"Beep... beep... Hello?"

"Dad, it's me, Wu."

"Oh, it's you, my sweet girl. Why call Dad out of the blue? Missing me?" Hearing his teasing voice again, my flustered heart slowly calmed. With him around, nothing felt impossible.

"Dad, I'm already at the academy."

"Okay, okay, I'll leave soon, or else—wait, you're inside the academy?" Background noise crackled; someone else was there, chaos echoing through the line.

"Oh, oh! Since you're at school, study hard and be useful later..." Huh? His tone shifted abruptly. I felt brushed off. o(｀ω´*)o

"...Dad, what? I'm here for a commission, not to study!" I swallowed my retort, keeping my voice gentle.

Normally, I'd snap back. Not today. This mattered. In the Demon Hunter underworld, anything involving the Vampire Royal Family could escalate to S-rank.

S-rank meant gathering every nearby Demon Hunter to handle it together.

"...Time's almost up, we must—ah, your commission! Yes, you're a top-notch Demon Hunter. Dad knows you'll finish it." Distant, muffled Runic Spell explosions rumbled through the call.

"Dad, what's happening there? It sounds messy!" Unease prickled my chest. I asked hesitantly.

"She's escaping! Warn the others at the gate—open the seal now!" His voice echoed faintly, as if he'd pulled the phone away deliberately.

What was wrong? Why did Dad seem so off today?

"Dad... what are you doing right now?"

"...Just work stuff. Don't worry." His tone turned serious—utterly unlike his usual playful self at home.

"...How's your commission? Any progress?" He paused, forcing calmness to dodge the topic.

"I've already found—"

"No! Stop her!" His shout blasted through the speaker before I could finish. I flinched; the phone slipped and thudded onto the bed.

"...Beep... beep..." I snatched it up, but the call had cut. He'd hung up.

"Dad..."

Dark thoughts flooded my mind. I froze, brain blank.

I knelt on the bed, gripping the phone. Teeth bit my lip. My body trembled as I choked back a sob.

Time blurred. I stayed frozen. Only the steady hum of our Demon Hunter Runic Spells kept me from breaking.

I unlocked my phone, scrolling to contacts. My thumb hovered over "The World's Worst Villain." Should I call? Curiosity warred with hope—he had to be safe.

I never feared hideous Monsters. Yet this tiny screen terrified me.

Afraid of the news I dreaded...

"Ding-ding~" The phone rang just as I braced to dial.

A message from Dad: four words.

"All fine. Don't worry."

My hand went limp. The phone dropped. I collapsed onto the bed.

Tension melted away. I nuzzled the sheets like a kitten, hugging Mimi. "He's okay, Mimi~" I whispered.

Mimi gazed at me with her cute face. I burrowed into her fur.

Our roles felt reversed. She was the master. I was the kitten.

"Ding-dong~" An unfamiliar chime jolted me upright.

"Huh? What now?" I slipped on slippers, opened my door, and stepped into the hall. Our dorm bell rang.

"Could it be..." 8 PM. Time to return. Only two knew my room: Xialin, busy elsewhere. So only one answer...

My roommate senior was back! OVO

"Welcome home, senior!" I swung the door open, eager to meet my year-long companion. I hoped for a kind senior, so I could...

Pink hair, alluring and familiar eyes smiling at me—came into view.

The door fully opened. I froze. My outstretched hand to help her bags hung midair.

This—this was our Student Council President! The terrifying Vampire Queen!

Staring into her star-filled eyes, I felt like prey before a predator. All resistance vanished. Not even a hint of defiance remained.

Oh no... oh no... ┗( T﹏T )┛