CHAPTER 263: CHAPTER 263 GHOST WARRIOR RED ARMOR

In fact, Ren Suo could somewhat understand Mako’s dilemma.

She loved her sister and her family, truly hoping they could find happiness. Yet, upon learning the truth, she felt their happiness was too dazzling, making her, a spirit hiding in the darkness, uncomfortable.

After her resurrection, she possessed incredible powers. Living in her sister’s house, she brought them good fortune and happiness. But what about herself?

She both resented and loved, was both angry and sad, and had no idea what to do.

From Ren Suo’s experience serving hundreds of customers, he felt that Demons and Ghosts (including Half-Demons) tended to have extreme personalities and easily obsessed over trivial matters.

Mako was now in a state where she wanted to kill others and herself, wanted to destroy her sister’s happiness yet wished for her happiness, felt miserable about herself yet lucky to have met them, almost driven insane.

At this point, the Ghost Stall appeared.

Like a streetlight in the dead of night or a lighthouse on the ocean, the lost Mako brought Xia Ye, somehow avoiding others’ gazes, and ran to the Ghost Stall. Maybe they lived not far from here?

"Remaining Merit Points: 26"

Ren Suo’s face brightened—this time he triggered "Plucking Feathers from a Flying Goose," which reduced the Merit Point cost by 10. Although he couldn’t get a reimbursement, it was still like getting a free taste of Sacred Wine!

When the female shop owner drank the "Desire Holy Wine," the scene suddenly turned eerie. The Ghost Stall, the female shop owner, and the food all began to blur and distort, with only the white-haired Mako’s face becoming clearer.

She didn’t speak, but a voice with an echo and text emanated from within her:

"Why do I have nothing, all alone..."

"Why have I gained nothing, while they benefit from me..."

"Why can’t I live a normal life..."

Mako’s three fundamental desires were: loneliness, benefit, and life.

Her narrated ghostly experiences had little to do with these desires, nor did they reveal her resentment.

Ren Suo felt that the reading comprehension had shifted from ’summarizing the main content of the text’ to ’deeply understanding the author’s thoughts and emotions’; using keywords could only slightly ease the difficulty.

Did Mako resent her sister? She probably did, but that was just the emotion she showed. Because Mako was lonely, only giving and receiving nothing, and without a normal life, these emotions had always been there; she just didn’t realize it or kept them buried deep inside.

Then she found an outlet: her sister had killed her. Thus, she channeled all her desires and emotions into resentment, hiding her envy in the shadows.

Seeing her sister’s family happy, she thought she resented them, but it was actually the lonely her feeling envious.

Seeing her sister’s family doing increasingly well, she thought she resented her own contributions, but she was actually hoping for some returns herself.

Seeing her sister’s family living a colorful life, she thought she resented her sister for killing her, but she was actually longing for that kind of life.

Compared to ’making others suffer,’ Mako much more wanted to ’also find happiness for herself.’ She wasn’t trying to hold anything against anyone; she was just struggling because she couldn’t gain anything.

Knowing this made things easier. Ren Suo glanced at Xia Ye, still lying in Mako’s arms, and chose a bottle of "Friendship."

After learning the truth, Mako found it hard to consider her sister a relative anymore. However, Xia Ye was about her age, and the two had become good friends—that was the real breakthrough.

The benefits part was a bit tricky. Ren Suo looked at the seasoning list and chose to give her some "Diligence" + "Creation." Since reality couldn’t offer her rewards, he’d let her find them herself.

Last was life. This was truly difficult because a ghost couldn’t live a normal human life.

Therefore, Ren Suo chose the "Confidence" + "Bravery" package, the Chicken Soup Set Meal: pursue whatever life you want—who says a Zashiki-warashi can’t go to a water park?

After preparing the sushi and passing it over, Mako turned back into a typical white-haired little girl. She woke Xia Ye and whispered, "There’s something delicious."

"Mmm~~~" Xia Ye, holding Mako’s arm, mumbled, "I want Mako to feed me!"

Mako smiled helplessly. She first ate a piece of seared salmon sushi herself, then stuffed a piece of cheese and crab leg sushi into Xia Ye’s little mouth.

Xia Ye smacked her lips as she ate, getting food all over her face. Mako took out a handkerchief and wiped her mouth, and then they took turns eating, one piece for Mako, one piece for Xia Ye.

After a few pieces, Xia Ye felt full. She woke up completely, looked at Mako with a cheeky grin, then picked up a piece of sushi and held it out to Mako, cooing, "I’ll feed you—open up~"

They ate quickly. By the time Mako finished the last piece, she let out a gentle burp. Xia Ye immediately jumped down. "I’m so sleepy! Mako, let’s go home and sleep."

"Okay." Mako nodded gently, then turned to look at the female shop owner.

Ren Suo was already prepared for battle—he wasn’t even sure if his seasonings were reliable.

Mako pondered for a moment, then took off the rabbit decoration from her white hair and placed it on the dining table.

"Thank you," she said.

After speaking, she took Xia Ye’s hand, and they slipped away into the deep night.

The female shop owner picked up the rabbit decoration and pinned it in her own hair.

"Sister’s Birthday Gift (rabbit decoration): Can be actively used from the props menu; does not consume a turn when used. After use, the character gains ’Absolute Luck’ for this turn, ensuring a critical hit when attacking and a guaranteed dodge when attacked. Can only be used once per day."

Being a Zashiki-warashi skilled at bestowing luck, the gift she offered was indeed related to fortune.

This gift was quite remarkable. It greatly increased the chances of winning boss battles, and it wasn’t a consumable—although, at most, Ren Suo could only use it three times, it was better than nothing.

TAP. TAP.

"What would you like to eat?"

The female shop owner’s demeanor was calm, but Ren Suo glanced at the customer, and his eyes went wide.

How on earth did you walk over here?

A Warring States Warlord appeared, clad in crimson samurai armor, equipped with a long katana and a wakizashi. He even had the looks of a boy band idol. He sat down in front of the Ghost Stall and said, "Rice ball."

However, his waist-long hair glowed a brilliant white, flowing as if in an unfelt wind. His eyes had no whites; the sockets were as dark as the abyss. Light leaked from the crevices of his crimson armor, and his hands sported dazzling white light bracers resembling LED lights. His overall appearance was a blend of the magical and the Warring States style.

If this outfit appeared anywhere but a comic convention, the police would certainly drag him to the station.

"You did appear after all," said the white-haired samurai. "After you appeared in Shenhai, the Mysterious Country and the Federation notified Flourishing Sakura. Flourishing Sakura then stationed people from the Martial Soul Thirteenth Division in various parks around Tokyo."

"Given Tokyo’s population size and density, your appearance was almost certain. But as the Fairy Palace Food God, you are inscrutable. You not only cause all devices and observers to overlook your presence but can even draw ’the customers you need’ to approach you actively. Furthermore, they reveal no information during your operating hours."

Ren Suo couldn’t hold back and had the female shop owner ask, "Who are you?"

"I am an external member of the Martial Soul Thirteenth Division, ’Ghost Warrior’ Red Armor."

"My task," stated Red Armor, "is to find you. I have a locator on me. If I lose signal in this place, the Martial Spirit Squad will definitely notice something is wrong here."

Ren Suo felt extremely vexed. Was this entire day going to be wasted?

If he really was found by the Cultivator Troops, cooking for them alone would drain all four hours. How would any other Demons and Ghosts get a turn?

Or he would have to completely subjugate them, making them obediently line up and watch the female shop owner cook for the Demons and Ghosts.

However, at that moment, Red Armor added, "But I only want to ask you one question: are you truly a person from the Fairy Palace?"

Naturally, Ren Suo couldn’t deny it. "Yes."

"Well then." Red Armor suddenly stood up from his seat and bowed to the female shop owner. "Please accept my thanks."

"And then, please allow me to serve the Fairy Palace!"

Without raising his head, Red Armor spoke loudly, "I was nothing more than mere armor, devoid of senses, blood, or tears. Fortuitously, the Fairy Palace opened the Spirit Vein, enlightening me and giving birth to my consciousness. My spirit formed, my essence gathered into a body, allowing me to walk the earth and experience light, warmth, wind, and rain—no longer a mere inanimate object."

"A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring. The grace of rebirth is a debt that can hardly be repaid in this lifetime."

"Nevertheless, I harbor a selfish desire: to tour the world and encounter the powerful. Therefore, I am willing to serve the Fairy Palace for ten years as gratitude for such a great favor. After ten years, I will travel the world, fulfill my wishes, and then serve the Fairy Palace again!"

Red Armor cupped his fists and declared, "Please allow me to follow you! For these ten years, regardless of the peril or the battle, I will face death unflinchingly, until my armor shatters and I perish!"

Ren Suo was astounded. He had not expected the influence of "Devouring the Spirit of the World" to persist until now, nor did he anticipate that a suit of armor would want to express gratitude.

However, there was no precedent for followers in this game. Just as Ren Suo was about to reluctantly refuse, the game suddenly displayed a prompt:

"Do you want to acquire the item ’Red Armor’? This item can only be kept until the end of the tenth day (this item will not be retained after the game evaluation is uploaded)."

"Red Armor: +15 armor layers. Each layer defends against 100 points of damage. Loses 1 armor layer each time it sustains an unblockable attack. Active use consumes all armor layers to summon the Ghost Warrior to assist in battle."

Uh... can this equipment actually be worn?