Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 12: Talia Never Thought She’d Take a Student
“I’m not short on money.”
Lan Qi shrugged, his tone indifferent.
“……”
Talia fell silent again.
A deal was always about fulfilling both parties' needs.
For example, in the human nation, Talia had raw strength but little means to leverage it, lacking financial resources. Meanwhile, Lan Qi had more than enough money but desperately needed protection. Their mutual needs aligned, making for a perfect transaction.
So this time…
If Talia wanted something other than money from Lan Qi, then naturally, Lan Qi also expected something more valuable to him in return.
“I need to find a card crafting teacher next. Researching Tier 2 magic cards on my own won’t cut it.”
The brief conversation had washed away the drowsiness that had nearly overtaken Lan Qi.
Absentmindedly, he stood up, tidying up the scattered card-crafting tools and the pages filled with dense notes. He muttered as if talking to himself.
His intense training in card crafting lately had strengthened his mental energy—it felt like he was on the verge of breaking through to Tier 2, a level his predecessor had nearly reached.
And soon, he planned to "borrow" a certain treasured ancient artifact from his family—the Lamenting Verses—before it could fall into Talia’s hands in the original storyline. He intended to craft it into his own magic card.
But Lan Qi had no confidence in successfully using such a powerful artifact as card material on his first try. He needed a skilled mentor, a collaborator.
And who better for that role than the Demon Clan’s renowned master card crafter, Talia—the one who was originally destined to obtain the Lamenting Verses and turn it into a magic card?
“You want me to teach you card crafting?”
Talia gazed at Lan Qi from the side, her golden eyes unreadable. There was no clear agreement in her words, nor outright refusal.
Lan Qi’s suggestion was far too direct.
It was obvious—he wanted Talia to teach him card crafting as payment for the first edition of Basic Etiquette.
Over the past few days of traveling together, Lan Qi had subtly or overtly asked Talia about magic cards.
Sometimes she would answer offhandedly. Sometimes she would ignore him.
Talia didn’t know how this human had figured out that she was skilled in card crafting, but she didn’t bother to deny it.
Perhaps it was his sharp perception, his knack for guessing, or just dumb luck. Or maybe she had simply stared at the card crafting tools for too long, giving herself away.
Regardless, she had since stopped hiding her knowledge. Even so, Lan Qi had no way of knowing just how skilled she truly was.
“From the moment I first saw you, I was certain—you’re someone truly remarkable. In all my years in the border city-state, I’ve never met anyone with your presence. You give off an aura of beauty, strength… even something almost immortal.”
Lan Qi set down the pages in his hand and met Talia’s golden gaze with unwavering sincerity.
“I trust my instincts. So, I figured I’d give it a shot—because what if you really are a once-in-a-lifetime card crafting master?”
He looked as if he had decided to come clean, making sure Talia understood that their previous trades were not just coincidences but inevitabilities.
“……”
Talia listened in silence.
She could tell that this human wasn’t just paying her lip service—he was speaking with genuine sincerity.
And his reverence… it was almost as if he didn’t care that she was a demon. Even if she was his natural enemy, he was still willing to pursue strength from her.
“Besides, Talia, since you’ve already chosen to stay by my side as my bodyguard, wouldn’t it be even better if you taught me card crafting? That way, I can share the finished cards with you. Isn’t that the best outcome for both of us?”
Lan Qi added another persuasive point.
“……”
Under normal circumstances, she would never teach a talented human and allow them to grow unchecked.
Unless—
That human posed a greater threat to his own kind than his talent was worth.
And Lan Qi… was undeniably such a dangerous individual.
If he was willing to pay the right price, then perhaps she could consider it.
Still, she had never once imagined herself taking on a student. A demon mentoring a human—it was almost absurd.
“I will only teach you up to Tier 2. If you accept that condition, then we have a deal.”
After a brief moment of thought, Talia finally responded.
Her expertise lay in crafting magic cards using demonic script, not human magic script.
But the fundamentals of magic engineering were largely universal. More than theory, practical skill was what mattered. Teaching a beginner like Lan Qi wouldn’t be an issue.
Hearing her response, Lan Qi immediately nodded.
“Alright, no problem at all.”
Just as a grin began spreading across his face, it faded slightly, replaced by a hint of worry.
“But… in about a month, I’ll have to head to the royal capital. Would you be willing to continue teaching me on the journey and after we arrive? Of course, I’ll still pay you the original agreed-upon fee.”
“What are you going to the capital for?”
Talia frowned.
For years, she had traveled across the border provinces of various human nations, always heading south across the continent.
If possible, she preferred to avoid large human cities, especially royal capitals.
“I’m taking the entrance exam for Ikerite Academy. But I’m also worried that assassins might follow me the whole way and try to kill me en route… so I need protection more than ever.”
After saying that, as if suddenly remembering something, Lan Qi quickly added:
“Oh, right! Since you’re my secret bodyguard, we’ll need to create a proper identity for you during the trip. That way, it won’t alert the assassins. I’ll register you as someone from my family’s household—it’ll help you protect me more easily.”
Seeing that Talia didn’t question any of his words, Lan Qi’s smile grew even more sincere.
Not even a hint of deception.
Because every word he said was the truth.
Next…
Lan Qi enthusiastically explained how he would use his connections in the Merchant Guild to craft a flawless new identity for Talia.
“……”
She had been leaning toward refusing him—
But once again, Lan Qi had casually put forth an offer she couldn’t resist.
It was like… a demon’s temptation.
The reason for her current struggles was simple—she had no legal identity in the human nations.
This restricted her from working, trading, and even traveling freely.
Even if the identity Lan Qi offered was only temporary for the sake of their transaction—
It would still grant her a level of freedom and convenience she had never dared dream of before.