Chapter 182: The Fate Department Recruited New Students?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 182: The Fate Department Recruited New Students?
Dean Xavier.
He was a mage with a physique more exaggerated than most warriors.
He had served as the Dean of Dome Academy for fifty years. Under his leadership, the academy had produced many powerhouses famous throughout the Eastern Alliance. However, most of these experts didn't stay at the academy, choosing instead to venture out on their own.
While Xavier claimed not to mind, it resulted in him rarely showing genuine concern for the geniuses within the academy. This was essentially common knowledge among the faculty and students.
Seeing Xavier standing at the academy gates waiting for him—and greeting him so warmly—Kairos felt like he was seeing a ghost.
Just as he was wondering how to respond to Xavier’s greeting, Ivy stepped forward from his side.
"Hi, Dean! You seem to be in a very good mood today."
Ivy smiled at Xavier. She clearly knew why he was standing there. It was undoubtedly because of Leonard. However, she was somewhat surprised that Leonard had contacted Xavier so quickly.
Kairos, unaware of the conversation between Ivy and Leonard, watched with Nimo as Ivy and Xavier exchanged pleasantries. The scene was incredibly bizarre.
After a moment, the two seemed to reach some sort of agreement, both nodding in satisfaction.
Seeing this, Kairos whispered to Nimo, "Since when did Professor Ivy get along so well with the Dean? They’ve been chatting for ages."
"No idea. Before this, she didn't even dare to look him in the eye."
Kairos felt a pang of awkwardness at those words. Thinking back, Ivy’s novel about the Dean and the Knight was still tucked away in his storage bag.
A moment later, Xavier walked over to Kairos.
"Hmm... I remember you. You're that physical-magic hybrid genius. You certainly look like you've got potential. As it happens, I’m quite skilled at applying magic to close-quarters combat. How about I give you some pointers?"
Faced with Xavier’s invitation, Kairos was caught off guard.
"T-this..."
He glanced at Ivy. Seeing the serious look in her eyes, Kairos nodded and accepted.
"A-alright. Thank you for your guidance, Dean!"
Once Kairos was settled, Xavier turned his gaze toward Nimo. Feeling the Dean's eyes on him, Nimo quickly coughed.
"Ahem... Dean, I mainly study divination under Professor Ivy. I’m afraid I won't be able to pursue advanced studies with you."
"I see... Fair enough."
Xavier shifted his gaze from Nimo to Xie Bai, who was standing behind them. His tone softened.
"And might I ask what these lovely little ones are doing here at Dome Academy?"
Before Xavier could press further, Ivy stepped in to explain.
"Them? They are the new students I recruited while I was away. The Fate Department was looking a bit thin, so I took it upon myself to expand our numbers."
"Is that so?"
Xavier looked at Xie Bai and the others, his eyes narrowing slightly. He could sense that these cute girls were anything but simple—especially the white-haired girl in the center. His intuition told him that her strength might even surpass his own.
Even though Ivy had contributed greatly to the academy, he wasn't about to risk admitting them to Dome Academy without caution.
Seeing Xavier’s hesitant expression, Xie Bai tilted her head, looking confused.
"Is something wrong, Dean? Are we not qualified to enter?"
As she spoke, a hint of grievance crept into her voice. Looking at Xie Bai’s pitiful and endearing expression, Xavier felt as if something had struck his heart.
He suppressed the sudden surge of guilt and spoke softly to Xie Bai.
"Of course not. I was simply marveling at how such young ladies could earn Professor Ivy’s recognition. I find it quite admirable."
His explanation conveniently ignored the fact that Ivy herself was a special case.
Xie Bai didn't press him on his wording, though. Her eyes cast downward slightly.
"Really? I thought the Dean looked down on us..."
Hearing this, Xavier rushed to deny it.
"No, no! Absolutely not! With your talent, I would throw the academy gates wide open for you even without Professor Ivy’s recommendation!"
Xavier immediately brought a fist to his chest, giving Xie Bai a solemn and serious reassurance.
Not far away, Kairos sighed as he watched Xie Bai wrap the Dean around her finger with just a few words.
"Even the Dean can't resist..."
For a moment, Kairos foresaw that his future life was going to be anything but peaceful.
*
The next day.
Discussions regarding the Fate Department suddenly exploded within the academy.
"Have you heard? Professor Ivy from the Fate Department saved Villanova while she was away! The Dean is holding a commendation ceremony tonight!"
"For real? How did she save Villanova?"
"Word is that Villanova was attacked by a terrifying Chaos Monster. Professor Ivy stepped up and defeated it single-handedly, saving the city from destruction!"
"That little loli who only knows divination is that strong? She took down a Chaos Monster by herself? Those things are broken!"
"It’s true! My relatives over there told me. Villanova is being rebuilt right now, and the Lord there specifically publicized that Professor Ivy was the one who defeated the monster. Apparently, there were zero casualties!"
"That’s insane! So the rumors that divination can be used in combat are true?"
"That’s nothing! Something even bigger happened in the Fate Department!"
"What?"
"They recruited new students! Apparently, it’s four incredibly cute little lolis! One of them is even cuter than Professor Ivy!"
"No way!"
The crowd of students erupted instantly.
"I can testify! This morning, I saw a white-haired loli I’ve never seen before eating in the East Canteen! She’s tiny and super cute! And she can really eat—she tried every single dish in the canteen in one morning!"
"The East Canteen? I clearly saw her in the library this morning! The East Canteen is nowhere near the library. She must have been in the West Canteen!"
"Huh? What are you guys talking about? Wasn't that white-haired loli taking a stroll in the Life Department’s garden? I saw her picking flowers there this morning."
"No, no! She was definitely at the Astrology Tower!"
"Are you sure it wasn't the Memorial Hall?"
Seeing that everyone’s stories didn't match up, the student leading the conversation shouted, "Stop! Everyone stop!"
The crowd was instantly silenced by the shout. The student stepped down from a high ledge and addressed the others.
"Is that what we should be worried about right now?!"
"Shouldn't we be thinking about how to transfer to the Fate Department?! The number of people in the Fate Department is pitifully low!"
"Think about it! Counting Professor Ivy, there are five lolis in the Fate Department now! Five lolis!"
"Does any other department have that many? I’m asking you—can any other department compete with that?!"
Faced with this student’s heartfelt speech, the others stared blankly for a moment before sneering.
"Give it a rest. They’re just a few lolis. There’s no way I’m switching to divination just for that."
"Besides, joining the Fate Department doesn't mean I’ll get their attention."
"Most importantly, I’m not some degenerate lolicon."
"You... you guys... Gah!"
Unable to withstand the collective rebuttal, the student collapsed to the ground in a dramatic heap.
Just then, someone on the edge of the crowd suddenly shouted.
"Um... that white-haired loli you guys were talking about... do you mean her?"
Everyone immediately looked in the direction he was pointing.
In the next second, a white-haired girl wearing a black-and-white dress, the tips of her hair tinged with a faint crimson, came into view.