Fairy tale: Little Red Riding Hood's wolf mentor

The next day, sunlight streamed in through the castle's stained-glass windows made of colorful candies.

Guided by the Awakened Pilgrims, several newly appointed Saints walked through the corridors towards the hidden kitchen on the other side.

For ordinary people, this magically enhanced kitchen...

...was almost unnoticeable.

From the outside, they couldn't possibly imagine anything related to it; memories of the kitchen and its corresponding corridors seemed shrouded in mist.

Fortunately, Lake and Polo had just finished preparing the Holy Meal.

Therefore, no Awakened Pilgrim noticed that the cook known as 'Polo,' who had been elected a Saint through the new delicacy called 'Dumplings,' had disappeared.

As for why?

Because Polo had to impersonate the Seventh Awakened Saint; otherwise, if he stayed in another form for too long, the emblem bearing the number 'Seven' would emit some kind of warning.

"Is my brother alright?"

Gretel asked quietly, looking around to make sure no one was there.

"Hansel should be fine, at least for a week. The 'Angel of Abundance' shouldn't make a move," Polo thought for a moment, then said, "Gretel, this castle is probably not safe anymore. We need to find a way to get you out of here."

Given what happened last night,

the Awakened Saints would definitely not easily let Gretel, a child who might 'know the truth,' leave.

But if something else unpredictable happened later, it would undoubtedly pose a greater danger to children like Gretel.

So, Lake and Polo decided that, no matter what, they would send Gretel out of the castle first.

"No, I want to wait for my brother to leave together."

Hearing this, Gretel's eyes reddened, but then her voice softened, pleading with a sob, "Without my brother..."

"It's really not safe here. If we have to split our attention to protect you, rescuing your brother will be much riskier," Polo sighed, explaining, "Do you remember the old man who walked with us on the road before?"

Polo described the old soldier's appearance, then continued,

"When you get outside, find that uncle first and tell him everything. He'll know what to prepare."

Hearing this, Gretel's eyes were still a little red, but she didn't insist anymore.

Thanks to Polo's appearance and the 'Seven' emblem flashing on his chest, the other Saints didn't question him.

But just as they approached the castle gate, with the light outside growing nearer...

Lake suddenly stopped.

Not because someone was blocking their way, nor because they had been discovered.

But they couldn't move.

"Lake, what's wrong?"

Polo was stunned for a moment, but then, sensing his own body, he also noticed something was wrong.

It was as if a demonic nature, long hidden deep within their bones, had erupted the moment they tried to leave the castle!

Appetite, and... an increasingly intense fragrance.

Sweeping in from all directions of the castle, filling every pore, carrying with it a soul-enticing allure!

"Polo, I, I feel like something's wrong with me..."

Lake said in a trembling voice, "I feel like my reason and my emotions are fighting. I seem to... not want to leave this castle anymore, but I know that's definitely not how I should feel!"

Gretel, who was holding Lake's hand, also looked conflicted.

"I... can I have one last bite of those candies on the bedroom wall?"

Seeing this, Polo realized what was happening.

This castle had always treated outsiders with a 'one-way in, no way out' attitude. This demonic attraction was definitely not just the taste of the food itself, or ordinary magic!

"It seems we need to delay our departure a bit longer."

Judging from the message recorded on paper by the ascetic pilgrim last night, leaving this castle was not going to be so simple.

Now, even if they wanted to back out, it wouldn't be so easy.

After all, Polo didn't know if this curse with its seductive effect would disappear upon leaving the castle. According to Polo's knowledge of magic...

Resisting such an unknown curse often left unknown hidden dangers within the body.

"What should we do next?"

"I'll use the identity of the Seventh Awakened Saint to investigate more secrets, preferably about... the magic within this castle and the 'Angel of Abundance.'"

Polo said, looking at the emblem bearing the number 'Seven' on his hand, "At the same time, I have to find a way to prevent this emblem from exposing me when I transform into other appearances."

Inside the room, the three sat in a circle.

Lake held up the page from the book. "Right, we should probably eat less of the food in this castle."

Saying this, Lake looked at Polo, who raised his hand, revealing the page of [Circular Regression: Candy House · Dessert Feast].

A portion of ordinary food, which they had eaten before, appeared on the table.

Compared to the food in the candy castle, it looked rather simple, and after being eaten, it wouldn't regenerate. The utensils that appeared would also disappear after the food was finished.

"This food doesn't seem to be affected by this plain. Although I don't know if those effects are caused by the food, it's best to eat this stuff for now."

Polo looked at the page with the ascetic pilgrim's writing.

Besides implying that the so-called Angel of Abundance in this castle was a devil, possibly carrying unknown truths, what else did he want to say?

[Food is not divine grace, but the bait of demons]

[Hunger will bring the truth, shadows filled with wronged souls]

The food is problematic?

Hunger will bring the truth...

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

The people inside were startled, but quickly calmed down, opened the door, and saw an ordinary Saint without a number on his chest.

He was probably just more senior than Polo and the others.

Besides taking new Saints to the hidden kitchen, most of the news was delivered by these ordinary Saints.

With deliberate concealment, he didn't notice the special emblem with a number on Polo's chest.

"Among the Saints of your cohort, someone has completed their cultivation.

His spiritual awakening has entered the ranks of the Awakened, and he will soon follow the Angel of Abundance to see the gates of heaven.

Come to the front hall. The Awakened Saints want to impart holy words to you..."

When Polo and the others arrived at the front hall, there were already many people there.

Most of them were ordinary Saints without numbers, sitting on chairs made of crispy bread. On the preaching platform stood a Saint marked with the number "Twenty-six."

"This devout believer has come from a distant land, enduring hardship to arrive at the Abundant Plain.

Through constant cultivation, he has explored the meaning of food. In this plain without hunger, in the miracle city of Sweet, he has found the meaning of his life, gained entry to the door, and joined you all.

He savors the grace from the Angel of Abundance in the food, experiencing the joy of being with holiness..."

The Awakened Saint on the platform spoke with a calming and yearning tone, like a true preacher.

Listening to how the missing 'ascetic pilgrim' had reached the realm of spiritual and physical unity through food,

the other Saints below all showed longing expressions. Several zealous Saints gathered around the two remaining ascetic pilgrims to ask them questions after the Awakened Saint left.

The two ascetic pilgrims were also excited, but they didn't seem very good at speaking in front of people, only stammering in response:

"We used to cultivate by not eating much. We felt that only when we were extremely hungry would our hearts become pure. He previously didn't eat much at all," one ascetic pilgrim stuttered, "But now that we've arrived in this holy land, we're no longer cultivating ascetically. We're also savoring... the true taste of food."

"I understand!"

A listening Saint suddenly exclaimed, his eyes lighting up, and he stood up, waving his arms excitedly, "It must be the prolonged fasting that made their appreciation of food even more profound..."

Subsequently, other Saints also seemed to understand something.

"Do we also have to fast?" someone asked.

"Are you stupid?"

But then another Saint interrupted him, "Didn't you hear what the Awakened Saint just said? The focus is on savoring, not not eating! It's the influence of a long-held firm belief!

Only by carefully savoring the food and understanding the grace contained within can you reach the realm of spiritual and physical unity!"

"I see, I've been taught..."

While the other Saints were communicating, on the other side, Polo also thought of something from the words of the two ascetic pilgrims.

Why among so many people, was only this one ascetic pilgrim able to discover the truth?

Asceticism... extremely hungry, fasting?

"Hunger will bring the truth, maybe it's just the literal meaning."

"The literal meaning?"

"In this castle full of food, being hungry to a certain extent might exempt you from some of the influence."

Lake blinked, looking around. In this castle, there was almost no place where you couldn't see food.

"In a place like this, being able to cultivate ascetically to the point of almost starving to death... that's really not easy."

"At least it's better than fighting to the death, right?"

"I don't think that's necessarily the case..."

Lake sighed, sweeping the pastries on the table onto the ground. They began to dissipate rapidly upon touching the ground.

"Let's try it then."

Next to them, Gretel also listened to their conversation. She looked at the long egg roll in her hand, and remained silent.

"Brother..."

Gretel's eyes darkened, she swallowed the saliva in her mouth, and threw the egg roll on the ground.