Chapter 29 : Bald Old Man

“Mission accomplished!”

Lorin slowly lowered her head, her gaze falling upon the brand-new pass in her hand.

Sunlight streamed softly through the window, casting a golden glow that danced along the edges of the document.

Her eyes lit up at once, and the corners of her mouth curled upward in an irrepressible grin.

A laugh was just about to burst from her throat when she suddenly caught herself, remembering it wasn’t the time to be too conspicuous.

She quickly raised a hand to cover her mouth, though the joy in her eyes was impossible to conceal.

“Claire, oh Claire! You’re still too naive. I bet you never even suspected that I’m an alchemist who practices equivalent exchange!”

Lorin gazed at the photo on the pass, a wave of nostalgia and longing washing over her.

The person in the photo was a teenage boy—not the little vampire girl she currently appeared to be.

That boy was none other than Lin Luo, Lorin’s former self.

Ever since she ran into that wretched woman in the alley, everything in her life had been turned upside down.

Maybe I should write a memoir… something like ‘The Misadventures After Stabbing Someone Twice’.

The thought made her inwardly sigh.

She was already on the brink of becoming a fourth-tier mage.

Once she broke through, her illusion magic would be strong enough to maintain her original form for longer periods.

Perhaps this upcoming journey would be the opportunity she needed to make that breakthrough.

And hopefully, Shenlong will return as well…

At the grand gates of the palace, a royal guard clad in full armor stood upright like a pine tree, his posture firm and disciplined.

With both hands, he respectfully handed back a finely crafted pass to the young man before him.

His voice was loud, carrying a tone of reverence.

“Please take care, sir!”

That young man was, in fact, Lorin herself.

With sword-like brows and starry eyes, he exuded a gentle yet heroic air.

He nodded slightly, a simple gesture that nonetheless carried grace and elegance—a silent response to the guard’s courtesy.

With steady steps, he walked away from the palace.

Once he had gotten far enough, his figure began to shrink, gradually transforming into a black-haired little girl.

This little girl was, of course, Lorin sneaking her way out of the palace.

As for her hair color… well, silver hair was a royal symbol.

Walking around like that was practically announcing her identity to the world.

Breathing in the fresh air outside, a tear slid down from the corner of her mouth…

Alright, fine—it wasn’t a tear.

She’d just caught sight of a nearby food stall selling something she’d never seen before.

She was tempted to buy some, but her wallet reminded her not to chase impossible dreams.

With a heavy heart, she trudged into the nearby beginner-level magic academy.

Dracula Grand City was centered around the vampire royal palace.

All its buildings and roads branched outward in an orderly fashion, like veins from a heart.

From a bird’s-eye view, the city’s layout was stunningly symmetrical.

Its ancient structures—each brick and stone steeped in the weight of history—had withstood centuries of storms and time.

Yet with the quiet arrival of modern technology, these ancient buildings had been given new life.

Advanced lighting technology draped them in a dreamy glow.

As night fell, the interweaving colors illuminated the old stone, giving the once solemn buildings a fantastical radiance.

There were five magic academies in total within Dracula City.

Based on Lorin’s intel, the granddaughter most beloved by Duke Wilson was currently enrolled in this beginner-level one.

As for how Lorin planned to find her?

Naturally, she’d rely on divination magic—fortune-telling and other fate-based arts.

Back in the day, she was quite the infamous Archmage, surrounded by drama and yet still managing to stay alive.

Fate magic had saved her skin more than once.

Otherwise, she would’ve been drained dry by some princess or saintess ages ago… Though looking back, maybe she had some regrets.

Had she known then what she knows now… Well, those who know, know.

“Ugh…”

Lorin shook her head, tossing those distracting thoughts aside, and began wandering aimlessly through the academy.

Most of her magic came from deception and trickery, not formal schooling, so her visits to academies were rare.

The massive complex was filled with vampire children, though a few other races—beastkin, humans, and more—could also be seen.

As the capital of the Blood Domain, it was common to find other races choosing to settle here.

It was hardly surprising.

Children’s laughter, instructors’ scoldings, intercom announcements… everything felt so warm and lively.

“You! Stop right there! Which class are you from?!”

A sudden shout rang out through the academy like a thunderclap.

Lorin, who’d been wandering curiously, jumped in fright and froze on the spot.

She turned her head slowly to see a balding old man with a massive belly standing behind her, puffing with rage.

His stomach looked like it was housing an overinflated balloon, rising and falling with his heavy breathing.

His sparse hair clung helplessly to his shiny scalp, the few strands trying to hide the glare only making him look more ridiculous.

Behind him trailed a group of dejected children, their heads lowered in fear and unease.

Some snuck pitying glances at Lorin from the corners of their eyes, as if mourning her impending doom.

Lorin’s mouth twitched.

Then, without a word, she turned and bolted.

This is already my third life—why are people like him still so terrifying?!

“Don’t let her get away! You two, after her! If she doesn’t write me two thousand words of self-reflection, I’ll take her surname!”

The balding man bellowed, pointing at two academy officers in five-star uniforms to give chase.

“Damn these legs—can’t you go any faster?! Claire, give me back my original long legs!”

Lorin shouted in frustration. Just as her pursuers were about to catch her, her eyes darted around and an idea struck her.

She set her sights on a solemn cathedral nearby and, like a bolt of black lightning, dashed inside.

The church was thick with an ancient, mysterious air.

Colored glass filtered the dim light into a kaleidoscope of shifting hues.

As a strange magical fluctuation pulsed through the room, her body began to change once again, seamlessly transforming back into the appearance of Lin Luo.

“Where’d she go?”

One of the young officers looked around, puzzled, before turning his gaze to Lorin, who was casually picking her nose nearby.

“Hey, have you seen a little girl come through here?”

“Nope!”

Lorin replied calmly, eyes focused on the ground in a picture of innocence.

Without waiting for a response, she slipped away from the scene.

If she didn’t hurry, the spell would wear off again…

“Huh?”

The young man stared at her departing figure, his mind spinning with doubt.

Slowly, a horrifying idea began to creep into his head.

“Maybe I flew too much last night…”

He shook his head in confusion and resumed searching.

That little girl… she was something else.

To escape in front of two five-star officers?

He hadn’t felt this kind of equal footing in ages.

“Interesting…”

“Interesting, my ass! If you don’t find her, your salary’s getting docked!”

The bald old man appeared on the scene and smacked the youth on the back of the head, grumbling and cursing the whole time.