*"Though I followed my heart and kicked that old man hard..."*

Guya’s voice whispered faintly in Xueluo’s mind.

*"...in hindsight, it might have been a bit impulsive."*

"...Ah..."

Lifting her head at Guya’s words, Xueluo murmured,

"Maybe so..."

Ahead, Xueluo followed the golden-haired girl deeper into the basement. Outside the wooden cabin, students had begun gathering for morning drills. Even underground, Xueluo could hear faint rustling sounds.

"Um... is Zerich alright?" Xueluo asked quietly, watching the girl’s back.

"From a teaching perspective?" The girl strolled leisurely, then turned her head. "I handle most student training. Grandpa believes they’re not worth his personal attention." She paused. "I’m his granddaughter. Call me Rosalia Hornheim."

"Oh. So... Ro-sa...?"

"Just Rosa."

Rosa stopped before a door, turning fully. "Grandpa designed this test long ago. Truth is, no one’s ever passed it."

...

Silence hung as Rosa opened the door. Wood creaked slowly. She smiled.

"This time, I hope his dream finally comes true."

"Dream?"

Xueluo’s hesitation made Rosa tilt her chin up.

"He’s been searching for someone to inherit his magic system. But never found the right candidate." She stepped back, gesturing politely. "Please, go in. I must return upstairs to play Grandpa’s role for the students."

...

*"Go on, Contractor."*

Guya’s voice broke the quiet in Xueluo’s mind.

*"That old man has what we need."*

*I know.*

Muttering under her breath, Xueluo stepped inside. The door slammed shut behind her, plunging her into darkness.

"Hey! Old geezer!" Xueluo yelled, striding forward. "I’m here! Still sore down there? Frankly, I feel zero guilt—you’ll never use that thing anyway, from any angle."

"Pfft..."

A weary sigh echoed in the dark.

"You little brat..." The aged voice sounded even more exasperated now. "Ever heard of respecting elders?"

Light flashed.

*"Contractor! Magic surge!"*

Guya’s warning came too late. A blade forged purely of magic shot from the shadows.

Xueluo drew her waist pistol in a blur.

*BANG!*

The Elder Sword shattered mid-flight.

"Ho! I heard you were a Blood Hunter."

*HUM~*

Blue light flooded the room. Hundreds of magic blades materialized, multiplying until they illuminated every corner. Zerich’s voice drifted through the swarm.

"Consider this part of the test." His tone held strange delight. "One hint: don’t rely on your eyes. You won’t track them visually. Feel the magic’s rhythm to dodge."

*HUM!*

Blades shot forward, twisting like serpents toward Xueluo.

*Feel the magic’s rhythm...*

She drew her second pistol.

*Guya.*

*"As you wish, Contractor. I’ll be your eyes. You pull the trigger."*

Time slowed.

Two heads were better than one. While Guya parsed magical vibrations, Xueluo focused solely on the incoming blades.

Fire and magic danced.

Amidst the storm of swords, Xueluo leapt and twisted. She dodged, then fired—shattering blades aimed at her heart. No matter the angle, no sword touched her. Zerich gasped in awe.

Sparks flew. Magic shards glittered like shattered glass. Xueluo’s slender wrists carved hypnotic arcs at the edge of solitude. Yet her body moved with masculine resolve, wielding pistols too large for her frame. Gunfire and explosions fell into rhythm, as if the world itself kept time.

Zerich felt time snap. In Xueluo’s movements—no, her *dance*—the sixty-year-old mage saw a lone eagle, proud and sorrowful, its wings tracing intimate patterns in the air.

Then—

Xueluo flung her arms wide, as if concluding a performance. Her sleeves fluttered. Blue embers swirled like falling petals in the dark room, drifting like incense smoke.

Or gunpowder.

*BANG!*

The final blade exploded. Light faded as Xueluo lowered her guns.

*Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.*

Slow applause filled the room.

"Perfect! Absolutely perfect!" Zerich’s voice trembled. "Many have found me, but *you*! Only *you* passed flawlessly! Unscathed! It’s as if you had two minds—one shooting, one guiding! A genius unseen in this world!"

Xueluo gave a wry smile. "I’ll... take the compliment."

*"Indeed,"* Guya’s voice sounded drained.

"And!" Zerich’s tone shifted abruptly. He stroked his chin. "Truthfully... I’ve always dreamed of taking on a flat-chested loli apprentice~"

Ignoring Xueluo’s flushed face, he cackled "Gehahaha!" and ruffled her hair. "Such perfection! Heaven’s gift to me! I’ll teach you *everything*—every single thing! In every sense... including how to grow up properly~ Gehahaha~"

*BANG!*

A gunshot echoed. Zerich crumpled, a smoking hole in his forehead.

*BANG! BANG! BANG!*

Xueluo fired three more shots into his body.

*"W-wait! Is he dead?!"*

"No."

"Of course not!" Zerich sprang up, energetic. "I’m the great lolicon ma—no! Saint Sea Arch—!"

*BANG!*

Another shot. Face burning, Xueluo grabbed Zerich’s ankles.

"Eh? What are you—?!" His head snapped up, stiff with panic.

She lifted his lower half, aiming her foot squarely at his groin.

"W-wait! I’m sorry! Though being handled by a loli has its charm—no, no! Even a great Mage like me can’t—!"

His plea died in a strangled gasp.

Xueluo stomped down hard.

*THUD. THUD. THUD. THUD. THUD.*

The rhythmic thudding lasted over ten minutes before finally stopping.