Under the pale, ghastly glow of the Illumination spell, the surrounding environment looked skeletal.
Ansu maintained one Illumination spell after another, his eyes fixed on the distant darkness as he took on the role of the sentry.
The cult pursuers and the monsters in the dark had yet to appear, and the team had been resting in the corridor for quite a while. Ansu took this opportunity to discuss the previous topic with Celia.
"What did it feel like just now?"
"I wanted to kill. I really wanted to kill someone," Celia said, leaning lazily against Ansu's chest while uttering terrifying words. "I even wanted to kill all of you."
She looked up into Ansu's eyes and continued her explanation.
"Ever since we reached this floor, I've felt like shadows were flickering before my eyes. Those things are persistent; they keep mocking me and trying to provoke me. If you hadn't woken me up in time... I'm afraid something truly terrible would have happened."
Ansu thought to himself. Celia was already experiencing auditory and visual hallucinations. This state of mental disorder was very similar to being corrupted by black magic. It was likely caused by the influence of the entity deep underground.
"What about now?" Ansu curiously waved his hand in front of her eyes. "Can you still see them?"
"I can't see them anymore." Celia grabbed Ansu's hand that was waving in front of her and suddenly said with a smile, "But to prevent any accidents, don't you dare go more than a meter away from me. Let's just keep holding hands like this as we walk."
"Alright..." Ansu looked at his hand, which she was gripping tightly, and nodded helplessly.
If his presence could keep her sane, then he had no choice.
After all... if the witch truly lost her mind, the first ones to suffer wouldn't be the cultists chasing them, but the people right beside her.
"Wait! By the way," Celia suddenly asked, "Ansu, what about you? You seem completely fine."
Ansu shook his head. "I'm fine. I don't hear those voices."
He had indeed always been immune to this kind of 'pollution.' This was also why the witch had been so surprised by his talent when they first met.
But it had never been about talent...
The reason he could ignore the pollution was either because of his status as a Chosen One or because he had the System. After all, the System was a much 'higher' existence.
"Is that so..." Celia stared blankly up at Ansu. "Ansu, you're amazing..."
It seemed the light of the righteous gods was always protecting him.
Although Celia was happy that he wasn't affected by the evil god, she couldn't help but let out a faint sigh in her heart.
A Chosen One was a Chosen One, after all. A cultist and heretical black mage like her was naturally not worthy of comparison.
He was someone chosen by the righteous gods, destined to represent justice and destroy all darkness as a savior.
Ansu looked at the witch, who had suddenly fallen silent and whose eyes had become exceptionally dazed. He gave her a worried shake. "What's wrong? You're not hearing voices again, are you?"
"No..." Celia lowered her head, her smile a bit bitter.
"Hmm?" Ansu frowned suspiciously.
"Ansu, will you always stay with me?" Celia squeezed Ansu's hand, suddenly asking with a hint of nervousness.
"I will." Ansu observed her, sensing a strange guilt in the witch. "Why are you asking that again?"
"If..." Celia asked tentatively, "if one day the gods order you to stay away from all evil people... if they command you to leave me, or even to oppose me... would you do it?"
"No," Ansu shook his head decisively. "I don't even believe in gods."
"Never mind the righteous gods; I don't even believe in the God of Magic. So why should I listen to them? Why should I let them pull my strings?"
Hearing Ansu's answer, the worry in Celia's heart finally eased a little.
She couldn't help but laugh and teased, "You don't even believe in the God of Magic? You're not very loyal to the cult~"
Ansu also smiled. "There can't be two suns in the sky! It's enough for me to be loyal only to my beloved Lady Witch."
Celia couldn't help but chuckle. "Fine, fine. I believe you."
Although she had asked similar things many times before, Celia still felt the need to ask. It had even become an obsession in her heart.
Because she couldn't imagine what the day Ansu left her would be like.
Every time she heard him give such an assurance, Celia would breathe a sigh of relief and feel exceptionally happy.
She believed Ansu would always stay with her.
...
On the other side of the corridor, Eddie had finally stopped trying to persuade Professor Duncan.
He had realized that Professor Duncan's paranoia had reached the point of obsession.
"Even if I die, I will die inside these ancient ruins! No one can stop me from achieving my dream!"
Professor Duncan's face was full of hostility. "Unless you kill me!!"
Eddie sighed and walked over to Ansu. He looked at the young couple snuggled together with a pleading gaze.
"Miss Hailey, Junior Ansu, please help me..."
"I want to take the professor out of here. After all, unlike you two, we will definitely die in these ruins."
Ansu shook his head firmly. "I'm sorry, I can't help you."
At least not this time. He had to uncover the secrets of these ruins within the simulation time.
"Then what will happen to the professor..." Eddie looked back at Duncan with concern, only to meet his murderous gaze.
Professor Duncan was muttering incessantly, seemingly on guard against Eddie, Ansu, and the others. He believed everyone was trying to ruin his great academic ideals and even threatened to 'strike first.'
Ansu and Celia exchanged a look, and Ansu frowned.
"Even though the professor's combat strength is weak, if he's dominated by a desire to slaughter... he'll definitely be a liability."
"That's easy." Celia chuckled. "Just let him sleep for a bit."
"But he refuses to rest," Eddie said helplessly. "Because of that, he's agitated his wounds and made them split open several times already."
"Then it's even easier~" Celia stood up and walked straight toward Professor Duncan.
"What... what are you doing!" Professor Duncan's eyes widened in alarm.
Seeing that Celia didn't say a word but only sized him up with a smile, a flash of ruthlessness suddenly crossed his eyes.
"Don't come any closer! If you come any closer, I'll kill you!!"
"Don't underestimate a dwarven iron head! Watch me smash your bones with a headbutt! I'll knock your skull off and use it as a bowl!"
Professor Duncan started trash-talking, but it didn't have the slightest deterrent effect on Celia.
Celia muttered to herself helplessly, "So people are this annoying when they go mad. Was I like that just now...?"
As she spoke, a surge of mana suddenly pulsed, and an invisible force condensed beside Professor Duncan's head.
Celia used 【Mage's Hand】 to deliver a heavy blow, knocking Professor Duncan unconscious.
Professor Duncan was finally quiet.
Eddie watched this scene in shock and immediately looked at Ansu.
"She didn't lie to you." Ansu shrugged. "Isn't he asleep now?"
"Carry Professor Duncan on your back and let's go," Celia said indifferently to Eddie. "Be quick about it; don't slow us down."
"Alright..." Eddie nodded helplessly.
Rate on N.U.
