Chapter 166: Refreshing Ella

Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Refreshing Ella

He walked out of the Guild’s main entrance.

He would pick up the gift soon, but it was still too early to go see Cecilia. After all, birthdays were best celebrated in the evening.

He planned to buy something for Uncle Rein and drop it off. It was the least he could do, since the man had transferred that incredibly valuable special approval slot to him.

It was only right and proper that he show his concern.

He recalled their previous chat at the old veteran’s home. He could still sense the heartbreaking, weary finality in Uncle Rein’s tone.

He didn’t know if it was because Uncle Rein was suffering from some illness.

Or if it was simply because he was old and had lost his hope for the future.

That must have been why he’d spoken such heavy words that day, as if he were getting his affairs in order.

Lance carefully sifted through the fragmented memories of his original self’s childhood.

He discovered that Uncle Rein had apparently always lived alone in that small house. He couldn’t recall any relatives from elsewhere ever coming to visit him.

It seemed that now, he was truly the only family Uncle Rein could rely on in this remote little town.

Lance knew very well that one day he would leave this border town to seek thrilling adventures in the wider world.

He couldn’t just stand by and watch what would happen after he left.

He couldn’t let Uncle Rein become an empty-nester, sitting by the door every day, basking in the sun and waiting to die.

Lance strode quickly to the bustling commercial street.

Here, there was an excellent private Alchemy Shop—the very place Lance had gone to have a custom piece of jewelry made.

After pushing open the shop door, which had a small brass bell on it, the mustached shopkeeper immediately greeted him with a beaming smile.

He very carefully retrieved an exquisitely packaged velvet jewelry box from under the counter and handed it over.

Lance opened the box to inspect the quality. Satisfied, he paid the remaining balance and put it away securely.

After leaving the Alchemy Shop, Lance continued his shopping, visiting several other stores.

He bought a good number of pricey but practical supplies, only stopping when one arm could barely hold all the bags, big and small.

Afterward, Lance didn’t head straight home. Instead, he followed a familiar path to the stone arch bridge with the old waterwheel he had visited before.

He walked up to the abandoned, half-sized shrine and crouched down.

"Xiaohai, Bean Bun, I’m here."

Hearing the familiar voice, two filthy little puppies came running.

They scrambled out from a dark corner, giddy with joy.

They wagged their tails happily, circling and weaving around Lance’s pant legs, occasionally nudging his leather boots with their wet noses.

Lance reached out with a large hand and, one by one, grabbed them by the scruffs of their necks.

He then settled the two little guys securely in the crook of his arm, the one already laden with bags.

The two puppies seemed to sense Lance’s kindness; they lay there obediently, showing no intention of struggling or resisting.

"Let’s go. I’m going to find a good home for you."

Lance stroked their fluffy heads.

He remembered from the depths of his original self’s memories that Uncle Rein used to have a very fierce Hound.

But when his original self was still very young, the Hound that had accompanied the old veteran for many years was already getting quite old.

Not long after his original self’s memories began, the old dog passed away from old age.

This at least meant that Uncle Rein liked dogs and wasn’t opposed to having a pet for companionship.

He took the two little ones back to his own spacious home first.

Lance set the bags he was carrying on the table, then gently placed the two puppies from his arm onto the wooden floor of the living room.

Finding themselves in a strange and bright new environment, the two puppies immediately showed their distinctly different personalities.

The one named Xiaohai was clearly the mischievous one. As soon as her paws hit the floor, she started tearing around the living room in a mad dash, sniffing everything in sight.

Seeing this,

The calm and steady Bean Bun immediately rushed forward and bit down precisely on the scruff of Xiaohai’s fateful neck.

He forcefully pinned his mischievous sister to the floor, then stretched out a paw and patted the slate floor in a very human-like gesture.

It was as if he were warning her to behave in this unfamiliar place.

Watching this remarkably intelligent interaction between the two puppies,

Lance couldn’t help but laugh.

Only after Lance clapped his hands and gave them the command to move freely did the two little ones start running around the courtyard again, eventually even venturing into the backyard together to explore its unknown corners.

Lance watched their lively figures retreat and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

’I wonder if it’s because the air in this Otherworld is filled with Ether Energy.’

’Even stray puppies you find on the side of the road are this smart and perceptive.’

After sorting and putting away all the supplies he had purchased in the living room,

Lance looked up at the weather outside.

The weather today was excellent, with golden sunlight pouring generously into the courtyard.

Lance went to the well, drew several buckets of cool, clear water, and carried them to an open space in the backyard.

"Xiaohai, Bean Bun, come on! Bath time!"

Hearing his call, the two puppies, who had been digging in the backyard, immediately came running back obediently.

The whole washing process was surprisingly smooth. The two little ones were very well-behaved, not even yelping when the cool water was poured over them.

After washing off all the grime, Lance found a clean old towel and carefully dried them off.

He then let them lie comfortably on the grass in the backyard to sunbathe until their fur was completely dry.

He, in turn, went back to his room, changed into clean clothes, and gathered the things he would be taking with him.

When it was about time,

he went into the courtyard and scooped the two puppies, now warm and fragrant from the sun, back into his arms.

"Let’s go. Time to meet your new owner."

Lance locked his courtyard gate and strode down the familiar street toward the veteran’s residential area where Uncle Rein lived.

...

「Meanwhile.」

In the attic of Rein’s stone house, located in the veteran’s residential area.

Sunlight streamed in through a small skylight.

Ella was splayed painfully over the old desk in an extremely contorted and bizarre posture, her long, slender legs crossed beneath her.

The loose-fitting cloak she usually wore to hide her appearance had long since been confiscated by Rein.

She was now dressed in a light summer outfit with a distinct local flair.

Her top was a white, linen-like camisole.

It was cut short, and because of her twisted posture, a large swath of her flat and resilient stomach was exposed.

On her lower half, she wore a pair of dark brown lantern shorts.

However, because she had crossed her legs so widely, the already short pant legs had been pulled up, shamelessly exposing large portions of her pale, firm thighs to the air.