Chapter 301: Love

The lighting magic stones emitted a soft, bright halo, and the mine was so quiet that they could hear each other's breathing.

Ansu thought to himself... Can I say I believe everything?

Of course not.

If he said that, Celia would probably mega-evolve into her ultimate yandere form on the spot, and he’d never be able to escape for the rest of his life...

(Chains, little black room.)

“Ansu.” Celia’s fingertips were white from gripping so hard, and her voice held a trace of a barely perceptible tremor. “Speak... Choose her, or me!”

She stared intently at Ansu, desperate for an answer yet terrified of hearing the response that would completely break her.

Ansu sighed softly. “Of course I choose you. Haven't I always believed in you?”

Celia breathed a secret sigh of relief, her gaze softening for a moment.

But in the next second, she leaned closer to Ansu, her tone carrying an indisputable obsession: “Then... since you choose to believe me, you are not allowed to believe Freya ever again! Listen to me, kill her, and eliminate the trouble forever!”

Ansu looked at her helplessly. “How did we circle back to this again?”

“In short, you just don't want to kill her; you're unwilling to hurt her, right?” Celia’s dark red eyes narrowed slightly, her voice pressing him with a mirthless smile. “Ansu! Is her status in your heart really that high? Is that woman more important than me now?”

Ansu met her gaze. His reflection was clearly mirrored in Celia’s pupils, as if she wanted to lock his entire being inside.

He shook his head gently. “How could anyone be more important than the Miss Witch?”

“And then?”

“And then what?”

Celia sounded like a broken record, her voice cold and firm: “Kill her, and eliminate the trouble forever!”

Ansu felt like he was stuck in an inescapable loop...

Therefore, he could only resort to his ultimate move.

The skip.

“Ouch, my head hurts so much...”

He pressed his hand to his forehead, his brows furrowing tightly, his tone adding a hint of weakness. “It must be the aftereffects of the demon’s self-destruction earlier. The mental pollution hasn't been completely dispelled yet...”

“Hmph, stop acting!” A flicker of worry flashed through Celia’s eyes, but she quickly returned to a poker face.

She knew Ansu’s little tricks all too well; this guy was a master at changing the subject!

Ansu didn't panic at all. He simply closed his eyes and reached out to feel for her thigh.

Then he laid down, his cheek pressing against the soft, warm skin of her thigh.

“Wife, I'm really so tired... Let me rest for a while, okay?”

Celia’s entire body stiffened, and the air seemed to freeze at that moment.

Her eyes were full of disbelief, and even her voice carried a fine tremor:

“You... what did you call me?”

“Wife.” Ansu didn't hesitate, his tone as natural as if he were saying the weather was nice today.

“You... say it again!”

Ansu slowly turned his head, looking at her with a serious gaze.

There was no joking in those eyes, no perfunctoriness—only a sea of tenderness.

“Wife. Wife. Wife. Wife.”

Again and again.

That calling was like a beam of warm light, piercing through all the gloom and insecurity in the depths of Celia’s heart.

Those frozen corners, those wastelands she thought no one would ever set foot on, suddenly bloomed with flowers at this moment.

Her nose felt stingy.

Crystal teardrops welled up and fell, splashing onto Ansu’s cheek, warm and real.

“Ansu... you...”

“You're so annoying! Why would you...”

Only surging joy and a hint of grievance remained in Celia’s eyes.

Because she had always believed she was alone.

She had thought she would only have darkness and magic for company her whole life—no family, no attachments, her heart forever drifting without support, like a fallen leaf without a harbor.

But since meeting Ansu—

Everything had changed.

After experiencing countless memorable pasts, at this moment, his word “wife” felt like a gentle hand, softly catching her long-drifting soul and placing it in a place called “home.”

“Once you say it, don't regret it...” Celia wiped her tears, her voice choked.

Ansu reached out and wiped away her tears, his thumb gently brushing past her reddened eyes.

“Of course I won't regret it.”

“Now... I have a family too!” Celia laughed through her tears. She gazed deeply at Ansu and said in a teasing, sweet voice, “Husband~”

“Mhm,” Ansu responded softly, his lips curving into a gentle arc. “Wife.”

Celia’s eyes were full of longing and expectation. “Then... when are we getting married?”

Ansu looked at her sparkling eyes and thought for a moment. “Once the World Ending Crisis is resolved and everything has settled, we'll get married.”

Though it sounded a lot like a death flag.

But he truly thought so.

After rushing about for this world for so long, he deserved to enjoy himself...

He really wanted to go to a beautiful place for a vacation... and have no more demon armies, ancient demons, or demihuman high priests popping up...

“Mhm!” Celia nodded vigorously, a bright smile appearing on her face, like the first ray of sunlight after the clouds had dispersed.

“Ansu, you need to rest well.” She gently stroked his hair, her movements tender. “I won't bother you anymore. Go to sleep~”

In the bright treasure vault, the halo of the lighting magic stones was soft and warm, like a tiny moon sunk deep underground.

The two snuggled together; the conflict was gone, leaving only hearts full of tenderness and peace.

...

An unknown amount of time passed until only their shallow breathing remained in the room.

Celia looked at Ansu, who was right beside her. The halo of the magic stones outlined the contours of his face and those quietly closed eyes.

Ansu hadn't fallen asleep yet.

Celia asked softly, “Can't you sleep?”

“Mhm...” Ansu gave a muffled response, his voice carrying a hint of exhaustion.

“You need a good night's sleep.”

“Lately... I might have insomnia,” Ansu replied. Too many things were circling in his mind like a tangled mess of threads that only got more chaotic the more he tried to sort them.

“Mhm...” Celia responded. “You're too tired.”

A moment later.

The air in the room changed quietly. A faint, strange fragrance drifted from somewhere.

“This thing can put you into a deep sleep; it’s perfect for your insomnia.” Celia’s voice was as soft as a lullaby. “Ansu, take a good rest... your health is the most important thing.”

Ansu’s body paused slightly, instinctively wanting to lift his head.

But his body went limp and weak, as if being gently pressed into deep water by a pair of invisible hands.

Celia sat up with a peculiar smile, watching Ansu lying beside her.

She reached out and gently stroked his face. “Darling, I'm sorry...”

“But this is very important! I'm so happy... I really, really want to know your true thoughts...”

“There won't be a next time...”

Celia gently cradled Ansu’s head and placed a soft kiss on his cheek, as gentle as a falling petal.

Then, she waved her hand over his closed eyes. A faint surge of mana emerged, enveloping Ansu’s entire body like a thin mist.

Ansu opened his eyes mechanically.

Those eyes were hollow and lifeless, quietly reflecting only the image of the person before him.

Celia held her breath and asked softly:

“Ansu... do you love me?”

Without hesitation or pause, Ansu, who had fallen into a deep sleep and was under 【Soul Dominion】, quickly gave an answer.

“Yes.”

Tears instantly filled Celia’s eyes. She gently hugged Ansu, her voice choked and soft:

“I knew it! Why did I doubt... I shouldn't have doubted...”

She tightened her arms.

“Darling, I love you too!”

They embraced quietly for a long time.

Celia suddenly curled her lips.

A hint of faint mischief was hidden in that smile. It seemed that since she and Ansu had committed to each other, she hadn't teased him like this in a very long time.

“Then tell me, how much do you love me?”

Ansu answered with a blank gaze, “Very, very much... more than I ever imagined. I want the Miss Witch to be my wife...”

Celia smiled happily, a faint blush creeping onto her fair cheeks.

She gently poked Ansu’s cheek and said with a smile, “Saying such sweet words, I'm so embarrassed...”

“But I love hearing them~”

Ansu remained expressionless, staring at her with lifeless eyes.

“Then...” Celia’s eyes darted around, and she suddenly let out a mischievous laugh.

She leaned in close again and asked with feigned gloom, “What about Freya?”

“What kind of feelings do you have for her?”

“What... what position does she hold in your heart?”

“Would you become my enemy for her sake?”

The magical halo flickered slightly, casting uncertain light between the two of them, like a restless heart.

The atmosphere remained quiet.

Silence.

...