The Witch Was Scared
"We'll definitely go back to Gospel."
Ash gave her a firm answer. "But it might not be our next stop, and we might not stay long."
Lysithea refused to accept that. "Why? In Gospel, I can definitely protect all of you!"
"That's exactly because you can protect us." Ash crouched down and rubbed the little Witch's head. "The Sword Maiden and the others definitely won't want to live inside your sphere of influence, and they don't need your protection... And once Starry Sky notices your little moves, I don't think she'll care about the billions of lives in Gospel."
"But—"
"I know. I understand." Ash reached out and hugged her. "You don't care about Gospel Country. You just wanted to use Gospel Country to please me... and you did. I'm very happy that you and Annan can keep steadily pushing social reform forward. You're already a qualified empress."
Lysithea was a little happy and a little puzzled. "How do you know Annan is in charge of reform? Did I tell you before?"
"Probably." Ash quickly skipped over that detail. "Gospel is already yours, so I don't want to ruin it because of me. Witch, don't get anxious yet. I just want to tell you... Gospel is my home too."
"Wouldn't it be better for us to hide in other countries first, then go settle in Gospel after everything calms down? When that time comes, I won't bother doing anything at all. I'll just live off Empress Lysithea."
Lysithea looked at him suspiciously. "I keep feeling like you're trying to fool me."
Strange. In the past, he should have been able to bluff his way through... Ash blinked his sincere eyes. "But that really is what I'm thinking."
"But that can't count as compensation. Who knows when