Free Web Novel“Looking for someone?”
The Old Dean’s wrinkled face twitched as he glared at Rania. “If you were looking for someone, couldn’t you just walk in properly instead of blasting through like a cannonball?! There are children here!”
“......”
Rania froze, then turned toward the so-called “child” he mentioned.
Startled under her stare, Jasmine flinched, quickly bent down, picked up the black cat, and darted behind the Old Dean.
“Hey! Be careful with that—”
Rania tried to stop the girl from getting close to the cat, but then saw that the black cat curled up in the child’s arms was actually making faces at her, as if to say: Tch, come on, try hitting me if you dare!
Who even is this kid?
Rania’s eyes widened.
Did she not realize that cat was a wanted creature—an evil monster known for devouring people whole?
And you, damn cat—aren’t you a high-level man-eating monster?!
What’s with this act, whimpering in a little girl’s arms like a pet?!
The two sides stared at each other in a bizarre state of harmony.
“Judging by how lively you are, your wounds must be almost healed,” the Old Dean said to Rania, finally letting out a long breath. “Lilian already told me everything. You were beaten up by this child’s mother—but you’re an adult now, so try to act more composed.”
“Yeah, I—wait, what?!”
Rania swallowed hard. Her vivid violet eyes went blank as she pointed at Jasmine hiding behind the Old Dean.
“Her mother beat me up? I don’t even know her mother! The one who fought me was a girl! She called herself Vieya—the short, cute little girl with beautiful white hair I met here last time!” Rania gestured wildly, her voice rising with flustered urgency.
“I know,” the Old Dean nodded. “And I wasn’t mistaken. Anyway, it’s a complicated matter. Even if I explained it, you might not understand. Wait until her mother comes back—she can explain it to you herself.”
With that, the Old Dean turned and left with Jasmine.
What the hell...?
I was only unconscious for a few days. Why does it feel like I’ve been asleep for a century?
In the cold wind, Rania went pale and dropped to her knees with a dull thud. A flock of crows swept across the sky above the convent.
Not even half a month had passed—how could she already have a daughter?! freewebnovёl.ƈom
How could this happen...? Rania braced her hands on the ground, her eyes losing their light.
When she had first woken up, Senior Hua had already explained everything about Vieya—saying it was all a misunderstanding.
That whole incident with Vieya had been prearranged between them to lure out the hidden enemy agents within the Tribunal, so that they could wipe them out in one coordinated strike.
At first, Rania had her doubts. But when even the artifact spirit of the All-Seeing Eye came out to testify, those doubts vanished.
Since everything had been a misunderstanding—an operation to root out enemy agents—Rania forgave Vieya’s deception.
Besides, she had gained quite a lot from that battle.
Later, when she asked Senior Hua about Vieya’s whereabouts, she learned that Vieya had returned to Fengxiang Town.
At the same time, the war at the frontlines was coming to an end. Rania felt miserable that she had slept through the entire operation in a coma, completely useless.
Now that there was nothing urgent to do, she decided to head to the front to see if she could help—and on the way, pay a visit to Vieya.
She wanted to thank her for that sparring match, treat her to a meal, and make peace.
It had sounded like a good plan.
But reality hit hard.
She already had a daughter?!
No! I can’t just stand here petrified—I need to ask where they went!
A daughter... maybe she’s adopted?
Thinking that, Rania brushed the dust from her knees and hurried in the direction the Old Dean had gone.
“Grandpa Dean, who was that lady just now? Is she Mama’s enemy?” Jasmine asked, hugging the black cat tightly.
The Old Dean chuckled as he walked. “That lady is a Hero. She was just in a bit of a rush, that’s all—but she’s not a bad person.”
“Actually, she and your mother are friends. There was just a misunderstanding before, some conflict between them. But now that’s all cleared up, so she came to find your mother and talk things out.” He smiled kindly. “That’s how friends make up, isn’t it?”
“Oh, I get it now!” Jasmine’s eyes sparkled as she rubbed the cat’s head. “She’s Mama’s friend, right? Mama’s friends must all be good people! She was probably just playing with Cat-Sis just now!”
The black cat was speechless. “Meow, meow, meow.”
You know nothing, you little idiot. She’s our enemy! A Hero! Do you even understand what that means?!
A Hero—the mortal enemy of demonkind! The reason your parents aren’t both alive!
“Meow!” Got that?!
“Ah...”
Realizing the meaning of the cat’s words, Jasmine tensed. She’d grown up in the Demon King’s Castle hearing terrifying stories about evil Heroes every day.
Every Hero was a cold, heartless butcher, their hands drenched in the innocent blood of pure, harmless monsters.
Even those who just wanted to live quietly in their cozy dens couldn’t escape the Heroes’ wrath. The terrifying Hero would burst in, drag the monster from their warm bed, declare, “You are guilty!” and then—
Slice! Slice! Slice!
Heroes struck fast and true—cutting through throats, skulls, hearts, without mercy!
I’m half a monster myself... will she stab me too?
A chill ran down Jasmine’s spine. Thankfully, the Hero was now behind them, and for the moment, she was safe.
But when they turned the corner, they ran right into Rania again—waiting ahead, as if on purpose.
A Hero—when had she arrived?
“I apologize for earlier,” Rania said. “But could you tell me what’s been happening lately, and where Vieya went?” She hesitated, glancing between the Old Dean and Jasmine. “There’s something I want to discuss with her in person.”
“You really do care about her,” the Old Dean said after a pause. He didn’t hide the truth. “I can tell you what I know. But this isn’t the place—come to my office, we’ll talk there.”
“Little Jasmine,” he added with a smile, “would you like to play in Grandpa Dean’s office for a bit?”
No! Jasmine was about to shake her head when the black cat raised its chin and meowed.
“Meow!”
Yes! Go! We’ll listen in!
Inside the office—
The Old Dean sat behind his desk; Rania sat on the same sofa where Vieya had sat last time. The potted plants were lush and vibrant. Jasmine sat at the far end of the sofa, still clutching the black cat tightly.
“Rania, you should already know that this child’s mother is a monster girl, right?” The Old Dean poured a cup of tea and handed it to her, then took a box of milk from a drawer and passed it to Jasmine.
“Vieya... she’s a monster girl?” Rania had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed still made her head spin. She lowered her gaze, fingers tightening around the teacup. “My senior never told me that.”
“She didn’t?” The Old Dean blinked in surprise.
“No.” Rania sighed, then looked toward Jasmine. “Then what about this child? Did Vieya adopt her?”
“She didn’t adopt me! She’s my real mama—like, blood-related mama!” Jasmine declared, clenching her tiny fists, her cute face full of seriousness.
Ah... that...
Rania fell silent, clutching the teacup.
“Haha, since even the kid insists that firmly, then it must be true,” the Old Dean said with a slow smile.
“What do you mean must be? Can’t you be a little more precise?” Rania said, frowning. “Anyway, can you tell me where Vieya is now?”
The Old Dean thought for a moment. “If I remember correctly, you and Vieya haven’t known each other that long, have you? Why are ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ you so concerned? Do you... perhaps have feelings for her?”
“No! Nothing like that!” Rania straightened her back, twirling a strand of her silky violet hair. “I just want to thank her, that’s all. Besides...”
She slumped again, her voice dropping. “...I have my own matters to take care of. Anything else isn’t my concern.”
“Oh?” The Old Dean took a sip of tea, setting down his cup. “Vieya accepted a commission two days ago—to investigate traces of your teacher at Mount Aisa. I believe she’s already been there for some time.”
“What! Investigate my teacher’s traces?!”
Rania shot to her feet. “Why would she take that kind of request? When the war ended, every faction scoured Mount Aisa from top to bottom, but they found nothing and eventually abandoned it!”
“You’re right,” the Old Dean said. “But recently, someone posted a world-level commission at the Adventurers’ Guild—the very one I just mentioned.”
His gaze grew deep. “An emerald-ranked adventurer party took it, but a few days ago, some of them returned, requesting an extension and hiring outside help.”
“Emerald-ranked... returned... requested an extension... hired outside help...”
Rania quickly pieced together the key points, her eyes snapping up to meet the Old Dean’s cloudy ones. Her heart thudded once, hard.
“What happened at Mount Aisa?”
“That emerald-ranked party brought back a message.” The Old Dean’s eyes were calm, unreadable. “They said they saw your teacher in Mount Aisa.”
Teacher!
“I’m going there myself—” Rania started for the door at once.
“Wait!”
The Old Dean’s sharp voice stopped her in her tracks. His expression was grave as he fixed his gaze on her.
“I know you’re deeply attached to the past, but listen to me—what they saw may not be the teacher you remember.”
“......”
Rania was silent for a long time, then smiled faintly. “I know. But I have to go—because I’m his only student.”
