Ansu, You're Not Allowed to Date Anyone Else!

The school was quiet on the weekend. Ansu and Cecilia walked along the tree-lined path leading to the library.

The trees were lush with foliage as summer approached, and sunlight spilled through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows across the path.

Ansu couldn't help glancing at Cecilia beside him. A shaft of sunlight happened to fall across her lovely profile. She narrowed her eyes slightly, the corners of her lips lifting in a faint smile. She seemed to be in a good mood.

Ever since she'd slipped into the school, she'd been strolling around with him at an unhurried pace. She didn't seem to have anything to take care of; she looked more like she was on vacation...

"Um... Your Excellency, Witch."

Ansu couldn't help asking, "Is it really okay for you to walk around our school so openly? I remember you're quite famous on the wanted list..."

"Oh? That." Cecilia's tone was indifferent.

"It's fine. Aside from the Order, no one knows what the Ash Witch really looks like."

"After all, everyone who's seen me is dead."

"All right..." Ansu quietly pondered the title Ash Witch.

Before Cecilia "transformed" into the Witch of World Destruction, she had indeed been known as the "Ash Witch." This was because the only thing left at the scenes of her crimes was ash scorched by hellfire, leaving the Church unable to find a single clue.

Cecilia thought Ansu was worried she might be recognized, so she chuckled.

"If anyone recognizes me, I'll just kill them. Don't be so nervous~"

Ansu tugged at the corner of his mouth, thinking, That makes me even more nervous, okay?

As luck would have it, Kevin suddenly called out to him from the roadside.

"Ansu, why didn't you go home?"

"Huh? Who's that beside you...?"

Ansu looked over and saw Kevin hanging out with his rich-kid buddies.

When Kevin saw Ansu walking alongside Cecilia, he froze, especially after getting a good look at her.

"I-is she your girlfriend?" Kevin looked at Ansu, then seemed to realize something and suddenly wore an enlightened expression.

"So that's why! You never paid attention to all those girls at school who tried to get close to you. At first, I thought you were into guys! Turns out you've got such a beautiful girlfriend!"

He gave Ansu a teasing look that said, "I get it."

Cecilia and Ansu exchanged glances. Ansu lowered his voice. "We're just classmates."

"Then you two chat. I'll wait for you at the library." Cecilia didn't even seem interested in giving the students a closer look. She simply continued walking, her expression calm.

Ansu was surprised to see Kevin at school on the weekend. At this time, he'd usually be out partying, so Ansu asked curiously, "Why are all of you back at school?"

"Ugh, don't get me started. You know about the college open day? It was originally scheduled for two months from now, but some school administrator must've lost their mind and moved it up!" Kevin pursed his lips, sounding irritated.

"People like us who take part in clubs and societies have to put on a show, so one of the upperclassmen called me in to get ready ahead of time..."

"They moved the open day up?" Ansu frowned. "When is it now?"

"Eight days from now," Kevin replied.

Eight days from now. Eight days...

Ansu immediately realized what that meant. According to his Fated Death, the cult's sacrificial ritual in the original story was supposed to take place in eight days.

There was no way it was a coincidence.

The annual college open day was meant to showcase the school's culture to the outside world and give prospective students and their parents a taste of what the college had to offer. Though it mainly catered to society's elite, it was actually quite easy for ordinary people to get in...

Of course, that included cultists.

"Why did they suddenly move it up?" Ansu had a bad feeling about it.

In the original story, the cult's sacrificial ritual caused a great many student casualties, and the college open day was the perfect occasion for a crowd of students to gather...

"I have no idea..." Kevin scratched his head.

"All right, thanks!" Ansu quietly filed the information away and decided to investigate the open day.

After waving goodbye to Kevin and his group, Ansu caught up with Cecilia.

"What's wrong?" Cecilia asked. "Why do you look so worried?"

"Um... nothing. I was just talking with a classmate about the college open day in eight days." After he finished speaking, Ansu watched Cecilia's expression carefully.

"Oh."

Cecilia nodded indifferently, her expression unchanged.

She really didn't seem to know anything about it...

Ansu pondered quietly.

Maybe this case had nothing to do with Cecilia? Could the mastermind be the Order, or someone else from the Council of Elders?

About ten minutes later, the two of them entered the school's main library.

The library was unusually quiet on the weekend, as if the two of them had the whole place to themselves. Cecilia already knew what books she was looking for and headed straight toward the sections on "Occultism" and "Ancient History."

Ansu found a seat in a corner and quietly waited for her.

After quite a while, Cecilia came over carrying a stack of thick, old books. She set them down and sat beside Ansu.

"Your Excellency, Witch, are you looking for these books because...?"

Ansu glanced at the book covers. Some of them were about the "history of the demon race." Was Cecilia researching the past of her own people?

Cecilia didn't answer directly. Resting her chin on her hand, she opened a book.

"I had some free time, so I found something to do. What, is being around me boring?"

"Of course not."

"Oh, right!" Cecilia suddenly remembered what had happened earlier and looked up with a teasing smile. "From what your classmate said, it seems like you're pretty popular with girls?"

"Uh, well..." Ansu didn't know how to answer.

"But I suppose that makes sense..." Cecilia studied Ansu without blinking and murmured to herself, "Your looks... You're exactly the type young girls like. Seems my taste is pretty good~"

The two fell silent for a moment. Seeing how awkward Ansu looked, Cecilia pursed her lips.

"What are you nervous about? I'm your boss. Can't I take an interest in my subordinate's personal life?"

"Of course... you can."

"So, do you have a girlfriend or not?" Cecilia suddenly asked again.

"No."

"Oh..." The corners of Cecilia's lips lifted just a little. "Good. Since you're already mine, we'll definitely have plenty of things to do together. I don't want something trivial like that getting in the way of our work, so..."

She stared straight into Ansu's eyes. "Ansu, you're not allowed to date anyone else!"

"Huh?" Ansu stared at Cecilia, puzzled. Did she take the wrong medicine today? Why was she trying to control something like this?

"What do you mean, 'huh'?" Cecilia's expression suddenly turned cold. "You have to do as I say. That's an order!"

As she spoke, a faint wave of magical energy stirred.

Ansu's eyes widened.

Seriously, girl, we're in public!

Though he was speechless, Ansu quickly activated [Magic Immunity].

It felt like Cecilia had trained him so much lately that it had become pure muscle memory...

"Keep my words firmly in mind. Treat them as a task you absolutely must complete..."

"You're not allowed to date anyone outside the bounds of my permission. You can only fall in love with someone if I say so!"

Seeing Ansu nod blankly, Cecilia finally relaxed with satisfaction.

She was selfish, and she was very possessive.

Even toys were her property. She wouldn't let anyone take her things away, and she wouldn't let anyone defile what belonged to her.

As for the bounds of her permission...

Cecilia gave a mischievous smile. That was for her to know~