Chapter 181: The Dean of Dome Academy
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 181: The Dean of Dome Academy
Thud!
After casually knocking Nimo unconscious, Kairos turned to the group and spoke.
"My apologies for the scene. This brother of ours likes to joke around; please don't take what he just said to heart."
With that, Kairos hoisted Nimo onto his shoulder.
"Professor Ivy, I'm sorry for causing you worry earlier. Now that things have settled, it’s time for us to head back."
Faced with Kairos’s request, Ivy nodded.
"Mm... very well."
She then turned to Nephili, who was standing nearby, and commanded, "Move. You’re coming back with us. Stay right behind me."
Hearing this, Nephili’s entire body jolted.
"Me? Go back to Dome Academy with you?"
She froze for a moment, then immediately began shaking her head violently.
"No, no, absolutely not! I went through so much trouble just to graduate from that hellhole! There’s no way I’m going back!"
Seeing her frantic resistance, Ivy gave a slight wave of her hand.
"Hmph... that isn't up to you."
As she spoke, the collar around Nephili’s neck emitted a faint, crimson glow, freezing her in place.
A second later, Nephili’s body was forced to follow behind Ivy under her direct control.
Witnessing this, Kairos looked slightly puzzled.
"By the way... who is this girl with the slave collar?"
He wasn't clear on the girl's identity, but given the current atmosphere, he felt it best not to intrude. After all, he rarely saw such a cold expression on Ivy’s face.
At the moment, the most relaxed person among them was Xie Bai, who walked in the center of the group.
Framed by her new outfit, she looked even more fresh and ethereal; even the dust in the air seemed to instinctively veer away from her body. Furthermore, if one excluded Kairos and Nimo, she was actually the tallest person in the group. Standing at 1.45 meters even without shoes, she stood a head above Ivy and the others.
Seeing Xie Bai’s leisurely and composed manner, Kairos felt a sense of unease. He had a nagging feeling that once they returned to the academy, something big was bound to happen.
Speaking of which, she’s walking barefoot on the ground, yet the soles of her feet aren't dirty at all?
Unconsciously, Kairos’s gaze was drawn to the slightly lifted soles of Xie Bai’s feet.
"Ahem..."
Ivy let out a soft cough, instantly snapping Kairos back to reality.
"Uh... I, er..."
Faced with Ivy’s questioning glare, Kairos’s voice trailed off uncertainly.
Seeing Kairos get pinned down by Ivy’s stare, Xie Bai’s eyes filled with amusement.
"Hmph~"
*
Dome Academy, Administrative Center.
Xavier sat in his office, processing a stack of documents.
"Hmm... a conflict broke out between Fire and Water Department students. The professors led the brawl, resulting in the destruction of twenty-three academy facilities..."
He made a casual stroke with his pen and tossed the file to his assistant.
"Tell the Finance Department to organize a departmental competition. Put these two troublemaking departments in as the headliners and make them earn the reconstruction funds themselves."
Receiving the instruction, the assistant nodded slightly.
"Understood, Dean. I will handle it this afternoon."
Having settled that matter, Xavier looked at the next document.
"Recently, unidentified books have been circulating secretly within the academy. According to informants, the books contain a large number of indecent plot descriptions, and some even feature... me as the protagonist...?"
Xavier’s brow furrowed deeply as he stared at the file.
"What is this garbage? Tell the people in the Shadow Department to confiscate these books in secret. Also, have the library staff contact the publishers to tighten the review process for these kinds of works."
After signing his name on the document, Xavier handed it to the assistant.
"The competition can wait. Prioritize this matter first."
The assistant took the signed document, looking somewhat concerned.
"Um, Dean... Vesparo, the head of the Shadow Department, has been recuperating recently for unknown reasons. The Shadow Department might not be able to spare that much manpower."
Xavier paused at the assistant’s words.
"That cautious old fox actually met with an accident?"
He quickly regained his composure.
"Forget it. He’s probably working on something and doesn't want to leave his room. Send a few more people to keep an eye on him. If possible, deflect some of the public's recent grievances onto him."
With that resolved, Xavier leaned back in his chair, intending to rub his eyes. Just then, the office door was pushed open.
"Dean, there is a letter for you. It’s from Villanova, and it came with a storage bag."
Hearing this, Xavier lifted his eyelids.
"Oh? A letter from Villanova? Let me see."
Taking the letter, he opened it and began to read.
"Respected Dean of Dome Academy..."
"I am Leonard, the Lord of Villanova. During a crisis involving Chaos monsters, a professor and two students from your academy saved my city..."
As Xavier read halfway through, the expression on his face became increasingly colorful.
"Finally, please allow me to sponsor your academy as a token of my gratitude."
After finishing the letter, Xavier looked at the storage bag beside it.
"It’s actually a specialized high-grade gold coin storage bag? If I remember correctly, these are usually only used for town construction and foreign trade..."
He weighed the money bag in his hand, then turned to the assistant.
"We don't need the competition anymore. Call someone later to completely renovate all those destroyed facilities."
He stood up and straightened his collar.
"Before that, let’s head to the main gate to welcome our great heroes."
*
A short while later, Ivy’s group arrived near Dome Academy.
As the most prosperous magic academy in the Eastern Alliance, Dome Academy was independent of any national territory, existing as its own administrative region. Numerous subsidiary towns had even been built around its perimeter.
Upon reaching the market streets surrounding the academy, Kairos walked in front, leading the way for Xie Bai and the others.
Nimo, who had just woken up, walked beside Kairos, his eyes constantly darting toward him. He seemed to finally understand Kairos’s predicament.
As they walked through the streets, they were being constantly stared at by passersby.
Everyone’s gaze was fixed on the group following behind them: Xie Bai, Ivy, Nephili, and the two little ones.
With several little girls who generally didn't exceed 1.5 meters in height—all of whom were exceptionally cute—following them, it made the two men look rather suspicious.
Feeling the weight of the surrounding stares, Nimo whispered to Kairos, "Kairos, don't you think this is a bit weird? Why is everyone else a loli except for us?"
Faced with Nimo’s question, Kairos shot him a glance.
"I was about to ask you the same thing..."
Having so many little girls following them really made it easy for people to get the wrong idea. While Xie Bai and the others didn't care, that didn't mean Kairos and Nimo were indifferent.
"You don't think the guards are going to stop us at the gate and arrest us, do you?"
"Relax, I’m close with Big Brother Ryan. He knows my character well. Besides, don't we have Professor Ivy to vouch for us?"
"Professor Ivy... I hope her word still carries weight."
Nimo sighed, then continued to endure the public's gaze alongside Kairos.
A moment later, Kairos reached the academy’s main gate.
To his surprise, the person standing before the gate wasn't his acquaintance, Ryan the guard.
Instead, it was a burly man with long, golden hair. His exceptionally thick hair made him look a bit wild, like a golden lion.
"Hey, you guys are back. And you brought some cute little ones with you."
Faced with the man’s greeting, Kairos was momentarily stunned.
"D-Dean?"