Chapter 269
Chapter 269
Chapter 269
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 269 – Lan Qi Discovers Zestira Seems to Worship Lanfu
Walking along the streets of Helrom’s southern district, Lan Qi and Zestira were like passersby moving through the intricate canvas of a city-state.
The scenery around them flowed by like water — the colorful traffic lights, bustling popular shops, giant billboards of strange products, and the Helrom citizens busy enjoying their weekend.
Despite the noisy hustle and bustle all around, their steps and conversation remained particularly slow and leisurely.
“Teacher’s teacher… is that the unmarried woman you once mentioned?”
Zestira lifted her head and looked at Lan Qi as if she had figured something out.
Though it wasn’t polite to call her teacher’s teacher that, she was only repeating Lan Qi’s own words.
Always shutting oneself at home… it really did seem dangerous.
No matter what, Zestira did not want to become a moldy old lady — that would be one step farther from her idol, Talia.
“Yes, that’s her. Every day she keeps a cold face, like everyone owes her money.”
Lan Qi thought of how Talia treated him and helplessly spread his hands in complaint.
“I see.”
Zestira slowly raised her hands to rub her own cheeks, then tried hard to squeeze out a stiff smile.
She had to learn to smile, so as not to become like the demon example from Lan Qi’s words.
A true great demon seduces others with a calm smile.
“…Zestira, are you practicing your smile?”
Lan Qi glanced at her, sounding a bit uncertain.
“Yes.”
Zestira did not mind admitting her goal.
She had always been straightforward, and already realized that showing an appropriate smile was a very difficult thing.
“Take it slow. This isn’t too hard to learn.”
Lan Qi comforted her.
Zestira was very young. If she wasn’t good at smiling yet, she still had plenty of time to learn and change.
If she really struggled, he could introduce her to a professional acting coach.
When it came to female acting skills, it had to be Huperian — no matter the script, she could instantly slip into character and perform alongside him.
The Great Poet’s acting was also decent, but sometimes too exaggerated, sometimes with a mischievous boyish twist that made her gender almost indistinguishable.
Once he reunited with Huperian in the Northern Continent, he would have her teach Zestira.
Perhaps Huperian could even learn from Zestira about some half-demon awakening magic tricks.
“Can your innate magic sense things far away?”
Lan Qi asked her about her gift.
“Not too far… at most a little over ten meters.”
Zestira shook her head.
“…”
Lan Qi propped his chin, thoughtful.
That meant the one watching them earlier had been much closer than he thought?
Even so, neither he nor Cat Boss had sensed it at all.
Luckily it was probably no enemy — otherwise it would have been impossible for them both to feel no hostility.
He wondered whether it was himself or Zestira who had caught someone’s interest.
As Lan Qi stayed momentarily silent—
“By the way, speaking of goodwill and malice, I also met someone at school who bore me no ill will.”
Zestira seemed reminded of something by the earlier mysterious attention.
“Oh?”
Lan Qi raised his brows with interest.
Generally, people with such “great-love” qualities got along well with him.
“Do you remember the book Chronicles of the Holy War you once read?”
Zestira had discussed that book with him on the train to Helrom.
“Yes.”
Lan Qi nodded. He knew it had been published by the Imperial Royal Magic Academy Press.
“The author, Cido Arendal, is an associate professor of history at Protos Royal Magic Academy. I took a history course for credits — by coincidence, he was the lecturer. His class is only this semester, since sometimes he leaves the school to survey ruins.”
Zestira explained.
“I see.”
History was one of the few theoretical subjects Zestira didn’t dislike.
And history was extremely important in analyzing and retracing strategies within the Shadow World. In the South Continent, where scholarly systems and intelligence-sharing organizations were well developed, historians enjoyed high status and research privileges in mage towers and academies.
To produce work alone in the North Continent — Cido was indeed an outstanding historian.
After reading his work, Lan Qi was convinced of this.
“Next week, can I sit in on his class with you?”
Lan Qi asked.
If possible, he wanted to discuss certain Holy War questions with a northern historian.
After all, the causes and conclusion of that war still had many suspicious points, and Lan Qi possessed pieces of intelligence no historian could know.
“No problem. Professor Cido welcomes students to come with questions after class.”
Zestira nodded, then paused.“According to what you said earlier, if I specialized my magic toward range, what would the result be?”
She asked him about the possible final form of her innate magic.
“It would evolve into the highest-level detection skill — able to perceive enemies’ location, state, and even intent to attack or retreat from their essence.”
Lan Qi already knew her ability was not as precise as Talia’s, but it was range-based and allowed her to actively avoid danger. That was why he felt safe letting her study at Protos Royal Magic Academy.
She was his treasured first student — or rather, the first demon to call him “teacher.” Naturally he cared for her.
“Though it’s a detection and intelligence skill, in any combat scenario it would give you an absolute advantage.”
Lan Qi added.
The strongest detection ability, paired with Zestira’s immense combat growth potential, could counter all kinds of tricks.
Even illusion magic — usually troublesome for dragon-demons — could be pierced by her gift.
“Not bad.”
Zestira nodded.
But her tone implied she wasn’t entirely satisfied.
“What kind do you want then?”
Lan Qi asked curiously.
Though it suited her, if she didn’t want it, there was no meaning.
After a brief hesitation, Zestira spoke:“Is it possible to specialize toward mental interference — to scale up or down others’ fear or fondness toward me?”
“…?”
Lan Qi was stunned.
That sounded oddly familiar.
Why did she idolize Talia, yet want an ability like the Great Poet’s?
“I feel Talia is like that. Compared to brute force, she excels at striking the heart. So I want to learn the strongest heart-arts.”
Zestira noticed his reaction and explained further.
(End of Chapter)