Lin Shu followed Serafina, and after finding the rest of the team underground, they made their way up.
On the way back to the exit, neither Lia nor her team appeared.
Just as she said, the Tepes family’s team had suffered a heavy blow…
Lin Shu thought to herself as she carefully put away the Scarlet Flower Core.
After stepping outside, the air felt especially fresh.
It was already early morning, with streaks of deep blue mixed into the darkness above.
The carriage taking everyone home soared into the sky.
The Drago family’s vampire warriors were injured, but nothing serious; they sat in the rear carriage, sorting through their weapons.
“I still can’t believe that after the Tepes family showed up, we actually managed to pull this off!!”
“When I get back, I’ll be bragging about this at the tavern for the rest of my life!”
“Lin Shu really is something—her skills and the young miss both made a big difference.”
“Thank goodness for their vines. Otherwise, we’d have ended up like Tepes, turned into renewable snacks for those flower monsters.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?!”
They chatted excitedly about the successful expedition, a cheerful atmosphere filling the team.
In the main carriage at the back, Lin Shu was using a handkerchief to wipe the dust from Serafina’s arm.
“No one was lost. That’s really great,” Lin Shu said. “This trip went very smoothly.”
Serafina didn’t reply, only gazed quietly at Lin Shu.
Lin Shu looked up at her. “Are you happy because we achieved our goal, Master?”
After parting ways with Lia and emerging from underground, Lin Shu and Serafina hadn’t had much time alone, so they hadn’t really had a chance to talk.
Now, they finally had some privacy.
“Not just that,” Serafina answered lightly.
Lin Shu paused, blinked, and then understood. “Then it’s because I chose to follow you, Master.”
She moved as if to straighten Serafina’s skirt, but recalled what her master had said before and immediately stopped herself.
Serafina noticed and gave a small smile.
So her little cutie had really listened to her words~
She sat in her seat, raised her hand, and gently brushed aside Lin Shu’s bangs.
“That night you were drunk, you called Lia’s name.”
“Huh?”
Lin Shu thought for a moment, remembering the dream she’d had back then.
It was the dream where she said goodbye to Lia.
“At the time, I thought my little cutie might still miss her previous master.”
“That was…”
Lin Shu was about to explain, but Serafina spoke first:
“Actually, just now, I was very worried—worried you’d choose to go back to Lia’s side.”
“She was right. She can offer you better conditions, and her strength is greater than mine.”
Serafina’s thumb gently brushed Lin Shu’s forehead, tracing that mark unique to her—a familiar’s seal. Her gaze deepened.
“But, my little cutie still chose me. I’m very happy.”
In her eyes, Lin Shu’s reflection shone:
“At this point, I won’t waver anymore, because I understand my little cutie’s heart.”
At least for now, she was the one in Lin Shu’s eyes.
The old memories were still there, but they didn’t stop new, wonderful ones from being born.
She would make her little cutie happy.
Hearing Serafina speak her mind so honestly, Lin Shu realized there had been some misunderstanding.
That dream that night wasn’t what Serafina thought.
Lin Shu considered, and decided to clear things up:
“That, actually, in that dream, I was saying goodbye to Lia.”
“All of that… it’s in the past now. I’ve decided to move forward.”
After these few days together, Lin Shu had grown increasingly curious about Serafina—not just why she treated her so well, but also about her past.
What kind of experiences had made her fall for a human like herself?
Lin Shu went on, “From now on, I’ll do my best to get to know you better, Master—your habits, the things you like.”
This was not just her duty as a personal maid, but also her response to Serafina’s feelings.
“I’m looking forward to it. And, you can get to know me… a bit deeper, too~”
Serafina’s smile deepened, her fingertip sliding down to Lin Shu’s lips and tapping them lightly.
Deeper?
The touch at her lips instantly reminded Lin Shu of kissing Serafina.
“T-That’s still not okay!!”
The expedition over, Lin Shu and Serafina handed the Scarlet Flower Core to Daphne.
As promised, Daphne gave them the agreed sum of money.
Two days later.
“Ta-da!”
Daphne lifted Lai Cai up in front of Serafina and Lin Shu.
“Our little kitty familiar is whole again, fresh from the factory! No, fresh from the hospital.”
“Meow.”
Lai Cai meowed, waving its limbs in the air.
Its tail was even longer now, swishing back and forth energetically—clearly unhappy about being dangled by its owner.
“Oh wow, it really has been fixed. Can’t even tell where the damage was.” Lin Shu tilted her head and examined its tail.
Daphne set Lai Cai on the table, glancing around the shop.
They were at the tavern where they’d first met, sitting in a booth on the first floor.
The tavern had been repaired, the bar and interior decorations all newly refurbished. The newly installed warm orange lighting washed over the booth, making the whole space feel even cozier.
Several demons lined up at the bar, waiting for the bartender’s creations.
“Looks like you put that money to good use.”
“Congrats—both your little cat and your shop are back in shape.”
Daphne slid a glass of liquor in front of Lin Shu. “The hero who helped us succeed—want to drink to that?!”
Lin Shu shook her head vigorously. “No, no, I can’t.”
She had no intention of doing anything foolish after drinking ever again.
“By the way, Miss Daphne, do you have any plans for what’s next?” Serafina asked her.
Their temporary partnership was over. Merchants like her usually roamed from place to place in the demon lands, always chasing new opportunities.
“I thought it over, and you two really get things done. Plus, there’s a lot of fun to be had.”
Daphne raised her glass heartily. “So, I’ve decided—I’ll keep working with you!”
Huh? That was sudden!
Serafina asked in surprise, “No other conditions?”
“I get to observe a human familiar up close, and join the Drago family’s hell-mode, high-difficulty business games—what’s not to like?”
“But what about the value you wanted…”
“Happiness is priceless!” Daphne pouted. “My good mood is the most valuable thing there is.”
She gave a hiccup, then said in a singsong, cat-like voice:
“Meow, I never thought doing business could be fun, but now I’m determined to enjoy it to the fullest!”
Lin Shu and Serafina exchanged a look.
Now that Daphne had agreed to work with them, the Drago family would have a stable financial channel—making it easier to break free from the Tepes family’s oppression.
For them, this was incredible news.
At that moment, the system’s transparent panel suddenly popped up in front of Lin Shu:
[Serafina’s Heart’s Wish Value: 0% → 25%]
[Contract Skill Evolution Condition Achieved]
[Contract Skill: Rose Thorns (Updated)]