Forcing the Issue

“Ahem... Um...”

Theia wanted to find an excuse for her backstabbing behavior last night.

At least, regarding her failed attempt to present him with a fait accompli, there was still plenty of room to explain it away and slide through.

However, Lin Gui didn't give her a chance to speak.

He looked at Theia, his gaze serious and his tone steady.

“Theia, I'll be leaving Avalon tonight.”

The awkward, playful smile on Theia's face instantly froze.

Then, it vanished as quickly as a receding tide, leaving her face pale.

Her blood-red eyes widened slightly, clearly reflecting panic and fear.

“L-leaving...?”

Her voice trembled involuntarily, and her fingers curled up.

“If... if you're upset about what I did last night, I apologize. I really do!”

She took a step forward, her tone carrying a rare, almost humble caution.

“You don't have to leave. I promise I won't ever do it again—”

“It's not because of you,”

Lin Gui interrupted her, his voice gentle yet firm.

“Morpheus came to see me.”

“He wants me to take their people and leave Avalon as soon as possible.”

“After all, aside from Gusion and Shadow Blade Lynn...”

He paused, looking at Theia.

“...I'm the only one left who can cross the Wailing Corridor.”

Theia's expression softened slightly, but she remained very tense.

“Then... can't you just come back after sending them out?”

she asked softly, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

“I... still want to spend more time with you.”

Lin Gui fell silent for a moment.

“Theia, do you remember our promise?”

Theia was slightly taken aback.

She remained silent for a few seconds before whispering,

“...To 'come back and visit me once every four months'?”

Lin Gui nodded, a very faint but gentle smile playing on his lips.

“Yes.”

“So, it's not a permanent farewell.”

“There's no need to be so sad.”

But Theia stared into his eyes, her blood-red gaze filled with suspicion.

“Will you really... come back to see me in four months?”

Although Lin Gui seemed perfectly honest on the surface, Theia knew him all too well.

This guy was an absolute master at lying through his teeth.

Lin Gui sighed.

Then, he raised his right hand in a solemn gesture.

“I swear.”

“If I haven't returned to Avalon in four months...”

He paused, seemingly trying to think of a curse with enough weight.

“...I will stay single for the rest of my life.”

“How about that?”

As soon as he finished speaking,

he received two simultaneous glares of utter disdain.

One came from Eve, who had quietly stood by the treehouse at some point.

The other came from Theia right in front of him.

Even Winnie, who was shrinking back to the side, couldn't help but blink and follow suit.

She stared at Lin Gui with a look of disdain. As for why she was looking at him that way,

Winnie didn't know, but that didn't stop her from jumping on the bandwagon.

“Sigh...”

Theia let out a long sigh.

She raised her hand and vigorously rubbed her slightly red eyes.

“Well... okay then.”

As she spoke, she took a step forward.

Almost instinctively, Lin Gui took a small step back.

He leaned his body back slightly, clearly on guard.

Theia glared at him in annoyance.

“What are you dodging for?!”

“Can't I just give you a proper hug before we say goodbye?!”

“Uh...” Lin Gui gave a wry smile. “Sorry, it's just that last night you, ahem...”

Theia rolled her eyes.

“Have a little trust in me, will you?”

“At least I'm not like a certain someone who's full of lies.”

“Ahem...” Lin Gui grew even more embarrassed. “My bad.”

Theia gave him no further chance to shrink back.

She stepped forward, opened her arms, and hugged him tightly.

The girl's delicate body pressed close against him, possessing the unique suppleness and elasticity of an elf.

Even through their clothes, he could feel her warmth and softness.

Her scent—a blend of sunlight, fresh grass, and a faint floral fragrance—instantly enveloped him.

Lin Gui was somewhat surprised to find that Theia was actually... slightly taller than him.

The tip of his nose was positioned right next to her ear.

Theia held him tightly.

Extremely tightly.

So tightly that it felt as if she wanted to merge Lin Gui completely into her own body.

So tightly that...

...it was so tight that Lin Gui felt a dull pressure on his ribs.

It felt as if she was using battle force...

Lin Gui: ?????

No, she was definitely using battle force!

Lin Gui tried to break free slightly, but he couldn't budge an inch.

A sense of impending doom crawled up his spine.

“Ahem, Theia... that should be enough, right?”

He tried to remind her.

But right next to his ear, Theia's low, slyly amused voice sounded:

“Actually... I reviewed the case of my failure last night.”

“And I discovered an interesting fact.”

Her lips were practically brushing against his earlobe, her warm, moist breath fluttering against his skin.

“Which is... you are merely a little 'High Rank mage.'”

“Your physical conditioning probably can't even compare to a proper High Rank warrior.”

“And me... I'm a 'Transcendent Ranger.'”

“I can lift a hundred pounds with one hand, while you struggle to carry a bucket of water.”

Her voice was light and slow, carrying a sort of mischievous delight.

“Lin Gui, do you know what that means?”

Cold sweat began to seep out of Lin Gui's pores.

“...What?”

Theia backed away just a bit, her blood-red eyes sparkling as she stared at him, filled with a triumphant, wicked grin.

“It means...”

She spoke clearly, enunciating every single word:

“I don't actually need to knock you unconscious at all.”

“I just need to—”

“Take. You. By. Force.”

“I've heard that boys are naturally self-taught when it comes to that sort of thing.”

Lin Gui: “!!!”

His cold sweat was truly pouring now, and he tried to make one final struggle:

“T-Theia, you're joking, right?”

“Didn't you just say... you wouldn't lie to me?”

Theia let out a cold laugh.

“As the humans say—”

“This is called, 'following my husband's lead.'”

Her arms tightened once more, her battle force circulating as she locked Lin Gui completely in place.

“Just give in to me obediently!”

“My. Little. Mage!”

“Wait—!”

Lin Gui's protest was completely cut off.

Theia hoisted him over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes,

completely ignoring his futile thrashing.

Turning around, she kicked open the wooden door to Winnie's treehouse with a loud bang.

She rushed inside.

Followed by an even louder—

The door was slammed shut from the inside.

Immediately after came the unmistakable sound of the lock clicking into place.

Outside the door.

There was dead silence.

Winnie stood frozen on the spot, still clutching her watering can.

She stared at the tightly closed wooden door,

then slowly turned her head to look at Eve beside her.

She raised a finger, pointing tremulously toward the inside of the treehouse.

“J-just now...”

“Theia... suddenly asked me about that kind of 'knowledge'...”

“Could it be... for this...?”

Eve raised her hand to pinch the bridge of her nose, her purple eyes filled with helplessness and a look that said, "I knew this would happen."

She let out a dry cough and nodded awkwardly.

“Ahem...”

“It's exactly what you think.”

Winnie: “...”

The watering can in her hand fell to the ground with a clatter.

Water spilled all over the ground.

The innocent half-demon Forest Elf girl stood there with her mouth slightly open.

As an elf, conservative values were deeply engraved in her heart.

She had never expected that Theia would actually...