Luo Wei looked at Tilis, who was in low spirits.
A smile that started out as sympathy gradually turned into a hint of derision.
"I didn't expect your dreams to be so cheap."
Tilis looked at him in astonishment.
Luo Wei wiped the smile off his face and grew serious. "What's fake is fake and will never become real! If you're willing to stay here, aren't you just lying to yourself?"
Tilis silently lowered her head.
Luo Wei continued to needle her. "What about your ideal to change the world? Is immersing yourself in a beautiful dream enough to satisfy you? Is this the world you've paid so much to find?"
He sneered. "Just a dream? Is that all?"
Tilis lowered her head, crestfallen, like a scolded elementary school student.
Luo Wei chuckled derisively. "If you like it here, fine, I'll indulge you!"
Tilis looked up in surprise.
Luo Wei sneered coldly. "I can let you indulge in the dreamscape every day! That would save me a lot of trouble. If you want, I can satisfy you every day, thoroughly!"
Seeing Luo Wei's mocking expression, Tilis laughed bitterly and collapsed onto the cinema seat.
"Alright, I get it... Please, stop talking..."
The reason she had such thoughts was because she no longer dared to face reality...
There was nothing she could do...
So she had resigned herself to her fate.
Luo Wei snorted. "Good, taking the hint is good."
His tone softened slightly.
"Come back to reality with me."
"Reality is far more vivid and interesting. If you can love it here, you can love the outside world too."
Tilis mumbled, "I know, I know... I'm not saying no to going back with you..."
"It's just..."
She was a bit reluctant.
This world was truly beautiful. Over the past year, Luo Wei had given her countless unforgettable memories.
Scenes flashed through her mind.
She remembered that romantic date, with snowflakes drifting in the sky, a bustling theater performance, and the pristine Saint Callen City.
She remembered the kind and warm old lady, and that not-so-valuable but incredibly cozy New Year's dinner...
These beautiful moments, perhaps she would never forget them in her lifetime...
Tilis's eyes sparkled as she suddenly asked in a small voice:
"When we return to reality, can we still have a romantic date like this?"
Her eyes carried a hint of hope.
"Of course," Luo Wei replied without hesitation.
Tilis finally smiled.
"Then I agree. I'll wake up with you."
Luo Wei sighed in relief inwardly.
"Also!" Tilis added emphatically, "My ideas won't change after we go back!"
Luo Wei shrugged. "I don't need you to change."
Tilis looked surprised. "But you went to all this trouble, didn't you hope I would change? Didn't you want me to avoid going down that path in the silver screen and end up killing you and myself?"
Luo Wei smiled. "Is there another possibility? Maybe I've been attracted by your dreams, and I want to build a beautiful new world with you too?"
This time, it was Tilis who was stunned.
"Ah?"
"You, you..."
"Are you crazy??"
Luo Wei looked at her. "You know how crazy your idea is too, huh?"
The witch Tilis's eyes widened in shock, unable to speak.
She looked at Luo Wei's expression, which was serious, not lying.
Suddenly, Tilis became excited. She gripped Luo Wei's hand tightly.
"You also think this place is awful, beyond saving? That's great, that's great..."
Tilis quickly began to outline her new plans. "This time, when I go back, I'll study soul extraction techniques again, and those damned hounds, and after we go to the new world..."
Luo Wei quickly covered her mouth. "Hold on, hold on..."
Tilis blinked in confusion.
Luo Wei looked frustrated but expressed his thoughts.
"I do agree with you, but don't you think creating a beautiful new world requires some rehearsal? Don't you need a lot of experience and insights?"
Tilis frowned. "What are you saying?"
Luo Wei smiled. "Since we lack experience, why not start here? If we can't even do it here, then maybe we shouldn't mess with other worlds."
Tilis eyed Luo Wei suspiciously and gradually narrowed her eyes.
"Why do I feel like..."
"You're just changing the subject?"
Luo Wei shrugged. "No, I really think so. Don't believe me? Go ask Ophelia to test me for lies later."
Tilis huffed. "I won't ask her. She's obviously biased towards you and would cover for you!"
"Don't believe me, then!" Luo Wei crossed his arms, acting unbothered. "Listen, this is a one-time deal. I doubt anyone else would join you in this madness."
Though Tilis was still suspicious, hearing Luo Wei's words, she was genuinely tempted.
She asked curiously, "Well, tell me then, how do you plan to do it? What method do you have to change this terrible world?"
Luo Wei snorted. "Simple—"
"Exile all the evil gods! Make them scram!"
Tilis's eyes widened.
"Ah??"
She began to think that Luo Wei had gone mad...
Tilis quickly touched Luo Wei's forehead, puzzled. "You're not feverish, so how did your brain break?"
Luo Wei chuckled, grabbing her hand. "Let me tell you! That's the best solution to the problem. Without those damn creatures, this world would improve by at least eighty percent!"
"All those crazy extraordinary beings? The curse problems of the mages? They'd all be solved!"
Tilis began to believe Luo Wei was serious, though she still held no hope for the future.
"But you're just a human? And your power is so weak. How could you possibly do that?"
"Ah..." Tilis sighed. "But I admire your ambition, I guess. If it were me, I wouldn't even dare to think about it..."
"That's because you're locals, you've been PUA'd to the point where hearing the name of an evil god makes you tremble," Luo Wei chuckled. "I'm not from here."
Tilis gave a helpless smile.
She looked at Luo Wei, her gaze growing much warmer. "Since you've made up your mind, then, my savior, what are you going to do next?"
Luo Wei waved his hand. "Let's wake up first."
Purple eyes sparkled slightly.
Luo Wei gazed into those eyes, speaking to her solemnly:
"Tilis, believe me, I'm not deceiving you. In the future, you'll see my determination."
Tilis sighed helplessly.
"Alright..."
"Let's... wake up first."
Luo Wei nodded with a smile, and then, the surroundings began to undergo bizarre changes.
The dreamscape gradually disintegrated.
In the pristine research lab, two pairs of eyes opened simultaneously and found each other.
They gazed at the reality around them, feeling as if they had woken from a long, long dream.
"I think... I had a very long dream..."
Tilis muttered to herself as she rubbed her head, feeling fragments of non-existent memories. She felt disoriented.
Luo Wei quickly recalled everything from the dreamscape and tried to guide Tilis to remember as well.
After recalling everything, Tilis's eyes sparkled, displaying a very complicated expression.
Luo Wei observed her.
Tilis remained silent for a moment before stepping forward and hugging Luo Wei tightly.
"Thank you, you've worked hard..."
This time, there was no obsession or madness, no desperate self-destruction...
In the pristine research lab, there was only gentle warmth and peace.
Luo Wei felt a weight lifted off his shoulders, smiling. This was the Tilis he had worked so hard for.
“Why are you thanking me?” Luo Wei grinned, gently flicking her nose.
Tilis buried herself in Luo Wei's embrace, softly sobbing, releasing all the frustration and sorrow she had endured during this period.
“I'm sorry, I’m really sorry. I made you worry...”
“Ophelia was right; I was really selfish...”
“I almost got you killed...”
Tilis quickly began to sob loudly, her tears soaking Luo Wei’s collar.
The two embraced tightly, and after completely opening their hearts to each other, they shared the stories of what had happened during this time, complaining and teasing each other. They talked for a very long time...
Luo Wei gently patted her back, thinking to himself that this matter might finally be coming to an end.
But before that, there was one last question that Luo Wei decided to resolve here.
That was the cause of the entire event.
“The way to open the door, you learned it from your teacher.”
“But who told your teacher?”
Luo Wei looked at her seriously, and Tilis, confused, raised her head, wiping away her tears.
“I don’t know...”
“That day, my teacher rushed over excitedly, telling me she had found a way, finally a way to touch the truth. I thought she had gone mad at the time...”
But now, looking back, the entire affair was filled with doubts.
For thousands of years, the Magic Hermit Society had been helpless against this, so what kind of “miracle” did Usoma have that allowed her to achieve something countless mages wouldn’t even dare to think of?
Tilis was deeply puzzled, “So, who told her...?”
“Of course, it was me~”
Hearing this almost playful voice, Luo Wei's blood seemed to freeze. He abruptly looked toward a certain spot.
Sure enough...
Luo Wei sneered, knowing all along that this was the case. Usoma had been deceived!
And the one who deceived her was right in front of them—
Nyarlathotep.