See You Next Time, Miss Witch!

Cecilia watched everything unfolding with cold eyes.

All the offerings for the black magic ritual had been devoured, but even the powerful forbidden force that had gathered and taken shape couldn't withstand the holy light.

The blinding white light slowly spread over them. The cultists screamed as the scorching holy light gradually dissolved their bodies, until all that remained were pools of crimson blood...

Only the area around them—the space surrounding the magic circle—still held on to a little darkness. But it seemed only a matter of time before light triumphed over darkness.

"Ansu, come with me!"

Ansu looked at Cecilia, wondering, Aren't you going to do anything about your teacher?

But the next moment, he saw Samantha hurriedly open a teleportation circle and vanish into thin air...

Teleportation circles were also a kind of magic ritual with strict requirements. Samantha had escaped so quickly that she must have planned it in advance, using some of the magic power from the blood sacrifice ritual.

Ansu couldn't help muttering, "I thought she was going to die for her faith. She sure ran fast..."

What had she been doing all this time? Was this whole act just for her underlings...?

But thinking back on the former leader of the cult, she really was that sort of person. Samantha's magic skills ranked below her acting ability, if anything...

"Don't worry about her. She won't die!" Cecilia kept her eyes fixed on the holy light.

The moment Samantha vanished, the light swallowed everything.

They both felt a burning, searing pain. Being melted by the light was even more agonizing than being scorched by flames.

Ansu had thought this simulation was about to end.

He fought through the pain and turned his soon-to-be-blind eyes toward Cecilia, who was protecting him. He wanted to say something for the last time, but when he opened his mouth, all that came out was an awful groan.

But Cecilia still hadn't given up.

As Ansu's consciousness grew hazy, he felt Cecilia clutching him tightly, struggling through the pain as she carried him out of the chapel...

He didn't know how much time had passed. In his daze, Ansu heard someone calling his name.

He tried to open his eyes, then felt his body burning with pain. The searing sensation was so intense it felt as though countless needles were stabbing him...

"Ansu... Ansu..."

"Ansu! Wake up!"

"You can't fall asleep! You'll die!!"

Ansu finally managed to open his eyes. Though everything before him was blurry, he knew it was Cecilia.

"Cecilia... you..."

You really did save me...

Ansu couldn't imagine how she had managed to withstand the Church's Divine Descent and fight her way out with him under the Inquisition's pursuit. It was nothing short of a miracle...

Ansu didn't even know what to say.

Should he thank her? Or tell her how moved he was?

Warm blood kept dripping onto his cheek. Cecilia's injuries must have been severe. Before bringing him here, she might have been pursued by the Church's people the whole way.

"Why... did you?"

"Why what?" Cecilia gently bandaged Ansu, whose body was covered in wounds. "If it hurts, don't talk. Stay conscious. Once I take you somewhere safe, you'll recover soon."

"Thank you..."

Ansu still managed to force out the words.

Cecilia chuckled softly. "So you want to ask why I'd risk my life to save you?"

"Mm..."

"What reason could there be? I wanted to save you, so I did~"

It was just the sort of answer Cecilia would give.

Ansu tried to make out her expression, but his vision seemed to be failing. Everything was even blurrier than before.

"All right, stop dwelling on it." Cecilia finished bandaging Ansu, then looked him up and down, unable to hold back a laugh at how he was wrapped up like a little silkworm. The corner of her mouth lifted in a rare smile.

"Didn't I promise you? Since you're already mine, I won't let you die so easily. Hmph! No one can kill you in front of me. Even if you want to die, you'll need my permission first!"

"Besides~" Cecilia giggled as she helped Ansu sit up and tried to feed him some water. "I might never find another toy as interesting as you in my whole life. If you died, I'd be so bored~"

Hearing the Witch's domineering, wicked words, Ansu smiled helplessly.

But the movement pulled at his wounds, and he grimaced in pain, spitting out the water.

"Hey, hey! What are you doing? Didn't I tell you not to move? Why are you so stubborn?"

"I have to..." Ansu struggled to speak, his voice coming out hoarse and unpleasant. "I'm afraid that if I don't say it, I'll... regret it."

"Regret it?" Cecilia asked in confusion. "What do you want to say?"

"I want to say..." Ansu spoke slowly, forcing the words out. "I'll help you, support you, and become your reliable right-hand man... I'll clear a path through the thorns ahead so you can reach another ending—one that your fate says is beyond your grasp..."

"Support me?" Cecilia looked even more confused. "Aren't you already supporting me?"

After all, loyalty wasn't just something you talked about. She'd tested Ansu more than once, and had reinforced it many times over, like nailing down a window.

Of course, she couldn't let Ansu know how she'd reinforced it...

"And this 'another ending' in my fate?" Cecilia furrowed her pretty brows. "What does that even mean? Ansu, are you starting to babble?"

She gently stroked Ansu's forehead, then looked at him with worried eyes.

"Oh no! You have a fever. You're burning up even through the bandages..."

"No! You don't know what's standing in your way..." Ansu felt his consciousness fading, so he could only cling to his last bit of strength.

Changing his own Fated Death was already this troublesome. Cecilia's road ahead would surely be even harder...

That was right. Ansu wasn't only going to change his own fate; he was going to change Cecilia's tragic ending, too.

The sight of Cecilia desperately saving him in the chapel, her face full of anxiety, was branded deep in Ansu's mind.

Even he, who had always complained about this Scum Witch and wanted to escape her control, couldn't help but feel moved... overwhelmed by a surge of emotion.

You went to such lengths for me. Then I'll reluctantly... help you this once.

Just once.

As for how difficult the road ahead would be, or how many powerful beings would stand in his way...

Then to hell with it!

He wasn't someone who acted on a whim. He'd do what he said!

"Ansu... Ansu!!" Cecilia anxiously supported him. His speech just now had been like a final burst of energy. She had to do something!

But Ansu simply gazed quietly at the blurry figure before him.

He smiled, waiting for the darkness to swallow him completely.

See you next time~

Miss Witch.