Time rewound.

Squeak! A rat darted out of a hole, a key tied to its tail. It scampered to the bed and cried, “Squeak! Squeak-squeak-squeak!”

Not a single human word.

Probably the magic’s duration had expired.

Xia Xin snatched the key and walked to the door… Hmm, the lock was bidirectional; it could be opened from inside too.

Might as well try.

She slid the key into the lock, turned it effortlessly. With a click, Xia Xin gently pulled—and the door swung open.

???

Her head filled with question marks.

That simple?

And not a single guard outside? How strange.

She was a serious criminal; show some respect!

Forget it. No time to dwell. Get out first.

Gotta find food!

Though she’d sucked a tiny bit of Xila’s blood to keep moving, it didn’t fill her stomach. Xia Xin craved real fullness.

Escape now?

Think after eating.

“Hey, have you heard…” Two staff members walked down the stairs, chatting.

“The Holy Maiden went missing en route.”

“What? Seriously? In danger?”

“Not sure. Commander Belle rushed there already.”

“This… Could it be Demonfolk? Where’s Captain Tia of the Holy Knights? She was here days ago. Only she handles Demonfolk.”

“Captain Tia left yesterday. Some dark mage wrecking the central district… Details unclear.”

“Hope the Demonfolk aren’t targeting the Empire of Enpearl. We can’t take more trouble…”

They walked off.

Xia Xin’s eyes lit up.

Tia and Belle—the biggest nuisances—were gone?

Perfect!

She headed straight upstairs.

Earlier, she’d noted the staff were only levels forty or fifty.

She could only cast low-level Fireball Spells, but they’d be no match.

But—

“So quiet,” Xia Xin muttered, glancing around. The huge prison was empty… Strange.

What happened during her three days locked up?

Puzzling, but not her concern now.

After circling, she found the cafeteria. Before entering, noises echoed inside… Someone there?

Peeking in, she saw a girl at the central table. Sixteen-ish, long black hair in a ponytail… Admittedly cute.

Why were all characters here so good-looking?

Well, if they were ugly, who’d play this crappy game?

The table overflowed with food and stacked plates. The black-haired girl devoured everything, then suddenly stopped. She turned toward the door—where Xia Xin stood.

Spotted!

Dark golden eyes locked onto Xia Xin, then… without a word, she looked away and resumed devouring.

Xia Xin thought Xila ate fast, but there’s always someone better!

Gulp… Xia Xin swallowed hard.

She looked so into it.

“Little Sorceress spying there…” the girl said slowly, “Cook’s out. Only found this… Come now, or I’ll eat it all.”

“Ah!” Xia Xin dashed over, sat opposite, grabbed a chicken leg, and gnawed.

Three days! A whole three days!

Do you know how I survived?

Finally, warm food!

Xia Xin finally understood why Xila ate so fast.

Because she was now devouring even fiercer.

In under ten minutes, the table was cleared. They paused, breathless.

The girl elegantly pulled a handkerchief, wiped her lips. “Too salty and bland. Terrible.”

“Terrible indeed,” Xia Xin nodded.

Starving or not, she’d never eat this normally!

“Little Sorceress, you look familiar,” the girl said, leaning back, feet propped on the table. “Met before?”

“No. Absolutely not,” Xia Xin denied fast.

A skirt-wearing girl sitting like that—white underwear fully exposed—cute and sassy? Impossible to forget.

She hadn’t recognized Xia Xin. Relief.

Inwardly, Xia Xin grumbled:

Little Sorceress… You’re the small one! Your whole family is small!

But seeing the girl’s flat chest, Xia Xin felt mixed emotions.

Compared to Xila or Tia, this girl let her regain a shred of confidence.

Though… from any angle, the girl had at least a hint of curves.

At her age, it was “promising for the future.”

Unlike herself…

“Must be my imagination,” the girl sighed. “Ugh, back to work after eating… So tired. Why do all weird tasks fall to me? Unbearable.”

Xia Xin teared up.

She understood. Truly.

In her past life, she’d been a student—diligent, work-study. She knew work’s grind: internships with low pay, endless tasks, worth squeezed dry.

Tch… Just remembering angered her.

Xia Xin grabbed the girl’s hands. “Fellow wanderers—I get you! But work can wait. Rest. Life’s long; don’t burn out!”

As she spoke, a subtle shift stirred inside her.

Is this what a Calamity Witch says?

Caring for a stranger… Xia Xin felt like a real good person.