No matter how much she explained, the townsfolk of Water Fungus Town would never believe Mei Yige was just a powerless mage again.
Even if she truly lacked strength, she *had* to have it now.
Still, there were some positive effects from Mei Yige’s perspective—
*A great mage who can do anything if paid enough.*
That was the locals’ assessment of her.
As for someone’s earlier hesitation to act? Everyone unanimously decided it was the arrogance expected of an expert. The specialist’s behavior had simply given Mei Yige a stepping stone to cast her spell.
Acting casually?
That would be far too low-class.
What?
They’d actually secured help from a top-tier great mage?
They’d gained immense face!
In the end, the beaming crowd ushered the frowning Mei Yige out of town.
*It was hard to tell if they were simply too naive or masters of human nature.*
Standing at the town’s edge, Mei Yige glanced back with mixed feelings. The tavern painting flashed in her mind again. She lightly shook her head.
“Whatever. Mission accomplished.”
The job was done. Dinner was still a while off. Perfect time to goof off back at her office.
This life? Absolutely blissful.
She pulled aside the curtain and called toward the carriage front: “Brother Hans! Job’s wrapped up!”
Mei Yige climbed aboard.
But the carriage didn’t move.
“Hm?”
Was he not there? Bathroom break? Or off drinking?
After briefly weighing possibilities, she reopened the curtain and stepped down. The driver wasn’t napping either.
“I’ll leave a magic message. Saves time heading back early.”
Leaving a voice-transmitting spell on the carriage front, Mei Yige didn’t dwell on Hans’s whereabouts. She reshaped her Magic Wand into a broomstick and soared toward Tata Town.
Beyond the town, at the end of fading drag marks in the grass, Shiren—the “Master Shi” who’d hunted hard all afternoon—was prepping her catch for cooking.
To confirm she hadn’t grabbed the wrong person, she meticulously checked Hans’s ID. Certain he had no twin, she used her Blood Demon abilities to sedate him. Only then did she carry this new “ingredient” back to her house.
Good. Her new roommate wasn’t home yet.
Peering through the house’s sightlines, Shiren confirmed her amusing food reserve hadn’t witnessed the capture.
This meant a few more days of easy greetings.
“Such a bother… Basement first.”
The kitchen was for living. The basement? A workshop for processing ingredients. Her own room?
Sometimes she’d give ingredients a “final performance” before death. But Shiren preferred humanitarian principles: kill first, eat later.
Disinfect. Remove hair. Gut. Dismember. Debone.
The meat grinder got to work. In under thirty minutes, minced meat was ready.
She packed homemade cans into the fridge. The leftovers would make perfect lion’s head meatballs tonight.
The middle-aged man in her room?
Already fed to the cats for dinner.
“These bones and limbs are such a hassle… Tch.” Staring at the bone paste she’d produced, Shiren couldn’t think of any use for it beyond sausage for dogs.
Bread slices. A homemade can. Fried luncheon meat on an iron plate. Special butter was essential. Just like that, Shiren’s secret mini-burgers were complete.
“Tch. Blood sugar’s probably spiking.”
One bite in, food critic Shiren sensed something off. After two chews, she sighed—wasting food was wrong—and poured herself a mug of barley wine. She also cast a spell for elegant background music.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, its last rays gilding the mansion’s front door, Mei Yige returned home.
She found her roommate dining alone in the restaurant. Shiren held a hastily made bread-and-meat sandwich. A dubious mug of barley wine sat nearby. The record player hummed a tune centuries out of fashion.
And she looked utterly content?
Truly, the refined tastes of high society were incomprehensible.
Not even turning on the lights? Was *this* ambiance?
*The upright one* saw no elegance in Shiren’s forced sophistication—just bad taste.
“Sister Shi! I’m back!”
Shiren, happily chewing her mini-burger, nearly choked.
Why did this feel like coming home after years away?
Past roommates never reacted like this… With her Blood Demon traits, shouldn’t anyone fear a red-eyed figure eating in pitch darkness?
Shiren stared at her burger, momentarily puzzled.
But she replied anyway.
“Oh. Back already? Good. Good…”
She wasn’t sure what she’d even said.
“Having dinner? Looks delicious. Butter and luncheon meat? Try adding lettuce. Better texture.”
Shiren kept the lights off. Mei Yige followed suit.
*The upright one* cherished ambiance. How could she ruin such sophistication?
Absolutely not. Mei Yige lived to deliver emotional value.
“You know cooking?”
“Compared to your skills, mine aren’t cooking—just shallow understanding. Lettuce is mere garnish. True skill makes one ingredient sing a thousand flavors.”
Flattery rolled off her tongue like daily bread.
To Shiren—who’d spent centuries communicating only through food—Mei Yige was a new species.
*A chatty meal?*
*A noisy dish.*
*A dish begging to be stir-fried.*
*So talkative. Toss her in the pan—she’ll quiet down fast.*
Yet, staring at that genuinely bright smile in the dim light, Shiren didn’t scowl. Instead, she nodded thoughtfully.
“Hm. My diet *has* been monotonous lately. Time for a change.”
“Anything I can help with, just say the word.”
Seeing she’d pleased her Demonic Being roommate, Mei Yige pressed her advantage. *Three days. Just three days. Then I keep this house. Bliss!*
“No. Have you eaten dinner?”
Shiren set down her half-eaten burger. Propping her chin on one hand, her crimson eyes glowed eerily in the dark dining room.
“Had a bit. Is Sister Shi inviting me to join?”
“Uh… wait…”
Such eagerness left Shiren momentarily speechless.
“Then allow me to shower first. Today’s work left me dusty.”
“Really, no need—”
“It’s my way of showing respect. Don’t you prefer your food washed before eating, Sister Shi?”
Leaving a stunned Shiren behind, Mei Yige skipped upstairs.
Shiren stared at her burger, then at Mei Yige’s empty seat.
*Washed before eating… Tch…* A chuckle escaped her. *“Can I take that as you tempting me, little girl?”*
