When I touched little Ilan, I understood the reason for her possession.

Little Ilan, her small body exuded indescribable despair and unease.

There are people in this world who make others automatically retreat when they walk on the street. Their powerful negative aura can even distort the surrounding air, and once they approach forcefully, one feels oneself becoming depressed. This is how little Ilan is now.

I understand, little Ilan. It's my fault.

Little Ilan has been with me for a year, during which I have been trying to make her feel secure. But upon careful reflection, little Ilan never completely let her guard down. The fear caused by past disasters still lingers vividly in her mind.

I have never explicitly promised her that I will never abandon her.

Or rather, even if I made that promise, it wouldn't matter.

She worries that one day I will leave, she worries that one day she will become helpless again, and she interacts with me in a cautious manner, always fearful.

I should have noticed earlier.

When I tried to teach little Ilan how to make weapons, her first reaction was to worry that she would be kicked out.

Worries about being disliked by others, worries about not doing well, regardless of time or effort, she still feels like she is walking alone in that battlefield. For her, it doesn't matter if I can make the best weapons. What's important is that she can sleep in the old floor of the weapon store, relying on me by her side.

Therefore, when we left the village, although she didn't show it, little Ilan was also very anxious.

But she will never tell me about that fear of the future.

Because she's afraid that I would get fed up.

So far, when someone's mind overheated, I used my strength to calm them down. But this time is different, I must make little Ilan understand that the uncle who runs the weapon store will never abandon his little sidekick. No matter how clumsy or crybaby she is, and even if she can't forget the painful past.

Even if she is willful, it doesn't matter.

With her hollow eyes, little Ilan unlocked the power of the ghost completely, stomping the ground and rushing straight towards me.

Let's make a big commotion, little Ilan.

I open my arms.

A punch hits my stomach, and my body flies out like fallen leaves in the strong wind.

Huh, I didn't expect my apprentice to be such a powerful little girl.

My body bends into a "く" shape, and my back slams against the tree trunk. There is no cushioning at all, and blood spurts out of my mouth.

"Keep going, little Ilan! Your level still has a long way to go!"

A spinning kick. The arch of her foot crashes into my left face, and I'm thrown away again.

This time I resist a bit, or else my neck would probably be broken. My face immediately swells up and another mouthful of blood is spilled. It tastes salty.

"Hehehe, little Ilan. This... cough... doesn't hurt at all to me!"

Ilan clenches her teeth.

Next is a series of punches. Defensive elbows for deadly strikes, a little defense for disabling blows, and withstand the ones that hurt. Ah, little Ilan. I'm sorry.

The pain you have endured is far more intense than this.

"Master!!"

Karona's voice in pain.

It's okay. Who do you think I am?

Probably about thirty or forty punches, I lost count. Each one has the power to punch into trees.

Hold on a little longer, my body.

I've also been hit in the face.

Nosebleeds have flowed into my mouth, and one eye is swollen.

Who cares!

Overcome this hurdle, little Ilan!

"Uwaaaaaa!!! Big bro, big bro, big bro, big bro!! Stop, stop!!!"

She gathers strength in her fist, intending to strike me fatally.

And on her face, there is an incredibly sad expression. Tears flow endlessly down her small face, snot mixes with tears, making her face dirty. Desperately trying to stop the final blow, she is also in a struggle with the possessed ghost.

But it still came. I gently caught it with my hand.

In the end, it was a punch without any strength.

I half-kneel down and tightly hug her.

"So, I told you it's alright, little Ilan. Even if you do something like this, I won't dislike you in the slightest. So please stop being afraid.""And, whoa, I'm so sorry, so sorry, so sorry -" She threw herself into my arms, tears and snot smearing onto my clothes.

But it didn't matter.

"Looks like you lost, White Clown," I struggled to remain conscious, speaking to the unseen person.

Even though I couldn't see her, I could feel her nodding.

Because the chilling and ominous aura around us had started to dissipate.

Little Ilan had chosen to move forward. That's great.

Then, I...

Everything went black before my eyes.