Chapter 7

Apart from her sense of shame, Lady Mercury and that nameless dragon seemed to think very highly of Luo En’s character.

It was pure coincidence; Luo En himself had never imagined the black slime would turn into a cute witch.

“It’s dropped at least ten degrees...” The moment he stepped through the gate, the temperature plummeted.

A cold wind sliced past, pointing the way to a distant outline of land.

Calling it a Territory was generous; to Luo En it looked like a small town surrounded by open fields.

Moruna tapped his arm and pointed.

He followed her finger and saw a lone figure standing in the biting wind.

“A maid?” The sight froze him.

She was unmistakably dressed as a maid—yet what maid waited in a frozen wasteland? This wasn’t fantasy anymore; it was science-fiction.

Silver-white hair, short and silky, framed a mature, beautiful face devoid of expression.

Ruby eyes watched him without warmth, the corners brushed with pale red shadow that seemed ready to flare into open contempt.

She wore exactly what he’d described: a skimpy maid outfit that somehow didn’t diminish her commanding presence. Confidence and grace radiated from every line of her.

Pristine white thigh-highs ended at the precise strip of skin known to connoisseurs as the “absolute zone,” while the frilled apron skirt just covered the stocking clasps.

The top half was a crisp black blouse attached to a pleated skirt that hugged her hips like a second skin.

Lace-gloved hands rested neatly in front of her skirt; she stood straight, unbothered by the wind.

Luo En hesitated, then tried to ignore her and walked on.

Clip-clop—every step he took, she mirrored, maintaining the exact same distance.

He blinked, changed direction.

Clip-clop—tiny quick steps brought her expressionlessly closer.

“Miss...” He couldn’t stand it any longer. “Who are you?”

Cute as she was, meeting a maid straight out of Lady Mercury’s gate in this desolate cold felt strange—and dangerous.

For all he knew, this was some kind of ritual trap.

At his question she lifted her skirt just enough for a flawless curtsy.

“Pleasure to meet you. You may call me Lilyan, Mr. Luo En.”

“Miss Lilyan... why are you following me?”

“I’m the maid Lady Mercury assigned to assist you. For example, I can guide you to the Frozen Territory.”

“Then why didn’t you say anything earlier?”

“Initiating conversation with a human is... biologically difficult for me. My apologies.”

“And the fifty-plus metres of distance?” He glanced at the gap between them.

“You’re rather dirty. Forgive me, but I’d rather not come closer. I’m not obsessive about cleanliness, yet your current state is more than I can tolerate.”

Luo En’s face twitched. Lady Mercury’s maid packed a sting.

He studied Lilyan, trying to read the pretty enigma; Lilyan studied the otherworlder with equal care.

She had met several Otherworlders before. They carried the same flaws as the natives of the Bicolor Realm—flaws that seemed bred in the bone.

Being ordered to help this one grated on her. Ugly minds and the human race were, in her eyes, synonymous.

Yet as an elegant White Dragon, she would never let discourtesy show.

Suddenly Lilyan felt a gaze and turned to Moruna.

The witch’s eyes were still dull, her lips motionless, but her brows had lifted in clear irritation.

“Good day, Witch Miss.” Lilyan dipped another curtsy—this one noticeably warmer than the bow she’d given Luo En.

“Follow me; I’ll take you to the Frozen Territory.”

She stepped ahead, always keeping the same measured distance.

As Luo En’s Observer, she would lend no combat aid. Her sole duty was to ensure he didn’t abuse the Ten Sages’ System.

Should he cross the line, she was authorised to kill him at once.

“If you already know the Culprit is inside the Territory, why haven’t you found him yet?” Luo En asked her back.

“We know he’s there, but we don’t know his appearance—or even his species. None of the search parties have ever returned.”

“Species?” That word caught Luo En more than the ominous fate of the searchers; he’d already expected the latter.

“We can’t be sure the Culprit is human,” Lilyan replied, glancing sideways at him.

Moruna stayed close, fingers hooked into the hem of Luo En’s coat.

He looked back, hopeful. “Moruna?”

No response—she moved on instinct alone.

“A witch who once melted into black slime rarely regains full consciousness, even if she regains human shape,” Lilyan said coolly. “Returning to human form at all is already a miracle.”

“You know a lot about this?”

“I know more than you,” she answered, polite and final.

Luo En cleared his throat and fell silent.

“The word ‘witch’ wasn’t always an insult,” Lilyan continued, unprompted.

“People like her were branded witches because humans thought their power evil.”

“Human spells and prayers borrow from specific symbols.

Witchcraft doesn’t. So humans called it unnatural—and evil.”

“And because Witches often lose control of their power and fall into mana rampages, eventually mutating into a mass of Black Slime, it only ‘proves’ the humans right when they call them evil.”

“Utterly idiotic. Their power comes straight from the root of the Bicolor Realm, yet people brand them as wicked Witches.”

She paused, shooting Luo En a sideways glance. “You’re a mess and it drives me crazy, but I’m honestly grateful you saved that Witch.”

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