Welcome home.

After a long, long time had passed...

Luo Wei no longer heard any sound from them.

He slowly opened his eyes, and the pure white world momentarily dazzled him.

Nervous yet hopeful, Luo Wei gazed at the person before him.

At the same time, she also opened her eyes...

"E... Eleya..."

"Is it really you?"

A fleeting look of confusion appeared in her eyes, instantly making Luo Wei tense.

This expression didn’t seem like something Eleya would show, nor did it resemble Eltuga’s...

"You..." Luo Wei hesitated before asking, "Do you still remember? Remember the things we shared before?"

Eleya rubbed her temples and let out a soft groan. "Hold on, I have a bit of a headache..."

Suppressing his anxiety, Luo Wei waited patiently.

After a while, Eleya lifted her head.

"Right, what did you just ask me?"

Luo Wei thought for a moment and changed his question. "What was the first weapon you ever wielded in your life?"

"A farming tool used for threshing grain in the countryside," Eleya chuckled. "Did you think I’d say [Judgment]?"

Luo Wei sighed inwardly in relief but cautiously pressed further:

"What was the name of the priestess who invoked divine possession in Thornflower Castle?"

"Feilin," Eleya rolled her eyes dramatically. "Are you done interrogating me? It’s really me!"

Luo Wei immediately asked a third question. "During the royal capital’s chaos, who else was with us when we faced Carlton at the end?"

"Ophelia." Her expression grew even more exasperated. "Luo Wei... do you really not trust me at all...?"

Finally, Luo Wei relaxed.

It wasn’t that he was being overly cautious—it was just that the system panel’s notifications were... unusual, to say the least.

[Containment Facility - Subject 005]

[Eleya Christine]

[Affection Level: 100]

[Corruption Level: 0]

[Subject 005 has been assigned Room 203 on the second floor. Host may employ compulsory containment measures to reduce subject’s corruption level and mitigate threats.]

[Upon successful containment, host may acquire subject’s innate abilities.]

...

[Containment Facility - Subject 006]

[Eltuga Samantha]

[Affection Level: ??]

[Corruption Level: ??]

[Subject 006 has been assigned Room 204 on the second floor. Host may employ compulsory containment measures to reduce subject’s corruption level and mitigate threats.]

[Upon successful containment, host may acquire subject’s innate abilities.]

...

Did he just contain two at once?

But there was only one person standing before him! Luo Wei stepped forward, scrutinizing Eleya closely.

"What’s wrong?" Eleya grew even more puzzled.

"Where is she? Where’s Eltuga?" Luo Wei asked curiously. "The system shows she’s still alive. Can you still sense her presence?"

"Her consciousness hasn’t vanished—it’s just fallen into a deep sleep," Eleya murmured, closing her eyes as if trying to perceive something.

"But it’s fine," she added with a smile. "With you here, even if she wakes up one day, she won’t be able to cause any trouble."

"That’s true." Luo Wei nodded. After all, with the old mansion keeping things in check, Eltuga wouldn’t dare act recklessly.

Still, the more he thought about it, the more incredible it seemed...

He had contained a God of Light—albeit a second-generation one—but still, a deity with divine authority!

This was an unexpected gain from this journey...

"So, where do we go next?" Eleya’s gaze drifted toward the distant Mother Goddess of Abundance before sweeping across the endless white expanse around them.

"We’ll keep sealing the breaches first," Luo Wei said with a grin. "Then we’ll go home."

"Home..." Eleya whispered the word softly.

It had been so long since she last heard it...

Home meant a warm fireplace, a safe haven from the storms.

It meant living day after day with the one she loved, in a life that was simple yet filled with warmth...

Once upon a time, it was the life she had yearned for more than anything.

But due to countless twists of fate, she had thought such days would never come again...

"Home."

Repeating the word, a tender smile gradually bloomed across Eleya’s face.

"Oh, one more thing."

"What is it?" Luo Wei asked curiously.

A soft kiss landed on his cheek.

Eleya beamed at him.

"I’ve wanted to answer you like this ever since you started questioning me earlier."

"Every moment I’ve shared with you is my most treasured memory. How could I ever forget?"

Luo Wei was momentarily stunned.

After a long pause, he too smiled, gripping Eleya’s hand tightly.

"Eleya, welcome home."

...

As they ascended the steps leading back.

Hand in hand, Luo Wei and Eleya walked through the darkness, climbing upward.

The path home felt even more thrilling and urgent than they had imagined.

After what felt like an eternity, the darkness gradually faded, and Luo Wei saw everyone waiting for him.

They all rushed over in excitement.

"Brother! You were gone for so long..." Helena threw herself into Luo Wei’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Don’t cry~" Luo Wei wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Your face is all dusty—keep crying, and you’ll turn into a little mess. See? I’m back now, aren’t I?"

"Finally out..." Evelyn exhaled in relief. "If you hadn’t come up soon, I would’ve gone down there myself!"

"Professor, does this mean the favor I owe you is settled?" Luo Wei teased.

Evelyn shot him an amused glance. "Consider it even!"

"Luo Wei, you were down there for three whole days!" Tilis leaned in eagerly. "Tell us, what did you find? Were there secrets about the gods and the world? Or maybe—"

"Can’t you see how exhausted he is? Ask later!" Ophelia cut in with an exasperated sigh. "Why is your head always full of research, no matter the situation?"

"Huh? Ophelia, you came too?" Luo Wei gave her a questioning look.

"I couldn’t help it..." Ophelia sighed wistfully. "By the first day you vanished into the abyss, I couldn’t take it anymore. I immediately had Caroline contact the remaining members of the Hidden Order in the capital. When you still hadn’t returned by the second day, I gathered a team and teleported straight here..."

"Alright..." Luo Wei smiled helplessly. It seemed Ophelia had also abandoned her duties for once.

As everyone embraced, laughing and crying in a whirlwind of emotions, Eleya stood to the side, watching with a gentle smile.

"Her?" Ophelia cast a wary glance at Eleya before whispering to Luo Wei, "What’s her situation now?"

Luo Wei whispered back, "Handled!"

Ophelia immediately relaxed, her attitude toward Eleya softening slightly.

"Don’t think coming home means I’ve forgiven you! I still remember everything—the chaos you caused in the capital, and worst of all, kidnapping Luo Wei in the end!"

Though her expression was icy, her tone wasn’t harsh.

Eleya smiled and said, "Remember to save me a seat at your coronation."

Ophelia crossed her arms and declared loftily, "Only one seat for an envoy, and not too high-ranking!"

Eleya nodded. "I’ll go in disguise."

Luo Wei silently watched the two, thinking that the historic reconciliation between the Vignar Empire and the Siston Theocracy seemed to be unfolding right before his eyes...

"Alright, alright, save the chatter for home," Evelyn said helplessly. "Have you forgotten where we are now?"

"Right." Tilis then contacted the mages outside via magical communication.

A moment later, she added, "Done. The large-scale magic array is activated normally. Let’s prepare to leave."

The group rejoined the team outside.

Soon after, as the enormous magic array lit up with a radiant glow, everyone vanished into thin air.

[Emergency Repair Mission]

[Completed]

[Chapter 5: The Land Bathed in Holy Light]

[Task complete. Chapter concluded.]

The Black Forest returned to silence.

...