Dispute, and the Inspiration from Luo Wei

"Hmm?" Luo Wei turned to her. "What's wrong?"

Evelyn hesitated before finally speaking. "I remember... you disappeared there four years ago, didn't you?"

Luo Wei nodded. "That's right, but Tilis, Eleya, and I only went to the outskirts of the Black Forest."

Her emerald-green eyes darkened with worry as she let out a deep sigh. "Luo Wei, I know you're always right. You always make the correct choices, always find a way out of danger. But this time... this time is different..."

Luo Wei silently met her gaze.

Evelyn clenched her fists, struggling with her words. "Even though I've already decided to go with you—no matter how dangerous it gets, I'll stay by your side till the end—I still think you have a choice now. Luo Wei, if you'd just reconsider, we could turn back and go home right now..."

"Professor, I have to go. All the way to the heart of the Black Forest." There wasn't a trace of hesitation in Luo Wei's voice.

"But this time really is different!" Evelyn's tone sharpened with frustration. "No matter what happened before, it was always within your capabilities, wasn’t it? You could always imagine yourself overcoming every danger. But this? This is the same force that made you disappear four years ago! It must be something even you can't fathom—otherwise, why couldn’t you handle it back then?"

"I can't imagine what would happen if you disappeared again... I don’t want to take that risk..." Her eyes glistened with sorrow as she gazed at him. "Do you really have to go in yourself? What about hiring mercenaries? Or sending Tilis in your place? She's a spirit, isn’t she? Spirits can’t truly die..."

"Evelyn." Luo Wei called her name firmly. "No matter what, I’m going."

His expression was resolute, unshakable.

Eleya felt a calling in the unseen currents—she had her own mission, but wasn’t the same true for him?

Luo Wei, too, felt a summons.

Not from the gods, nor from anyone else—it had sprouted from deep within his own heart.

"Investigator, alongside your companions, uncover the truth veiled in mist... and save this world that was once beyond salvation..."

That had been the game’s tagline. At first, he’d treated it all with a mix of amusement and morbid curiosity.

But ever since arriving in this world, without realizing it, he had grown into a true investigator. Luo Wei had become part of this place.

Now, he truly believed he had a role to play here. The promises he’d made to Tilis weren’t just impulsive boasts.

Of course, setting aside sentimentality, there was another reason for his determination.

He no longer saw this as just a game. In fact, a question had taken root in his mind:

Was any of this really just a game?

At first, Luo Wei had thought he was the only one playing. He’d even wondered—why was no one online discussing such an intricately crafted world, such a labyrinthine story?

But ever since being pulled into this place, the more he thought about it, the stranger it all seemed...

Luo Wei needed to know the answer.

And now, he was closer than ever to finding it.

Seeing his unwavering resolve, Evelyn knew further persuasion was futile. Her shoulders slumped in defeat.

"Luo Wei, if that’s how it is... then don’t blame me for being unreasonable."

She turned her face away, voice quiet but firm. "Remember that favor you owe me?"

"Huh?" Luo Wei paused.

Evelyn folded her arms and let out a cold huff. "This was the condition for helping you become the Duke of Thorns. You promised me in the castle—no matter how difficult, you’d fulfill this one request. You’re not going back on your word, are you?"

"Professor, you mean..." Luo Wei’s smile turned awkward. He hadn’t expected her to use it like this.

"What else could I mean?" Evelyn stepped closer, eyes blazing. "You’re not going to the Black Forest! If you insist on going, send someone else in your place!"

"Ah, come on..." Luo Wei scratched his head helplessly. "Professor, can’t you ask for something else? I’ll do anything for you—just don’t stop me from this..."

"You’re really that determined?" Evelyn’s voice trembled with emotion. "Willing to risk your life for Eleya? Is she really worth that much to you?"

"No, Professor, you’ve got it wrong..." Luo Wei felt utterly wronged. Sure, Eleya was part of it, but that wasn’t his main motivation just now...

"Wrong how? After everything she’s put us through, you’re still rushing to save her!" Evelyn let out a bitter laugh. "Ah, of course—old flames burn brightest, don’t they? Seems she means far more to you than I do."

"Professor, it’s not about her!" Luo Wei reconsidered. "Well, maybe partly... but I mostly want to understand what happened four years ago..."

"I don’t care! I don’t care!"

Evelyn fumed, arms crossed as she turned away, refusing to even look at him.

"All I care about is that promise you made. Are you a man of your word or not?"

"I..." Faced with this side of Evelyn, Luo Wei was at a complete loss.

When she was sweet, she was utterly endearing—but when her temper flared, she was impossible to handle...

All he could do was try to gently soothe her.

"No! No going! And stop petting me!"

"Evelyn, you should let him go."

Hearing the familiar voice, Luo Wei immediately turned toward the tent entrance, where Tilis stood, smiling at him.

"Sorry I’m late. Gathering the mages took longer than expected," she explained.

"No problem, you’re here now." Luo Wei exhaled in relief at her arrival.

"Brother! And me too!!" Helena came bounding over excitedly.

Luo Wei grinned and spread his arms, catching her in a tight hug.

"We searched for so long! I thought we’d never find you again!" Helena’s small face scrunched up, her blue eyes shimmering with tears.

"How could that happen? I’m right here, aren’t I?" Luo Wei chuckled, booping her nose. "And I owe you big time for last week in the Royal Capital. Once this is over, I’ll make sure you get a proper reward!"

That day in the Royal Capital had been a whirlwind of chaos, his nerves stretched to the limit—he hadn’t even had the chance to properly thank her.

He’d heard Helena had been rescued by the Witch from a pile of wreckage, her steam-powered mech completely destroyed. It spoke volumes about how dire her situation had been.

“As long as I can help you, brother~” Helena buried her face deeper into his embrace, cooing sweetly, “You don’t need to reward me. Just promise you’ll stay with me forever and never leave—that’s all I want!”

Luo Wei affectionately ruffled her hair. “I’ll be with you every day. How could I ever bear to part from Helena?”

Helena beamed with joy and hugged him even tighter.

“Wait, someone’s missing. Where’s Ophelia?” Evelyn glanced around. Aside from Tilis and Helena, a few mages had arrived, but Ophelia was nowhere to be seen.

“I’m here.”

A shimmer of magic light flickered as Tilis projected Ophelia’s image before the group.

“Finally found you…” Ophelia’s anxious heart finally settled at the sight of Luo Wei, safe and sound.

“My apologies, everyone,” she said with a regretful expression. “The affairs of the Royal Capital demand my presence. I won’t be able to join you in facing the dangers of the Black Forest.”

“No worries. I’m enough here,” Tilis remarked dismissively. “Against a threat of divine scale, you wouldn’t be much help anyway. Just stay home—no one will blame you.”

“Was that supposed to comfort me or insult me…?” Ophelia muttered under her breath.

Evelyn snorted. “Back then, you refused to let me leave the Northern Frontier. Now it’s your turn to be stuck in the Royal Capital. How does it feel?”

“Now I understand how you must have felt,” Ophelia admitted with a wry smile, realizing how the tables had turned.

“Hah!” Evelyn grinned in triumph.