Hate me, Miss Witch!

Pale golden hair cascaded down.

Enola's head was slightly bowed, her azure eyes obscured by strands of hair, their true appearance indiscernible.

"I know you carry many things on your shoulders.

"There are things... I never considered before; it was you, Shiayar, who has always been concerned about our future.

"But—

"When I saw you in the washroom... I truly had this feeling.

"As if you had gone to a very distant place, and all I could do was silently watch your departing figure from behind...

"Watching you grow farther and farther away from me, while I stood there, unable to do anything..."

The golden-haired girl's voice trembled.

She was never one to easily express her emotions.

But when she saw Shiayar—inside the washroom, its door slashed open by Rhongomyniad—lying on the floor, his face devoid of color, unconscious, Enola felt as if the whole world had fallen silent.

He was the boy she depended on for her very life.

Likewise, he was the most important person in Enola's life, her beloved with whom she had spent ten years, day and night.

At that moment, she felt an immense, gut-wrenching fear of abandonment.

It was as if the entire world... was moving away from her.

During the three days Shiayar lay in a coma, Enola searched all the secret gatherings and supernatural markets within the Empire Capital.

She even held Colonel Zieg at the point of her silver spear, forcing him to offer a bittersweet smile as he used his authority to exchange for a top-secret spiritual power elixir from the Military Department.

And while she kept vigil by Shiayar's side at home, Enola had contemplated countless times—If Shiayar really remained unconscious, or if his condition worsened and he died, what would she do?

Fortunately—

In the end, Shiayar did wake up.

And so, the light of the entire world returned to Enola.

"I know many of the things you do, Shiayar, are beyond my understanding.

"What you can do, I cannot.

"But, even so,

"I won't continue to be clumsy and useless...

"I will become stronger, smarter, someone who can truly aid you, Shiayar...

"So—

"Don't leave me behind...

"Don't leave me all alone."

The fingers clutching the hem of Shiayar's clothes trembled slightly.

But soon, Enola found her hand being grasped.

"Okay."

Shiayar sighed, a slight headache throbbing, as he took Enola's hand. "It's indeed my fault this time. I didn't expect to be so exhausted that I wouldn't even have the strength to wrap things up."

He really was a bit worried. If he were to go through something like this again, he feared this foolish girl might impulsively do something irreversible.

Shiayar looked into Enola's azure eyes.

Then, he spoke, word by word.

"So, let's repeat our promise once more.

"From now on, I will always keep you by my side. I will not abandon you, nor distance myself from you; not even death itself will separate us.

"And you, in turn, must live well, cherishing your own life..."

"...To be someone who is always useful to you."

Enola murmured, completing the latter half of the vow.

Shiayar reached out and wiped the fair cheek of the golden-haired girl before him.

Then he patted Enola's shoulder. "There, that's the perfect childhood friend I've raised since we were little..."

Shiayar's words came to an abrupt halt because he saw the girl before him throw herself into his arms like a young swallow returning to its nest.

The next moment.

A cold, moist sensation...

spread, bit by bit, across Shiayar's forehead.

...

Enola's lips were very cold, yet soft to the touch.

The feeling of holding that warm, fragrant, and gentle form was fleeting.

Soon, Enola took a small step back, parting from Shiayar.

Shiayar reached up and touched his forehead. "What a pity.

"If only I'd known you were going to give me such a treat, Ennie," he mused, "I would have preferred lip-to-lip."

"Student Shiayar, a first kiss is very precious. It should be saved for the most important moment to be exchanged, like during a wedding ceremony—

"That's exactly what you wrote in the manuscript you mailed to the Royal Book Society."

Enola blinked her azure eyes.

Her voice no longer trembled; confidence and calm had returned to her.

She was no longer the girl who had been lost and bewildered by the fear of abandonment.

The Enola of this moment had reverted to being number one in the Military Department's mission points ranking, the strongest at St. Roland Academy.

"That was just some nonsense to fool those naive, virginal male readers...

"I'm the man who's supposed to write an 'Evaluation Guide to Customs of Exotic Tribes'! How could I possibly let such a backward custom stop me?!"

Shiayar shook his head regretfully, momentarily wanting to travel back in time to tear apart the former self who had recklessly written that book.

And just like that, a real treat was gone.

Ah well, there'll be a chance sooner or later anyway, Shiayar thought.

He waved his hand dismissively and turned to walk out of the room. "Let's go, time for a feast."

Enola smoothed her long golden hair, obediently following Shiayar. "Where are we going to eat?"

"The Dark Night Garden."

Enola's steps faltered. "Student Shiayar, are you sure that's a place for eating?"

"Why wouldn't it be? Although the Dark Night Garden is a secret base for the Dark Shadow Council, its public disguise is at least that of a high-end hotel.

"They'll have every part of a grand feast there, and we can even freeload."

Shiayar waved his hand and quickly walked out of the living room.

As he changed his shoes at the door, he said, "By the way, this ordeal hasn't been entirely without gain for me.

"In that moment, when I pushed myself to the limit and overcame a powerful enemy, I felt my spiritual power break through again.

"It won't be long before I reach the peak of the 3-Ring, and then I can start trying to break through to the 4-Ring.

"Indeed, a battle between life and death is the best medicine for breakthroughs. For someone like me, who rarely puts himself in desperate situations, the effect is even more pronounced..."

A sudden bright silver glow in the golden-haired girl's eyes interrupted Shiayar's somewhat self-satisfied words.

A sharp, awe-inspiring aura emerged, enveloping Enola.

The next moment.

A solemn, ethereal Sacred Spear quietly materialized in midair.

Upon the ancient shaft of the Knight's Lance, streaks of mysterious, gleaming silver light flowed.

Ancient and profound powers, as if from several eras past, slowly manifested around this Knight's Lance, exuding an indescribable majesty.

In Shiayar's perception, the surrounding space seemed to solidify somewhat with the appearance of the Sacred Spear.

After a long moment, the silver glow in Enola's eyes finally, slowly, faded.

She waved her hand, recalling the newly revitalized Rhongomyniad into her Soul Pact Space.

"So, what new trick has your Sacred Relic pulled this time?"

Hearing Shiayar's question, Enola closed her eyes, sensing for a moment before reopening them.

"It must be that my state of mind just now resonated with Rhongomyniad.

"That deeper soul resonance allowed Rhongomyniad to revive further, unsealing a portion of its ancient power.

"And as its master, I also received feedback from the Soul Pact."

Enola pondered for a moment. "After this, I shouldn't encounter any bottlenecks in my spiritual power all the way to the 4-Ring."

A hint of joy tinged the golden-haired girl's words.

In her view, the revival of Rhongomyniad and her own increased strength meant she could be even more helpful to Shiayar in the future. And that way, she could stay by Shiayar's side forever.

"By the way, Shiayar, what were you saying before?

"My spiritual power was entirely focused on the Soul Pact resonance and the Sacred Spear's revival, so I didn't quite hear you."

"No, nothing important," Shiayar said. "I was just thinking about what we should get to eat later."

He sighed, took Enola's hand, and led her towards the door.

Damn Europeans, Shiayar thought. Ah well, I forgive you. Who could complain when this extremely lucky person is the dear 'little wife' I raised myself?