Chapter 200
Chapter 200
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 200: Loren Has Yet to Realize the Seriousness of the Problem
2024-05-22 Author: Poor Xixi
The autumn morning in Ikerite slowly unfolded with the fading of last night’s storm.
Raindrops clung to the city’s buildings, sparkling like countless crystals under the sunlight.
The slanted sunlight fell across Ikerite Academy’s red-brick teaching buildings, the warm edges of the light softening the scene.
“Still, Ikerite Academy is the best—no need to worry about anything.”
A young man in a black classical suit, looking slightly tired, held a cup of coffee and a morning paper as he walked down the school’s tree-lined path.
He looked completely harmless, without the slightest trace of magical aura. Yet, the holy cross insignia on his collar and buttons was enough for anyone to guess he was a high-ranking clergyman.
The pathways of Ikerite Academy were littered with damp fallen leaves. Autumn’s red shades, deepened by the rain, made each step crunch lightly—like autumn’s melody itself.
Loren walked toward the Sage Institute’s main building. The ancient red-brick walls, weathered by countless storms, appeared deeper and richer in texture. Each brick carried the imprint of years gone by.
On the green lawn in front of the Sage Institute’s Old Tower Library, parrots hopped around looking for food, occasionally lifting their heads to observe students passing by—two scenes blending together.
“Today is another hopeful day,” Loren thought.
Soon, he arrived at the Sage Institute’s main building.
Pushing open the heavy oak door, warm air swept over him, in stark contrast to the chilly late-autumn morning outside. In the hallway, a few students hurried past with books or whispered in low tones. When they noticed Principal Loren, they immediately bowed respectfully.
“Good morning, Principal Loren!”
“Good morning.”
Loren nodded slightly and walked upstairs to his office.
Each stair creaked faintly with age, yet remained firm. Running a hand along the banister, he could feel the wood’s grain and the warmth of time. At the corners, stained-glass windows cast fragmented light across the hallway.
Finally arriving at his office, Loren felt at home. His desk was piled with books and documents, a faint aroma of incense drifting from the window.
He set down the coffee and newspaper, relaxed into his chair, and exhaled, letting the quiet of the world settle around him.
Though burdened with both Church duties and the academy’s principalship, Loren was no workaholic. But at times, burying himself in official matters gave him an excuse to avoid more troublesome personal ones.
“Right, I still need to arrange for that young gold-ranked cardmaker girl to observe the [Original Stone Tablet – Wind]. I’ll need to schedule a time for her to come here to the Sage Institute.”
Loren sipped his coffee, thinking.
At first, a second-year gold-ranked cardmaker had genuinely surprised him.
But because of Lan Qi, he now felt, “Well, that’s nothing too unusual.”
Still, when he recalled meeting that girl named Karen from Yaloran’s Royal Academy—a gold-ranked cardmaker—he couldn’t help but feel she carried an odd similarity to Lan Qi.
Not in talent, but in temperament...
Except for those green eyes, Loren couldn’t pinpoint where the resemblance lay.
Never mind. The girl seemed to have a good personality. No need to compare her with that rascal Lan Qi.
Just as Loren was savoring this rare peace, two soft knocks sounded at his office door.
He lifted his head, his gaze gentle. “Come in.”
The door opened slowly, and a serene young woman stepped in, holding a folder in both hands like an experienced secretary.
“Good morning, Principal Loren.”
The voice of Student Council Vice President Asina was as melodious as a nightingale, clear as mountain springwater striking stone.
Not only an excellent student of the Sage Institute, Asina was also a capable aide to the teachers, often managing affairs between the school and the student body.
“Morning, Asina,” Loren replied with a smile, gesturing for her to sit.
Asina, aside from her lack of interest in magic, was the model of a top student.
And even with her minimal effort in studies, in terms of combat ability she was still the strongest among the third-years.
Many nobles and ministers grumbled that Loren had “wasted” her peerless talent.
But Loren thought it was just fine this way.
If she wanted to be a chef, then let her be.
He never believed that “wasting” one’s talent was necessarily bad. If young people had a choice, happiness mattered most.
As an educator, his role was to guide students in understanding the world’s complexities—not to decide their futures for them.
Asina politely nodded and began presenting documents from her folder, giving a clear, structured report on school and student council affairs.
In the distance, the clock tower chimed, its echo reminding all students that while time passes, knowledge and aspiration never cease.
“I understand,” Loren said, nodding once the report ended.
Leaning back in his chair, sipping his coffee, a frown tugged at his features.
“Asina, I feel lately that some students stop talking whenever they see me, as if I were the subject of rumors. Do you know what that’s about?”
He had noticed nervous glances and hushed whispers whenever he passed.
“Which version do you mean?” Asina asked.
“?”
There are multiple versions?
“Tell me the latest version.” Loren straightened, a bad feeling rising.
“They say you and Commander Juliana have always had a secret romantic relationship, that your supposed conflicts are just an act to fool your many fiancées. In truth, the two of you sneak away on secret dates under the guise of official duties. You’re not only deeply devoted to Commander Juliana but also manage to sweet-talk dozens of other fiancées into contentment, making them fall for you. The students now call you the [Love Saint], and they say next time you meet with Commander Juliana, you’ll surely win her heart completely.”
Loren almost spilled his coffee on the spot.