On the north side of the Protos Royal Magic Academy.
Moonlight filtered through the thick clouds, faintly illuminating Gloria's detached mansion along the street. The estate occupied the entire plot, encircled by a meticulously planned courtyard whose lush vegetation took on a deep, vibrant green under the lunar glow. In the fountain basin, the water murmured softly beneath the falling raindrops.
Curtains covered the first-floor windows, with only faint slivers of light escaping through the gaps to reveal that whoever was inside had not yet gone to sleep.
"It has been a long journey for you."
Holding an umbrella, Lanqi walked with Hyperion down the academy's late-night path. Right ahead lay the mansion of direct retainer Gloria.
After escorting Mixiula back to the residence Count Milford had booked for them at the Protos Royal Magic Academy, Lanqi and Hyperion had continued north, arriving near Gloria's estate within a few minutes.
"It was fine. Everything went smoothly."
Hyperion shook her head. She did not want Lanqi to know about the dangers she had encountered in Box Mountain Province, fearing he would go seek revenge on the Extinction Branch on her behalf.
Thinking back carefully, whenever she was wronged in Ikerite, Lanqi would always avenge her. Whether he did it intentionally or unintentionally, his motives somehow always appeared grand, glorious, and righteous.
Even though Lanqi now occupied an exalted position in the Protos Empire that she still could barely wrap her mind around, she knew well how terrifying the Bishop of Extinction was—a supreme powerhouse whom even Teacher Ice Snow Witch struggled to confront.
Lanqi nodded with a smile, as if believing her words. Pushing open the courtyard gate with one hand, he held the umbrella over Hyperion's head and stepped inside alongside her.
The wet cobblestone path in the courtyard gleamed translucent under the moonlight. The rain pattered continuously, nearly drowning out their steady footsteps.
Hyperion quietly followed beside Lanqi.
She did not know why Lanqi had come here the very first moment after returning to the academy, but surely he had pressing business of his own.
Regarding Herrom Prison, it seemed she would have to wait until they were in a safe place alone together before asking him.
Under the Protos Empire's absurd legislation nowadays, the Resurrection Church had become an official religion, while the Church of the Goddess of Fate was branded an evil cult.
Even so, Hyperion believed that as a high-ranking imperial figure, Lanqi would certainly agree to help their Church of the Goddess of Fate for the greater good.
Although she was not sure how much help Lanqi would be willing to provide, and the Ice Snow Witch had repeatedly warned her never to trust any big figures in the Protos Empire, Hyperion was not in the least worried that Lanqi would betray her.
Because she simply could not imagine a scene where Lanqi would secretly bring her to a stronghold of the Resurrection Church and hand her over to those cultists for trial.
The two arrived at the front door of Gloria's residence.
"Gloria, it's me," Lanqi said, knocking gently on the door.
Before long, someone opened the front door, without even making a sound of approaching footsteps.
Perhaps direct retainer Gloria had already been waiting behind the door the moment she detected movement in the courtyard.
"You have returned, sir," Gloria said, bowing slightly, finally using honorifics toward Lanqi.
"..."
This, on the contrary, made Lanqi feel a little uncomfortable.
Gloria's tone did not sound like a student's deference toward a headmaster or a subordinate's respect for a superior; rather, it carried a kind of submission toward a stepfather, as if she were beginning to try to accept the relationship between her stepfather and her mother.
During this silence, Gloria observed Hyperion briefly. Finding that Hyperion was a peer of around the same age, the slight vigilance she had harbored gradually melted away.
The Holy Son supposedly only liked older women around thirty years old, and a green young girl of Hyperion's age posed no threat to the Bishop.
With so many young female students in the school, the Holy Son kept a deplorably thick barrier between himself and all of them; only the Bishop enjoyed an irreplaceable closeness with him, which spoke volumes about the Holy Son's psychological age and preferences.
"Let's go inside first," Lanqi said to Hyperion, folding the umbrella and handing it to Gloria.
"Okay."
Hyperion also seemed to sense something was odd, though she couldn't pinpoint what felt out of place.
She was only reasonably certain that this female student named Gloria was probably not the true master of this place.
The person Lanqi was bringing her to meet had to be someone else.
As the door closed behind them, the world seemed to fall quiet, shutting out even the sound of the rain. The mansion was likely fitted with soundproofing magic apparatuses.
The three walked down the corridor leading to the living room. Lanqi led Hyperion forward while Gloria followed respectfully behind.
The indoor lighting was soft, illuminating the spotless hallway. The air was permeated with a delicate aroma blending jasmine, cedarwood, and distilled spirits.
The entire fragrance was like a whispered movement of music, poised yet fresh, and the harmonious, balanced ambiance put one at ease in an instant.
As if sensing this comfort, Lanqi's shadow finally stirred, and a timid little black silhouette popped out from it.
"Boss Cat..."
Hyperion squatted down and scooped up the little black cat, stroking its head. Having observed her surroundings, she felt that this indeed seemed to be a woman's home.
Although she didn't know why Lanqi would bring her to someone else's home, a place where Boss Cat was willing to come out clearly represented safety.
"Meow, meow..."
Boss Cat didn't dare meet Hyperion's gaze.
It couldn't fathom just how badly Hyperion had been frightened earlier either.
"..."
Hyperion originally wanted to ask Boss Cat why Lanqi had ended up like this.
But seeing that it was just a cat, and then looking at Lanqi, she let it go.
The smaller the ability, the smaller the responsibility; Boss Cat was capable only of simple vital functions.
As an airy space opened up before them, the three entered the mansion's parlor.
On the sofa, Sigrid sat with her arms crossed.
"You're back late today," Sigrid spoke, her purple eyes carrying a touch of docile sleepiness.
She looked as though she had been waiting for Lanqi for a long time, but there was no reproach in her words. She was merely telling him that she hoped he could return earlier next time, or else she might worry.
Hearing this, Hyperion looked in confusion at this light-haired woman with such a distinct aura. She appeared exceptionally domineering, yet bore a faint gentleness.
Hyperion was not only surprised that Lanqi knew such a charming woman; what shocked her even more was the implication behind Sigrid's words.
Had Lanqi been living together with this woman all this time?
Hyperion could not fathom at all how, after not seeing each other for just over two months, Lanqi had become so devoid of distance with a woman.
Back in Ikerite, Lanqi had clearly been impervious to women, and the person closest to him hadn't even been Hyperion herself, but Frey!
Chapter 380