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

Chapter 30: Setting an Example

A complete and utter simp.

Was it really okay to insult the Empress in front of them?

Ling Ling didn’t know.

Ling Ling only knew how to please Miss. Whatever Miss said, she would agree unconditionally!

“Baddie! Villain! Stinky…Mmm!!”

“Good girls shouldn’t use bad language.”

Lena pulled her two fingers out of Ling Ling’s mouth, rubbing them together.

She was back!

The Miss that Ling Ling knew was back!

The little fox girl nuzzled against Lena affectionately, but before she could kiss her, a hand blocked her face. “Miss, Ling Ling can’t see, mmm…”

Her vision darkened, Ling Ling groped around, her hands finally landing on something incredibly soft.

“So soft and big, like Ling Ling’s tail.”

“Hmph~ Let go!”

“Eh? Miss’s voice sounds strange?”

“I said let go, you little vixen!”

Lena swatted away the restless hands, her face flushed.

Somehow, when Ling Ling’s hand landed on her breast, she had felt a momentary urge to let it continue.

Something must be wrong.

Ling Ling was still a child!

“Back to the topic, I called Professor Agnes here to discuss something. I apologize for my previous frivolous behavior, and I hope Professor can forgive me.”

Lena suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to Agnes.

Such unusual behavior must have a hidden motive. Agnes didn’t simply accept the apology just because Lena was the General’s daughter. On the contrary, her tone became sterner.

“I’ve encountered many cases of disrespect for elders, but this is the first time I’ve seen a student threaten and even assault a teacher.”

Agnes took a deep breath, determined to vent all her pent-up frustration.

“I acknowledge your exceptional talent in magic, Lena, and your unique perspective, but sometimes you really need to change your unruly behavior. It’s absolutely terrible!”

What did Angel see in Lena?

Regardless of her upbringing, if this were Agnes’s younger sister, she would be spanked and sent to solitary confinement with a gag!

“Thank you, Professor,” Lena said languidly, straightening up.

Agnes frowned. “I’m not praising you! Angel, tell me, did Lena bully you? Yesterday’s sensational coming-out incident caused such a commotion in the Student Affairs Office, with students clamoring for an explanation. People who didn’t know better would think Lena was the type to exploit idols!”

Finding the topic shifted to her, Angel mumbled, “I’ll manage my fans…”

“That’s not what I asked!”

Agnes was so angry she couldn’t speak.

Reasoning wouldn’t work, and she couldn’t resort to violence. She had vented a year’s worth of anger on Lena today.

“Well, it’s all in the past. I worked overtime last night to smooth things over for you.”

Where could you find such a dedicated teacher?

Only she would be so conscientious.

Rubbing her temples, Agnes said wearily, “Anyway, you two lovebirds should just get along. Everyone has cold wars. Sit down and talk things out, what problem can’t be solved? As for Lena, don’t attend any shady parties, it’s not a good look.”

Saint Lorenzo Academy didn’t forbid student relationships; some young teachers were even dating. As long as they weren’t excessive and maintained a certain distance in public, they wouldn’t be punished.

Agnes was such an open-minded teacher.

“Are you this gentle to everyone, Professor?” Lena was still as languid as ever, like a gray cat basking in the sun, sitting back down in her chair. “Or… just to me?”

“Of course, to everyone, Lena. Don’t overthink it.”

Agnes sighed, pulling over a chair and sitting down face-to-face with Lena.

Due to the design of her uniform and her sitting posture, a large expanse of Lena’s thighs was exposed. Although her black stockings covered some of the mysterious territory, Agnes had a perfect view.

How to describe it…

Petite and exquisite, plump and shapely, like freshly steamed milk buns, making one want to pop them into their mouth and let them melt…

Wait, what was she thinking?

Eh! Why wasn’t Lena wearing panties?!

“I forgot.”

As if reading Agnes’s mind, Lena snapped her legs shut, the movement incredibly sexy.

It made Agnes want to bury her face between Lena’s long, stocking-clad legs.

“Professor, as a woman, you should know how inconvenient it is for girls to go to the bathroom…” Lena stroked her stockings, her pink and white nails trailing from her knees to her ankles, her eyes seductive. “Professor, you’re so beautiful, you must have a lot of admirers~”

“That’s not an excuse for not wearing panties.” Agnes covered her blushing face, unable to look directly at Lena. “I know your sexual orientation, Lena, but please restrain yourself in public!”

“But it’s so comfortable.”

Rustle—

Lena deliberately rubbed her legs together, making a pleasant sound.

“Professor, why don’t you dare look? Is my figure really that ugly, not worthy of your gaze…”

A look of disappointment flashed across Lena’s face.

Of course, it was feigned.

But the kind-hearted Professor Agnes took the bait, stepping into the trap despite knowing it was there.

“Lena, you’re beautiful.”

Agnes lowered her hands, her soft, water-blue hair as gentle as its owner.

“If you didn’t do those strange things, you would be a very charming girl.”

She wasn’t lying.

If Lena wasn’t so obsessed with lewd thoughts and superhuman feats, she would be quite likable.

Moreover, Agnes wasn’t someone who easily believed rumors. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have woken Lena up in class, wouldn’t have offered tutoring, and wouldn’t have forgiven Lena’s outrageous behavior after almost being threatened…

So, why did such a beautiful girl always think about seducing other girls?

And Angel, why did you fall for such a promiscuous young lady? You’re ruining your future!

Agnes couldn’t understand.

Angel, who had been silent, lowered her eyes and tugged at Lena’s sleeve, her movements cautious, like a stranger, showing no signs of their previous intimacy. “Professor Agnes, Lena and I are truly in love…”

Her words only made things worse.

“Kiss each other right now. If you’re a couple, it should be a piece of cake, right?”

Lena: “…”

Angel: “…”

Agnes raised an eyebrow, her expression stern. “I knew you were colluding to deceive me! No more negotiations! Go back and reflect on your actions, or face disciplinary action from the Student Affairs Office!”

Chapter 29: The Silent One, Adelaide

Each difference in professional rank was a world of difference, most directly reflected in magic power capacity.

Furthermore, as one’s rank increased, professional skills were unlocked.

Higher professional ranks granted access to more advanced skills.

For example, the Saintess’s exclusive skill, Holy Fire, was inextinguishable, burning everything in its path, and was known as one of the most powerful offensive skills…

Lena knew this all too well.

After all, in her past life, she had been chased and burned several times by the Holy Saintess, Angel Cavendish. Fortunately, her soul had already become a demon’s bargaining chip, so she only suffered some flesh wounds. Otherwise, with the terrifying power of Holy Fire, Angel could easily incinerate her soul and body.

This was also the reason why Lena was so determined to have Angel under her control.

Such a powerful fighting force absolutely couldn’t fall into the hero’s hands, including the hero’s future mentor, the Fate Navigator, Agnes…

“This is the first time I’ve seen a living, breathing rank six.”

Agnes looked at the tall, gray-haired girl in a gray uniform, sighing inwardly.

Fighting Lena was definitely out of the question.

Successfully challenging someone of a higher rank was almost impossible in this world.

There were only attribute restraints and the overwhelming power of higher ranks.

Even if hundreds of rank four and five professionals besieged a rank six Necromancer, they would only be swallowed by the endless sea of undead skeletons, becoming one of “them.”

This demonstrated the strict hierarchy of the professional ranking system.

“What? Is a rank six professional that rare?” Lena unconsciously asked a common-sense question, drawing Agnes’s attention.

“Read more, pay attention to the Imperial Evening News. Isn’t the Imperial Military actively recruiting talents of rank four and above? With your strength, Lena, you could easily become a chiliarch, even a general isn’t impossible…”

Agnes’s analysis was spot on.

Especially for a special profession like Necromancer, which could change the tide of battle, they were highly sought after, and rank six Necromancers were even rarer.

As expected, the Falmouth family would soon face upheaval.

Various factions would come to visit, seeking alliances or marriage proposals, and among them might be enemy spies, plotting to assassinate this talented young lady.

After all, the existence of a rank six Necromancer was an irresistible temptation for any kingdom.

If they couldn’t have her, they would destroy her. Political assassinations were inevitable…

“I’m sorry, I have no interest in becoming an official. I don’t know what those above are thinking, but if they dare to come, I dare to kill.”

She pulled out a chair and sat down, facing backward, her shapely, stocking-clad legs pressed against the chair legs, creating an alluring sight.

“My father joined the army when he was young and returned as a general. Later, he wisely chose to retreat behind the scenes, no longer participating in the empire’s political struggles. Then came my brother, and then me…”

“I’ve never had, nor will I ever have, any desire to climb the ranks.” Lena tapped her pale left arm against the ancient wooden desk, a crisp sound echoing. “Power is addictive. I’m glad my father didn’t fall into that trap. He was cunning and shrewd, and I inherited his mantle, leaving all the good qualities to my brother.”

Well, that’s how it should have been…

An unexpected rebirth, like a sudden summer storm, had changed Lena. She was no longer the wicked young lady of the past…

“So… General Adelaide is your father?!” Agnes exclaimed in surprise.

“Yes.”

Lena said nonchalantly.

“The old man is used to keeping a low profile and hasn’t appeared in public for a long time. Now… he’s probably in some unknown border town teahouse, bragging to the locals about his glorious past…”

Lena’s tone was laced with sarcasm.

It was hard to imagine that they were father and daughter, with no hint of respect for her elder, as if she was talking about a joke.

“Ah! I should have guessed… Falmouth… isn’t the General’s surname Falmouth?!”

As the memory box opened, Agnes’s childhood dreams resurfaced.

She vaguely remembered—

When she was young, her family elders often spoke of General Adelaide, wielding his star-iron axe, single-handedly charging into battle, defeating the Second Empire and securing the First Empire’s throne.

After retiring from the army, “The Silent One” Adelaide became famous, dominating the headlines of major newspapers for over six months. Even now, countless admirers in the cities and countryside hoped to see the national hero again.

But Adelaide had already submitted his resignation to the Imperial Military. Now, he was just an ordinary commoner…

“This is… I never imagined that the General’s daughter would be my student!!”

Agnes couldn’t contain her excitement, unsure how to face Lena.

Flustered, surprised, delighted, and regretful…

Almost everyone had a childhood idol.

Unlike other girls, Agnes’s childhood hero was Lena’s father, the Silent One, Adelaide.

Now that she knew Adelaide’s identity, she excitedly grabbed Lena’s hand, asking for the Silent One’s autograph.

“Professor, please calm down.” Lena couldn’t spare the time, feeling a headache coming on. “The old man has retired. I can’t find him, so begging me is useless…”

“How can you not find him?!”

Agnes didn’t believe her, thinking Lena was deceiving her.

“I heard the General has always been working in the Imperial City, how can he have retired?”

“Believe it or not.”

Lena slapped Agnes’s ample bosom with her left hand, kneading it roughly. “Big breasts, but no brains.”

“Think about it, would the Imperial Military willingly let my father leave? If it were me, I would squeeze every last drop of value out of him, using the Silent One’s image to maintain the military’s prestige among the people.”

“The commoners trust the Silent One, Adelaide, so they willingly pay their taxes. The military doesn’t need Adelaide himself, but the fact that the ‘Silent One’ is loyal to the Imperial Military. After prolonged propaganda, most people don’t even know that my father has left the empire and become a free man.”

Lena’s analysis was logical and well-reasoned, leaving Agnes speechless, her pretty face filled with shock.

Being lectured by her own student, Agnes felt embarrassed, but there was nothing she could do. Lena was the General’s daughter, her words carried weight.

“I never considered these things. I foolishly believed the General was still active…”

“Nonsense! Of course, he’s still alive! Otherwise, he’d be dead?!”

Lena almost fainted upon hearing Agnes’s “auspicious” words.

Ling Ling leaned closer, her small hands massaging Lena’s back.

Lena grunted, enjoying the little fox girl’s attentive service. “That old fool was too naive, actually believing that bitch’s lies. Hmph, he should have just given that woman an axe blow, and there wouldn’t have been so much trouble later.”

Ling Ling looked left and right, then nodded her head. “Miss is right! Mm-hmm! Ling Ling agrees!”

Agnes: “…”

Angel: “…”

Do you even know who she’s talking about before agreeing?

Chapter 28: Lena’s Worries

“I…”

Agnes tasted despair for the first time.

In this enclosed classroom, Lena had dealt her a heavy psychological blow, like being hit head-on by a truck. This suffocating pain was enough to last a lifetime.

Agnes trembled slightly, her face pale as a sheet. She knew all too well how the academy would react once they learned the truth.

Covering things up, coercion and bribery, distorting the truth, forcing her to compromise…

Making the victim apologize to the perpetrator and twisting the narrative to blame the victim was exactly the kind of dirty trick this prestigious magic academy was capable of.

Rotten, completely rotten.

This filthy, man-eating prison disguised as an educational institution!

“Bring it on…” Agnes murmured, her eyes downcast. “I’m not afraid of your conspiracy…”

“Professor?” Lena approached with a smirk, waving a hand in front of Agnes’s face. “Don’t give up hope so quickly. Believe in yourself, you can do it!”

The villain’s encouragement sounded more like a taunt after a successful scheme.

“Are you mocking me, Lena? You’ve succeeded.”

Agnes looked down. A small, adorable golden fox girl was still clinging tightly to her leg, her tail wrapped firmly around it.

She chuckled sarcastically. “Oh, your little sister?”

“…” Lena’s smile froze.

She didn’t know whether to confirm or deny.

And Ling Ling seemed to be eagerly awaiting the answer, her large eyes filled with hope, her fluffy fox ears perked up.

“I think I see the answer I was looking for, Lena.”

Agnes keenly sensed the awkwardness in the air, and Lena’s momentary lapse in composure. “Did you two have a fight? Are you in a cold war? Lovers? You seem a bit young for that…”

Lena clicked her tongue. “Shut up.”

Agnes pressed her attack. “Touchy subject?”

“…”

“Why did you fight? Can you tell your older sister?” Agnes looked at Lena, who was rarely showing such a childish side, her curiosity piqued.

The previously aggressive and invincible Lena, it turned out even the strongest person had a weakness.

If she could coax some information out of Lena, perhaps she could dissuade her from her scheming and be spared.

Although she wasn’t sure what Lena was planning…

“It’s none of your business, it’s a family matter.” Lena’s sudden change in attitude was unexpected.

“But guiding students through emotional crises is also a teacher’s responsibility. I think you need to talk, Lena. You have something weighing heavily on your mind, something you need to get off your chest. Perhaps I can help.” Agnes looked like a mother catching fireflies for her daughter on a summer night, her gentle gaze repeatedly falling on Angel in her nun’s uniform. Seeing Angel’s aggrieved expression, she sighed. “This is complicated…”

Tsk, tsk, how is it complicated?

Did you misunderstand something?

Lena rolled her eyes, but Agnes had seized upon this weakness, landing another blow.

“Young people can play around, but there should be moderation and self-control. How can you have one at home and then seek another companion for the night, two-timing them…”

In Agnes’s eyes, Ling Ling was the neglected little wife, lonely and miserable, while Angel was Lena’s new lover. For some reason, they had met, the little wife confronting the mistress, only to be slapped down by Lena.

If that was the case, then everything made sense!

Lena was upset and slept during an important open class, venting her dissatisfaction with the academy’s leadership. Then she set her sights on Agnes, hoping to forget those two relationships…

No, no, no!

How could she, a respected professor, be subdued by her own student?!

How scandalous!

Agnes bit her lip, a blush rising on her cheeks, making her even more beautiful.

“What nonsense are you making up?”

Lena lost interest in continuing the conversation. She beckoned the golden fox girl, who was wagging her tail, and flicked her finger.

Snap!

“Ouch!” Ling Ling clutched her forehead, her eyes filled with reproach.

“Look what you did.”

Lena’s tone was filled with exasperation, and a hint of hidden affection.

“Waaah… Miss, don’t ignore Ling Ling. Ling Ling will listen to Miss from now on…”

“Go away, shoo.”

Lena waved her hand dismissively.

Ling Ling, who was about to grab Lena’s sleeve, stumbled into Angel’s arms. A gentle hand stroked her soft fox ears, and another arm wrapped around her slender waist.

Ling Ling whimpered pitifully, “Sister Angel, please say something. Miss will soften her heart and won’t abandon us…”

“I… forget it.”

Angel finally spoke.

Her eyes were hollow and lifeless, like a wife cruelly kicked out of her home.

“I don’t dare ask for anything more.”

Her original intention was to avoid getting involved with the devil, only hoping that Lena wouldn’t humiliate her like yesterday. However, her ambiguous words conveyed a different meaning to Agnes.

Combined with Ling Ling’s words and Angel’s testimony, Agnes was convinced that Lena was a two-timing heartbreaker.

Tsk! Scum! Player!

Having one at home while eyeing another, not only unappreciative, but also pitting the two betrayed girls against each other, even unifying them against a common enemy.

What else was there to say?

Agnes hated people who weren’t faithful in relationships, regardless of gender. Cheating was wrong!

She had to lecture Lena! Punish her severely!

Agnes’s eyes darted around, a plan forming in her mind.

“Your name is Ling Ling, right?”

“Eh? Y-yes, teacher.” Ling Ling was timid, but she felt a sense of closeness to Agnes.

“Good. Do you want to reconcile with your Miss?” Agnes coaxed gently. She could see that this little fox girl held a special significance for Lena, so targeting this might be effective.

But before that…

Agnes felt a sudden chill rising from her heels, spreading to the top of her head.

She looked at Lena with difficulty. Lena was smiling coldly, leaning against the wall, silent.

And Angel remained as silent as ever, seemingly having become withdrawn after encountering Lena in the hallway, not at all like her usual cheerful and innocent idol persona.

Angel used to greet her sweetly!

What was wrong now…?

Oh, she must be heartbroken, unable to recover.

Love was truly a terrifying thing.

Agnes, as a single noble, had been pursued before, but it never amounted to anything.

As she would say now: Why bother with romance at such a young age? Focusing on her teaching career was the most important thing! If she worked hard to improve her professional rank, wouldn’t beautiful girls flock to her?

That made sense, mm-hmm!

“Lena, are you listening?” Agnes asked cautiously, afraid of angering Lena and being sent to meet the King of Hell.

Dying young would be such a pity!

“…”

“I’m going to have a private chat with your little maid. You don’t mind, do you…”

Good, her eyes were practically shooting daggers.

Her sharp gaze seemed to want to incinerate the excess fabric on Agnes’s body, leaving only a smooth, jade-like, alluring form for her to admire.

Agnes gulped.

Her seniority didn’t seem to have any effect on Lena, and she was even at a disadvantage in terms of professional rank.

Having lost two of her advantages, Agnes felt unprecedented pressure.

And the most frustrating thing was, no one had told her that Lena was actually a sixth-rank Necromancer!

Chapter 27: I’m So Scared, Professor

“…Professor’s persistence flatters Lena.”

Lena whispered into Agnes’s ear, her breath warm against her skin.

“And since Miss Angel is here as well, we must celebrate this wonderful occasion.”

Her beautiful profile rested against Agnes’s neck.

The sudden intrusion of Lena’s stocking-clad legs disrupted the professor’s thoughts, sending a thrilling sensation through her. The exposed skin above her lace stockings was being assaulted by Lena’s touch.

“What do you say, Professor?”

Lena’s grip tightened, pushing Agnes from the hallway to the same dark corner where she had just cornered Ling Ling. Lena pressed against Agnes, enjoying the sight of the professor’s ample bosom being flattened against the cold wall.

“If you don’t answer, I’ll take it as a yes. I think Miss Angel would be delighted as well…”

Lena glanced at Angel, who was following close behind, with Ling Ling trailing behind her, a dejected expression on her face, still reeling from reality, and showing no intention of intervening.

Time ticked by.

Lena’s arm started to ache.

She inwardly admired Agnes’s willpower.

“I’m a bad person, aren’t I? Yes, I’m a terrible person, so Professor Agnes, please don’t have any expectations of me. Now, I’m going to let go of your hand…”

The grip on Agnes’s hands loosened.

The vise-like hold vanished, and the slime covering her mouth and nose receded.

Agnes gasped for air, having almost suffocated from Lena’s sticky black magic slime.

“Lena…ha…Lena…”

Recovering, Agnes couldn’t speak a complete sentence, only glaring at Lena, her face flushed.

“Do you like that feeling?” Lena still had the mood to joke.

“Of course not!”

Agnes swore she never wanted to experience that again.

Having her mouth covered and being groped, it was like the border between heaven and hell. Only a fool would enjoy that feeling of suffocation!

“But I clearly…” Lena rubbed her fingers, sniffing the pleasant scent lingering on them.

“Lena! I’m really, truly angry now!”

Countless small, purple-red magic circles appeared around Agnes.

It was the sign of arcane magic activating. Judging by their complexity, the spells were of considerable rank, at least third-rank, possessing significant power.

So, even a gentle rabbit would bite when cornered.

Lena’s eyes lit up as if she had discovered a new continent. “Are you planning to blow up the teaching building? Professor Agnes, please stay calm. As a professor, you can’t handle a student’s teasing, isn’t that a bit unprofessional?”

“Watch your words and actions, Lena! You just molested me! If I report your misconduct, you will be expelled, and even your family won’t be able to protect you!”

Agnes was truly furious now.

Being openly groped by a student and almost experiencing incontinence was a complete loss of dignity and her bottom line. This was the most unbearable humiliation for Agnes, who loved her profession. And now, Lena was acting so brazenly in front of her.

She couldn’t tolerate it.

“Admit your mistake! And apologize!”

“Oh?” Lena seemed surprised. “I thought Professor would demand a more substantial compensation. I didn’t expect it to be just this.”

“You must compensate me for a set of clothes and stockings, and sincerely apologize, and obtain my forgiveness!”

Agnes remained calm and collected.

Her burning anger hadn’t consumed her reason, but instead, made her even more composed, even more beautiful and captivating.

This was what surprised Lena.

As expected of a future member of the hero’s party, the first mentor the hero would encounter in his life. Professor Agnes truly deserved the legendary title of “Fate Navigator.” And in the future, she would also break through to rank eight, becoming the world’s first legendary Arcane Mage.

Arcane magic was the easiest basic magic system to learn, but mastering it was extremely difficult.

It was like the oil seller’s skill, honed through thousands of repetitions, not just about technique, but also requiring a lot of time and practice, delving into the secrets of arcane magic, unraveling its mysteries.

Hard work was important, but talent was paramount.

Agnes was someone with both talent and hard work, so if she couldn’t succeed, who could?

“Let’s talk somewhere else.”

Lena gestured towards an empty classroom.

Agnes nodded in agreement, but didn’t dismiss the numerous miniature magic circles floating behind her.

“Don’t try anything funny. If you resist, my magic missiles will send you straight to the ICU of the Imperial Sanatorium. I advise you to consider the consequences before making a decision.”

“I’m so scared, Professor.”

Lena chuckled, opening the door, her voice devoid of fear.

Manhandling three girls in one day had made her movements slightly sluggish, but her mind was as excited as if she had taken drugs, showing no signs of fatigue.

Following Lena’s gaze, Angel and Ling Ling also entered the empty classroom, followed by the fully armed Professor Agnes.

“Why are they here?” Agnes demanded.

“To watch the show,” Lena said with an innocent expression.

“They’re my good friends, worried about my safety. Is that a problem?”

“…”

“Oh, Professor Agnes is too kind to hurt the innocent, unwilling to release those powerful arcane magic missiles? That makes things much easier.”

Lena smiled, as if she had succeeded in a trick.

A beautiful smile, carrying a deadly fragrance.

“Ling Ling, Angel.”

She commanded.

Angel hesitated, but Ling Ling was much more obedient, quietly walking over and hugging Agnes’s leg, her large, soft tail wrapping around her waist.

“What are you doing? Wait! Don’t come any closer!”

As the two girls pulled at her, the magic circles faltered. Lena seized the opportunity and immediately entered her Mana Surge state, black mist rapidly spreading towards Agnes.

“This aura, it’s not right, rank six…?!”

Agnes couldn’t believe her own judgment, repeatedly confirming, but the density of Lena’s magic power proved the fact that she had advanced to a sixth-rank Necromancer.

She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

The academy had cultivated another genius, which should have been great news, but she was now standing on the opposite side of this genius, making her seem unreasonable.

In terms of seniority, she should be above Lena, but in terms of talent and strength, she couldn’t even compare to a single hair on Lena’s head.

If she continued with her previous tone, the academy wouldn’t expel Lena, but would instead use various means to force her to apologize to Lena!

Apologize to this bulldozer with no sense of gentleness!

How absurd!!

“Professor, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Utterly absurd!!

Chapter 26: Fate

“Ling Ling knows her mistake, Master, please calm down…” Ling Ling whimpered like a child lost and searching for her mother.

“First Master, then Miss, I have to change my identity just to accommodate you.” Lena seemed to revert to her old self, her expression cold and indifferent. “Tell me, how should I punish you?”

Punish?

Hearing this word, Ling Ling’s face paled, unpleasant memories flooding her mind.

“No punishment, Ling Ling doesn’t want punishment…”

“You say no, then who will compensate me for my loss?” Lena teased the little fox girl, her face drawing incredibly close, her long eyelashes brushing against Ling Ling’s delicate skin, a strange fragrance wafting over.

It was said that some beastkin emitted a protective scent when threatened, and it seemed to be true.

Lena sniffed Ling Ling’s hair like a creep, lingering around her neck. “There’s a reason why foxkin are so expensive in the slave market. Who doesn’t like a little fox girl who becomes fragrant when bullied?”

“Tell me, why do foxkin secrete this scent, somewhere between milk and honey? It’s not intimidating at all, it’s a sweet pheromone that invites crime…”

It made her want to devour Ling Ling whole.

Lena felt incredibly wicked.

After all, such underhanded tactics of scaring children were usually employed by street thugs. Pretending to be a bad woman felt wrong.

“Don’t cry, or I’ll sell you!” Lena said fiercely.

Ling Ling’s tears continued to flow. “No, Miss, don’t leave Ling Ling. Ling Ling won’t call Miss Master anymore, and won’t touch Miss anymore, waaaah…”

Despite her words, her hands still clung tightly to Lena’s clothes, afraid of her beloved leaving.

“Miss, Miss…”

“Listen, Ling Ling,” Lena said, her stern expression softening as she saw the opportunity. “One day I will leave. You need to prepare yourself for the days when I’m not around, understand?”

“Waaah…”

“Sigh, it seems too heavy for you to hear this so early.”

Lena ran a hand through her hair in frustration, a strand of gray hair falling onto her palm. She stared at it, murmuring, “A Necromancer manipulates death, yet also races towards it… Life is but a fleeting hundred years, a handful of dust after death. Everyone’s fate is predetermined at birth. Even if you relive your life, you can’t change the will of the world. This is fate…”

Fate.

What a foolish, yet frustrating word.

The little fox girl sobbed uncontrollably, but still managed to cry out, “Ling Ling doesn’t understand fate, Ling Ling just wants to be with Miss!”

“…”

Lena gazed at Ling Ling for a long time, wiping away her tears with a clean finger.

She tasted them, slightly salty.

“One day I will die. It could be tomorrow, the day after, a month, or a year from now…”

The threat of the hero always loomed.

And the villain’s fate was to become the hero’s stepping stone, tragic and ridiculous.

Did anyone say the hero represented justice?

It seemed everyone thought so.

Lena had fought against fate and lost miserably.

So, in this new life, she wouldn’t overthink things. She only wished for her family’s happiness and to die before everyone else.

Her only fear was the emptiness of outliving her loved ones.

The guilt would torment her day and night, causing unbearable pain, yet she wouldn’t even have anyone to hate or seek revenge upon.

Should the hero die?

Fate was the one who deserved to die.

So, Lena had decided long ago that she would die before her loved ones. At least, she wouldn’t have to suffer in that dark “cage,” wouldn’t have to bear the shackles of guilt.

Before dying, she would scream the lines she had been brewing for two lifetimes, protesting the injustice of the heavens, resisting the dictates of fate…

“Farewell, cage.”

…

A pink figure stealthily followed a gray one, hiding behind a flowerbed, thinking she was well-concealed, unaware that half of her body was visible.

“Miss Angel Cavendish? What are you doing here?”

“Ah!”

Angel looked up, her eyes meeting a beautiful face.

A pleasant perfume filled her nostrils, long, ocean-blue hair cascading down to the waist, styled in a fishtail braid and half-updo. A truly exquisite, classically beautiful woman stood before Angel.

It was like Asuna herself had arrived, her captivating curves impossible to ignore, her long, slender legs clad in translucent lace stockings, her flawless oval face perfect from any angle.

“Professor Agnes! Why are you… no, no, Professor Agnes, you have to leave here, it’s dangerous!”

“Oh?” Intrigued, Agnes crossed her arms, adopting a lecturing tone, and joked, “Caught red-handed stalking Miss Lena, and by me, no less. It seems the dangerous one is Miss Angel.”

“No…”

Angel’s beautiful eyes were filled with anxiety.

“I can’t explain it now, but if Master… ugh! If that devil finds out, given Professor’s beauty, you’ll definitely suffer, and you won’t be able to escape!”

“Now that you mention it, Lena does have a rather bad reputation. I’ve heard a few things…” Agnes thought for a moment, then looking at Angel’s anxious expression, she gently reassured her, “Don’t worry~ it’ll be fine~ I’m a teacher, an adult. Even if Lena is as bad as you say,  I’ll guide her with my love and patience…”

A child could be taught; there were no inherently evil people in this world.

Even if there were, the kind-hearted Professor Agnes had her own solutions.

If gentle methods didn’t work, she could always resort to force~

Surely Lena couldn’t be stronger than an adult?

As a specially appointed professor of the academy, Agnes’s own strength was at rank four, her arcane magic skills superb.

Otherwise, how could she have become a specially appointed professor, enjoying a permanent position in the empire?

So, Agnes was quite confident in her ability to subdue Lena. Suddenly, she felt a chill down her spine.

“No, Professor Agnes, Lena, she…”

Angel wanted to explain, but Agnes interrupted her:

“Yes, yes~ Students should love and respect each other. I’ll turn a blind eye to your stalking today, but don’t do it again, understand?”

“Okay…” Angel’s heart sank.

“That’s more like it.”

After her lecture, Agnes picked up her teaching materials from the flowerbed, her hand gracefully tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “What were you saying just now, Angel?”

“…”

Angel nodded, then quickly shook her head, closing her mouth tightly.

“Hmm?”

Agnes took a step forward.

Angel took half a step back, seemingly not afraid of Agnes, but of something else.

“She’s coming…”

“Who?”

“The devil!”

Angel crouched down in fear, covering her head.

Agnes tilted her head, a cute expression on her face. “The devil?”

A large hand covered in disgusting black slime silently reached out from behind Agnes, covering her mouth and nose. “Mmm!”

Chapter 25: The Invitation

Caramy’s biggest worry was precisely this.

If Lena was plotting a rebellion, it would inevitably drag his family down with her.

Working with a tiger was akin to digging your own grave. Caramy didn’t believe Lena could flawlessly execute a rebellion. If any problems arose, everyone would die under the executioner’s axe.

That’s why he had come to probe and advise Lena to abandon this unrealistic idea.

The result, however, was nothing.

“Cough, just pretend I didn’t mention it…”

Caramy coughed awkwardly, trying to gloss over it.

Lena entered the classroom with Ling Ling, choosing a seat towards the back, and continued, “When a great tree falls, insects become kings. It’s a race to the bottom, let’s see who can rot the most spectacularly.”

Good people don’t live long, but evil people live for a thousand years.

The principle was simple, yet countless people still flocked to it.

Lena had once been one of them, and her end was tragic.

Caramy: “…”

“Speechless?” Lena opened her book, placing it on the desk, inviting Caramy to sit beside her.

Three seats away was Caramy’s bottom line.

He didn’t want to sit too close to the devil, so he shook his head. “Your way of thinking is different from ordinary people. I can’t keep up with you.”

“I know exactly what I’m saying, and I understand the calamity the empire is about to face.”

Lena’s confidence stemmed from her two lifetimes of experience, making Caramy even more unable to understand her.

The rumors were all false. Lena wasn’t an ignorant young lady; her strategy, her composure, her strength, all completely surpassed everyone’s imagination.

This person had been disguising herself with a false persona of a spoiled brat!

Caramy’s heart tightened. “Do you want to be a savior?”

“A savior…?”

Lena actually considered the possibility. “What a bold thought, young man. You have a heart for saving the world.”

Even when the lecturer entered the classroom and the lesson began, Lena was still lost in her thoughts of killing…

“Hmm, rather than a savior, I’m probably more like a world-destroying witch.”

Lena’s languid murmur followed the lecturer’s sleep-inducing speech.

Caramy clicked his tongue. “Devil…”

“A devil isn’t as beautiful as me.” Lena ignored his rudeness, her gaze returning to the blackboard.

“Hiss—”

Caramy suppressed the urge to retort, focusing on the lesson.

Time passed slowly.

As soon as the bell rang, Lena received a purple-red envelope bearing the unique seal of the imperial family, quite novel.

“As expected of the imperial family, their reaction was swift.”

She didn’t know how the news had leaked, but just one day later, she had received a letter from the Empress. Judging by its weight, it likely contained a few magic scrolls and a letter.

The magic scrolls were a welcoming gift, set aside for now. The letter was filled with official jargon, nothing substantial.

The gist was: Cultivating a rank six professional wasn’t easy, especially for a prominent family like the Falmouths, making it even more valuable. The Empress sent her congratulations and extended an invitation to a ball, a gathering for young people of similar age to network and build relationships. The letter also contained a note written by the Imperial Princess herself, likely a ploy to build momentum for the princess before her enrollment…

A clear Hongmen Banquet.

Only a fool would go.

In the past, Lena might have accepted.

But things were different now. Lena was already accustomed to dealing with the two-faced nature of those in power.

“Write a reply expressing my gratitude to the Empress. As for the banquet, I’ll have to decline. My father has instructed me to stay at home and not engage in frivolous activities.”

Lena summoned a small, pale green glass bird, gave it instructions, and then went to the window to release it.

The glass bird was a product of magic technology, the latest development from the empire’s Frontier Outpost, used to store various spells or transmit messages, extremely convenient and fast.

It was worth mentioning the Frontier Outpost.

Most of the magic products circulating in the market came from this research institute, including Lena’s magic carriage.

This world wasn’t solely about swords and magic. Magic was commonplace, but magic technology had also become deeply ingrained in people’s lives.

Flutter—

Powered by magic, the glass bird flew towards the sun.

Its small, transparent, pale green body shimmered like a jewel in the sunlight, attracting the gazes of passersby.

“If even the Empress knows, then the old man will probably hear about it soon.”

Lena extended her slender finger, the one wearing the King of Narcissus, and gently touched Ling Ling’s cheek.

Soft and delicate, like freshly made tofu.

Thanks to Lena’s daily care, Ling Ling’s wounds had mostly healed, and their relationship had progressed rapidly from strangers to close confidantes.

“Miss… purr…”

Ling Ling closed her eyes comfortably, making a cat-like sound of contentment.

You’re a fox, though.

Lena chuckled at the amusing scene and asked, “Is it really that comfortable?”

“It’s not that Ling Ling is comfortable, it’s the feeling Miss gives Ling Ling that makes Ling Ling want to cling to Miss’s fingertip,” the little fox girl said obediently, her face flushed.

Her tail wrapped around Lena’s stocking-clad leg like a vine. Most beastkin used their tails as tools for courtship, and Ling Ling’s subconscious act of curling her tail around Lena’s leg was undoubtedly a sign of affection beyond friendship.

“Hmm?”

Lena suddenly felt a stirring within her, a sense of excitement.

That powerful, tentacle-like tail was pressed tightly between her legs, the culprit, the little fox girl, shyly lowering her head, her fingers fidgeting with her skirt, crumpling it repeatedly, then smoothing it out…

The little thing’s intentions were clear.

Even the most oblivious person could see what Ling Ling meant, but Lena didn’t want things to progress too quickly.

Come to think of it, Lena had never considered that aspect, nor had she ever delved into Ling Ling’s feelings.

After all, in her past life, she had been too busy running for her life, barely able to afford food, let alone having the time for romance, let alone passionate love. It was all a luxury.

So today, was this little fox, who had hidden her feelings for so long, finally revealing her fangs?

“Don’t be silly,” Lena scolded, feigning anger. “Let go.”

“wuu…” The little fox girl immediately released her tail, slumping to the floor, deflated. “Ling Ling didn’t mean to…”

“Too much energy with nowhere to vent?”

Lena scoffed, stepping closer, cornering Ling Ling against the wall, one hand pressed against the wall beside her head. “Or am I being too good to you, making you think you can take more and more liberties?”

“Please forgive me, Miss… Ling Ling just… just…”

The little fox girl panicked, her small hands clenching into fists in front of her chest, looking as if she was about to cry.

She regretted her actions.

Just as Miss had said, she had been too presumptuous. Towards someone who had given her a warm home and accepted her sensitive identity, she shouldn’t have looked at her with such suggestive eyes, nor should she have used such indecent methods to seduce her…

Wasn’t she behaving like those women in the red-light district, trading their bodies for money?

Chapter 24: A Student Should Act Like One

“Lena, put your skirt down! Everything is showing! Behave yourself!”

“No one can see from the back row, and I’m only showing it to Professor, besides, it’s covered by stockings.”

But it’s even more suggestive when it’s covered!

“Lena!” Agnes frowned, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

Although angry, her outburst lacked any real force.

One of the reasons Agnes was respected was her personality.

Too gentle, too good-natured.

Those who knew Agnes understood that she was a natural softie, unable to get angry at anyone, incredibly gentle to everyone, filled with the patience of an older sister.

“Bulldozer!”

However, Lena had now pushed Agnes to her limit, even resorting to name-calling.

But her tone was more like a full-time housewife acting cutesy with her overworked husband.

“Hmm?” Lena shrugged, unapologetic.

Agnes was exasperated. “A student should act like a student and study hard. What will the teachers think if they see you like this?”

“Think about pushing me down?” Lena smirked.

Agnes retorted, “Of course not!”

Despite her reprimand, she had to admit, this notorious “human bulldozer” was quite likable in some ways. Not only were her methods of standing up for others novel, but her behavior also lacked the usual frivolousness of wealthy, spoiled children.

Although she talked a lot of nonsense… her face was undeniably stunning, adding a lot of points in her favor.

Even Agnes, as a woman, envied her smooth skin and outstanding figure.

She would have to ask Lena what skincare products she used.

“Quiet down, everyone.”

Feeling that she had lectured Lena enough, Agnes cleared her throat and walked back to the podium, her blue hair swaying gracefully.

“Please forgive this small interruption. There are twenty minutes left until the end of class. Don’t disrupt class by rushing to the bathroom without permission.”

She slapped the ruler against the blackboard.

Everyone’s hearts skipped a beat, and they obediently closed their mouths.

The classroom quieted down.

An indescribable scent lingered in the air, a hint of gunpowder.

Lena’s verbal threat had undermined the purpose of the lesson, while Agnes’s timely intervention had restored a glimmer of hope…

It was wonderful that Professor Agnes, the goddess in the hearts of all the hot-blooded boys, hadn’t been tainted by the devil.

…

“Hey, I didn’t see you all night, I thought you were dead!”

“Get lost!”

Caramy shrugged off the hand casually draped over his shoulder, his face filled with disgust.

“Come on, man, you didn’t think I abandoned you, did you? I was getting reinforcements for you yesterday afternoon!” Owen exclaimed incredulously, his expression serious. “Ask the security guards if you don’t believe me.”

“I don’t have the energy for your nonsense, go away.”

“Hey, hey—”

Owen hurried after Caramy. He desperately needed Caramy, the young master of his family, to be his guide into high society, just like needing a local guide at a new tourist destination.

“Don’t be so petty…”

“I almost died!”

Caramy stopped, turning around, his gloomy eyes unsettling.

“While I’m still not in the mood to kill, get out of my sight!”

“Uh… you’re ruthless!” Owen was about to leave, but then, with a newfound confidence, he turned back to Caramy. “Don’t you want revenge? That girl from the Falmouth family, I have someone here who’s ten times more dangerous than her.”

Dangerous? Was there anyone more dangerous than a sixth-rank Necromancer?

Caramy scoffed.

He had just been recruited by Lena and was troubled by how to complete the assigned tasks. He hadn’t expected this cowardly, fair-weather friend to come back to him, spouting nonsense about a revenge plan.

The name “Falmouth” alone was enough to make them tremble. Revenge was a pipe dream.

“You’ll never guess who I met yesterday while getting reinforcements.”

Owen winked, his speech slowing down, like a poorly edited film scene with mismatched music.

“The Imperial Princess came to the academy for an inspection!”

He spread his arms wide, dramatically revealing the answer.

“Oh.”

Caramy’s expression remained unchanged. After experiencing several agonizing deaths, he no longer had any interest in anything.

Including women.

Women were the root of all evil, especially beautiful women. Ugh…

“Oh my god! Don’t look so defeated! That’s not like you at all!”

Owen exclaimed dramatically, standing in the middle of the crowded hallway, attracting the attention of students leaving class. “The Imperial Princess’s arrival at the academy is huge news! It means a reshuffling of the academy’s factions. We must find the right circle before everyone else, so we don’t get swept away, becoming a lone boat on the vast sea…”

“And if we choose wisely, maybe someone can deal with that arrogant public enemy.”

“So wake up, man! I admit I messed up yesterday, but look, you’re still here, safe and sound. We’re both fine, a perfect ending!”

The boy with spiky, khaki-colored hair approached Caramy, a confident smile on his face.

“Trust me, we don’t have much time left. Didn’t we agree to conquer all the women in the world together?!”

Owen thought his words had taken effect.

After all, they had known each other since childhood and were familiar with each other’s temperaments. Usually, even genuine anger would dissipate quickly. Two pieces of mud clinging to each other for warmth, they only had each other.

But he had overlooked Caramy’s resolve.

The person before him was no longer the same person.

Caramy sighed maturely. “Listen, I’ll consider the reshuffling. Thank you for bringing such important news. I hope you can also find your place. That’s all…”

That’s all—

“What the hell does that mean?”

Owen watched in confusion as Caramy disappeared into the crowd, muttering to himself, “It’s over, it’s over.”

“Is he… breaking up with me?”

…

Caramy pushed through the crowd, calling out to the most prominent shade of lead-gray among the colorful heads.

“Lena!”

“Hmm?”

Lena turned around, still holding Ling Ling’s hand. Caramy quickly approached, stopping half a meter away.

“I heard that Imperial Princess Diana is coming to the academy. She’s the Empress’s most favored daughter. Be careful and avoid her.”

“Oh, I know.”

Lena continued towards the next classroom, taking the backpack from Ling Ling’s back and tossing it to Caramy as she walked.

He caught it awkwardly, enduring the stares.

A young master reduced to a book-carrying errand boy, it was humiliating.

But what else could he do? This was the miserable fate of offending Lena.

Being alive was already a blessing, was there anything more terrifying than death?

…Yes.

Dying thirty-two times in a row, each death different.

Highly recommended, mental breakdowns not covered by insurance.

“Um…”

“More questions?”

“That important person you mentioned wanting to assassinate, is it who I think it is?”

Chapter 23: The Falmouths, Though Far Away, Will Be Punished

“That’s too much!”

“Exactly! She already has Junior Angel, what more does she want?! She’s not even letting Professor Agnes off the hook!”

“My pure and innocent Professor Agnes! Please don’t get involved with that person, she’s a devil who preys on girls…”

Yesterday’s news spread like wildfire throughout the various departments. Coupled with Lena sleeping in class and disrespecting her elders, her image worsened in the eyes of the public, escalating to the level of public enemy.

Although most people had heard of Lena’s exploits, they didn’t know what she actually looked like.

So, when they heard that the person sleeping in the last row was the legendary “Queen of All Women,” Lena Falmouth, almost everyone turned their gaze towards the slender figure with gray hair like a long robe.

“Um…”

After being ignored by Lena, Agnes hesitated for a moment, then straightened up, facing the noisy students below. “Quiet.”

Two words, spoken in a gentle voice that carried an irresistible magic.

Like a perfectly timed tranquilizer, injected into everyone’s hearts.

A brief silence.

Everyone held their breath, even forgetting to breathe.

“Is Professor Agnes angry?”

“It seems so. Even when she’s angry, she doesn’t show it. As expected of everyone’s dream lover, she’s too gentle.”

“It’s an open class after all, with the empire’s higher-ups and department heads present. Someone’s actually sleeping during such an important class. I’d be angry too, but Professor Agnes’s anger has no bite, how cute…”

Whispers gradually turned into murmurs.

The situation became uncontrollable, with school leaders shaking their heads, closing their scorecards, and starting to pack up their documents.

“Wake up!”

Agnes’s voice was laced with anxiety, her beautiful eyes filled with sorrow.

Open classes were extremely important for every teacher, affecting their salary increases, reputation, and even promotion opportunities. However, Agnes was now facing a disastrous situation, all because of the gray-haired female student in front of her.

It wasn’t that she blamed Lena for deliberately causing trouble.

Agnes believed that every student was like her own daughter. A teacher for a day, a mother for life. She should guide troubled students onto the right path, requiring endless patience…

Gentle persuasion!

Remember to be gentle!

“Lena, many people are watching you. Listen to your older sister, can you please wake up?”

Her voice was incredibly gentle.

Agnes’s water-blue hair fell onto Lena’s wrist, a faint fragrance wafting over, as if cleansing one’s soul.

Lena’s mind stirred slightly, and her eyes, buried beneath her arms, closed comfortably.

Unfortunately, Lena’s soul had long been sold to the demons, and only a beautiful shell remained after her rebirth.

“Lena? Are you sulking with your older sister?”

Agnes always knew how to find the right approach. Calling Lena her “sister” charmed everyone, making Lena seem unreasonable.

Although it was their first conversation, it felt like they had known each other for a long time.

“How about this, if Lena wakes up, I’m willing to help you with magic theory after class. I heard from Professor Witch that you’re a little weak in this area and have missed many classes. After all, failing is quite troublesome, you’ll have to retake the exam…”

Suddenly, as if by magic, a pair of ears perked up.

Agnes understood and pressed her advantage. “What do you think, Lena?”

Lena reluctantly sat up, slowly straightening her back. Her 1.76-meter height towered over Agnes.

Agnes had no choice but to look up.

Her beautiful blue eyes seemed to overflow with spring water, her delicate features and gentle demeanor evoking a deep protective instinct.

“Um… Lena?”

“Professor, if you give me special tutoring like this, the other students will think you have feelings for me…”

Lena placed a hand on Agnes’s head, ruffling her hair just as she did with Ling Ling.

Without looking at Agnes’s blushing neck, Lena sat back down, as if nothing had happened.

All of this happened in just three seconds.

The dramatic effect was like a rollercoaster ride from heaven to hell for the onlookers.

Their goddess, even the most beautiful professor of the Arcane Academy, had fallen for her?

Yesterday it was the popular idol, Miss Angel, and now her evil claws had reached Agnes…

Unruly!

Did Lena Falmouth think the academy was her personal harem?!

Was there no law and order?

Was there no law—at all?

“You don’t have to worry about a degenerate like me. Keeping your distance is the wise choice…” Lena said, half self-deprecating, half teasing. “You can continue your lecture.”

“You’re not going to sleep?” Agnes asked.

“With so many flies buzzing around, who could sleep?”

Lena crossed her legs nonchalantly, her gray eyes sweeping across the audience, her lips curving into a smile. “But with the beautiful professor’s lecture as a side dish, even the most unappetizing course becomes palatable.”

“If anyone is foolish enough to leave, I’ll simply consider them ignorant and lacking in judgment. After all, such a good class, such an excellent lecturer, losing the chance to be rated excellent just because one student is sleeping, I have reason to suspect discrimination from the academy and the Imperial Education Department.”

“The Falmouths, though far away, will be punished.”

Lena uttered the last sentence with a smile, her demeanor still languid.

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it reached every corner of the classroom.

Several department heads, who had reached the door, turned back and glared at Lena, their faces dark.

Because unlike other teachers, Agnes had never offered them bribes. So, they always deliberately found excuses to make things difficult for her during open classes, or simply absented themselves and gave her low scores.

This seemed to have become a common practice at Saint Lorenzo Magic Academy.

No bribes = no favors.

Bribes = allies.

So, naturally, Lena’s words, which threatened their interests, made them furious. But they didn’t dare offend the powerful family behind Lena, so they could only swallow their anger and listen to the lecture.

“Pfft…”

Seeing the disgruntled department heads, Agnes couldn’t help but giggle. “You’re so impressive.”

“I can be even more impressive. Would Professor want to see?” Lena teased, lifting the corner of her skirt, revealing a glimpse of her smooth, stocking-clad thigh and rounded bottom.

She sent a seductive glance Agnes’s way.

Agnes’s heart skipped a beat, then she quickly changed the subject, chuckling dryly. “Forget it, I don’t have the courage, hehe…”

What was wrong with Lena?

Suddenly, she seemed so charming, so alluring…

No, no, no!

She was your student, Agnes! You couldn’t have strange thoughts just because she was beautiful!

You weren’t even attracted to girls; you must be lonely…

Chapter 22: Who Do You Really Want to Kill?

He finally understood.

Caramy vaguely felt his body lifted into the air. He forced his eyes open, his limbs intact, his mind not fried by the Spellbreaker. “…Uh?”

“We meet again, Young Master Caramy.” Lena bent down to help him up, their hands clasping. “The first time was the price for your arrogant offense. Today, you trespassed on my property again. What is your purpose?”

Lena was always better at playing the victim.

Caramy was speechless, unable to retort.

He stammered, “Ah… you… I…”

“Hehehe, don’t you recognize me? I thought death would teach people a lesson, but it seems innate stupidity triumphs over death. But Young Master Caramy, with your noble status, it’s natural for you to forget insignificant people like me.”

Lena had already obtained Caramy’s complete personal information from Angel.

Caramy Godfrey, from a family of assassins secretly cultivated by the empire, all members possessing the rare Assassin profession, elusive and ghostly.

She hadn’t expected another big fish to take the bait within just a few days of her rebirth, and one completely outside her plans. An unexpected windfall.

“Lena Falmouth!” Caramy finally shouted Lena’s full name, taking several steps back.

Lena covered her mouth, laughing. “You finally remember…”

“Bulldozer!” Caramy pointed a trembling finger at Lena. “You roasted me alive! I want to know what your intention was!”

“Tsk, how rude of you.”

Lena gave a signal, and the Spellbreaker, Kevin, immediately stepped forward, blue flames dancing in its mouth, dripping from its jawbone onto the ground.

Sizzle—

The corrosive nature of necromantic magic, combined with the Spellbreaker’s unique magic, instantly drained the life from the grass beneath their feet.

Grayish-white.

The vibrant green transformed into a desolate gray.

Grey Robe’s cloak billowed without wind, her terrifying yet beautiful figure imprinted in Caramy’s mind as a final, dramatic scene before fading into darkness…

Caramy died again.

Dying without understanding, without knowing what he had done wrong.

Casting Resurrection again, Lena was noticeably more proficient. She treated Caramy like a lab rat, throwing various necromantic spells at him, regardless of whether he could withstand them.

He wouldn’t die anyway, and even if he did, she could revive him.

With the demonic power supporting her, Lena was unrestrained by any limitations or conditions. Resurrection became her tool for casually trampling on life.

“Enough… kill me! If you have the guts, finish me off!”

Resurrected for the thirty-second time, Caramy’s eyes were bloodshot, pain driving him to madness, desperately seeking release from the cycle of life and death.

His hatred turned into murderous intent, then into fear, his pleas for mercy eventually replaced by a numb expression, his spirit broken.

He never imagined Lena would actually dare to touch him, a favored young master of his family…

“I don’t like repeating myself. I hope you can learn something.”

Lena flicked her finger, and Caramy died once more from cardiac arrest.

Under the expanse of her gray domain, even the sun couldn’t penetrate, creating the perfect environment for necromancy.

His twisted spine was forcibly straightened. Caramy opened his eyes, on the verge of collapse. “Let me go… Spare me, I’ll offer you anything you want…”

“Oh, where is your noble pride now?” Lena sneered, instructing Kevin to increase the intensity of the mental assault. “The capital you possess is nothing but something I can easily obtain. Killing you won’t change the outcome.”

“Then what do you want…? Gah…”

Caramy completely surrendered. Lena was invincible to him now; his previous thoughts were too naive.

In the face of absolute power, all schemes and tricks were futile.

Especially with a Spellbreaker skeleton watching him like a hawk.

“Take it, take everything… Spare me, and the Godfrey family will be at the Falmouth family’s disposal…”

“Serving the Falmouths, hmm, that sounds interesting.”

Lena received the answer she wanted and nodded in satisfaction.

“But time is of the essence, I’m afraid I can’t wait.”

“Of course, there’s also interest! I can help you assassinate!” Caramy desperately clung to this lifeline. To survive, he had to utilize every available resource, including his status as the second son of the Godfrey family. “I can mobilize the Assassins in my family below rank four! Silently eliminate anyone who hinders the Falmouth family! Without a trace!!”

“I must admit, this is a very attractive proposition.” Lena’s eyes narrowed with interest. “So, you can assassinate anyone?”

“Absolutely! The Assassin clan was born for assassination!” Caramy nodded eagerly, as if afraid of angering the smiling gray-haired beauty before him.

“I’m asking, no matter how important the person’s identity is, no matter how great the impact of their death, there’s no problem?” Lena asked slowly, her voice light and airy.

Her smile was breathtakingly beautiful.

But Caramy, the playboy, was terrified to the core. “Who… who… who do you really want to kill?”

“Didn’t you just say it? Eliminate anyone who hinders the Falmouth family.”

“…”

Caramy’s eyes widened.

Suddenly, it seemed he understood…

…

Recruiting was truly exhausting.

In her past life, she had been used to working alone. If someone annoyed her, she would send a squad of sixth-rank skeletal soldiers to their house and slaughter them, taking revenge on the spot, never leaving it for tomorrow, never needing to think twice.

Subduing the Assassin clan in this life was far more tiring than a battle.

Her brain cells were severely depleted, in dire need of replenishment from a soft, fragrant beauty. Hmm, Angel…

In the open magic theory class, Lena rested her chin on her hand, listening half-heartedly, drowsiness creeping in.

A beautiful, specially appointed professor stood at the podium, her figure graceful, speaking eloquently:

“Constructing spells to achieve magic, using magic power to drive spells. The formation of spells, guided by the caster, manifests different effects, be it healing or destruction, turning defeat into victory, bringing the critically ill back from the brink of death… Magic encompasses almost all power systems in this world… This student? Would someone please wake her up…”

Lena vaguely heard someone calling in her direction.

She didn’t open her eyes.

She simply raised her hand above her head, signaling to the professor that she was listening.

Of course, such a perfunctory attitude wouldn’t be accepted. The beautiful professor walked closer, her high heels clicking, and leaned down. “Student, if you’re truly tired, please stand up. This lesson is very important, and the knowledge points will be on the test.”

“…”

Lena ignored her completely.

She lay face down on the desk, giving the supposedly gentle professor no face whatsoever.

This made the professor feel embarrassed, unsure of what to do.

Chapter 21: Ignited, Then Extinguished

Reasonable and legitimate.

Surely Miss wouldn’t notice, right?

The little fox girl calculated.

Watching Lena’s thoughtful expression,

“Master?” Ling Ling tried the address.

She admitted there was an element of risk.

But she seemed to have won the bet…

“Hmm.” The gray-haired beauty hummed in acknowledgment.

“Master!” The little fox girl hugged Lena’s leg, her tail rubbing vigorously.

“Call me Miss, not Master.”

Lena smiled faintly, a hint of helplessness in her eyes.

She truly couldn’t refuse Ling Ling. As if repaying a debt from her past life, her tolerance for Ling Ling was boundless.

Any other unfamiliar maid would have been scolded harshly.

“It’s okay to call me that in private, but outside, you still have to call me Miss.”

Lena placed her hand on Ling Ling’s head, her voice soft.

“Don’t follow someone’s bad example, unwilling to even call me Master. Come on, say it a few times for her to hear, so she remembers.”

“You…! Pervert!”

Angel recognized the sarcasm, but under the constraints of the contract, she could only endure.

She knew her current situation was difficult. From Lena’s attitude, she had gleaned some useful information. Perhaps trying to build a good relationship with Ling Ling could help improve her situation…

Lena seemed to like this golden fox girl very much, not displaying the arrogant and condescending attitude typical of master-servant relationships in aristocratic circles.

This contradicted Lena’s reputation and made her seem more like a doting mother indulging her child’s whims.

Could she use this to her advantage?

There was a crucial prerequisite.

Ling Ling’s position in Lena’s heart had to be as solid as a rock, a shield behind which Angel could find refuge and respite.

Therefore—

Angel took Ling Ling’s hand and said intimately, “Master has asked me to spend two hours every evening tutoring you in music and dance, to build a solid foundation for your professional advancement. Given this relationship, you should call me teacher, shouldn’t you?”

“Then… Teacher Angel,” Ling Ling said sweetly, with the apprehension of a first-time student.

“Good girl~” Angel ruffled her soft golden hair. “Actually, you can just call me Sister Angel. I was just teasing you, don’t be so nervous.”

“Sister Angel is bad!”

After a few interactions, they unsurprisingly became close friends.

Being of similar age and both girls, Ling Ling was the only young fox girl in the vast mansion. Sometimes, she did feel lonely, making her all the more excited and happy about Angel’s arrival.

“Uncle Bob is the butler, he’s been working here for over twenty years. Aunt Mary is Uncle Bob’s wife, and she manages all the affairs of the mansion. She’s the cook and also the head maid, so all the maids, including Ling Ling, have to listen to Aunt Mary.”

Sunlight streamed into the hallway, casting circles of light on the bronze floor.

Ling Ling enthusiastically introduced the household staff while stealing glances at Lena’s expression.

Seeing that Lena didn’t appear annoyed or displeased, she relaxed.

But a familiar voice soon reached her ears:

“I don’t want to inquire about the duties of every maid. The skeletal guard at the door just said he caught a runaway rat. I’ll be back soon.”

With that, Lena turned and left, her gray hair fluttering, disappearing around the corner in the blink of an eye.

“Huh?” Angel was taken aback.

“A rat?” Ling Ling’s face was also filled with confusion.

She swept her tail questioningly. “Are there… rats in the house?”

…

There were no rats.

But there was a lost Ratkin.

Seeing the exit right in front of him, Caramy didn’t dare move, like a camper who had encountered a bear, hoping for a miracle.

He gulped nervously, his adrenaline surging. “Why is there an undead creature in a place like this?!”

“Creak?”

The unsettling sound of bone scraping against bone echoed as a skeletal guard with glowing blue flames in its eye sockets approached Caramy step by step.

Wherever it passed, the ground decayed, and plants withered.

Caramy had a feeling that this skeleton’s strength was no less than rank three!

Who used a skeleton as a gatekeeper?!

And such a strong skeleton!!

Caramy wanted to cry.

He had been happily going to school, flirting and boasting, and then, as if by telepathy, the subject of his boasting had appeared, burning him alive.

Fortunately, he had a protective amulet given to him by a family elder, which had blocked most of the damage from the magic flames, preventing him from dying instantly.

But just as things were looking up, while he was still in shock, that famous idol had appeared out of nowhere, showering him with holy light…

Damn it!

Didn’t she know that holy magic and necromancy clashed?!

It was covered in the first lesson of magic theory!

No one asked for her help! Damn her meddling!

Now even the amulet couldn’t protect him. Caramy died on the spot, his death agonizing.

“I don’t know why I’ve come back to life, but I refuse to die at the hands of this undead creature! Absolutely not!”

Caramy’s life dream was to drown in the ample bosom of a gentle, stocking-clad older sister, not to die at the hands of a bony skeleton with no breasts or butt!

So, move!

He roared inwardly, like Xiao Huo Huo inheriting the power of a ring grandpa, exploding with power to defeat a stronger opponent.

Caramy’s fighting spirit ignited as he faced the most dangerous and difficult battle of his life.

As a second-rank Assassin, a special profession, he could meld into the shadows, concealing his presence, achieving surprise and killing with a single blow.

This was his advantage against stronger opponents.

And his reliance when navigating the circles of wealthy young ladies.

“Grrr~”

The skeletal guard charged towards him, spewing blue flames from its mouth, like a pre-programmed robot, its appearance somewhat comical.

But Caramy didn’t dare relax.

He knew that if his position was exposed, he would die.

After all, this was an undead creature of rank three or higher…

He wouldn’t dare touch it even if he had eight lives…

Gulp—

A terrifying aura brushed past his nose, his clothes catching fire, the familiar smell of burning flesh filling the air.

In that instant, Caramy’s mind went blank, shutting down.

And his last thought before shutting down was:

Damn it, so skeletons can use magic too…?

His spirit shattered.

“Dispel,” a talent skill unique to the Spellbreaker profession, possessed unparalleled destructive power and dominance over magic-using professions.

A counter-strategy within a counter-strategy, a profession specifically designed to kill mages.

And Kevin was the name of this skeleton.

Or rather, the name Lena had given him in his past life, when he still had a soul.

A Spellbreaker who had served the Falmouth family before his death, resurrected by the Necromancer Lena, becoming a soulless undead creature.

Caramy’s defeat wasn’t undeserved.

Because Assassins couldn’t defeat Spellbreakers, and neither could any magic-using profession. This was a universally acknowledged fact.

“Wake up, hey…”

Footsteps approached.

“Is he dead? I just resurrected him…”

Pacing, circling, she seemed to be pondering a solution.

Finally—

“Cough, cough… You’re crushing my lucky grass, grown in the Ghost Mist Forest and harvested by a sixth-rank master gardener, you… ugly, fat pig with no good meat on your bones.”