CHAPTER 98: FOR THE ONE I MUST PROTECT!

Both of them sat together on the white altar floor covered in snow. There wasn’t even a hint of worry that the snow might reduce their HP.

Ethan sat cross-legged beside Ashley, while she sat on her knees, her eyes fixed forward, admiring the line of snow-covered hills before them.

They didn’t need to fear the flying buff—it wouldn’t disappear as long as Ethan stayed on the white altar. The same went for Ashley.

Ashley asked about one of Ethan’s bad habits. Ethan smiled widely.

He had already guessed that Ashley would ask that; she needed solid proof to confirm whether EthanArk was really Ethan Arkwright or not.

A face could be disguised, a voice could be imitated—but habits and memories couldn’t.

Ashley was certain not many people knew Ethan’s bad habits.

Ethan smiled, turned slightly, and looked at Ashley’s face. She was smiling faintly, waiting for his answer.

"Do I have to answer that?" Ethan teased.

"If your answer is exactly what I expect, then I’ll believe you’re Ethan Arkwright."

The man beside her went silent for a moment, then nodded several times.

He didn’t have many bad habits, but there was one that only Ashley knew.

"I promise I won’t leave a wet towel on the bed anymore," Ethan said.

"Hehe!" Ashley laughed at his words.

That was Ethan’s unchangeable habit. After showering, he always left his wet towel lying on the bed.

Ashley had to remind him over and over, but Ethan could never shake that habit.

That’s why she was sure—his answer was real.

He truly was the Ethan she knew.

She asked a few more questions—not difficult ones, but simple ones that could be answered easily without much thought.

And all of them could only be answered by Ethan himself, because they were meant specifically for him.

Again, Ethan answered each correctly. Ashley was impressed. She grew even more convinced that the man beside her was indeed Ethan Arkwright.

Once those questions were done, Ashley began to ask about something else—his life.

"How are you still alive? I attended your funeral two years ago," Ashley said.

Ethan went quiet. It felt strange talking about the funeral of Ethan Arkwright while he was sitting there alive, even if it was in another dimension.

He knew what kind of answer would make sense, but he didn’t know where to begin. Ethan wasn’t completely sure about it himself.

"After the accident, I was somehow system-transferred into this game," Ethan explained.

"Transferred?"

"I don’t know the details. When I opened my eyes, I was already inside the Tower of Ascension."

Ashley paused for a moment, trying to process what Ethan had said. But there was no clue she could draw from it.

"So you’ve been in the game for two years? No wonder your power is terrifying," she said.

"Actually, I came here when the VR Full-Drive incident happened."

"What?"

"That means you were asleep for two years?" she asked. Ethan shook his head.

He explained that he didn’t feel like he’d been asleep. After the accident, the transmigration felt like it only took a few minutes.

Ethan had no idea what had happened to him over the past two years—he just knew he had woken up when the VR Full-Drive disaster struck.

Ashley stopped asking about that and began asking about his adventures. Ethan told her everything, though he left out the part about Infinite Skill Level.

The rules were clear—no one with that Talent could tell anyone about it. Ethan was no exception.

He only told her how he survived, gathered treasure chests, fought battles, and became a fugitive hunted by the whole world.

Ashley listened quietly, her heart aching as she heard what he had been through.

"I couldn’t use my main account. So it’s no wonder you and everyone else didn’t recognize me, right?" Ethan asked.

"Yeah, you’re right."

Before long, Ashley leaned sideways, resting her head on Ethan’s shoulder. Seeing that, Ethan removed his black mask.

The two of them reunited—talking about the old days, back when they spent their time playing together two years ago.

Ethan remembered it all as if it had just happened yesterday. There were some things Ashley had forgotten, but Ethan didn’t mind.

From reminiscing about the past, the topic slowly shifted to LionArk’s current situation—how Rick and Gordon decided to leave.

"They left when the VR Full-Drive tragedy happened. Maybe they thought LionArk couldn’t protect them anymore, especially since our guild contribution points kept dropping these past few months," Ashley explained, telling him everything while Ethan listened in silence.

"The lowest point came two months ago when LionArk’s ranking hit rock bottom. Many traitors left—they were people bribed by Silver Star to destroy LionArk from within," Ashley continued.

Ethan listened, anger starting to build inside him toward Silver Star for pushing Ashley and LionArk into ruin.

Ashley explained why Silver Star was targeting LionArk—it was because she had flatly rejected a marriage proposal from the Silver Star guild leader.

That rejection turned into resentment. They tried every possible way to take control of LionArk and Ashley herself. But Ashley had endured through it all until now.

Ethan was furious. He believed Silver Star had crossed the line. If he didn’t teach them a lesson soon, they would keep bullying LionArk as they pleased.

All the burdens Ashley had been carrying alone finally poured out. She cried, wrapping her arms around Ethan from the side. Ethan saw this and gently placed his arm around her shoulders.

To most people, Ashley was a strong, intelligent, and kind woman. But beside Ethan, she didn’t need to hide anything. She became someone fragile, lonely... and afraid.

"Calm down. I’m here. I won’t leave LionArk," Ethan said softly, reassuring her.

Slowly, Ashley’s tears stopped. She wiped her eyes while Ethan smiled and gently brushed her hair with his hand.

"I’ve sent you a friend request. Every day, I’ll share my live location with you."

"If you need anything, ping me," Ethan added.

"Y-You’re not joining the guild?" Ashley asked.

Ethan smiled and shook his head. His hand lifted his black mask again and put it back on to hide his face.

"The Big Three Guilds lost this event because of me. They won’t let me go," Ethan said.

"If I join LionArk now, I’ll just bring danger to all of you—especially since your guild is struggling."

Ashley listened quietly. She understood exactly what Ethan meant. It hurt that he wouldn’t join, but she also knew she had to think of LionArk’s safety first.

Ethan added that he would join LionArk once the guild recovered—at least when it reached Rank A again.

Ashley didn’t mind. She would do everything she could to raise LionArk’s contribution points.

She wasn’t alone—she had Ethan, her shadow ally, helping her from behind the scenes.

Their conversation came to an end. Ethan stood up and helped Ashley to her feet.

Before leaving, Ethan reached his left hand forward—the one still wrapped in bandages.

He gently brushed aside Ashley’s long bangs, tucking them behind her ear, then touched her cheek, feeling its warmth.

It made Ashley’s heart race. Her face turned red, her eyes fixed ahead, her pupils widening slightly as she looked at Ethan with affection.

"I’ll protect you from now on, Ashley."

Ashley smiled, placing her hand over Ethan’s chest as a sign of trust.

"Of course, Ethan. Take care of yourself too."