Chapter 297: I Will Not Abandon You

Their gazes intertwined, quietly staring at each other.

A fine, gentle silence permeated the air.

Suddenly, a violent tremor erupted from the south, causing the snow beneath their feet to slide away in sheets.

Ansu and Freya looked toward the source simultaneously. Several distant snow mountains had triggered avalanches; massive walls of ice and snow cascaded down, their roar echoing between heaven and earth.

Following the collapse was an exceptionally violent surge of mana.

And... the agonized screams of Zak-Eos.

Celia had made her move.

It seemed the demon was in for a bad time.

Just moments ago, Ansu had specifically played up the creature’s wickedness over the communicator, painting it as the root of all evil and the primary culprit.

With the fury Celia was feeling right now, she would likely shred the demon into fine bits before she was satisfied.

Freya let out a sigh of relief. “It’s good that she found him. Now that demon really has nowhere to run.”

To be honest, even though their relationship was hardly good, Freya felt a sincere sense of security in times like this when she had to rely on the other’s combat power.

The sudden disturbance broke the subtle atmosphere from before.

The flush on Freya’s face gradually faded, and the courage she had managed to muster up mostly dissipated as well.

Her fingertips instinctively gripped the hem of her clothes. The words that had been on the tip of her tongue were suddenly difficult to say.

“Lord... Lord Ansu.”

She called out softly, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible weakness.

Ansu was all too familiar with this way of addressing him. Whenever the little Holy Maiden lost her confidence and reverted to her soft, timid state... this was how she sounded.

“Hmm?” Ansu couldn't help but chuckle, a gentle smile dancing in his eyes. “Go ahead, I’m listening.”

Freya lowered her eyes, staring at the pristine white snow at her feet, remaining quiet for a long time.

Finally.

She took a deep breath and looked up.

“Lord Ansu... will you... will you abandon me?”

Her voice was very light, wrapped in a tension and dread she couldn't hide, as if it might be swept away by the wind at any moment.

Ansu paused in his tracks, his brow furrowing slightly. “How could I?”

“Really?” A spark of surprise flickered in Freya’s eyes.

Ansu gazed at her seriously and nodded.

“I will not abandon you.”

“Then...” Freya followed up softly, “even if Celia is here, you still won’t abandon me?”

“When the time comes, it might not be up to you,” she continued sadly. “She’ll snatch you away. She might even make it so we can never be close again...”

Freya’s gaze slowly drifted toward the distance, a trace of melancholy emerging.

She knew how difficult the road ahead would be, but she wasn't afraid. She had long since prepared herself to face everything; she wouldn't even fear death.

But what she cared about most had always been Ansu’s feelings.

If Ansu had never intended to stand by her side, if he had never kept her in his heart, that would be the hardest thing to accept. It would make all her efforts feel meaningless...

Seeing her dejected look, Ansu reached out and gently ruffled her pink hair. He laughed and repeated his promise once more.

“Yes, I will not abandon you. No matter when, I never will.”

The unease in Freya’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a sparkling light, like a spark ignited in the snow.

Ansu looked at the pink-haired girl with the bright eyes, and his heart softened.

At this point, how could he possibly abandon Freya?

This girl who always stayed by his side, quietly giving without asking for anything in return.

This gentle, kind girl who was as pure as a small white flower in the snow, allowing one to glimpse the beauty of the world.

He couldn't even remember how many times Freya had died for him or how much pain and suffering beyond ordinary imagination she had endured.

Especially on this trip to the snow mountain—Ansu had no doubt that if he had died in the demon’s game of death, she would have unhesitatingly chosen to follow him in death.

They had already come this far, having experienced so many trials of life and death together. Their fates were like intertwined vines, tightly wound and inseparable.

This affection was unimaginably heavy, to the point where he had to face her feelings directly and could not shirk this weight of responsibility.

Ansu wanted this kind and gentle girl to have the most perfect, beautiful ending possible.

Gazing into his incredibly serious eyes, the joy in Freya’s heart surged uncontrollably. She leaped forward excitedly, crashing into Ansu’s arms.

She was so happy! Truly, truly happy!

Ansu instinctively caught her. He was even carried half a turn by the force of her excitement before he managed to steady her and set her down.

He looked at the person in his arms with a touch of helplessness.

The sunlight on the snow mountain pierced through the clouds, spilling over them and coating the embracing pair in a soft, pale gold. Even the whistling wind and snow seemed to melt in the face of this warmth.

The sun was bright, and the world seemed to become beautiful.

Freya’s cheeks were flushed red with happiness. She didn't dare look at his gentle gaze so close at hand; she simply lowered her head, pressing her cheek against his chest and quietly listening to the steady, powerful beat of his heart.

“Ansu, do I... have a place in your heart?” she whispered.

“You do.”

“Then what if... Celia gets angry, or even tries to kill me?” Freya’s voice dropped lower. “Her personality is so extreme and obsessive... she’s capable of doing anything terrifying.”

“Then there’s no helping it...” Ansu sounded even more helpless. “The three of us will just have to die together... we can all follow each other in death.”

Freya couldn't help but burst into a giggle. “That won't happen.”

“Why not?”

“She would never give the three of us the chance to die together,” Freya explained with a smile. “I know her. Celia is very selfish; she has a pathological possessiveness toward you...”

“Even if it really came to the point of dying together, if the three of us died at once, she’d probably rise from the dead just to toss my corpse far away so she could lie peacefully next to you.”

“True.” Ansu also chuckled. “She is that kind of person.”

Freya gazed deeply at Ansu’s face, a secret thought quietly flitting through her mind.

Only she knew that within her careful love, there was also a hidden, dark side he hadn't discovered yet. In Ansu’s eyes... she would likely always be that innocent and kind little Holy Maiden.

Sometimes, she had many terrifying thoughts: wishing Celia had never appeared, wishing she would die... wishing that there were no other girls besides her by Lord Ansu’s side...

Well... Vera could be an exception.

She would never use Celia’s extreme methods. She would slowly settle into Ansu’s heart through gentleness and companionship, making him gradually unable to leave her, relying on her from the bottom of his heart until he could never be without her...

Love was indeed selfish.

The education Freya had received since childhood made her fundamentally disagree with Celia’s actions—the constant imprisoning, the stripping of memories... but she also had to admit that in matters of the heart, one sometimes needed to be firm and proactive.

This was what Celia had unknowingly taught her.

Now, she had to face reality, because the beauty found in fantasy did not exist...

Celia was always there, an existence she could not avoid.

She knew Celia loved Ansu deeply, and she knew Ansu loved Celia very much.

But! She could also truly feel that Lord Ansu had a unique affection for her as well... he really cared for her and cherished her.

That was enough.

The jealousy in Freya’s heart had long since faded; she was satisfied.

The happiest thing in the world was that this carefully hidden affection had finally received a response.

It was wonderful.

On the way down the mountain.

Freya’s mood was as light as if she were walking on clouds; even her footsteps became buoyant.

When they finally reached the foot of the mountain, they saw the reconnaissance members of the Staya Tribe from a distance.

“It’s Mr. Morris!”

They hurried forward, their tones urgent. “Mr. Morris, Miss Freya! The commander and the tribal elders have been looking for you!”

Ansu nodded. “I understand. I’ll head over shortly.”

After the war ended, there would certainly be many things to handle, but the most pressing matter right now was to go help Celia deal with that demon.

He turned to Freya. “Come on, let’s go help.”

Freya nodded vigorously. “Mhm!”