Chapter 209
Chapter 209
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 209: This Time, Lan Qi’s Compassion Overflowed2024-05-22 Author: Poor Xixi
Deep within Ikerite Academy, near the gardens of the Magitek-Engineering Department, stood a majestic Gothic Resurrection-style building. The red-brick walls bore the marks of time, history settling within like dust.
“Lan Qi, have you heard?”
“What?”
As always, Lan Qi walked alongside Huperion, chatting casually as they entered the familiar old Liberal Arts building of the Magitek-Engineering Department.
“You weren’t in the Sage’s Institute these past two days, so you probably don’t know. The students are saying that Dean Loren has been in very frequent contact with Knight Commander Julianna lately. Today, even while he was in class, another call from her came through. It seems she was preparing to personally come to Ikerite to find him. Dean Loren turned pale on the spot, promising her that there would be no more accidents with the visiting academic delegation from the Yaloran Kingdom. Only then did Julianna cancel her trip to the Hedon Kingdom—for now.”
“Dean Loren takes calls during class time? And he doesn’t get docked pay?”
“…That’s your takeaway from all this?”
They stepped onto the second floor, into the domain of Professor Bolao’s research workshop. The faint hum of machines and the murmured focus of magitek-engineers filled the halls.
At the corner of the staircase, a familiar figure appeared, descending from above.
“Lan Qi, Huperion.”
It was Frey, still with his sunglasses half-hanging on his face, his aura carrying that slightly unrestrained edge. He strode toward them with a casual greeting.
Ever since they had returned from the Shadow World, the three of them had mostly been scattered—Lan Qi and Huperion always occupied with more pressing matters, while Frey had been buried in student council work, assisting the president.
“Were you two just talking about Dean Loren again?”
Frey had caught bits of their earlier conversation while on the stairs, though only fragments. His curiosity piqued.
“Yes.”
Huperion quickly repeated the story she had just shared with Lan Qi.
“I see.” Frey nodded in understanding.
“Frey, don’t go spreading this around the Knight’s Department,” Huperion warned with some concern.
“Relax. I’m not the type to spread gossip.”
Not long after, Frey bid them farewell and left to handle tasks the student council president had assigned him.
“Speaking of which,” Huperion mused as they reached the third floor, where a dark, intricately carved wooden corridor soaked in history stretched before them, “who leaked the stuff the president told us last time about Dean Loren and Knight Commander Julianna?”
“Wasn’t me.” Lan Qi smiled.
“True…” Huperion muttered, puzzled. Lan Qi never struck her as someone who enjoyed gossip anyway.
The soft light of chandeliers spilled warmly overhead as their steps sank into the plush carpet. They soon reached a deep crimson double door—its mere presence gave the sense of two worlds separated by a single threshold.
Lan Qi pushed open the heavy redwood doors. Inside, the student council room spread before them, a blend of classical elegance and refreshing spaciousness.
At the far end of the long table, President Monast looked up.
“I just sent Frey to find you both—and here you are already.”
His deep voice carried a faint smile.
Lan Qi and Huperion exchanged a look. Clearly, something required their help.
But before the president spoke, their eyes caught sight of an unexpected figure.
In the lounge area by the side, someone with deep violet hair sat on the sofa, sobbing quietly. Vice President Asuna was gently dabbing her tears, murmuring comfort.
Lan Qi and Huperion recognized her instantly. Their eyes widened in surprise.
Countess Sophia? What was she doing here?
The president gave no explanation, only gesturing silently for them to approach. They nodded and went over.
As Lan Qi and Huperion sat opposite, Sophia finally noticed them.
Seeing Huperion’s gentle face made her want to cry all over again.
But the moment her gaze brushed against Lan Qi’s smiling expression, her tear-streaked face froze.
She looked like a startled child, hurriedly wiping her face, pretending she hadn’t been crying at all.
“Sophia, whatever trouble you’ve run into, you can tell us. We’ll help you,” Lan Qi said warmly, his tone full of care. “It’s my duty to resolve disputes among students, whether psychological or emotional.”
“……”
Sophia’s eyes flickered up at him, only to dart away again. Her lips trembled, but she couldn’t speak.
Ever since that embarrassing day at the Cardmaker’s Association, she dreaded meeting Lan Qi again.
Too mortifying.
Whenever she saw him, the boastful words she’d spoken back then echoed in her ears like a curse, making her want to crawl into a hole.
“Sophia, you can trust Lan Qi’s abilities. I assure you of that. Tell us what happened.”
Huperion leaned in, her voice soft with genuine concern.
“Huperion…”
Hearing Huperion’s kindness, Sophia’s eyes grew watery again. She couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“You… you know about that second-year genius cardmaker from Yaloran Academy’s delegation…”
Sophia’s voice was timid as she glanced at them.
“Yes, second-year, already Gold-rank. Impressive,” Huperion replied.
“……”
Sophia froze. For a moment, she wondered if Huperion was looking down on Cardien (Ka Lian).
But then she thought—considering Huperion’s father, and the ridiculous monster sitting right beside her, perhaps to them, even a second-year Gold-rank cardmaker wasn’t much to fuss about.
“Miss Sophia, did something happen between you and His Highness Ainor because of that Cardien girl from Yaloran?”
Lan Qi’s calm voice landed right where it hurt.
“Uuuh…”
At once, Sophia’s tears gushed forth again, words stuck in her throat.
“Don’t worry. Take a deep breath, tell us slowly. No matter how bad it seems, I’ll help you find a way,” Lan Qi assured her gently. His voice was slow, steady, almost angelic—bringing peace.
Tearfully, Sophia looked at Lan Qi. She couldn’t believe it.
The same person who had left her socially ruined at the Cardmaker’s Association now made her feel… safe. Worthy of trust.
“You… you really would help me?”
Her voice was weak, trembling.
She thought he should hate her. Last time, she had been full of jealousy toward him, never once showing him kindness. Yet here he was—kind, patient, forgiving.
If there was a word for such tolerance…
Perhaps it wasn’t quite right, but—he felt like a saint.
“I won’t just help you,” Lan Qi said, nodding with calm certainty. “If you wish it, I could even help you… all the way to becoming a queen.”
As long as she was willing to learn, he was willing to teach.
“!”
Huperion whipped her head toward Lan Qi.
Hearing that devil’s whisper of an opening line, she felt a chill—this was going to be trouble!