The atrium examination hall, which only moments before had reeked of gunpowder, had fallen into an eerie quiet.
Hyperion and Vivian both stared down at the floor, neither willing to utter another harsh word about the other.
"..."
Amid the atrium's dead silence, Lanqi's remarks thoroughly stunned the two other examinees waiting nearby.
Even if Lanqi himself was completely oblivious, they could not help feeling he possessed a truly unique knack for navigating perilous drama!
Even if this was not strictly romantic tension—Lanqi could have stayed out of it entirely from the start, yet had actively stepped forward to mediate—it still made them feel a sudden urge to bow and apprentice themselves to him.
Wasn't this far more practical than spells?
Lanqi quickly noticed their expressions across the room.
Seeing the respectful glances directed his way, he offered a smile and nodded in return.
*Sure enough, stepping in to make peace is the kind of good deed that naturally inspires awe and respect.*
The feeling of being respected brought a smile to Lanqi's heart.
More importantly, seeing the students getting along harmoniously in the exam hall was precisely what he wished for.
With a little more respect and understanding and a little less conflict and strife, the world would become a better place.
...
After everyone had stood quietly in the atrium for several dozen seconds, the sound of hurried, light footsteps broke the silence.
Teacher Teresa returned to the hall, cradling her small magical apparatus in her arms.
"Sorry, everyone, I'm back..."
She had finally seen off Ferrat, the examiner from the previous trial. From the moment she left, she had been deeply worried that Lady Hyperion and Princess Vivian, with their bitter animosity, would come to blows in her absence.
Yet before the words had completely left her mouth, she trailed off in mild astonishment.
For now, the atmosphere in the exam hall appeared remarkably harmonious.
Had she worried over nothing?
Teresa gave her head a puzzled shake, reminding herself to focus on the task at hand.
She hurried over to Hyperion and Lanqi and said, "Congratulations on successfully passing the exam."
Smiling at the two of them, she continued, "On the day school begins, head straight to the School of Sages' main building and you will receive guidance. In addition, the campus dormitories will open for move-in three days before the semester starts, and student wristbands can be picked up at the School of Magic Engineering around the same time."
She pointed at their exam wristbands, indicating they could simply present them at the School of Magic Engineering to exchange them for official student identification.
"Thank you."
"Thank you, Teacher Teresa."
After receiving their thanks, Teresa gave them a gentle wave farewell.
Then, like a server in a bustling lunch rush, she scurried over to Vivian and the other members of the second group.
"Sorry to keep you all waiting! We can begin preparing for the exam now..."
Vivian listened absently to Teacher Teresa's words, her gaze lingering on Hyperion's retreating back.
Hyperion had gotten lucky this time by running into someone willing to lend her a hand, but that luck was only fleeting and would burst like a bubble soon enough.
The sole reason Lanqi showed Hyperion no wariness at all was because this youth from the frontier remained ignorant of her secret—
Hyperion carried half-demon blood; she was Duke Aransal's illegitimate daughter born of a demon.
Vivian was certain that if Lanqi ever discovered Hyperion's demonic heritage in the future, his friendly demeanor would undergo a complete, earth-shattering reversal. He might even join the ranks of those persecuting her.
For in this Hutton Kingdom, ravaged by the demon war so many years ago, there was no one who did not harbor hatred and fear toward demons!
...
Ikerite Academy, Learning and Education Building.
Grand flights of stairs several meters wide descended tier by tier in an avant-garde, unique design. Beige stone and crystal balustrades reflected one another, shining like a beam of light weaving through the building's stories.
Each landing served a different purpose: some broad wooden steps acted as casual lounge areas for students, others showcased the academy's latest projects, and the lowest tier opened onto the building's spacious terrace.
Two youthful figures walked down the stairway with unhurried ease, as though strolling through a pressure-free artistic sanctuary.
Having concluded the grueling exam, Lanqi made no effort to hide his cheerful smile.
Hyperion remained largely expressionless, revealing nothing of her inner thoughts, yet the hostility that usually lingered in her eyes had dissipated without her even noticing.
"Say, Hyperion,"
Lanqi began, chatting casually with his newfound comrade as they walked, "you're familiar with the capital and quite knowledgeable. How do you think one can make money fast around here? Nothing forbidden by the penal code, of course."
He quickly tacked on the clarification after asking.
Although the penal code was essentially a manual for getting rich, one could never actually resort to that.
As they descended, they occasionally passed decorative displays beside the steps: newly cultivated specimens from the School of Alchemy, fresh academic achievements, and novel inventions alongside bizarre curios from the School of Magic Engineering.
"..."
Hyperion hesitated in silence for a moment.
She had originally intended to part ways with Lanqi right here.
She was truly grateful for his help and goodwill, but she was equally clear-headed: she and Lanqi could never become friends.
The secret of her half-demon blood could not be kept from him for long.
Not that she had deliberately concealed it or lied to him. But even if Lanqi never sought to pry and continued treating her with such warmth, the moment those plotting against her felt Lanqi standing in their way, they would expose her secret to him, casting her straight into the abyss at the most lethal moment.
What she was least willing to endure was watching someone who had once been a friend suddenly turn cold and distant, or even become an irreconcilable enemy...
Still, consider this repayment for their brief, fleeting bond.
"If my father hadn't gone missing, our House of Duke Aransal would have gladly invested in talent like yours given your abilities. Unfortunately, I have no authority over the family funds right now," Hyperion answered helplessly, meeting Lanqi's sincerity with her own, at least for the moment. "If you don't possess a crafting discipline, the fastest way to earn money is by challenging the Shadow World."
They continued forward, walking at an unhurried pace down the stairs. The massive glass curtain wall between floors cast patches of sunlight, illuminating the entire space before dimming again as marble walls blocked the light.
"Hmm..."
Lanqi nodded thoughtfully.
Though he had learned the fundamentals of making magic cards, he could only produce low-rank cards at the moment.
Furthermore, his technique remained rather clumsy, and his success rate was so low that cards frequently blew up, leaving Talia to shake her head in exasperation.
He didn't even have the confidence to sit for the registered card maker exam hosted by the Southern Continent Card Makers Association yet.
From the looks of it, his combat class, [White Mage], was actually far further along than his crafting class, [Card Maker].
Chapter 33