Chapter 46: ​​Until forever

Mary had fallen asleep, deeply so.

Feeling the steady breathing of the young girl in his arms, warmth filled Green’s eyes.

To him, Mary was almost like a daughter.

Her chatter, her muddle-headedness, her innocence and romance—these were the fragments that made up his long, simulated life.

In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed.

Gently carrying Mary to the bed nearby, Green picked up a blanket and draped it over her.

“She begged to go out and play first thing in the morning, but it turns out it was just to find a few fresh flowers?”

Green looked at the vibrant blossoms in his hand with a wry smile, helplessness flashing in his eyes.

To be honest, he had always been powerless before this adorable girl.

Ten years.

For the entirety of these ten years in the simulated life, Mary had been like a witness, filling an empty corner of his heart.

“Yes, Mary’s grown into a young lady now.”

Beside him, the witch Sophie gazed silently at the sleeping Mary, turning to the reflection in the nearby jars and bottles.

Time hadn’t left the slightest mark on this ageless witch.

Even after all these years, Miss Witch remained as youthful as ever.

Her beauty had not faded.

Her long black hair was as deep as the night sky, and her sparkling eyes shone like exquisitely carved jade crafted by the Creator.

She was so beautiful—so beautiful that she hardly seemed to belong to the mundane world.

Green turned his eyes away, a little embarrassed.

But he failed.

Noticing Green’s small gesture, Sophie swayed lightly and appeared before him, reaching out to take the flowers Mary had just picked.

“Here, let me pin these flowers on you. Don’t let the child’s good intentions go to waste.”

Sophie deftly opened Green’s collar, unbothered by the difference between man and woman, and tucked the flowers in.

“When will you be leaving?”

After this, Sophie still felt it wasn’t enough and started tidying Green’s slightly messy appearance.

“In a few days, I suppose.”

Green could feel his heart racing.

He didn’t know why—clearly, there was already something special between them.

But every time he was close to Sophie, his heart would pound uncontrollably.

How old was he now…

Green shook his head hard, almost reproaching himself for being so immature.

“Is the enemy especially difficult to deal with this time?”

Sophie looked at Green with concern. “Does it really have to be you? Can’t you let Mr. Brown handle it instead?”

“The Church has summoned forces from a dozen or so countries this time.”

Green spoke lightly, as if that army of more than a hundred thousand was nothing but a mob, not worth fearing.

“Although Mr. Brown is fully capable, this is our first time joining forces with the Elves and other races. Both for propriety and principle, I must take command myself.”

Green spoke plainly of the crux of this operation.

“But…” Sophie still wanted to say more, her eyes full of worry as she glanced at the strands of white hair creeping onto Green’s head.

Green was no longer young.

Though he was still more robust than the valorous Brown—

But, but…

He would grow old, in the end.

Sophie could already see that inevitable future.

Perhaps it would be a long time still—decades, even a century.

But to a near-immortal witch…

What was a hundred years?

And so, Sophie greedily wanted to seize every moment she could spend with Green.

Once, for Sophie, living itself had been a torment.

Either on the run or forced to hide her identity.

She had never truly lived.

But ever since she came to Fallen Leaf Town, ever since the day she met Green, everything had changed.

Home—a once unattainable luxury—had become reality.

Fallen Leaf Town, just as Green once promised, was able to accept all rivers.

No matter their gender, status, or race, he welcomed everyone with equal acceptance.

In fact, Green did much more than that.

He established laws, enforced them with incomprehensible fairness—laws that applied even to himself, and willingly accepted the supervision of others.

Even though he was the lord of Fallen Leaf Town, the founder of the Land of Hope, Green always told everyone: “This land does not belong to me alone, but to every person who builds it with heart.”

For this, Green even abolished his own title of lord a few years ago.

Chief Magistrate.

A position jointly elected by the Elder Council—a team composed of special individuals who had made great contributions to the Land of Hope. That is now Green’s official title.

“Sometimes, I really don’t understand you, Green.”

Sophie gazed at the man smiling foolishly before her, as if to remember every look and gesture of his forever.

“Ahem, what’s there not to understand?”

Seeing Sophie’s gaze growing more ambiguous, Green retreated a few steps. “Well, um, the Elder Council has a few meetings about the Church army’s movements I need to attend. Sorry, Sophie, let’s talk later!”

Whoosh.

In the blink of an eye, the highest Chief Magistrate of the Land of Hope escaped in defeat like a routed soldier.

“…”

Sophie watched Green’s hastily retreating figure with a calm gaze.

Tick, tick.

In an instant, the large laboratory was left with only Sophie and the deeply sleeping Mary.

Click.

The door on one side of the laboratory suddenly opened.

“Is he gone?”

A graceful figure stepped out.

“Mm, probably something to do with the pre-war preparations.” Though Sophie cared little for politics, having spent so much time around Green, she had picked up a rough understanding of the Land of Hope’s political structure.

“Chief Magistrate really has it tough.”

The graceful figure stretched lazily. “Good thing Green didn’t assign me any position.”

“Jessica.”

Sophie softly called the newcomer’s name. “Tell me, does Holy Light really exist?”

Miss Witch’s voice echoed throughout the laboratory.

“Of course, that’s something Green himself said, isn’t it? Aren’t you the one who trusts him the most?”

Jessica asked, puzzled.

“But if the so-called Holy Light really exists…”

There was endless sorrow in Sophie’s eyes.

“Why—why is Green’s time so short?”

Faced with Sophie’s question, Jessica fell silent.

“Doesn’t Holy Light reward the just and punish the wicked?”

Sophie grew more agitated as she spoke.

“Green has done so much for everyone—why, why is his time no different from that of most mortals?”

Jessica remained silent.

She, of course, knew the answer.

But some things should always remain hidden and never be brought up.

Jessica hated lying.

Once a Knight of Truth, she saw only black and white.

Lies were, naturally, the ultimate evil.

But somehow, a certain fool had torn apart her narrow view of the world.

And so, Jessica, who never lied and always sought the truth, learned to lie.

“At least, you’ve had him, haven’t you?”

Jessica tried to comfort her.

“No matter what the future holds, at least in this moment, you have each other.”

Jessica looked meaningfully at the love-struck girl, muttering in her sleep, “Lord’s dinner was so delicious,” “Sleep with Mary, big brother,” and so on.

Green, you truly are guilty of many sins.

Jessica couldn’t help but marvel at that fool’s charm.

“No.”

Sophie’s voice interrupted Jessica’s thoughts.

“I won’t accept it.”

Bang.

There was a hint of madness in Miss Witch’s eyes.

“I know I’m greedy. Even though I already have Green, I still want more. But—but, Jessica…”

Tears streamed down Sophie’s face as she sobbed.

“I really, really want to be with Green forever.”

Forever together?

Yes.

To share a bed with your beloved through lifetime after lifetime—who wouldn’t yearn for that?

But is there truly anything perfect in this world?

No.

Sophie raised her head.

This world, even with Green’s efforts, was still full of sorrow and imperfection—there could be no flawless happiness.

But…

Another world.

To be more precise, at the end of the witches’ bloodline, the origin of the cursed blood.

That great existence revered by the Church of Light as the All-Knowing and Almighty, the very source of endless suffering she once endured…

It was dangerous.

But Sophie couldn’t care less.

Taking advantage of the moment Jessica’s face was clouded with worry and distraction, Sophie made up her mind.

I want to be with you, Green.

Forever.