Chapter 10 : Didn’t you come back safe and sound?

A young man of average height, dressed casually with a laid-back flair, walked unhurriedly toward an old, weathered door, hands stuffed in his pockets.

He paused in front of it, eyes scanning the door with quiet nostalgia.

A trace of reluctance flickered in his deep gaze before he reached out and gently pushed it open. The door creaked faintly as it gave way.

Lifting his head, he saw the bar’s sign glowing dimly under the warm, yellow light.

The retro-styled lettering read: This Is Not a Bar.

Naturally, the young man was Lin Luo in disguise.

As for how she had enough magic to return to her original appearance—well, that was courtesy of some blood she’d blackmailed out of Claire.

Of course, there were certain things that couldn’t be conjured back no matter how she transformed, and Claire had teased her mercilessly for that, leaving Lin Luo flushed with both embarrassment and anger.

“Yo? A-Luo, you finally made it!”

A loud voice called out.

A youth with flashy bleached hair lit up at the sight of Lin Luo, waving wildly from his seat, motioning him over.

Lin Luo returned a faint smile and nodded.

With measured steps, he made his way through the crowd and took a seat opposite the blond youth.

This was Chen Jie—better known as Brother Jie.

Slightly chubby and wearing square-framed glasses, he had none of the temperament of a cultured gentleman.

If anything, he looked like a scoundrel in decent clothes.

Maybe it was just the vibe he gave off…

“Where’ve you been the past few days, getting rich or something? I couldn’t get through to you at all.”

Chen Jie looked baffled as he shook his phone, showing a grayed-out contact list.

“I was being eaten alive by mosquitoes.

Had to rush to the hospital,” Lin Luo quipped dryly.

“Speaking of mosquitoes, things have been… weird lately.”

Chen Jie lowered his voice, glancing around as if about to share a state secret.

Lin Luo’s interest was piqued.

What kind of trouble could possibly stir in the backwater borderlands of the Lanlos Empire?

“Oh? What happened?”

“That town you went to for your last job? Turns out it had vampires.”

Chen Jie leaned in and whispered the words with weight.

Lin Luo’s eyes narrowed. “How do you know?”

“Couple weeks ago, the guild suddenly reclassified your mission—upped the threat level, said there was vampire activity. I tried to contact you, but you’d vanished.”

Chen Jie glanced Lin Luo over, visibly relieved.

“Good thing you got lucky and didn’t run into them…”

Lin Luo gave a strained smile, the corner of her mouth twitching.

“Yeah… lucky me. No vampires.”

Since Lin Luo preferred to avoid direct contact with the guild, she had asked Chen Jie to handle the middleman role.

As neighbors and longtime friends, he agreed without hesitation.

They weren’t just business partners—they were brothers.

“Are you really leaving, huh?”

Chen Jie’s voice softened.

Lin Luo nodded.

“Going to learn some magic. Figured I should get a proper skill under my belt.”

“Magic? Do you need a school for that? That old man Lin’s out of his damn mind!”

Chen Jie huffed indignantly.

He’d known Lin Luo for years and was well aware of her terrifying potential.

Her attunement to magical elements was freakishly sharp—she was her own best teacher.

Magic academies mostly taught the basics.

To Lin Luo, those lessons were child’s play.

Sending her to a magic school?

Might as well throw a tiger in a petting zoo.

A total waste of time and talent.

“Alright, alright. Say that again when Lin the Elder’s around, see if you don’t get smacked.”

Lin Luo waved him off, stopping Chen Jie’s rent in its tracks.

Chen Jie grunted, then handed over a ring.

“Everything you asked for is here. I’ve packed it up. And don’t forget my commission.”

Lin Luo snatched the ring without ceremony, sneering.

“You only now mention the vampire thing, and you want a fee? I’m lucky I didn’t die out there!”

“But you’re back in one piece, aren’t you? Didn’t even lose a chunk of meat.”

Chen Jie rolled his eyes.

True… not a scratch on her.

Lin Luo smiled wryly.

But then silence settled in—inevitable, when goodbyes came knocking.

“Alright, alright!”

A few moments later, Chen Jie raised his glass.

“Find yourself a senior or junior at that academy. Bring her back so your brother here can do the vetting. I call dibs on the godfather role!”

“You sure have your priorities straight.”

Lin Luo sighed, exasperated.

“Who knows? Stranger things have happened.”

They clinked glasses and downed the drinks.

This would be their last one together for a long while.

“Hey… did you secretly go get skincare treatments behind my back? Why’s your skin so pale?”

Chen Jie finally noticed something off.

“Damn it! I can’t even bear to treat myself like that!”

Lin Luo’s heart skipped a beat.

She’d forgotten—her transformation was beginning to fade.

Her magic was running out.

She was about to revert to that tiny vampire girl again…

“Hey… you smell kinda nice. Did you put on perfume or something?”

Sweat beaded on Lin Luo’s forehead.

She downed the drink in one go, then bolted out of the bar.

“You’re seriously leaving just like that?”

“It’s about that time… Oh, right.”

Lin Luo suddenly stopped and turned around.

“You’re still young. You should get out there more—don’t stay stuck in this tiny place.”

Chen Jie was her very first friend in this life.

She didn’t want to see him wither away in some backwater town.

“The mountain breeze, the moon above, the distant reeds… one of them will call you out there someday. Remember: rich trips or poor trips, nothing beats the journey of youth.”

Chen Jie watched her silhouette fade, nodding slowly in thought.

But wait… was it just him, or was his buddy shrinking?

Was he seeing things, or was Lin Luo literally getting smaller?

Neither of them could’ve guessed—next time they met, would they share the same fate… or mock each other endlessly?

***

“Yo? Daughter’s back, huh?”

In the living room, Claire sat with legs crossed in a fluffy pink set of loungewear, elegantly reading a newspaper.

Upon seeing Lin Luo enter, she greeted her casually.

“Claire! Can you not just call me by my name?!”

Lin Luo exploded instantly, glaring at her with fury.

“But you are my daughter.”

Claire grinned sweetly.

“And if I recall, you chose to be. Just so we’re clear—I didn’t force you.”

“Did I tell you not to stop?!”

“I’ve never been one to follow instructions obediently.”

“Argh! Claire!”

Lin Luo lunged at her, hoping to show this smug woman just how terrifying a legendary (rogue) mage could be.

But all she managed to do… was throw herself straight into the tiger’s jaws.