Ryougi Raku shook his head, pretending to be young and said, "No, uncle, my parents will be here soon. How could I possibly travel alone?" Well-intentioned deception can sometimes resolve many unnecessary matters.
"En, en, that's more like it..." The uncle nodded, as if this was the correct state of affairs.
"Well then, uncle, quickly tell me where I can find something especially delicious..." Seeing how long-winded the uncle was, Ryougi Raku decisively asked again.
"Ah, you're asking about something especially delicious... Although it's carefree here, there really isn't anything particularly distinctive... Hmm, that's right! There's a bakery not far from here. The owner and his wife's craftsmanship is quite unique, you can go and try it!" The uncle pointed to a nearby corner and said.
"And let me tell you, their daughter Alicia is so beautiful. Sigh, it's a pity my son isn't ambitious, otherwise, marrying her would be his good fortune..." The uncle sighed and shook his head, rambling on and on.
Ryougi Raku only heard the first half of his sentence, automatically filtering out the latter half of his rambling... "...Is that so? Thank you, uncle. I'll go and try it now." As he spoke, Ryougi Raku quickly ran off. He didn't want to listen to the uncle's small talk anymore.
"Hey, hey, young man, don't go! I still have a lot more to say..." Unfortunately, all Ryougi Raku left him was a retreating figure... Following the uncle's directions, Ryougi Raku easily found the small bakery.
"Welcome!" A warm greeting came from the counter. Ryougi Raku, who had just pushed the door open, naturally turned his gaze there.
It was a beautiful woman with sky-blue short hair. Her eyes, like her hair, were a deep ocean blue. And in her, one could easily find an Eastern beauty, as if she were of mixed heritage, without the tall stature of Westerners. She appeared quite petite. Due to her loose-fitting clothes, Ryougi Raku naturally couldn't discern her figure, but even with just a glance, Ryougi Raku could conclude from his past life's experience that this woman had a very good figure.
Her smile was sunny and bright, with a cheerful demeanor... "I haven't seen you before, little brother. You're not from this town, are you?" The blue-haired beauty asked, always with a genuine smile... "Ah, yes, I just arrived in this small town. I heard from an uncle that the bread here is good, and I'm hungry, so I came to try it." Ryougi Raku was naturally very polite to beautiful women, as long as they weren't enemies.
"Oh, that uncle really shouldn't have given such a random recommendation..." The woman shook her head and sighed, but then quickly smiled and began to introduce the bread she sold.
"Sister, did you make this bread?" Ryougi Raku asked with interest.
"Ahaha, no, my parents made it. I'm just helping out," the girl said, scratching her head and laughing awkwardly.
The girl wasn't old, looking about 17, but perhaps because of the simple folk customs here, there was still a hint of innocence in her eyes.
"Is that so? Well then, I'll take this one and this one..." Ryougi Raku casually chose two loaves of bread and didn't ask any further questions.
As soon as he entered, Ryougi Raku sensed an unusual aura, a non-human scent. The source was this girl, but the aura was hidden deep within her body. If Ryougi Raku's perception wasn't keen enough and he wasn't this close, he would never have noticed it. Moreover, this girl made him feel somewhat familiar, so he chatted a bit more. As for the bread... Ryougi Raku didn't believe he could find the kind of deliciousness found in "Chūka Ichiban!" in a place like this...
He casually sat on a chair in the small shop, picked up the bread, and took two bites. As expected, although it tasted good, Ryougi Raku had eaten things that were countless times better than this... He hadn't held out much hope, so he wasn't disappointed. He quickly finished the bread and then looked at the girl for a few moments. Perhaps it was nearing noon, or perhaps it was the girl's youthful beauty, but though the shop was small, it had many customers. Although the girl was busy and sweating, she seemed very happy... Ryougi Raku searched through the corners of his memory and finally found the source of that familiar feeling... and at the same time recognized the girl's identity!
Ciel, the seventh-ranked executor of the Burial Agency, the seventeenth reincarnation of Roa. Due to Roa's reincarnation, she escaped the World Ring when the seventeenth Roa was eliminated, using the world's contradictions to become immortal.
Many people affectionately called her Senpai... Of course, not the headless one.
However, Ryougi Raku wasn't interested in this girl, which is why he didn't recognize her at first and it took him a long time to retrieve her memory.
However, Ryougi Raku suddenly had a desire to stay here for a while. He felt that the aura of Roa within the girl's body was gradually growing stronger, and it probably wouldn't be long before he would be resurrected... And Ryougi Raku would also have the opportunity to encounter the character he had always liked in the past, the White Princess of the True Ancestors — Arcueid Brunestud!
'Well then, it's decided. I'll stay here for a while...' Ryougi Raku thought to himself as he smiled, greeted people, and walked out of the bakery.
'Hmm, I need to find a place to stay first...' Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation are the first things to sort out!
...At the same time, in a certain Millennium City (Millennium Castle) in Germany, the white figure heavily wrapped in Millennium Locks also awoke from her slumber, slowly opening her eyes... "Is this... Roa? Have you reincarnated again...? I will... kill you!" A captivating voice, like musical notes, bloomed from those luscious lips, but this beautiful sound could only echo in the empty Millennium Castle, with no one to appreciate it...
---
"Good morning, Raku-kun!" Alicia greeted Ryougi Raku happily as he opened the door and entered.
"Good morning, Alicia..." Ryougi Raku smiled and waved.
"Ah, please sit down for a moment. I'm going to be busy for a bit!" Alicia, dressed in a white chef's uniform, apologized while gesturing for Ryougi Raku to sit down.
"You go ahead and be busy. I'm not in a hurry," Ryougi Raku said indifferently.
It had been over a month since Ryougi Raku decided to temporarily stay here. In this past month, besides researching a part of the Evil of this World within himself, the rest of his time was spent in this small bakery. Using lies and suggestions, the people of the entire town easily accepted his existence.
The non-human aura in Alicia's body was growing stronger and stronger. Ryougi Raku knew that it wouldn't be long before the seventeenth Roa would appear.
"Ahaha, it's Raku! How is it, isn't this town great?" The jovial uncle, who was doing something in the house and had given Ryougi Raku directions when he first arrived, laughed heartily. He had a scruffy beard, looking weathered but was a good person.
"Hmm, the air here is truly wonderful, I'm almost reluctant to leave." Ryougi Raku's words were sincere; the air quality here was indeed excellent.
"Then don't leave!" The uncle clapped Ryougi Raku on the shoulder, suggesting boldly.
"And don't you think Alicia is a good person? My son wasn't lucky enough, but I'm quite fond of you, Raku! Although you're a bit young, that doesn't matter, does it?" The weathered man joked, laughing.
"Uncle!" A delicate shout came from not far away. It was Alicia, who had heard the conversation.
"Haha! Uncle won't say anything more, Alicia, you get back to work!" Waving his hands quickly, the uncle hurriedly shook his head and changed the subject.
Ryougi Raku didn't know the man's name, only calling him "uncle." He didn't mind, finding the address rather endearing.
"When are you leaving, Raku?" In the small bakery, the strange yet familiar uncle asked with concern.
"I'll probably leave soon. After all, I have my own matters to attend to!" Ryougi Raku said.
"Indeed, Raku, you're still so young, it's the time for you to be in school. I always found it strange that you weren't attending... While this place is nice, the town is simply too small. It's suitable for people like us to retire, but not for young people to make their mark." The weathered uncle said with a sigh of sincere emotion.
"Yes, I know, Uncle. So I'll probably be leaving in a few days." Ryougi Raku said, looking up at the ceiling. Yes, in a few days, Roa would probably be resurrected, and everyone in this small town would die, wouldn't they? He had a good impression of the uncle, so if possible, he would save the uncle's life then.
As Ryougi Raku was deep in thought, Alicia finally finished her work and came over with bread and milk. "Raku-kun, please help yourself!" After a month of getting along, Alicia had gotten used to the Japanese honorifics, although Ryougi Raku himself didn't care about titles. In his opinion, calling someone by their name or a shortened version was enough.
"Alright! I won't disturb you two anymore. I have something to do, so I'll be leaving first!" The uncle stood up with a laugh, waving goodbye as he walked out, muttering some incomprehensible words.
"Raku-kun, don't pay too much attention to what Uncle said!" Alicia said, looking troubled after the uncle had left.
"Hmm, I know. But Uncle is a good person." Ryougi Raku nodded, not wanting to trouble Alicia further.
"He really is. He always helps my family."
"That's because Uncle wants you, Alicia, to marry his son, isn't it?" Ryougi Raku shook his head and teased.
"Oh, you don't know, Raku-kun..." Alicia sighed, wanting to say something but then swallowed her words.
Ryougi Raku, observing her expression, immediately knew there was a hidden story, but he didn't have a habit of prying into people's privacy, so he let the topic pass.
"Alicia, you look very tired today. Didn't you rest well?" Ryougi Raku asked with concern. Although there was an age difference, Ryougi Raku always called her by her name and never used honorifics, and Alicia didn't mind.
"Hmm? Raku-kun noticed too? For some reason, I've been feeling particularly tired lately. It looks like I need to get some good rest." Alicia said with a smile, not particularly concerned about her physical condition, perhaps thinking it wasn't a big deal.
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