Volume 1 Chapter 149.2

Volume 1 + Chapter 149.2: Important Information

“I…” she said softly, her voice so low it was almost inaudible.

“I don’t have any family. I’m sorry.”

She apologized instinctively in a hushed voice, the words trembling uncontrollably, as if this were the only thing she could still say to the world.

The knights around her exchanged glances, momentarily unable to understand why this young girl was apologizing at such a time. A vague, inexplicable emotion stirred in their hearts.

At that moment, Long Aotian was forcibly dragged out from the rubble. His body was covered in injuries, yet fortunately, his life was not in danger.

He was merely unconscious, as though his body—after enduring a brutal blow—had temporarily lost all strength and fallen into a deep coma.

Long Aotian’s current appearance was truly difficult to describe with words.

The face he had once been so proud of—the face that had always given people a favorable first impression—had now been completely distorted by the violent magical impact and overwhelming force.

His facial features were no longer clearly defined, smeared with blood, and after such merciless devastation, were almost unrecognizable.

That once-prized face had not only lost all its former luster in the eyes of onlookers, but had also become the unmistakable mark of this confrontation.

Although his life was not in danger, the severity of his injuries was enough to ensure that, for a long time to come, he would no longer be able to face anyone with confidence.

Both Vivian and Long Aotian were taken away by the Imperial Tribunal.

At the same time, Leah and Mira were standing in front of an inconspicuous real estate agency, nervously yet with a hint of anticipation, handing over a heavy sack of gold coins to the agent.

The coins inside the bag glimmered faintly. The moment the sack changed hands, the weight finally disappeared. Mira’s fingers unconsciously tightened, as if she could still feel the lingering heaviness of the coins hanging in the air.

She could not help but sigh inwardly—fifty gold coins in exchange for such a dilapidated little courtyard. It really was hard to comprehend.

Even so, she knew Leah must have her own unspoken reasons for insisting on this place, and it wasn’t her place to say much.

The agent did not hesitate. He produced a transfer contract that had already been signed and handed it to Leah.

Then he took out an old set of keys from his pocket. Rust clung to them, giving off a sense of age and the weight of time.

Although this black-hearted agent had failed to sell the property for the outrageous price of two hundred gold coins, managing to unload it for fifty was already a tidy profit.

Watching Leah take the keys, the agent’s lips curled into a satisfied smile as he calculated inwardly—no matter how one looked at it, this deal was a guaranteed win.

“Happy now?”

Mira raised an eyebrow as she watched Leah cradle the rusted keys, her tone tinged with teasing.

She might not fully understand Leah’s obsession with this run-down courtyard, but she could feel the resolve behind her decision…

After all, she wouldn’t even spare a dragon when it came to prize money…

Moreover, Leah’s reward money clearly wouldn’t arrive anytime soon, yet Mira had withdrawn her own savings without hesitation to lend them to her. That trust and emotional bond came straight from the heart. She knew this was about more than money—it was about trust and support.

Leah beamed at Mira’s words, her joy impossible to hide. She nodded lightly, holding the old, rust-edged keys as though they were not merely a way into a shabby courtyard, but a symbol of a new beginning.

Light sparkled in her eyes, as if she were holding the most precious treasure imaginable. The sense of fulfillment and anticipation in her heart was almost overwhelming. She understood that this courtyard represented far more than a simple place to live—it embodied her hopes for the future.

Here, she would create beautiful memories that belonged only to her and her mother.

“Oh, right—there seem to be some things left inside the courtyard. Probably the belongings of the previous owner.”

The real estate agent offered the reminder in a low voice, uncertainty lacing his tone.

“People all seem to avoid it, which is why the house never sold.”

He paused, clearly sensing the sensitivity of the topic. But since the deal was already done, he didn’t mind saying a bit more.

“Look at this place—it’s right in the imperial capital, where every inch of land is worth a fortune. By all logic, it should’ve been expensive. Yet it’s so cheap… makes you wonder, doesn’t it?”

He smiled, seemingly pleased to share this inside information.

“It’s said… the previous owner of this house was the crimson witch who was sentenced to death.”

The agent lowered his voice, adding weight to those words with deliberate mystery.

The Crimson Witch—this name was a near-universal taboo within the Empire. Her crimes and fate cast a deep shadow over the property. Mira’s heart stirred slightly, she hadn’t expected the house to carry such a hidden history.

“Why didn’t you say that earlier?”

Mira’s tone carried unmistakable displeasure. Her brows knit together, anger flashing in her eyes.

She finally understood why property prices in that area—despite being in the capital—were so shockingly low.

So that was the reason. A house once inhabited by a witch was believed to taint the surroundings, dragging prices down until almost no one dared to live there.

On the surface, people blamed the remoteness and quiet environment, but everyone knew the real reason: a witch had once lived there.

In the eyes of ordinary people, witches were inherently unforgivable beings steeped in sin, inspiring instinctive fear and rejection.

In truth, most witches did fit that image, having committed countless atrocities.

But Eve was different. Though she was a witch, she was one of the rare few who were kind to humans.

Witches were typically incredibly powerful. Even the weakest among them was far beyond what humans could ever hope to reach.

Such absurdly overpowered magical talent—something you could practically gain just by doing nothing—if given to anyone else, would probably lead to an “I don’t eat beef” kind of opening move.

Like an ordinary person suddenly becoming Superman, the first day they might still cling to moral boundaries, by the second day, they might already be flying around wreaking havoc.

“Well, you didn’t ask, did you? And the contract’s already signed anyway.”

The agent scratched the back of his head, forcing out an awkward, sheepish smile tinged with apology, trying to ease the tension despite his discomfort.

Unfortunately, that smile only poured fuel onto Mira’s anger. She was so furious she felt like her lungs were about to explode, itching to slap him hard across the face to vent her frustration.

“It’s fine, Sister Mira. It doesn’t matter.”

Leah spoke gently, her voice calm and soothing.

She truly didn’t care about such trivial details.

“If no witch had lived here before, I wouldn’t have wanted this house anyway.”

(She muttered lightly under her breath, her tone casual but her eyes flashing with a cold glint.)

To her, this place was merely an ominous site in the eyes of others. Even if someone offered her the imperial palace in exchange, she would refuse without hesitation—nothing compared to what she desired in her heart.

And besides, the deed now bore her name. That meant the so-called Saintess no longer had any chance.

Leah smiled to herself, a trace of mockery flashing through her gaze.

She had originally feared that withdrawing money from the bank had delayed her, that she might miss this opportunity. After all, in such a perfect moment, who knew what might go wrong? If the Saintess had arrived first and signed the contract, it would’ve been over for her.

Yet everything had unfolded smoothly, as if fate itself had already decided the outcome.

Why hadn’t that Saintess shown up yet? Leah let out a soft laugh, curiosity flickering through her mind. Had she overslept?

Since she still hadn’t appeared, then this house could only belong to Leah.

After all, when an opportunity is laid out so clearly, she has no intention of holding back.

Just as she had once taken in mother Eve—who should have belonged to her—without hesitation, everything was firmly within her grasp, leaving no room for regret.

Thinking of this, Leah’s mood grew brighter.

The corners of her lips lifted into a gentle smile, as if all worries had been swept away.

None of what lay before her mattered anymore. She waved dismissively, completely ignoring the black-hearted agent, grabbed Mira by the arm, and headed straight toward the house.

After all, the place had been vacant for nearly two years. Everything inside had long been abandoned, left uncleared—who knew what it might look like now?

Would it be like other abandoned houses, filled with dust and weeds? Instead of deterring her, the thought only fueled her curiosity, filling her with excitement to witness that long-standing emptiness and silence.

She used the rusted key to unlock the door, feeling the cool metallic chill against her fingertips.

The moment the key slid into the lock, it let out a harsh creaking sound, like an ancient mechanism awakening after years of neglect.

The courtyard gate finally opened. Everything before her was both familiar and unfamiliar, making Leah feel as though she’d crossed into another lifetime.

Staring at the place she had walked through countless times before, an indescribable emotion surged in her chest, and her eyes began to sting.

Everything Leah had once longed for still stood quietly there.

The small two-story house remained firmly in one corner of the courtyard. Patches of the exterior wall had peeled away, moss creeping over the darker areas—clear signs that time had left indelible marks upon it.

Weeds ran wild throughout the yard, branches swaying in the wind as if whispering stories of the years gone by. Dust lay everywhere, as though the place had been cut off from the world for a long time.

Yet none of this dampened Leah’s spirits. Instead, the familiar yet intricate atmosphere drew her in even more, making her feel as though this was truly where she belonged.

Mira, on the other hand, couldn’t help frowning, her expression clearly showing a hint of distaste.

She carefully searched for a spot where she could stand without issue, all the while clutching Leah’s arm tightly, signaling her not to move any farther.

Mira’s gaze swept the surroundings again and again, until she noticed an ant nest hidden in the grass nearby—those busy little creatures completely unaware of her presence.