As An Antique Shop Owner, It's Only Reasonable That I Know A Bit Of Magic - Chapter 46

After Freddy vanished, Annie, who had been bound to the cross, fell into the water and drifted toward Su Fan.

He lifted her into his arms.

After carefully checking to ensure she was safe and unharmed, the cold intensity in Su Fan’s eyes softened back to their usual calm, and his expression relaxed slightly.

At the same time, the crew members behind them erupted into cheers!

Most of them hugged each other, tears of joy streaming down their faces.

Nightmares, evil spirits, a terrifying hell, the deepest wounds of their hearts…

This wasn’t just a simple escape from death—the danger and fear they’d experienced were beyond comprehension for anyone who hadn’t lived through it themselves.

The noise from the crew slowly roused Annie. When she opened her eyes, she was met with Su Fan’s calm, deep dark gaze.

“Am I dead?”

Annie felt a headache coming on as memories of what happened began flashing back.

She remembered being taken away by Freddy, who had shapeshifted into a black serpent.

Although Freddy couldn’t harm her directly, he had constantly been eroding the power of her protective talisman.

Eventually, the talisman’s remaining energy was exhausted, and her consciousness faded into darkness amid Freddy’s sinister laughter.

“You’re not dead. You still owe me money.”

Annie suddenly realized that aside from her changed outfit, she felt completely normal.

Relieved, she couldn’t help but laugh at Su Fan’s response.

Her bright eyes sparkled like fireworks in the night sky as she gazed at him.

“You’ll get your money. I don’t like leaving debts unpaid.”

“Where’s Freddy?”

“I destroyed him.”

Su Fan paused, then added,

“This fight drained almost all of his power. He doesn’t have enough strength left to resurrect again.”

Su Fan gently set Annie down once she had fully regained her senses.

Only then did she realize they were standing on an endless expanse of water. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms tightly around Su Fan’s neck.

They were closer than ever, and even someone as bold and cheerful as Annie felt a little flustered.

“This is an illusion I created. Don’t worry about falling. Look.”

Su Fan tapped his foot on the water’s surface, causing ripples but showing no sign of sinking.

Hearing this, Annie cautiously lowered her long legs, much like a cat carefully testing the water with its paw.

Once sure she wouldn’t fall through, she finally relaxed and stepped out of Su Fan’s arms.

“Everything is over now. It’s about time for all of you to wake up.”

Su Fan addressed Annie and the rest of the crew.

“Thank you, Su Fan. You saved all our lives.”

The crew exchanged glances, then bowed to him in unison.

“Don’t mention it. I was just helping out.”

Su Fan waved dismissively.

“Annie was the one who asked me to come. If you want to thank anyone, thank her.”

Hearing this, many of the crew looked at Annie with newfound warmth and gratitude.

The sudden outpouring of kindness left Annie momentarily speechless, but then she remembered what Su Fan had said earlier:

[“It’ll be fine. Once they learn the truth, they’ll be thanking me.”]

A smile spread uncontrollably across her lips.

“Alright then, we’ll see you in the real world.”

After the crew waved their goodbyes, only Su Fan and Annie remained.

“Not going back yet?”

“…How do I go back?”

Annie’s silly question made Su Fan want to massage his temples in exasperation.

“This is a dream. You can wake up whenever you want.”

“Okay, okay, my esteemed Eastern wizard.”

Annie grinned, spread her arms, and gave Su Fan a big hug before slowly fading from the dream.

……

When Su Fan opened his eyes again, he was met with the sight of the already-awakened crew.

They had formed a circle around him, looking down anxiously as they waited for him to return from the dream.

Seeing him awake, they quietly stepped back to give him space.

Su Fan stood up but noticed Annie walking gracefully toward him.

Her eyes held a tenderness as soft as water.

Without a word, she simply spread her arms and tilted her head.

The meaning was clear.

Beside them, the crew and actors broke into smiles, some even starting to applaud.

The applause grew from a few claps to a full, cheerful chorus, and soon everyone was happily cheering them on.

Su Fan’s lips curved into a slight smile, as though he, too, was enjoying the moment.

Amid everyone’s well-wishes, Su Fan stepped forward to embrace her—but in the next instant, a familiar clawed hand pierced through his chest!

……

The moment Annie opened her eyes, she was engulfed in a fierce hug from Rachel.

“Annie, you’re finally awake!”

The sudden embrace jolted her fully awake, clearing the last traces of drowsiness from her mind.

“Rachel… um… where are the others?”

Rachel let go and moved aside slightly.

All around the room, people who had been lying on the floor were slowly getting up, exchanging looks of relief and awe at having survived their ordeal.

Seeing this, Annie finally felt at ease.

The nightmare was over. Everything had truly ended.

But soon, Annie realized something was wrong.

“Where’s Su? Is he not here?”

“Su? He’s resting in your room. Jamie helped move him there.”

Annie hurried to her room and indeed found Su Fan sleeping peacefully on her bed, with no signs of waking.

A dreadful premonition flashed through her mind.

“Something’s wrong… this isn’t right!”

The terrifying possibility made Annie tremble.

Without another word, she rushed forward, grabbed Su Fan’s shoulders, and shook him violently!

“Su! Wake up! Su!!!”

“What’s wrong, Annie?”

Annie didn’t bother explaining, shaking off Rachel’s concerned hand.

“We have to wake Su up, now!”

Tears welled in her panicked eyes.

“If we’re too late, Su will be killed!! Hurry!!”

……

“Hee-hee.”

A sharp, sinister laugh escaped Annie’s lips.

“Seems I’d make a pretty good romance director.”

“Annie” grinned wickedly, then tore off her face to reveal the ugly visage beneath.

“How about that?”

The Su Fan before him could no longer answer—blood gushed from his mouth, the light in his eyes fading rapidly until nothing but dull emptiness remained.

As Freddy pulled his arm free, the young man’s body slumped lifelessly to the ground.

“Almost got my hand stuck in his ribs. If I had a choice, I’d rather not kill by digging out hearts.”

Freddy shook the blood from his hand, his tone dripping with disdain.

Looking down at Su Fan’s body, an overwhelming sense of triumph washed over Freddy.

He had done it—he’d killed him!

This was, without a doubt, his most satisfying kill ever!

Since receiving the nightmare demon’s blessing, this was the first time he’d felt truly threatened by death. Step by cautious step, he’d walked on thin ice—and succeeded!

Such a powerful opponent, yet he’d still ended up dead by Freddy’s hand.

From now on, his name would spread far and wide across the land, synonymous with death!

He would feast on human fear and kill for all eternity!

Lost in these thoughts, Freddy threw his head back and laughed!

“Hee-hee.”

Suddenly, a mocking laugh echoed from behind him.

Freddy’s laughter cut off abruptly, as if he were a chicken with its neck wrung. For the first time, sheer terror flashed across his face!