After Hyperion and Florence closed the door to the student council room, the two walked down the stairs past Professor Borao's research workshop on the second floor. Leaving behind the faint mechanical hum, they soon reached the Student Service Center on the ground floor and stepped out of the School of Magic Engineering's Old Liberal Arts Building.
"See you next time! Lanqi, Hyperion!"
Florence waved to them from the lawn in the garden.
"See you next time."
Standing side by side by the flowerbeds, Lanqi and Hyperion bade farewell to the president and his sister.
The Old Liberal Arts Building at the entrance to the School of Magic Engineering was situated within an expansive garden. Bathed in morning mist and sunlight, the greenery released a crisp, refreshing fragrance. The singing of canaries, the buzzing of bees, and the babble of a brook—the sounds of summer lingered continually around them.
Soon, the two were walking in the direction they had come from that morning.
"Did you get Lanfu?" Hyperion asked Lanqi.
"Yeah. She's quite easygoing—the type who rests whenever someone tells her to, but if no one says anything, she can stay completely immersed in whatever she enjoys doing."
Lanqi took out the magic card, where faint golden flower petals seemed to shimmer, and showed it to Hyperion.
"Did I keep you and the president waiting long earlier? I feel like I ended up chatting with Florence for too long."
Hyperion glanced up at the distant clock tower and noticed it was already past ten.
"Not at all. The president and I had a great time chatting downstairs. The garden scenery and the pleasant sunshine made for a very leisurely, enjoyable wait."
Lanqi smiled and shook his head.
"By the way, I heard that Miss Almis, the Ice Witch, also came to Ikerite. Have you gone to see her?" he asked.
"Not yet. My teacher has been helping Loren handle Church affairs, and I couldn't find her when I went to the temple last time. I'll go check again next time."
The very first thing Hyperion had done upon returning from the Shadow World was eagerly seek out her teacher, but unfortunately, their paths had not crossed.
She knew her teacher had important work of her own, so she hadn't gone back to disturb her at the temple over the past two days.
"Once my teacher finishes her business, she'll probably come to the school to find me on her own. She'll probably resume teaching me, too. I really miss her," Hyperion said, her voice filled with anticipation.
Just thinking about Teacher Almis made her genuinely happy.
She hadn't expected that after barely two months back in the Southern Continent, she would already have the chance to see her teacher again.
Lanqi nodded.
Whenever the Ice Witch Almis came looking for Hyperion, Hyperion would gain yet another bodyguard.
Although the Ice Witch leaned toward defensive specialization, she was widely recognized as possessing quasi-bishop-level combat power, considerably stronger than any single one of the three great demons at the restaurant.
"Are you worrying about me again?" Hyperion leaned closer and whispered.
"Yes. But after all the hard work and travels up until now, my mind is at ease. At least for the next six months, the territory of Ikerite is safe. We don't need to worry too much about threats behind us; we just need to keep moving forward," Lanqi answered earnestly, looking at her.
Present-day Ikerite was already virtually impregnable, unless towering flames of war engulfed the Southern Continent, an army marched on the royal capital, or a Tier 9 powerhouse intervened at all costs.
In an era where every Tier 9 powerhouse had been drawn into the Tier 9 Shadow Worlds, if anyone wanted to break that balance, it would require either the emergence of a new Tier 9 combatant or an ancient monster breaking an eternal seal, like Rasheal, the Third Progenitor of the Blood Clan.
Right now, the figures closest to reaching Tier 9 were the Northern Continent's Bishop of Extinction—the very origin of the term "super-bishop-level combat power"—and the leader of the Creti Empire's Twelve War Gods in the Southern Continent, Hyacinthus, the War God bestowed with the Diamond Seat, who likely stood at the same level as the Bishop of Extinction, on the verge of Tier 9.
Aside from them, Lanqi knew that the Overlord Bishop also stood a chance. After defeating Askesang and breaking through her seal, she had likely taken another massive step toward Tier 9.
As for Loren, strong though he was, he remained a considerable distance from Tier 9.
The midsummer sun shone over the lush grass of Ikerite Academy, accompanied by a breeze that carried a faint touch of heat.
Normally, Ikerite experienced only a few hot days in August.
Even so, the summer atmosphere within the city-state remained moist and radiant.
Talking as they walked, the two unconsciously arrived at the streets of the eastern district outside Ikerite Academy.
After walking only about a kilometer to the east, the wooden structure of Boss Cat's Restaurant came into view.
Although it was not yet noon, preparations for business had already begun. Wisps of smoke curled above the roof, diffusing the aroma of cooked food prepared for lunch.
Lanqi and Hyperion pushed open the entrance door. The wind chime hanging from it chimed softly with the movement, producing a melodious ring.
Today was still Antanas's day off while Pranay and Sinora were on shift. Looking toward the counter, one immediately spotted Sinora standing behind it, dignified and serene.
"Sinora, is Tata home?" Hyperion rested her hands on the counter and asked Sinora with a smile.
"Yes. She went to visit the Wilfort residence this morning and just got back," Sinora answered, offering a mirror image of Hyperion's smile.
Both of them tilted their heads in unison, first to the left, then to the right.
"Miss Francine, the maid from your home, came by the restaurant this morning to invite Tata over for your birthday, and she invited us along too," she added, turning toward Lanqi.
"My dad didn't notice anything unusual about you guys, did he?" Lanqi whispered.
In any case, he had asked Pranay and the others to look after the Wilfort family for the foreseeable future. Now that Pranay and the rest had visited as Tata's friends, it counted as meeting the family in advance.
"No. The master is a very kind man. He said, 'Thank you so much for standing by Lanqi's side. Please come over as guests whenever you have time. Seeing that Lanqi has made friends with such fine young people puts my mind at ease.'" Sinora repeated the exact words of Lanqi's father, Noe.
Moreover, Noe had taken a tremendous liking to the little black cat. The moment he laid eyes on Boss Cat, he couldn't bear to let go, showering him with praise.
"I'll be counting on you to look after the Wilfort residence for the time to come," Lanqi said, expressing his sincere gratitude to Sinora.
"It's a small matter. Rest assured," Sinora replied with a slight bow.
"..."
Hyperion glanced at Lanqi without a word.
She couldn't help but worry whether Lanqi's father would faint from fright if he ever learned the truth and discovered that his home had become a lair for great demons.
"Well then, I'll help Sinora downstairs for a bit. Go call Tata down so we can eat together in a while," Hyperion said, stepping behind the counter to stand shoulder to shoulder with Sinora, then looking toward Lanqi.
Over the next few days, Lanqi needed to collaborate with Talia to craft Caliera's Shadow Loom into a card. The required training alone would be substantial, marking a step up in intensity compared to their previous card-crafting sessions.
"Sounds good."
Lanqi headed toward the stairs, giving a relaxed, smiling reply.
Chapter 642