"Are you... the Magic Consultant from the Association?"

"That's me..."

Mei Yige was hurriedly helped up, still dazed. She scanned the area, but the monster had vanished. Her magic had lost its target completely.

"Did you see that thing that burst out of the stone hall just now?"

"What thing, Honorable Mage?"

The workers and the Association officer named Sami were the ones questioning her instead.

"It seems I misjudged. I heard from adventurers that you're Sami from the Association, guiding hired adventurers? You look unharmed."

"I haven't found the other adventurers yet... Though I was attacked by them, I sensed someone fighting back for me. Have you seen an adventurer named Ister?"

"Haven't seen him. Probably not faring well."

The cave's state made it clear—he was either eaten by the monster or added to the bloodstains on the wall.

A trace of frustration weighed on Mei Yige.

"He was a good man."

Shiren hadn't stayed at Brownrock Mine. She knew the Magic Consultant's skill well. One slip, and Mei Yige might uncover her true identity, causing messy misunderstandings.

This Sami was her blood puppet—the core of that giant monster—and her near-perfect avatar, almost impossible to see through.

Sami's consciousness, cobbled from countless dead, could be overwritten by Shiren anytime. Essentially, a solid double.

Thus, every word between Mei Yige and Sami reached Shiren without missing a syllable.

"To me, he's a tasty fellow, Miss Mei. What do you think?"

Shiren's verdict: truly a good man, approved by her. She needed a manager anyway. She could develop and bless the swallowed Ister for use.

His opinion?

Unimportant. As a Blood Demon, he'd have endless time for adventures.

What?

Since when do Demonic Beings become adventurers?

She was the Great Lord Blood Demon—rules didn't bind her.

A whim, really. Disagree? Kill them.

"Perhaps he was good, but I never met him... Since Miss Sami found everyone, let's leave quickly. Chain explosions happened here—it's unsafe. The foreman's worried."

Mei Yige studied Sami closely but found no flaws. She eased her suspicions and checked the surroundings again.

No unusual aura lingered.

"I'll report the monster incident to the Association later."

"I'll trouble you with that. I must report this accident too. Shall we return together?"

"That's not... alright."

Mei Yige almost refused, citing guild duties, but a flicker of familiarity made her accept instead.

*Strange... why does my gut say she's Sister Shiren too?*

After learning Shiren disguised herself, Mei Yige memorized her aura—just to avoid flirting with her landlady by mistake on the street.

But now, had she met Landlady Sister again?

As a Demonic Being, how many identities had Sister Shiren layered in Tata Town to hide?

If she found them all...

Could she make even wilder demands?

Mei Yige ignored any darker suspicion. Shiren wasn't a suspect in this bloodshed. Her mind raced to restart her teasing plan.

With Shiren herself, she held back; Shiren stayed stiff.

But with "Youqian" or "Sami," Mei Yige had room to play.

*Little girl, teen, adult woman—no granny or baby phases, right? Those would be awkward to approach. Tsk...*

Shiren, eager to interact, had just received a package at home. She tied up Luna and the other two, then excitedly reshaped into "Sami," unaware she'd exposed her disguise again.

Adopting Sami's tone, she plotted how to get closer to Mei Yige—fulfilling her bold new plan:

Become Mei Yige's closest colleague, partner, neighbor...

Then, on the chosen day, reveal the truth as a man-eating Blood Demon.

And feast gloriously.

The ultimate thrill!

Meanwhile, Mei Yige hatched her own bold plan.

*If I get close to every one of Sister Shiren's identities... she'll tease me for it. Then I'll tell her I know everything. What face will she make?*

Different beings, different homes.

Guided by their hidden agendas, their gazes turned oddly intense.

"Let's go together. I'm unclear on later events—I want your account."

"I doubted the adventurers' answers too. I hope Miss Sami can clarify more for me."

Instantly, their stiff politeness escalated, leaving the workers bewildered.

Do Association folks always talk so rigidly?

Exhausting.

Digging mines was easier.

"Huh?"

Sensing the workers' pitying looks, Mei Yige frowned.

This felt off.

"Excuse me, do you have questions?"

"No, just... you two work so hard."

"Yeah, yeah. No job's easy, huh?"

Baffled, Mei Yige scratched her head and glanced at Shiren. This Landlady Sister took role-playing seriously. She gave Mei Yige a faint, narrowed-eyed smile before looking ahead.

*She smiles so nicely. Why not more often?*

Mei Yige pressed her lips shut, starting no conversation.

Silence held until they left the mine.

"Your name is Mei Yige, correct?"

"Must we open like this, Miss Sami? Speak freely. Rumor says a Demonic Being woman appeared here—no small matter."

Demonic Being—a sensitive topic. Both halted, locking eyes.

"Demonic Being? Could this all be their doing..."

Shiren frowned slightly, worry etched on her face. "Mr. Blau from my team attacked me. Later, I vaguely felt someone throw me out. I woke outside the stone hall. Explosions raged nonstop—I rescued the screaming workers."

She lifted her head, puzzled.

"But I sensed no Demonic Being aura."

"What mage level are you?"

"Intermediate. Next exam's for Advanced. Why?"

Now Mei Yige puzzled over it.

*Strange... why did Sister Shiren's familiarity vanish? Did I misjudge?*

Shiren hadn't grown cautious.

In her Tata Town villa, seated calmly in her room, she severed control of the blood puppet "Sami." Her eyes snapped open.

"Who sneaked into my home?"

Delivered food... rare these days.

Interrupting her chat with her roommate infuriated Shiren.

She flung the door open, transforming into a swirling blood mist that surged toward the intruder.