The Smiling Death-Chapter 332: A Small Walk

Amon changed his wet clothes. Now he wore a simple brown T-shirt and black trousers. These clothes were given to him by Roland.

They had belonged to one of the former residents of the village. Basically, a dead man. Well, it didn’t matter to Amon.

Looking down at himself, he muttered with mild satisfaction, "They fit perfectly."

He looked outside. It was still raining, but lightly. Not heavy like before. But it could still soak him.

It was dinner time. People had lit wooden torches outside their houses under the rooftops. They had wrapped tree resin around the wood and set it alight.

"How can I go in such rainy weather?" Amon thought while looking outside. He was dry now.

His hair had grown slightly longer. Not too much. Just slightly. It had been two months, after all.

Just as he was wondering how to go to the canteen in such rainy weather, a thought crossed his mind.

"Should I cover my body with shadow and run to the canteen... hmm... that could work well," he muttered.

Just when he was about to use his ability, he saw someone. Scarlett came out of her house. In her hand, she held something like an umbrella.

It had a black wooden staff. Flexible branches bent outward like ribs. Each rib was tied at the top with coarse twine, forming a tight circular crown. Broad black leaves were carefully layered over the frame, overlapping like the roof of a normal umbrella.

Amon stared in surprise. "What the heck? They got something like this?"

He stepped out of his house. Raising his voice, he called out loudly, "Scarlett! Wait for me!"

Hearing him, she stopped walking and turned around to look at him.

With a slightly irritated expression, she asked, "What?"

But it looked as if she already knew why he was calling her. Amon ran toward her while covering his head with both hands.

Without asking for permission, he slipped under her umbrella-like cover.

It wasn’t very big, so Amon stood close to her. His shoulder pressed against hers.

She frowned and glanced at him sideways. "At least ask before getting in."

With an easy grin, he replied, "Oh, come on. You already know why I stopped you."

Scarlett sighed and rubbed her forehead with her left hand, which was free. In a tired tone, she said, "Yeah, yeah. Now let’s go."

Amon smiled widely. "Okay!"

They started walking under the same umbrella. The rain fell lighter now. Raindrops hit against the umbrella’s black leaf covering. Some drops hit the shoulders of Amon and Scarlett, which were slightly outside the covered area.

Shivering slightly, Amon said, "Hah, it’s cold."

He wrapped his left arm around her shoulder, pulling them closer together. He could feel the softness of her side breast pressing lightly against his chest.

’Damn! They are really big.’ He thought.

Scarlett’s right hand tightened its grip on the handle. A vein bulged on her forehead. She stared at Amon’s face with sharp irritation.

But when she saw his foolish expression and that idiotic grin, she calmed down a little.

Saying anything to Amon wouldn’t make any difference. He was a thick-skinned, persistent bastard.

Glancing at the umbrella, Amon asked curiously, "Where did you get this umbrella-like thing?"

In a neutral tone, she replied, "I already had this from last year. I only needed to bring some big leaves and tie them over it."

Nodding, Amon said, "Nice. I need to get one. Where can I get this?"

Without looking at him, she answered, "Go to Survivor John’s house. He’s good at crafting things from wood."

Resting his cheek lightly against her shoulder, Amon said cheerfully, "Nice! I’ll go and meet him tomorrow."

They continued walking under the umbrella.

After a few moments, she glanced at him suspiciously and asked, "Where did you go a few hours ago? When I called you?"

Amon’s smile stiffened slightly.

Looking ahead, he replied, "Well... just exploring the place. Who knows, I might find a way to leave this place."

Scarlett listened quietly, her eyes fixed ahead as they walked.

A faint sigh escaped her lips. She could tell he was lying. Not completely, but enough.

Amon wasn’t good at hiding things when he smiled like that. His grin became just a little too stiff, a little too deliberate.

But she didn’t question him further. If he didn’t want to say it, forcing him wouldn’t help.

They continued walking under the umbrella. The rain tapped steadily against the layered black leaves above them. The soft, rhythmic sound filled the silence between their steps.

Both of them felt calmness while walking together. Warmth of each other. Which was new to Scarlett since coming here.

They were walking so close.

While it was Amon’s first time walking with a woman like this. He had held hands with Adelia and Seraphina... but this was a step ahead.

Amon gazed at Scarlett’s beautiful face.

It was dark right now. But darkness didn’t matter. He could see her face clearly.

His face was also closer to hers. He could sniff the soft, sweet fragrance from her.

Ba-dump!

His heart beat for a moment. A blush appeared on his face.

’Amon! Get a grip! You can’t fall for someone because of their beauty.’ He warned himself. To not get bewitched by her.

Amon tried to think about something else.

Soon, they reached the canteen. A long wooden structure lit by wooden torches under the roof edges. Warm yellow light flickered against the damp evening air.

A few villagers were already inside, sitting at rough wooden tables and eating quietly.

Scarlett gently shrugged her shoulder and said flatly, "Move."

Amon blinked, then realized he was still leaning against her.

Clearing his throat awkwardly, he said, "Oh."

He straightened up as if nothing had happened.

Once they were under the roof, she stepped slightly away from him. With a practiced twist and shake, she closed the umbrella and placed it near the entrance wall.

Oddly, she hadn’t felt uncomfortable. He was annoying. But not uncomfortable.

That realization lingered in the back of her mind, though she ignored it.

They moved forward to collect their food. Simple stew, roasted roots, and meat. Amon picked up two wooden bowls and handed one to her.

Taking it from him, she said quietly, "Thanks."

They found an empty table near the corner and sat across from each other.