Chapter 270
Chapter 270
Chapter 270
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 270 – Lan Qi Always Plays to the Extreme
“……”
Lan Qi looked at Zestira. The words he had just organized in his head once again stuck in his throat like a fishbone.
Girl, your misunderstanding about Talia is enormous.
Lan Qi couldn’t help but want to tell her that.
In fact, Zestira was already very much like Talia — both were combat-oriented fighters, only their specialized magic differed. Even their innate talents seemed similar, and their way of speaking and expressions bore a resemblance.
Without needing much effort, just by developing naturally like this, she should one day be able to become a demon like Talia.
But Lan Qi always felt that something wasn’t quite right.
Zestira seemed to always be trying hard to change herself…
“Indeed, this kind of specialization is possible, but usually it’s a path favored by demons who toy with minds and have nasty personalities. Demonic dragons who excel at brute force rarely choose this direction.”
Lan Qi tactfully explained to Zestira.
This deviated far too much from her idol.
He felt conflicted — whether to help her or not to help her — because at this point he couldn’t figure out what exactly Zestira was trying to become.
“……”
However, Zestira was very stubborn.
Once she confirmed from Lan Qi that this specialization path existed, her decision was made, and the answer was written all over her face.
“Then, good luck.”
Lan Qi said with relief.
He would always respect a student’s choice. What worried him was that one day Zestira might realize her path strayed too far from what she truly wanted, and she would regret it.
“Actually, this specialization is relatively simple. Just study spiritual magic diligently, keep using your talent to sincerely sense others’ emotions, and that should work. No one knows how long it will take to fully evolve, but after all, the final stage of a demon’s innate gift — some can even rival the authority of the Blood Clan. If turned into a spell card, it would be of epic grade. It’s not something easily obtained. So don’t be impatient or get discouraged by slow progress.”
Lan Qi carefully explained to Zestira.
“Alright.”
Zestira humbly listened and nodded.
But she thought to herself — maybe progressing in innate magic wasn’t as difficult as her teacher made it sound?
“Thank you, teacher. With your guidance, I feel I’m one step closer to my goal.”
“……”
Hearing her reply, the more Lan Qi thought, the more something felt wrong.
Why did Zestira believe that Talia excelled in acting, smiling, and had emotion-controlling mind-manipulating talents?
Lan Qi’s frowning brows suddenly relaxed a little.
“Wait, Zestira — let me ask you this: What kind of person do you imagine Talia to be?”
Lan Qi made a gesture to draw her attention.
Upon hearing the question, Zestira’s eyes lit up.
She was very interested in this topic.
“She is magnificent, rational, and captivating — the most wicked, evil, and mad of demons. Her danger to the world even surpasses her talent, yet she can still control her inner self and desires. Compared to solving problems with brute force, she is more skilled at breaking through her enemy’s heart, cursing them with the cruelest torments!”
Zestira, for once, became animated. Her words came with clenched fists.
But she quickly realized she had gone a little overboard, so she coughed lightly twice.
“Unfortunately, her true appearance has not been preserved. Only those great demons who lived for centuries and saw her back then could recognize her now.”
She sighed.
From all the records she had read about the last fates of surviving great demons, aside from those who vanished and those imprisoned in the Empire’s jails, only the Ice Witch of Aetherthalan could still recognize Talia.
But since the Kingdom of Aetherthalan and the Protos Empire were on the brink of war, with borders sealed tight, it was impossible to meet the Ice Witch and ask her about Talia.
“……”
Lan Qi’s expression was one of utter confusion and existential doubt.
Only now did he realize a serious problem—
The Talia whom Zestira idolized was entirely her own fantasy!
And yet, such a seemingly fictional Talia — there really was someone who fit all those conditions and looked exactly like her!
If, in the eyes of later generations in the Northern Continent, Talia’s image was this… then wouldn’t the Poet of Great Love’s impersonation of Talia actually fit the artistic imagination of demon youths better?
In contrast, the real Talia herself had already been abandoned by the times.
“Zestira, tell me — the Talia you imagine, does she have the charisma of a leader?”
After piecing it together, Lan Qi asked seriously.
“She is the Demon King chosen by destiny!”
Zestira once again showed rare excitement.
“So that’s it… so that’s it!”
Lan Qi pounded his fist into his palm, his eyes bright with sudden realization.
To truly lead the demons, the first step was to craft a unifying, inspiring leader image for the rightful princess of the demon clan.
He finally understood why his dream of rebuilding the Purgatory Corridor Academy had stalled at the very beginning, making no progress at all.
It turned out, the first step was to optimize Talia away.
She was the most unnecessary piece of the foundation!
Once he reshaped Talia into a new image for the Northern Continent, one that emphasized love and peace as a branch of the Aetherthalan Kingdom, he could stop at founding the school.
At that point, even if Talia herself returned to the Northern Continent and found this image widely accepted, in front of her would only be two choices:
Either accept the new persona, diligently playing the role of a mischievously smiling, youthful Poet of Great Love to seize leadership from Lan Qi—
Or return to the Southern Continent to enjoy retirement.
Lan Qi was certain she would choose the latter.
He simply couldn’t imagine that this centuries-old demon crone, who had never once smiled, could convincingly pull off the demeanor of a young girl.
Unless her mentality had shifted in some indescribable way.
If she really chose to become the Poet of Great Love, enduring humiliation to revive her nation — then Lan Qi didn’t even dare imagine what revenge he’d face after her success.
But such a thing was impossible.
“……”
Zestira glanced at Lan Qi as the two continued walking along the road beside the Endless Library, passing under the Starry Sky Theater, heading toward the Protos Royal Academy of Magic.
For some reason, she felt Lan Qi might have just been thinking about things no different from suicide.
Yet he himself seemed completely unaware — even enjoying it.
Sometimes Lan Qi’s mind grew unusually lively. Zestira had noticed this.
Being around him was beneficial to the evolution of her innate magic.
But she didn’t want to tell him that. Otherwise, he probably wouldn’t naturally and frequently unleash his wild ideas.
She would tell him only after her innate magic fully matured.
After all, him finding out later wouldn’t cost him anything.
Zestira thought with certainty.
(End of Chapter)