On an autumn morning in Ikerite, as the previous night's violent storm gradually receded, the first light of dawn slowly drew open the curtain over the horizon.
The city's buildings were draped in leftover raindrops that glinted under the morning sun like countless radiant gems.
Sunlight angled down onto the red-brick academic buildings of Ikerite Academy, casting a comforting warmth along the edges of the light.
"Things really are better at Ikerite Academy. Nothing to worry about."
A young man dressed in a classic black suit, looking slightly weary, walked along a tree-lined campus lane holding a cup of coffee and a morning newspaper.
He gave off no sense of threat, and not a single ripple of mana emanated from him. Yet from the holy cross radiance on his suit's buttons and collar, any resident could easily guess that he was a clergyman of exceptionally high standing.
The paths of Ikerite Academy were carpeted with damp fallen leaves. The autumn foliage had begun to turn crimson, and the rain made them look all the more vivid. Every step he took brought a soft crunch, like a melody of autumn.
Loren followed the path toward the main building of the School of Sages. Weathered by countless storms over the years, the ancient buildings' red-brick walls looked deep and rich with texture after the rain, each brick bearing the marks and stories of passing time.
On the lawn before the School of Sages' Ancient Tower Library, several parrots hopped about foraging for food, occasionally pausing to look up, blending into the scenery alongside the passing students.
*Another day full of hope,* Loren thought to himself.
Before long, he arrived outside the main building of the School of Sages.
Pushing open the heavy solid wood doors, he was immediately greeted by the building's warm indoor air, a striking contrast to the chill of the late-autumn morning outside. In the corridor, one or two students were hurrying along with their heads buried in books or whispering quietly among themselves. Upon seeing Loren, they immediately looked up and bowed with respect.
"Dean Loren... Good morning!"
"Good morning."
Loren gave a slight nod in return and headed toward his office upstairs.
Every step of the staircase looked aged yet solidly built, having stood the test of time. Touching the banister, one could feel the wood grain and the warmth imparted by the years. At the landing, church-style stained-glass windows cast dappled patterns of light across the corridor.
Arriving before his office, Loren finally felt like he was home. The desk was piled with books and documents, accompanied by the fresh scent of incense from beside the windowsill.
Setting his coffee and newspaper on the desk, he settled comfortably into his chair and let out a sigh. The whole world seemed to quiet down.
Shouldering both major church responsibilities and the role of dean, he was never truly a workaholic.
Yet sometimes, only by keeping himself occupied with official duties could he find an excuse to escape those troublesome personal affairs.
*Right, I still need to let that Gold-rank card maker girl observe [Original Slate - Wind]. I'll have to arrange a time for her to come over to the School of Sages,* Loren mused while sipping his coffee.
Originally, the thought of a second-year student already being a Gold-rank card maker would have surprised him. But thanks to Lanqi, Loren now found himself thinking, *Eh, that's all it is, I suppose.*
Even so, thinking back to the Aloran Royal Academy Gold-rank card maker named Karen whom he had met a few days ago, he couldn't shake an inexplicable feeling of similarity between her and Lanqi.
It wasn't their talent, but rather their aura or temperament...
Yet aside from their green eyes, Loren couldn't say where the resemblance actually lay.
Well, never mind. The girl seemed to have a pleasant personality; there was no need to compare her to that nuisance Lanqi.
Just as Loren was quietly savoring this rare moment of peace, two gentle knocks came from the office door.
Loren looked up, his gaze mild as he looked toward the door. "Come in."
The door slowly opened, and a young woman with a calm, pleasant demeanor stepped inside, holding a folder in both hands like a seasoned staff member.
"Dean Loren, good morning."
Student council vice president Asna's voice was as lovely as a nightingale's, carrying a natural purity like mountain spring water splashing over stones—crisp and melodic.
She was both an outstanding student of the School of Sages and an invaluable helper to its faculty, regularly assisting the professors in coordinating matters between the school and the student body.
"Morning, Asna."
Loren smiled, nodded, and gestured for her to take a seat.
Except for her lack of interest in spells, Asna was in every respect a model student of the School of Sages.
Of course, even if she devoted very little thought to her coursework in the School of Sages, in terms of combat capability, she remained the undisputed top student among the third-years.
Many of the kingdom's nobles and ministers felt deeply pained whenever they looked at Asna, believing Loren had ruined her potential.
Loren, however, felt this was perfectly fine.
If she wanted to become a chef, then so be it.
Loren didn't view "wasting" peerless talent as a bad thing. If a young person had a choice, happiness and joy were what mattered most.
As an educator, guiding students to understand the complexity of the world was enough; one shouldn't force choices upon their future.
Asna nodded politely to Loren, remained standing across the desk, opened her folder, and drew out the documents. She began delivering a detailed, methodical report, thoroughly versed in the affairs of the student council and the school.
In the distance, the clock tower chimed on the hour, its sound echoing across campus to remind every student that while time marches on, the pursuit of knowledge never ceases.
"Understood,"
Loren said with a nod as the chimes faded, having finished listening to Asna's concise summary.
Leaning back in his chair, he took a sip of coffee, looked thoughtful, and took on a puzzled expression.
"Asna, on my way here, I couldn't help feeling that some strange rumors about me have been going around the school lately."
Loren felt as though certain students had nervously clamped their mouths shut the moment they spotted him today, looking like they were secretly gossiping about him.
Thus, he decided to ask Asna.
"Which version are you referring to?" Asna asked.
"?"
There was more than one version?
"Tell me the latest one."
Loren sat up a bit straighter, sensing that something was amiss.
"They say your relationship with Knight Commander Juliana has actually been intimate all along, and that you merely pretended to be at odds with each other to mislead your flock of fiancées. In reality, the two of you secretly meet for dates under the pretense of official business every so often. Not only are you completely devoted to Knight Commander Juliana, but your sweet talk also keeps dozens of fiancées completely satisfied and swooning over you. The students are calling you the 'Love Saint' now, and they're all saying that on your next date with Knight Commander Juliana, you're bound to finally win her over."
Upon hearing this, Loren came within a hair's breadth of spilling his coffee all over the desk.
Chapter 199