Chapter 230
Chapter 230
Chapter 230
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 230 – Huperion Slowly Becomes Like Lan Qi
Inside Talia’s attic loft, Lan Qi and Huperion sat at the table, while Talia reclined against her armchair. On the small round tea table beside her, steam curled up from a cup of lemon black tea.
The chairs in the house were not one too many nor one too few; the tableware and objects were neatly arranged, everything clean and orderly. Occasionally, the fragrance of pastries would drift through the air.
“Don’t you go corrupting Huperion.”
Talia glanced at Lan Qi with some displeasure.
Although she, as a demon, shouldn’t be accusing a human of corrupting a half-demon, somehow, no matter how she thought about it, what she said still felt perfectly justified.
After all, she hadn’t spent decades observing and imitating humans for nothing.
“…Talia, let me ask you—what kind of magic have you been teaching Huperion lately?”
Lan Qi hesitated slightly, then asked.
“…”
Talia fell silent, turning her face away, not wanting to answer him.
It wasn’t that his magic was more useful—only that it was easier to teach Huperion.
Huperion quietly ate cake beside Lan Qi, listening to the usual back-and-forth between him and Talia.
Sometimes she couldn’t tell if the two were bickering or just talking. Either way, that was just how Lan Qi and Talia got along.
She wondered if, once she and Lan Qi left for the Northern Continent, the house would feel too quiet, and whether Talia would grow lonely.
Still, Lan Qi had guessed correctly: the very first spells Talia had taught her this past month were [Basic Etiquette] and [Friendly Exchange].
Her affinity with Spirit and Curse was outstanding, and with Poison and Darkness as well. Since Lan Qi’s spells mixed human magic script with demon script, she picked them up exceptionally quickly.
In general, the higher the tier of a spell, the harder it was to learn. So first-tier and second-tier spells were easiest to master.
The quality and tier of a magic card directly reflected the learning difficulty of the original spell.
[White – Common] spells could be learned quickly if one’s affinity matched well.
[Blue – Rare] spells required more time, and poor affinity made them difficult.
[Purple – Rare] demanded strong affinity, otherwise nearly impossible even with long study.
[Pink – Sacred] could be learned only if fate allowed; their grimoires and methods were extremely rare.
[Orange – Epic] were essentially innate powers, like vampiric Authorities—almost impossible to learn later in life except by extraordinary means.
This was why Orange-grade spells always commanded astronomical prices.
In this era of convenient trade, people would learn practical spells if they could—saving card slots. If they couldn’t, they would simply carry the magic cards instead of wasting years trying to master them.
“…After one semester of study, I really have gotten stronger.”
Huperion picked up the [Elegant Hairstyle] card Lan Qi had given her, staring at the half-transparent, magical card, and recalled all her growth these past months.
“You’re already completely different from when school first started.”
Lan Qi smiled warmly.
He knew Huperion originally had four Pink – Sacred cards: three left to her by her father—a dagger, invisibility, and death-immunity—and one she obtained from the cathedral’s Shadow World, the Witch’s Shield.
Now, having learned two of Lan Qi’s signature spells and bound this fifth “hairstyle modification” card, she had finally shifted from being a function-based rogue into a full-fledged trickster mage. Her survivability was maxed, her entire build oriented around mischief and disruption.
“Ugh… back then, everyone still thought of me as a half-demon…”
Huperion sighed. Thinking about the kinds of spells she now wielded, she felt ashamed before her father’s memory.
If she ever met him again, he would surely be stunned.
In Duke Migaya’s vision, Huperion was never supposed to become this sort of mage.
Once, she had been a straightforward damage-dealer.
Now, she had transformed into a support mage who worked in tandem with Lan Qi.
“And now?”
Lan Qi was already excited at the thought of teaming up with the newly-skilled Huperion again.
“…In the end, I’ve become just like you.”
Huperion shook her head.
But so be it.
This was fine too.
At least by staying by Lan Qi’s side, no one dared to offend her anymore.
As the Duke’s daughter, she now lived with even more dignity than when her father was alive.
Lan Qi didn’t stay long at Talia’s.
After handing over the card that was today’s main task, he bid farewell to both Talia and Huperion.
When he pushed open the door of the Cat Boss Restaurant downstairs, a string of bells jingled, and the damp, chilly air swept in with the wind. He noticed the eaves already dripping with rain.
In the distance, fine streaks of rainfall grew denser, looking like it would soon pour harder.
“It’s started raining.”
Lan Qi judged the rain’s intensity. It seemed he’d have to borrow an umbrella from Cat Boss.
The weather had indeed been unpredictable lately.
But before he could decide, just as he turned back toward the shop, he saw Huperion coming down with an umbrella.
“Lan Qi, I saw it starting to drizzle outside.”
Huperion walked up to him, handing the umbrella over.
“Thank you.”
Lan Qi accepted it, but didn’t open it. He just smiled, gazing out at the rain over the capital’s streets.
“You’re not leaving?”
Huperion looked puzzled, stepping to his side to follow his gaze.
“Huperion, think about it. If someone specially runs downstairs to bring you an umbrella, and you just take it and leave, wouldn’t that person feel a little disappointed?”
Lan Qi wasn’t in any rush today.
“…That’s true.”
Huperion thought for a moment and realized chatting with Lan Qi a while longer wasn’t so bad.
Or simply listening to the rain together under the eaves.
“How’s your card coming along?”
Huperion remembered Lan Qi was working on a core card to complete his Sealer’s role. After going to the Northern Continent, he wouldn’t be presenting himself as a White Mage in combat, but as a Sealer—a kind Lan Qi insisted would be utterly unlike the Archdeacon of Annihilation, Askson.
“Almost done. Probably within two days, and then we’ll depart.”
The semester was over; it was time to file their travel application and set off.
To reach the northernmost point of the Southern Continent, they’d need to ride Magitek trains and airships across multiple countries—several days’ journey. The sea crossing depended on weather. If unlucky, the voyage across the Calamity Sea could last over a month.
“Though I’ve heard the Northern Continent is unstable, since we’ve already decided on this research project, we must see it through and make real progress.”
Lan Qi added, his eyes brimming with determination.
As a philosopher, educator, thinker, and man of action, he carried not only lofty ideals for nation and people, but also the resolve to uphold social justice.
“…Can we please just talk about retiring at age twenty instead?”
Huperion already felt a little scared of Lan Qi’s overwhelming sense of mission. Whether due to talent or to his sheer burning spirit, he always seemed to be walking toward a path where the higher he climbed, the lonelier it became.
She only prayed that when they reached the Northern Continent, he wouldn’t be swept up by fate, becoming a dragon at the first storm.