After explaining the origin of this anomaly, the Grand Witch King looked at Leon, who was frowning before him, and softly said:

"As the most precious inheritance of the grand court, as long as Catherine inherits the grand court's 'Heart' in advance, she can take you with her and forcefully escape from the 'Bedtime Story' of the Narration of Nonexistence.

By then, not only will you be able to pursue your beliefs and continue to do what you want to do, you will even gain a powerful ally who can peer into the future…"

"Please wait a moment."

As he listened more, he felt increasingly uneasy. Casting a glance at the cat princess sleeping sprawled out in the Grand Witch King's arms, even snoring, Leon couldn't help but interrupt the Grand Witch King's "enticement," and asked skeptically:

"What you just mentioned seems to be all advantages, right? Doesn't this matter have any disadvantages?"

"Disadvantages aren't really a concern, but there is a small prerequisite."

The Grand Witch King chuckled on hearing this, while scratching the cat princess's smooth belly, and said with a smile:

"The Heart of the grand court cannot be inherited by a maiden, so you have to marry my daughter first, then she can qualify to inherit the Heart of the grand court."

"..." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Damn it!

No wonder you wanted to put her to sleep before mentioning this... How is this a Heart of the grand court, this is clearly more like a heart of matchmaking!

"Let's forget it..."

Faced with the outrageous proposal from the Grand Witch King, Leon's mouth twitched slightly, then decisively rejected it:

"Though I'm not sure what the Narration of Nonexistence is up to, I have other ways to handle it, and I should be able to lead Catherine out of the 'Bedtime Story' without resorting to this extreme measure!"

Not necessarily having to resort to such a last resort!

Alas… what a pity.

The Grand Witch King, who had restored her youth under the influence of the Heart of the grand court, read Leon's reluctance from his expression and, after silently lamenting that a mother has done her best, smiled gently and said:

"Hehe, perhaps becoming young again has made my mindset more lively. The prerequisite condition I mentioned earlier was just a joke, you don't need to take it seriously."

"..."

Just a joke… at a time like this, you still have the mood to joke with me?

Faced with the seemingly kindly and stable but actually somewhat undignified old Grand Witch King, Leon couldn't help but sarcastically ask:

"So what is the real condition? Or are there none?"

"There are conditions, but they aren't as harsh."

The Grand Witch King chuckled on hearing this, then stroked the snoozing cat princess, saying somewhat reluctantly:

"I just need to die."

"..."

No way… you call this not harsh? Can you stop joking?

Beset by the stunning remarks of the Grand Witch King, Leon took a deep breath and, with a darkened expression, was about to ask her to be serious, but the Grand Witch King reclining in the wide lounge chair in front of him spoke ahead:

"This time it's true. The Heart of the grand court can only have one custodian at a time, so only after my death can Catherine qualify to inherit the Heart of the grand court."

"..."

So the earlier words were actually true?

Leon frowned on hearing this, preparing to lay out his original plan. However, before he could speak, the Grand Witch King, who had seen the future, spoke once again:

"I know you have other methods, but the Narration of Nonexistence and the Slaughter King Association have already gone all out. Even if you pulled all the Witch Kingdom's associations into this, he would keep raising the stakes, leaving you and Catherine with less than a fifty-percent chance of beating him, while my method's success rate is close to one hundred percent."

After glancing at Leon's tightly knitted brows opposite her, the Grand Witch King, whose form pulsated with the heartbeat, conveying a strange sense of alienation, softly said:

"Mr. Leon, you can resist part of the 'Bedtime Story's' constraints, whereas I, who hold the Heart of the grand court, can briefly remove myself from this timeline's 'Bedtime Story.'

So as long as you kill me while I'm free from the 'Bedtime Story's' shackles and also not under its 'protection,' Catherine will be able to inherit the Heart of the grand court through her bloodline, allowing you both to escape this nightmare immediately."

"..."

So…the executioner must be me?

After listening to the Grand Witch King's words, Leon's brow furrowed tight, his first reaction being outright refusal.

Never mind that this mainly sounds quite rotten, but if he really chooses to "cut down" the Grand Witch King in order to escape the 'Bedtime Story,' how would he face the cat princess once she wakes up?

Having to face someone who can see the past and future, it's impossible to conceal the truth, leaving only the option of confessing. But upon confession… should he just directly tell her 'I just slew your mom?' What kind of insane Hell joke is that?

"Mr. Leon, I will explain to Catherine, you don't need to feel any burden, and regardless of whether you strike, I will die in three days anyway."

Lowering her gaze to the cat princess in her lap, eyes full of love, the Grand Witch King gently said:

"I know it's difficult for you, but this truly is, according to my vision of the future, the best shot at victory you have, the cost being merely me dying three days early. For someone who has lived over one hundred and fifty years, three more days or less makes no difference."

"..."

Well… it does make sense…

Noting the Grand Witch King's somewhat reluctant yet largely serene expression, coupled with her possibly one-of-a-kind prophecy ability, a subtle shift occurred in Leon's mental scales towards her proposal.

If it's merely a matter of two or three days—and coming from the person involved—then perhaps it's not...

"Bekinsel!!!"

Just as Leon was somewhat swayed, a voice, indistinguishable between male and female, suddenly called out from above the small courtyard.

A raven shrouded in black smoke circled twice in the air before landing on the top of a large tree in the courtyard, its eyes fixed fiercely on the Grand Witch King, shrieking in shock and anger:

"Do you know what you're doing!"

Oh no!

Seeing the suddenly appearing black raven, the Grand Witch King's expression tightened slightly, she hurriedly moved to drive it away. But before she could act, the raven, who guessed her intent, opened its beak wide, calling out sharply:

"Food God! Her time has already merged with the Heart of the grand court! Without undergoing the Witch King's ceremony, separation is impossible! If you kill her now, she not only will die completely, but her time will also be devoured by the Heart of the grand court!

Then she will become a spirit without time, returning to the past before inheriting the Heart of the grand court, forever wandering in that time that belongs solely to her, until the entire world is utterly destroyed!"