Chapter 405: I Am Just a Broken Witch (4K Revision)

The trip to the church ended in Perfection.

Accompanied by Xu Xi, Klisa visited the entire church and recorded much of the "wisdom of the ancestors."

In Klisa's words.

This was the most precious gift.

She would treasure it and use this "wisdom" at the appropriate time.

Seeing Klisa so happy, Xu Xi was also very gratified; the only problem was that he seemed to have caught a cold recently and couldn't stop sneezing.

Quite miraculous, isn't it?

Catching a cold under the protection of the Supreme Magic.

…

In the time that followed, Xu Xi basically lived in the mansion he had purchased.

Just like in the Magic World.

He leafed through the ancient historical records of the new world.

Or he would accompany the witch to buy some daily necessities, and occasionally travel far to see other aspects of the world.

"Splash!"

"Splash!"

The rain poured down.

Like the wrath of the Heavenly God, arcs of electricity roamed through the dark clouds, intense and frenzied.

In the second month of the simulation.

A heavy rain struck, its violent downpour seemingly intent on drowning the world; even after the rain and wind ceased, the ground still bore the residual power of the storm.

When Xu Xi and the witch went out, intending to buy some fresh ingredients.

They found the road leading to the outside muddy and difficult to traverse.

Thick and moist, the soil washed by the rain had formed mud pits scattered across the uneven road.

A slight stench still drifted in the air.

"Klisa?"

Xu Xi was wearing rain boots.

Ignoring the existence of those mud pits, he strode out.

But he noticed that the witch, who usually followed closely by his side, remained in place, staring blankly at the dark brown puddles of mud, not taking a single step.

Even upon hearing Xu Xi's call.

She still stood there dazed, her face empty and lost.

That appearance, that posture, overlapped with the scene of when Xu Xi first met Klisa.

Finally.

Xu Xi returned.

Only when he personally took Klisa's hand did she follow him forward.

"Are you thinking of the past, Klisa?"

"…Yes, Mentor."

The scene of Xu Xi's first meeting with Klisa was not very pleasant.

It was a foul-smelling alleyway where sewage and mud flowed.

The girl dragged a broken body covered in wounds.

Fearing, trembling, and enduring hunger as she waited for death to arrive.

These experiences were so profound that even today, the witch still could not forget the sorrow of the past and the palm that reached out to her then.

"Klisa."

"With who you are now, would you really still shrink back from taking a step because of those things?"

"I feel like that's unlikely…"

Roads after rain are always muddy and difficult to walk on.

The rise and fall of footsteps.

The treading of shoes and boots.

Would always splash some filthy droplets of water.

Amidst the symphony of water, the witch silently hugged Xu Xi's arm tightly, enjoying that warmth with a calm expression, her voice indifferent:

"I don't understand what Mentor is saying."

"After all—"

"I am a broken witch who knows neither joy nor sorrow."

Speaking her all-purpose excuse.

Klisa relaxed her mind and let her whole self lean against Xu Xi's arm.

It was very warm.

Very reassuring.

Mentor, my life is broken and incomplete.

Only when you are here does it seem whole.

…

The rainy season lasted for a long time.

Many dried-up riverbeds were once again filled with the waters of rivers and streams.

Resting in the mansion and enjoying the warm fireplace, Xu Xi leafed through the exclusive historical materials of the new world to expand his knowledge.

"Mentor, please have some tea."

Klisa poured a hot drink for Xu Xi.

That pale green liquid looked familiar to Xu Xi.

He picked up the teacup and took a small sip; yes, the bitter taste was also very familiar.

"Is there a problem, Mentor?"

"…Klisa, what did you use to brew this tea?"

"It is bitter-bitter grass, Mentor."

Afterward, by leafing through books, Xu Xi learned that the bitter-bitter grass used by the witch to brew tea was a magic medicine with properties similar to spirit clearing grass.

Similarly bitter in taste, and similarly refreshing.

"Klisa, let's change to another kind of tea next time," Xu Xi suggested tactfully.

"Yes, Mentor."

…

The third month of the simulated world.

The dragon blood grass planted in the flower garden had all reached maturity, appearing white-gold; when swaying in the wind, it looked like a hazy and dazzling silver wave.

Spectacular and eye-catching.

It even attracted wild sub-dragons.

The sub-dragons wanted to graze on the dragon blood grass to purify their Bloodline.

The witch was kind-hearted.

It just so happened that there was too much dragon blood grass planted, which somewhat affected the view of the mansion, so at Xu Xi's suggestion, the witch pulled up some of it.

She wanted to give it to the sub-dragons to eat.

However, as soon as the witch flew out of the mansion gates, the sub-dragons fled in terror in all directions.

Their appearance was distorted and terrified, as if they would suffer Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering if they were a second slower.

"…Mentor?"

The witch looked at Xu Xi in confusion.

She didn't understand why things had turned out this way.

Regarding this.

Xu Xi thought for a long time and finally arrived at an answer.

"Klisa has always been responsible for planting the dragon blood grass, and she is also the one who waters it with dragon blood every day."

"So, in the eyes of the Dragon Clan."

"Klisa's existence is actually equivalent to a Dragon Clan nemesis who tears apart giant dragons every day and is constantly covered in dragon blood?"

Xu Xi suddenly realized.

No wonder those sub-dragons ran so fast.

…

The fourth month of the simulation.

The seasons changed, alternating between hot and cold.

Xu Xi took Klisa and left the mansion where they lived, traveling around the world together as they had done in the Magic World.

They saw much and experienced much.

They once witnessed the migration of dragon swarms from a massive steam magic-guided airship.

They also witnessed a banquet held by the Mermaid Race on the vast, boundless sea.

Just as the rumors said.

The members of the Mermaid Race were all beings of superior appearance.

"Vulgar," the witch commented, blocking Xu Xi's eyes with her hands, saying the mermaids' attire was too shameless and could not be seen by Xu Xi.

Xu Xi deeply agreed.

Amidst a stinging sensation from behind, he followed his heart and closed his eyes, allowing the witch to cover them.

Until they left the waters of the Mermaid Race.

Only then did the witch release her hands.

Allowing Xu Xi to see the azure sea once more.

The vast sea surface was like a boundless mirror, reflecting the azure of the sky and the drifting white clouds.

A salty, pungent gale blew past.

Furthermore, large schools of fish leaped out of the water, performing magical glides.

"Mentor, would you like to eat some fresh seafood?"

Klisa suggested.

Now, she was already able to distinguish which seafood was edible.

"No need, Klisa."

Xu Xi declined with a smile: "It would be a bit too much trouble for you to go catch it specifically; besides, I'm not hungry."

The witch was thoughtful.

Ten or so minutes later, the boat Xu Xi and the witch were on bumped into a fresh sea fish that had died suddenly for no apparent reason, just floating on the sea surface without being eaten by other fish.

"This must be a gift from the world."

The witch declared solemnly.

Using her Mental Energy, she quickly caught the sea fish and prepared various dishes from it for Xu Xi.

Eating the fish dishes prepared by the witch.

Xu Xi felt that today's luck was surprisingly good, happening upon this sea fish by chance.

…

The fifth month of the simulation.

Crossing the vast sea.

Xu Xi and Klisa arrived at another part of the world.

The environment here was unique; the ground was completely covered in sand, plants were scarce, and the air was dry—it was a desolate desert region.

When the afterglow of the setting sun fell upon the sand dunes.

It was a magnificent sea of red light.

Light rain danced, and tall, withered trunks hung broken, scattered and buried beneath the wind and sand.

"Mentor, this is a local specialty."

Xu Xi stood on the deck of the steam airship.

Looking down at the vast, boundless sea of sand from high above, he could see sand tornadoes forming in the distance, with giant Demonic Beasts weaving through them.

The witch handed over a plate of shelled nuts.

"Thank you for your hard work, Klisa."

Xu Xi reached out his fingers and gently picked up a nut from the plate.

He didn't eat it himself but held it to the witch's mouth, signaling her to open up and eat it.

"Awoo—"

Klisa began to chew expressionlessly.

Her cheeks bulged.

As if performing a task mechanically.

"Is it good, Klisa?"

"It's very delicious, Mentor."

Receiving the witch's affirmative answer, a smile appeared on Xu Xi's face; he was about to say that the witch should eat more.

But the witch before him took action herself.

"…Mentor, you eat some too."

The girl with long grey-silver hair clumsily imitated Xu Xi's movements, also picking up a nut and wanting Xu Xi to eat it.

Xu Xi accepted the kindness.

Eating the food fed to him by his own witch.

"Thank you, Klisa," Xu Xi expressed his gratitude in a gentle tone.

"No."

"Mentor."

"The one who should truly be thanking you is actually me."

"Thank you for coming back to my side again and letting me escape the cold, grey world."

"Please eat more, Mentor; the nutritional value of this nut is very high, and it's very good for you."

The witch continued to feed him.

Sitting beside Xu Xi, holding the plate in her left hand, she used her right hand to stuff nuts one by one into Xu Xi's mouth.

"Klisa, enough, enough, I'm already full."

Finally, only when Xu Xi urgently called a halt did Klisa stop feeding him, still seemingly wanting more.

…

After leaving the desert, the steam airship sailed all the way, going from one extreme of heat to an extreme of cold.

The yellow sky of flying sand and stones disappeared.

Replacing it.

Were snow-capped ice mountains standing like a thousand blades.

The snowflakes were crystal clear, slowly falling upon all things in heaven and earth, layering up one after another; a slight tap on a withered tree by the roadside would cause thick snow to fall.

"Klisa, be careful not to catch a cold."

Xu Xi bought a scarf for the witch.

The surface of the light grey scarf had slightly curled fluff, the craftsmanship was quite fine, and it was exceptionally good at keeping warm.

Xu Xi stood in front of Klisa.

Holding one end of the scarf in each hand.

He gently lifted her grey-silver hair and wrapped the scarf around her fair neck.

"…Thank you, Mentor."

"…I like it very much."

In the world of ice and snow.

A biting strong wind blew the ends of the witch's scarf.

The way it fluttered looked very much like a caged bird spreading its wings.

Obtaining freedom.

Yet unwilling to leave.

…

After the desert and the ice mountains, the next place Xu Xi and Klisa went to was a volcanic region with boiling lava.

According to legend.

Ancient Dragons appear here.

And there are also prestigious hot springs.

Unfortunately, Xu Xi didn't see any Ancient Dragons here; even the most common Sub-dragon Species happened to migrate on the day he arrived.

Therefore.

Xu Xi could only experience the local hot springs with Klisa, carrying a sense of regret.

No one else was there because Klisa had booked the entire place, or more accurately, had directly bought this hot spring area.

If she wanted to.

The wealthy witch could buy the entire world.

After that, Xu Xi and Klisa each entered a hot spring pool, enjoying the wash of the warm water.

"It's hot, it's burning."

Soaking in the hot spring.

Klisa looked dazed, her palms covering her cheeks, feeling them burning intensely.

Was it because she harbored thoughts of overstepping with her master in her heart?

So her body was suffering punishment?

The witch's knowledge had increased again.

She felt that in the days to come, this punishment for overstepping would continue to worsen, but she would not back down.

Keep it up, Klisa!

…

The sixth month of the simulation.

Xu Xi ended the journey.

Together with the witch, he returned to the initial starting point.

"Haven't been back for a few months, yet the dragon blood grass planted back then is still all here."

Sunlight filtered through the treetops, dappling the path.

As Klisa undid the protective barrier.

What appeared before Xu Xi's eyes were silver ripples even more vigorous than in his memory, blown flat by the wind and dazzling under the sun.

"Let's go in, Klisa."

"Yes, Mentor."

A journey of several months was far from enough in Xu Xi's eyes.

He wanted to accompany the witch to experience more and witness more.

But the witch did not want this.

She didn't want Xu Xi to be trapped in this illusory world because of her; at the same time, she had things that could only be truly accomplished by returning to Earth.

"Mentor, let's leave tomorrow."

Walking on the dappled path of light and shadow, Klisa said softly.

"Have you decided, Klisa?"

"Actually… you could stay a bit longer."

Looking at Klisa before him, Xu Xi reached out his palm and gently rubbed her soft, long hair.

"It is already enough, Mentor."

The eternal grey-silver witch's eyes reflected Xu Xi's face: "Thank you for always being here with me."

Because of you, I am able to move forward.

Because of you, I do not fear the wind and rain.

Because of you, I am no longer broken.

That is enough.

That is, enough.

The witch had never thought of monopolizing Xu Xi forever; that was something she could not do, nor was it something she wished to do.

The real battlefield was elsewhere.

Patter—

Patter—

On the way back to the mansion with Xu Xi, Klisa silently took out a piece of paper on which she had recorded all the "experience" she had gained in the church.

This was the witch's winning Magic Treasure.

"So hot…"

Slightly imagining her future plans.

The witch tilted her head, only feeling her cheeks burning intensely; as expected, this was the price for overstepping with her master.

"Klisa, do you have a fever?"

"No, Mentor, I'm fine…"

Not wanting Xu Xi to discover her insolence.

Klisa flatly denied it.

Although Xu Xi had already seen the faint blush on the witch's face, a clear rosy hue on her fair skin.

"Then let's go in and spend the last day well."

Xu Xi chuckled.

…

After entering the house.

Xu Xi and Klisa did not simply waste time because they were about to leave.

The dragon blood grass in the flower garden.

The furniture in the mansion.

And all kinds of classical decorations.

Were all given a minor cleaning, returning them to their original state of cleanliness and tidiness.

"This way, it can be considered a proper beginning and end," Xu Xi nodded slightly, very satisfied with the refreshed mansion.

(Perhaps it's because I've thought of the ending in advance, there's a strange sense of lethargy, and my typing speed is incredibly slow.)