Ansu Begins to Operate

Ansu heard Cecilia's question, and a murmur rose in his heart.

This trashy witch is quite the narcissist...

The scene reminded him of the evil queen in the fairy tale who kept asking her mirror, "Who is the fairest of them all?"

"Naturally, you are far more beautiful."

There was no need to think about it; if he answered that the Saintess was more beautiful, the trashy witch might get so angry she'd turn him into a "new toy" on the spot.

"Oh~" The corners of Cecilia's mouth curled up, and she seemed to be in a very good mood.

"While the Saintess is beautiful, she only possesses a pretty shell; her inner self can never compare to Lady Cecilia."

Ansu continued his operation.

This! This was the "Compliment Group" tactic!

Facing a woman like Cecilia—narcissistic and arrogant, yet harboring a hidden sense of inferiority—one had to move her with "sincerity," peeling back that thorny exterior to awaken her sensitive, soft side.

Ansu felt that the fact he was a Chosen One would eventually be discovered by her.

Given that he couldn't get rid of this trashy witch anytime soon...

Before that happened, he had to use the opportunity of being under [Hypnosis] to influence Cecilia's heart in return, making her increasingly reluctant to kill him!

Sure enough, Cecilia's expression immediately became expectant.

She urged him like a child, "Then tell me! What is good about me?"

"Your pursuit of power, your never-ending footsteps, and your firm heart that cannot be defeated by any setback."

Based on his understanding of Cecilia, Ansu gave a perfect answer.

"Compared to you, the Saintess is like a firefly trying to compete with the bright moon."

"Your strength and ambition fascinate me. The Echo of Truth Cult is unworthy of possessing you or binding you. Lady Cecilia will eventually have a much broader stage, and the world will witness your brilliance."

After Ansu finished speaking, the room remained silent for a long time.

Cecilia opened her mouth in surprise; she hadn't expected that she would have such a positive image in Ansu's heart.

Her fair cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head, avoiding his dull, vacant gaze.

Clearly, Cecilia was not yet used to the feeling of being admired and looked up to.

"I..." Cecilia suddenly felt a sense of guilt for failing to live up to such expectations; she wasn't nearly as good as Ansu described.

After all, no one knew her better than herself. Could anyone else possibly know her past better than she did?

Because she carried the bloodline of the demon race, she had been called a monster or a demon, or hunted and chased, since she was a child.

The terrifying appearance revealed by her filthy magic was practically her "original sin."

Even a child in the slums, upon seeing her miserable figure hiding under the eaves, would show looks of fear and disgust. Even after she became the "top enforcer" of the Echo of Truth Cult, she knew very well that the cult only tolerated her because she was useful...

To become stronger, to become even stronger! That had become her only driving force.

She actually had little interest in the "lofty ideals" of the cult; the restoration of the Ancient Magic Empire and that era of shining stars were dispensable to her. She simply liked magic because magic had changed her life.

Cecilia still remembered the scene when she was eight years old, awakening powerful magic to kill the Demon Hunter Squad members of the church...

At some point, she had abandoned all her emotional sides. She lived cautiously in this perilous human world, and "madwoman," "irrational," and "unfathomable" became her camouflage.

But today, Ansu had awakened certain secrets buried deep in her heart. She looked at the boy in front of her again with complicated emotions.

Her initial confusion gradually faded, and she felt a bit worried, fearing this would become her weakness.

But she couldn't bear to actually kill him.

Cecilia's smile stopped abruptly, and she stared coldly at Ansu.

She had to continue deepening the psychological suggestion! Only those who would never betray her could give her a sense of security.

Toys were the only things that would never betray their masters.

"Remember, you shall never betray me! If I die, you will not survive; only when I am joyful will you be happy. Your fate and mine are connected forever!"

"You must recite this in your heart every day, repeating it..."

"Until my image is branded deep into your soul, never to fade away!"

If you like this book, please remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.

Ansu could only continue to pretend, nodding silently from time to time.

Although Cecilia's hypnosis was completely ineffective on him.

However, his heart grew increasingly pessimistic. If things went on like this, wouldn't his future fate be tied to this trashy witch forever?

He didn't want that...

It wasn't that he disliked Cecilia or anything; actually, before he reached his life's turning point, she was quite good to her subordinates, and since she hovered in front of him every day, her looks were certainly easy on the eyes...

But!

There was only one future for hanging out with Cecilia, and that was being wiped out by the "max-halo" Chosen One faction. Justice would eventually triumph over evil...

Although he was a Chosen One himself, the deep lore of this world was incredibly murky. With the gods acting as the puppet masters behind the scenes, all of Cecilia's efforts were simply "defying the heavens."

Her fate seemed to have been sealed the moment she began studying forbidden magic...

Sighing inwardly, Ansu became even more determined to jump ship in the future; sooner or later, he would have to have a "showdown" with Cecilia.

Of course, for now, he still had to play along with her.

Everything else could wait for another day.

This time, the Hypnosis lasted much longer than the last.

After deepening the psychological suggestion, Cecilia still asked a question, clearly feeling uneasy.

"Ansu, will you be loyal to me?"

Ansu's brain raced; since her attitude was already clear, he didn't intend to give a mediocre or boring answer.

"Yes, and no."

"Hm? Why?" Cecilia looked slightly surprised. She poked Ansu's head, muttering to herself in confusion.

"Why such an answer? Could it be that the continuous Hypnosis caused too much damage to your brain? Have you started babbling nonsense?"

Next, Ansu spoke his "heartfelt" words with absolute sincerity.

"No one is obligated to be loyal to another forever, unless that person possesses excellent qualities worthy of respect and admiration. My loyalty to Lady Cecilia stems entirely from that."

"Oh..." Cecilia understood.

"So that's it. I almost forgot, you are different from them." She looked at Ansu with a beaming smile. "You really are a freak~"

Cecilia did not find such an answer offensive, nor did she feel any sense of crisis.

Because she was extremely confident that she had Ansu completely under her thumb.

However, this statement also sent her into deep thought...

Her teacher, Elder Samantha, held a prestigious position within the order, acting as the leader—a role that had been vacant for a hundred years—and exercising great power in the name of the Council of Elders.

This was certainly due to her strength and seniority, but Elder Samantha's way of managing people could not be ignored; she possessed several powerful and loyal followers.

Every time she emerged from her long, arduous cultivation, the rabble of the Council of Elders would all be respectful and obedient, and something like what happened with Elder Hall today would never occur.

"So..."

Cecilia subconsciously glanced at the well-behaved Ansu.

"Should I be a little nicer to him..."

The Hypnosis finally ended.

Ansu looked around in a daze, his vacant gaze gradually regaining clarity.

"Where is this..."

After being dazed for a long while, he seemed to recall that this was Cecilia's home, so he looked at the smiling witch before him with a surprised expression.

"What... did you do to me just now? Was it... again?"

"It was nothing." Cecilia revealed a faint smile.

"I was just chatting with you. Go back now. Don't worry about the matter with Mary; I have your back."

Ansu nodded, looking at a loss. "Alright..."