CHAPTER 62: ELLIE’S DESCENT (1)

If everything followed the original plot, then by the second evening, the mid and final bosses were meant to appear and begin their schemes.

That was what Arthur understood too, but he couldn’t help feeling uneasy for some reason.

If indeed the plot progressed this way, then there was no reason it should involve Amelia, right?

But what if a variable occurred?

What if they never intended to use Amelia from the beginning, but due to the release of so many spirits into the air, and the fact that the person she loved was in danger, she would awaken?

If that was the case, then it would explain a lot. And Arthur knew one person who was currently as unstable as the hate route’s Amelia:

Kim Ha-joon.

Usually during the Demonic Forest mission, the mid and final bosses were meant to release the spell binding the dungeon boss, and together they would unleash chaos on the students.

Until... the Hero and the Chosen One appeared and drove them back, gaining everyone’s respect.

Later in the game, Amelia would be used as an anchor for a summoning ritual that exploited her spirit arts talent and her negative emotions to summon a high-ranking evil spirit.

However, since the events had merged, that could only mean something else was originally used as the anchor during the Demonic Forest mission. And now, that thing wasn’t present, so they needed a student.

Arthur placed a hand over his face. ’Why is this so confusing?’

The entire plot was in disarray.

If what he suspected was true, then it meant Amelia held negative emotions toward...

Arthur’s eyes widened. ’Wait, wait, wait...’

He gently removed Cassie from his body and left the cabin. ’What if it was never negative emotions that triggered it, but hatred toward the goddess?’

If that was the case, then it would explain why the demons who despised Goddess Sylvia were involved.

And since Ha-joon had once been a vessel of the goddess, then her hatred for him was also hatred toward the goddess.

Arthur rested a hand on his chin. ’Even though I’ve changed a lot, Amelia’s hate for Ha-joon still lingers.’ He suddenly felt uneasy. ’Maybe it’s even worse now.’

And the reason the system gave him this mission, even though he could simply stay with her and prevent it more easily, was because her transformation into the Spirit Goddess wasn’t tied to a single path.

In a scenario where Ha-joon became the anchor and absorbed the power of the mid, final, and dungeon bosses,

Then he would have only one target.

"Me..."

If Amelia were to witness him being overwhelmed by the man she loathed, it might push her over the edge and she would begin answering the call of more powerful spirits not of this world.

’A bad ending...’

Arthur swallowed hard.

It had already been two days since the exam began, and before he knew it, the second evening had arrived.

’I was too distracted,’ he thought. ’But it was a good distraction nonetheless...’

He shook his head. ’Damnit.’

It was time to act.

Moonlight Dusk were indeed against the goddess, yes, but they didn’t kill without cause. So it couldn’t have been them.

It could be the other gods under Sylvia, or even the ancient races, but even that was uncertain.

That left only one possibility:

There was an organization not present in the game, with enough power to publicly oppose the goddess and still remain hidden from her watchful eye.

"I wish I explored more of the lore when I was playing." He sighed. "It’s fine. I don’t need all the answers to move forward."

Arthur glanced at the cabin one last time, then turned away, ready to move. ’The girls can meet up with the others. I have to find that bastard before he does something reckless.’

Before he could channel enough color to leap into the air, a voice called out.

"Where are you going, husband?"

Arthur turned his head slowly to see Ellie leaning beside the cabin door.

He paused and smiled awkwardly. "Just for a walk."

Ellie approached and hugged him from behind. "You’re not going to leave me too, right?"

Arthur exhaled. "What are you talking about all of a sudden?" He gently tapped her hand so she would let go, but she didn’t.

"Ellie...?"

Her grip tightened as the light in her eyes dimmed. "If you’re not leaving, then why aren’t you waiting for Karma’s team to arrive?"

Arthur tried to turn, but she clung to him, burying her face in his chest. ’Did she have a nightmare?’

If that were the case, it would make sense.

Not only had her father died during the war in the West, but her mother and everyone she once cared about had abandoned her.

If it weren’t for her teacher, she would have died long ago.

But even he eventually died, and when it seemed she could never find happiness again, someone brought light into her life.

Even when he was shot dead because of her misfortune, he stood up and saved her.

Arthur didn’t know any of this.

But gradually, he had become Ellie’s world, her entire reason for living.

Even she was unaware of it.

Arthur turned her around and hugged her. "See? I’m not going anywhere..." She looked up at him, her gaze still vacant. "I told you something might happen to Amy, right? That’s why—"

Ellie cut him off. "And so what?"

"Huh?"

She squeezed him tighter. "I don’t care how much you love them, Arthur. I want you all to myself."

She smiled gently, but Arthur could feel something twisted in it. Something was definitely off. "What if you get hurt? What if those other girls take you from me? What if you start liking them more than me?"

Her face fell. "Questions like that haunt me every day. And I always answer: ’No, the Arthur I know would never do that.’"

She lowered her gaze, her cheeks burning. "But you know what, husband?"

Arthur felt it in that moment.

The energy, the emotion—they were all too familiar. No, they were even more intense.

Ellie was changing.

Her love had evolved into something else.

『 Ellie’s affection for you has passed every threshold 』

『 You have earned your second Infinite Lover 』

Yes, just like with Nathira four days ago.

An Infinite Lover.

It wasn’t a tag exclusive to any one waifu archetype.

But there was one archetype that could reach it more easily.

Even so, it usually took at least a year.

Even for Nathira, it took three years.

’Shit...’

Ellie smiled faintly but still kept her face turned from him. "Hus-band!" she sang, drawing out each syllable.

She lifted her gaze toward him, and Arthur immediately recognized the unmistakable heart shape in her pupils.

She stepped back and hugged herself as if savoring the overwhelming sensation within her.

"I... don’t think I feel so good."

─── ✦ End of Chapter ✦ ───