Thanks for the invite, I'm in Honkai, grinding stats to level up

At the very least, his strength was beyond doubt.

When going all out, his individual combat power was still enough to place him in the top five, or even top three, in this world.

For you now, challenging him is still too early..."

Otto said these words with utmost seriousness, even using Feather of Dust to intimidate Gwen's spirit, hoping he would take his words to heart.

He himself had drifted apart from Kallen due to his own arrogance, which ultimately led to Kallen's death. Otto did not want Gwen to make the same mistake.

Even though Gwen felt like complaining about Otto's shamelessness, hearing the earnest advice extinguished that thought, and he nodded solemnly, saying:

"Yes, I will continue to work hard and reach the point where I can defeat him head-on and reclaim Heavenly Fire Judgment for Destiny as soon as possible."

Gwen, who clearly remembered how furious Otto was with Siegfried's recklessness during the Second Honkai War, didn't mind showing his loyalty—

After all, based on his current investment and effort, Otto truly deserved Gwen's loyalty.

It was just a pity...

"Yes, I believe you can do it."

Otto smiled and nodded, his face full of relief, but he corrected him, "However, it's not for Destiny.

After all, Heavenly Fire Judgment is the mark of the Caslana family patriarch."

Looking at Otto like this, a complex emotion surged within Gwen—

If Gwen didn't know that the Grand Bishop of Destiny before him, with his gentle smile and kind demeanor, seemed like a superior from legends, was actually a madman whose heart belonged only to Kallen, who died five hundred years ago, he might have been captivated by his charisma.

Otto didn't say much more. After chatting with Gwen for a while, he chose to leave first.

A moment later, accompanied by light footsteps, You Lan Dai Er pushed open the door. Seeing Gwen already packed and sitting on the bed waiting for her, she greeted him with a smile:

"Gwen, I'm here to pick you up. Are you all packed?"

"Of course."

Seeing You Lan Dai Er arrive, Gwen, who was sitting on the bed, stood up, slung his bag over his shoulder, and said with a smile, "My injuries are all healed anyway, and I was just idle, so I might as well get everything packed."

"Well, since you're all packed, let's go then."

You Lan Dai Er, whose first action after returning to headquarters was to visit Gwen, knew Gwen's situation well and didn't say much more, cheerfully calling out, "To welcome you home from the hospital, Rita has prepared a very lavish meal."

"If you say so, I'll be looking forward to it."

Gwen's smile widened upon hearing this, "Let's go quickly, maybe we can help out if we get back early."

"Let's go..."

The two, who had both grown considerably taller, walked out of the hospital room one after another, just like in the past.

However, compared to last year, they could now walk side-by-side, and the bag that had been an unbearable burden for Gwen last year, requiring You Lan Dai Er's help to carry, was now just a casual lift for Gwen.

"Speaking of which, when Bianca came to pick me up last year after I was discharged, the weather seemed to be the same as today..."

Walking briskly on the way home, Gwen chatted casually with You Lan Dai Er.

"Yes, the sun is just as bright, and the sky is just as clear.

It's as if you, who are this tall, have just been discharged from the hospital..."

Hearing this, You Lan Dai Er looked up at the cloudless sky, the smile on her lips growing warmer. Recalling the scene from last year, she raised her hand to measure, sighing, "Time really flies, it's been over a year in the blink of an eye..."

"After all, we've both been very busy, so it's normal not to feel the passage of time."

Saying this with a smile, Gwen looked at the height You Lan Dai Er was indicating and gently pushed her hand down, "I wasn't this tall last year; I was a bit shorter."

"Eh?

But I remember you were this tall last year too..."

You Lan Dai Er blinked, a hint of confusion on her face.

"Don't forget you've grown taller too..."

Seeing such an expression on You Lan Dai Er's spirited face, Gwen's smile grew even wider as he teased, "You're so sharp when solving problems, why do you leave your brain behind in everyday life?"

"Now that you mention it, I suppose I should pay attention to that..."

Hearing this, You Lan Dai Er didn't seem displeased. Instead, she followed Gwen's words and began to reflect.

"..."

Seeing You Lan Dai Er so serious, Gwen paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, leaving You Lan Dai Er somewhat bewildered and at a loss.

Chapter 65: Rita: Hope they're okay

After playfully teasing You Lan Dai Er on the way, Gwen returned home. Even before entering, he could smell the enticing aroma in the air.

"Rita, we're back!"

You Lan Dai Er announced loudly as she pushed open the door, heading towards the kitchen, wanting to see if there was anything she could help with.

Although she didn't like Rita's habit of calling her "My Lady," You Lan Dai Er knew it was one of Rita's quirks and accepted her honorifics and service.

However, despite this, You Lan Dai Er always thought about helping Rita and hadn't been "corrupted" by her.

As for Gwen, after putting his bag back in the bedroom and coming out again, he saw that the table was almost full—

"Hurry and wash your hands, it's time to eat. Rita's already prepared everything,"

You Lan Dai Er called out, carrying two plates to the dining table.

"It seems if we had been a moment later, a fully prepared feast would have awaited us,"

Gwen nodded and said with a smile.

"It is a maid's duty to present a perfectly timed, bountiful meal when Master returns home,"

Rita replied with a smile, wiping her hands.

"If possible, Rita would still prefer to present a prepared feast when you both return."

"While it's certainly a happy thing to enjoy a delicious meal immediately upon returning home, since we're at home, meals prepared together are more delicious, aren't they?"

Hearing this, Gwen, who had already turned on the faucet and let the rushing water splash onto his hands, bringing a cool sensation, asked with a smile.

"Gwen is right, Rita!"

You Lan Dai Er immediately agreed.

"Even though both of us are terrible cooks, just helping out and participating feels different from just reaping the rewards."

"Mmm..."

Rita seemed a little reluctant, but seeing You Lan Dai Er's gaze, which held a hint of longing, she sighed softly.

"Since Lady You Lan Dai Er and Master Gwen insist, Rita can only respectfully accept."

"Hehe..."

Seeing Rita agree, You Lan Dai Er's smile widened with joy, making Rita's smile even gentler.

Gwen, on the other hand, felt that Rita's gaze towards him held something more—

"Indeed, although Gwen's personality hasn't changed much as he's grown, he's not as cute as he was last year..."

Looking at Gwen, who had shot up in height over the year and now looked to be the same age as her, Rita sighed inwardly, but there was no hint of regret in her eyes.

While Rita preferred cute children, as the first person to notice the resemblance between Gwen's appearance and a certain Archbishop, coupled with Gwen's unusual treatment, the meticulous Rita easily deduced that a grand plan was likely unfolding around Gwen, whom she and You Lan Dai Er had rescued from the Sea of Quantum.

Knowing her own capabilities were insignificant compared to their Archbishop, Rita could only offer Gwen quiet assistance.

Fortunately, Gwen hadn't disappointed Rita, possessing effort and talent comparable to You Lan Dai Er's.

In Rita's opinion, Gwen might have hope for a brighter future.

At least, Rita sincerely hoped so.

Although Rita had prepared a table full of dishes, it wouldn't be a problem for the three of them—

After all, with Gwen and You Lan Dai Er, one big and one small, being massive eaters, this amount was nothing.

During the meal, Gwen suddenly felt someone was missing and asked Rita, "Right, Rita, why isn't Anna here today? Is she on a mission?"

"No, Anna told me yesterday she was going home. Perhaps something came up at home,"

Rita replied with a gentle smile to Gwen's question.

Anna's presence was also one of the reasons Rita believed Gwen had a bright future—

If Gwen were truly just a disposable pawn in a future plan, Otto wouldn't have specifically arranged for Anna, the most outstanding successor of the Schariac family, to interact with him.

Thinking this, Rita overlooked the fact that she herself was currently the closest to a new era S-rank within Destiny.

That evening, the doorbell at Gwen's house suddenly rang.

Gwen opened the door and was surprised to see, "Sister Amber?"

In the more than a year that had passed, chance encounters at restaurants like the previous one had occurred more than once.

Gwen suspected Otto's involvement, but he didn't harbor any unnecessary dislike or wariness towards Amber—

In Gwen's impression, Amber wasn't as scheming, possessing a more straightforward personality. She just hadn't received the same pampering as Theresa, making her seem more serious.

Furthermore, with his steadily increasing strength, Gwen's confidence grew. His sharp senses hadn't detected any malice from Amber, so Gwen treated these encounters as normal.

After all, Amber had lived on the floating island for almost her entire life, so it was normal for Gwen to run into her a few times.

The relationship between the two also grew closer over time. Although it wasn't as intimate as the relationship Gwen had with You Lan Dai Er and the other person, they could still be considered friends.

"I'm sorry to bother you so late, Gwen."

Upon seeing Gwen, Amber didn't act overly familiar, maintaining a business-like demeanor.

"Don't say such polite things. Come in first and tell me what's going on."

Knowing that Amber wasn't pretending and that this was simply her personality, Gwen sighed lightly, moved aside, and invited Amber into the house.

Even though their relationship had improved considerably, Amber still sat upright, placed the small box she was carrying on the table, and opened it for Gwen to see—

"Gwen, this is the document for your promotion to A-rank. It also includes your commendation for eliminating Ganesha..."

Amber, sitting rigidly, explained the items she brought to Gwen in a very straightforward manner, making the atmosphere of the man and woman alone in the room exceptionally formal.

After finishing her explanation and upgrading Gwen's permissions, Amber didn't leave immediately as she had last time. Instead, she took out a key from the pocket of her nun's habit and handed it to Gwen.

"What is this?"

Taking the key from Amber's hand, which, although well-maintained, still bore the marks of time, Gwen fiddled with it for a moment. Seeing that Amber didn't speak directly, he finally asked.

Amber, whose gaze unconsciously lingered on the key that still held his body heat, immediately snapped back to attention. Her already proper posture straightened even further, and she said seriously:

"This is a key that the Bishop asked me to give you. He also asked me to tell you to go to this address in three days."