Chapter 28: Felica’s hopes were dashed

“Although this is a rather foolish idea, I still admire your courage.”

Felica spoke slowly.

“For the sake of your safety, I really don’t recommend you act recklessly.”

“After all, if you die in there, just going in to collect your corpse will waste quite a bit of my time.”

Felica’s tone was sincere.

Rather than intentional sarcasm, it sounded more like she was stating a fact.

And indeed, it was the truth.

The “Nibelung Lord’s Last Wish” was a fourth-tier secret realm—even Silver-ranked adventure parties composed of third-tier Magi and Warriors couldn’t always guarantee they would clear it easily.

In theory, one could make clever use of the secret realm’s mechanics to pass through unscathed.

But ever since this secret realm had been inscribed upon the Engraved Stone, so many years ago, few had ever managed to clear it without injury.

No matter what, in the end, challengers always had to face off in a life-or-death battle against the lingering soul of the old Nibelung Lord.

More importantly, the old Nibelung Lord’s strength was on par with a fourth-tier Magus.

With Lynn’s current strength, going in would be like a moth drawn to the flame.

So, Felica truly didn’t want Lynn to throw his life away for nothing.

But after listening, Lynn could only feel lines of black creeping across his face.

He finally understood why Felica and Livia always seemed like oil and water.

He knew Felica meant well, but this way of talking…

Honestly, even when he was deliberately provoking someone, he wasn’t this aggressive.

“You really don’t have to worry so much about me…”

“No.”

Felica stretched out her slender, pale fingers, gently pressing them against Lynn’s lips, her face utterly serious.

“If this is really investigated, it would be a huge bother for me.”

“……”

Sigh.

Lynn silently sighed in his heart.

He more or less understood what Felica meant now.

Lynn slowly stood up, then, while Felica wasn’t paying attention, gently pushed her against the wall.

“Eh?”

Caught off guard by Lynn’s sudden move, Felica was stunned, her mind blanking out.

The two were so close that Felica could even feel Lynn’s burning breath.

Her heart pounded quickly.

She stared blankly at Lynn’s refined, handsome face, her mind a complete blank.

After a moment, Felica’s snowy white face gradually turned a deep red.

Although it was strictly forbidden by the Witch’s Academy, both she and Livia had secretly read quite a few risqué books.

In terms of theoretical knowledge, Felica was even more well-read than Livia.

And generally, whenever this sort of situation appeared in those books, the next development would naturally be…

Thinking of this, Felica shyly turned her face away.

This idiot Lynn, always choosing times like these…

He never followed the script.

Even in previous lives, when her identity as a witch was scorned by all, he’d still brave the world’s derision to help her resolve the knots in her heart, saving her from complete destruction.

Ever since then, she’d begun to retain memories from every life.

Felica had never dared to hope that Lynn would accept her.

She only wished to quietly remain behind him, looking after this stubborn fool who never turned back, no matter how many walls he crashed into.

But, if Lynn truly liked her as well…

“Um… well, please hurry up a little. If someone sees us like this…”

Felica whispered softly, shifting slightly to find a more comfortable position.

That shameful feeling of possibly being discovered at any moment welled up inside her.

The embarrassment grew and grew, until, to her surprise, Felica began to feel a hint of anticipation and excitement she had never experienced before.

She gently closed her eyes, tilting her head up.

If Lynn wanted to kiss her, this was undoubtedly the most convenient opportunity.

But, after waiting quite a while, Felica felt nothing at all.

Opening her eyes slowly, she saw that Lynn was holding her Witch’s Command Seal in his hand.

“Thanks a lot.”

Lynn smiled.

He had already seen through Felica’s intentions.

It must be because the classroom was filled with surveillance magic—she couldn’t just hand over the Witch’s Command Seal needed to enter the secret realm right out in the open.

If that was the case, then using his own body to shield her from the surveillance magic and quickly taking the Command Seal in an unnoticed corner was the best option!

And judging by Felica’s reaction, his guess had been absolutely correct!

Lynn nodded in satisfaction, feeling quite clever.

“……”

Seeing Lynn’s self-satisfied look, Felica was a little dazed.

So, all along, she’d been imagining things herself?

As the realization hit, a flood of embarrassment and frustration crashed over her.

This guy…

“Huu—”

Felica let out a long breath.

“…Lynn.”

“What is it?”

Before Lynn could react, he was suddenly pushed down onto the table by Felica.

Then, Felica slowly straddled him and lifted his shirt.

“???”

Lynn was baffled.

Big sis, what are you trying to do?

“Anyway… I can’t talk you out of it.”

Felica’s voice trembled slightly.

“If that’s the case…”

Felica bit her own finger.

Golden blood trickled steadily from the wound.

When Felica’s fingertip touched Lynn’s hard abs, she felt as if a current ran through her whole body.

It felt pleasant—tingly and numbing.

It was her first time touching Lynn’s body.

Felica shook her head, pushing aside her swirling thoughts, and began drawing runes on Lynn.

The moment her golden blood touched his skin, it turned transparent, making the spell formation even harder to draw.

But, after several minutes, Felica managed to finish, relying on experience and sheer willpower.

After everything was done, she suddenly felt weak and collapsed limply on top of Lynn.

“This is…”

Lynn felt a burning sensation on his abdomen.

“A simple communication spell formation.”

Felica’s voice was a bit faint.

“Considering you’re an idiot, you’d probably die in there just because you don’t understand how the secret realm works.”

“So I’ll be directing you the whole time to make sure you get out in one piece.”

Felica’s soft fingertips gently kneaded Lynn’s chest.

She deliberately hid the fact that this so-called “communication spell formation” actually also served as a life-saving measure.

Drawing this sort of spell consumed a large amount of a witch’s vital blood, leaving her weak for quite a long time afterward.

She didn’t want Lynn to worry about her.

As long as she could take care of him, that was enough.

“I see. Well, thank you so much.”

Lynn smiled.

Felica slowly got off Lynn, her face a little pale.

But she still forced a smile.

“I hope you return safely.”

…

Central Royal City, Outer District.

Dusk was falling.

Lynn stopped at a checkpoint several kilometers from the Engraved Stone.

From here, he could already see the Engraved Stone towering into the sky not far away.

He pulled his hood down, covering his face.

After showing Felica’s Witch’s Command Seal to the checkpoint guards, Lynn successfully slipped into the heavily-guarded restricted zone.

After walking for a short while, a blinding light appeared before him.

Looking ahead, he saw the light came from a vast, barren field.

It was clear—that was the real-world projection of the fourth-tier secret realm, “Nibelung Lord’s Last Wish.”

Lynn took a deep breath and slowly walked into the secret realm.