"Frankly, I’m more curious about your way of speaking. How’d you even pick that up?"

Mei Yige couldn’t fathom how Larin developed such a speech habit. *Could it be the handiwork of some other transmigrator?*

After all, the Goddess had chosen wave after wave of Heroes. The sword-wielding Hero who’d fought alongside her to finally slay the Demon King was merely the most gifted among them. The others’ exploits, though less earth-shattering, were still nothing to sneeze at.

As celebrities, these Heroes easily sparked imitation waves of otherworldly culture. *Did Larin pick this up from some ✌🏻-flashing Hero?*

"Oho! What’s that supposed to mean?" Larin thumped her chest, grinning with confidence. "I just talk how I like—nobody taught me! And if anyone copies *me*, I’ll sue ’em for patent theft! But enough about that. Let’s talk breakfast. I ain’t braggin’, but I’m the ultimate foodie around here. Ain’t nobody knows eats like I do."

"Well then, you’re truly the soul of this town," Mei Yige replied, clapping lightly. After listening to Larin’s vivid food guide to Tata Town, she set off for her morning run.

*‘Tata Town’s small, sure,’* Larin’s voice echoed in her head, *‘but it’s a proper gathering place for talents. If you like mild flavors, head east to Sweet Tea Joyful Dumplings. Don’t let those syrupy soups fool you…’*

"Boss, one bowl of rice porridge, and a serving of sesame dumplings to go—I brought a container."

"Coming right up!"

*‘This place’s rice porridge? Absolute perfection!’*

Mei Yige took a small sip, then pressed a hand to her forehead. *Huh. Guess even plain rice porridge can surprise you.* She had to admit—Larin’s "local foodie" title was well-earned.

Tata Town was surprisingly well-equipped. Beyond the Adventurers Guild’s official outpost, it had watchtowers, militia squads, guard patrols, shops, apothecaries, and bustling markets. It had clearly been planned as a future metropolis from day one.

With her unnaturally long lifespan, Mei Yige figured that if she served as the Guild’s Magic Consultant here for fifty years, this sleepy town would bloom into a grand city—and she’d become its revered sage. Time would wash away the harsh judgments from thirty years ago. By then, those pesky Heroes would be rotting in graves, while she’d lounge on a fat salary, napping through workdays… maybe even dancing on their tombstones when the mood struck.

Life suddenly felt full of hope again.

"Extra! Extra! Morning edition!" A paperboy sprinted past, shouting. "Draded Empire envoys arrive for border talks! Suspected Demonic Being remnants spotted north—Knights’ Brigade recruiting volunteers! Adventurers Guild announces new bounties…"

"Give me one." Mei Yige snagged the paper mid-stride. After sampling the town’s breakfast delights—which genuinely suited her taste—her mood was bright.

"You’re the new Magic Consultant, aren’t you?" The paperboy’s eyes lit up as he handed over the paper. As a node in the town’s gossip network (rivaled only by the village well’s chatty aunties), he knew exactly what Mei Yige had done yesterday—and recognized her instantly despite her changed outfit.

"So I’m famous already? Haha…" Mei Yige ruffled his hair with a sigh. "Since you’re selling papers, tell folks the truth: I only succeeded thanks to magical tools."

"But you’re a *mage*, sir!" The boy’s starry-eyed gaze ignored her modesty. He touched the feather on his ear, then dashed off before she could protest, still shouting about the news.

*Great. Now the rumors will spiral even worse…* Mei Yige frowned at her dumplings. *Might as well not overthink it. People will forget in a couple days anyway.*

Rumors didn’t bother her—she just dreaded attracting trouble from *things* that might hear them. At least she hadn’t used her old title, "Void Witch." Damage control was still possible.

By 6:30 AM, after a long loop around town, Mei Yige spotted Larin’s shop. The eccentric woman had swapped her flashy outfit for casual wear and now lounged on a recliner, napping peacefully. Few pedestrians were out this early. Mei Yige still didn’t understand why Larin opened her shop in the remotest corner of town—but she envied that carefree lifestyle. *So free…*

Too bad running a shop required permits. She wasn’t forgotten enough by the public yet, and paperwork was a hassle. For now, she’d stick to working under Carlicart, that clueless dragon of a Guildmaster.

Inside her own home, darkness still clung to the halls. No sign of Shiren in the living room—unsurprising. *The rich can afford to live however they like,* Mei Yige mused, *especially with Shiren’s night-owl schedule.* She wondered what mysterious fortune funded the noble’s lavish life.

*A note will do.*

Using a thermal lunchbox and preservation magic, Mei Yige ensured the dumplings would taste fresh when Shiren woke. Though… these "sesame dumplings" weren’t like the ones from her memories. Here, sesame paste was kneaded directly into glutinous rice dough—a texture she still couldn’t quite embrace.

Leaving the breakfast like an offering outside Shiren’s door, Mei Yige headed out to tackle mundane Guild commissions. *This* was true comfort: catching stray cats and "fixing lightbulbs" for townsfolk, grinding daily work quotas—not chasing dragons or Demonic Beings. Peaceful routine was life’s main melody.

But reality had other plans.

"Magus Mei… he didn’t return."

Ryan, the rabbit-eared receptionist, rushed to meet her at the Guild entrance, anxiety etched on her face.

"What?" Mei Yige blinked, her plans for a lazy day of chess or reading shattered. "Who?"

"Hans. He never came back last night. You only saw his carriage, right? The outpost just reported—the carriage still hasn’t been driven back this morning…"

"*All night*…?" Mei Yige’s heart lurched. *Just like my gut feeling—he won’t be driving me again.* *Did I accidentally curse him?*

*【Better visit the chapel for holy water. Maybe an exorcism too—wouldn’t want ghosts haunting my dreams.】*

She’d already declared Han dead in her mind, prioritizing sleep hygiene over guilt.

Ryan, mistaking her silence for concern, was moved by the mage’s compassion. "Th-the Guildmaster says you must assist the investigation. You might be the last to have seen him… and you’d sense any lingering magic traces better than anyone."

"*Me?*" Mei Yige hadn’t expected this chore to land on her.

Before she could refuse, Ryan pressed on: "The Guildmaster insisted. Since you were his last contact… no one’s more suited to solve this."