Chapter 305
Chapter 305
Chapter 305
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 305: Today, Lan Qi Just Wants Everyone to Beat Him to Death
At the Magitec railway station in the Imperial Capital, Helrom, the winter morning was painted by the faint glow of dawn.
Although the sun had not fully risen, the pale blue sky already reflected light, lending a touch of warmth and comfort to the city of clustered skyscrapers and ancient buildings.
Today was the first weekend after the beginning of March.
A faint white mist hovered above the tracks, formed from dew evaporating after the temperature drop last night. The Magitec train resting at the station appeared unusually quiet, with only the occasional whistle and mechanical sounds reminding people of its presence.
On one side of the platform, near the signboard, Lan Qi stood. He wore a diamond-patterned vest beneath his suit, a dark gray long coat draped over him. His gaze lifted to the crystal display board of the schedule, before drifting toward the far, misty end of the tracks, where he was sure a train would soon appear.
“Hey.”
A familiar voice broke the stillness.
Lan Qi turned.
Sid stood before him.
She wore a fitted white blouse under a flowing outer coat, paired with a black long skirt, giving her a look both crisp and carefree.
“Good morning,” Lan Qi greeted the Ba'tian Bishop.
The two had long agreed: once he finished a week of duties at the Royal Academy of Magic, they would embark on their journey to the northern branch of the Annihilation Order.
This was, after all, the mission assigned to them as newly promoted Annihilation Priests by the Helrom division.
Though they hadn’t met at all at the Academy, Lan Qi was fairly sure Sid had been disguising herself as a student, keeping an eye on him.
The platform wasn’t busy yet. The distant clock tower struck six, and only a few early travelers hurried by.
The two of them, standing motionless at the edge of the platform, appeared especially quiet.
“Where’s your cat?”
Sid glanced at Lan Qi’s hands, then at his black scarf.
He was clearly holding two freshly purchased pet tickets. One of the pets had turned into his scarf, while the other remained hidden.
Lan Qi said nothing, only lowered his eyes to his shadow.
And his shadow trembled.
Obviously, Cat Boss was scared to death—so much so it didn’t even dare to be near the Ba'tian Bishop.
Meanwhile, Black Fox didn’t even register Sid’s strength, showing no wariness toward her at all.
“It’s just too timid,” Lan Qi finally said, shifting his gaze back to Sid.
“That’s normal. If I don’t disguise or suppress my aura, even powerful beasts would run from me.”
Sid wasn’t surprised—she knew well that she was born with a nature that repelled animals.
“This cat is timid by nature. It’s more likely to be comfortable with an elderly person it knows well.”
Though Sid might have wanted to pet the little black cat, it seemed there was no chance—unless she used force.
“I see.”
As they exchanged words, the faint grinding of wheels on rails drifted from afar.
The sound grew louder and clearer. Amid the rumble, a pair of golden headlights emerged through the thick fog: the approaching Magitec train.
With swift yet stately grace, the train slid into the platform. The unique vibration of Magitec coursed through the air. After several dozen seconds, it came to a complete stop, wisps of steam rising as the carriage doors opened, revealing the luxurious interior within.
The tickets provided by the Annihilation Order’s temple placed them in neighboring seats, of course.
Lan Qi and Sid boarded, passed through several carriages, and quickly found their seats.
Heavy curtains were drawn over the windows, but through their gaps, the hazy scenery outside could still be glimpsed.
Lan Qi cast one last look outward, as if still somewhat attached to his academy in the capital. Sid, meanwhile, picked up a magazine to pass the time.
She seldom took such journeys.
So now, she felt especially idle, needing something to occupy herself.
At last, Lan Qi seemed to let go, turning his mind toward the road ahead.
“Sid, you’ll have to protect me, you know. I’m only a fourth-tier support mage.”
Lan Qi smiled faintly at Sigrid.
Sigrid had deliberately suppressed her strength to the level she’d been at as a teenager.
But even as a fourth-tier, she carried an oppressive aura. It seemed that back in her true fourth-tier days, she had crushed opponents of the same rank with a single blow.
“I have to be clear first. Right now, I’m only your companion. In theory, I might save your life—but I won’t stop you if you choose suicide. I respect others’ fates. If I judge you’re about to do something with certain death, I won’t follow you.”
Sid turned her head toward him, utterly straightforward, without the faintest softness.
“...”
Lan Qi’s polite smile froze into stillness.
So much for luring enemies over for Sid to wipe out for him.
“And if I determine the enemy is far stronger than I am, I’ll make a proper fourth-tier judgment: like running away. Then I’ll decide whether to sell you off or bring you along when I run.”
Sid continued, matter-of-factly laying out her “operating procedure.” Essentially, if Lan Qi died recklessly, he shouldn’t blame her.
“In what situation would you actually bring me along when you run?”
“That depends on the level of danger and on Sid’s favorability toward you in that moment.”
“Huh?”
Lan Qi had never heard of such a system before.
“So, correspondingly, you also need to treasure me and protect me.”
Sid set down her magazine, patted Lan Qi’s shoulder, and said it with certainty.
“Why should I have to protect you?”
Lan Qi was baffled. How had things flipped to him protecting her?
“If I’m unhappy, I might leave the team. You have to consider your teammate’s feelings.”
Sid said it with perfect seriousness.
Lan Qi was speechless.
You’re really this thorough?
If I hadn’t asked just now, would you have hit me later with some tragic regret twist?
“...”
Seeing Lan Qi struck dumb, Cat Boss figured he’d finally met his match.
Not only had he failed to manipulate Sid, but after running in circles along her bizarre logic, she had seized the lead instead.
“...Fine.”
Lan Qi finally nodded in reluctant agreement.
He understood her logic now.
She was here to slack off, giving him no room to exploit her.
The more he thought about it, the more cheated he felt.
If she couldn’t help in a fight, why bring her at all?
No—he had to go all-in with a “death-seeking playstyle.”
This trip to the North would be one of fearless resolve.
After all, she had only said she wouldn’t follow him into certain death.
But as long as it was near-certain death, there was still a chance of making her act!
To make a bishop-level powerhouse unleash her world-shattering might—even once—wasn’t that worth it?
(End of Chapter)