“I said it, I said it! Come over here and hit me if you’ve got the guts!” I spread my fingers like claws, trying to spook Dreamsound.

Pfft—Dreamsound couldn’t help laughing. “Little Shengsheng can act fierce just fine. Why bottle it up?”

Her voice softened, like silk over snow. “If it’s too much... you can whine to Mom a little and let it out, okay?”

Heat surged first, pride stinging like chili on the tongue. “I’m not overwhelmed. I’m doing great... every day I...” prep three meals, shop for ingredients, practice swordwork, go to class, walk my sister, and sometimes get dragged into things we don’t talk about...

No one makes breakfast for me. No one helps me dress. No one tidies my mess. No one is a pillow I can sink into. No one jokes with me... Why do I feel so pathetic...

“Silly girl... don’t burst into tears over nothing.” Dreamsound’s hand ruffled the little loli’s hair with pampered warmth, though she couldn’t touch me at all.

“You said you could live on your own. How come you can’t take it now, little one?” Her lips curved, teasing. “If it’s too hard, how about Mom picks you up and takes you home?”

I wiped my eyes. Steadiness first, voice like a blade. “Don’t need it! I can live by myself!”

“All right (｡í _ ì｡)... but Mom gets so lonely.” Dreamsound’s projection smiled, thin as frost on glass. She was holding something back. “Little Shengsheng, remember to come see Mom more often.”

“Got it! So naggy...” I turned away with a huff, hiding the hot corners of my eyes and the blush creeping up my cheeks.

I don’t recognize you as Mom... Don’t think a pity play works on me...

“Then... Mom’s leaving now.” Her projection winked out. The crystal floating in midair went dull. I reached out and caught the necklace.

“Mom...” Tangxue’s eyes quietly shifted to a pale, sea-tinted blue.

Can I really call you Mom...?

No. I don’t deserve it. If I forgot everything... maybe then...

I closed my eyes, let the tide ebb, then opened them again to gold.

“Huh? Dreamsound’s gone? Whatever. I’ll go bury that annoying fox-man. Just seeing him ticks me off.” I conjured a shovel with a whoosh and stalked toward the chapel.

A newly recovered little Shengsheng needs a punching bag. But the fox-man was an old fox. He’d slipped the net long before I bounced back.

Inside the church, no one. Under the statue of the gods of Judgment and Heavenly Law lay a letter, left by that fox-man.

“If you have questions you can’t untangle, come ask this humble one at the grand cathedral in the Beastkin capital. I’m quite confident in my stores of knowledge. —Kosdrey.”

“Kosdrey? That fox-man?” I clicked my tongue. “Fine. You get to live today.” I tossed the ice shovel aside and made a note to pay a visit and beat him up later. He dared to peek at my mind with mind-reading. I’ll make him pay.

“Wait... there’s more.” I walked to the statue. A few odd little trinkets sat there, clearly left for me.

“A cross? Garlic? What even is this...”

A small note lay beside them, a line scrawled in black ink: These little things might work wonders on that Vampire.

“These can deal with a Vampire?” I blinked, baffled.

“Whatever. I’ll stash them. They take no space. Maybe they really work.” I stored everything away. The fox-man reeked of charlatan, but his words were often on point. These trinkets might be worth a little hope...

If only... I could test them.

Reality loves timing.

“Heh... what a coincidence. I even run into you here, Merfolk brat.” Edgar’s face, twisted with a grin, loomed at the chapel door.

“...Who are you?”

“You don’t know who I am?! I’m your damn father!” Edgar’s expression warped. He charged straight at Tangxue without a care.

“Scram. Don’t touch me.” My face stayed blank. I slapped, casual as squashing a mosquito, and sent him into the wall.

Vampires under sunlight are pathetically weak.

Edgar reeled, shocked and furious. He’d thought I was a pushover. Last time, I’d only fought him by borrowing Vinoena Qianya’s power. Without that buff, I should’ve peed myself at his charge. Who knew my strength would be this blunt and brutal?

One palm. He flew. Savage.

“Perfect. I’ll test the little gifts I just got.”

“...?” A bad feeling crawled up Edgar’s spine. “W-what are you doing?”

Garlic bled into the air, thick as swamp fog. I coaxed the moisture with water element, and the reek grew denser, to the point I had to pinch my nose.

“You’re so strong. You won’t fear garlic, right? Mister Vampire~” I smiled at the Vampire, all malice and dimples. To stop him running, I froze his hands and feet in advance.

“You—what are you doing!” Edgar tried to jerk back, but ice shackled his limbs. The smell hit him harder than barnyard muck. It didn’t just assault his nose; every Vampire cell screamed with revulsion.

In that garlic-laden air, his plight was like rolling in a cesspit.

“Hehe~ I just want you to taste something yummy. After all... I’m a chef.” With a black-bellied grin, Tangxue walked toward him, garlic in hand.

“No! No!!! Aaah—urgh!” Edgar thrashed, like a baby being force-fed castor oil, wild with panic. It didn’t help.

When the garlic got shoved into his mouth, he nearly fainted from the nausea. Foam flecked his lips. The Vampire slumped, half-dead, against the wall.