Chapter 268
Chapter 268
Chapter 268
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 268 – Lan Qi’s Daily Tasks Won’t End Even in the Northern Continent
Zestira quietly listened to Lan Qi’s legal guidance.
Every so often, a waiter in neat uniform would pass by with a tray. Each time, the rich caramel aroma of freshly prepared coffee, desserts, and cold drinks would drift toward them.
Zestira couldn’t help but feel that Lan Qi’s words made a lot of sense.
There were some annoying “monkeys” in the Protos Royal Magic Academy—his methods could indeed deal with them.
But Zestira soon shook her head, sealing those ideas away in her mind.
She was a dragon demon, not a dog demon.
Actually, the most impressive thing about Lan Qi reporting the Resurrection Church wasn’t that he dared to do it.
It was that—even after he did, the Annihilation Branch didn’t retaliate or trouble him at all.
It was hard to imagine what kind of mindset could push him into such a suicidal move.
Normally, a person pulling such a stunt would need ten lives and still not be enough.
Yet the Annihilation Branch simply swallowed the humiliation, handled everything internally, and suppressed all the details.
Zestira’s attitude toward the Resurrection Church wasn’t hate or like—so she didn’t feel Lan Qi had done something “good” or “bad.”
She just thought it was… not bad.
From yesterday onward, those monkeys who always showed open hostility toward her had quieted down, seemingly afraid of being reported by her follower and having their entire families exposed.
After all, even the Annihilation Branch—famous for its sinister cruelty—couldn’t deal with him. Respectable nobles of the Empire wouldn’t dare provoke such a man.
The wall clock ticked quietly, its sound buried beneath the carefree jazz music flowing through the café.
When Lan Qi finally finished, Zestira exhaled with relief.
She was fairly certain she hadn’t been assimilated.
glancing at the clock, she confirmed it was noon. The faint hunger in her stomach wasn’t lying.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you around the school to recognize the safe zones.”
Zestira picked up the neatly stacked books on the table, stood up, and said to Lan Qi:“Next week is the monthly assessment day. I’ll have to trouble you a bit.”
After this weekend, Lan Qi would have to stay in the Protos Royal Academy for five days, since students and followers weren’t allowed to leave or enter during weekdays without special reasons.
“No problem,” Lan Qi nodded, taking his coat from the wall and walking out of the café with her.
Due to the dismissal of the original examiner, Caius, and the workload from internal personnel changes, the Annihilation Branch had postponed the final exam arrangements by a day. The notification would be released today, Saturday, and candidates were to report to the Annihilation Knights’ temple tomorrow.
When Lan Qi applied, he had written that his main job was serving as a noble student tutor in the Protos Royal Academy. The Resurrection Church’s reply had stated that new clerics wouldn’t be assigned fixed tasks; their social professions could take priority.
Even though the church had turned more “official,” its need for clerics in the shadows hadn’t changed.
Lan Qi planned to use his academy time to help Zestira gain enough credits to qualify for observing the Primordial Tablet – Light.
Once she advanced academically, he too would get to observe the tablet. Their futures would be bright.
By academy rules, no matter how many credits Lan Qi helped Zestira earn, their ownership belonged to her. But she had already told him he could decide how to spend the credits he earned for her.
Lan Qi felt he might even get to observe more tablets than expected. Observing them didn’t tire him at all—he just had to sit inside the tablet’s space and supervise the Great Poet, who worked diligently.
As they stepped out of the shopping mall at noon in the imperial capital, Helrom, the rare warm sunlight touched their faces as if the whole world was welcoming them.
In this fortress city, bright yet gentle winter weather was rare—especially in such a harsh year when even Lilorom City had seen snow.
The streets were lined with both historic and modern buildings. Even after nearly a week in Helrom, Lan Qi still marveled at the city’s unique fusion of centuries, giving it a magical atmosphere.
Pedestrians bustled—some leisurely, some in a hurry—making the wide streets seem crowded.
Lan Qi and Zestira headed toward the Protos Royal Academy, their conversation continuing.
Though Zestira’s ability to sense goodwill and malice made her seem aloof, once she opened up, she was actually quite talkative—constantly asking or teaching.
Lan Qi thought if she ever chatted with Senior Lu Weixier, a notorious chatterbox, they could go all day.
Still, he was skilled at listening to students, much like Dean Loren.
“On the day of the monthly assessment, you can only see the difficulty level before entering—not the type of test. If I’m lucky and it’s my specialty, it’ll be easy. If unlucky, I may need your wisdom and knowledge.”
Suddenly—
Zestira stopped mid-sentence.
“I feel… someone is watching us.”
She frowned slightly.
“But it disappeared.”
Lan Qi kept walking calmly, only glancing at her in confusion—he hadn’t sensed anything.
If even Boss Cat didn’t notice, that meant the observer’s power far exceeded his own.
But in Helrom’s bustling district, no one would dare attack.
It must have been Zestira’s talent detecting something.
“But it wasn’t malicious. Don’t worry,” she added.
Rarely did she encounter a presence without malice—even less likely one with goodwill toward Lan Qi.
Hearing this, Lan Qi nodded, unconcerned.
“Train your innate magic more. As you rise in rank, it can evolve further.”
Lan Qi encouraged her. He was sure her gift would be very useful.
“How should I train it? And what can it evolve into?” she asked seriously.
Even she knew little about demonic innate magic; most related books had long vanished.
But her teacher—a southerner who studied demons deeply—might know what was otherwise lost in the North.
“I don’t know the training methods,” Lan Qi admitted, frowning with arms crossed. “But I do know some evolution paths. For example, your gift could evolve into mind-reading.”
“Also?” Zestira caught the word. Lan Qi clearly knew other demons. With gifts similar to hers.
“My teacher is a demon,” Lan Qi explained with a wry smile. “But she could never evolve into mind-reading. She avoids people, hides at home, refuses to listen to anyone’s heart. At that pace, she’ll never achieve it, even after hundreds of years. Don’t follow her example.”
Zestira blinked as he chuckled and shook his head.
(End of Chapter)