Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

After resting for a night, Lin Gui left the Heart of Elements.

There weren't many people on the streets in the early morning. He walked in the alley, and after confirming that no one was around, he silently draped his entire body in a dark gauze robe.

His figure blurred in the shadows and then disappeared completely.

The oak staff floated up, and he straddled it, silently leaving the area of ​​the Elemental Heart.

When he returned to the post office, he climbed out of the window and went into the bedroom on the second floor.

He removed his Thousand Illusions Mask, changed into his everyday gray robes, and went downstairs.

The living room was much livelier than usual.

News of the opening of the post office in Qianta has spread.

Even though the cities along the subsequent routes were very remote, they still attracted many people to come and deliver letters.

There are no refugee areas in Qianta.

The gray area is mostly populated by wandering mages from all over the world who come on pilgrimage, as well as bankrupt individuals from the Thousand Pagodas who have fallen on hard times.

It is not a refugee area in the traditional sense.

Therefore, most of the people who sent letters were well-dressed and behaved properly.

When Lin Gui entered the living room, several pairs of eyes fell on him.

Some were just glanced at casually, while others lingered for a longer time.

Lin Gui didn't deliberately look at the source of those gazes, but he had already memorized those faces out of the corner of his eye.

However, his attention was not on the guests.

His gaze fell on the girl standing behind the counter.

She was wearing a faded gray dress.

He was wearing a dark post office apron over his clothes, making him look like a newcomer who had temporarily donned a uniform.

She was very thin, and the outline of her shoulder blades could be vaguely seen through her clothes.

His face was so pale it was almost transparent, and there was a faint bluish-black tinge under his eyes.

Her long, dark brown hair was casually tied back, with dry, split ends, as if it hadn't been properly groomed in a long time.

Her pupils were disguised as ordinary brown.

But Lin Gui could still see a different kind of luster deep within that disguise.

That was a form of vigilance.

A sense of tension, like being ready to escape at any moment.

There are also deeper feelings—guilt, confusion, and doubt.

And hidden at the very bottom of all emotions, a trace of hatred that is almost impossible to conceal.

Without even asking, Lin Gui knew who she was.

She was a half-demon captured in Deadwood Town, and was originally supposed to sign for Dalton's supplies.

Lin Gui has been in the Heart of Elements for almost six days, and Levy should have arrived long ago.

Lin Gui did not go directly to her to ask about the specific situation.

After all, some of the post office customers were closely watching his every move.

He walked very smoothly to the side of the counter.

She naturally took a stack of letters to be sorted and began sorting them as if she were already familiar with the process.

His movements were swift and natural, without attracting the attention of any of the guests.

As he sorted through the items, he turned his head and asked a question in a normal tone.

Where did the Elvia district go?

Levy paused for a moment, as if she wasn't used to being asked in such a casual and natural tone.

She paused for a moment, then answered in a low voice.

"Miss has gone out on errands."

Miss?

This title made Lin Gui pause for a moment.

But he didn't ask any further questions.

He nodded and continued with his work.

The two of them kept the post office running in this way.

Occasionally, when a customer comes up to ask a question, Levy will answer in a low voice.

Her voice was soft, with a deliberately lowered and steady tone, as if she was forcing herself to act normal.

But Lin Gui noticed.

Her shoulders tensed slightly whenever someone approached the counter.

The fingers resting on the edge of the counter will unconsciously curl up for a moment, then quickly relax.

That's an instinctive reaction that only people who have been living in fear for a long time would have.

He didn't say a single word to her all day.

The same goes for Levy.

He would only occasionally glance at Lin Gui when Lin Gui lowered his head, his expression towards Lin Gui was very complicated.

evening.

As the post office emptied out, the streetlights softened and became dim.

Business hours have ended.

All the guests have left.

The door was closed, but not locked.

Lin Gui sat on a chair behind the counter, flipping through a magic book.

Levy maintained her professional posture, like a dutiful maid.

She glanced at Lin Gui every now and then, her mouth opening and closing repeatedly, but in the end, she kept her thoughts to herself.

The door was pushed open.

Elvia walked in.

She wore a gorgeous dark blue dress with delicate silver patterns embroidered on the hem.

Her long, golden hair was carefully styled into a bun, adorned with an exquisite silver hairpin.

A pair of small pearl earrings hung on her earlobes, gleaming softly in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Her makeup was impeccable and exquisite, making her look as if she had just returned from a noble banquet.

She locked the door behind her, making a soft click.

His gaze swept across the living room and landed on Lin Gui.

She didn't say much, but simply raised her chin, gesturing for Lin Gui to go upstairs.

She stopped as she passed Levy.

She smiled at Levy, her voice gentle and natural.

"Relax, don't be so tense."

"No one here would dare to hurt you to my face."

Levy's body stiffened slightly for a moment, then she lowered her head and performed a curtsy with practiced ease.

Her posture was standard and fluid, carrying a submissiveness ingrained in her very being.

"Yes, Miss."

Her voice remained soft, carrying a mechanical obedience.

But deep within those eyes, there was little warmth.

Her respect seemed to be following a programmed routine, rather than coming from the heart.

Elvia's reaction to the title and gesture was noticeably different.

Her eyebrows relaxed slightly, and the smile on her lips became more genuine.

Like a child who has finally found something that has been lost for a long time.

Lin Gui looked at her blissful expression, somewhat puzzled.

As he went upstairs, he asked a question in a low voice.

"Why were you so happy just now?"

Elvia walked ahead and glanced at him sideways.

"Of course I'm happy."

"She made me feel like I was once a princess again."

"I miss those days so much."

She began to recount them in detail.

"When I woke up in the morning, someone brought me hot water and a towel, combed my hair, and helped me choose what to wear that day."

"When I went out, someone had prepared a carriage in advance and was waiting by the door. He lowered his eyes and asked me where I wanted to go today."

When I returned, someone was waiting for me at the door, took off my coat, and prepared hot tea for me.

"Even when I want a drink of water, I don't have to stand up and pour it myself—"

Her eyes held a bright sense of nostalgia and melancholy.

"But all of that disappeared after I started dating you."

"You won't let me recruit servants, saying my identity is sensitive, and nothing I say will do."

"At most, it means I can temporarily hire a few adventurers to help carry my bags when I go shopping."

"They can't even provide the most basic care for daily living."

She glanced at Lin Gui, her tone implying, "You owe me."

Lin Gui sighed helplessly.

"Our business doesn't allow you to recruit too many servants."

"If you really want to, it's not too late to do it once we reach our destination."

Elvia grunted twice and didn't press the matter further.