"Ahem... Well..."
Theia wanted to find an excuse for her backstabbing behavior last night.
At least regarding the matter of "the deed being done," there was still plenty of room to explain herself or try to bluff her way through.
However, Lin Gui did not give her a chance to speak.
He looked at Theia with a serious gaze and a steady voice.
"Theia, I'm going to leave Avalon this evening."
The faint, awkward smile on Theia's face as she tried to act cute to get through the situation froze instantly.
Then, it vanished as quickly as a receding tide, replaced by a pale expression.
Her blood-red eyes widened slightly, clearly reflecting panic and fear.
"L-Leave...?"
Her voice trembled involuntarily, and her fingers curled inward.
"If... if you're unhappy with what I did last night, I apologize! I really apologize!"
She took a step forward, her tone carrying a rare, almost humble caution.
"You don't have to go. I promise I won't ever again—"
"It's not because of you."
Lin Gui interrupted her, his voice gentle but firm.
"Morpheus came to see me."
"He wants me to take their people and leave Avalon as soon as possible."
"After all, besides Gusion and Shadow Blade Lynn..."
He paused and looked at Theia.
"I am the only one left who can cross the Wailing Corridor."
Theia's complexion improved slightly, but she remained extremely tense.
"Then... can't you just come back after you've seen them out?"
She asked softly, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.
"I... I still want to stay with you all for a while longer."
Lin Gui was silent for a moment.
"Theia, do you remember our agreement?"
Theia was slightly startled.
She remained silent for a few seconds before answering in a low voice.
"...That you'd 'come back to see me once every four months'?"
Lin Gui nodded, a very faint but sufficiently warm smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.
"Correct."
"So, it's not a final farewell."
"There's no need to be so sad."
However, Theia stared into his eyes, her blood-red pupils filled with suspicion.
"Will you really... come back to see me after four months?"
Although Lin Gui appeared very honest on the surface, Theia knew all too well—
This fellow was a master at lying with a straight face.
Lin Gui sighed.
Then, he raised his right hand and struck a solemn pose.
"I swear."
"If I have not returned to Avalon in four months..."
He paused, as if thinking of a sufficiently weightily "curse."
"...I will stay single for the rest of my life."
"How about that?"
As soon as his voice fell.
He received two simultaneous gazes full of contempt.
One came from Eve, who had quietly been standing by the treehouse for some time.
The other came from Theia, right in front of him.
Even Winnie, who was shrinking off to the side, couldn't help but blink and then follow the crowd.
She looked at Lin Gui with contempt. As for why she felt contemptuous...
Winnie didn't know, but that didn't stop her from following suit.
"Sigh..."
Theia let out a long sigh.
She raised her hand and rubbed her reddened eyes vigorously.
"Fine... okay."
As she spoke, she took a step forward.
Lin Gui almost instinctively took a small step back.
He leaned his body back slightly, showing clear defensiveness.
Theia glared at him in annoyance.
"What are you dodging for?"
"Can't I just give you a good hug when we're saying goodbye?!"
"Uh..." Lin Gui gave a forced laugh. "Sorry, mostly because you were last night, ahem..."
Theia rolled her eyes.
"Have a little trust in me, will you?"
"At least I'm not like a certain person who tells constant lies."
"Ahem..." Lin Gui felt even more embarrassed. "Sorry."
Theia did not give him another chance to shrink away.
She stepped forward, opened her arms, and hugged him tightly.
The girl's delicate body pressed close to his, carrying the unique suppleness and elasticity of an elf.
Even through their clothes, he could feel that warmth and softness.
Her body fragrance, a mix of sunlight, green grass, and a light floral scent, instantly enveloped Lin Gui.
Lin Gui was somewhat surprised to find that Theia was actually... a little bit taller than him.
The tip of his nose happened to rest right by her ear.
Theia hugged him very tightly.
Extremely tightly.
So tight it was as if she wanted to completely rub Lin Gui into her own body.
So tight...
So tight that Lin Gui felt his ribs were starting to feel compressed.
It felt like she was using battle force...
Lin Gui: ?????
No, she definitely used battle force!
Lin Gui tried to struggle free a bit, but he couldn't move an inch.
A premonition of disaster crawled up his spine.
"Ahem, Theia... that should be enough, right?"
He tried to remind her.
However, Theia's low voice, tinged with a cunning laugh, came from beside his ear.
"Actually... I did a review of the failed attempt last night."
"And I discovered an interesting fact."
Her lips were almost pressed against his earlobe, her warm, moist breath brushing against his skin.
"And that is... you are just a puny 'High Rank mage'."
"Your physical constitution probably can't even compare to a proper High Rank warrior."
"Whereas I... am a 'Transcendent Ranger'."
"I can lift a weight of one hundred jin with one hand, while you struggle to even carry a water bucket."
Her voice was soft and slow, carrying a sort of prank-like pleasure.
"Lin Gui, do you know what that means?"
Cold sweat began to quietly seep out of Lin Gui.
"...What?"
Theia pulled back just a little, her blood-red eyes staring brightly at him, overflowing with a triumphant, wicked grin.
"It means..."
She spoke clearly, one word at a time.
"Actually, I don't need to knock you unconscious at all."
"I just need to—"
"For-cing. The. Bow."
"I've heard that boys are self-taught in that area anyway."
Lin Gui: "!!!"
His cold sweat really was pouring out now as he tried one last desperate struggle.
"Th-Theia, you're joking, right?"
"Didn't you just say... you wouldn't lie to me?"
Theia gave a cold laugh.
"As humans say—"
"It's called, 'the husband leads and the wife follows'."
Her arms tightened again, her battle force flowing to lock Lin Gui down completely.
"Just give in to me honestly!"
"Lit-tle. Mage—!"
"Wait—!"
Lin Gui's protest was completely cut off.
Theia slung him over her shoulder like a sack of grain.
She ignored his futile struggling.
Turning around, she kicked open the wooden door to Winnie's treehouse.
Thump!
She rushed inside.
Following that was an even louder—
Clang!!
The door was slammed shut from the inside.
Immediately after came the unmistakable sound of the lock turning.
Click.
Outside the door.
There was dead silence.
Winnie stood there in a daze, still clutching the watering can in her hand.
She looked at the tightly closed wooden door.
Then she slowly turned her head and looked at Eve beside her.
She raised a finger, pointing tremulously toward the door.
"J-Just now..."
"Theia... she suddenly asked me for that 'knowledge'..."
"Could it be... for...?"
Eve raised a hand to her forehead, her purple eyes filled with helplessness and a look of "I knew this would happen."
She gave a dry cough and nodded awkwardly.
"Ahem..."
"It's exactly what you're thinking."
Winnie: "..."
The watering can in her hand fell to the ground with a clang.
Water spilled all over.
This simple-hearted Forest Elf half-demon girl stood there with her mouth slightly open.
As an elf, conservative concepts were etched into her heart.
She had absolutely never expected that Theia would actually...
Theia...
Are you really that bold?!
Rate on N.U.
