Lanqi and Hyperion sat in the office of the Dean of the School of Magic Engineering, chatting casually with Professor Borao for quite some time.
Having learned the purpose of their visit, Borao swiftly processed their return-to-school verifications and unfroze their Shadow World challenge licenses.
"Loren has been busier than ever. Lately, rumors have even started circulating around school again claiming he's secretly plotting all sorts of things. Absurd. Even if High Priest Loren is an elusive figure in the eyes of most students, he has always been thoroughly upright. You students who see him regularly ought to know that better than anyone."
Professor Borao shook his head and sighed.
These students had read far too many storybooks, constantly fantasizing that the refined, easygoing Loren would one day suddenly transform into the most oppressive ultimate villain.
"Naturally, his absence from his post means my own workload has increased as well."
Much of the paperwork requiring the authority of the Dean of the School of Sages had to be reviewed by Borao, the Dean of the School of Magic Engineering, in Loren's stead.
"Earlier, I heard students from the Aloran Kingdom's academic delegation say that Ikerite Academy's students are the harshest when it comes to slandering their own people. I didn't quite believe it at the time, but it turns out to be true. Still, why does nobody ever gossip about me?" Lanqi asked curiously.
He always felt that the students around him treated him with great respect. He practically never encountered the classic tropes so common in stories—like someone taunting him right to his face.
Hyperion, on the other hand, ran into them far more often.
Thus, she seemed much more like the protagonist, while he was probably just a sidekick by her side.
"..."
Professor Borao picked up his teacup and glanced absently out the window at the rising morning sun.
His old experimental workshop was right below the student council room, and he had frequently heard about the many "good deeds" Lanqi had done while mediating conflicts and disputes.
They could easily fill an entire season of a school anime arc.
"...Everyone is still young; nobody really wants to go to prison," Hyperion mumbled under her breath.
"Still, isn't it entirely proper to send anyone who tries to offend the duchess to prison, or see to it that they receive an appropriate punishment?" Lanqi tilted his head.
"Ugh."
Hyperion had originally intended to rebut Lanqi, but when she realized the duchess he was referring to was herself, the words caught in her throat.
To be honest, having someone avenge her secretly delighted her every time—as though it were part of her demon instincts. But she dared not dwell on it, because behaving that way truly made her seem like a villainess, not to mention the massive deduction to her karmic merit.
"..."
A brief silence settled over the office of the Dean of the School of Magic Engineering. Professor Borao merely sipped his tea without interrupting their exchange.
Only when he saw that neither of them spoke for a while did he set down his teacup.
"It's about time for me to get back to work. Is there anything else you need my help with?" Professor Borao asked, glancing at the clock.
Though he wished to help Hyperion, he would not interfere needlessly.
Much of Lanqi and Hyperion's daily campus life unfolded before Borao's eyes. As Mikhail's magic engineering teacher, he had also watched Hyperion grow up from childhood.
Perhaps their friendship remained pure at this moment, a treasure deeply cherished by both, but feelings changing was only ever a matter of a split second—all it took was a single catalyst.
Like water carving a channel or a melon dropping once ripe, there was no need for deliberate intervention.
"Speaking of which, Professor Borao, could I study magic engineering under you next semester?" Lanqi asked after a moment's thought.
When it came to the most formidable magic artificer Lanqi had ever encountered, Professor Borao was undoubtedly at the top.
Back when he had not yet left South Vantina, the books he had used for self-study were all magic engineering texts authored by Professor Borao.
Unfortunately, over all these years, Professor Borao had never taken on personal students; the sole apprentice he had ever been willing to guide was Duke Mikhail.
As the preeminent magic engineer in the Kingdom of Hutton for centuries, expending effort to cultivate someone less talented than himself was, in some sense, a waste of time for him.
When Lanqi first enrolled, he had considered studying under Professor Borao, but his tier had been too low at the time, and his magic engineering could not possibly keep pace with the professor. Now, after considerable accumulation and refinement, it should be much better.
Once the common first-year curriculum at Ikerite Academy was completed, students could declare their majors starting in their second year.
As long as Lanqi chose magic engineering and Professor Borao was willing to take a student, Lanqi could transition from course-based study to research-based study next year, a format closer to that of fourth-year students.
"A Platinum-rank card maker—not bad at all."
Though Professor Borao spoke the words, there was little expectation in the gaze he turned upon Lanqi.
"Your talent for magic engineering is commendable, but you are not a rare, once-in-a-century genius. More importantly, you do not truly love magic engineering, nor will you dedicate your life to it. Frankly, I see you as managerial talent. There is no need for you to squander your gifts on magic engineering."
In a single sentence, Professor Borao laid bare his reason for rejecting Lanqi.
He had reviewed the entire recording of Lanqi's crafting process during his assessment for Platinum-rank card maker.
It was obvious that aside from Lanqi's bizarrely high artistic sense and exquisite craftsmanship control, a significant portion of the magic engineering principles behind his ability to produce epic cards relied on the assistance of that summon, the Poet of Great Love.
Or rather, she was the indispensable key that allowed Lanqi to craft epic cards in the first place.
"I mainly wanted to ask you to teach both me and the Poet of Great Love. She genuinely loves magic engineering and should be able to keep up with you. I'll just learn as much as I can."
What Lanqi meant was a buy-one-get-one-free deal: take on one disciple, get two assistants.
Although letting Lanfu master high-end magic engineering was a perilous proposition, the magic engineering knowledge she could glean from books had essentially reached its limit. If he didn't find some new, time-consuming coursework for her, she would start causing trouble again.
"Let me think about it. The main issue is that I am swamped right now, and I'm not certain whether I will have the time to mentor a student next year," Professor Borao replied after a long pause.
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
Lanqi naturally understood Professor Borao's meaning.
The moment they arrived today, they had heard the professor talk about his heavy workload.
This happened to fall right into Lanqi's area of expertise.
Civil dispute resolution, institutional administration—those were his strong suits.
"Perhaps, or perhaps not. In fact, you could almost have been a huge help to me," Professor Borao sighed, shaking his head.
In the end, the problem still traced back to Loren.
While Borao greatly acknowledged Lanqi's personal operational capability demonstrated throughout the first semester, he could hardly demand that Lanqi go and solve all of Loren's problems. That would be asking far too much of a student.
Chapter 526