Unable to repay my student loans, I had no choice but to work part-time as a demon hunter.

When Charlotte was a child, the two places she most wanted to enter were the chapel and the wine cellar.

The secrets of the chapel have been revealed; now it's the wine cellar's turn.

The entrance is located in the kitchen.

She unlocked the trapdoor; the light inside was dim, but she could still make out the blurry details.

Gao Deng went down to observe.

The wine cellar was spacious, enclosed on all four sides, and exceptionally sturdy. Gordon checked it and even found an escape door that led to the grassy slope in the backyard, where they had just sat.

Very suitable.

This is the perfect location for the ceremony!

The cradle of life can operate here, with only minor modifications, such as noise reduction, fire prevention, and smoke extraction.

Charlotte's attention, however, was drawn to the wine racks and barrels.

After seven years of neglect, most of the wine was taken away, but some remains.

Gordon glanced at it.

[Gallic Valley wine. It's been waiting impatiently.]

Palm Coast sugarcane liquor. It evokes images of sunshine, trade, and the Age of Exploration.

[Unlabeled barrel. It can be anything before opening.]

"I stumbled into the wine cellar by chance when I was a kid," Charlotte said, looking around. "My mother dragged me out and said I wasn't old enough to drink. Now I'm old enough."

What are you trying to say?

"I want to drink."

"You just discovered your mother's hunting rifle, and now you want to inherit her wine?"

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"That's called inheritance, Gordon. My mother said that when I grow up, I'll definitely become a very difficult person to deal with."

"She's right."

Is this a compliment?

"That's a very high compliment."

"Then I'll open it."

Charlotte found several glasses on the shelf and wiped them with a handkerchief.

Then, she turned on the tap of the Qing Tong Valley wine barrel, and the deep red wine slowly filled it.

The air was immediately filled with the aroma of grapes and oak, which was intoxicating.

[Qingtong Valley Red Wine. It wants to know who is worth waiting so many years for.]

Charlotte raised her glass.

"To my mother, Hélène de Rohan. I believe she is still alive somewhere in this world," she said.

"To her." Gordon and Vera also raised their glasses.

Gordon took a sip.

At first, I didn't notice anything; the taste was smooth and the fruity aroma was mild.

But soon he felt his stomach burning, and a warm sensation spread from his chest and abdomen up to his neck.

Charlotte became somewhat drowsy after finishing the drink.

Vera finished her drink in one gulp and then poured herself another.

He appeared unchanged, with a calm gaze and steady movements.

But she held the empty glass and stared at it intently for a long time, seemingly not understanding why the wine inside had disappeared on its own.

"Wait," Gordon stopped Vera.

"There's no alcohol category in my health management records," Vera argued.

"Anything not prohibited by law is permissible." Charlotte immediately poured her another glass. "Drink up!"

"...Then, I won't hesitate to switch to a larger cup." Gordon had no choice but to join in.

The atmosphere in the wine cellar quickly relaxed.

They drank several more rounds.

Vera took off her black coat, leaving her in only her vest and shirt.

"It's so hot." Charlotte also took off her spring coat and placed it on a wine barrel. Her face was flushed as she sat cross-legged on a chair, something she would never have done before.

"Oh, Charlotte, you can't drink anymore." Gordon took two steps back.

"My parents always said the same thing when I was a child. You can't do this, you can't do that. Now that I'm grown up, I can go wherever I want and do whatever I want."

"Well said," Vera agreed.

They exchanged a glance and suddenly started chatting.

We started by discussing red wine, but then the conversation magically shifted to Gordon.

What time does he go to sleep?

"It'll be eleven o'clock, and even later if I'm reading."

"Did you eat properly?"

"I keep an eye on him, otherwise he'll say 'right away,' which usually means he won't eat," Vera said.

"Why are you suddenly starting to study my lifestyle?" Gordon protested.

"I need to get to the bottom of this." Charlotte leaned forward. "Vera, have you been at Knight Road Nine all this time?"

"right."

"every day?"

"Don't you have anywhere else to stay?"

"Number 9 Knight Road is where I live." Vera thought for a moment, seemingly wondering why Charlotte kept asking the same question.

"Hmph." Charlotte picked up her glass and took a big gulp.

Vera watched her drink and then took a big gulp herself.

Gordon watched as a silent competition began.

Finally, Vera, relying on her good physique, drank half a bucket and still wanted more, while Charlotte's face turned as red as a watermelon.

Vera sat on the ground, the sword resting on her knees, stroking it repeatedly with her hand.

"If we get cut, we'll only see each other in the next life," Gordon warned.

"It's alright, I'm a hunter, I'm a master."

"What kind of expert? Don't tell me he's one of Gordon's people."

"It is possible."

"I'm pretty sure we've had too much alcohol. Hey, we've had enough."

Gordon confiscated Vera's cup, and then went to confiscate Charlotte's.

"...No." Charlotte hugged the cup tightly.

"You look like you're about to throw up; alcohol poisoning would be a serious problem."

"Hey! How could that be?" Charlotte said drunkenly.

"What does 'hello' mean? Oh my god! My language skills are starting to deteriorate!"

Charlotte suddenly pounced on him, the aroma of hazelnuts and a hint of alcohol so intense.

"You sometimes worry me," Charlotte said, grabbing Gordon's collar with one hand. "You said 'experiment'! But I worry that you're going to get into trouble or die again."

"It's alright, I'll never die," Gordon comforted her.

"You never take care of your health."

"I will take good care of myself."

"You never tell me the truth."

"I'll wait until you advance a level in your training, until you refine your source essence, until you learn how to use a gun..."

"You and Vera are getting closer and closer."

"These words are starting to get targeted," Gordon said, wiping his brow.

Vera looked up.

She heard her own name, but it took her two seconds to connect the name with herself.

"I want to live with Gordon," Vera raised her hand. "I want to be with him during the experiments too."

"Look!" Charlotte exclaimed anxiously.

"It was dangerous during the experiment, and I needed her ability to slice people up," Gordon said.

Charlotte rubbed her forehead and stepped away from Gordon.

She had never understood why anyone would dare to refine their source essence, turning themselves into a little monster.

Now she understands.

Very simple.

Wanting things that ordinary people can't get.

I want to do things that ordinary people can't do.

Now, two paths have appeared in the human world.

A path without source essence—she can only ever cheer others on from outside the gates of the extraordinary world. That kind of thing is unbearable to contemplate.

Another path, a path less traveled, a dangerous path, was also a path that allowed her to avoid hesitation, sorrow, or regret.

"Listen, I've made up my mind." Charlotte waved her hand so hard she almost threw the cup away.

"Decide my ass, you're drunk. We'll talk about it when you sober up." Gordon helped her sit down slowly.

Charlotte wanted to argue, but drowsiness was already creeping over her.

Vera felt warm and cozy all over, so comfortable she wanted to sleep. She hugged the sword to her chest and slowly leaned to one side. Gordon quickly took the dangerous weapon out and put it aside.

Gordon wasn't drunk; he's a cultured man and would never allow himself to get drunk so easily.

But he knew very well that he should sit here and watch over them.

So he sat down in front of the wooden tub between them and closed his eyes, pretending to sleep.

but……

After a while, they came over.

Gordon opened his eyes.

At this moment, both of them were leaning on one of Gordon's shoulders.

Charlotte probably instinctively sought out a comfortable place to lean on.

Vera was probably looking for food.

Because she started sucking Gordon's ear.

Gordon did not move.

He savored the feeling of the two people pressed tightly against his body.

Warm, soft...

There was also a sense of security I had never felt before.

His own body temperature also rose rapidly because of the two people pressing against each other.

This feeling...

It was truly wonderful… On one side, there was the scent of hazelnut perfume, and on the other, the faint smell of leather and steel emanating from Vera. Both of them were very warm…

——!

My ear hurts!

Vera took a bite in her dream.

"Don't eat it, don't eat it," Gordon pushed.

"Ouch." Vera stared at him blankly for a few seconds before opening her mouth, sticking out her tongue, crawling to the side, squatting down, her hands hanging down on the ground, savoring the taste.

"It feels like she's regressed a bit more." Gordon hadn't seen her squat like this in a long time.

We need to add a no-alcohol order and another prohibition on ingesting doctors.

"Ugh..." Charlotte stretched. "What's wrong?"

"I was almost eaten by Vera."

"Then you deserve it." Charlotte was still quite drunk.

After a while, Charlotte pressed her temples with both hands to try and clear her head.

She was thinking about something important.

"So, this is the most suitable experimental site you think is, the place you chose from so many options?"

"Yes, it's a great place. It's perfect," Gordon said.

Charlotte's head.

The manor has been completely abandoned.

If you look back carefully, you can probably still see its former splendor, but no matter what, you can never go back to seven years ago.

What if...

"Gordon, the old manor is gone forever." Charlotte looked around. "It will only grow old day by day, until one day I won't recognize it at all. So... I'll lend it to you, but on one condition."

"you say."

"In the future, we'll work together to fix this place brick by brick," Charlotte said, looking at Gordon.

"Okay." Gordon nodded.

"Do you know how much that costs?"

"It's just a few tens of thousands of gold pounds, right? Watch me make it." Gordon raised his chin.

Charlotte finally showed her happiest smile of the day.

"Yes, yes, this place is much bigger than 9 Knight Road," Vera said.

Charlotte's expression quickly darkened.

"Don't tell me you're going to follow me again," Charlotte said, staring at Vera.

"Hmm... guess what?" Vera said softly.

"I don't have time to fool around." Charlotte brandished the shotgun in her hand.

"Ouch!" Vera hid behind Gordon.

"Anyway..." Charlotte started browsing the liquor shelf, "we need to find a bottle of celebratory wine. If your... experiment succeeds, we'll meet here again and open a bottle to celebrate."

She eventually chose a long, thin, dark green bottle.

A gold seal was pinned around his neck, and the lettering on the label had faded somewhat.

【"Triumphant" brand sparkling wine. Always victorious, bathed in glory.】

"Celebrate! I want to celebrate right now... What should I do?" Vera rubbed her messy hair.

"Don't rush. I'll keep it safe. I'll keep it until you two succeed." Charlotte stroked the bottle.

"What if we lose?" Gordon asked. He liked to have a backup plan.

"Gordon, you've been brilliant so far. Don't suddenly say such unlucky things. I firmly believe you will succeed, and I firmly believe you will fix this place." Charlotte raised her index finger and pressed it against Gordon's lips.

"...Alright." Gordon extended his hand. "Then we'll leave it until we succeed."

Charlotte gave him a high five.

"Me too," Vera stretched out her hand. Charlotte patted the back of her hand.

Finally, they left the manor.

Charlotte glanced back. How amazing.

The mother she remembered was always elegant and dignified, but now she seemed to have a different side.

Although she didn't know where she had disappeared or what her father was hiding, she knew where she could begin.

Grow up well and master your skills. Then, muster your courage and choose one of the three source materials.

Charlotte has fond memories of the manor, and she firmly believes that she and Gordon will create even more wonderful memories there in the future.

One day, she will make a more beautiful and dazzling house rise from the ground.

Charlotte closed the manor gates and strode forward.

"Let's go, we still have a lot to do."