Category: Second Time Around, the Villainous Daughter Decides to Indulge First

Chapter 59: Let’s Poop Together Sometime

Small hands traced Lena’s delicate eyebrows, outlining the shape of her full lips.

Ling Ling’s soft, stocking-clad legs rubbed against Lena, fueling the fire within, yet the little fox girl remained oblivious, playing with fire, enjoying herself.

As the dying embers threatened to reignite, Lena almost grabbed the teasing tail and pounced.

White stockings increased attack speed, black stockings increased critical hit damage, so what did white-stockinged fox girl lolita increase?

“Finished your homework? Memorized the magic theory? How dare you relax when you haven’t learned anything?” Lena raised an eyebrow, feigning anger.

“Waaah… I’m sorry, Miss…”

Ling Ling hid behind Angel, her expression dejected.

She hated making Miss angry. Anger meant no cuddles, and Miss was scary when she was angry…

“Why are you scolding her?!”

Angel stepped forward protectively. “I saw that Ling Ling was tired from studying, so I told her to take a break, that’s why she came to you for cuddles. And you just dismissed all her hard work!”

With that, Angel tossed her pink hair, turned around, and patted Ling Ling’s head. “Don’t play with the devil, let’s go.”

Lena: “…”

Their relationship had become so close that Lena felt like an outsider, and why did it feel like a strict father and a doting mother?

Like a sulking wife taking her beloved daughter back to her parents’ home…

She was unhappy.

Especially with Angel’s attitude, what was she playing at? She was asking for it.

Lena wouldn’t apologize easily. The word “mistake” didn’t exist in her dictionary, only pages filled with “kill” and “ravage.”

Who would lower their head and apologize when they could solve things with violence and seduction?

“Are you having supper? I asked Mary to make a lot of berry pies, with extra berry jam. They’ll be ready soon.”

Lena’s languid voice drifted towards the departing duo.

Although not an apology, it was still a form of compensation.

And upon hearing about supper, Ling Ling, despite being pulled along by Angel, couldn’t help but stop.

She didn’t actually mind Lena’s scolding. Or rather, in her mind, everything Lena did was for her own good, so as long as there was a sliver of an opportunity to reconcile, Ling Ling would immediately transform back into a devoted fox.

“Ling Ling wants to eat with Miss.”

The little fox girl walked back, planting a quick kiss on Lena’s lips as an apology.

So close, almost hitting the bullseye, it looked like the little fox girl had taken the initiative, her tail wagging excitedly…

Ling Ling said softly, “From now on, Ling Ling will study harder and become the best maid for Miss, and never slack off again.”

“Good to know. Sit tight and wait, you can work hard after dinner.” Lena scratched Ling Ling’s chin, her eyes gentle.

A few words were all it took to appease the devoted fox; Lena’s manipulation skills were top-notch.

Even though Angel was reluctant, she could only sulk silently.

“Your authoritarian education is a complete failure,” she said.

“Don’t you think it’s a success?” Lena looked back at her, smiling. “With you helping me educate Ling Ling, and me disciplining her, a balanced approach, I believe she’ll grow up well.”

“…I… I don’t have that kind of ability.” Hearing the teasing tone in Lena’s voice, Angel stammered, her face flushing.

She stood up and paced around like a headless fly.

“Hey, where are you going? The snacks are almost ready.” Lena called out to her, winking seductively, her voice even gentler than before. “It’s still raining heavily, stay and keep me company tonight, okay?”

Okay?

She actually used “okay,” the devil actually asking for something.

“No way!”

Angel shouted, her cheeks puffed out.

Lena: “…”

Why was she being so stubborn? Was Angel always this petty?

It seemed so, but not to this extent.

In Lena’s impression, Angel was still that clingy, pure little idol, but the contrast between her on-screen persona, her real-life personality, and her behavior in bed was so stark that Lena couldn’t adapt.

It seemed Angel only acted this way towards her…

Oh, the little idol’s skin was itching, she needed a good lesson!

…

Lena, Lena, Lena, Lena, Lena!!

Would she die if she stopped for a day?!

Angel sat on the toilet, sulking, not actually needing to use it.

“I helped you, not to become your plaything… it’s just that you looked so helpless, I couldn’t help but want to help you.”

Angel muttered to herself, not noticing another figure approaching.

“H-hello.”

“Eek!”

Angel flailed, almost falling off the toilet.

Mines helped her up with her stocking-clad left hand, her wrist slender yet strong. “Careful, I just mopped the floor, it’s slippery.”

Her voice was as light as a feather, making Angel instinctively search for its owner.

Who could possess such a beautiful voice?

“Thank you.” Angel steadied herself against the sink, then noticing the maid uniform and patterned stockings, she couldn’t help but ask, “Are you a maid of the Falmouth family? You’re so pretty!!”

Truly beautiful.

People in Almeria rarely had black hair, making Mines’s hair color unique and perfectly matching Angel’s rebellious spirit and yearning for freedom.

A kindred spirit!!

Angel’s eyes lit up.

As an independent idol, she had an uncanny ability to spot potential talents in a crowd, like falling in love at first sight in a sea of faces!

“Become a school idol with me! You’ll be famous! You’ll definitely be a huge star!”

Angel’s excitement was uncontainable. “Can you sing? Can you dance? I can teach you! Within a year, we’ll be the empire’s hottest new idol group!”

Her impassioned speech interrupted Mines’s intention to ask for directions.

Mines waited patiently for Angel to finish, then thoughtfully offered her a glass of water. “I’m flattered that you would notice someone insignificant like me, but I’m already Master’s personal bodyguard, my body and soul belong to her. I’m so sorry…”

“Oh, you don’t have to apologize!”

Angel waved her hands apologetically. “I’m the one who should apologize, wasting your time, I’m so sorry!”

“No, it’s my fault.”

“Mine, mine!”

A trivial matter was blown out of proportion, like accidentally stepping on someone’s foot in an elevator. You never knew if their “no problem” actually meant “you’re welcome,” and they never knew if your “sorry” meant “thank you.”

They continued apologizing, each taking responsibility for the non-existent mistake.

Until…

“What’s all the commotion? Do you need to apologize for taking a shit?”

Lena squeezed between them, putting an arm around each of them. The two girls fell silent, blushing as they looked at her.

Chapter 58: The Rain Keeps Falling

“Master probably doesn’t know, I have twelve younger siblings. They are my most important family, they’ve been with me through the toughest times.”

Mines smiled. It was a beautiful smile, even more so if one ignored the scars on her back.

But even now, Mines still possessed a captivating fragility, making one want to embrace her, comfort her, protect her, and give her the world.

“A truly great mother,” Lena said, choosing her words carefully.

“You’re mistaken, Master. I don’t have a mother.”

Mines said sadly, but her eyes held no despair.

Lena’s worries eased; she realized the girl before her wasn’t as weak as she had thought. “So, you adopted all those children?”

“Well, some of them… the others…”

Mines curled her legs up, hugging them, and looked at Lena sideways.

That pose was incredibly feminine!

Lena couldn’t believe such an alluring gesture could come from a “little girl,” although Mines had said she was an adult.

“My Master…”

Her voice was always tinged with a soft melancholy, like the sound of black and white piano keys pressed by slender fingers, captivating and intoxicating. “Master, do you have any younger siblings?”

“I have an older brother.”

Lena thought of the commander of the empire’s magic fleet overseas, whom they affectionately called “Commander.” “I rarely see him, but he loves me very much. He often sends letters, filled with interesting stories from the sea…”

“Master’s brother must miss you very much, that’s why he writes to you.”

“Him…”

Lena’s smile was like the early summer sun as she recalled her brother. “A stubborn, hot-headed idiot, best not to mention him.”

Time flew by, the clock ticking, the rain intensifying, as if trying to wash them away.

It seemed she really had to see Mines off…

“Achoo~”

What was that sound?

Lena turned, searching for the source.

Mines bit her lip, her pale face betraying her distress, her trembling shoulders and the damp spot on the bed beneath her…

“Why are you still wearing that wet dress? Do you want to catch a cold?!”

“You gave it to me, Master.”

“…”

Lena looked at Mines, and Mines looked back, her red eyes shining like polished agate.

An awkward silence hung in the air.

Just as Lena was about to break the silence, Mines spoke softly, “Master is the first person who has been kind to me… The dress is beautiful, I like it very much…”

“You can’t keep wearing it while it’s wet.”

Lena reached out to tuck Mines’s hair behind her ear. The once coarse hair, after being treated with high-quality products, was now soft and smooth, like the little fox girl’s tail.

Her delicate earlobe flushed red under Lena’s gentle touch.

“I know you’re reluctant, consider it a loan.”

“Master…” Mines murmured, watching as Lena left the bedroom and returned with a few sets of light maid outfits.

These were Ling Ling’s old clothes, the perfect size for Mines.

“Mm, not bad.”

Lena nodded, appraising Mines.

“It would be better if the skirt was shorter… just enough to reveal a glimpse of her white bottom, tsk, tsk…”

Mines nervously clutched her skirt, trying to pull it down, her voice barely a whisper. “Master is lewd.”

“Lewdness is human nature, a bridge to a new world.”

Lena’s retort was swift, her serious yet nonsensical words sounding abrupt and flustered, as if she had just thought of them.

“Too skinny, you need to eat more meat.”

It sounded like a callous remark, but Lena quickly tossed a silver magic crystal card onto the bed. “There’s three months’ salary inside, consider it an advance. Buy yourself some good food and nourish yourself. You’re so thin, people will think I don’t feed my subordinates… who’s protecting whom?”

“Are you concerned about me, Master? I’m so happy…”

Mines carefully put away the card, holding it to her chest. “Thank you, on behalf of my siblings.”

“Wait, I want to watch you eat.” Lena’s gaze suddenly sharpened.

“Eh?”

“You’re definitely planning to buy a bunch of supplements for your family and starve yourself, aren’t you?!”

Lena seemed to see right through her, and Mines lowered her head, her blush spreading down her neck.

She fell silent again.

Why was she so shy after kissing Lena? After saying such seductive words, she wouldn’t even let Lena touch her.

Did she think of Lena as her secret crush?

Lena felt a surge of vanity.

But then she thought, a girl from the slums, covered in scars, with younger siblings to care for, anyone would hesitate to hire her, especially in a place like the empire, where status and identity were paramount.

Someone like Mines, unregistered and without a profession, faced even greater difficulties in finding work.

But Lena had given her hope, and Mines believed in the light…

In conclusion, offering herself wasn’t strange at all!!

Ahem, Lena thought she was getting carried away, quickly stopping her thoughts.

“You need to eat well to have the strength to care for others. You’re so weak, how can you feed your siblings?”

“But I don’t eat much, Master.”

“Eating less doesn’t mean not eating. Little dove, I’m ordering you, not asking for your opinion.” Lena’s domineering aura was irresistible, and Mines thought her Master was so cool, her heart warming.

“I’ve prepared supper. If you’re hungry, come downstairs. Remember to wear your stockings.”

Lena left the room with a meaningful glance.

Mines looked at the lacy black stockings on the bed, her face flushing even deeper.

Master… these weren’t just stockings…

She hurriedly picked them up, trying to figure out how to wear them…

Lena waited downstairs.

Leaning back in her armchair, she closed her eyes, her delicate hands folded in her lap, the sound of rain against the windows creating a peaceful scene.

Suddenly, a golden fox girl burst into the picture, wagging her tail happily, fearlessly climbing onto the seemingly statue-like gray-haired beauty.

Ling Ling’s voice was as clear as a bell. “Miss, Miss, Ling Ling learned something new today! Huh…? Miss?”

Chapter 57: A New Nest? A Love Nest!

Soft sounds came from the bathroom, the frosted glass revealing the slender silhouette of a girl.

Lena sat on the bed, the King of Narcissus back on her finger.

Without any cost, the newly adopted little dove had retrieved her treasure, as if it were only natural.

There was no surprise of recovery, Lena simply rubbed the ring with her fingertip, her gray eyes calmly watching Mines cleaning herself in the bathroom… ah, the soap slipped… it seemed the little dove wasn’t quite used to her new nest yet.

“Master, I’m finished washing.”

Mines emerged from the bathroom, holding her feather dress. She had cleaned herself and the soiled dress, so now she stood naked before Lena, unsure what to do.

Lena’s gaze swept over Mines’s body.

Truth be told, Mines was truly beautiful, her natural fragrance the most alluring Lena had ever encountered on a woman.

Aside from her short stature and the scars on her back, she was practically flawless.

Her skin was delicate and radiant, flushed with a healthy glow, her knees and elbows particularly enticing, and her eyes, always downcast with a hint of sorrow, resembled a pet dove, dependent on Lena for survival.

Such people often evoked a strong protective instinct in others, compelling them to serve her…

“Master, should I get dressed?”

“I usually don’t wear clothes at home.” Lena chuckled, like a rogue without a rogue’s demeanor. “If you’re not comfortable, do as you please.”

Mines nodded, putting on her still-damp feather dress, shivering slightly.

“Master’s home is so comfortable, with warm water and a nice bathtub… I hope to see you again tomorrow morning…”

“Have you made up your mind?” Lena stared into Mines’s blood-red eyes, her gaze drawn to the artificial flower headband.

A spider lily in perpetual bloom, just like the girl herself, captivating, disastrous, carrying an ominous beauty of death and separation.

This was the red spider lily, the flower of the other shore, blooming brilliantly, waiting for me, and waiting for you.

“Yes.”

Mines replied softly, bowing to Lena.

Just as she was about to leave, a languid voice stopped her.

“You’re leaving just like that?”

“Ah, Master…”

Lena scooped Mines up into her arms, as light as a feather, even lighter than Lena had imagined.

“How long did it take you to get here, half an hour?”

“Twenty minutes… Master, please don’t do this.”

Mines’s trembling voice betrayed her nervousness, but the expected aversion didn’t come. Even Mines was surprised.

She was sensitive to any physical contact, a fact long established, but Lena’s embrace brought her a strange sense of peace. She hadn’t been treated like this since leaving Cabaliga.

Lena set her down on the soft bed.

“You’ll get it wet!”

“I’ll change the sheets.”

Lena’s assertive tone made Mines hesitate.

After a moment, she chuckled softly. “Are you trying to corrupt me, Master?”

Who are you?!

Lena was startled. The black-haired girl before her seemed like a different person. Lena leaned closer, but it was the same nose, the same eyes, what had changed?

It must be an illusion brought on by lust.

Mm-hmm.

“I mean, at least wait until the rain stops. You just took a bath, running back out into the rain is foolish.” Lena wanted to have sex, but she wasn’t indiscriminate. Being picky was a necessary step. “If you really don’t want to stay, I can have someone send you back.”

“It’s not necessary, Master, I can go alone.”

“Alone? And get drenched again?”

Lena stared intently into Mines’s eyes, as if searching for something.

Mines averted her gaze, backing away until her back pressed against the cold headboard, a soft moan escaping her lips.

Unexpected.

Given Mines’s personality, this wasn’t the kind of sound she would normally make. “I really want to know your profession, what are you hiding?”

“I don’t understand… Master.” Mines blocked Lena’s advance, her slender fingers trembling. “Is my profession really that important to you, Master? I promise I won’t harm your interests, please don’t…”

“Since you won’t tell me, I’ll have to use my own methods.”

Lena must have seemed like a predatory landlord forcing a girl into prostitution, at least that’s how she felt.

Oh ho ho, poor little dove, if you don’t speak up, you’ll be at the mercy of this creepy older woman~

Mm, I can’t wait to see you cry tears of regret while calling me Master~

Click—

The scene froze, as if time had stopped.

Lena slowly moved the gun barrel away from her forehead with one finger, her expression calm and serious…

Can’t we talk things out?!

Don’t you know guns hurt?!

Even at Lena’s current rank, facing a magic gun at such close range would result in serious injury.

So, a strategic retreat was necessary. Lena acknowledged Mines’s quick draw.

“Master… please don’t force me…”

Mines shook her head; she didn’t want to shoot Lena.

Once she fired, there would be no turning back. Pulling out the gun was more of a self-defense mechanism than a threat.

She hadn’t even released the safety…

“What did I force you to do?”

Lena swatted the Desert Eagle-like magic gun away, her voice turning cold. “I hate it when people point guns at me.”

Yes, any kind of gun.

“I’m sorry.”

Mines’s voice was soft and sorrowful. She was reflecting, but she didn’t know if Lena would forgive her.

She would definitely be fired…

Please no…

“My Master…” Mines clutched her chest dramatically, like a sickly maiden on the verge of a heart attack. If one looked closely, they would see that her eyebrows were always slightly downturned, her dignity placed so low that it was hard to dislike her.

“If you’re truly sorry, you should have apologized when you were about to kiss me.”

Lena released her, letting her lie on the pillows to catch her breath.

The fire of lust had died down, Lena’s desires vanishing the moment Mines pulled out that weapon.

“Idiot,” Lena scolded.

“Master.” Mines didn’t know how to face Lena, her long, black eyelashes casting shadows on her face, bracing herself for Lena’s reprimand.

“But since you returned my ring, I forgive you.” Lena flicked Mines’s forehead.

“Ah! Master…” Mines winced, her cheeks flushing, much to Lena’s amusement.

“I barely touched you, don’t act like I bullied you.” Lena rubbed her fingers, leaning against the headboard, now level with Mines. “Are you going back?”

“Yes, my siblings are waiting for me at home, I have to take care of them…”

“Oh? Siblings?”

Chapter 56: Fatal

“I’m going out for a bit.”

On a rainy night, Mines whispered.

Although no one answered, she still spoke, her gaze fixed on the old wooden door rattling in the wind.

Rain lashed against the house, seeping through the cracks in the door. The floor was damp, the air thick with the humid heat of evaporating rainwater.

This summer storm had arrived unexpectedly.

One moment, cicadas and frogs chirped, the next, it was as if a dark knight riding through a storm had blessed them with a downpour.

Mines hadn’t even had time to exchange her winnings from the deathmatch for a spacious cabin from the hat-wearing merchants before the sudden storm forced her into their cramped, cheap shack.

She huddled with her twelve younger siblings.

In the pitch-black darkness, familiar breathing sounds rose and fell.

Listening to her siblings’ murmurs in their sleep, Mines comforted herself, promising to find a better shelter tomorrow, so they wouldn’t have to suffer with her anymore…

“Master must be waiting.”

Mines hugged her legs, as if to encourage herself. Yes, she would rush out and return Master’s ring.

“It’s beautiful, but it doesn’t belong to me.”

With this thought in mind, the frail girl, like a small dove, stood up, quietly opened the door a crack, and slipped out into the rainy night.

Pitter-patter—

Her boots splashed through the water, her footsteps fading into the distance.

The receding night scene flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern. The closed doors and windows of the shops and the dark, deep alleys seemed like gaping maws, waiting to devour their prey.

The rain blurred Mines’s vision.

The stinging sensation made her blink back tears, but it wasn’t sadness she felt, but a bitterness spreading through her mouth…

She could have kept the ring, sold it, and secured her family’s livelihood.

But such a decision would be foolish. The Falmouth family was one of the most powerful forces in the city. Keeping or selling the ring would be illegal, and Mines didn’t want to sell it anyway, she simply wanted to return it to its rightful owner…

“Will Master be happy to have it back?”

Master would probably arrest her as a thief, but she hadn’t stolen it, it was just because…

Well, who would believe the words of a stranger? She was already grateful that Master hadn’t rejected her…

“Forgive me, Master, but I can’t tell you my profession. You’ll be scared…”

Thinking of her secret, Mines bit her lip.

She had already decided, hadn’t she? To keep it hidden forever, to pretend it didn’t exist, to avoid the burden, to avoid facing it.

It would only bring disaster…

“Cough, cough…” Following the directions to the mansion she remembered, Mines started coughing violently halfway there, the heavy rain soaking her red feather dress, slowing her down.

Like a drenched dove, Mines found shelter, waiting for the rain to subside before continuing.

“Master’s dress… it’s dirty…”

The wet fabric clung to her skin, the warmth rapidly dissipating. Even her boots were filled with water. Mines felt cold, but she had to return the ring to Master.

Wringing out the feather decorations on her skirt, she removed her boots, pouring out the rainwater mixed with the citrus scent of her sweat, then tucked a strand of wet hair behind her ear, a faint blush appearing on her pale cheeks.

“Master…”

She whispered, her voice filled with unspoken emotions, a mixture of suppressed grief and sorrow, released in the rain. Mines murmured to the falling raindrops, “It’s so late, Master, you must be asleep. Can… can I disturb you…?”

…

Sleep was impossible, absolutely impossible. Lena tossed and turned, staring at the empty brocade box, sighing… she had only herself to blame.

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone was knocking at the door.

Knock, knock, knock…

The knocking continued, repeating at intervals.

Who the hell was disturbing her sleep at this hour?!

Lena’s mood soured, her footsteps echoing as she walked towards the door, her tall figure swaying in the dim light, her gray eyes burning with anger.

“I won’t forgive anyone who disturbs my sleep.”

If it was Ling Ling, she would scold her and send her away. If it was Angel… hmph, then she had no one to blame but herself!

The door opened.

A drenched little dove stood before her, her eyes downcast, still wearing the red feather dress Lena had given her, water dripping from her short black hair, the burn scars on her back starkly visible, her usual suit jacket missing.

“You came alone?”

Lena didn’t ask why Mines was at her door, simply pulling her inside and closing it.

Like a feather gently falling, a citrus fragrance filled the air.

Mines’s long eyelashes tickled Lena’s cheek, but it was her heart that truly pounded.

“A journey of a thousand miles shouldn’t end with just a kiss.”

Lena seemed to savor the lingering citrus fragrance of the kiss, a light, feathery sensation that made her heart flutter, like ants crawling beneath her skin.

Mines whispered, “Does Master also like feathers?”

“Why do you ask?”

“You sometimes resemble them… languid, slow, I can’t grasp you, hoping you’ll stay, but the next moment you’re gone, without a trace…”

Damn, why did she have to be so alluring?!

Chapter 55: Urgent! About to Combust!

Losing an artifact was a serious matter.

Lena mentally retraced her steps, but in the chaotic Fran Black Market, skilled pickpockets were common. Searching for the ring was like searching for a needle in a haystack, impossible.

“Don’t worry, Senior Lena, you’ll find it.”

“Yes, Alice and I will help you look.”

Look for what?!

In the black market, a stolen item would change hands a dozen times in the blink of an eye. There wasn’t even a fixed location to search…

Lena wanted to slap herself, looking up at the sky in frustration.

Without the King of Narcissus, her strength was greatly reduced. The difference between rank five and six was significant, and the strength of her undead creations was also vastly different.

She had wanted to create a Bone Dragon, the materials already prepared, but her rank had regressed with the loss of the ring.

“Sigh…”

The magic carriage drove away, leaving behind a trail of dust and regret.

Back at the mansion, Lena first cursed the thief’s ancestors, then took out a glass bird for communication, setting the location to the academy’s Student Affairs Office.

“Hello?”

A pleasant female voice came from the glass bird, but Lena wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries.

Not even God could help her now!

“Tell Agnes to come pick me up.” Lena spoke quickly.

She suppressed the urge to curse, taking a deep breath to calm herself.

Soon, a gentle voice came from the bird’s beak. “What’s wrong, Lena? What do you need from your older sister?”

Agnes was about to leave work when a colleague hurriedly handed her an emerald glass bird. She hadn’t thought much of it, simply asking the reason before accepting it.

Who knew the caller would be so rude about asking for a leave of absence! How terrible!

“Missing a day of class isn’t a big deal. As long as you catch up and pass the final exam, the Student Affairs Office won’t pursue it.”

“Are you going to approve my leave or not?!”

“…Lena, is this how you speak to a teacher?” Agnes frowned, her good mood ruined by a foolish student.

She disliked arguing, always speaking calmly and gently. Even when faced with disruptive students, she always chose persuasion over force.

But Lena clearly didn’t care about her teaching ethics; she only cared about herself.

“Fake!”

“Watch your language, Lena. You’re Ling Ling’s role model. She always tells me how good you are to her, how exceptional you are among your peers. Is this how you want to set an example?”

Hearing silence from the other end, Agnes sighed and continued, “Although I don’t know why you asked me to look after Ling Ling, your position in her heart is irreplaceable. If anything happens, you must tell your teacher, don’t try to solve it alone… Lena, are you listening?”

Agnes’s gentle voice was filled with concern, but unfortunately, she couldn’t see Lena’s expression through the glass bird.

After a long while, Lena replied in a low voice, “You wouldn’t understand…”

” shouldering everything alone isn’t a good habit, Lena. Is there anything you can’t tell me directly? Why keep it bottled up inside?”

Lena: “…”

“Not speaking, are you? Then come to the Student Affairs Office tomorrow and see me, with your leave application form!”

Agnes’s expression hardened; she was actually angry.

She lectured the glass bird for half an hour, Lena listening silently, without any intention of retorting.

Lena was venting her anger, that was true. She wasn’t perfect; she had darker desires than anyone, fueled by a mad desire for revenge.

Trying to coax her out of her distress over losing the ring with a lecture was a fool’s errand.

Such people were rarely persuaded. If you wanted to conquer her, it would be more effective to strip naked and bend over.

Crack.

The disposable glass bird lost its luster, like an oil lamp running out of fuel.

Agnes put away her teaching materials, looking out the window at the gray sky, dark clouds gathering, rain starting to fall.

It was going to pour.

Hopefully, the drains wouldn’t overflow tomorrow morning, soaking her socks. That would be troublesome…

The thought of tomorrow’s weather gave her a headache. Agnes hated water; rain always brought back unpleasant memories.

Terrible.

…

In the steamy bathroom, Lena brushed her long, gray-white hair, her movements slow and deliberate, seemingly unaffected by the day’s events.

Splash—

A basin of warm water cascaded down her slender neck, over her ample bosom, and finally between her closed legs, converging like rivers flowing into a pristine, untouched land.

“I wonder which lucky bastard got my ring, what a windfall for him.”

Lena murmured to the mirror, stepping out of the bathroom, hanging her bathrobe on the rack, and slipping into a translucent white nightgown, staring out at the dark night.

The rain intensified.

A steady drumming sound.

On a stormy night like this, the Fran Black Market must be in chaos.

With the Falmouth family’s bounty, the lost ring would eventually return to its rightful owner, it was just a matter of time and price…

“Boring.”

With such heavy rain, there was no fun to be had. Should she really call those two little nuns over?

She had only been joking; she wasn’t planning on devouring them so soon.

Hmm…

The thought, once it arose, spread like a sweet poison…

She swallowed, a burning sensation in her lower abdomen.

Lena, Lena, you can’t fall like this, what’s the difference between you and those kings obsessed with beauty?!

To clear her mind of these lewd thoughts, Lena decided to go to bed early.

Once asleep, there would be no problems. Could lustful thoughts invade her dreams and ravage her?

She acted immediately.

Her dry hair flowed like a silken waterfall as she lay down on the soft silk sheets, her eyes wide open.

She couldn’t sleep!

It was like forcing a night owl college student to sleep in a room with no electricity or phone, with only the sound of rain and thunder outside, the suffocating silence and darkness overwhelming her mind.

Urgent!

She desperately needed a soft, fragrant “pillow” to comfort her body!

She was burning up, truly suffering!

The loss of her precious ring tormented her, the frustration building within her, likely to persist for several nights until she found it…

Would it really continue like this?!

Lena suddenly noticed the brocade box on her nightstand, the supposedly priceless fruits Emma had brought.

Should she try them? Maybe they could suppress the fire within her.

Actually, Lena was desperate to try them, hence her restlessness…

But she would never admit it.

Chapter 54: Living For Whom?

Caramy arrived late, returning with the setting sun.

He carried the heaviest load of the three, so it had taken him longer.

“A pile of rotten bones, that’s all you brought?”

Alice inwardly compared their offerings, feeling that hers was more likely to please their master, a sense of superiority rising within her.

“Don’t tell me the note actually said ‘bones’…”

“It did,” Emma chimed in, nodding along with Alice like a loyal follower.

After leaving Catherine, they had reverted to their familiar routine…

Flattering their master, attending to her every whim, echoing her every sentiment, doing her bidding…

“It seems Senior Lena doesn’t favor you that much.”

Alice sneered, practically spitting in Caramy’s face, her innate villainy shocking even Lena.

See, this was professionalism!

Truly worthy of a future prominent figure, the mastermind behind the Crimson Nunnery incident.

That look of disdain, mixed with a hint of flattery towards their master… Lena was impressed.

“Ahem, I asked Caramy to bring the dragon remains, not some rotten bones,” Lena interjected before the atmosphere turned too cold.

Alice immediately changed her tune. “Ah! You’re right, Senior Lena! I was being presumptuous…”

She lowered her eyes, her long bangs hiding her anxiety and fear.

They weren’t inherently malicious, but simply following the prevailing trend.

Belittling others to elevate themselves, a common tactic to gain favor with their master.

However, their usual tricks didn’t work on Lena.

They needed a new strategy…

Lena was different from the masters they had followed before. Perhaps the strong had peculiar personalities, but Alice believed she would adapt, especially with Emma by her side.

Meanwhile, Lena had finished examining the dragon bones, clapping the dust from her hands and beckoning the anxious Mines.

“Try placing your hand on it.”

Lena held Mines’s slender wrist, the prominent radial bone beneath her thin skin clearly visible, the delicate veins a pale purple-green.

Mines allowed Lena to press her hand against a large dragon leg bone.

“Can you feel the magic flowing through it…? You can conjure a hidden blade, which means you must possess magic power, but you said you don’t know your profession, and I didn’t see any professional mark…”

Lena muttered, a sudden realization striking her. “Could it be… Rapid Casting?!”

“What’s Rapid Casting…? I don’t know…”

Mines winced, instinctively trying to pull away, but Lena’s grip tightened, the slender girl unable to escape. “Tell me the truth, how did you learn a skill even I can’t master?”

Mines didn’t cry; she had forgotten how to cry. She simply repeated weakly, “I learned it by watching, Master. I can’t breathe… Master…”

She seemed to be suffering from a lung disease. Lena relented, releasing Mines, allowing her to gasp for air, her breaths coming in ragged gasps, the red spider lily in her hair trembling with her coughs.

In reality, Lena hadn’t threatened her, only embraced her, her soft breasts pressing against Mines’s face.

But Mines’s unusual reaction conveyed a message to Lena: aversion and distress.

Seriously, she couldn’t even be touched?

This wasn’t a lung disease, it was an allergy to people.

Lena thought she couldn’t continue with any intimate activities, while Mines thought… Master was going to send her away.

“Master…”

Mines stumbled to her feet, losing her balance and falling towards Lena.

The frail girl evoked pity no matter what she did. Lena caught her, using magic.

“How are you going to protect me, with that body of yours that no one can touch?”

Teasing Mines, Lena gently set her down, wanting to stroke her short, slightly coarse black hair, but ultimately refraining.

Ah… her hand itched… she wanted to touch…

Like an addict experiencing withdrawal symptoms, Lena grabbed one of the nuns, venting her frustration.

“It’s not like that, Master.”

Mines, clad in her black suit jacket, looked incredibly small, her already meek voice even softer before Lena. “I…”

She hesitated.

Always faltering at crucial moments. She had already made up her mind to sacrifice everything for her family, but she still couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Was she being too selfish?

It seemed so.

But shouldn’t such selfishness be allowed?

Her friend’s words flashed through her mind.

“Who are you living for? Yourself, or your family…? You’re asking for my answer? Hah, my answer is… spend money, dress up, be pampered by a rich Master, and live a life others can only dream of! It’s shallow, right? But it’s the best answer I can come up with… It’s all about perspective. If you haven’t seen the vastness of the sky, how can you understand the vastness of the world?”

“Don’t think about the consequences, just do it. Don’t worry about the process, it will only cloud your judgment. Don’t worry about what if it’s the wrong path. Living is already tiring enough, why burden yourself with so many thoughts? Mines, your talent is far greater than you imagine. You shouldn’t be in Cabaliga, but in a prestigious magic academy, under a bluer sky…”

“If I were you, I would abandon those burdens. But I’m not you. You should understand what I mean…”

Remembering her friend’s envious yet relieved expression, Mines felt a pang of pain.

She knew her friend didn’t have any magic talent, but what she should have known was that her friend had sacrificed far more for her than she could imagine…

…

“Did you return the bones?”

“Yes.”

“And the girl?”

“She went back. She left a message.”

Listening to Caramy’s report, Lena’s expression remained calm. With a glance from Lena, Caramy continued, “She said she’ll have an answer before tomorrow morning.”

“…As if I’m desperate for her, the little greedy ghost.”

Lena was amused.

Forget it, Mines’s story sounded pitiful, almost comparable to her own.

Lena didn’t judge this resilient girl; she was more interested in how to extract more value from her.

For example, the Rapid Casting technique, and Mines’s profession.

Hmm…

Time to go home.

Lena habitually touched the King of Narcissus, a daily habit, a subconscious protective mechanism.

But today, her fingers met empty air.

“Hmm?” Lena blinked in confusion.

Meanwhile, back at her home, Mines stared at the King of Narcissus in her hand, lost in thought.

“Master’s?”

Chapter 53: Climbing

Alice returned just in time to see Lena and a thin, black-haired girl tugging at each other. She hurried forward, pulling out her staff and chanting a holy spell.

“…What are you doing?!” Lena’s glare stopped Alice in her tracks, the glowing purple staff in her hand clattering to the ground.

“I…I…I’m here to help, Senior!”

Alice rubbed her forehead, her voice slightly distorted.

“Who asked for your help? We’re just playing around,” Lena said impatiently.

Although she sensed Mines was hiding something, Lena would keep her promises.

But before that…

She had to figure out Mines’s profession!

What if she was some kind of Origin Mage or other troublesome profession, secretly placing a soul chain on her at night, then stabbing her in the heart? She wouldn’t even know how she died.

Lena was wary of the strange and unpredictable professions in this world.

She had suffered enough in her past life, so she was cautious of certain professions.

In other words, she had to be prepared for anything.

Meanwhile, Alice was still complaining, “What’s wrong, Senior Lena…?”

Emma also approached, seeing Alice sprawled on the ground, her heart skipping a beat. She broke into a run.

“You must have upset Senior Lena.”

Emma crouched down, patting Alice’s head, and sighed.

The comforting gesture calmed Alice down somewhat, but she still muttered, “No way, I was just trying to get close to Senior…”

They were always together, sharing everything, their hearts connected. So, on their way back from completing the task, they had already discussed their plans, even intending to serve their future mistress together—Lena Falmouth.

It had always been this way; the strong were always surrounded by beauties. Although Lena was the same gender, her unparalleled strength still attracted many admirers, something Lena hadn’t experienced in her past life…

“How did the task go?”

Lena had Mines wait while she examined the rare materials Alice and Emma had collected for her in the black market.

“Let me go first.”

Alice placed the note and a large cloth bag in Lena’s hands, then began to list the contents:

“Ghost Scale Butterfly powder, Earth Dog teeth, Lich pottery jar, Earth Dragon eye, Harpy tail feather, Lava Lizard core…”

A dazzling array of items, all painstakingly collected by Alice from the black market, requiring considerable effort and persuasion.

Since Lena hadn’t given them any money, they had to use their own savings to purchase the goods, a display of their “loyalty” and also part of Lena’s test…

Lena wasn’t one to suffer losses; she would take advantage of any opportunity.

Do you want to follow me? Then pay the protection fee, it’s that simple.

“My turn, Senior Lena.”

Following Alice, Emma presented her carefully wrapped brocade box.

Made of shimmering fluorescent jade, the box itself suggested the value of its contents.

“It seems you’re very confident,” Lena raised an eyebrow, taking the box.

It felt icy cold to the touch, but upon opening it, a wave of heat washed over her.

Inside were three small, fingernail-sized fruits, their color a vibrant, blood red.

Lena was reminded of Mines’s eye color, almost the same shade.

Emma briefly explained, “It is said that in the desolate Ancient Mountains where Harpies dwell, there grows a rare treasure. Consuming it nourishes yin and yang, and is especially effective in regulating kidney energy. It’s known as a man’s gas station, a woman’s beauty salon, a rarity even in the Fran Black Market.”

Lena’s eye twitched. “I don’t think I wrote this on your note…”

“I prepared it for Senior Lena on my own initiative, I hope you’re not angry,” Emma said nervously.

“Angry?” Lena closed the lid with a snap, amused. “Why would I be angry?”

She simply hadn’t expected the quiet and demure Emma to bring such a potent fruit. What troubled Lena was whether or not to accept this generous gift.

Accepting it would seem like admitting to certain deficiencies…

But refusing would be rude, rejecting their goodwill.

Lena had already decided to accept the moment she saw it, but she was just saving face…

“If Senior Lena doesn’t mind, you can try its effects tonight, on Alice and me…” The two exchanged smiles, willingly offering their most precious first experience.

“We’ve secretly learned some techniques, even practiced together. We can definitely give Senior Lena an unforgettable experience. If you want, we can also take the lead…”

Emma covered Alice’s mouth, giving her a warning look.

Then she asked cautiously, “These three fruits are just enough for the three of us. So tonight, Senior Lena, do you have any plans?”

“…”

Wow, just wow.

Could these two little nuns be any bolder?

Seducing their master? Who taught them this?!

Well… whoever it was, they taught them well!

Couldn’t that famous idol learn from her fellow sisters?!

Lena was indignant, determined to teach them the importance of self-respect. “H-how did you know I haven’t… in a while…”

Joking aside, how could she refuse meat delivered to her doorstep?

With beauties willingly offering themselves, even if Lena was physically weak, she would rise to the occasion!

She would conquer them all! Hmph!

Emma and Alice said in unison, exchanging smiles, “That’s great!”

Great? Great what?!

You’re about to be ravaged by me all night, and you think it’s great?! Just wait and see, you two little minxes!

Lena inwardly cursed, pocketing the brocade box.

Alice’s face flushed, seemingly anticipating the night’s activities, while Emma shyly buried her face in Alice’s arms. The two little nuns from the Holy Inquisition were ready to offer their innocence to Lena.

This was the coming-of-age ritual they had longed for, the safe haven they had dreamed of. For their utopia, they were willing to sacrifice everything…

They had followed Catherine before, but Catherine didn’t have the power to lead them.

Now they followed Lena, whose strength far surpassed their imagination. If all it took was offering their bodies to join the Falmouths, they would kneel before Lena without hesitation, kissing her feet.

It was worth it.

Their chastity was worthless compared to absolute power; the scales always tipped towards profit.

One could call Alice twisted, but it was the world beneath her feet that had shaped her distorted values.

The Crimson Nunnery, which would one day bring bloodshed to the empire, wasn’t formed overnight. From a young age, Alice and Emma’s morals had been warped into a twisted form, beyond redemption.

Climbing.

Striving to reach the summit to witness the sun’s glory.

But the mountain you painstakingly climbed could be easily reached by others via cable car.

With just a little money, others could surpass your lifelong efforts. With just a small price, they could enjoy the warmth of the summit before you.

And you, my friend,

You would freeze to death on the mountainside, your body left unclaimed, unknown, eventually forgotten by the world…

This was Alice’s worldview, a belief Emma also firmly held.

They could treat anyone the way they treated Lena. As long as someone could become their god, they would follow them blindly, without hesitation.

Lena had achieved this and successfully controlled them.

Chapter 52: The Girl Without a Profession

Lena brought her back in the end.

Like a big bad wolf who had lured Little Red Riding Hood into her lair and devoured her grandmother…

Lena walked ahead, Mines trailing behind, her small hand nervously clutching Lena’s sleeve, struggling to keep up.

Her 1.6-meter stature and short legs made it difficult, but Lena slowed down, waiting for her, as if Mines were the Master.

“Need a break?” Lena stopped, frowning.

“I’m fine, Master, please don’t mind me…”

Mines clearly wasn’t used to physical exertion. After just a few hundred meters from the arena, she was already out of breath, sweat glistening on her face.

How could such a person kill?

Lena felt like she had picked up a delicate flower, beautiful but fragile. A lovely vase, but hardly a bodyguard who would collapse after a short run, needing her master to wait…

“Forget it if you can’t keep up.”

Lena glanced at the sky. It was getting late, and the others should be returning soon.

“I can do it!” Mines said anxiously.

Her flat chest heaved as she said with conviction, “I can definitely handle this job, Master, please believe me!”

“…”

Lena’s expression remained unchanged.

“Master…”

“I’m saying you should go back and pack your things. Report to the mansion tomorrow.” Lena said, exasperated.

Did she look that scary, that unapproachable? Why was everyone so afraid of her?

She felt wronged and wanted to go home and cuddle with the little fox girl…

“Then tomorrow… what time should I arrive?” Mines wanted to clarify, to avoid any further misunderstandings.

This bodyguard job was crucial for her, directly related to her siblings’ well-being, the primary source of income for her family of thirteen.

Mines had already decided to cling to someone powerful, like her friend, selling her body for a better life.

If pushed to desperation, she would even offer the most sacred thing a girl could give—praying this “Master” wouldn’t recoil from her scarred, broken body…

A painful memory seemed to surface, Mines’s eyes trembling. She looked up at Lena, like a fledgling instinctively flapping its wings, searching for its mother.

Mines desperately clung to this lifeline, refusing to let go.

And this Master… seemed approachable, not discriminating against her scarred skin, not as aggressive as other Masters…

“Tomorrow… come as early as possible. I usually wake up quite early,” Lena said casually. “As for your salary… ten gold coins a month, how about that? Don’t think it’s too little. According to the mercenary market, this is already a high salary. After a one-month probationary period, your salary will double.”

Double, that was twenty gold coins…

This was enough to cover her siblings’ food and lodging for several years, with plenty to spare.

And this was just her monthly salary.

Master was so kind…

Mines was genuinely happy, but she couldn’t help but wonder about the job’s specifics.

“Master…” Mines asked softly, her delicate face seemingly carrying an innate submissiveness. “Is it dangerous work?”

She felt uneasy accepting so much money unless Lena admitted to wanting her to go through fire and water, or if she was after her body. Only then would Mines feel better.

“Are you scared?” Lena paused, chuckling, her chest jiggling slightly. “You have the guts to fight to the death for money, but not the courage to work with me? Don’t tell me you killed Taylan just by sheer luck…”

“I… I understand.”

Mines let go of her last reservation.

“Mm, I will protect you, Master, and ensure you’re never harmed.”

“Nice words, but lacking conviction.”

Lena took Mines for a stroll, buying her a new outfit along the way. A beautiful clothes hanger needed beautiful clothes. “Try this on. An evening gown isn’t suitable for you.”

Mines hesitantly held the clothes, entering the fitting room at Lena’s urging.

Moments later, a girl in a red feather dress appeared before Lena.

The close-fitting neckline revealed the girl’s delicate collarbone and slender neck.

Her soft, slightly curled black hair made her small face appear even smaller. Her eyelashes were long and curled, the corners of her eyes slightly downturned, her crimson eyes sparkling like stars, yet a hint of sorrow lingered within them.

She was incredibly thin. Even the smallest size looked too big on her, the burn scars on her back alarming, like a monstrous parasite feeding on her life force.

“Master, is this okay?”

Mines asked timidly, her face flushed with the shyness of a young girl.

Under Lena’s gaze, her cheeks turned a delicate pink, like a ripe peach.

“Is there anything strange about it?”

“Wonderful, red suits you. It helps to offset your melancholy.”

The red feather dress resembled a phoenix reborn from ashes, symbolizing the girl’s new beginning, leaving the past behind and embracing the future.

Lena’s judgment was impeccable. She paid for the dress and left the store.

“This will be your uniform from now on. You have to wear it both inside and outside. I’ll buy you a few more in different styles so you can change…”

Looking at Mines’s emaciated figure, Lena swallowed the words “the cost will be deducted from your salary.”

Damn, she had spent the money too soon!

She hadn’t even checked Mines’s professional rank before giving her a dress! Was it too late to take it back?

“Thank you, Master, I love it. I will work hard to repay your kindness.”

Mines’s words made Lena even more embarrassed to ask for the dress back.

Forget it…

It was just a dress; Lena wasn’t stingy. “Mm, one question, what is your profession…?”

This was important, especially the rank.

Lena estimated that Mines’s rank couldn’t be lower than four. After all, she had instantly killed the arena champion, so she must be at least rank five.

Twenty gold coins a month for a loyal rank five bodyguard, what a bargain!

A huge profit!

Mines: “Profession? I don’t have one.”

“???”

Lena thought she was joking, her expression darkening.

But Mines nodded seriously, her voice weak. “I haven’t awakened yet, Master…”

“Didn’t you say you’re an adult?!”

“I am…” Mines bit her lip, her hands fidgeting. “I’m an adult, but I haven’t awakened my profession…”

Lena almost fainted, wanting to demand Mines return the dress.

But then she thought, if Mines didn’t have a profession, how did she conjure that blade?

The little girl was definitely hiding something!

Chapter 51: Mines

Mountains of corpses and piles of rotting garbage were all Mines associated with the word “home.”

Born in the infamous Cabaliga slums, a forsaken concentration of poverty, Mines struggled to survive with her twelve younger siblings.

Food was scarce; they caught rats to eat. Without clean water, they filtered sewage for drinking. The most difficult time was the annual summer plague. Once infected, there was no cure…

Mines couldn’t afford treatment. She had knelt before the Holy Knights of the church countless times, begging them to save her sister, but the cure came with a devastating price.

Her siblings were left blind, crippled, while she remained unscathed, for some unknown reason…

It was as if her siblings had shielded her from misfortune, but Mines couldn’t bear to see her family suffer, it was worse than death.

“If you can’t afford them, don’t take them in. You can’t even feed yourself, and you’re taking care of twelve mouths? Look how thin you are! With your kind heart, you would have died a thousand times over in Cabaliga. You’re just lucky!”

“They were abandoned by their families, I can’t just ignore them…”

“They don’t have a home, so you have to give them one?! What kind of logic is that?!”

“Precisely because they don’t have a home, they can’t lose another one…”

“You stubborn fool, you’ll be the death of me one day.”

Her friend’s advice was harsh, but well-intentioned.

They argued almost every time they met, always about Mines’s younger siblings, but in the end, Mines always managed to convince her friend, who would then storm off, leaving behind some “clean” money before boarding her magic carriage.

It was indeed difficult to support twelve dependents.

Her friend was right.

But Mines found solace in hardship. Seeing her siblings’ innocent eyes, she couldn’t bear to abandon them, especially with their disabilities. Asking her to give them up was like asking her to send them to their deaths, too cruel.

Her conscience wouldn’t allow it.

And when her friend suggested they serve the rich man who kept her, Mines politely refused.

She had considered it, but experiencing it firsthand, she realized that being kept was like living in hell.

She watched as her friend, dressed in finery, was driven away in a luxurious magic carriage, her eyes losing their light upon her return.

Her friend gave her some money, assuring her it was clean, telling her to buy something for her family, then disappearing without a trace.

The world seemed determined to punish those around her for her kindness.

Mines couldn’t bear it, but she was powerless.

Watching her friend being taken away and returned broken, her body thinner than Mines’s own, she finally couldn’t take it anymore.

“Next time, I’ll go in your place… I’ll serve that Master…”

“No way!”

Her friend was even more stubborn in this regard. “What are you, a pure young girl, doing getting involved in this? What about your siblings?!”

“I’m an adult, as of yesterday. You can’t keep doing this, you’ll die…”

“Who says I can’t? Mines, say that again!!”

Her friend suddenly yelled at her, hysterical. It was the angriest Mines had ever seen her.

But her memory stopped there. Mines never saw her friend again.

That same month, the Second Empire attacked. Ten Flame Mages of rank four and above surrounded the Cabaliga slums, a fiery storm engulfing the innocent, the lowly lives.

Burning figures ran everywhere, emerging from houses, tents, sewers…

Mines desperately fled with her siblings, the flames scorching her skin, leaving behind permanent scars.

She had lost her value as a woman, just as her friend had said:

“A woman’s most valuable assets are her youth and her virginity. Once that’s gone, your value plummets. Although you can spend a fortune to maintain your youth, can you guarantee that your rich benefactor will always love you?”

“People always crave novelty, creatures driven by desire… Absence makes the heart grow fonder? Hah! True love is no match for a bull.”

Mines couldn’t refute it, even agreeing.

She only knew the excruciating pain of changing her bandages at night, the injustice of society towards those at the bottom.

She mourned for her friend, praying for her future.

…

“You’re dressed so finely, you must be a wealthy ‘Master’… I won the match, I’ve proven my ability to protect you…”

Mines embraced Lena, whispering,

“I’m clean, Master…”

Fragile yet resilient, Mines had single-handedly supported twelve children, yet now she was like a prostitute selling herself for her family, using her remaining dignity to exchange for hope.

“You want me to take you away? Why?”

Lena’s gaze was fixed on Mines.

She wasn’t so foolish as to be overcome with compassion, taking in every wounded bird she saw. She was fundamentally different from Angel and Mines.

“I need a reason.”

“You came alone, Master… cough, cough… I didn’t see any guards…” Mines’s voice was weak, as if she might collapse at any moment, her coughs wracking her body, an unnatural flush on her pale cheeks.

Lena frowned, handing her a lavender-scented handkerchief. “I usually don’t like people following me, so I don’t have guards.”

“Thank you.” Mines clutched the handkerchief, her eyes downcast, evoking pity. “Your strength is undeniable, Master, but sometimes, concealing one’s abilities is more valuable. And for that, you need someone to do the dirty work, the dangerous work, the tiring work…”

As an unregistered citizen, Mines couldn’t settle in the First Empire. She had to find a powerful patron before her siblings suffered further.

And the gray-haired beauty before her seemed like a worthy “Master” to offer her first time to. She had learned a bit about Lena from the Imperial Evening News, a young lady with a preference for women, which slightly eased her fear of men.

“Master, look…”

She showed Lena the weapon on her wrist.

“Aren’t you curious how I killed that man?”

Lena’s expression remained unchanged. “What is this?”

“This is a hidden blade, one of the most popular weapons in Cabaliga…” Mines materialized a three-edged blade from magic, placing it in Lena’s hand. “I just used it to kill Mister Taylan, while I was adjusting my clothes.”

Lena examined it carefully. “An imaginative design… what else can you do?”

“Guns.”

Mines answered without hesitation, then realizing her boldness, her voice softened. “I’m quite familiar with magic firearms. Back in the slums, my friend brought me many magic firearm designs. Thanks to her, I can now create and use various magic weapons…”

Gun Kata?

The term flashed through Lena’s mind.

“Yes, Master.” Mines seemed to read her mind, a sickly smile appearing on her face. “Just as you thought, Master, Mines can help you eliminate anyone who poses a threat, silently…”

…

Life slipped through her fingers like sand, taking with it many precious things.

Only Mines understood the delicate click of the trigger, how beautiful it was. She couldn’t hold onto the flowing sand of life, but she could guide its flow.

Killing was as easy as blinking. To protect her family, she would kill anyone, even a god.

 

 

 

Chapter 50: My Name Is…

A slender girl stepped into the arena.

She wore a blood-red evening gown, adorned with flamboyant decorations, looking more like she was attending a picnic than a duel.

Her short black hair was slightly curled, a single, tragically beautiful red spider lily tucked behind her ear. Her dove-like eyes were still and lifeless. Her beautiful face was undoubtedly a gift from the heavens, but at the cost of a frail body.

She was incredibly thin…

Malnutrition had resulted in a pale complexion, her emaciated frame seemingly ready to be blown away by a gust of wind.

She was like a dove with broken wings, circling and falling within the arena, pure and beautiful, helpless and pitiful…

And her opponent was Taylan, the undefeated champion with 311 consecutive victories.

Taylan showed no mercy to challengers.

“Fight, embrace the ultimate pain, and die with glory.”

Taylan extended his hand, his thick, bandaged fingers slowly tapping his chest.

This was the gesture he made before every deathmatch, and even facing such a frail girl, he still showed her the warrior’s highest honor—respect.

“Will my death please Master?”

The black-haired girl adjusted the black suit jacket that was slipping off her shoulders, revealing the blood-red dress beneath. Her slender, bare legs were exposed to the dust and grit of the arena, fragile and vulnerable.

Her voice was soft, just like her 1.6-meter stature compared to Taylan’s 2.4 meters.

Lena could easily lift her with one hand, snapping her slender leg with a slight squeeze…

“What do you think her chances are?”

“Asking me?”

Jonathan was dumbfounded.

Weren’t the odds obvious? How could a novice girl defeat a seasoned veteran with over three hundred consecutive victories?

From the beginning, the odds were overwhelmingly in Taylan’s favor. No one believed the challenger could win.

But he only dared to think these words. Jonathan could see how much attention Lena was paying to the girl, so he asked cautiously, “Do you know her?”

If she was an acquaintance, or even a lover, and Taylan accidentally killed her, their entire arena would be in trouble.

Fortunately, Lena shrugged indifferently. “I don’t know her.”

Indeed, she didn’t. Lena didn’t have the habit of remembering every face, and she had no impression of this fledgling dove who had wandered into the arena.

“Personally, I don’t think she can win.”

Jonathan stated the obvious.

He was incredibly nervous making this judgment.

It meant the arena would disregard Lena’s identity and proceed with the match fairly.

Lena smiled, sinking into the leather sofa. “I agree, but let’s watch. There might be a surprise.”

Clang—

The bell rang, and the game began.

Taylan didn’t attack, but instead stood still, waiting.

He stood there, firm as a mountain, motionless.

One minute passed…

Two minutes passed…

The gamblers in the stands grew restless. They wanted to see a real fight between men, a clash of blood and passion. Could someone tell them how this little chick had gotten in here?!

Drink containers rained down into the arena.

The gamblers vented their frustration, more and more joining the protest, the situation spiraling out of control…

Jonathan seemed to realize something, staring at the two figures in the arena in disbelief. “She…”

“He’s dead,” Lena answered for him.

Yes, Taylan was dead, a small hole the size of a fingernail in his heart, and no one had seen when it happened…

In the blink of an eye, the man was still standing, his finger still pointing at his left chest, performing his unfinished ritual.

“How did she do that?!” Jonathan exclaimed.

“I think it must be some special weapon, hidden in her skirt, her hair, her suit pocket, or even inside her body. You know the Frontier Outpost specializes in small, concealed, high-powered magic weapons. Achieving a surprise attack isn’t difficult…”

Lena was also curious about the girl. She wanted to know how she had managed to instantly kill a high-level champion.

Besides the hero, no one could achieve such a feat. Could it be…

She was hiding her strength?

“If possible, I’d like to meet her,” Lena said.

“The arena always keeps the challengers’ identities confidential, I’m afraid…” Jonathan feigned difficulty.

“In that case, I’ll just take back my initial investment. As for this bet, consider it a gift, Mister Jonathan. Is that acceptable?”

Lena offered a deal Jonathan couldn’t refuse.

A force compelled Lena to find this girl. It was important. If she let her escape, she would definitely regret it…

…

The game ended.

Lena met the girl in the blood-red evening gown backstage. She was truly thin, like a stick figure, her malnourished appearance suggesting a possibly congenital condition.

“Hello, my name is Lena.”

“Greetings, Master, how can I help you…?”

Her voice was soft and carried a regional accent, as if she had to strain to speak louder.

“Have I offended you, Master? I’ll leave immediately…”

She addressed Lena as “Master,” likely a regional custom.

Lena didn’t know her nationality, but she wasn’t from Almeria.

Lena suddenly remembered that Ling Ling had also wanted to call her Master. Could there be a connection between them?

Ah!

Ling Ling’s homeland!!

Lena excitedly grabbed the girl’s hand, her eyes scrutinizing. “What’s your name, where do you live, why did you participate in the arena, how did you manage to kill him with one blow…?”

Countless questions poured out.

Her abrupt actions made the girl even paler, a faint, unhealthy blush appearing on her cheeks.

“Master, your hand…”

“I’m sorry, this news is too important to me, I couldn’t control my excitement, please forgive me.” Lena released the girl’s hand, apologizing.

She softened her tone, afraid of scaring this fledgling dove.

“My name is Mines, Master…” The girl wasn’t intimidated by Lena’s status, answering honestly.

“Mines.”

Lena repeated the familiar name, unable to recall who it was.

Her memories were too distant; she only remembered people relevant to her, or those involved in major events.

“My home… is gone… Because my younger siblings need money, I had no choice but to… Master, have I committed a crime?”

Mines’s bloodshot eyes trembled, her voice filled with pleading.

She knew she couldn’t be caught by the imperial soldiers. Her younger siblings were still young and needed her care. The person before her, although possibly having ulterior motives, might be able to help her improve her current situation.

Weighing the pros and cons, Mines took a gamble.

“Master, please look…”

The girl with short, curly black hair walked unsteadily, removing her suit jacket.

Her back was covered in reddish-brown scars, her small body emaciated from long-term hunger, her slightly protruding shoulder blades like a pair of invisible wings, moving rhythmically with her arms…

“Master, given your noble status, can you please prevent the soldiers from arresting me?”

In the empty hallway, the scantily clad girl embraced the gray-haired woman, her arms gently wrapping around Lena’s waist, her fingers carefully avoiding Lena’s clothes.

“I’ll do anything, including what you desire the most…”

She whispered softly.