This... I don't think this is necessary, right?

After casting a glance at Fredri with a slightly embarrassed expression, Leon secretly swapped out the [Chief of the Bureau] badge, and using the strong human affinity effect of the badge, temporarily raised his favorability with the old man. He quickly seized this opportunity to ask:

"Um... sir, how old are you this year?"

"Ah?"

Upon hearing Leon's question, the old man, whose brain was a bit muddled, blinked and then answered with some confusion:

"Four hundred thirty-six years and five months... Is there a problem?"

It's the truth! He's indeed over four hundred years old!

Before asking this question, Leon had already used the resistance effect of [Materialism] to endow himself in the dream with the ability to observe souls, while trying not to disrupt the dream.

And when it was confirmed that the white-bearded old man's answer came from his heart, and that he was indeed over four hundred years old, Leon couldn't help but clench his fists slightly and, staring at him, continued to ask:

"So how did you manage to preserve life from the hands of the Four Pillar Gods..."

"Grandfather!!!"

"The doctor is here!"

"Sister! We're back!"

It was as if they deliberately wanted to interrupt Leon. Just as he asked the question, the burly guys who previously competed to "rush out the door" came back in a flurry, carrying a middle-aged man as if they were a swarm of bees.

"Let go! Damn it! Let go of me!"

The doctor, carried by seven or eight people, kept roaring for the burly men to let go, but he couldn't resist their strength and could only bob up and down on their shoulders like a little boat on the waves.

Once he landed, still in shock, and saw the white-bearded old man, looking vigorous and pulling Leon aside for a chat, the middle-aged doctor frowned angrily and kicked one of the unknown burly guys in the shins.

"Isn't he doing fine? Why are you acting crazy? Can't you see I'm simmering medicine back at home?"

Ah, this...

Seeing their grandfather next to the "eavesdropping kid," looking as if nothing had happened, all the burly guys scratched their heads in confusion and were subsequently kicked one by one by the doctor, who clearly had a fiery temper.

"You little brats! Are you ganging up to mess with me? Damn it! Don't know how your eldest brother raised you, but thirteen of you can't put a good brain together!"

After a round of scolding, the middle-aged doctor, who still had medicine simmering, left in a grumble, leaving the Fredri family to stare at each other and Leon frowning.

"May I ask about the Four Pillar Gods..."

"Did you wake up Grandfather?"

"Can we talk about the 'longevity' issue..."

"You woke Grandfather, but we can't just forget about you peeping on sister while she was bathing!"

"Four pillars..."

"Damn it! My medicine's all burnt! You owe me medicine!"

"..."

I see, it's the owner of the dream refusing to answer questions.

After four attempts to steer the conversation back were interrupted by various "accidents," and seeing the middle-aged doctor suddenly back and arguing with the burly guys, Leon glanced over at Fredri and vaguely understood why the dream had turned out this way.

In order to use the ability of [Dream Butterfly], one must actively give up "self" and immerse in the dream, and although Fredri, as the dream's owner, didn't retain clear consciousness and memory, she could still subtly influence the dream's development.

And whenever he asked about "longevity" and the Four Pillar Gods, something would suddenly come up to interrupt his questioning, proving that Fredri's subconscious was resisting, not wanting this outsider to know the answers to these questions.

As for a way to get her to stop resisting... there doesn't seem to be any good method.

Seeing Fredri return his gaze, eyes full of confusion, Leon hesitated a little. Since it's just a dream, he stood up, walked over, and in a low voice probed:

"If not believing me at all is zero points, and everything I say is one hundred points, how much would you say you trust me right now?"

Ah?

Hearing this seemingly nonsensical question, Fredri in the dream hesitated for a bit, then responded a little awkwardly:

"About... 80... 75 points?"

75... Okay, that's not too far off.

Roughly estimating that the trust level required to learn about the "longevity" issue should hover around 90 points, Leon nodded to show he understood and then used the effect of [Materialism] to break out of the dream, withdrawing his consciousness.

"Why is he lying down again?!"

Seeing the "eavesdropping kid" collapse with a thud and lie motionless after saying a few words to his sister, the burly guys crowded around, discussing:

"What's wrong with this kid? Why's he lifeless every now and then?"

"Maybe he's faking it again? Should I smack him a couple of times to see?"

"It wouldn't be nice to hit him, right? He just woke grandfather a moment ago."

"Should we let grandfather do it?"

"Wouldn't that be worse? Enough, you just shut up! Sister, what do you think?"

"I think... you guys should carry him to the side room for now."

Seeing Leon, with eyes closed and silent, "sound asleep" in the dream, Fredri hesitated before speaking:

"He told me he lost his memory and asked if he could stay with us in the future, so I agreed."

"?!?!?"

"You're not allowed to throw him into the river, tie him to a horse and let it run, smash a dragon egg on him, or lock him in the holy cow's stable..."

After lining up a series of strict "no's," seeing all options cut off and the burly guys slowly growing disheartened, Fredri's eyes softened, and she warmly advised:

"Let him stay. I have a feeling that if he stays, he'll be able to help us."

"But..."

"Enough! Everyone, shut up!"

Seriously observing Fredri's expression, the white-bearded old man, after a moment of silence, emphatically thumped his bull-headed cane on the floor and scolded:

"Fredri is your sister, but she's also our tribe's saintess! You don't even listen to the saintess anymore?"

"We..."

"No 'we's! Get lost! All of you!"

After scolding the burly guys who still wanted to say something, and once only Fredri and he were left in the room, the white-bearded old man fell silent for a moment and then asked, with a somewhat complex expression:

"Fredri... Are you still the Fredri I know?"