6. The girl lost in thought and Leviathan

Nellie's attitude towards him stemmed from a misunderstanding when they were children.

The misunderstanding was about his character. The girl witnessed him consuming magic dust, but mistook it for something else that was taboo.

This matter was not easy to explain, and Hewitt didn't intend to clarify it.

After all, it was far better for an insignificant little girl to be suspicious than for her to know the truth.

Moreover, nobody really believed her, and her brother, Jimmy, sided against her. The adults merely thought she was being naughty and left her completely isolated.

Hewitt had long outgrown the age when not being liked by others would keep him awake at night.

Such a thing should not have lasted long.

After all, the girl was just a child, and a month should have been enough for her to forget the incident.

Yet she remembered it for ten whole years.

'Teenage girls are troublesome,' he thought.

The shapely young girl took a deep breath, gathering her courage:

"Have you made up some strange story to deceive Jimmy again? He's been upset and restless these past few days. I warn you, do not have any intentions towards my brother. As long as I'm watching you, you can't lead him astray."

Hewitt replied gently,

"Miss Nellie, I am a good person."

Pointing her finger at Hewitt's nose, Nellie continued:

"You liar! Stay away from Jimmy."

Hewitt sighed inwardly, then feigned a fierce expression, grabbed Nellie's hand forcefully, and said bluntly:

"Please show some respect and respect your own family as well. Jimmy has the right to choose his own friends."

Nellie looked into Hewitt's eyes, fear involuntarily creeping in. Suppressing her fear, she said, "If you hurt Jimmy, I will never forgive you."

She yanked her arm out of Hewitt's grip and turned to leave, unwilling to stay a moment longer.

Hewitt sighed,

"Children..."

Mr. Hewitt, I think she might actually have a crush on you, and that's why she always looks for an excuse to talk to you," the shopkeeper nearby said with a smile. "She's been like this for ten years, and a pretty girl like her should have other things to do."

Hewitt shook his head with a smile,

"It's just that girls her age need some people to hate."

"Hewitt," a deep voice came from behind him.

Hewitt raised an eyebrow,

"Ogden, you haven't paid your money yet."

The chubby middle-aged man laughed heartily, patted Hewitt on the shoulder, and changed the subject:

"Oh, you still don't trust me? Jimmy wants to invite you to Nellie's graduation party. What do you think?"

Hewitt replied lightheartedly,

"Nellie won't welcome me."

Jimmy's father smiled,

"I'm not so sure. I've gone through it all, and can't I see her little tricks? But although you're not that old, you can't make a move on her until she finishes college."

Ogden considered himself an open-minded father, but he had some boundaries. Of course, by the time Nellie finished college, she'd likely have had more than one boyfriend.

Hewitt did not clarify the misunderstanding, instead nodding his head,

"I'll be there, but I'll bring one more person."

"Who?" Ogden raised an eyebrow. He had carefully investigated and found that Hewitt had always been living alone and had no real friends in town. In other words, he was the kind of person whose disappearance wouldn't raise suspicion.

"My niece Hela. Don't worry; she doesn't eat much."

Ogden Lester laughed heartily and replied,

"Hahaha, don't worry, we of the Lester Family will prepare a solemn welcome for the young lady."

Hewitt added,

"She's nine years old."

"Still a little princess then. I'll have to prepare a separate gift for her."

Hewitt replied,

"I'll also prepare a present for Nellie."

Ogden laughed honestly,

"Oh, I believe she'll be looking forward to it."

After saying goodbye to Ogden, Hewitt carried a large bag of items back home.

Click.

As soon as he opened the door, Hewitt felt a gust of wind.

Hela threw herself straight onto Hewitt, closing her eyes and saying nothing.

"What's the matter?" Hewitt patted the girl's head.

Hela whispered in response,

"I thought something bad happened to Hewitt."

"Nothing happened. The bad people can't find you, and even if they did, I'm here. They can't hurt you."

Hela shook her head,

"The bad people are very powerful. Even the knights in the novels can't handle them."

"Knights..." As far as Hewitt knew, the knights of the Ingris Kingdom had more than just swordsmanship and armor.

Hewitt looked into Hela's eyes and said,

"How about this, we'll leave here after a while. But you have to tell me where the bad people are roughly located, so I can stay away from them. Deal?"

It took Hela two seconds of eye contact with Hewitt before she said,

"Okay, I'll listen to Hewitt."

Hewitt had always intended to move every now and then, as an ageless person would attract the attention of the rich and powerful wherever he went. Even growing a beard to make himself appear more mature couldn't hide him for long.

However, he didn't plan to leave just yet; he'd never been one to wait for trouble to come. He preferred to deal with the problems themselves beforehand.

All he needed was an address, and the old demon hunter never toppled his enemies with fire and sword.

He relied on cunning and taboo.

Evil to combat evil was his very way of demon hunting.

At this moment, deep in the ocean.

A gigantic leviathan roamed in the darkness. The colossal creature, which resembled a whale but was many times larger, could travel across several worlds.

It was said that if such creatures lived long enough, they could grow as large as the moon. Leviathans didn't need air or seawater; they subsisted on ether elements, which existed almost everywhere.

As long as there was ether, they could thrive in the Underworld, hell, shadows, voids, crevices, outer planes, and cosmic depths.

Leviathans could also exist simultaneously in multiple worlds. If one of their bodies in a world was attacked, they could slip into another world in an instant.

That's why they almost always reached adulthood, and even the gods of Asgard were willing to befriend them.

The young Erethian leviathan in the deep sea was already hundreds of meters long, and the terrifying ether energy swirled around it.

Boom.

The water currents were shattered by a tremendous force, and several green tentacles surrounded the leviathan, dragging it into the unbearable darkness.

This time, the leviathan couldn't escape.

Meanwhile, a bronze box lay on the seabed, surrounded by various monsters, with nearly imperceptible...

Heartbeats resonating from within.