The Miserable Molini

"Did the Twilight Apostles come after Mo Lini too?"

This didn’t surprise Xia Lun. The Twilight Apostles had approached Liyana before… and since Moke had once been their teammate, it made sense they’d target his descendant as well.

"What did those guys want from you? Did they try to recruit you to help resurrect the Hero?" Liyana patted Mo Lini’s shoulder lightly.

Mo Lini was just an ordinary girl with no notable strength. It was easy to imagine how much worse her life would become after being harassed by those people.

Mo Lini shook her head. "No… They just demanded that I hand over something my ancestor supposedly took from the Hero… But as far as I know, he never passed anything down."

Then, with a mix of grief and anger, she added, "Those bastards ransacked my house! They smashed the walls and floors! And in the end, they found nothing… They just walked away without a care, leaving me to pay for the damages! My life was already hard enough, and now this… Ugh—"

That was just too cruel…

Liyana winced. Mo Lini was just an ordinary girl trying to get by. Her expertise in musical magic wasn’t useful in combat, so she couldn’t become an adventurer… Yet, because of past events, she was caught up in this mess.

Still, the girl was lucky she hadn’t been hurt… Or maybe the Twilight Cultists believed she still held some clue, so they wouldn’t harm her—for now.

Either way, keeping her under protection wouldn’t hurt.

"Teacher Mo Lini." Liyana reached out to pat Mo Lini’s head but immediately pulled her hand back as if reflexively.

Mo Lini looked puzzled. She didn’t understand why Liyana had recoiled—she had no idea that her ancestor used to bite Liyana’s hand in fury whenever she tried to pat his head.

Liyana suggested, "Why don’t you move in with us? It’ll be safer for you… Xia Lun, that’s fine, right? We’ve got plenty of empty rooms."

Xia Lun nodded lightly. "Of course."

Mo Lini eyed the three of them suspiciously.

Right now, the most dangerous people around seemed to be the ones standing right in front of her…

"N-no, I want to live alone. I’m used to it…" Mo Lini replied hesitantly.

"Oh, dear Teacher Mo Lini, you need to understand one thing." Liyana wagged a finger. "We’re not negotiating with you."

Mo Lini gasped. "What… Are you bandits?"

"Mo Lini." Aina gently patted her shoulder. "We’re doing this for your own good."

Mo Lini blinked. For some reason, even though Aina didn’t look much older or bigger than her, she felt an inexplicable urge to call her "Mother."

But Mo Lini knew she probably had no choice in the matter.

She ventured, "Then… can I at least go back to my place first and pack my things?"

"Of course." Xia Lun agreed readily. "We’ll go with you. More hands make moving easier."

"I… I don’t have much. It won’t take long…" Mo Lini murmured weakly.

"It’s no trouble. We should help." Xia Lun sounded genuinely eager.

With a resigned sigh, Mo Lini led the three of them back to her residence.

"Teacher Mo Lini… You said you were struggling financially, but you live here?" Liyana stared at the small villa with a courtyard in surprise.

"This is Professor Enlaisi’s house… I’m just staying here." Mo Lini explained. "Professor Enlaisi has no family, and he took pity on me, so he let me live here… In return, I cook for him."

"Oh! That Professor Enlaisi. He’s such a kind soul." The free-spirited old professor had clearly left a strong impression on Liyana.

The villa looked aged, its iron fence covered in vines. Mo Lini pulled out an old bronze key and unlocked the gate.

With a crisp creak from the hinges, they stepped into the courtyard.

Professor Enlaisi was home, reclining on a wicker chair in the garden pavilion, puffing on a pipe as he flipped through an ancient tome.

"Mo Lini, you’re back?" Enlaisi lifted his gaze from the book, pausing briefly at the sight of Xia Lun and the others before smiling. "First time you’ve brought friends over."

"Long time no see, Professor Enlaisi!" Liyana stepped forward, striking up a conversation. "What are you reading?"

Enlaisi showed her the cover: The Hero’s Romance.

Liyana clutched the armrest of the chair, laughing so hard she nearly doubled over. Enlaisi, too, was infected by her mirth and burst into hearty laughter.

"Professor Enlaisi… I… I came to say goodbye." Mo Lini approached him. "I’d like to keep living here, but Liyana invited me to stay with them…"

She blinked rapidly, hoping her hint was obvious enough—she wanted the professor to intervene.

If he insisted she stay, surely Xia Lun and the others wouldn’t dare force her to leave?

Mo Lini knew Professor Enlaisi was incredibly powerful. He had once been the vice-principal of Olifantos, after all. No one would dare act recklessly in his presence.

"Oh? Moving out, are you? Then go ahead." Enlaisi slipped a bookmark between the pages and closed the book, exhaling a smoke ring that made Mo Lini cough.

He snorted. "Little girl, are you worried about me? I’m still strong enough to drink all night at the tavern… I’m not so senile I can’t take care of myself."

Then, raising a finger, he added, "Besides, a young thing like you? I could handle you with one hand."

Liyana whistled. "Same here."

The two shared another round of laughter, clearly getting along well.

Mo Lini had completely given up. Shoulders slumped, she trudged toward the house.

"Xia Lun." Aina tugged lightly at his sleeve. "Don’t you dare pick up their bad habits."

"Mm. I don’t understand any of it."

Xia Lun glanced unconsciously at his slightly pale middle finger.

Enlaisi rose slowly from the wicker chair, tamped out his pipe, and tucked it into his coat pocket.

"Alright, youngsters, you’re guests here. Feel free to look around."