"Why?" Celia watched Ansu, smiling as she asked. "What's wrong with that?"
"Since Freya is a guest and we are the hosts, wouldn't it be polite for me to show up in person, treat her well, and show her some hospitality?"
"Well..." Ansu looked silently at the moon hanging in the night sky, wishing he could just gloss over this matter.
"Besides, isn't this the change you wanted me to make?" Celia's projection gradually leaned closer. "Who was it that told me that day they hoped I would restrain my temper and do some good deeds?"
She curled her lip. "And now that I actually want to do it, you're not happy!"
Ansu looked at the witch's serious expression, feeling utterly speechless.
Like hell I'd believe you have good intentions! If Celia were to personally 'host' Freya, anything could happen.
The witch's so-called 'hospitality' would likely involve cooking the guest.
"I think... let's talk about it later." Ansu gave a forced laugh. "It's already this late, she must be asleep. You know she's been through a lot lately, and she only managed to escape today..."
Celia suddenly sneered, her projection moving even closer until the magical glow almost touched the tip of his nose.
"Hmph! You don't want me to disturb her rest? You really do care about your little Holy Maiden..."
She had guessed Ansu would refuse, so she waved her hand dismissively. "Fine! I'll meet her another day!"
Anyway, these few days would pass in a flash. Once she finished her task, she would immediately teleport to Ansu's side. At that time...
She would be able to meet that Holy Maiden of the Church in person!
"Celia... do you have something you want to say to her?" Ansu was suddenly curious because he felt that Celia really was looking forward to meeting Freya.
"Yeah!" Celia curled her lip. "Otherwise, what did you think I wanted? Did you think I was going to kill her right in front of you?"
Ansu fell into silence.
Well... he seemed to have been led astray by several events in the simulations, to the point that every time the two of them were together, he would recall that scene where the little Holy Maiden 'lost her head'.
Once was because of betraying her, and another was because of hypnosis, but now... Celia really didn't seem to have a reason to kill Freya.
Especially since the witch's personality was becoming better and better.
So, would things actually turn out well?
"What do you want to say to her?" Ansu tested the waters instinctively.
Although he wasn't as nervous as before, this 'epic meeting' between the two of them felt more troublesome to him than dealing with that old witch, Samantha.
"It's a secret~" Celia chuckled, not continuing the topic.
"Oh..."
"By the way, she's actually living with your sister?" Celia had wanted to ask this just now. She looked at Ansu curiously. "How does it sound like... their relationship is actually quite good?"
"Freya has helped Vera a lot during this time." Ansu explained. "In the days I was away, the two of them were always together, so they've definitely grown much closer."
"Hmm, it's not surprising that those two could get along." Celia crossed her arms, speaking in an indifferent tone.
Of course, even though she said that, she felt a strange sense of... being left out.
In the past, she wouldn't have cared about such things.
But now, Celia placed great importance on her relationship with Vera. After all, she was Ansu's sister and his most cherished relative.
"Right..." Celia suddenly asked with a hint of embarrassment, "What else does your sister like? I can bring something else over this time."
"Mechanical devices? Pocket weapons?" Ansu thought for a moment. "She thinks the things little girls usually like are childish. Oh, right! Vera has been practicing her martial arts lately, so maybe a sword or blade would be good?"
"Why is it always things for fighting and killing..." Celia smiled helplessly after hearing that. "She really is your sister, completely different from girls her age."
Ansu smiled. After all, Vera was a natural-born little demon hunter.
Celia fell into a moment of distress. Handling interpersonal relationships... she really wasn't good at it.
Especially lately, while Ansu was pushing her to be the cult leader candidate, she felt her inadequacies in this area more and more. Those elders argued in front of her every day until her head ached. Several times, she had been tempted to teleport over and use 'physical' means to settle the arguments.
"Humans really are such annoying creatures..." Celia looked at Ansu gloomily. "Many things that are clearly simple have to be made so complicated."
"The witch is attacking us humans again." Ansu couldn't help but laugh. "But I should be outside that annoying category, right?"
"You're annoying too!" Celia glared at him crossly.
"Huh?"
Celia looked at Ansu's awkward expression after being rebuffed and held back a smile before asking, "Samantha has already arrived in Benalu City, hasn't she?"
Ansu nodded. Remembering how Samantha had entered the city, he suddenly felt like laughing and quickly shared it with the witch.
"The main roads into the city are heavily guarded, and Church clergy are constantly conducting inspections. So, Samantha and her two companions could only sneak in from the direction of the Southern Harbor."
"She hid on a shabby fishing boat transporting fish, stuffing herself into a foul-smelling wooden barrel. When she finally met our cult executors, her disheveled appearance and the stench of fish were quite shocking. She looked like a water ghoul pulled straight from the sea..."
At this point, both of them couldn't help but chuckle.
"The grand cult leader of the Echoes of Truth, the self-proclaimed uncrowned king of the underground world, actually reduced to such a state." Celia said with a smile. "I expect all her resentment will be directed at you. Ansu, are you ready to face her wrath?"
"Of course!" Ansu flashed a dark smile.
She was already severely weakened after the battle in the Royal Capital, and with the constant pursuit along the way, Samantha was far from her peak state. Combined with the gains from his trip to the demon ruins, he already had the confidence to settle things with her once and for all.
Even a lion uses its full strength when hunting a rabbit, let alone when facing that old witch. Ansu had even meticulously prepared the battlefield for her.
"Good." Seeing Ansu's expression, Celia nodded in relief. "Call me anytime; I've been ready for a long time too."
"Regardless, it will definitely be a dangerous battle." Ansu stared at the dark circles under the witch's eyes. "So you really need to get some proper rest."
"I know, I know~" Hearing Ansu's repeated nagging, a soft feeling welled up in Celia's heart. "Since it concerns your safety, I'll rest well."
"It's our safety." Ansu corrected her meaningfully.
Celia thought of what Samantha wanted to do to her, and her gaze grew deeper.
"Yeah."
It was time to put an end to all of this.
By the time they finished talking, it was already late into the night. Celia smiled and waved her hand, bidding Ansu goodbye.
"Good night, the Ansu I hate most~"
Ansu watched the gradually dissipating magical glow and said softly, "Good night, Ms. Witch."
The night grew darker, and the night wind made a slight rustling sound as it passed through the pine forest.
The temperature late at night had turned a bit chilly. Ansu put away the Communication Amulet and prepared to go back to rest.
But just as he walked down the stairs, Ansu stopped at the corner of the floor below.
Freya, draped in a plain cloak, stood quietly downstairs, holding a thick coat in her arms. She was watching him silently, the moonlight streaming through the corridor window and casting a soft glow over her hair.
"Eh? Freya?" Ansu was a bit surprised. "It's so late, why aren't you resting yet?"
"I..." Freya gently pinched the hem of her coat, her gaze lowering slightly. "I saw you were upstairs for so long, and it's cold at night... so I thought I'd bring you a coat."
"Thank you." Ansu smiled, looking warmly at the thoughtful and gentle little Holy Maiden. "But I've finished my chat and am about to head back to my room. You should get some rest too."
Seeing Ansu turn to leave, Freya did not move.
She raised her eyes, her voice so soft it almost melted into the night wind. "You were just chatting with that Ash Witch, weren't you..."
Ansu stopped and looked toward her.
Seeing Lord Ansu's silent confirmation, Freya seemed to suddenly pluck up her courage. She stepped forward and made a soft request, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Ansu..."
"I can't really sleep. Can you stay and chat with me for a while? Just a walk in the courtyard will do..."
Rate on N.U.
