Chapter 298
Chapter 298
Chapter 298
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 298 – Lan Qi Has One Less Day to Live Each Day
The winter morning in Helrom was biting cold. The sky was still dim, but faint dawn slowly brightened the eastern horizon.
In a quiet corner of the dormitory district inside the Protos Royal Magic Academy, the front yard of a beige-bricked residence was covered with a thin layer of frost and snow.
It seemed there had been a light snowfall last night.
The windows of the residence were slightly misted over, condensation forming from the clash of indoor warmth and the outside chill. Through the fog, one could faintly see scattered green plants on the window sill. Frost flowers clung to the bare branches in the courtyard, each leaf seemingly frozen in time, waiting for spring’s arrival. On such a cold and quiet morning, everything appeared tranquil.
It was still a workday—Thursday. Almost the weekend.
Zestira had gotten up early in her bedroom, tidied herself, then crossed the living room and pushed open the front door. She stepped outside with a blank expression.
Standing at the doorway, one hand resting on the frame, she could already see that the garden was becoming something like an animal park.
As always, under the large tree, Lan Qi sat on the swing feeding the small animals gathered there. The great black fox lay elegantly on the ground, smooth and soft like a sofa.
Lan Qi gently scattered grains across the grass. Birds chirped and hopped around to feed, while he turned his head slightly to chat with his new animal companion—the fox.
Even from afar, their voices drifted clearly in the cold morning air.
“Awwoo.”
“You’re asking if I know any other great demons?”
“Awwoo.”
“What do you mean ‘other great demons’? You really think I’m one?”
“Aw.”
“Don’t strip away my human citizenship, okay? Everyone knows I’m human.”
“Awwoo.”
“So you’re still hung up on the great demons, huh…”
“Aw.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. Even if there are still some great demons alive, they might be really pathetic ones.”
“Awwoo?”
“Like, the type who looks cold, dignified, and glamorous outside, but at home is just a contrary glutton who, after drowning in comfort, completely loses motivation. Does that sound like a great demon to you?”
“Aw.”
The fox lifted its head and shook it.
“Sigh, I actually worry for her. Already well past marriageable age, yet still pretending to be a young human woman. Who knows how long she can keep up that identity.”
“Aw.”
“Exactly—shame of the demon race. Strip her of her demon citizenship.”
At the doorway of the house—
“……”
Zestira listened silently. Her eyes gradually narrowed, then she rubbed them suddenly.
“?”
Her eyes had just flickered—she thought she saw a red glow rising from her teacher’s head. But it seemed a hallucination; when she looked again, it was gone.
She pondered a moment, then decided to treat it as nothing.
Though she considered asking her knowledgeable teacher about it, it didn’t seem polite to bring up something ominous on such a fine morning.
She still couldn’t understand exactly what her teacher and the fox were discussing so fluently.
But she believed all those “chat logs” were stored in the fox’s simple mind.
Given time, she would surely be able to read them someday.
“Teacher’s lifespan is still very long. He’ll be just fine.”
Zestira shook her head slightly and walked down the garden path.
By the end of yesterday’s monthly assessment, Lan Qi’s bounty had already exceeded one million credit points.
According to the 20% cut, she had been given 249,535 credits.
She stared at the number on her bracelet, speechless.Like she had hit the jackpot.
She had no idea what her teacher had been like inside the Shadow World.
It turned out that when he once said on the Helrom street, “If you find the Shadow World too difficult, just bring me along,” he truly meant he could carry her through at lightning speed.
Even though she had witnessed her teacher’s incredible power, she now wanted to challenge the Shadow World on her own—not rely entirely on his protection.
She felt she had already learned much from him and now had clarity about her own path.
It was time to practice it.
Before long, she walked up to Lan Qi.
“Teacher, are you busy with work today?” Zestira asked.
Her tone was the same as usual, but with an added touch of respect.
“Not too bad, why?” Lan Qi thought for a moment. Most meetings had been wrapped up yesterday. His school duties were almost done. He only needed to spend the next two days talking with Associate Professor Sido about imperial matters.
“Then we can go collect the Pink Divine bonus.” Zestira said.
In addition to the two hundred thousand credits, there was something else—a reward that couldn’t normally be bought, not even with credits.
A Pink Divine-grade artifact.
These were fundamentally treasures of the Protos Empire, each one cataloged and tightly controlled, forbidden to be privately traded.
“Alright, the Endless Library should be open for work now.”
Lan Qi put away the feed and stood. He was already prepared to set out. The black fox slithered onto his shoulder like flowing silk.
All such treasures were stored deep within the Endless Library’s vaults. The library was not far from the Academy—just a short walk.
Zestira nodded.
Since her bracelet was required to claim the reward, she also wanted to see how her teacher would choose his magic card.
…
Half an hour later.
On a winter workday in Helrom, the commercial district remained as busy as ever. The cold did nothing to stop the rhythm of daily life.
Pedestrians in thick winter clothes walked along streets flanked by tall buildings, their frosty breath mingling with the air into light veils of mist.
Amid the bustling crowd, a young man and the girl beside him crossed the streets until they arrived at a broad plaza.
Located in southern Helrom, the massive Endless Library was the city’s treasure trove of knowledge and culture.
Unlike other buildings, it looked both ancient and modern, blending Gothic spires, futuristic metallic lines, and spiraling impossible structures—like a crossroads of time and space.
The two entered through the giant bronze gates. Totems and mythical creatures were carved into the ceiling. In the spacious hall, a massive floating crystal orb displayed ever-changing texts and images.
“Since arriving in Helrom, I’ve never been here before.” Lan Qi looked at the navigation hub and smiled at Zestira.
“I always get lost.” Zestira clearly hated this place.
The library was too large and too complex—easy to lose oneself in. Some key sections were sealed with powerful wards, making them dead ends without permission. Even maps weren’t much help in navigating this labyrinth.
For most citizens and travelers, the Endless Library was more an adventure site than a reading place.
But today, they wouldn’t need long.
They only needed to reach the Self-Service Vault Extraction Room, where Zestira’s student bracelet could access the directory to claim the Pink Divine-grade reward.
(End of this chapter)