Chapter 284: Sleeping Together

After leaving Leon's residence...

Ansu calmly surveyed the seemingly peaceful camp, his eyes hiding a wariness that was difficult to detect.

Having just pointed the finger at Gulzan once again, the high priest's killing intent would likely descend upon him very soon...

Because she was gripping Ansu's arm so tightly, Freya could sense his body stiffening slightly, and she became tense in response.

Fortunately, everything around them remained calm.

Only a late-summer breeze blew gently, rustling the grass and trees by the roadside.

Seeing no immediate abnormalities, the two exchanged a glance.

“Let's head back to the room first,” Ansu said.

“Mhm.” Freya nodded softly.

On the way back, Ansu pondered in silence.

This time, he hadn't directly revealed the answer. Instead, he had stood in Leon's shoes throughout the conversation, acting as a friend and a brother.

Everything regarding Gulzan had been deduced by Leon himself.

In this way, perhaps he could muddle through?

But he couldn't be certain. Gulzan was deep and calculating; he might have already been monitoring Ansu's every move from the shadows.

Ansu looked up at their surroundings.

Every Stayan they passed greeted them warmly. The people had long since come to view the two of them as great heroes who protected the Staya Tribe.

However, these seemingly ordinary faces were all part of the faith of this divine realm.

He recalled the images from his simulation a hundred hours ago, where Gulzan monitored everything through a magic crystal ball—every person's eyes here could potentially be Gulzan's eyes.

Freya, who had inherited the memories of the prophetic dream, understood this just as well.

She forced a smile and responded politely to the goodwill around them, not daring to show the slightest hint of anything being wrong.

But her fingers, which were clenching tighter and tighter, betrayed her nervousness.

Ansu looked down silently at his poor arm.

“Maybe go a bit easier... I think my arm is already swollen...”

Freya froze for a moment, then awkwardly let go.

“Ah... Sorry!”

She had been using way too much strength; she had actually hurt Lord Ansu...

After avoiding all the 'surveillance cameras' along the way, the two finally returned to their quarters.

The moment she closed the door, Freya breathed a sigh of relief.

As she had done before, she gently took Ansu's hand and used her fingertip to write softly on his palm.

‘Lord Ansu, should we set up a magic barrier?’

Although she was a member of the clergy, she had spent a long time with Ansu and those mages, so she knew about many mysterious and profound abilities.

A magic barrier was the best means of isolating oneself from outside prying.

Ansu thought for a moment.

He hadn't wanted to draw too much attention, but on second thought, it was perfectly normal for him to take extra precautions after discussing such a shocking conspiracy with Leon.

So, he nodded.

Then, the two of them searched the room for a moment and drew the same kind of thick black curtains Leon had.

They pulled them tight, repeatedly checked that the windows were shut, and double-locked the door.

The entire room instantly fell into darkness.

Now, it was just the two of them in the room, and no one would be able to spy on what they were doing.

Since they were going to stay together, Freya had moved her luggage over early on and had meticulously tidied up Ansu's small, temporary room.

The originally simple wooden cabin had been cleaned thoroughly, and a faint floral scent lingered in the air, making it feel warm and comfortable.

Ansu sat cross-legged on the hard bed, his eyes lightly closed, adopting the posture of magical meditation.

In reality, he was constantly sensing the movements around them, staying tense and on guard against the killing intent that could descend at any moment.

Ansu had delayed starting a new simulation deduction this time.

Of course, it wasn't out of arrogance, nor was it because he underestimated his opponent.

There was only one core reason: his points were running low, and the enemy he would have to face later wasn't just High Priest Gulzan, but also an 'old friend.'

That ancient demon was the truly formidable enemy.

He had to save all his remaining points for the final, most critical moment.

As he sat there in deep thought with his eyes closed...

Freya thought he couldn't see her. Perhaps out of boredom, she suddenly leaned in playfully and waved a finger in front of his eyes.

Seeing that Ansu didn't react...

She puffed out her cheeks, seemingly thinking of other ways to tease him.

For instance, she started blinking her eyes at him incessantly.

She made all sorts of silly, ugly faces.

She even stealthily blew a dashing kiss toward Ansu.

She was having a great time, completely abandoning her usual demeanor and acting like a little girl who hadn't grown up...

Ansu, who saw all of this clearly, suppressed the urge to laugh, trying his best not to let the corners of his mouth curl up.

Adorable.

...

Time flowed quietly.

As the night deepened, it was time to sleep.

The bed in the wooden cabin was narrow and designed for one person; it was truly a bit of a squeeze for two people to lie down.

Ansu stood up to arrange the bedding and said with a gentle smile, “I'll just sleep on the floor. You take the bed.”

“No, no!” Freya shook her head repeatedly, her tone firm. “The floor is cold and hard; you'll catch a cold and get sick! I'll sleep on the floor, and you sleep on the bed!”

“That's even less acceptable!” Ansu immediately refused. How could he bear to let the little Holy Maiden sleep on the cold floor?

So, he would rather endure a little discomfort himself.

However, Freya kept saying no, refusing to agree no matter what.

The two were at a stalemate for a moment, staring at each other, neither willing to compromise.

Finally, they both happened to turn their gazes toward the narrow bed.

“Otherwise... should we just squeeze in together?” Freya's cheeks were tinged with a faint crimson as she made the suggestion in a shy, low voice.

“I don't exactly stay still when I sleep,” Ansu teased with a smile. “If you aren't worried about my size pushing you off the bed...”

“Mhm...” The flush on Freya's face spread all the way to the tips of her ears. “I don't mind...”

Though her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum, her pale gold eyes were sparkling, filled with a joy she couldn't hide.

Late at night.

The heavy black curtains blocked out the night outside, hiding the bright moon and the starry sky.

But the chirping of insects outside rose and fell, adding a touch of life to the quiet night on this northern border.

The two of them lay side by side on the single bed. They were very close, and each could clearly hear the other's steady breathing.

Clearly, neither of them was sleepy.

“Are you asleep?” Ansu spoke softly.

“No,” Freya's gentle response came from beside him.

After a moment of silence, Freya also asked cautiously:

“Then... then are you asleep?”

Ansu curled his lip helplessly. “I'm asleep.”

“Oh...” Freya responded obediently.

On the narrow bed, their sides were pressed tightly together. It was warm, driving away some of the night's chill.

Suddenly, Freya turned over gently, lying on her side to face Ansu.

Inadvertently, two large, soft curves pressed lightly against his arm, bringing a warm and subtle sensation.

Perhaps because she wanted to watch Ansu as he fell asleep, Freya's sleeping posture was a bit awkward, so she shifted slightly again.

The soft pressure became even more noticeable...

Ansu sighed inwardly.

The little Holy Maiden really is quite big...

A Great Holy Maiden.

“Lord Ansu...”

Freya's voice carried a hint of faint drowsiness. “Tell me a story.”

“Sure. What kind of story do you want to hear?”

“Tell me... a story from when you were little, okay?”

Freya's sleepiness suddenly vanished. She blinked her sparkling eyes, her gaze falling on the hazy outline of Ansu's features in the darkness, full of expectation.

Although she had heard him tell some stories before, Freya still wanted to know more.

She wanted to know everything about Ansu.

“Alright.”

Ansu smiled and intentionally adopted the tone of a storyteller, his voice lighthearted. “Which part do you want to hear? The fierce battle against the demon brats in the orphanage? Encountering Vera on a snowy night? Or perhaps the young man heroically saving a cat-eared demihuman in the Benalu slums? Or the father and son outsmarting a black mage by the steam pipes?”

“Eh?” Freya was slightly stunned, then she burst into a giggle. “What on earth is all that... Lord Ansu, are you just trying to make me laugh?”

“I am trying to make you laugh, but every one of those things is something I've actually experienced.”

“Mhm! Then hurry up and tell me; I want to hear every single story!”

“Don't be in such a rush. One by one.”

And so, Ansu softly recounted the fun stories and past events from his childhood. Freya leaned in close, occasionally interjecting with a soft word, listening with extreme focus.

A faint sense of warmth filled the room.

Before they knew it, Ansu had already talked about getting into the Benalu Royal Academy... and after that, he was about to reach the part where he met Celia.

Ansu consciously came to a stop.

Freya instantly noticed the subtle shift and lightly pursed her lips.

She naturally knew that if he continued, it would be about the 'ill-fated relationship' between Ansu and that witch, and only after that would it be about her and everything they had experienced together.

Suddenly, she curled her lips into a bright and determined smile.

“Lord Ansu, once this crisis is over and we go back, I want to talk to her.”

“Talk?” Ansu was stunned. “To who? To Celia?”

Freya nodded.

Ansu immediately became nervous. “What... what do you want to talk to her about? Freya, let me tell you, you absolutely must not do anything reckless!”

Freya only smiled gently. As her eyes flickered, she seemed to have already made a firm resolution.

“I've already made up my mind. I'll have to face her sooner or later.”

“Lord Ansu, I'm not a coward! I have things I want to protect, and I have a stance I'm unwilling to back down from.”

Ansu was silent for a moment. Looking at her determined eyes, he suddenly didn't know how to persuade her.

“Don't worry, Lord Ansu~” Freya tried to soothe his emotions. “No matter the outcome, I won't regret it. Besides, it's not as scary as you think! I'm not as weak as you believe I am!”

Ansu grumbled in his heart, Don't worry my foot...

Every time you two clash, it's a fight to the death. I've never seen you leave with your body in one piece even once...

While Ansu was grumbling to himself...

Freya suddenly stopped her joking, and the smile faded from her face.

She furrowed her brows slightly, tilting her head to listen intently, her gaze instinctively turning toward the sky hidden behind the curtains.

“Eh? Lord Ansu, I think I heard something... what a strange sound!”

Freya's nerves instantly pulled taut because she sensed a chilling killing intent.

Ansu felt it too, and his expression darkened immediately.

“And this sound... it's getting closer, and it sounds a bit familiar?”

He hurriedly got up, threw on his coat, and strode to the window, pulling back the thick black curtains with a sharp tug.

A piercing light cut through the pitch-black night sky, falling toward the wooden cabin where they were.

“That's...” Ansu's pupils shrank as his gaze locked onto the high altitude, catching the faint flickering patterns on the object's surface.

It was composed of countless complex runes, a violent mana distortion that almost tore the air apart.

“Dammit!” Ansu cursed immediately.

It was an alchemical shell!

He didn't hesitate for a second. He grabbed Freya's hand and quickly pulled out the Homing Compass from his person.

“Let's go!”

Magic light bloomed instantly, and a circular teleportation circle enveloped the two of them.

The next second.

The two vanished from the wooden cabin and were instantly teleported to a high watchtower on the snow mountains.

Stumbling, they grabbed the railing of the watchtower and looked down at the Staya camp in the river valley below.

At that moment, the alchemical shell slammed into the ground.

A shockwave swept across the surroundings instantly. Accompanied by a deafening explosion, a piercing firelight shot into the sky.

The violent magical power generated by the explosion instantly destroyed a large area of nearby wooden cabins. The ground was blasted into a mess, with wood chips and rubble flying everywhere.

The crowds in the camp were thrown into a panic, falling into total chaos.

Fortunately, the Staya camp was large enough, and they had intentionally scattered the layout of the houses to prevent being targeted by concentrated enemy fire. This terrifying alchemical shell didn't cause any unacceptable major losses.

Ansu's expression grew even gloomier.

Gulzan wasn't even pretending anymore?

At this moment, a sudden, sharp, and loud horn blast came from the south side of the camp, its sound incredibly piercing.

At the same time, a faint vibration traveled through the railing of the watchtower; the earth began to tremble slightly.

In the distance, the light of countless torches flickered in the darkness, forming a sea of fire that slowly approached the camp.

Along with the light of the torches, the coarse shouts of the wolfgars and the vicious roars of wargs rose and fell. Densely packed undead creatures swarmed from the outskirts of the camp, stretching as far as the eye could see.

The wolfgars had launched a night raid.

It seemed Gulzan had chosen to flip the table directly. He wanted to use the chaos of war to completely erase Ansu right here.

After all, war had always been the most suitable way to eliminate someone.

....