Chapter 279
Chapter 279
Chapter 279
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 279 – Lan Qi Is Just Favored, Nothing Can Be Done About It
The rising sun dyed the stone-brick houses on both sides of the street in a gentle amber hue.
From one of the residences along the street came the aroma of food, blending with the lingering chill in the air.
This was the Protos Royal Academy of Magic.
Lan Qi sat on a swing in the garden, his lowered eyes still carrying a trace of drowsy, half-awake weariness. In his hand were a few unprocessed grains, which he used to feed the little birds that had gathered around him.
Since arriving here, more and more of the academy’s small animals had begun seeking him out.
Inside the distant residence, Zestira quietly stood by the window, watching the scene in the courtyard where the small animals gathered. It was as if they had all been waiting for the chance to lean close to him.
“Is Teacher really human?”
Zestira muttered to herself in confusion.
Not just her—even the animals could sense that pure kindness within him.
Since yesterday evening, her teacher, Rocky McCarthy, had temporarily moved from the inn into the academy.
The dormitories were divided into communal dorms and private lodgings—the difference between apartments and small villas.
Ordinary students typically lived in apartment dorms.
But noble students almost all had standalone small residences. One’s housing usually reflected one’s social status.
In addition, noble residences came with private gardens. Within those gardens there was often a fully equipped side-building—essentially a flat apartment—for attendants to live in.
Viscount Francis had long since prepaid for Zestira’s private residence when he registered her, together with her tuition.
And so it was.
Only when Zestira saw Lan Qi nearly finish feeding the grains in his hand did she finally open the door and walk into the garden toward him.
As she approached, the birds instantly scattered in fright.
It seemed they feared the deterrence of her being a Demonic Dragon.
“Sorry, I’ll scare them away.”
Her voice, as usual, was flat and without emotion.
“But you don’t mean them any harm. They just don’t understand you yet, do they?”
Lan Qi lifted his head with a smile as he spoke.
“……”
Zestira hesitated for a moment.
“Perhaps so.”
Teacher always looked at problems from a different angle.
Although nothing in the world really changed—every day she was still surrounded by clear malice—whenever she spoke with Teacher, the weight on her shoulders seemed to lighten a little.
She originally wanted to remind Lan Qi that even within the academy’s safe areas, he should be cautious of upper-year nobles.
But after some thought, she let it go. Lan Qi had always been steady; he didn’t need her reminders.
Preparatory students and first-years were required to participate in the monthly Assessment Day.
Second- and third-years could choose whether to participate, but only in difficulty level two or higher classrooms.
However, every Assessment Day, the top-ranked students of the second and third years—on par with professors—could watch from backstage.
They were given many permissions to influence or interfere with the assessments from outside, or spend their own points to sponsor underclassmen they favored.
Those with such authority were effectively judges. If they backed the right champion, they also received substantial payouts.
In essence, it was also a hidden contest of intrigue and manipulation.
One could even say—that hidden contest was the real “high-level game” of Assessment Day.
Assessment Day was on Wednesday.
Today was Monday. Still leisurely.
“Well then, Teacher, see you this afternoon.”
Zestira looked at Lan Qi as she spoke.
She saw him stand up in the garden, patting his hands, as if preparing to head to the academic district.
If he wanted to pass the time, Lan Qi would often sit in on upper-year courses that interested him.
“Alright. This morning there’s Associate Professor Sido’s history class—I’ll go listen in.”
With a side glance and a smile, Lan Qi shook off the morning’s drowsiness.
Half an hour later.
The History Department building of the Protos Royal Academy of Magic stood upon a vast green field. It resembled an ancient castle in the forest, surrounded by layers of stone walls entwined with vines and flowers. Spires soared skyward, engraved with the Empire’s crest.
A young man, his brown-tipped hair lightly swaying in the breeze, dressed in a white shirt, dark brown vest, and black slacks, walked into the building.
Through the great doors, the interior exuded solemn, ancient charm. Sunlight from tall glass windows glimmered on marble floors. Portraits and historical tomes lined the corridors.
Lan Qi followed the hallway, passed several closed classroom doors, and found the history class he sought.
His eyes swept across the room. Spotting a seat at the back with good light, he walked over, set down the ancient tome he’d borrowed from the library, and sat at the desk.
The history class Zestira had chosen was a preparatory “easy course,” mainly to pad credits.
But the one Lan Qi came to audit was for second- and third-years.
Since coming to the academy, he hadn’t seen Side (Sid) anywhere, and didn’t know what year she was in.
As he pondered, students of the Empire began filing into the classroom. All were unfamiliar faces. Quietly leaning back in his chair, he continued reading, waiting for the lecture to begin.
Even when someone sat down not far from him, Lan Qi didn’t move.
He knew without looking that it wasn’t Side.
Because Side always carried a faint rum aroma—protected by her breath—that made her presence distinct.
However…
The figure seated nearby seemed to keep glancing at him, intentionally or not.
This finally made Lan Qi a little uncomfortable, and he set down his book.
The person’s uniform color indicated a third-year, and they radiated a powerful physical-combat aura no weaker than Frey’s.
Within this academy, that put her among the notable students.
After all, six-tier strength was the peak for students.
“Do we know each other?”
Lan Qi asked in puzzlement.
He was certain he had never met such a strong, dignified, and proud upperclassman before. The nameplate on her chest read Gloria—a name he had never even heard.
“Why did Lady Side choose you…”
Gloria frowned deeply as she studied Lan Qi, muttering softly to herself.
Her tone was filled with resentment and incomprehension.
She admitted she was not as exceptional as the former Dominion Saintess. She never expected that one day Lady Sigrid would choose her as the new Dominion Saintess.
But she had never imagined—that when the Dominion Archbishop chose another disciple, it would be a Saint Son who had once clearly said he wasn’t even considering it!
She had always thought the exception, the chosen Dominion Saint Son, would be a man outside all conventions—powerful, with a trace of cold, penetrating aggression in his eyes, his entire being exuding unrivaled arrogance and pride.
That would have been worthy of being the Dominion Archbishop’s successor.
But instead—
How could Lady Sigrid have misjudged so badly, choosing such a weak Saint Son, completely unsuited to their Dominion branch!
(End of Chapter)