

Footsteps mingled with whispers, fading into the distance.

The attic fell silent again.

Only Lin Gui and Eve, who was quietly watching from the window with a smile in her eyes, remained.

Once the footsteps of the residents had completely faded away, the attic returned to silence.

Eve turned around by the window and looked at Lin Gui.

A faint smile played on her lips as she asked softly:

"Did you...do something yesterday?"

Lin Gui yawned long and nonchalantly.

He casually tore off his old robe, crumpled it up, and tossed it aside.

Then he turned around and squeezed himself into the narrow bed in the attic.

No.

His voice, heavy with weariness, came muffled from under the covers.

"I originally intended to..."

"Use our ability to traverse the Wailing Corridor as leverage."

"Talk to them and try to get them to accept Shia."

He paused, then seemed to turn over.

"Who would have thought..."

"I haven't had a chance to make a move yet."

"They came to us of their own accord."

His tone was flat, revealing no emotion.

Eve could hear the overly calm and nonchalant tone in Lin Gui's voice.

Her eyes flickered slightly, and she asked softly, "You... don't seem very happy?"

"It's a bit early to be happy."

Lin Gui's voice came from under the covers, muffled.

After he finished speaking, he remained silent for a moment.

The edge of the blanket shifted, revealing a pair of awake eyes.

My gaze passed over Eve and fell out the window.

It landed on that towering, dark demonic pillar that seemed to support the entire hidden curtain.

"Avalon's safety depends entirely on this pillar."

His voice was low, as if he were stating a cold, hard fact.

"But the pillar's owner, the Demon King Guxin, has left."

"It's a good thing that the residents accepted Shia."

"But if Avalon itself..."

He paused, his gaze fixed on the towering yet solitary pillar.

"Because of Guxin's departure, or perhaps something happened to him outside..."

"And collapse, annihilation."

"So now all the acceptance, goodwill..."

"It will all be meaningless."

His concerns are very real.

The reality is almost cruel.

In this desolate land, all that is beautiful is built under the protection of a powerful being.

And when the shelter itself is crumbling...

The brief peace may just be an illusion before the storm.