Chapter 3
Chapter 3
"Name?"
"Jiang Li."
"Occupation?"
"Hero... no, freelance."
"Your sister says you locked her out. What's going on?"
The young officer rapped on the door once more, then tilted his chin toward the figure standing beside him—Kakayan.
She hung her head, arms crossed over her chest, rainwater beading on her long, shapely legs as though she were half-frozen. Yet anyone who glimpsed the sly grin hidden beneath her hood knew the act was pure theatre.
"We're family," the officer continued, voice stern. "Whatever the grudge, tossing your sister out in the rain isn't the answer."
Jiang Li swallowed a groan. What sister? This woman's got centuries on me.
He spread his hands in surrender and pushed the door wide.
He hadn't wanted anything to do with Kakayan. Three months without work, rent already devouring the last of his savings—he couldn't afford another mouth to feed. Asking his parents for help was out of the question; they hadn't even called since he'd vanished from Earth for three years in another world. Every Spring Festival he showed his face back home just long enough to prove he was still breathing, then left again.
Kakayan had two perfectly good hands, a few low-grade spells, and a talent for barter—she wouldn't starve. Let her visit Uncle Policeman and learn how modern law works.
Of course the maddening woman had decided to latch onto him instead.
And she'd sicced the cops on him.
Jiang Li preferred to keep clear of the police; explaining a three-month disappearance after transmigrating to another world required more mouths than he had.
Worse, the "sister" on his doorstep didn't even own an ID—black-market refugee, by any modern standard. Leave her be, and trouble would follow.
"Come in, Older Sister," he said with a pleasant smile, beckoning.
Kakayan's lips curled in silent triumph. She nodded to the officer, then darted inside with a dancer's quick steps.
Watching her disappear into the apartment, Jiang Li sighed.
Like releasing a fish into the sea or a bird into the sky—once Kakayan crossed that threshold, evicting her again would be impossible.
Every soul on the continent of Aze knew the Witch Miss was a gluttonous layabout who could hibernate for weeks in her castle. A hard-core shut-in.
"See you, Officer."
Jiang Li began to shut the door.
"Wait." The young cop raised a hand.
"What now?"
Jiang Li's brow furrowed. He hoped the man didn't intend to step inside; beneath Jiang Li's sofa lay a double-edged greatsword sharp enough to slice iron. Discovery meant a complimentary, all-inclusive stay behind bars.
"Does your sister have a boyfriend?"
The officer scratched his cheek, suddenly sheepish. "That cosplay of hers—looks amazing. My name's Li. Just thought... maybe I could get her number?"
Well, well. No wonder he'd been so eager.
Jiang Li cleared his throat and rattled off his own phone number instead. Officer Li beamed, promising to treat both siblings to dinner sometime soon. A few more pleasantries, and the policeman left.
Jiang Li watched him go. This could get complicated. On the other hand, having a friend on the force might prove useful if he ever wound up in custody.
From inside came a sudden shout.
"What is this food? It's incredible!"
Jiang Li blinked, then sprinted back into the living room.
A bowl of steaming braised-beef instant noodles had been slurped dry, broth and all. Kakayan held the empty cup upside down, studying the packaging.
"I like this shell-food. Got any more?" She licked her lips, clearly unsatisfied.
"The shell's edible too. Help yourself." Jiang Li's tone was arctic.
"Okay."
Kakayan opened her mouth—revealing two wicked little fangs—and bit down hard on the cup. A moment later she spat out shredded paper.
"Blech! That's not food at all! Jiang Li, you tricked me!"
She possessed zero modern common sense. A blank slate. Easy to fool.
Maybe I can get her to do a mukbang, Jiang Li mused. With that face she'd crush every over-filtered influencer online. Could she actually be useful?
He shelved the thought.
Outside it had just rained; Kakayan's boots were caked in mud. And now she was tromping around the apartment in them.
"Jiang Li, what room is this?"
"Take your shoes off."
"This chair's hollow—why is there water inside?"
"Take your shoes off."
"Your bed's tiny but so bouncy!"
"Take. Your. Shoes. OFF!"
Kakayan finally registered the murderous stare. She swallowed and froze. Centuries old or not, she'd seen enough men to know the look of a predator.
"Here."
With a soft thud she tugged off her boots and tossed them at Jiang Li.
"Use them as you like. Don't say I freeload."
She stepped onto the sofa, towering over him.
"They're only boots. Swear fealty to me and I'll grant you more than that—hmph."
Jiang Li stared blankly for a few seconds, then stepped forward without a word.
He dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead to the floor.
From the sofa, Kakayan looked down at him, thinking that this world was nothing short of surreal—the Hero, Jiang Li, actually...
"I remember leaving it here."
He felt around for a moment.
At last, he pulled the Hero's Sword from its hiding spot beneath the sofa.
"It's about time you learned who the master of this house really is."