Lanqi's Pleasant Day

The two continued along the stairway, winding their way past flight after flight of long, spiraling steps before they even realized it. After hearing Hyperion's words, Lanqi fell into thought. At present, he was saddled with card debt because of the Poet of Great Love. Even so, the card was worth every coin he spent on it. Still, Lanqi hadn't forgotten his original purpose in coming to the royal capital: to get rich as early as possible. If he could grow a little stronger and build up some connections, he wouldn't need to fear whatever potential enemies might threaten his family's Wilfort Chamber of Commerce. A judge would pass judgment on all with invincible law. To win the favor of powerful factions and formidable figures, excelling in challenging the Shadow World was another viable path, besides becoming a renowned card maker. For now, if he relied solely on crafting cards to make quick money in the short term, he would probably work himself to death in the workshop. As for selling paintings... Lanqi wasn't sure whether selling them openly before becoming strong enough would invite unforeseen trouble. If his paintings were too valuable while he remained weak and defenseless, it could prove terrifying; unsavory characters might set their sights on him. Unless he was truly desperate for cash, he wouldn't consider casually selling paintings for the time being—and even if he did, he wouldn't sell them under his real name. Looked at this way, studying card making while advancing his rank as much as possible to become a high-tier card maker was the true long-term path to wealth. Intense crafting practice could slowly hone his mental strength and spur a breakthrough in rank, but it was simply too slow. The fastest way to raise one's rank was likewise through challenging the Shadow World— Successfully clearing a real Shadow World granted a corresponding rank boost! For that reason, many card makers chose to become "battlefield card makers" to piggyback on Shadow World expeditions and raise their rank. This was an auxiliary combat class that had evolved from a crafting profession. Because challengers acquired completely new identities and circumstances inside a Shadow World, they could not carry any items, potions, or other objects when entering or leaving; they could only take magic cards bound to their souls and stored in their soul spaces back and forth. Battlefield card makers brought in a "portable card-making toolkit" in the form of an equipment card, allowing them to forge targeted magic cards for their teammates on the fly according to the situation inside the Shadow World! With such support in the party, materials that ordinarily could not be taken out of a Shadow World could even be brought back to the mortal realm through the method of "crafting them into magic cards and soul-binding them," thereby increasing the team's clearing rewards. Consequently, even if battlefield card makers were essentially freeloaders in many situations, numerous powerful teams were more than willing to take along a utility member capable of boosting the entire party's spoils. Lanqi naturally possessed a certain potential for the battlefield card maker role. Yet with his currently erratic card-making skills, he was still far from qualified to serve as one. All one could say was that an extra skill never hurt. While Lanqi was lost in thought, Hyperion spoke up again beside him: "Examinees with exceptionally outstanding scores in the annual entrance exams may be granted an exemption from the registered challenger qualification exam. Barring any surprises, you should receive a notice after the term begins. Once you finish the paperwork, you can challenge real Shadow Worlds." The structure of the entrance exam itself was similar to the official registration exam. If a student passed with an absolute high score, Ikerite Academy, as an accredited partner of the association, would apply for an exam exemption on their behalf. Other freshmen, by contrast, had to spend considerable time taking the registered challenger exam administered by the Southern Continent Shadow World Management Association before they could challenge a real Shadow World for the first time. Hyperion was certain that, with a performance like Lanqi's, there was no reason he wouldn't receive the exemption. As for teammates... Lanqi didn't need to worry either; plenty of upperclassmen and teams from various schools would likely reach out to him on their own initiative. "Oh, I see. Thank you, Hyperion." Lanqi hurried to express his gratitude upon hearing this. *As expected of a great noble from the capital.* She understood everything thoroughly, even things not mentioned anywhere in the admission details. "It's nothing." Hyperion merely looked ahead at the stairs and gave a slight nod. Hyperion's reminder lifted Lanqi's spirits considerably. Since he might not have to go to the Southern Continent Shadow World Management Association for the registration exam, then if all went smoothly, completing the paperwork would make him an Iron rank registered challenger right away. From what Lanqi had heard back home in the South Vantina frontier territory, the Southern Continent Association recognized seven challenger ranks. Each time a registered challenger cleared a world, the association recorded their contribution or promoted them accordingly. The higher one's rank, the greater the accompanying perks, privileges, and status. Starting from the lowest, Iron rank, they went up through Bronze rank, Silver rank, Gold rank, Platinum rank, Magic Crystal rank, and Hero rank. Setting aside the novice Iron and Bronze ranks, anyone who reached the third tier, Silver rank, was already a seasoned veteran of the Shadow World—the pillar of the world's efforts in conquering them. If one reached the fourth tier, Gold rank, they would enjoy prominent social status wherever they went! And from Platinum rank onward, even traveling to other continents, one would be recognized by associations under different systems; they were super-powerhouses possessing true worldwide renown. After these two practical runs in the entrance exams, Lanqi discovered that he seemed to have quite a bit of potential as a Shadow World challenger. He could hardly wait to begin his career as one. "Do you know what ranks students in this academy can reach?" Lanqi asked curiously. "If a student at Ikerite can reach Gold rank, they're already quite formidable. As for Platinum rank... only fourth-years and those in the part-time system have reached it," Hyperion answered after a moment of thought, a touch of melancholy in her voice. "People like that have long had no need to stay in the academy. They can leave whenever they want." If she could reach that rank, then even without her father's protection and the status of a ducal house, she wouldn't need to fear those plotting against her. Unfortunately, she didn't believe her talent would ever let her reach the level of the few monsters standing at the academy's summit. "Part-time system?" Lanqi tilted his head, looking at Hyperion in confusion. He understood fourth-years, but he hadn't known this academy had "part-time" students. "Generally, students can apply for graduation in their third year, at which point they're granted a substantial amount of challenger points or recommended for employment in major associations." "Every year, a select few exceptionally outstanding students choose to pursue additional years of research under senior professors they admire. They might stay at the school for several years without leaving, and they're collectively referred to as 'fourth-years.'" "The 'part-time system' refers to a handful of challengers who already possess extensive Shadow World records and study part-time at our school. We, on the other hand, are essentially 'full-time' students." Hyperion patiently explained it to Lanqi. Without realizing it, their conversation had brought them to the top of the long flight of stairs. "So that's how it is. Thank you for explaining!" Lanqi smiled, grateful for Hyperion's thorough answers. Taking a few steps forward, a massive openwork glass curtain wall came into view, offering a sweeping panorama of the entire campus—blossoming trees, elegant buildings, and lush lawns, all thoroughly pleasant. A fork appeared on the suspended landing before them. "Well then, see you when term starts. I need to head over that way to find a friend of mine." Lanqi stopped, pointed toward the terrace, and bid Hyperion farewell. He was heading to the terrace area connected to the first floor to find Talia, his demon master, who was waiting for him. Compared to Talia, who never spoke more than ten words in a sentence, chatting normally with Hyperion felt vastly more comfortable. Sure enough, an older woman who couldn't find a husband usually had some issues of her own. "Goodbye." Hyperion nodded in reply. With that, their paths diverged, and they walked off in different directions. ... Three days later, early morning. The Creti Empire, south of the Hutton Kingdom. Because a continuous mountain range separated the two nations, shipping large quantities of cargo from the southern border of the Hutton Kingdom to the northern border of the Creti Empire was far more convenient by skirting east and taking merchant ships by sea. Many of the Creti Empire's northern cities were built upon mountainous terrain, where towering architecture coexisted with rolling topography. One could even witness classical buildings nestled amidst blue skies and white clouds. Glen Waverley City, the capital of the Creti Empire's northern frontier territory, was easily one of the northern region's most prosperous cities. Bordered by cloud-piercing mountains to the north and the sea to the east, its docks saw an endless flow of traffic year-round. The upper pillar tier of Glen Waverley City was built suspended between several intersecting peaks. Its classical architecture was predominantly deep gray or off-white, the climate warm and bright. The air was filled with floral fragrance and faint, profound music, while the wide, pristine streets were bustling with richly dressed merchants, knights, and clerics. At this moment, within a building bearing the sign "Wilfort Chamber of Commerce" in this city-state, inside a fourth-floor room whose door plate read "Chairman's Office"— A middle-aged man sat in a comfortable armchair behind a desk. Putting on his spectacles, he began leafing through an issue of the *Hutton Times* from two days prior. He was none other than the chairman of the Wilfort Chamber of Commerce and Lanqi's father—Noe Wilfort. Since the Wilfort Chamber of Commerce held vital channels for trade between the two nations, acquiring newspapers published throughout the Hutton Kingdom was not difficult. They were merely delayed by two or three days on occasion, or even seven or eight if they missed a merchant ship's passage, which was hardly unusual. "Let's see what news there is lately." Noe leisurely browsed through the newly arrived Hutton Kingdom newspaper. He didn't read it every day; only when he finished his work and happened to have a bit of free time would he ask an employee for the latest Hutton paper to see what was happening. [A youth from the Holy Church Research Society, furious after being kicked out of his party by his companions, transformed into a Casanova and seduced every single one of their mothers. Just as his companions were gripped by remorse and preparing to line up to apologize, he turned around and had all their mothers sent to prison—on the grounds that he was a minor.] [In the South Vantina frontier territory, a man harboring resentment toward his boss over forced overtime learned that his employer was allergic to healing potions. He proceeded to pummel his boss with hands coated in healing potion, which ultimately caused no allergic reaction but inflicted severe injuries. Following a month in detention, the man emerged from prison and took the potion manufacturer to court for producing counterfeit and substandard healing potions; he has currently been awarded 650 pounds in compensation from the maker.] Noe shook his head as he turned the page, pursing his lips to hold back his laughter. The Hutton Kingdom truly was a land of remarkable talents. Laws were amended constantly there, simply because no such statutes had ever existed before and new clauses had to be drafted to account for utterly bizarre crimes. In some respects, the *Hutton Times* was even more entertaining than an ordinary joke book. Thus, Noe turned the pages, savoring this rare moment of leisure. Exquisite oil paintings and embroideries hung along the walls of the Chairman's Office, the floor was covered in a soft carpet, and a sea of clouds was visible beyond the window, making Noe feel thoroughly at ease as he stole a bit of time from his busy schedule. Before long, he spotted a report concerning the royal capital of Ikerite— [During the annual entrance examination for the School of Sages at Ikerite Magic Academy, a severe accident occurred...] [Examiner Viscount Ferrat Chavenson is now out of life-threatening danger following emergency treatment.] [Evidently, artificial Shadow Worlds still require substantial safety improvements.] "I wonder which wretched student managed to severely injure an examiner. Whatever family raised a creature like that must have committed a sin in a past life," Noe chuckled with schadenfreude, shaking his head in amazement. That boy Lanqi being mediocre had its perks; at least he wouldn't stir up a disaster like this. Communication magic was exorbitantly expensive and required cross-border permits alongside multiple relay stations, so unless an urgent matter arose, Noe rarely contacted his home in the Hutton Kingdom's South Vantina territory. As for whether Lanqi had passed the exam, Noe didn't even need to ask. Naturally, the boy had bungled the School of Alchemy's entrance exam and was on his way home in defeat. Noe had already instructed Hans the butler: once Lanqi slunk back in shame, cut off his allowance entirely and make that idle dunce taste some real hardship! The next time he returned to South Vantina, he would see whether Lanqi had grown even the slightest bit. Reading on, the article continued: [During the exam, the artificial Shadow World activation terminal also suffered a breakdown, suspected to be the result of irregular operations by an examinee. According to an interview with Professor Borao of Ikerite Academy's School of Magic Engineering, the emergency repairs have already inflicted a loss of at least 8,000 pounds in Southern Kingdoms United currency on the School of Magic Engineering...] Accompanying the text was a photograph of a handsome old magic artificer gritting his teeth. Though he clearly appeared to be holding back his fury before the camera, the murderous look in his eyes was impossible to conceal. [...Reporting for you, this is reporter Luvishir.] At last, the report came to an end. Noe shook his head and folded the newspaper. "Heh, quite a talent, managing to wreck the exam terminal. If the School of Magic Engineering demands compensation, that family's in for a world of hurt." Having finished today's Hutton jokes, Noe felt thoroughly satisfied. He only hoped the news would be even more explosive next time.