Vol 4. Chapter 170: Yumo Returns Home

Nighttime.

Inside the teachers' apartment building,

Under the respectful gazes of several Black Rose maids, Lady Yumo slowly stepped into the apartment and returned home.

As for her classmate Lingluo, whom Yumo had rescued earlier in the outer district of Anvika, Yumo had forcibly brought her back to the academy dormitory area and handed her over to the supervisor of Lingluo's dormitory.

Originally, Lingluo still hadn't given up on meeting the wealthy patron named "Yue" whom she admired so much. She had even asked Yumo to help her arrange a meeting.

However, considering the girl's battered and wounded condition, Yumo resolutely refused.

Afterward, ignoring the green-haired girl's protests, Yumo brought her straight back to Yexinlian Royal Academy.

Completely disregarding her own health for the sake of her goals...

She really was quite a troublesome student.

"Sigh..."

Lady Yumo sighed helplessly.

Although her body wasn't physically tired, today's excursion to Anvika's outer district had left her feeling mentally exhausted.

And it wasn't just because of that troublesome student.

There was also that strange fox shopkeeper and the peculiar book she'd given her.

...

"What's wrong, my lady?"

A moment later, the old butler Saiboke approached the black-haired girl, who had already removed her outer clothing with the maids' assistance and changed into a comfortable set of casual homewear.

He looked at her with some confusion and asked worriedly.

However, because Mengxi was currently staying in this apartment, Saiboke had no choice but to address her as "Lady Yu" instead of "Lady Yumo" to avoid exposing their identities.

"Lady Yu, why have you returned so late today? Did something happen in Anvika's outer district?"

"Well, I couldn't help being late. Those rare materials were practically impossible to find. I searched for ages before finally managing to get them from a rather strange shop. Besides, I had a few other matters to deal with, so I ended up coming back a little later than expected. Sorry, Little Sai. You went to all the trouble of preparing afternoon tea for nothing."

"You have no need to apologize, my lady."

Saiboke lowered his head in alarm.

"Have you all eaten already?"

Looking toward the dining table nearby, Yumo slowly asked.

"Thank you for your concern, Lady Yu. We've all had dinner."

"What about Yuan'er?"

"Lady Yuan'er returned around dusk and had her dinner."

"Then where has that girl run off to again?"

"After dinner, Lady Yuan'er hurried out again. If I'm not mistaken... she probably went to play with that little dragon girl again. Lady Yuan'er has been spending an awful lot of time with Lady Melilov lately."

Saiboke remarked with a sigh.

His voice was filled with affection and grandfatherly warmth.

Although it was somewhat inappropriate given their respective positions, Yuan'er had always called him "Grandpa Saiboke." Over time, Saiboke had genuinely begun to feel as though Yuan'er were his own granddaughter...

Of course, Saiboke would never dare mention such feelings in front of Yumo.

After all, that would be rather presumptuous.

"Oh, right. Before leaving, Lady Yuan'er placed a letter on your desk."

As he spoke,

Saiboke handed the envelope to Yumo.

After accepting it and examining its contents, Yumo pursed her soft pink lips with mixed feelings.

"Little Sai, your guess was right. That girl Yuan'er went out to play with Little Meli again. And tonight, she's not coming home to sleep either."

Yumo sighed helplessly and gazed through the window toward the central area of Yexinlian Royal Academy.

Under the moonlight, a dense forest stretched out before her, its trees forming a dark, shadowy expanse.

"Seriously, that girl... Hasn't she been playing around a little too much lately?"

Yumo muttered to herself.

There was a distinct trace of displeasure in her words.

After all, ever since Yuan'er had met Little Meli, she had frequently stayed away from home.

Every few days, she would disappear for the night, often going out to play with that little dragon girl.

Although Yumo was genuinely happy that her daughter had managed to make such a like-minded friend, spending practically all her time outside playing wasn't exactly appropriate.

The girl was getting far too carried away.

Recently, Yumo had been busy preparing lessons and helping Mengxi train for the upcoming competition.

As a result, she had somewhat neglected that child.

Yumo shook her head guiltily.

Sigh...

It seemed that once Yuan'er returned, she would have to give the little girl a proper lecture.

There was nothing wrong with going out to play, but she couldn't spend every waking moment running around outside, could she?

Especially at night!

Nighttime was when children were supposed to rest properly and grow.

Yet that girl was still running around having fun even then.

Hmm...

Could Little Meli have been a bad influence on her?

She clearly hadn't been this playful before.

...

"However..."

Frowning slightly, Yumo looked at the letter in her hand with some confusion.

"Come to think of it, Little Sai, weren't you home today? Why didn't Yuan'er just tell you directly like she did the other day? Why go out of her way to write me a letter?"

In response to this question, the old butler smiled unconcernedly.

"Lady Yuan'er probably had some particularly exciting activity planned with that dragon girl tonight. She must have really wanted to go, but she was afraid we wouldn't agree if she told us. After all, Lady Yuan'er has already spent three consecutive nights away from home."

"However, Lady Yuan'er couldn't possibly hide something like this from you. That's probably why she came home without saying a word and left you this letter instead. I imagine she wanted to do the same thing as before—act first and ask for forgiveness later."

"Hmm, that's possible..."

"Lady Yu, there's really no need to worry. Lady Karina's disguise is practically flawless. Lady Yuan'er won't be exposed so easily. Besides, hasn't everything been perfectly fine these past few days?"

Noticing the faint concern on Yumo's face, Saiboke hurriedly offered some reassurance.

"Mhm."

Yumo merely nodded noncommittally.

Well,

That girl was probably doing the same thing as before: playing like crazy all night, then secretly sneaking back home the following morning.

Forget it. Just as Saiboke said, there really wasn't much to worry about.

Although she couldn't shake the feeling that she shouldn't allow Yuan'er, a Demon King-class existence, to run around the academy so recklessly...

Fortunately, there weren't any other Eighth-Tier powerhouses inside Yexinlian Royal Academy at the moment.

However,

Thinking about how Yuan'er seemed to be enjoying herself more and more lately, Mother Yumo couldn't help knitting her delicate eyebrows together.

She was beginning to worry about the little girl's future.

Previously, because she doted on Yuan'er so much, Yumo had generally adopted a hands-off attitude toward her daughter's habit of running around and playing.

But now, it seemed that continuing to indulge her like this wouldn't do.

She couldn't allow the girl to become so obsessed with playing that she neglected everything else.

Perhaps it was about time to hire a private tutor for Yuan'er or assign her some homework...

After all, that child was already old enough to attend school.

Resting a hand against her chin, Yumo began contemplating her youngest daughter's future education.

...

...

——

A little while later, having come up with a rough plan in her mind, Lady Yumo slowly returned to her bedroom, escorted by two maids.

Although Saiboke had suggested preparing dinner for her, Yumo declined, considering how late it already was.

Since Saiboke and the others had been working all day, Yumo hoped that the children of the Black Rose Family could get some rest early.

In any case, as someone whose true body was the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons, she had no actual need to eat.

Eating was merely a way for her to enjoy delicious food or pass the time.

Incidentally,

Anything Lady Yumo ate would be completely broken down and converted into Shadow of Silence Power, becoming part of her own strength.

Therefore,

Our beautiful Lady Yumo was destined to have absolutely no connection with the toilet.

...

"Good night, Lady Yu."

"Mhm. You should all go get some rest too."

After the maids departed and Yumo entered her bedroom, she instinctively turned her gaze toward the window.

Or, more precisely, toward the beautiful silver-haired girl working at the desk beside the window.

At that moment, the silver-haired girl had gathered her gorgeous, hip-length silver-white hair into an elegant updo behind her head.

She wore a monocle that gave her a rather scholarly appearance, along with an adorable white nightdress.

She was sitting quietly at the desk, completely absorbed in her work.

Naturally, this silver-haired girl was none other than our beloved Child of Destiny.

Looking at Mengxi working so attentively in her bedroom, Yumo couldn't help revealing a somewhat helpless expression.

In fact, the renovations to all the rooms had already been completed several days ago, so Mengxi could have moved into a guest room.

However, Yumo's own little girl had insisted that Mengxi continue staying in Yumo's bedroom.

According to Yuan'er, only by keeping the silver-haired big sister in Mother's room could she protect her more effectively and prevent anyone with "wicked intentions" from harming her.

After all, the mysterious explosions throughout the academy had continued occurring one after another recently, and the academy authorities still hadn't managed to identify the culprit.

Their sheer inefficiency had left Yumo practically speechless.

In the end, unable to resist Yuan'er's adorable pleading, Lady Yumo agreed to let Mengxi continue staying in her bedroom.

Although the fact that Yuan'er, an Abyss Demon, hadn't shown any hostility toward Mengxi was a rare source of relief for Yumo, something about the situation had begun to feel increasingly strange lately.

Well...

How should she put it?

She wasn't sure whether it was just her imagination, but...

Didn't her youngest daughter seem awfully eager for something to happen between her and Mengxi?