The fairy maid cheers for her deceased master today.

There's no time to delay.

Soon, X brought Angel back to the windowless, candle-filled hall with a pool of water.

The pool shimmered with a silvery light. Samuel, wearing a hood, stood by the pool, gazing silently at the statues on the wall.

Ex's gaze remained fixed on Elena.

Irena, still in a deep slumber, was being carefully placed into the pool by several Holy Order fairies. The shallow water just allowed her face to remain above the surface.

Her face was as pale as paper, and her long, gray-emerald hair floated on the water.

"The ceremony is basically ready," Samuel said in a low voice. "Let me know when you're ready. Remember, you only have three days in the real world."

Ex clenched his fist. Three days. Only three days. That's too short.

"So this time... I will sever all ties with you. In the 'Rain World,' you won't hear my voice, and I won't be able to see you," Samuel said calmly.

"Is this to... increase the time?" Ex couldn't help but ask.

"Yes. If you stay connected with me, time will be synchronized with real-world time. But if you cut off your connection with reality, it will be like a dream—you will have much more time."

However, without Samuel's continued attention, Axe lost his external support and could not be pulled out of the "Rain World" in time when danger arose.

In short, the probability of death is extremely high.

X understood this.

As for a longer period of time...

X subconsciously glanced at his stats. This time he saw them more completely.

Name: X

Race: Human

[Level: 1]

【Contract Fairy: Angel】

【Attribute: Random (Currently Wind attribute)】

[HP: 200/200]

Energy Value: 400/400

[Attack Power: 60] (The average value of the five attributes for ordinary humans is 60)

Defense: 60

【Speed: 60】

【Intelligence: 80】

[Willpower: 180]

[Special Ability: Equivalent Exchange (Level 1). Effect: By utilizing the principle of equivalence, consume materials to obtain specific items. However, this ability is not a panacea...]

[Status: The deceased has been revived. Time remaining: 440 hours and 43 minutes.]

……

With the help of the life-and-death energy within the dark pendant, his lifespan was extended to over four hundred hours.

That's practically double!

However, X felt no joy at this moment. He couldn't accept the price he had paid for extending his life.

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Deacon Samuel, why are you helping me?"

Samuel turned to look at him. His eyes, hidden beneath the black robe and hood, were unfathomable.

"I'm afraid you'll do something wrong," Samuel said calmly, "something even more extreme."

That's the reason!

Axe couldn't help but smile wryly. "Samuel, you have a good eye for people."

If he hadn't known about this method, as a gamer who has always been unrestrained, he truly had no idea what even crazier things he might have done.

"Angel, you stay outside," X then turned to the fairy and said.

But Angel shook her head desperately. Her blue eyes were full of stubbornness.

"I want to follow my master!" she said.

"Listen to me." Alex patted her head. "This was too dangerous. I could have died. But you don't need to..."

"We're together! Forever!"

Angel bit her lip. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"I can't live without my master! I made a contract with my master, how could he, how could he abandon me!"

"But……"

But Angel had already hugged herself.

"Don't leave me, don't leave me, don't leave me!"

Ex could no longer bring himself to refuse.

Ax touched Angel's hair, feeling a little touched.

"And Master is so weak! What if he gets killed instantly inside!" Angel cried out, her voice trembling with tears.

Give me back my gratitude!

The reason turned out to be quite reasonable.

Even Deacon Samuel nodded and said, "Without your fairy maid, you certainly wouldn't go far."

X knew he couldn't let Angel stay.

But at least you should get some insurance.

"Deacon Samuel," Ax said, looking at the black-robed deacon, "if anything happens, just rescue Angel first."

Samuel nodded. "Leave it to me. I'll try my best to find you as soon as possible. In the meantime... I'll prioritize saving the fairies."

Thanks.

"fine."

"Then I'm ready." Ex looked at Elena in the pool and took Angel's little hand.

"Oh, right."

At that moment, Deacon Samuel suddenly remembered something.

"The follow-up investigation into the missing silver artifact has yielded preliminary results today, specifically—"

"stop!"

Axe interrupted Deacon Samuel.

Seeing Samuel's puzzled expression, Ax smiled slightly.

"That's not my case, that's Elena's case. As for the results, you can tell Elena directly, butler."

"...Heh, that's true." Samuel chuckled. "Then remember to come back soon. Elena has almost no friends, she can't do without you."

Then, Samuel wrapped the silver chain around the cross. Just like before, the cross began to glow with a golden light.

The gate to the "Rain World" is about to open.

This is not a test.

"This ritual is directly aimed at Elena," Samuel added. "The pool already contains Elena, and the 'Rain World' will reflect her inner world. And you will enter directly into Elena's heart through the ritual."

Ax nodded, indicating that he understood.

"Only you can accomplish this right now. As someone close to Elena, you have the potential to enter her heart without being resisted by her subconscious... This is something no one else can do."

Therefore, it's impossible to have other members of the Church of Jesus Christ do it for you. This is something that only someone with whom you have a close and trusted relationship can do.

"Furthermore, everyone's inner world is naturally different. But in any case, Elena's inner world has been corrupted. Therefore, she is in great danger at any time. You must carefully rebuild her 'self'."

"Then, how exactly do I do it?" Angel asked timidly.

"...Only by entering her heart can one know this. It is her heart; what she needs, what she desires, can only be known by entering her heart," Deacon Samuel replied.

Axe continued nodding. Dr. Green said the probability was low because, although they knew they needed to strengthen Elena's "self," they had no idea what Elena's inner needs were, or what vulnerabilities existed within her…

A problem cannot be solved without knowing its specific description.

Therefore, specific problems require specific analysis. He understands the importance of waiting for the right opportunity to act.

"Oh, right!" Samuel suddenly added, "Dr. Green asked me to pass on a message. If you're still unsure what to do... then go and fulfill Irene's 'wish'."

wish?

What she needs, what she craves... Yes, in the end, these are all Elena's wishes.

To find Elena's wish and fulfill it is essentially an act of filling the void in her heart and strengthening her will and hope.

Dr. Green is indeed a professional; his words hit the nail on the head!

"I understand." Dr. Green must be a good person too.

With everything in place, Samuel threw the cross into the pool.

The silver-framed door reappeared. But this time, it didn't seem to carry much malice.

It's as if... something is waiting for in Elena's heart.

Wait for me, Elena, I'm coming.

X took a step forward, then stopped.

Under Angel's puzzled gaze, he looked at Deacon Samuel: "Deacon, regarding the reasons for helping me... sometimes, I feel you can tell me the truth. I'll understand."

No, I understand now.

Seeing Samuel pause slightly, Ax smiled, took Angel's hand, and stepped through the door.

Disappeared.

Deacon Samuel remained silent for a long time, then suddenly gave a faint, bitter smile.

"Sir Moore is indeed a wise man."

"I'm willing to help the Jazz because...it all reminds me of the past."

If only I had made the exact same choice as Jazz...

Then, wouldn't I be less regretful?

Unfortunately... there are no "what ifs".

God...did I do something wrong?

Samuel looked up again at the artistic portrait of the gods on the wall, remaining silent for a long time.