The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix’s Novels Also Desires Happiness

Chapter 67

Chapter 67, Whispers of the God of Love (Part Seven)

“Alright, I’ll go with you.”

As if compelled by fate, Mu En said this.

“No way—”

An was taken aback for a moment, then immediately retorted sharply:

“The Young Master can’t go with me!”

“Why not?”

“This has nothing to do with you, does it? You don’t need to take such a big risk for me!”

“Who says it has nothing to do with me? Who says I’m going just for you?” Mu En chuckled lightly.

“What?”

“Actually, I just remembered that I still owe that guy Ailuka a meal.”

Mu En turned his head, gazing at the enormous, deformed monster.

A hint of sadness flickered in his eyes.

Strictly speaking, Ailuka was the first friend he made upon arriving in this world.

Well, they had shared a meal at her house, so they could be considered friends.

It’s just that he never expected that in the time it took to roast a fish, she would end up like this.

Fate is truly lamentable.

And detestable.

“Since we are friends, I have the obligation to see her off for the last time.” Mu En said boldly, hands on his hips.

“No one has the right to stop me, not even An.”

—

“Bu… it’s still not possible!”

An stood up, stubbornly blocking Mu En’s path, and said earnestly,

“That’s too dangerous. I promised the master and mistress that I would protect the young master, and I will never let him come to harm!”

“Protect me?”

Mu En tilted his head slightly, speaking softly:

“But An, haven’t you always wanted to hurt me?”

“Hurt? I haven’t.”

“Poisoning, ambushing, imprisoning, and even wanting to sever my limbs—aren’t these all things you’ve done or wanted to do, An? Aren’t they all harm?”

“I…”

An faltered.

I did it out of love; it was love that made me act this way towards the young master.

If it were the old An, she would have said that without hesitation.

So naturally.

But looking at Mu En’s calm gaze at this moment, at the monsters rampaging not far away, with the echoes of hundreds of hoarse wails and Eluka’s frenzied words ringing in her ears,

An found that she couldn’t bring herself to say those words.

It was as if, once she spoke them, Eluka would stand amidst the countless corpses, grinning at her and saying:

“See, Master, you’re just like me.”

Not the same.

“I beg you, young master.”

In the end, An could only turn to pleading.

“Don’t go.”

“What if something happens to you too…”

“I would never forgive myself, even if I died.”

An clutched Mu En’s collar tightly, crying as she pleaded.

“I beg you, young master…”

“An.”

Mu En looked down at the weeping An.

They fell silent for a moment.

Carefully examining her appearance.

Then, suddenly raising his voice, he shouted:

“An! What is the first rule of etiquette for the Campbell family maid? Tell me loudly!”

“Yes!”

It was a reflex.

Mu’en’s words triggered An’s instinct, ingrained in her bones over the years.

It was as if she had returned to those mornings when the former head maid would give her instructions.

An straightened her back, standing tall like a pine tree.

She raised her chin and said loudly:

“The first rule of etiquette for the Campbell family maid is, besides greeting the master and guests, always keep your back straight!”

“That’s right, keep your back straight, An.”

Mu’en patted An’s shoulder, then smiled as he smoothed her disheveled bangs, tucking the strands stuck to her cheek behind her ear, and adjusted her maid outfit, carefully smoothing out the wrinkles.

Until An transformed back into the image he remembered.

Dignified, elegant, experienced, composed.

“This is more like you, isn’t it?”

“Young master…”

“Alright, stop crying. I know you’re worried about me, but haven’t you said often lately? I’m not the same as before.”

Mu’en slightly lowered his head, meeting An’s gaze, his expression gentle as he said:

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“I’m sorry I can’t become the person you idealize, but haven’t you seen? I am no longer that useless young master.

Well, although I still only have those three tricks up my sleeve, I can escape from your hands, An, and I can also escape from that monster.

Running away, I’m a professional at that, so even if I can’t win, I can still run.

In some ways, I’m even better than you, An.

So, don’t worry, okay?”

“But…”

An stared blankly at Mu’en.

She wanted to say something.

But Mu’en suddenly reached out his finger, sealing her lips.

“No rebuttals, this is the young master’s order.”

An felt a moment of daze.

Though it was a command, the words were incredibly gentle.

She looked at Mu En, a little dazed.

The sunlight illuminated Mu En’s golden hair, enveloping it in a layer of hazy light.

A gentle breeze blew, and his brows and eyes were just as bright.

Those lake-like clear eyes seemed to pull one’s soul in.

Yes, the young master has changed.

In just one night, he completely deviated from the path I had set for him.

He became ambitious, gentle, cunning… and a bit foolish.

He actually faced the corruption of the evil god head-on, something he would never have dared to imagine before.

It was as if he had become another person.

But why does this completely off-course version of himself attract my gaze so much?

So dazzling, young master.

An was shedding tears, as if staring directly at the scorching sun.

…

“Alright, let’s go.”

Seeing An finally persuaded by his words, Mu En smiled gently.

He shook his arms, stretching his muscles.

Then, without looking back, he walked towards the fierce monster.

He said:

“Let us bring redemption to your disciple, my friend, our dear Miss Eluka!”

…

“Ah, am I here again again again again!?”

High up in the air, Mu En stood on a long metal pillar, taking advantage of the absence of others, and like some kind of mental illness outbreak, he clutched his head and flailed wildly.

“My damn sporadic self-destructive syndrome!”

Celia was like this then, and so it is this time.

Clearly, there were better paths to choose, yet he insisted on recklessly running down the self-destructive road.

I clearly treasure my life so much, so why can I never control myself at critical moments?

“Heh, seeing pretty girls cry makes me freeze in my tracks; I guess that makes me a different kind of old pervert.”

Mu En sighed softly.

However, this time, compared to last time, there was still something different.

At least this time, he wouldn’t be as powerless as before.

……

“Listen, An, I’m going to tell you what to do now.”

“First, after being tainted by the evil god, Eluka cannot be killed in a conventional way. I think you’ve already experienced this.”

“So, our goal is not to waste effort trying to kill Eluka or awaken her, but to target the source of the evil god’s corruption, which is the medium through which the evil god exerts its power.”

“Rings, necklaces, sculptures—there must be such things. The evil god cannot just cast its power out of thin air; the rules of this world do not allow it.”

“The source will definitely be near Eluka, so I need you, An, to use your abilities to clear a path for me.”

“You clear the path and help me fend off the monsters’ attacks, while I, with my agility and flexibility, get close to Eluka, find the source of the corruption, and then destroy it!”

“That’s the plan!”

……

Reflecting on the plan with Professor An from not long ago, Mu En let out a light breath.

In times like this, Mu En felt somewhat fortunate that he had read the original book; it allowed him to know how to deal with the evil god.

But… it was still far from easy.

Because the more he had read the original book, the more he understood the horror of that thing.

“…I guess I have no choice but to go for it.”

Mu En spread his arms, gathering his energy, and then shouted towards the monsters still playing in the water not far away:

“Hey—

All eyes on me, I have an announcement!”

“Ah?”

Hearing the voice, the monsters turned around, hundreds of faces simultaneously directing their gazes.