An hour later.
The wooden door of the treehouse opened with a creak.
Theia was the first to walk out.
With her chin tilted up, her silver hair fell loosely over her shoulders in a slightly lazy disarray.
On her face was an undisguised, bright smile of a victor.
She even deliberately adjusted her gait, adding a tiny, seemingly uncomfortable pause.
Even though that bit of soreness was negligible to the constitution of a Transcendent Ranger.
But at this moment, she needed this “evidence.”
“Hmph~”
She tossed her loose silver hair back with a carefree motion, then waved her hand grandly:
“Tonight, my treat!”
“We're going to feast at Avalon's most ‘expensive’ restaurant!!”
Behind her, Lin Gui walked out.
His clothes were slightly disheveled, and his expression was rather complex—a mix of helplessness and the calm of resignation.
He rubbed the space between his brows.
“Avalon doesn't have any restaurants. You can't even spend gold coins here.”
“Alright... are you ‘satisfied’ now?”
“I should pack my things and leave with Eve now.”
Theia nodded in satisfaction, her smile as bright as the midday sun.
She walked up to Lin Gui, naturally wrapping her arm around his and leaning in close.
Lin Gui's body stiffened slightly, but in the end, he didn't push her away.
Standing a few paces away, Eve watched this scene with a warm, heartfelt smile on her face.
She knew that in this era of collapsed morality during the City-State Era, such things were nothing.
Premarital relations were even viewed as normal in certain noble circles, and the prostitution industry was widespread.
But for an elf.
This practically meant committing and dedicating oneself for a lifetime.
This was also why, in fairy tales, those who remained loyal to each other to the end were almost always elves.
Precisely because of this, Theia's joy at this moment was so pure and dazzling.
And Mr. Lin Gui...
He seemed to have silently accepted this weight as well.
Eve's gaze fell on Lin Gui's hand, which had originally been hanging by his side but was now slightly raised, seemingly wanting to wrap around Theia's waist.
Ultimately, after a brief hesitation, that hand gently settled on Theia's shoulder.
It was light, yet firm.
Eve's lips still held a smile.
Yet at this very instant, she felt a clear sensation.
As if she were standing outside a warm, invisible circle of light.
Inside the circle were them.
Outside the circle was her.
She gently shook her head, brushing away that fleeting sense of isolation.
This was fine.
She looked down at the peaceful streetscape of Avalon below.
After coming all this way, being able to witness this was already enough.
The staff took off once again.
Theia and Winnie waved goodbye.
And Lin Gui flew with them into the sky of Avalon.
Ahead, sitting on the oak staff, Theia leaned close to Lin Gui's ear, chattering and nagging him endlessly.
She looked exactly like a wife about to send her husband off on a long journey:
“You must stay safe on the road!”
“And you're not allowed to forget me! You have to think of me every day... no, at least once every three days!”
“Also, no flirting with bad girls! At the very least... it has to be a good girl like Eve!”
“If... if you really end up with other girls in the future...”
She paused, her voice softening slightly, yet carrying a strange, almost overbearing seriousness:
“Remember to make them call me big sister!”
“I was the first!”
“I'm the first! The primary one!”
Listening to this stream of ridiculous yet warm nagging, the corners of Lin Gui's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Aren't elves supposed to be the most loyal race when it comes to love? Why did it seem like Theia couldn't wait for him to go out and play the field?
He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to refute her.
But in the end, it only dissolved into a very soft, indulgent sigh.
Then, as if remembering something, he turned his head to look at Theia, who was right next to him.
A slightly teasing arch curved his lips as he asked softly.
“Then... what if it's a girl like Elvia?”
Instantly.
Theia's endlessly chattering mouth seemed to be pinched shut by an invisible hand.
“Uh...”
She blinked her blood-red eyes, the expression of “the victor's warnings” rapidly transitioning into a subtle, outmaneuvered embarrassment.
A few seconds of silence passed.
She pursed her lips, her gaze drifting elsewhere. Her voice was a bit muffled, yet carried an uncompromising insistence:
“Her...”
“If you really want her...”
“...she can only be placed behind Eve!”
As soon as she finished speaking.
Eve, who had been listening quietly from behind, finally couldn't help but burst into a soft laugh.
Her laughter was light and clear, like a forest stream bubbling over pebbles.
Her purple eyes curved, filled with understanding, helplessness, and a hint of warm, gentle teasing.
The staff landed gently in front of the post office.
Theia was the first to jump down. With slightly flushed cheeks, she quickly pushed open the door and ran upstairs to pack her things.
Eve walked over to the counter and picked up the book she had been reading frequently over the past few days.
Lin Gui followed her, his gaze landing on the cover—
《The Domineering Magic Dragon's Sweet Little Wife》...
The corner of his mouth twitched as he stared at the “culprit.”
Noticing his gaze, Eve smiled slyly and shook the book in her hand:
“Are you curious about what kind of story is written inside...”
“...to make Theia do that sort of thing to you?”
Lin Gui shook his head helplessly.
“The book is just a catalyst.”
“The real ‘culprit’...”
He paused, his tone absolutely certain.
“...is a certain someone who is currently living the high life in the Royal Capital.”
The reason he was so sure was because back in the treehouse...
Theia had used aphrodisiac powder.
Yes, the exact same kind Elvia had bought at the hotel back then.
When Lin Gui left the Royal Capital, Elvia had stuffed a letter into his hands, telling him to hand it over to Theia, and specifically emphasized that he was “not allowed to peek.”
Thinking about it now...
That letter probably didn't just contain a “farewell,” but also came with a “prop.”
That fellow Elvia had definitely played the role of a “military advisor” in her letter.
Lin Gui was utterly speechless.
But what was done was done.
No matter what, it couldn't be changed now.
Standing beside him, Eve asked softly with a hint of curiosity.
“I'm quite curious...”
“Why were you so resistant to having a physical relationship with Theia before?”
“Do you not like her?”
Lin Gui remained silent for a moment before speaking.
“When you are completely alone,”
“you have the courage to stake your life on the line. Only then do you have the courage to drag powerful enemies down to hell and die together with them.”
“But once you have attachments...”
He paused.
“...you have weaknesses.”
Eve stared at him:
“Are those people... really worth you doing all this?”
“Aren't you just a... traveler passing through on your way to the Magic City?”
As for “those people,” Lin Gui naturally knew who Eve was referring to.
It seemed Eve only knew a portion of it and didn't truly understand.
What exactly had happened during Lin Gui's journey to the Magic City, also known as the City of a Thousand Towers.
Recalling those days.
Lin Gui fell silent for a while before raising his head to look at Eve.
“Back then, as a mere Mid Rank, I never actually expected to reach the Magic City.”
“At the time... I was going there to die.”
His voice was very calm.
It was as if he were speaking of someone else's story.
Naively believing he could change the injustices before him, he had just gained power back then.
He had helped a street vendor bullied by nobles, only for the vendor to turn around and throw dirt on him for a bag of silver coins, mocking his naivety.
He had saved a dying, sick street child, but once the child recovered, he joined the other older kids to steal the last of Lin Gui's dry rations.
Novice Magic had no lethal force; it made him no different from an ordinary person.
Every time he extended a helping hand, what he got in return was not gratitude.
It was even harsher betrayal, greed that clung to him like a leech, biting back once it was full.
His sense of morality, his kindness, and all his positive emotions were trampled upon like weeds by the roadside.
In this world, kindness was explicitly equated with foolishness.
And those events were like a blunt knife.
Slash after slash.
Completely carving to pieces the last bit of warmth left in his heart.
Until he embarked on that journey to the Magic City to seek his death.
“It was them... who saved me.”
“They gave me a reason...”
“...to keep living in this rotten world.”
“So...”
Lin Gui's eyes were filled with frost. Even though he didn't do anything.
Eve could still feel the chill radiating from him.
“As long as there is a chance, I will take everyone who caused that disaster...”
“...and step on their heads, forcing them to fall and feel the despair of the very bottom.”
“I will make them live in agony until the very moment they beg for death.”
“And that includes... the Pope of the Holy Church of Light.”
“Saint Leonard VII.”
Eve's purple eyes widened slightly, a trace of manic excitement surfacing in them.
She smiled, leaning close to Lin Gui's ear.
Her eyes were filled with adoration as she whispered.
“If possible, after you trample that old fossil down, let me have a stomp as well.”
Lin Gui smiled. He had long known that this Saintess was not as pure and holy as she appeared on the surface.
In fact, she was quite mad.
Lin Gui nodded, then spoke no further.
He turned and walked toward the counter, intending to do one final check to see if anything had been left behind.
Right then.
His gaze froze.
On the counter, a letter had appeared at some point.
It was a thin letter.
Neatly pressed down by seven highly polished copper coins.
During the time he had left to find Theia...
Someone had actually come to send a letter?
Lin Gui stepped forward, reaching out to pick up the letter to see who the sender was.
The moment his fingertips brushed against the rough envelope.
【Ding!】
The system's notification sound rang out in his mind without warning.
Clear and distinct.
【Special Commission has been triggered.】
【Content: Deliver Moro Troy's letter to the recipient.】
【Route: Avalon → Wailing Corridor → Blackwater City.】
【Time Limit: Seven calendar days.】
【Reward: Long-Distance Random Spatial Teleportation Scroll × 1.】
Lin Gui's finger froze in midair.
He had absolutely not expected to trigger a Special Commission right on the eve of his departure.
Rate on N.U.
