Seeing the stout old man in the lobby of Happiness Apartment on the first floor, clutching large scissors and glaring at him, Leon couldn't help but rub his temples in frustration.
*Damn, after the Devil's Badge advanced to the Gold level, it seemed the 'demonic aura' in my soul became too strong. Before the Holy Spirit Badge caught up to the Gold Level, I might really have to sleep at the office.*
Looking at the apologetic face of the matronly manager in the lobby, Leon tentatively asked,
"Uh... Aunt Mary, would you mind if I used some techniques to bind your husband for a little while? Mainly because it's been over a week since I last went home, and I really want to check back..."
Despite twisting the stout old man's waist several times without him budging, the matronly manager had to shake her snowy curls helplessly and said,
"I know you're a good person. Problems with your soul are probably due to the Purification Bureau, and there's no reason to stop you from going home. But my old man's words, he just doesn't listen... Well, as long as you don't hurt him, you can tie him up all night."
"No, no, it won't take that long, just a short while."
Leon had great respect for these elderlies who had always done good both in life and in death. Hearing this, he promptly refused her suggestion, then slowly invoked the power of the Holy Spirit pendant, forcing the stout old man to stay in place before dashing up the stairs without looking back.
Seeing the "damnable Little Demon" actually head upstairs, the stout old man's eyes bulged, and his broad, sturdy back muscles suddenly swelled, forcing the restraint of the Holy Spirit pendant open just a bit, waving his large scissors, trying to chase after.
However, after only a couple of steps, he was tightly entangled by bundles of threads, forcing him to be tied beside the staircase. His waist, in particular, was fiercely pinched.
"You stubborn old man! You were stubborn while alive, and even more stubborn now that you're dead... Stick your neck out a bit, let me measure the length!"
Twisting the stout old man's waist hard a couple of times, and seeing her husband still holding the large scissors and trying to rush upward, the matronly manager couldn't help but shake her head helplessly before pulling up a small stool to sit in the hallway, measuring the stout old man's neck to knit a wool scarf.
Waiting on the third floor for a while without seeing the stout old man pursuing him, Leon heaved a sigh of relief and immediately dashed up to the sixth floor.
The familiar preemptive door opening still applied. At the moment Leon set foot on the sixth floor, the door to the adjacent room swung open suddenly, casting a comforting orange glow, illuminating the dim corridor and Leon.
Even though she'd already recognized his footsteps, seeing Leon hurriedly back home with dust still clinging to him, Anna, looking slightly weary, couldn't help but feel a surge of energy. Her eyes showed a sense of relief.
But before Leon could say a word, the relief in her eyes transformed into deep worry and grievance.
Biting her lower lip hard, the frail girl slightly turned her head, her voice tinged with a teasing reprimand, "Finished with your work?"
Catching the slight reproach in his sister's eyes, Leon couldn't help but halt his steps, looking at her apologetically and said,
"Sorry, Anna, there's been a lot going on in the bureau lately. I just took some time to come back and see you guys, but I have to leave soon..."
After hearing Leon's words, although she still felt a bit upset about his disappearance for seven or eight days without a word, seeing him come home so weary and dusty, the frail girl couldn't help but bite her lip again. Feeling a bit worried, she gently advised,
"Remember to take care of yourself, don't shoulder everything alone. If it's really exhausting, you should take more breaks. Earning a bit less is fine too.
Now that our home life is much better, and my health has improved a lot compared to before, if both of us can work, earning a bit less can still support Melanie and the others. You don't have to push yourself so much..."
"Don't worry, I'm alright."
Looking at his sister in front of him, who was full of concern, Leon instinctively turned up the corners of his mouth, feeling a subtle relief and ease that he hadn't experienced for a long time.
*Whether it was the ruthless ferocity of just having killed the Bishop or the lingering scent of blood from Ryan Blood Night's aftermath, all washed away when I returned to this warm little home, bathed in that warm glow.*
*In this moment, I was no longer the ruthless Cleaner of the Purification Bureau, nor was I the outsider constantly suppressing anger and discontent, out of step with this world. I was just an ordinary person who, after a busy day, longed for quiet rest at home.*
"Anna, I'm lucky to have you here..."
A heartfelt sigh escaped him, and having found some slivers of "humanity" again, Leon couldn't help but step forward, embracing his sister in a big hug, burying his head in Anna's still thin shoulder, and almost greedily taking a deep breath.
*Even though it had only been a month since joining the Purification Bureau, looking back, I realized how much I'd changed from the person I was. At least the me from a month ago would never have crushed someone's head at the mere mention of the 'Scales Gold Sect.'*
*Though I could console myself it was all part of the job, I was undeniably stepping further away from normalcy, moving at an increasing pace toward a "non-human" world.*
*Anna, her slim shoulders seemed frail, yet just as I supported this family from collapsing, the existence of her and the two little ones anchored my perception of being "human."*
*If not for them serving as "anchor points," while I might not turn into something truly evil, I would, under the constant corrosion from anomalous objects, become like those other Cleaners that only had a human exterior, remaining and being unrelated to a human in essence or actions, as the Black Goat had stated...*
"Ah! You... don't..."
Suddenly enveloped in Leon's forceful embrace, with his face nuzzling her neck, Anna was startled, instinctively trying to push him away with a flushed face.
But after being hugged for a few seconds and seemingly sensing something from the depth of this embrace, she hesitated briefly, then abandoned her struggle. Ignoring the dust on Leon, she wrapped her arms around his waist in return, making their embrace tighter.
Resting her chin on Leon's shoulder, the frail girl slightly tilted her head, somewhat embarrassedly nuzzling her cheek against his jaw before enduring the warm, tickling breaths on her neck. As her hands gently stroked Leon's back, her gaze softened, murmuring softly in his ear,
"Brother... no matter when you feel tired, just come home. I'll always be waiting for you."