“...Fine. I’ll go with you.”

The words slipped from Muen’s lips as if possessed by some ghostly impulse.

“No—you can’t!”

Anne’s eyes widened for an instant before she snapped sharply, her voice tense with urgency.

“Young Master mustn’t come with me!”

“Why not?”

“This has nothing to do with you, does it? There’s no reason for you to risk your life for me!”

“Who said it has nothing to do with me?” Muen chuckled. “And who said I’m going for you?”

“...What?”

“I just remembered—I owe that girl Ailuka a meal.”

Muen turned to look at the massive, grotesque monster looming in the distance.

A hint of sorrow flickered in his eyes.

Strictly speaking, Ailuka had been the first friend he’d made since coming to this world.

Yeah. He’d eaten in her house. That qualified as a friend.

He just hadn’t expected that in the time it took to roast a fish, she’d become... this.

Fate was a bitch.

And deeply disgusting.

“If we were friends, then I at least owe her a proper send-off,” Muen said, hands on his hips, sounding almost heroic. “No one has the right to stop me. Not even you, Anne.”

“But... you still can’t go!”

Anne stood up and blocked his path, voice firm and unwavering.

“That’s too dangerous. I promised Master Duke and Madam Noias—I swore to protect you. I won’t let anything happen to you!”

“Protect me?”

Muen tilted his head, his voice low and even.

“But haven’t you been trying to hurt me all this time?”

“...Hurt you? I haven’t...”

“Drugging me. Sneak attacks. Imprisonment. You even tried to saw off my limbs—don’t tell me those weren’t things you did, or at least wanted to do. If that’s not hurting me, what is?”

“I...”

Anne fell silent.

It was love... I did all of that out of love.

If it were the old Anne, that’s definitely what she would’ve said.

So certain. So natural.

But now—looking at Muen’s calm eyes, hearing the monster's carnage in the distance, the howls of hundreds of broken voices, Ailuka’s deranged mutterings echoing in the wind—

Those words got stuck in her throat.

Because she knew: if she said them aloud, Ailuka would rise from that mountain of corpses, smirk through a face not her own, and say:

“See, Master? You’re just like me.”

No. I’m not.

I’m not.

I’m not.

“Please, Young Master.”

In the end, all Anne could do was beg.

“Don’t go.”

“If something happened to you...”

“I would never be able to forgive myself.”

She gripped the front of Muen’s shirt, sobbing openly.

“Please... Young Master...”

“Anne.”

Muen looked down at her tear-stained face.

He was silent.

He examined her carefully—this vulnerable version of her.

Then, all of a sudden, he raised his voice and shouted:

“Anne! What’s the first rule of a Campbell family maid’s conduct? Say it out loud!”

“Yes, sir!”

The response came like a reflex.

A command buried so deep in her bones it responded before she could think.

Just like every morning—when the former Head Maid used to bark out the daily rules.

Anne straightened her back like a pine tree, standing tall and poised. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

She lifted her chin, drew in a breath, and said it loud and proud:

“First rule of a Campbell family maid’s conduct: aside from when bowing to the master or guests, you must always keep your spine straight!”

“That’s right. So straighten up, Anne.”

Muen patted her shoulder. He smiled softly as he reached out and smoothed her messy bangs, tucked the stray strands behind her ear, and adjusted the wrinkles on her uniform—straightening every fold one by one.

Until Anne looked just like the version in his memory.

Dignified. Graceful. Experienced. Calm.

“Now that’s the Anne I remember.”

“Young Master...”

“Alright, no more tears. I know you’re worried about me. But haven’t you been saying it yourself lately? That I’ve changed.”

Muen leaned slightly forward, meeting her gaze directly, voice gentle:

“I’m sorry I can’t become the person you dreamed I’d be—but you’ve seen it, haven’t you? I’m not that useless Young Master anymore.”

“Sure, I’ve only got three real moves in my arsenal. But ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) I escaped from you, didn’t I? And I escaped from that thing, too.”

“When it comes to running away, I’m a pro. So even if I can’t beat it... I’ll run.”

“In a way, I might be even more impressive than you, Anne.”

“So don’t worry. Alright?”

“But...”

Anne stared at him blankly.

She wanted to say something else.

But Muen suddenly raised a finger and pressed it gently to her lips.

“No arguing. That’s an order from your Young Master.”

Anne blinked.

It was an order—but his tone was softer than a spring breeze.

She stared at him, dazed.

The sunlight hit his golden hair just right, casting a gentle glow around him.

The breeze fluttered past, brushing his lashes and the corners of his lips.

Those eyes—clear and deep like a still lake—looked as though they could pull her whole soul inside.

Yes... he’d changed.

Overnight, he’d completely veered off the path she had so carefully laid out for him.

He’d become driven, warm, cunning... and just a bit stupid.

To think he’d willingly confront an Evil God’s corruption—that was something the old Muen would’ve never dared even to imagine.

It was like he’d become a whole new person.

And yet... why was it that this new version—who strayed so far from her ideals—could capture her gaze so thoroughly?

He was dazzling. Blinding.

Anne stared at him through tears as if she were staring straight into the sun.

...

“Alright. Let’s go.”

Seeing that she was finally convinced, Muen gave her a soft smile.

He flexed his arms and loosened up his shoulders.

Then he turned—without looking back—and walked straight toward the grotesque beast.

He said:

“Let’s bring salvation to your disciple... to my friend... to our dear Miss Ailuka.”

...

...

“Ahhhhhhh, I’m doing it agaaaainnnnnnn!?!”

One hundred meters in the air, Muen stood atop a massive metal pillar, flailing wildly like some deranged lunatic in the brief moment no one was looking.

“This stupid... goddamn... occasional-suicidal-impulse disorder of mine!”

It was the same with Celicia.

And now again.

There were always better options, safer paths—but no, of course not. He just had to sprint down the self-destructive one like a madman on fire.

He cared about survival more than anything, so why did he always lose control at the worst possible moments?

“Heh... can’t even walk past a pretty girl crying without tripping over my own dick. Guess that makes me a pervert in my own charming way.”

Muen sighed softly.

Still... this time was a little different from before.

At least this time, he wasn’t powerless.

...

“Listen carefully, Anne. Here’s what we’re gonna do.”

“First of all, once someone’s been corrupted by an Evil God, you can’t kill them the normal way. I assume you’ve figured that much out already.”

“So our goal isn’t to waste time trying to kill Ailuka or wake her up. It’s to target the source of the Evil God’s influence—the medium they used to channel their power.”

“A ring, a necklace, a statue... there’s always something like that. Evil Gods can’t project power from nothing. This world’s laws don’t allow it.”

“That medium is definitely somewhere near Ailuka. So I’ll need you to use your abilities to clear a path.”

“You handle the constructs and keep the monster busy. I’ll use my mobility and agility to get close to Ailuka, find the source of the corruption, and destroy it.”

“That’s the plan.”

...

The memory of their plan played in Muen’s head. He exhaled slowly.

At times like this, he was genuinely glad he’d read the original novel. It gave him a fighting chance against this Evil God bullshit.

But even with that...

It was still going to be hell.

Because if anything, knowing the source material just made it clearer how terrifying these things were.

“...No choice but to go in.”

Muen spread his arms, let his breath sink into his dantian, and shouted toward the splashing abomination:

“Hey—!

Eyes on me, everybody! I’ve got an announcement to make!”

“...Huh?”

The monster turned. Hundreds of faces turned toward him in unison.

Then, without warning, it charged.

Ailuka’s voice shrieked with joy: “Muen, my love—are you finally ready to accept my affection!?”

“Hell no, I’m not accepting shit!’”

Muen flipped it the bird and burst out laughing.

“Because—!

I’m a paratrooper, baby!!

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

And with that, Muen leapt into the air.