Li Wei took an unusually long time to finish his meal. That single bowl of congee? He somehow dragged it out for nearly half an hour before finally swallowing the last spoonful.

By the end, Yue Lin was barely holding back her reluctance to keep feeding him. Only sheer duty propped up her patience enough to see it through.

Not smashing the bowl into that unreliable adult man’s face was already solid proof of her so-called filial devotion.

Still, after finishing, Yue Lin’s emotions tangled.

She’d resolved to pull the plug on him someday—so how did things twist like this?! She’d actually fed *him*?! Shouldn’t *he* be the one feeding *her*?!

But the mere thought of *him* feeding her made her shudder. No way.

True to his word, Li Wei returned from the kitchen with a large bowl of steaming meat congee.

Rich meat fragrance curled from the deceptively light broth—mouth-watering with just one whiff. Yue Lin had accidentally tasted it earlier while blowing on the spoon for that good-for-nothing man.

Now, this whole bowl sat before *her*. Her eyes refused to look away.

She calmly picked up the spoon, ignoring Li Wei’s gaze. This was her labor. She’d finish it properly—as proof she was drawing a line.

*This kid’s genuinely hungry.*

Li Wei watched her eat with a stern face, her silver ahoge bouncing wildly. He didn’t tease her, letting her eat in peace.

Sitting quietly, he gathered his thoughts. After weathering Tsukika’s shocks, he recalled leftover matters from Dawn requiring his attention today. He wouldn’t return to Dawn. Wouldn’t return to that life. Some ties needed severing.

Just then, Yue Lin finished the congee, frowning in defeat—she couldn’t find a single flaw in his cooking. She turned and saw Li Wei preparing to leave.

“Where are you going?” she asked, darting over, ahoge perked, voice sharp with suspicion.

*Why can I even talk to him normally now? Whatever. Enemy mode activated.*

“Need to go out. Want to come?” Li Wei asked. He never considered leaving her alone.

“Why would I?” Yue Lin huffed. Delicious cooking or not, she had principles!

“I thought you’d worry I’d do something bad. But if Yue Lin trusts me…”

“Don’t hide things from me!” She stepped closer. *Mom said humans are treacherous—especially him. I’m watching for her.* Seeing him grab a hat, acting secretive, she hardened her resolve: *Stick to him. No gaps.*

Li Wei admired his daughter’s adorably stern face from the corner of his eye.

Silver hair and red eyes didn’t automatically mark demon heritage. Even among Demon Lords, only Tsukika had that look. Yue Lin’s eyes held a clear, ruby-red glow—not her mother’s seductive crimson. Hardly evoking “Demon Lord.” (Li Wei knew Tsukika’s eyes softened without killing intent too.) Her demonic bloodline seemed well-sealed. No exposure risk.

But at the door, he noticed her hesitation—a quiet resistance to the outside world.

“Yue Lin… scared to go out?”

“?”

*Unjust slander!* Before she processed it, she was already outside.

At home, she’d seemed calm. Outside? A suffocating tide of bustling crowds froze her small frame.

Then—Li Wei gently settled the hat onto her head.

She meant to protest—*Don’t touch me!*—but the words stuck. The hat sat neatly. She pouted silently. Only her silver ahoge stubbornly poked through the brim.

The hat shielded prying eyes. She forced her gaze from the crowd to Li Wei’s annoying face… and strangely, her panic eased. *Nope. Not acknowledging that.* At least he didn’t leer like Mom did.

Still… his stare made her cheeks warm. *There’s no flower on my face!*

Before she could snap, he murmured thoughtfully:

“With this crowd… losing Yue Lin would be effortless.”

“¿”

Her ahoge, squeezed under the brim, twisted into a tiny question mark. *Abandoned alone in this sea of people? Horrifying.*

“But if Yue Lin holds on tight… I couldn’t run,” he added softly.

A soft little hand slipped into his. Without hesitation, he clasped it firmly—and met her slightly flushed face.

“What are you looking at!” she snapped, forcing fierceness. “I’m guarding against your tricks!”

Two threats: the human world outside, and this troublesome man. Lesser evil chosen.

“Don’t grip so tight! *I’m* holding *you*!” she warned, cheeks burning. *This “Dad” holding my hand… Did I dream this once?*

*No. Never.*

She schooled her face stern again. “Where to? What for?”

“The trading house. See something you like? I’ll buy it,” Li Wei said softly, her small hand warm in his. A quiet conviction swelled within him—unsummoned, yet clear.

“Hmph. Human things are all equally detestable,” Yue Lin declared, chin lifted.

…Then subtly edged closer to him. *Not for him. For Mom. Just watching.*

***

“Vivian… you really did it?”

“You really kicked Mr. Li Wei out of Dawn?”

At Dori Trading House, the nimble yet clumsy twin-tailed elf—shortbow on her back—peeked at the golden-haired girl beside her with a “are-you-a-genius?” look. Her delicate face showed genuine confusion; her hands twisted anxiously over her notably ample chest.

Vivian, in her crisp battle skirt, polished her divine artifact, Veiled Moon. Its cool, moonlit glow haloed her features.

“Tiffany, seventh time,” Vivian sighed, glancing at her teammate. “Answer’s unchanged. Yes. I gave him a chance. He refused.”

“Ahaha… it still feels surreal,” Tiffany murmured. Her hidden ears twitched. “What made you decide this?”

“Weren’t *you* all complaining daily about being crushed under Li Wei? Now I acted—blame me?” Vivian’s gaze turned icy.

“No one said that!” Tiffany rushed to clarify, then whispered: “We… probably just joked…”

“Heh. Jokes hide truths. Don’t be naive, Tiffany.” Vivian shook her head. *Obedient. Too soft. Too trusting.*

Tiffany looked lost—but her pale fists clenched tight. Her black-clad thighs pressed together, trembling with suppressed thrill.

*Real. It’s real.*

*That fool Vivian actually did it!*

*Kicked out the man who cared for her.*

She’d expected to wait years… yet chaos delivered perfection.

*Mr. Li Wei must be shattered right now.*

*If I offer comfort now… he’ll fall right into my arms. Isn’t that how those sisters reel in broken middle-aged men?*

By then…

What was originally an inheritance only Vivian could possibly claim would all be mine—Tiffany’s!!!

If not for needing Dawn’s protection, relying on Dawn to help her grow stronger, and knowing Li Wei couldn’t safeguard her alone, Tiffany might’ve already ditched Dawn and thrown herself at Li Wei.

Vivian had no idea.

That seemingly innocent, kind-hearted elven archer she called her own—so gentle everyone thought her an easy target—had long ago marked the legendary Chosen Hero as her personal prey.

She was even less aware that the very Tiffany she warned not to be too naive, the one she saw as perpetual prey… was in truth a razor-sharp hunter.

As if stirred by a flicker of rebellion, Vivian’s gaze hardened. “Tiffany.”

“Eh? Eh?”

Startled from her daydreams of sweet victory, Tiffany’s ample chest trembled slightly. *Did Vivian see me drooling?* Panicked, she straightened up instantly.

“Yes?”

“Let the past stay in the past. As Chosen Heroes, as successors of Dawn, we must look forward—not linger behind.”

“Losing Li Wei means nothing. To Dawn, he’s long been irrelevant.”

“Think carefully: under his leadership these past years, what have we—the inheritors of Dawn—truly accomplished?”

“Trapped in this backwater, the strongest foes we’ve faced are minor monsters on the Demon King Citadel’s outskirts. We’ve never even seen an elite guard, let alone a commander from the deeper zones.”

“Look at [Immovable]’s true vanguard—they’ve already breached the officer tiers.”

“And [Dragonbane]? He tore the wings off the [Stone Golem Griffin] barehanded. *That’s* the battlefield worth yearning for.”

The [Stone Golem Griffin], one of [Immovable]’s Ten Sacred Guards guarding the path to the Demon King’s throne room—wounding such a beast meant [Dragonbane] stood at the threshold of challenging the Demon Lord himself.

“Everyone’s levels are high. I’ve even earned a title. Yet it’s all hollow. Without real achievements in two years? Word reaches the core zone, and we become a laughingstock.”

Tiffany nodded vigorously. “You’re absolutely right!”

“Dawn truly shouldn’t have fallen this far.”

*You conquer your dungeon. I’ll win over Li Wei. Everyone gets what they want. Everyone gets a bright future.*

She wondered: *Where is Mr. Li Wei wandering in dejection right now? And what reward awaits me after I “comfort” him?*

Vivian, pleased by the support, continued:

“That’s why I say—he’s fallen.”

“Losing the first kill, enduring that Chaos, banished from the core zone to this edge… change was inevitable.”

“Still clinging to past glory? Still saying, ‘Don’t use tactics from [Annihilation] against [Immovable]’? Hmph. *He’s* the one rigidly bound by outdated thinking.”

Vivian let out a cold snort.

Yesterday, deleting his name had shaken her—but later, resolve hardened. *Li Wei once said: “Radical treatment for deep-rooted illness.”* This time, she’d prove him utterly wrong… and make him bow.

If he cast aside past glory, why cling to hollow pride?

Especially when *he* willingly bowed before *that woman*.

Banished here, with only *me* steadfastly by your side… yet you won’t even yield to me?

Her fist tightened. With a sharp flourish, she sheathed Veiled Moon.

“Without him, Dawn will only grow stronger.”

“And without Dawn? He is nothing.”

“Very soon… I’ll prove it to him.”

“Mm.”

Tiffany nodded dutifully—just as the door opened. Vivian composed herself, turning to the young woman entering: faint freckles dusted her cheeks.

“Miss Edith? Are our supplies ready?” Vivian asked politely.

No arrogance showed—Dori Trading House stood unshaken since the Dark Age, a pillar for countless heroes. Even a titled Chosen Hero dared not offend such an ancient giant… especially when she needed them.

Edith offered a polished smile.

“My apologies. After thorough deliberation by upper management… the previously arranged supplies can no longer be provided.”

“Mm, understood. Just tell me where they are—we’ll retrieve them ourselves…” Vivian nodded absently. Then froze. “Wait. What did you say?”

Edith repeated patiently: “After thorough deliberation, the supplies can no longer be provided.”

Vivian: “…”

“???”

“Huh?”

“If you didn’t catch it, Miss Vivian, I can repeat—”

“No—I heard clearly. But *why*? You assured me days ago it was settled!” Her voice tightened. “We’re mobilizing against [Immovable]’s commander tier! Missing supplies will cripple our campaign…”

Her eyes widened. Teeth gritted. “Wait—did Li Wei say something?! Did *he* order you to cancel? He has *no authority* over Dawn anymore!”

“Mr. Li Wei said nothing to us, Miss Vivian.”

“Then why—?”

Edith’s gaze turned subtly unreadable.

“The truth is likely the opposite of what you imagine. Precisely *because* Mr. Li Wei said nothing… we cannot provide the supplies.”

“After all—as *you* stated earlier… Mr. Li Wei has left Dawn.”