Chapter 1138: The Persistent Woman 

She was right there.

On the old street at the entrance to the residential district, under a newly installed streetlamp.

The woman sat on a long bench, dressed in an ordinary coat and wearing an unremarkable leather hat, completely lacking the seductive allure she had the first time they met.

Although five years had passed since their last encounter, Shinji recognized her at a glance—the woman who embodied the best traits of both Eastern and Western beauty, the woman who loved Jack even more than he did.

He raised his hand, wanting to greet her.

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Awkwardness weighed heavily on his heart.

There were two people he felt guilty about from that brief yet unforgettable war.

One was Fiore. Against her will, he had kept her in Millennia Castle under the guise of treatment, causing her to miss the final battle, and he hadn't even said a proper goodbye.

The other was Reika Rikudou. He had pulled an ordinary woman into the world of the occult without making any plans for what came next, leaving things unfinished and unresolved.

It wouldn't be surprising if they both hated him for being so irresponsible.

Perhaps sensing his discomfort, Reika took the initiative and approached him.

"Long time no see, Shinji-sama, or should I call you Shinji-chan?"

"Either is fine. Long time no see, Reika."

Shinji's voice carried an undertone of awkwardness.

Reika smiled.

"I'm really happy, you know. You found this place and found me in such a short time."

"I could have been faster, but… sorry."

His apology wasn't just for being late—it was also for leaving so abruptly five years ago.

"It's all right. I'm already very happy with this; it shows you didn't forget me or our daughter. By the way, since you solved the riddle I left, I need to reward you. Come with me."

"Ah, okay."

Reika naturally led the way, while Shinji silently followed behind her.

They walked into the residential area, passed along featureless pathways, entered a uniform-looking apartment building, and stopped at an equally ordinary door.

Reika pulled out a key, opened the door, and entered the entryway. After taking off her shoes and putting on slippers, she turned around and placed a pair of brand-new men's slippers in front of Shinji.

"Welcome home."

"Ah… uh… I'm home."

Perhaps it was the expectation in her eyes that made him pause, but in the end, Shinji still managed to say those words.

"You've had a long night. Do you want to eat first, or would you like to take a bath…"

Her words, which were beginning to sound oddly familiar, took an unexpected turn at the last moment.

"Ah, that's it. There's no more after that, hahaha."

"Haha…"

Shinji chuckled dryly along with her. He still couldn't quite figure out what Reika was trying to do, but the tension in his body eased a little.

"After three consecutive battles, I'm a bit hungry."

"Then let's eat."

Reika walked toward the dining table and thoughtfully pulled out a chair for Shinji.

The table was already set with a variety of dishes, all still steaming hot. Judging by their freshness, they must have been prepared just recently, probably with the timing carefully planned. Shinji believed Reika was more than capable of that.

The spread wasn't small, a mix of both Western and Eastern dishes. There was bread, rice, Jack's favorite hamburger steak, and Japanese tofu—a dish Shinji had once mentioned he liked. While the food wasn't crafted with professional precision, it had a homely warmth to it.

This was exactly the kind of atmosphere Shinji had always liked. Before he knew it, he had started devouring the food.

Teenagers naturally eat a lot, and after the energy he had expended in battle, the amount of food meant for a family of five almost entirely ended up in Shinji's stomach.

Throughout the meal, Reika mostly watched him eat, occasionally taking a bite herself, but mainly focusing on serving him more food and refilling his tea after the meal.

"Are you full? If not, I can make more."

"I'm full, very full…"

He took a sip of tea, snapped out of his relaxed state, and sat up straight. "Reika, there are some things I need to ask you."

It was inevitable.

They could avoid the topic when they met, and avoid it during the meal, but some questions needed answers.

"I understand."

Reika nodded calmly.

"I'm already happy that you've stayed with me this long. You have things you want to say to me, and I have things I want to say to you. Let me tell you a story first—a story about us."

There once was a pitiful woman named Reika Rikudou.

She had once had a happy family and led a blissful life, but after her family fell into ruin, she was forced into selling herself just to survive.

She was eventually noticed by a wealthy man, and she thought she could finally enjoy some stability for a while. But to her surprise, she was dragged into a world beyond her wildest imagination, where she was used as a living sacrifice, her life hanging by a thread.

Even so, Reika continued to struggle to survive, and this desire to live eventually brought about a miracle. She was saved by a strange man, though the price was the remainder of her life.

But she didn't regret it. She had always had a strong will to survive, and at least now she could continue living. What's more, she had a beautiful daughter named Jack.

Seeing Jack snuggled in her arms, calling her Mommy and that man Daddy, she felt truly happy—no matter how strange or dangerous the future might be, she knew she could persevere.

To Reika's surprise, however, the path ahead wasn't as dangerous as she had feared. It was far easier than her previous life.

She no longer had to force a smile, no longer had to ingratiate herself with others, and no longer had to sell her body. Her daily life consisted of traveling, caring for a child, and cooking meals for a certain glutton—who, incidentally, was also a very kind person, so kind that she felt ashamed of herself by comparison.

Even though that man and the glutton repeatedly emphasized that they were on a battlefield and that anything could happen, the truth was that they had protected her and Jack extremely well.

This protection continued until the very end. Even when the man faced tremendous setbacks and had prepared for the worst, he still ensured that neither she nor Jack bore any of the burden.

For the first time in her life, she had a strong desire for something beyond mere survival. She hoped that man would survive, return to her, and that together they could hold Jack's hands, hearing the child call them Mommy and Daddy. That would surely be a happy family.

For that, she prayed earnestly, alongside her daughter, and with another girl who also cared deeply for him.

Perhaps the goddess of fate was a mischievous one, for while she heard the prayer, she only granted half of it.

Shinji survived, but he left in a hurry and didn't return to them, only sending a parting gift for his daughter through someone else.

Though Reika was disappointed, she didn't give up—perseverance had always been her greatest trait. Without it, she would have died long before meeting him.

So she worked hard to gain power, searching for a way to reunite with him in her way.

Finally, her efforts paid off, and she found a certain method, an unconventional way.