My front door leads to a comic strip

Chapter 155, 154: Ryu's "Spirit Disease," Chaos Begins!

The next day, the sky was clear and the sun shone brightly on Orario.

"Is this what a charity meal service is like?"

As Gu Yuan followed the members of the Astrea Familia through the last alleyway and arrived at the North District Plaza, a wave of heat, mixed with the aroma of food, body temperature, and a cacophony of noise, rushed towards them, creating a stark contrast to the deathly silence along the way.

Suddenly, the view opened up.

The makeshift stalls stretched along the edge of the square and both sides of the street, each large pot on a fire steaming with billowing white steam, serving vegetable soup, oatmeal porridge, and kudzu root soup with a touch of wine, all available without limit today.

Despite the meager food, for many civilians who had lost their homes and jobs and lost their income due to attacks by dark factions, this meal was undoubtedly a lifeline and a hope for survival.

"Yes."

Alexie noticed Gu Yuan's scrutinizing gaze and assumed it was his first time seeing such a scene, so she walked over to him and explained clearly, "This is in place of the annual Harvest Goddess Festival held in the city."

The situation is special now, so a celebration is out of the question, but at least—people should be able to have a good meal and smile again.

Her voice carried a resolute sense of mission, but then a shadow of gloom flashed in her emerald eyes as she clenched her fists. "It's all because of those despicable dark factions—they've made it impossible for everyone to live a normal life! As a champion of justice, I must eradicate them!"

Her resentment made her unconsciously puff out her cheeks, making her look angry.

Gu Yuan nodded thoughtfully.

Just then, a series of light and hurried footsteps approached, breaking the brief silence.

Tap tap tap—

A little girl, about five or six years old, with two crooked buns, carefully moved a ceramic bowl, almost as big as her face, to Alise.

She looked up and saw the red-haired girl's still-angry expression. In her innocent, childish voice, she said, "Pretty red-haired girl, you look so angry! Mommy says that drinking hot soup will make you feel better! Here, have this bowl!"

Caught off guard, Alexie looked down and met the little girl's clear, unadulterated eyes, and the anger in her heart seemed to be washed away by a warm current.

She immediately knelt down to be at the little girl's eye level, and as she took the heavy bowl, her smile softened considerably: "Oh, thank you so much, little angel! I'm not angry, I'm just thinking about how to defeat the bad guys!"

She gently brushed the little girl's nose with her free hand. "But seeing you instantly cheers me up. Now I'm even more motivated!"

As she spoke, she clenched her fist again and gave the little girl a spirited "Go for it!" expression.

"Perry!"

A woman's apologetic call came from not far away.

A woman wearing a faded coarse cloth dress walked over quickly, took the little girl's hand, and smiled somewhat awkwardly at Alexandra: "I'm sorry, Miss Alexandra, the child is being silly and has kept you from doing your work."

"It's alright, Auntie, she's very cute."

Alexandra stood up, shaking her head with a smile.

The little girl was pulled along by her mother for a couple of steps, but then suddenly broke free, ran back, and took out three slightly wilted wildflowers from her pocket, which were neatly tied with straw rope.

She awkwardly handed the flowers to the three of them: "Big brother, big sister, these are for you. Mom says receiving flowers brings good luck."

Alexandra accepted it with delight, as if holding a precious jewel. Gu Yuan also calmly extended his palm.

When it was Liu's turn, she hesitated slightly before reaching out to take it. Just as her fingertips touched the flower stem, she accidentally bumped into Gu Yuan's finger, which had not yet fully retracted.

"!"

Liu's fingertips trembled as if struck by a weak electric current, and her ear tips blushed at a visible speed, as if they were soaked by the most beautiful sunrise on the horizon.

"Oh dear."

Alexandra caught this moment and immediately chuckled, leaning over to tease, "Lion, your 'elf syndrome'—that conditioned reflex you have when you touch someone's body—isn't it over yet?"

She winked mischievously, knowing full well that for a noble elf, the body was strictly forbidden to be touched by anyone outside her own kind.

"Stop being so long-winded!"

Her face flushed red as she retorted in a low voice, instinctively reaching for her handkerchief to wipe her fingertips.

But when he caught a glimpse of Gu Yuan beside him, who seemed completely at ease, as if the touch had been an unintentional accident, he froze.

Isn't that too impolite? It's like I've been tainted by something—

For a moment, she didn't know whether to wipe it or not, and she seemed a little at a loss.

Gu Yuan took in Liu's rare moment of embarrassment, and recalling her usual aloof demeanor, he chuckled inwardly.

By this time, the little girl had already been led by her mother into the crowd, and the gentleness in Gu Yuan's eyes quickly faded, replaced by clarity.

The relevant plot points flashed through his mind simultaneously.

The time and place matched—if I'm not mistaken, the dark faction was supposed to launch their attack today.

Although my previous actions disrupted Erlen's plans, preventing him from appearing as originally intended, his obsession with destroying Orario remains unchanged.

"—I've already subtly hinted at this to the goddess and entrusted Lily to her care. I hope my actions were the right thing to do."

"Alicie".

Gu Yuan's calm voice rang out, simultaneously drawing the attention of the slightly distracted red-haired girl and the still-struggling elf back to their senses.

His tone carried a hint of caution: "The more people gather and emotions are relaxed, the less we should let our guard down."

"The dark faction—they probably won't let this opportunity slip by."

Alexie's expression hardened, the remaining relaxation on her face vanishing instantly. She immediately understood Gu Yuan's meaning and nodded emphatically: "I understand! Actually, I haven't let my guard down since we arrived here!"

She patted the sword at her waist, and the scabbard of "Crimson Oath" emitted a soft clang, as if responding to its master's fighting spirit. "If they dare to come, my sword will ensure they never return!"

The atmosphere at the scene became slightly more tense because of this conversation.

Just then, a loud, gruff voice broke the delicate tension: "Fellow members of the Astrea Familia, we've been waiting for you!"

The crowd was parted to the sides by a gentle force, and a stocky dwarf walked over.

He wore heavy, finely crafted steel armor, carried a gleaming double-edged axe on his back, and wore a hearty smile on his bearded face.

One of them was Grace Landrock, a Lv.5 adventurer from the Loki Familia who was in charge of security in this area.

He had already heard about Gu Yuan's deeds from Leila.

Knowing that this young man, though not yet at the required level, possessed genuine first-level adventurer strength, she had long harbored the intention to make his acquaintance.

It's both an admiration for the strong and a hope that we can work together to protect this city in the future.

"This must be Mr. Gu Yuan?"

Grace walked briskly to Gu Yuan, extending her broad hand warmly, her tone full of sincerity, "I am Grace Landrock, and I've wanted to be with you for a long time—"

Just then—

Gu Yuan seemed to catch a glimpse of a dark shadow flashing across a distant rooftop out of the corner of his eye.

Almost simultaneously, his internal sense of danger issued a sharp alarm!

"boom!!!"

Before Grace could finish speaking, a deafening explosion suddenly came from the street corner not far away!

Immediately following was the thunderous sound of building walls collapsing, and the piercing screams of the crowd in extreme terror!

"Ah! Murder! It's the Dark Faction! They're here!!"

"Run! Run!!!"

"Help—! Don't step on me!"

"My child!"

Chaos spread like thick ink dropped into clear water, instantly engulfing the entire square.

The previously orderly crowd suddenly erupted into chaos.

People cried out and pushed each other like headless flies.

Instinctively, they rushed desperately toward the location of Grace, the seemingly most powerful guardian present, and the rest of the Astrea Familia!

Grace's arm, which was halfway raised, froze in mid-air.

His expression changed drastically.

"Clang!"

The clear, resonant sound of a sword rang out almost simultaneously with the explosion! Liu's rapier was already drawn!

Her icy blue eyes held no trace of the shyness they had shown before, only a chilling killing intent that seemed to freeze everything. She leaned forward slightly, assuming a perfect battle stance.

Gu Yuan silently tucked the pale purple flower into the inner pocket of his robe, and when he looked up again, his eyes had turned completely cold.

The worst fears have come true.

The battle has begun.

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