Mei Yige had braced for revenge from old enemies or demonic beings, even blackmailers—but never fans.

This unexpected answer left her silent for a long moment before she could accept the impossible truth.

A Void Witch… with a fan?

"I’ve studied your works," Leya said eagerly, pulling out a black notebook and rising to bow. "I’m fascinated by your Void magic system. But since those fools couldn’t grasp your profound theories, I could only read the notes you gifted my grandmother. Sorceress, I beg to serve as your intern—to learn at your side, even just as your admirer!"

Mei Yige’s gaze fixed on the notebook. Memories flooded back, and she finally recognized the girl before her.

"Your name again?"

"Leya Oprah."

"Was your grandmother Lise Oprah? You’re from the North?"

"Yes! Though… she passed away recently. This notebook holds her final message for you."

A flicker of distance crossed Mei Yige’s expression.

"Gone, huh? Forty years… I suppose even immortality has its limits."

A bittersweet ache settled in her chest at the news of her old friend’s passing.

She flipped open the notebook—her younger, less polished self staring back from the pages. A yellowed letter slipped out:

*"You sly old fox. We promised to reunite after ten years, yet you vanished. Twenty years came and went—I even have a granddaughter now—and still no sign of you. Fine. Live longer. See more. And when you finally come to keep me company, you’d better have stories to tell.

—Your old partner, Lise Oprah"*

*Is this even a blessing?*

Mei Yige chuckled softly, tucking the letter away and returning the notebook.

"I’m no mentor. If you’ll be my assistant, handle consultant duties. My magic? You can’t learn it."

"Just being near you is enough! Those old masters at the academy are stagnant—nothing like you, Sorceress—"

"I’m not a sorceress. ‘Void Witch’ means *false* witch. It’s an empty title."

Mei Yige raised a finger before Leya could reveal more. A silent spell stole the girl’s voice.

"You know my crimes. You know the rumors of my cruelty. Do you still accept?"

Struck speechless, Leya could only nod fervently. Honestly, she’d call Mei Yige "Grandma" if it meant becoming her disciple. After all, they were peers of her grandmother.

"Call me Mei Yige. Or variations of it. Never ‘Sorceress.’ And *never* ‘Void Witch.’ I avoid trouble."

Leya nodded hard. She understood—she’d traced Mei Yige’s fading magic residue in this very notebook to find her. Now, no one could track the Void Witch… unless they held another artifact imbued with her power.

"Working for me means hardship. No favors for Lise’s sake."

Leya nodded again without hesitation. A strict master forged true skill.

"Lastly—if anyone asks about me, or if the *Hero* finds you? Deny all ties. Ignore them. Or insult them outright."

"?"

Leya blinked. *That* much bad blood with the Hero?

Rumors claimed the Void Witch consorted with demons, but her grandmother insisted she was aloof yet kind—never a traitor. Leya had dismissed it as slander against a genius. Even academy elders spoke of her with respect, bitter over her stripped honors.

*So the problem lies with the Hero?*

Clever enough to drop the thought, Leya simply nodded.

"Then it’s settled. We start taking commissions tomorrow. You have lodging?"

"Of course, *boss*. I scouted ahead—everything’s arranged."

"…*Boss*?"

"Yeah? Problem?"

Mei Yige scratched her head. *Where’d she pick up this thug-ish nickname?*

But she waved it off with a grin.

"Fine. It’s… fitting."

Lise had called her "boss" too. Grandmother and granddaughter—cut from the same cloth.

"One last thing—I brought a gift for tomorrow."

"No gifts needed."

"You’re family *and* my superior. Grandmother would scold me for bad manners."

*Humans. So suddenly proper.*

Mei Yige had thought her too young. Now? This girl was far too sharp.

---

Outside, the "consultant duo" marched straight to Carlicart. The red dragon guildmaster, smugly feasting on grilled skewers with her vice-president, never saw Mei Yige coming. The Sorceress snatched the unlicked skewer from Carlicart’s claws, shoved the whole thing in her mouth, and bolted—thrusting the bare stick back at the wailing dragon. No one spared her pitiful cries a glance. Mei Yige even "kindly" took the reins, carting them all back to Tata Town.

---

After the vice-president and Leya retired, Carlicart finally turned serious.

"So? How’s the assistant?"

"Was this your doing? Sending my old partner’s granddaughter?"

Nothing surprised Mei Yige anymore. Leya’s presence was almost a relief—a shield against suspicion.

"Coincidence. But Hans’ case aside… what happened at the mine? Only you, Sami, and a few stragglers escaped?"

"*I* should ask *you*," Carlicart shot back, eyes wide. "I found traces of dangerous Demonic Being activity during that commission. What’s your plan?"

"Demonic Beings?"

Clearly, this dragon had no idea her town harbored threats.

Mei Yige’s mind flashed to Shiren—her black-haired, roleplay-obsessed landlord. *Definitely not her.* But if other Demonic Beings lurked… Shiren might know something. Worth asking.

"I’ll handle it. I’ll stay half a month this time. Need to re-explore the dungeon beneath Withering King’s City."

"I’ll never understand why a dragon obsesses over ‘work experience’ in dungeons…" Carlicart growled. "First, explain this town. What are you and your partners *really* building here?"

Mei Yige cared little for grand schemes—only avoiding entanglement.

"Knew I couldn’t fool you. Simple: we’re making Tata Town an independent free city. Heh…"

"*Simple?!*"

Mei Yige’s voice sharpened.

She’d known this silly dragon’s "generous salary" for a "Magic Consultant" reeked of trouble. But *this*? Building a sovereign city in the Empire’s belly?

The dragon’s ambition was terrifying.