Chapter 274: Memories in the Simulation

The darkness receded, and his thoughts gradually returned.

Ansu gazed at the scene before him; he was back at the entrance of that dark, deep cave.

The aura of death wafted from the cave, and the blackened river flowed quietly beneath his feet; nothing had happened yet.

I'm back...

"You and Ansu must be careful," Archbishop Paul urged with concern. "If you encounter danger that you truly cannot handle, retreat. I will be waiting for you at the rendezvous point."

Freya nodded, a relaxed smile on her face.

"Don't worry, Lord Ansu and I are just going in to scout. We should be out very soon!"

Ansu looked toward Freya.

She stood there completely unharmed, her pink hair fluttering gently in the wind, and her fair cheeks possessed a healthy flush.

Seeing him staring at her, those pale gold eyes looked back in confusion.

"Hmm?"

Freya tilted her head in bewilderment. "What is it, Lord Ansu?"

"It's nothing." Ansu shook his head and then turned to Archbishop Paul. "Wait a moment, we're not going in for now."

Archbishop Paul looked surprised; Ansu had spoken for so long earlier that he thought the boy was determined to enter.

"We're not going in?" Freya blinked. "Why?"

Ansu thought to himself: Because I've already been inside.

Knowing that Ansu's perception was always sharp, Freya asked in a low voice, "Did you... sense some kind of danger?"

Ansu nodded. "Yes, I have a premonition that if we go, we won't come back."

"Oh." Although Freya didn't understand what kind of danger could make Ansu suddenly change his mind, she still nodded obediently.

"If it's that dangerous, then Lord Ansu shouldn't go."

Ansu looked at everyone and suddenly suggested, "Since we've already rescued the people, let's head back and regroup with the main force first. Regarding the clues about this secret base, I think we should plan carefully from a long-term perspective."

He now had a new strategy to break the deadlock.

Archbishop Paul looked at his attendant and the two rescued nuns.

He hadn't wanted Ansu and Freya to take risks in the first place, so he nodded. "No problem, I think that's a good idea."

Before leaving, Ansu took out the 【Homing Compass】 from his robe and left a teleportation coordinate in a hidden spot near the cave entrance.

Then, the group turned and left.

...

While walking, Ansu finally had time to check the long 'system settlement' log.

And then, he was left speechless.

【Physical Realm】

【Radiant Calendar Year 625, August 7, 12:15】

【Evaluation: Noooo! (sobbing) Lord Chosen One! Please stop raising a second World Ending Witch!】

【《Fourth Era Chronicle - Excerpt》... Based on the above material, analyze which event was the main culprit behind the destruction of the Third Era?

A: Barcas secretly forming the demon resistance army to overthrow human rule and actively seeking the evil gods sealed by the righteous gods.

B: Celia reorganizing the Echoes of Truth and obtaining the inheritance of the ancient demon empire.

C: Freya and Archbishop Paul becoming completely disillusioned with the corrupt Church of Holy Light and heading to the North to launch a church reform.

D: Ansu choked on water and died.

Correct answer: D 】

Ansu: ...

Why does it sound like I'm more of a culprit for the world's destruction than those actual big bosses?

I'm clearly the Chosen One!

He complained internally for a few moments before continuing to scroll down.

【As the world is at a critical point of immense crisis and upheaval, the host is advised to strengthen your companions and faction as soon as possible to face challenges far more difficult than the original plot!】

【Please choose: Allow Freya to inherit the memories and combat experience from this simulation?】

【Yes/No】

Ansu's eyes suddenly widened in surprise.

This...

Other people's memories could be inherited too?

Did that mean Freya would immediately remember everything that just happened—from Gulzan's path to godhood to her several power-ups, and finally her desperate God-Descent...

As well as...

The fact that this experience was actually just a false... future?

The system certainly wouldn't reveal the existence of the 【Future Simulation System】. He was a bit curious; if he really clicked 【Yes】, in what way would her memories manifest?

The group continued forward. Ansu thought about these things as he walked, occasionally glancing at Freya beside him.

Freya noticed his gaze and stared back blankly, looking confused.

Ansu weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

Actually, letting the little Holy Maiden inherit the memories of this simulation wasn't a bad idea.

Such combat memories and experience were extremely precious.

Didn't Freya want to become stronger? This was equivalent to a zero-loss practical exercise of 【God-Descent】, which would allow her to more deeply understand the mysteries of the Church of Holy Light's strongest divine art.

He just hoped that the next time she used this move, she wouldn't end up with bits and pieces of herself scattered everywhere... literally falling apart.

Moreover, after inheriting these memories, she would be able to see through everything shrouded in this mystery just like he could.

The two of them had been trapped in the Talin region for so many days; even someone as strong as Celia hadn't been able to break through the boundary. Breaking the deadlock would ultimately depend on the two of them.

Those undead creatures, necromancers, and the high priest Gulzan—if Freya could also understand their secrets in advance, their chances of winning would be much higher.

Only...

Ansu frowned slightly.

It was fine for Freya to inherit simulation memories, but if he opened this door, what if the Witch lady inherited them in the future...

That would be a literal hell!!

Fortunately, the 【Yes/No】 buttons were in his hands.

He definitely wouldn't easily click 【Yes】 for Celia's memories in a simulation unless the situation deteriorated to the point of no return or some extremely specific extreme circumstance occurred...

Luckily, for him with the simulation system, such extreme circumstances basically didn't exist.

"What's wrong, Lord Ansu?"

Freya keenly noticed his abnormality and leaned in closer.

What could possibly make him so suspicious and secretive?

Ansu was slightly startled by her and snapped out of his thoughts.

Freya became even more suspicious.

"Freya..." Ansu looked around, his gaze landing on a secluded stream. "Let's take a walk over there. I have something to say to you privately."

Freya's footsteps paused, and then she nodded gently.

The stream gurgled, and the surroundings were silent and deserted.

Ansu turned around, his expression becoming serious and earnest.

"Freya, no matter what happens next, don't be afraid, and don't be too surprised."

"Hmm?" Freya's eyes were full of confusion. "What is it..."

"Because in a moment, you might suddenly remember many things," Ansu said in a mysterious tone.

"Huh?" Freya was completely baffled.

Ansu no longer hesitated and immediately chose 【Yes】.

In the next second, Freya's expression shifted from confusion to pain.

She suddenly clutched her forehead, her body trembling slightly as if something were being forced into her mind.

Ansu quickly supported her.

After a long while, she slowly lifted her head.

In those pale gold eyes, the originally clear and vacant light had now become complex.

Shock, realization, lingering fear...

And a hint of subtle, indescribable emotion.

She stared intently at Ansu as if to confirm he truly existed, instinctively gripping his hand tightly as if afraid he might suddenly vanish.

"An... Lord Ansu..."

"I... I feel like I had a very, very long dream... a nightmare..."

She murmured, "I feel like... we really did go into that cave, and then..."

They had experienced many, many things and seen unbelievable truths.

There were also thrilling battles, and...

Partings of life and death.

And in the final moments, that extremely thick and intense emotion...

Seeing her like this, Ansu knew she had remembered everything.

He nodded and lowered his voice. "I know. Don't say any more for now..."

Freya gazed at him in a daze, and the more she thought about it, the more incredible it felt.

It wasn't a dream? This didn't seem like a dream...

She suddenly remembered that Lord Ansu's intuition had always been sharp; he could always foresee many dangers and opportunities in advance...

Could it be that just now, he had seen the scenes of a possible future with her?

If that were true...

She recalled that final battle.

She had hovered high in the sky, fighting that high priest who claimed he was about to ascend to godhood. Holy light had torn through the sky, and that terrifying power had even made the heavens and earth change color...

"I'm so strong!" Her voice was filled with uncontrollable excitement. "Lord Ansu, I'm so strong! I'm so strong!!"

Was she really that powerful? She could actually erupt with such power! She had even saved Lord Ansu from a powerful enemy?

"Lord Ansu!" Freya's eyes sparkled. "I feel like I'm bursting with power right now! It turns out I'm actually this strong! How about next time we just... strike first and wipe him out with a single God-Descent!"

"Absolutely not!" Ansu quickly held her down, his tone filled with helplessness and tension. "Freya... stop treating your own life so lightly!"