“Lanqi, you're back.”
As the doors of the student council room opened, air infused with the scent of coffee and candles drifted over. Lanqi quickly spotted the president sitting behind his desk.
Before him stretched a long table crafted from finely polished dark wood, its surface so smooth that it reflected the final glint of the setting sun outside. Beside the half-parted massive windows, crimson curtains swayed gently in the breeze, shimmering in the sunset's glow like theatrical stage drapes.
At this hour, the president had not yet left; he seemed to be waiting specifically for Lanqi.
“Senior Monaster, sorry I'm late.”
Lanqi walked briskly toward the desk and took a seat opposite the president.
Yet as he passed through the lounge area on the left side of the room, he had noticed a woman with pear-wood-brown hair sitting on the student council's exceptionally comfortable leather sofa. She had glanced back at Lanqi with curiosity, and Lanqi had simply nodded to her in greeting without saying much. For now, speaking with the president took priority.
“There aren't any official duties to worry about, actually,” Monaster said, closing the book in his hand and setting it aside. Looking at Lanqi, he continued, “Compared to last time, the academic delegation from the Aloran Kingdom seems remarkably ordinary, aside from a girl named Kukulca Pakas who put forward a request.”
“Kukulca?”
Lanqi had never heard that name.
Judging by the president's expression, however, she was someone connected to the student council.
“Do you remember Kuse? The strongest warrior in the Aloran Royal Academy's academic delegation last year. He kept challenging our Soul of the Fighter team, until you coached them in person and defeated him in the combat tournament,” Monaster asked.
“I remember.”
Understanding dawned on Lanqi.
During the first term last year, Kuse of the Aloran Royal Academy had wanted to challenge Cervini, the strongest leader of the Soul of the Fighter team. But Cervini had already transferred to the School of Alchemy to study law, so Kuse persistently tormented and attacked members of the Soul of the Fighter team to force Cervini out to fight him. When student council members went to mediate, he had even spoken rudely to Hyperion.
In the end, with the president taking the lead, a fair five-on-five competitive match was arranged, where the Soul of the Fighter team led by Coach Lanqi secured an overwhelming victory.
“Kukulca is Kuse's younger sister. They are nobles of the Aloran Kingdom,” Monaster explained.
“Does she want revenge for her brother, then?” Lanqi rested his chin in his hand, puzzled.
“No. At least in my view, she is a very sensible young woman. The very first thing she did upon arriving at the student council room was apologize to Hyperion for her brother's insolence.” Monaster shook his head. “She applied to come to Ikerite Academy as a one-year exchange student, aiming for the School of Sages, and wants to join the Hutton Times news agency where Lucifer works. She needed a senior from the School of Sages to show her around the campus, and as a priest, she takes a keen interest in Dean Loren.”
Monaster spoke casually, as if chatting about domestic matters. “If I may hazard a guess, her main goal is clearly Dean Loren. After turning it over in my mind, I sent Hyperion to give her the tour.”
There was nothing problematic about this routine academic visit.
“I see.”
Lanqi thought about it; Hyperion was indeed the most suitable choice.
Both were priests of the Church of the Goddess of Fate, so they would have plenty to talk about.
Evidently, the woman sitting in the student council room right now was not Kukulca.
Kukulca had already been shown around by Hyperion.
After chatting for a while, Lanqi realized he had seemingly neglected the woman who had been sitting on the lounge sofa all along.
“Then who is this...?”
Lanqi turned his head toward the sofa in the lounge area and asked President Monaster.
The woman indeed looked more mature than a student. An aura of harmlessness emanated from her, and her facial features were remarkably delicate.
Her skin was dewy and supple, and her bright crimson lips left a striking impression—yet they looked natural, not painted with makeup.
Most crucially, her hair was the same pear-wood shade as the president's.
“Miss Florence, my elder sister. As you know, I'm not from Hutton, right?” Monaster introduced her, inviting Lanqi over to the sofa, where they sat down across from the pear-wood-haired woman.
Lanqi glanced sideways at the president.
Ikerite Academy hosted many students from other countries. For instance, the president clearly hailed from a distinguished background, yet was not a noble of the Hutton Kingdom, nor was his family located within its borders.
However, if the president were to marry Senior Asna in the future, he would likely remain in the Hutton Kingdom rather than return to his homeland, the Cambell Kingdom.
Lanqi instantly understood why the president knew Loren so well—after all, the previous rumors about Dean Loren had originated from the president.
“Hello, Lanqi!”
Florence waved at Lanqi and Monaster with a smile, revealing a dimple.
“Don't be fooled by how frail she looks. She actually possesses monstrous combat talent. It's just that her real appearance lacks any trace of majesty, so she usually conceals her face and voice with armor and divine arts.” President Monaster leaned back against the sofa and sighed helplessly. “As a result, once she takes off her armor, not even Dean Loren recognizes her.”
“Uh...”
Looking at Florence's approachable demeanor, Lanqi honestly could not picture her clad in a suit of heavy plate armor.
“So, President, having me over this time is for a private commission?” Lanqi asked.
“Precisely.”
Monaster folded his arms, gesturing for Florence to speak for herself.
Florence glanced at Lanqi.
“I'm actually very worried about Loren. He has looked ashen-faced these past two days, but I don't know what face to show him,” she murmured nervously.
Even dressed plainly, her lovely, captivating charm was unmistakable, and her voice sounded crisp and sweet, like heavenly music.
She had arrived in the Hutton Kingdom on a secret mission to investigate the mysterious cardinal. Unless absolutely necessary, she would not reveal her combat persona as the Paladin Commander.
Consequently, she had no idea how to meet her dear friend.
“She heard you can create a flawless Metamorphosis art, so she wanted to commission you to craft a magic card capable of disguising her as a male. That way, she can openly sling an arm around Dean Loren's shoulder as his close friend,” Monaster added from the side.
“A card-crafting commission, I see.”
Since becoming a card maker, this was the first formal crafting commission Lanqi had received.
Then again, as a registered card maker with the Card Makers Association, he had never opened his schedule for bookings.
Lanqi roughly got the picture: in simple terms, Florence didn't know how to meet an online friend in real life.
Dean Loren believed his reliable 'bro' was a fellow man, when in reality she was a woman. To put Dean Loren at ease, this woman wanted to adopt a male guise.
“Is there any risk of being seen through?”
Lanqi leaned forward slightly and inquired.
He did not consider the disguise itself a bad thing, nor would being exposed normally be a big deal, but something might go horribly wrong on Dean Loren's end.
“It doesn't matter, as long as the Ice Snow Witch doesn't find out. In the church over here, only she knows I'm a woman. Although the Ice Snow Witch has come to the Hutton Kingdom, she clearly has no interest in Loren. If I just steer clear of her, there won't be any problem.”
Florence shook her head resolutely.
She knew the Ice Snow Witch, Almis, had been in the Hutton Kingdom for quite some time, and had even been helping Loren handle church affairs recently. If not for Almis's help, he might genuinely have broken down.
Yet Florence surmised that the Ice Snow Witch Almis's true goal was likely tracking down that cardinal from the Northern Continent.
Almis had her own duties, so she wouldn't possibly keep her eyes glued to Loren all day.
If Almis really were keeping Loren under round-the-clock surveillance, Florence would shudder at the thought.
In any case, Florence understood Almis somewhat—Almis was hardly such a perverted, infatuated stalker.
“No problem. How about an appearance like this?”
As Lanqi spoke, he retrieved pen and paper from beneath the tea table. Before long, he completed a sketch depicting a handsome youth with pear-wood-brown hair, retaining Florence's facial features while giving her the distinct look of a boy.
“Perfect! Can you really make me look like this without Loren seeing through my disguise spell?”
Florence stared at the drawing board, her eyes wide. Framed by her luscious, bright crimson lips, she looked every bit like an energetic, vibrant woman.
“Of course. I can probably have the card ready for you by tomorrow. I'll leave it here with the president, and you can simply come collect it from him, Miss Florence,” Lanqi answered with a smile.
Whether helping Loren or assisting the president, he would not hesitate.
Back when disguising identities on the Northern Continent, the card had required an exact match with the target individual, taking nearly a whole day to craft a single targeted transformation card. This time, since it didn't need to match the illustration down to the last detail—only needing to turn Miss Florence into a male guise—it could be finished very quickly.
Lanqi was already well-practiced, and the magic card he excelled at most right now was Metamorphosis.
“Thank you so much, Lanqi!”
Florence clapped her hands in delight.
Soon, she would finally be able to meet her dear friend!
Chapter 618