Reaching out to caress the girl’s flushed cheek, Ink Ash asked gravely,

"Lily, are you truly decided on this?"

"Hmm."

Fidgeting anxiously with her fingers, Lily nodded shyly.

"Remember... we’re master and apprentice!"

"It’s fine. As long as it’s you, Master... there’s no problem at all."

"But you’re still young. You could’ve waited another two years."

"No need. I can endure it."

"Really? Later, you mustn’t cry—not even if you’re heartbroken, not even if you’re devastated..."

Seeing her docile expression, Ink Ash couldn’t help but add this reminder at the last moment, his heart aching.

Her slender fingers pressed firmly on Ink Ash’s shoulders, her white teeth gently biting her crimson lips as Lily urged softly,

"I’ll hold back, Master! Just hurry up~~!"

"Snap!"

"Hey, hey! You two are just cutting hair—why so cryptic about it?!"

Valen, who’d witnessed the whole scene, grumbled inwardly. *Do you think I’d get excited over some forbidden romance? How utterly ridiculous!*

Gazing ruefully at the golden strands scattered across the floor—though he’d cut them himself—Ink Ash sighed inwardly, "Sigh... such a rare waist-length hair. What a waste to chop it off like this."

"But... it’s so inconvenient for fighting. And I think I look quite nice like this."

Lily examined herself in the mirror, delighted and curious, feeling no sadness at all.

Facing the inevitable, the Great Demon King knew grief was futile. He gathered his composure and began admiring his disciple’s new appearance.

Her face remained youthful, yet now held a trace of resolve; her golden hair was still radiant, but tied into a neat ponytail—with a single, defiant ahoge standing proudly on her forehead.

Gone were the coarse hemp robes. Silvery-white armor, gleaming with metallic sheen, perfectly accentuated the girl’s graceful figure. A snow-white dress, artfully layered beneath, highlighted the vibrant charm of her youth.

Indeed, this armor was the greatest haul from the Tower of Babel. As for the design, the mischievous Demon King had originally planned a bikini style, but yielded to his shy disciple’s protests.

Thus, the pure white embodiment of the girl’s innocence was born!

A teasing smile played on Ink Ash’s handsome face as he greeted her warmly,

"Well now, it suits your personality perfectly—my valiant King~!"

"Aahh... Master, don’t you dare laugh at me!"

Lily’s delicate cheeks flushed crimson in an instant. Flustered, she stamped her little foot in protest.

Kneeling on one knee before her, golden twilight spilling over his face, he gently took her hand. His clear, bright eyes smiled up at his gallant disciple.

"To guide the future King onto the right path is the wish of this one—Ink Ash Alpha Merlin. O King, lift your gaze with pride! In this world, you alone look down upon others; never must you look up to anyone!"

In that instant, a strong wind swept through her hair, sunlight bathing her face—just like their first meeting. The warm, solemn scene glowed with extraordinary brilliance.

Valen, the sole witness present, didn’t yet know that years later, when the girl would rule the world as a sovereign...

Looking back, everything had been destined from that very beginning.