"Is this the reward you got from your trip? That’s quite a big surprise..."
Crow Hunter Erin, while wandering near the Healing Church Cathedral, happened to meet Lann returning from the Forbidden Forest.
Now the two of them are on either side of Henrik, each holding one of his arms, helping him toward Oton Chapel.
At this moment, the Crow Hunter raised a finger, pointing at the massive blood-red moon in the sky, with an indescribable tone.
"Are you sure that in all the previous recursions, you’ve never seen a moon ?"
Lann bore most of Henrik’s weight, but he didn’t feel it was much of a burden.
In contrast, the psychological pressure of not knowing if he did a good deed or inadvertently caused harm was what tormented him now.
Erin could also sense that the whole atmosphere of Yan’an had become more sinister and bizarre due to the blood-red moon above.
The beast-plagued patients on the road exhibited more grotesque limb features, and the patrolling Sumeru Church guards showed strange transformations in their religious weapons that had never been seen before...
It was as if the world unseen to normal people began to reveal itself under the illumination of that crimson moon.
And that ’unseen world’ was by no means a serene and peaceful place.
However, Erin’s tone carried a hint of relief.
"This is a good thing, Lann. At least from my perspective, more bizarre and aggressive monsters are easier to deal with than a mindlessly repetitive time."
"Time has begun to move forward again, which at least means we have hope of escaping this night. Even if the road is more treacherous, at least it’s a road."
"We’ve arrived; let this old man have a good rest."
While speaking, they had reached Oton Chapel.
Lann helping Henrik inside startled Viola and the two little girls.
He could only softly reassure them, saying Henrik was only accidentally knocked out by a sleeping potion and would be fine after some rest.
This explanation relieved Gascogne’s family, who took Henrik to their resting place in the chapel and kept watch over him there.
An additional person was in the chapel, a stunning blonde beauty. She sat on a chair, graciously nodding towards Lann.
This should be the woman he had informed about the location of the chapel in Church Town.
Erin had already stood by the wall next to the Red Robed Witch, leaning against it.
Lann walked over, with the three individuals in the chapel being the ones who remained conscious throughout the time recursions.
The Red Robed Witch seemed unwelcome in Yan’an; at least Lann didn’t see anyone approach her.
Thus, the three could have a private conversation in the chapel just by keeping their voices down. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel•fire.net
Lann first confirmed with the Red Robed Witch that Yan’an had never before seen a red moon or experienced such bizarre and dangerous atmospheres in previous recursions.
This indeed resulted from an unprecedented mutation that he caused.
Time indeed began to flow again.
The Red Robed Witch shared the same sentiment as Erin: changes, regardless of form, are good.
They had lingered in the timeline of recursions for far too long.
"This place has become a sanctuary for many, thanks to you."
The Red Robed Witch suddenly said earnestly to Lann.
Although her eyes were clouded and white, she still tried hard to find Lann’s direction to express her gratitude.
Quite strange that there would be someone like her in Yan’an.
Someone offering help to others and yet thanking someone unrelated to her who extended aid.
Lann awkwardly turned his head, uttering pleasantries like ’it’s nothing’ and ’you’re welcome.’
On one hand, the young man was a bit embarrassed by such gratitude, while on the other... her red robe always reminded Lann of the Mechanical Sage in the [Memory Deep Dive].
But for the Red Robed Witch, recognizing the direction of Lann was already her limit; she couldn’t possibly see the strange expression on the young man’s face.
"I’m really... so glad. You’ve made me feel useful!"
The aged voice carried a mix of the joy of being recognized and sincere gratitude.
This intense emotion momentarily dispelled Lann’s association with Belisarius Kao’s red robe.
"You’ve done so much, indebted to so many people. It’s incredible, truly! Not just because you are a Hunter, but because of your character... heh, heh heh."
In the end, thinking it was inappropriate for someone like her to speak so to a Hunter, considering their unequal statuses, the elder could only conclude with a self-deprecating laugh.
"Just, just... saying so might be a bit presumptuous."
The Red Robed Witch cautiously probed.
"But is there a possibility that after dawn, we could become, become friends?"
"We are already friends." While the Red Robed Witch spoke carefully and timidly, Lann crouched halfway, gently took her withered and malnourished hand, and softly said.
"You also cared for them here, those survivors. Together we helped them, so we are already friends."
"But I feel a little guilty about being called ’friend’ by you, as I am about to leave."
Previously, Erin was leaning against the wall with arms crossed, head down.
Upon hearing Lann’s words, she lifted her bird-beak mask.
"Oh? You’re going back to your world?"
After speaking, without waiting for Lann to respond, she expressed understanding.
"It seems your ’moment of departure’ has arrived. That should be out of your control, right? That’s good; you’ve done enough. Leaving this quagmire early is wise and safe."
The Red Robed Witch’s expression showed no change as she continued to exhibit sincere gratitude.
Erin, though masked, didn’t want the Demon Hunter to remain and face trouble here.
"Don’t overthink it, child. It’s not your responsibility; leave if you must."
Lann nodded silently.
"I will leave, but before that, I must share the information I have. Though this night of recursions has ended, it’s far from over."
Lann softly spoke of the information Master William entrusted to him.
The Ancient God’s longing for the divine child, the intertwining conflicts of many Ancient Gods due to yearning and jealousy, their followers, and the nightmare constructed by the Ancient Gods...
Both quickly accepted their reality of being inside a nightmare.
After all, the dire state of Yan’an could only be described as a ’nightmare.’
In this endless night of hunting, even the most earth-shattering news could be accepted.
After finishing sharing the information he held, Lann also said goodbye to Gascogne’s family.
And removed his full armor, leaving it with Gascogne and Henrik.
He only wore the inner garments of Gascogne that he wore during previous rest.
The high-quality Bear School Armor was already heavily stained with the superior blood of Spider Rom.
Lann didn’t want this blood to flow into his world, and this armor, size-wise, had reached the point of needing replacement, anyway.
It was time to part with it.
The Demon Hunter said goodbye to these newfound friends and walked back to his initial arrival spot outside Yan’an.
The blood moon overhead was massive; Lann took out the resonating bell from his Alchemy Pouch, rumored to ’let bell sound penetrate dimensions,’ looked at it, and put it back.
In a nightmare, time presented in a peculiar state; he would have the chance... a chance to return to Yan’an, to face those high-minded Ancient Gods again.
Eventually, under the blood-red moonlight, the Demon Hunter vanished amidst a scene like shattering glass.
In Oton Chapel, Viola collected the heavy armor and placed it in a box beside her.
Perhaps this heavy armor from outside Yan’an could assist the two Hunters she cared for in the future.
{Demon Hunter Armor: Armor of the outsider who arrived at Yan’an at the outset of the night of hunting, heavily stained with what Yan Nan People consider unusually sweet blood.
Offers exceptional defense and various resistances but reduces speed and agility. If the user’s strength and endurance aren’t sufficient, speed and agility will be greatly reduced.
In terms of design, it’s undoubtedly an antique. Heavy, sturdy, seems made from beastly materials not found in Yan’an. But the style of this equipment doesn’t quite align with that of the Hunters. But what did its previous owner slay to stain it with such blood?}