Chapter 48: Heart Knot

"Let's go home!"

On the way home, Anna was bouncing along, as joyful as a child returning from a spring outing, a stark contrast to Naclis.

Thanks to Anna's Arcane Ability, even though they had just killed so many people, they were still spotlessly clean. Yet, even so, the first thing Naclis did upon returning home was to rush into the bathroom for a shower, which lasted a full hour.

Sometimes Loren thought it wasn't so bad to be carefree and heartless. Even though Scarlett had just been scared out of her wits, once home, she immediately started fighting with Anna over snacks. In the end, Anna simply pinned Scarlett down with one hand and stuffed all the remaining snacks into her own mouth right in front of her.

"Are you okay, Naclis?"

Loren knocked on the bathroom door and asked.

Naclis hadn't taken off the Abyssal Gaze Eye even while showering, so Loren could see everything happening inside clearly. Naclis was washing her hands over and over again. Even though her skin was already red from scrubbing, she didn't stop. Finally, she just squatted under the showerhead, lost in thought.

Loren didn't think Naclis was being overly sensitive. Despite her current state, she hadn't hesitated for a second when killing. She didn't think killing bad people was wrong; she simply couldn't accept the act of killing itself.

Naclis was also the most sensitive one among this group of Witches. Even Luna was thick-skinned enough to speak up for the bullies.

She certainly didn't look fine. Seeing that Naclis was still trying to put on a brave face, Loren decided to simply go in.

"I'm coming in."

The bathroom door was locked. Loren tried the handle but it didn't budge, so he simply used the High Tower's Void-walking ability to phase right through.

The hot water had been running for a long time, filling the bathroom with steam. It only cleared up a bit after Loren turned off the shower, allowing him to see Naclis clearly.

"You really don't have to force yourself. I can protect you all for a lifetime."

Loren picked up a bath towel and began drying Naclis's hair. Her silver-white strands, wet with water, clung to her face, making her look utterly pitiful.

"But... but I want to help you..."

Embarrassment made Naclis's speech slightly stammering. She also began to reflect on herself. Loren had been helping her bathe since a long time ago, so why was her heart beating so fast now? Even her body was having some strange reactions.

Naclis instinctively tensed up. She remembered what Mirrorheart had said to her before. Could it be that her feelings for the Master Mentor had truly changed?

Just as Naclis was refuting this thought internally, Loren finished wrapping her in the bath towel. It was just like when Loren helped her bathe as a child. Even Naclis's figure hadn't changed much; she had just grown a lot taller.

"This world is just like that. As Witches, even if you do nothing, you will constantly attract hatred.

"If you don't kill others, you will be killed by them. And you truly were doing good. If we hadn't killed those Plague Believers, once their ritual was complete, everyone in the entire Royal Capital, even the entire Gedlan Kingdom, might have perished."

Saying this, Loren took hold of Naclis's hand and brought it in front of them.

"These hands of yours saved tens of thousands of families."

"Thank you..."

A couple of words from Loren weren't likely to make Naclis completely accept the situation, but they did make her feel somewhat better.

"It's getting late. Go to sleep. Rest well tonight."

"Mhm."

Naclis responded softly, letting Loren lead her out of the bathroom.

"Did you two take a bath together? Why didn't you call me?"

Seeing Naclis and Loren emerge from the bathroom together, Anna didn't even care about the snacks in her hand anymore. She puffed up her cheeks and rushed over, turning her face away in a sulk.

"What on earth goes through that little head of yours all day?"

Loren helplessly flicked Anna's forehead. He really didn't know how to respond to that.

"Master Mentor, my reflection just told me that the previous attack by the Blackened was guided by Eldrin. When I last saw Eldrin, I had my reflection hide in his shadow."

"Oh, I know. But thank you anyway."

Loren patted Naclis's head and then planned to return to his own room. He still hadn't fed Nightingale tonight.

Naclis felt a bit dejected. Once again, she hadn't been of any help to the Master Mentor.

"Wait, Master Mentor!" This time it was Anna who stopped Loren. "When are we going to go kill the King's entire family?!"

Loren fell silent. It was about killing an entire family, but Anna's tone was as excited as a child asking their parents when they can go to the amusement park again right after returning from one.

In the original story, the Gluttony Witch was extremely bloodthirsty. Loren had thought it was due to her experiences, but it seemed Anna's personality was genuinely like this. It had just become more extreme after Naclis's death.

However, Loren wasn't too concerned. Anna's nature was truly kind. She was bloodthirsty, but she wouldn't slaughter indiscriminately. Anna would sympathize with the weak and would even share her favorite snacks.

The current Anna reminded Loren of a certain hero, the Evil Little Mage. He killed many bad people, called himself a villain, but in the eyes of ordinary people, he was a hero.

Anna was the same. She killed evildoers and protected good people from them. But Anna still needed Loren's careful guidance to control her desires, releasing her killing urge only upon the wicked.

"It shouldn't be too long."

Actually, Loren had originally planned to act after this semester ended. But since Eldrin had declared war first, Loren could only move up their date with death.

Moreover, Loren hadn't initially planned to kill the King. After all, his goal was only the Tear of Condensed Wishes; killing Eldrin alone would have been enough.

But Loren had witnessed the horrors created by those Plague Believers. Perhaps there were many complicated interests involved, the relationships among the powerful were deeply intertwined, but Loren knew that for the situation to develop to this extent, the one with the highest status must be involved.

When a tree is withering and you don't know how to cure it, cutting down the thickest trunk will definitely have some effect.

Perhaps after he killed the King, a new king would inherit the position. But Loren and the Blackened could kill enough Nobles and Royals to make them afraid.

Perhaps over time, they would forget the pain once the wound healed. But at the very least, while waiting for the wound to heal, they would keep their tails tucked between their legs.

Returning to his room, Loren began checking the situation at the royal palace through Gwen.

Many people had died there, including quite a few Scarecrows. Originally, ordinary Blackened were no match for the Scarecrows, but Loren had just given them a blessing.

allowed their insignificant lives to truly stand equal with those high and mighty individuals.