As the sun sank in the west, the clouds outside the window quietly turned into a shade of orange-red, casting a gentle glow over the walls of the room.
Looking at the scenery outside, Lan Qi was reminded of his family’s Wilfort Chamber of Commerce.
He originally thought to sigh with emotion.
But then decided to forget it.
The sunset is infinitely beautiful.
It’s just that the sunset is infinitely beautiful.
“Please rest well.”
Lan Qi shifted his gaze back from outside the window to his father and spoke.
He felt that his father could no longer return to the Kreyth Empire.
After all, the Blood Clan and the Resurrection Church would likely soon jointly issue a wanted order for Lan Qi.But Noe clearly still did not know of the stage achievements Lan Qi had obtained during this trip to the Shadow World.
Still, perhaps it was better to tell his father this good news later.
Lan Qi was a little afraid Noe would be so excited he couldn’t sleep.
In the future he would persuade his father to stay in the South Mantina Territory, at least there was the national defense barrier there, and besides, the old family butler Hans was very strong.
“Mm.”
Hearing Lan Qi’s words, Noe knew Lan Qi also needed to leave,
“These days I’ve decided to stay here at the medical center, do a thorough examination before going back.”
Noe happened to hear from a little reporter that Lan Qi was now a member of the Student Council, often doing things to serve the campus.
He also wanted to see how Lan Qi handled mediating conflicts between students.
If Lan Qi had learned how to conduct himself, then he could be completely at ease.
Also, Noe was very curious about Lan Qi’s social circle in school.
Judging by Huperion’s upbringing, she must be from a good family, and Noe wasn’t worried at all.
If Lan Qi’s other friends were all good classmates like Huperion, that would be even better.
…
After confirming that his father’s condition was good, Lan Qi temporarily said goodbye.
As soon as he stepped out of the ward, Lan Qi saw Huperion leaning against the wall in the corridor, head lowered, lost in thought.
“Huperion…?”
Lan Qi softly greeted her.
“Mm?”
Huperion raised her eyes slightly at him, then quickly lowered them again, obviously still embarrassed by what Lan Qi’s father had said just moments ago.
“Do you know why my father said those things?”
Lan Qi tilted his head slightly, studying Huperion’s expression, then seemed to understand, and asked.
“Why…”
She lowered her head, murmured, and glanced at Lan Qi.
Sure enough, in people’s eyes, Demons were always outsiders. Even the fact that her father married her mother was still an insurmountable barrier, something used as a joke.
“Because you didn’t hear the part he said afterwards. He said, ‘Could this young lady really be Duke Migaia’s daughter? She’s so gentle and kind, there’s absolutely no trace of Demon blood in her.’”
Lan Qi mimicked Noe’s tone, smiling as he said it.
“…You’re starting again.”
Huperion knew that every time Lan Qi relayed someone’s words, he would always change the phrasing.
“This time it really was word for word.”
Lan Qi’s emerald green eyes were naturally innocent.
“…”
Huperion looked at him silently for a moment.
“Then I’ll believe you.”
She finally spoke.
The only one who would treat a Demon this well was Lan Qi.
“Shall we go? Our schedule today isn’t finished yet. Later I have to take you to a place—this is today’s real focus.”
At this point, even Lan Qi’s expression grew more serious.
“Mm.”
Huperion was also very nervous. She was finally going to meet Lan Qi’s teacher, that terrifying, beautiful, and mysterious Miss Talia.
…
First, Lan Qi and Huperion had dinner together at school.
Afterwards, the two of them returned to the Sage Institute dormitory building.
Not far from the entrance, they sat on the circular wooden bench under a large tree and chatted.
Around six o’clock, the Vice President Asina, who had agreed to meet them, arrived at the dormitory building.
Asina looked tired but satisfied, clearly just finished with student council work.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“No, it’s us who troubled you, Senior Asina.”
The two greeted her briefly, then followed her upstairs, along the long corridor, until she returned to her own dorm room and brought out a box of handmade sweets.
“This box is freshly made by me. On the left are matcha cookies, on the right are mango cheesecake flavor. I don’t know which Miss Talia will prefer.”
Asina explained, holding the carefully wrapped box.
“Thank you, Senior Asina.”
Lan Qi thought that since he was going to ask Talia for help, it would be better to bring some kind of gift.
Most food bought outside would not feel special to Talia.
But Asina was especially skilled in cooking, always bringing snacks to the student council for them to eat. Every time the three of them praised her endlessly.
Lan Qi felt that Asina’s cooking should suit Talia’s tastes very well. It was just that he’d been too embarrassed before to ask Asina for so many sweets.
Principal Loren had always rated Asina very highly, but unfortunately she seemed to devote only a small part of her focus to spells, leaving the rest of her time to her hobbies and running the student council.
Compared to becoming an outstanding mage, she more wanted to become an excellent chef.
It could only be said that Principal Loren was not without talented students, but his happy-education style naturally produced such results. He never forced his students into paths they didn’t want.
Because of this, Loren had faced a lot of outside criticism, with the academic world even generally believing that the Sage Institute had declined under his management.
But that didn’t matter.
Lan Qi would prove for Principal Loren that he was an excellent headmaster!
“If she’s a gourmet, then just let her give me some feedback.”
Asina said with a smile.
At the beginning, when her cooking was still poor, even the President told her it was delicious. Only much later did she realize he had been lying.
From then on, she paid special attention to receiving feedback from people with real taste.
If this Miss Talia, whom Lan Qi spoke of, liked her desserts and gave some suggestions, that would make her very happy.
“No problem!”
Lan Qi was certain: the one thing Talia would not be stingy about was food. As long as her stomach was satisfied, she would surely give at least a little comment.
…
After saying goodbye to Asina, Lan Qi and Huperion set off toward outside the campus.
The lights illuminated the old buildings, making the stone walls and sculptures look even more vivid, as if given life.
The night-veiled Ikerite Academy resembled a tranquil island, filled with a serene and harmonious atmosphere.
Lan Qi and Huperion strolled along the wide pedestrian path under the dim streetlamps, with the imposing bell tower behind them receding into the distance, appearing even more solemn and majestic in the night.
“Lan Qi, when I meet Miss Talia, is there anything I need to be careful about?”
Huperion asked nervously.
She had long heard that Lan Qi’s teacher was a rather cold person.
Under her strict supervision, even Lan Qi would behave himself.
This was something Huperion could not even imagine.
Lan Qi often said that if he was a little cat, then Talia was a tigress. Being afraid of her was only natural.
“Huperion, you only need to remember two things: absolutely never lie to her, and absolutely never let her know I told you this.”
Lan Qi raised his fingers and said.
But he wasn’t too worried, because Huperion never lied to her own people anyway.
“Understood.”
Huperion nodded seriously.
Although the Miss Talia Lan Qi spoke of sounded terrifying, since Lan Qi said she did not discriminate against Demons, she couldn’t be a bad person—just don’t expect her to be especially kind either.