The Promised Land, with the Slacking Family Head

"She wants to see me?" Luo Wei frowned as he looked at Tilis. "When? And where?"

The moment Evelyn heard it was the Holy Maiden of the Church who wanted to meet Luo Wei, she immediately tensed up. "Is that Eleya planning to come here?"

She anxiously glanced around the ancient castle. The magic mechanisms here had already run out of energy, and the witch lady was severely injured. If that Holy Maiden took this chance to cause trouble, there would truly be no one left to stop her.

"Don’t be so nervous." Tilis shook her head. "She only mentioned wanting to meet Luo Wei in Blackwater Town. No specific time was set, but it should be soon."

"Blackwater Town?" The name made Luo Wei pause.

Helena’s expression visibly tightened upon hearing the name, and Luo Wei understood why.

That was the last dungeon he had tackled in the first playthrough. Located in the westernmost kingdom of Velen, Blackwater Town was also the direct reason for his disappearance from this world.

To be honest, that place was indeed a bit eerie—a peculiar mechanics-heavy dungeon.

Back then, he had only brought Tilis and Eleya with him. Logically, a brute-force physical healer paired with a top-tier mage should have been more than enough. Yet, to his surprise, they had been stuck there, failing over and over again...

Luo Wei hadn’t expected Eleya to choose that place for their meeting. It gave him a sense of fate—as if all the love and hatred had begun there and would end there, like a destined final showdown...

And with the looming shadow of war on the horizon, he couldn’t shake the ominous feeling that "something big is coming." That was why he was so desperate to help everyone around him grow stronger.

Seeing her brother lost in thought, Helena anxiously tightened her grip on his wrist, her voice trembling as if triggered by trauma.

"Brother, please don’t go! I’m begging you, don’t go there!"

Her sapphire-blue eyes welled up with tears as she pleaded, "I don’t want you to go to that place. You just came back to us—I can’t bear the thought of you disappearing again! Let’s just stay in the old mansion and live happily, without going anywhere or getting involved in anything, okay?"

"Helena..." Luo Wei gently stroked her soft hair. "Don’t worry, I haven’t agreed yet!"

Tears shimmered in her eyes, and she clung to him desperately, as if afraid he would vanish once more.

Luo Wei sighed inwardly before turning to Tilis with a helpless look. "Did she say anything else? And... can I just not see her?"

"Not see her?" Tilis chuckled. "That’d be even better. Honestly, I don’t want you going back there either—though now I’m not afraid of those creepy monsters anymore..."

"But..." She paused, looking puzzled. "Eleya left one more thing unsaid. She claimed that even if you refused to see her, you’d eventually beg to meet her. I have no idea where she gets that confidence..."

"That woman actually said that?" Helena grew even more agitated, clutching Luo Wei’s arm. "What is she planning to do to Brother?! Is this a threat?!"

Luo Wei also frowned in confusion, while Tilis shook her head. "No idea. She’s been acting shady lately—who knows what grand scheme she’s cooking up."

After relaying the message, the witch lady locked eyes with Luo Wei, her gaze firm. "But don’t worry. As long as I’m here, I won’t let her lay a finger on you!"

"I’ll prepare a room for your new body right away!" Evelyn, well aware of Tilis’s strength, chimed in. "Once you’re fully recovered, you’ll definitely be able to take her down!"

Tilis smiled faintly. "I’ll win."

...

Over the next three days, the guests from the birthday banquet gradually departed.

Though the Abraham family was large, without the lively atmosphere, the vast Thornflower Castle felt eerily empty.

Carrying a tray of food, Luo Wei walked down the dimly lit corridor. After exchanging pleasantries with a passing noble, the last group of guests finally left. The turmoil in the vampire castle had truly come to an end...

Though there was a sense of finality, for Professor Evelyn, new challenges had only just begun. Luo Wei carefully pushed open the office door to find her buried under a mountain of paperwork, looking utterly distressed. Annie, seated beside her in a chair, had quietly dozed off, while little assistant Monica slumped on the other side, frustratedly tugging at her hair as she worked on the accounts—strands of it already littered the floor.

Luo Wei set the breakfast tray down gently on the desk, amused by Monica’s state. Just two days ago, she had been thrilled about her promotion to the family head’s assistant. Now, she was completely drained.

"Has Monica been doing accounts all day?" Luo Wei asked casually, but she didn’t even have the energy to respond.

"How much did those spoiled brats squander?! This is driving me insane—just how many bad debts are there?!"

Curious, Luo Wei peeked at the ledger and couldn’t help but laugh. The Abraham family’s finances were in dire straits. Professor Evelyn had thought becoming the head of the family would mean endless luxury, but it seemed she was doomed to remain penniless no matter where she went...

His gaze then shifted to Annie, who was napping. These past few days, she had been patiently guiding Evelyn through administrative work, but each time she fell asleep, her slumber lasted longer than before.

Luo Wei tiptoed over to Evelyn, careful not to wake Annie. Everyone knew her time was running short, and they didn’t want to overburden her.

"Professor, time to eat." He placed the tray beside her.

"Goodness, is it morning already?" Evelyn glanced outside and sighed before yawning. "At least I have you here, Xiao Wei. Otherwise, dealing with all this would be unbearably dull..."

The Abraham family’s holdings extended far beyond Thornflower Castle—several towns, subordinate branch families, and numerous imperial assets all needed to be transferred. It was only natural for Evelyn to feel overwhelmed as a newcomer.

Staring at the food right in front of her, Evelyn had no appetite. Instead, she looked up at Luo Wei with pitiful eyes.

"Xiao Wei, your teacher hasn’t fully recovered yet. Feed me?"

Luo Wei brought the milk to her lips, and Evelyn’s mood visibly brightened as she took small sips.

Once finished, a milky-white residue lingered at the corner of her mouth, and she seemed much happier.

"Xiao Wei~ Your teacher is hungry."

Luo Wei broke off a piece of soft bread and brought it to her lips. Evelyn happily took a bite. After enjoying a round of being fed like a pampered queen, she wearily rubbed her shoulders. "Luo Wei, my shoulders feel sore and uncomfortable..."

Standing behind her, Luo Wei began massaging them with gentle, attentive care. Evelyn giggled as she reveled in his service. "Mmm... not bad, not bad! A little harder!"

"Ah, higher, higher... lower, lower..."

"So nice..."

"Hey! Luo Wei, where are your hands wandering now?!" she suddenly protested.

"Just tell me, does it feel good or not?" Luo Wei teased.

"Hmph, you shameless pervert!"

The playful banter between the lovebirds made Monica slowly lift her head, shooting them a resentful glare.

What’s wrong with these two? Weren’t they supposed to be busy with the handover? Why are they stuck together like glue every single day? Are they even working anymore?!

And another thing—wasn’t Evelyn already fully recovered? Why does she keep making Luo Wei come over to take care of her?

The more Monica watched, the more irritated she became. She was exhausted too—why didn’t anyone come to pamper her for once?

Luo Wei ignored the third wheel’s bitter stare. He had been doting on Evelyn tirelessly these past few days and knew full well she was faking her illness.

Truthfully, Evelyn had recovered by the second day—she just didn’t want him to leave.

Both of them understood that after these fleeting days together, they might not see each other for a long, long time.

"Ophelia’s nagging you to go back again today?" Evelyn frowned. "School’s starting? What kind of lousy excuse is that? What does Callen University’s semester have to do with her?"

"Callen University is preparing for an exhibition, so the school’s busy with arrangements..." Luo Wei chuckled and shook his head. It had nothing to do with him—Ophelia had clearly made up the excuse just to drag him home sooner.

"Hmph, I won’t let you leave!" Evelyn narrowed her eyes menacingly. "Let her wait! Besides, she still owes me! I’m not done with her yet!"

Luo Wei knew she was referring to the scheme to push her into power—a scheme he’d been part of too. He could only laugh sheepishly.

Evelyn had been buried in work these past two days, so busy she hadn’t even glanced at the [Tome of Blood], which could have elevated her powers. The endless paperwork was driving her mad, and Luo Wei completely understood her frustration...

"Oh, by the way, where’s your little shadow?" Evelyn asked, eyeing Luo Wei with suspicion.

"Helena?" Luo Wei thought for a moment. "The witch needed her help with a black magic ritual to reconstruct her body. Asked her to be a consultant."

"A consultant?" Evelyn burst out laughing. "What could your little sister possibly know? The three ways to fry an egg...?"

Luo Wei felt Helena was being severely underestimated...

Honestly, he had no idea why the witch had called for Helena either. Guarding the room as a bodyguard made sense, but a consultant...?

Neither could figure it out, so they dropped the subject. Evelyn glanced out the window, her emerald-green eyes glinting with sudden inspiration.

"Hey, Luo Wei, the weather’s perfect. Let me take you somewhere special~"

"Huh?" Luo Wei looked at her. "Where?"

"A place I used to go as a child!" Evelyn said mysteriously. "My secret hideout!"

Luo Wei glanced helplessly at the mountain of documents on her desk. "I don’t mind, but what about all this work...?"

"No worries, no worries!" Evelyn’s expression turned mischievous as she sneakily peeked at Monica. "We’ve got her, don’t we?"

Luo Wei silently turned to Monica, who looked like she was about to tear her hair out in frustration, and mourned her future for three seconds in his heart.

Poor deputy head, stuck with such a work-shirking, responsibility-dodging boss...

Meanwhile, Monica watched as Evelyn approached with a sinister grin, and her heart sank with foreboding.

"Monica, I’m not feeling too well..."

"Um, about those documents on my desk... could you handle them for me? I’ll be back soon, promise! Don’t look at me like that—I swear I’ll return right away~"

Monica slumped into her chair, defeated.