Chapter 292:

The night sky was heavy with clouds, and the wind howled fiercely.

As time passed, the darkness grew denser, weighing down on the city like an impending storm.

Outside the window, the howling wind was no longer the only sound filling the streets. The noise of late-night shops lining both sides of the road grew louder, their voices carrying through the cold air.

Xu Xi didn’t dislike such sounds.

He found them comforting—a reminder of life’s warmth.

Sipping his tea, he planned to return to the courtyard soon to rest.

“Krisha, do you remember the first New Year we spent in Ellenson City?”

“Yes, Master.”

While gazing out the window, Xu Xi casually chatted with Krisha beside him.

Their conversation wasn’t anything profound—just simple reminiscing about the past.

They talked about the food in Ellenson City, the awe of witnessing divine punishment for the first time, the vast sea of Apog City, and the peaceful interactions they had on Dragon Island.

The breeze brushed softly against the pages of time, stirring up memories hidden in the mist of the past.

Memories were like a flowing stream, silently washing over words and clearing away the dust that had settled in the corners of the mind.

From the first days in Ellenson City to their journeys through Wagg City, Apog City, and the many places they visited, all the way to the final days in New Ellenson City…

In the dimly lit old house, Xu Xi and Krisha talked about so much.

“Krisha, I’m really happy,” Xu Xi finally said, looking at the witch before him.

“You’ve grown into someone remarkable, even surpassing me in many ways.”

“I’m truly glad to see you grow like this.”

His gaze met hers—those beautiful, radiant eyes that held a depth only she could understand.

Back when the second simulation ended, he had still worried about her.

But now, he had nothing to worry about anymore.

Compared to before, Krisha had become someone he could trust completely.

“I’m still far from reaching your level,” Krisha said softly, shaking her head.

Even now, she didn’t believe she had graduated from being his student.

She remained convinced that she still needed to learn from him—just as she had before, always following closely behind him.

“Krisha, being too modest isn’t always a good thing.”

Xu Xi paused, then added, “With your current strength, you’ve completely surpassed me. If anything, I should be the one learning from you.”

Looking at Krisha now, her features frozen in the appearance of a seventeen-year-old girl, Xu Xi couldn’t help but reach out and ruffle her hair.

It was as soft and smooth as ever.

“Master… I…”

Krisha’s expression was dazed.

She shook her head again, refusing to accept his words.

She was a bird that followed the light.

As long as she stayed close to it, she could navigate the darkness.

…

What is an object?

What is life?

What is a shackle?

And… what is love?

Throughout her life, Krisha Christine had pondered these questions.

She could have ignored them.

They were meaningless. They wouldn’t ease her suffering.

But in the cold, dark world she lived in, there was a light.

A light that gently shattered the walls of darkness, took her hand, and led her toward something brighter.

He said—

A witch is not something to be discarded.

He said—

A witch is a person, just like him.

He said—

A witch is beautiful, the most radiant flower of all.

He acknowledged her existence.

He affirmed her worth.

He taught her everything he knew, giving without reservation—just so she could survive.

With his limited human life, he stayed with her until the very end.

Such devotion, such persistence…

She never understood it.

And so, in the depths of her heart, that one figure had occupied her entire world.

…

“Master.”

The night was thick with shadows, hiding her expression.

Krisha’s voice was soft as she asked, “Why did you save me the first time we met?”

Xu Xi sat in his wheelchair, watching the streets outside.

Her voice pulled him from his thoughts.

It was gentle, steady—like a passing breeze brushing against his ear.

“Why…?”

Her question sent his mind drifting back to a long-ago memory.

A filthy, foul-smelling alleyway.

A girl clutching a small knife, trembling as she tried to rob him.

She had been after the half-eaten bread in his hand.

That scene was unforgettable.

“Because… back then, you were scared, weren’t you?”

Xu Xi reached out.

His hand landed gently on her head, ruffling her hair again.

“…Scared?”

“Yes. When we first met, you were afraid of me, weren’t you?”

His voice was soft and warm.

He smiled and said he wasn’t someone worthy of admiration.

He had no grand ambition to save the world.

He wasn’t a noble hero driven by compassion.

He was just an idiot.

A fool, as the soldiers called him.

But when he saw the young Krisha back then, he simply couldn’t leave her behind.

“Even if it meant wasting your life because of me?”

“No, Krisha. I never thought of it as a waste. In fact, I think those days were meaningful.”

“Master…”

The witch, usually as silent as a doll, had so much she wanted to say.

But she didn’t know where to begin.

In the end, all those words, all those emotions, condensed into a barely-there smile—one that required no effort to maintain.

“Master… I’m sorry.”

“I guess I’m still not ready to graduate.”

Because you’re here.

Because you’re still by my side.

As long as you exist, I will never learn how to say goodbye.

Even if you were gone, I would just keep waiting.

And waiting.

Forever waiting for you to return.

I’m really sorry for being a student like this.

But I can’t leave you anymore.

“Krisha?”

Xu Xi was slightly surprised.

His hand, which had been resting on her head, was suddenly held in place.

She didn’t want him to pull away.

In the dim night, something flickered.

A shimmer.

A fleeting glimmer of moisture.

It appeared quickly and vanished just as fast.

But the warmth in that fleeting moment was real.

It was everything Krisha had.

“Rest for a while, Krisha…”

Xu Xi sighed lightly.

A moment later, her trembling body finally steadied.

“Are you alright now, Krisha?”

“Mm. Thank you.”

Her voice was back to normal.

It seemed like she wanted to say something else, but then her gaze shifted toward the old house’s window.

Was someone there?

Xu Xi followed her gaze but saw nothing.

The streets at night were mostly empty, aside from a few scattered pedestrians.

Nothing suspicious.

But Krisha moved.

Expressionless, she reached for the witch’s hat he had given her.

Adjusting the ocean-blue necklace on her chest, she walked up to the window.

Then, with a blank face, she raised her right hand.

First, she held up her index finger.

Then, she raised her middle finger.

A common “V” gesture for photos.

“Krisha, what are you doing…?”

“You don’t need to worry. Just sharing a little joy with the latecomer.”

It was eerie.

There was no simulation running.

And yet…

Xu Xi could faintly hear a system prompt in his mind—

[Unhappy. Very unhappy. Extremely unhappy.]

[The Ultimate Supreme Spiral Ascending Level of Unhappiness!]