The two continued along the passageway, gradually fading into the shadows at the corridor's end, leaving behind only patches of lantern light scattered across the empty flagstones.
They made their way up to the ground level and, under the watchful eyes of the prison guards, walked out of Chinston City Prison together.
Beyond the gray stone perimeter walls that resembled layered ramparts of iron, pleasant and picturesque Chinston City unfolded in the distance.
It was one o'clock in the afternoon. The sun hung high in the sky, shedding a genial glow across a pale, blue-white expanse—the pristine, crisp clarity unique to a snowfield spring.
Returning to Chinston City after nearly a month away, a surge of warmth and familiarity enveloped them, visibly lightening their steps.
In this snowy northern realm, aside from their blizzard-swept journeys, Chinston City had been their longest rest stop and by far their most comfortable haven.
"You know, I'm starting to think you really are a good headmaster," Side remarked after a moment's thought.
He could cultivate a fine student like Xiaya, yet he could also handle a delinquent like Anello.
"Oh? You do understand, don't you?" Lanqi's eyes lit up.
"Naturally," Side replied with a smug grin.
For now, they were heading to the Lord's Mansion in Chinston City to rest for the night. Tomorrow, they would resume their southward journey toward Box Mountain Province, the transport hub of the northern Protos Empire, where they could board a mana rail train back to the Imperial Capital, Herrom.
During their previous stay in Chinston City, they had resided at Viscount Laiwen Chinston's mansion, and the viscount had already prepared guest rooms for them once more.
As the two walked through the streets, their gazes would occasionally meet as they chatted.
Hearing Lanqi and Side shoot the breeze like old times, Boss Cat lifted its head from Side's embrace with growing worry.
"There's still the blockade in Box Mountain Province, meow. How are you going to get Side back?" It looked at Side, then turned to Lanqi.
Boss Cat had previously overheard Lanqi and Side discussing this at the inn: once they reached Box Mountain Province, no matter how Sigrid disguised herself, the Sealers stationed there would sense the power of the curse seal on her and expose her immediately.
The main Great Clerics of the Extinction Branch were all gathered in Box Mountain Province, making it a checkpoint Lanqi could never breach by brute force with only the local might of Snowfield Province.
Yet the current Sigrid wasn't worried about a single thing. She seemed thoroughly content to just stroke the cat, laze about, and let the chips fall where they may!
"Don't worry, just leave it to me," Lanqi replied calmly, glancing at Boss Cat. "I need to craft a card shortly. Once it's done, we can set off."
The viscount's manor had a workshop well-suited for card-crafting, fully stocked with all the necessary tools. After a long hiatus, he was finally returning to his old trade.
Either way, he needed to get Sigrid back to Herrom as soon as possible.
First, he had a major interview scheduled with the Herrom Broadcasting Corporation. As a distinguished headmaster who had accepted the invitation, he couldn't stand them up.
Second, Sigrid's bishop election was drawing near. If she, as the Bishop of Domination, could win it, she would become the sole spokesperson for the Resurrection Church in the Protos Empire. From then on, the entire domestic branch of the church would be controlled by just the two of them.
"Then I want to watch you craft it. But will it distract you if someone stays by your side?" Side asked, suddenly perking up.
She had nothing else to do anyway and had long been curious about the Holy Son's craft as a magic artificer. Watching seemed like a great idea.
"Not at all. In fact, I actually need someone watching when I craft cards."
Although his assistant, the Poet of Great Love, wasn't around, the card he intended to craft this time wasn't difficult; it was familiar territory.
Besides, with an older woman staring at him, the success rate of crafting the card would likely receive an even greater boost.
"...Did you just think of something terribly rude for a second?" Side looked up, scrutinizing Lanqi's eyes with a look of disdain.
"Absolutely not. Nothing but respect," Lanqi answered with utter conviction.
"Reeeeaaally?" Side drawled out the word.
"I truly respect you," Lanqi said, looking at her with an exceptionally innocent expression.
"..."
"Whatever. Whether in my prime or now when I'm weak, you've always treated me the same way. That's a sort of consistency, I suppose. I'll grant you a pass this once without docking your affection points." Side closed her eyes in resignation and waved her hand dismissively.
"Speaking of which, what are affection points even good for at this point?" The more Lanqi thought about it, the more he felt that as long as her favor didn't drop low enough for Side to leave the party, it made zero difference.
"...Side was willing to die alongside you, you know! Having a girl like that by your side, aren't you touched at all?" After pondering for a moment, Side spoke like a maiden telling a fairy tale, painting a dramatic picture of how they had faced the Holy Son of Extinction on the snowy plains that morning.
"..."
Lanqi gazed at Side, wanting to roast her but holding his tongue. This scummy boss couldn't even be bothered to put effort into promising pie in the sky anymore.
Seeing Lanqi's helpless expression, Side chuckled again.
"Keep up the good work, Holy Son." Side gave Lanqi a satisfying pat on the back, looking thoroughly delighted.
Even though she had lost her power, she wasn't worried about the future in the slightest.
As their steps carried them forward, the familiar Lord's Mansion gradually came into view. The towering structure seemed to welcome them back, its familiar red brick walls and rooftops standing out with particular prominence.
Before the mansion's main gates, uniformed guards immediately swung the gates open upon spotting the two and offered their deepest, most respectful salutes.
The courtyard scenery was just as before. Blossoms, lush greenery, and fountains sparkled beneath the sunlight. Every few paces, one could hear the gentle crunch and trickle of thawing snow. The frost and snow blanketing the roofs had grown soft and moist rather than rigid, resembling inlaid crystals.
Listening to their conversation along the way, Boss Cat frowned deeply, suddenly realizing a troubling truth.
Spending over two months alone with Lanqi in the Northern Continent had made it fully realize that Lanqi harbored a terrifying, insatiable ambition that even he himself failed to notice. At times, he was as gentle as a dutiful wife, carrying a fussy maternal instinct; combined with his bizarre talents, this concocted an exceptionally dangerous poison.
Tata seemed deeply resistant to this poison, always subconsciously drawing a line between herself and Lanqi.
Hubao could not only stay clear-headed within its fumes, but even suppress its toxicity.
Side, on the other hand, possessed the monstrous constitution to chug this poison with zero bottom line.
Thus, far from merely indulging Lanqi, she continually exacerbated his wicked nature. Gratified by her recognition and support, Lanqi took Side—this female version of himself—as his benchmark, and hey, thinking about it like that, he actually considered himself quite normal.
The more Boss Cat thought about it, the weirder it seemed.
A typical youthful romance story was supposed to be about a boy meeting a girl, healing and redeeming each other...
Where other couples were lovebirds soaring wing to wing into the sky, these two were a drill rig striking infinite fuel, boring straight down into hell without looking back.
So bizarre. Truly too bizarre... Better take another look.
Chapter 354