At the very heart of Protos Royal Magic Academy stood an imposing complex of dark stone buildings.
Their steep, heavy silhouettes sketched an outline of ancient art against the sunlight.
Walking to the far end of the courtyard belonging to the tallest structure, one came upon a magnificent gateway. Beyond those doors, past lavish, sprawling decorations and winding corridors, a colossal council chamber revealed itself.
It was a hall reflecting profound authority and historical weight, converted from the ruins of an old-era parliament. High above, fine murals were carved into an immense glass dome through which natural light cascaded, scattering across the room like the Milky Way descending to the mortal realm.
At this moment, the chamber belonged to the students holding top-seat rankings in the academy.
Some had arrived early to wait, while others had strolled in casually only moments ago to take their seats. A massive round table spanned the center of the hall, its polished black-iron surface inscribed with a translucent magic circle projecting the scene currently unfolding within the evaluation area.
Except for Gloria, ranked tenth, who had not shown up, the rest of the senior top-seat students had arrived as required by school regulations.
For them, this was a monthly chance to earn credits, a game of power, and an opportunity to scout promising newcomers or identify potential rivals.
Normally, the screen rotated through views of high-profile students and exam halls.
Yet ever since moments ago, the feed had remained locked onto a single classroom.
Or rather, the instant Lanqi and Zestira chose the location for their first evaluation, the cameras focused squarely on the pair.
The top-seat students bore various expressions—some haughty, others laced with schadenfreude. As they watched the screen, an occasional comment or wager slipped out, their words steeped in the amusement of observing underclassmen.
Seeing Lanqi stride defenselessly toward the ferocious beasts like a complete amateur, one could already envision the imminent scene of blood splattering across the floor.
"Does this fellow want to get severely mauled by the beasts just to get disqualified right away?" an arrogant male voice asked.
The large barrier surrounding the evaluation area was inscribed with a health-locking spell capable of preserving a student's life upon reaching a near-death state, though the transition could be swift and clean or agonizingly slow.
"Taking an early exit on his own really is better than struggling through a hopeless flight, only to hand a hundred and thirty thousand credits over to someone else."
"Just what you'd expect from this guy named Luoqi McCarthy. He's probably going to make everyone grind their teeth in pure hatred."
Several other top-seat students sneered.
A hundred and thirty thousand credits—he'd rather blow them into thin air before the exam even officially began than let anyone else have them.
Refusing to give anyone a chance like this was undeniably scummy.
"Still, what if he actually manages to survive until the end of the evaluation, inflating those hundred and thirty thousand credits into an even more staggering figure, and walks away with the cut plus the Pink Sacred item?"
That would be the ultimate psychological torment.
Not only would the second- and third-years who placed bounties on him explode with rage, but he would also tread upon the faces of every underclass noble and retainer alike, offending them all.
"Heh, unless he can single-handedly beat the absolute hell out of every last student," a boisterous, rough voice barked with laughter.
Every student present knew the truth.
The only person capable of pulling off such an absurd feat was the figure seated in the primary seat: Lady Cloris, eldest daughter of Duke Morotian and the absolute sovereign among the students of this academy.
If allowed to ignore the rules and credit penalties, she could cut down everyone in her path until the entire student body was expelled.
It was hard to say whether she was stronger, or whether the previous term's top graduate, the Holy Son of Extinction, had the upper hand.
Yet the figure in that seat of supreme honor merely kept her eyes closed. Everything seemed far too uninteresting; nothing was worthy of entering her sight.
The broadcast continued.
As Lanqi slowly drew closer to the magical beasts, his presence seemed to breathe vitality into the surrounding air, prompting the currents of wind to chant a poem of peace and harmony.
The beasts appeared to sense his intention.
Their movements gradually ceased, and the hostility in their eyes began to dissolve in a bizarre fashion.
Though a hint of confusion and bewilderment lingered in their gazes, it was swiftly melted away by Lanqi's profound affinity.
And next...
It was the observing students in the council chamber who were left bewildered and confused.
Within merely a minute or two, a massive fiery beast drew near to Lanqi's left. Covered in scarlet scales, it swung its blazing tail through the air, yet it controlled its mana with exquisite care—approaching him affectionately without burning him in the slightest.
Turning to the right, an ice-blue water elemental creature floated weightlessly. Its translucent, flowing body seemed composed of pure water, and it drifted through the air, gently nudging Lanqi from time to time.
Ahead of him, a small bird radiating purple sparks spread its wings. Its eyes resembled lightning streaking across the night sky, yet it settled meekly upon Lanqi's shoulder.
At the center of these creatures, a smiling Lanqi stood encircled, interacting warmly with them as though they were not terrifying beasts, but his very own subjects.
His hand touched them tenderly. Every gesture was like a mother watching over her children, listening to their voices with devotion and soothing their inner unrest with love.
The tension and hostility in the room dissipated, replaced by a serene, harmonious power.
More and more magical beasts lowered their guard, beginning to gather around toward this warm embrace.
"How is that even possible?"
"Why aren't those beasts attacking him?"
"Is that guy a druid? Even a druid can't communicate with magical beasts like that!"
Logically speaking, no matter how high an individual's affinity was, they could at most naturally attract animals and spirit beasts, unless they also possessed an innate ruler's gift tailored specifically toward the demon race and magical beasts.
"Check his registration."
"He really is human. Otherwise, he couldn't have registered as a retainer."
Even retainers underwent rigorous inspections when registering and entering the academy.
"Never mind how his bizarre talent works for now..."
"Is he trying to get on good terms with those beasts to seek their protection?"
Someone quickly caught on.
Using this method, he might actually survive the first wave of attacks, and then during the first recess, find a way to break through toward the rest areas to seek safer and stronger regulatory protection.
"..."
"Allow me to shatter his sweet dream."
With a cold snort, an arrogant male student lightly tapped the magic circle on the table before him. As he exercised his authority of interference, three hundred credits were deducted, and a coordinate immediately appeared on the map across every bulletin board in the academy, flashing in glaring red light.
A public announcement broadcasted Zestira's current location to every student in the evaluation area.
He had not wagered on Zestira taking first place, so naturally he had no desire to see her and Luoqi McCarthy given any room to struggle.
The official start of the exam was drawing near. Once a frenzied swarm of students descended upon them, there was no way a mere pack of beasts could hold the line.
"You're truly wicked."
"He has only his own weakness and wishful thinking to blame," the youth with slicked-back hair remarked coldly, crossing his arms.
***
Inside the Magical Beast Husbandry classroom within the dark complex of the southern evaluation area.
A gleam of astonishment broke across the corners of the elderly teacher's eyes.
Standing in a corner of the room, his gaze traversed the expanse of time and space, locking firmly onto the harmonious bond between Lanqi and the beasts, as if he were catching a glimpse of his own cherished memories.
Across his long life, he had rarely witnessed communication so natural and brimming with love.
A long-lost warmth surged within the old teacher's heart.
"To think that in this day and age, there still exists a youth with a heart as pure as colored glass," he murmured in admiration.
This was the true essence of living alongside magical beasts.
Not taming them through sheer power and skill, but winning their trust and friendship through understanding and love.
As time slipped by, Lanqi turned his head and cast an encouraging, trusting look at Zestira.
His hand traced a gentle gesture of invitation in the air.
In that instant, the unease and dread in Zestira's eyes began to fade.
Though she dearly wanted to ask, *Is it really alright to approach them?*
She recalled what the teacher had said earlier: *You bear no ill will toward them; they simply do not know you yet.* Perhaps there truly was no need to be so afraid, or to think so little of herself.
She walked slowly toward Lanqi and the beasts.
At first, every step was fraught with hesitation and uncertainty.
Seeing that the magical beasts no longer showed the hostility they had displayed at the start, her heart gradually settled, and her stride grew steady.
The beasts seemed to accept her approach, their pupils softening.
Zestira drew near to a fur-covered beast whose eyes were as deep as the night sky.
This was the large black fox she had noticed the moment she stepped into the classroom—the one that had piqued her curiosity, but also the one she feared most.
It seemed to be a Tier 4, perhaps bordering on Tier 5 magical beast, making it one of the strongest creatures in the room.
*I thought Demon Realm Moonshadow Foxes had gone extinct long ago. Who would have thought Protos Royal Magic Academy still preserved a young one?*
Lanqi had only ever read about them in books back at Purgatory Corridor Academy.
Standing over a meter tall, this breed of fox was native to the frigid northern lands where wind, snow, and stars kept company. Its coat was thick and soft, like a layer of black snow draped over its slender, agile frame. A speck of gold tipped its pointed ears like a pinpoint of light illuminating the dark, while its deep, mysterious eyes flickered with dark-gold flame—as if its soul itself burned within them, granting it the power to see through everything, whether an enemy's thoughts or a companion's emotions. Its tail was long, fluffy, and waved gracefully through the air.
It was not particularly formidable in battle, but it was exceptionally gorgeous, immensely popular among the noble houses of the ancient Demon Realm, and served as a remarkably swift mount.
It was only natural that Zestira would take a liking to it.
Even a centuries-old demon crone would probably be unable to resist falling for such a fox.
Pity was, Lanqi liked this fox quite a bit too. Even if he could get his hands on it and take it away, he would never let that old woman lay a finger on it—NEETness was contagious.
Zestira, however, was a good girl. There was no harm in letting her touch it.
Chapter 287