"I'm afraid that won't do."

After a slight consideration, the young woman didn't agree to the nightmare's proposal but shook her head seriously:

"He seems to be a very cautious person, even with your warning, it's the same. I even have a vague feeling that although he refused further contact with me, he's more or less started to suspect me.

I may have been exposed, and once I leave, he will definitely try to investigate my background immediately. Involving his family at this point will only surprise him."

Ah, this...

After listening to the young woman's judgment, watching Leon's back as he turned to leave, the nightmare couldn't help but feel a bit numb.

The Food God has started to suspect her, doesn't this mean I'm finished too? I... huh? 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Under the somewhat surprised gaze of one person and one nightmare, without knowing why, Leon, who had just walked away with a newspaper, suddenly stopped, then turned back and approached the young woman to ask:

"I forgot to ask...what's your name?"

"Fredri..."

After answering her name, looking at Leon who had returned, the young woman blinked slightly, then asked with a hint of surprise:

"What is it? Do you have time now?"

"Yes."

Looking at the woman in front of him, whose soul was filled with [hope], unfamiliar with the situation in this world, whose demeanor and everything around her was out of place, yet indeed a human woman, Leon nodded slightly.

"I just thought about it, I need to go to the department store ahead, so I can give you a lift."

"That's great!"

Seeing Leon suddenly change his mind, the young woman named Fredri was overjoyed, nodding repeatedly, then grabbed Leon's arm, stepping through the increasingly thick snow, heading quickly toward Bridge Public School.

Tsk...

Watching Leon, who initially appeared quite indifferent but then started chatting warmly with the young woman as she actively interacted with him, the nightmare in the young woman's Heart Lake couldn't help but curl its lips in disdain.

What queen collection obsession? In the end, isn't it just a fondness for the pretty ones? Just being coaxed a little by a pretty woman with an unknown background, he seems a bit unable to handle it. This Food God is nothing special, after all!

...

This aura feels a bit familiar... is it the nightmare who tutored Melanie and William earlier?

Enhancing the effect of the [Heart Lake] power with the color of root cause, Leon meticulously examined the Heart Lake of the young woman, analyzing the situation of this woman suspected to be a remnant from Old Soil, while smilingly striking up a conversation:

"Miss Fredri, what subject do you teach? I happen to have children attending Bridge Public School, maybe they've taken your class."

"Really, such a coincidence we just met and there's already this fleeting connection!"

After giving Leon a sweet smile, knowing her identity was probably exposed, the young woman sighed inwardly. She couldn't even be bothered to consult the nightmare in Heart Lake, and directly began to make things up:

"I teach spelling and grammar at Bridge Public School, mainly responsible for teaching first and second graders... By the way, are the children at your home learning spelling and grammar for first and second grade? If so, I probably taught them."

"Spelling and grammar..."

Looking at the young woman who dares claim to teach language despite her reckless use of idioms, Leon, knowing she was surely making things up, found himself unable to keep a straight face for a moment, nodding stiffly and saying:

"That is really coincidental, my brother and sister are in the second grade now, so they should be taking your class."

"Really?!"

Slightly expanding her Heart Lake to submerge the nightmare's terrified scream again, the young woman, eyes full of delight, said:

"I didn't expect we were such a perfect match made in heaven! What are the names of your brother and sister? If they've taken my class, I should remember them!"

Perfect match made in heaven... Forget it, we're all talking nonsense anyway, say whatever you want.

Quietly equipping the latest [Clean Bureau Director (Gold)] badge and replacing badges like [Scumbag] and [Married Person] that might increase favorability, Leon gave the young woman a rather gentle smile and responded mildly:

"My brother's name is William, and my sister's name is Melanie. Do you remember them?"

"Ah!"

Hearing Leon's words, the young woman widened her eyes in surprise, then "unconsciously" covered her mouth with her hand, gazed at Leon with a look of astonishment and said:

"So you are their brother! Then you...um..."

"What is it?"

Glancing at the slot where the badge was slightly flickering, confirming the [Human Affinity] effect was working, Leon touched his face and then smiled as he asked the somewhat absent-minded young woman:

"Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"

"Ah!"

Hearing Leon's words and attracted by the sudden burst of affinity from him, the young woman finally snapped back to reality, then turned her gaze away slightly flustered.

"No...nothing, it's just a bit strange..."

"Strange?"

Leon raised an eyebrow slightly.

"What's strange?"

Umm...strangely handsome?

Suppressing the inexplicable thought in her mind, the young woman regained her composure, slightly bashful, shook her head and said:

"I mean, I just realized you look quite like those two children, so you are indeed a family."

"I see."

Understanding that she was probably affected by the [Clean Bureau Director], Leon smiled and let the topic go, then asked curiously:

"Miss Fredri, since you remember William and them, could you tell me about their performance at school?"

"Of course."

After giving Leon a bright smile, looking at this elegant, polite, handsome young man who gave a warm and approachable impression, the young woman used her imagination and freely elaborated:

"William is a very lively child, gets along well with everyone, nearly all the kids enjoy playing with him, and the teachers like him too, and he's very polite, suggesting a good upbringing.

Because Melanie is a girl, she might not be as outgoing as William, but she's sweet and sensible, and clever and cute. When other teachers talk about her, they also praise... Mr. Leon?"

Seeing Leon suddenly stopping, rubbing his eyes for some reason, the young woman was momentarily surprised, then asked, a bit puzzled:

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine..."

Never imagined in my lifetime I could hear such positive comments about those two little brats from their "teacher". With a feeling of boundless emotion, Leon sniffled slightly, thinking that even if it was fake, it was worth it, then replied:

"Just not paying attention and caught a flake of snow in my eye... Don't mind me, please continue, teacher! The more, the better!"

"Uh... okay..."

Completely unable to understand Leon's peculiar behavior but seeing how touched he appeared, the young woman had to brace herself, scrounging her meager vocabulary to heap praise on those "rarely seen good children."

And for Leon, who would usually be held back by teachers to discuss educational issues whenever he went to school, and would be reprimanded by Anna over conflicting educational ideas at home, faced with such a rare experience, couldn't help but set aside the main business for a while, enjoying being an "outstanding student parent" to the fullest.

After walking with the young woman, whose mouth was dry from praise, around the outer wall of Bridge Public School for a solid five laps, Leon finally, at her third hint that they had arrived, reluctantly made his way toward the side gate of Bridge Public School and sighed:

"We've arrived... Miss Fredri, how did Director Amendo discuss with you? How many people from Old Soil are planning to migrate here?"