The magic-powered airship *Floating Castle* glided through the sky above Palieu, the City of Flowers.
Looking down from these dizzying heights through the multi-meter-tall glass windows onto the City of Flowers, Palieu, one could feel a peculiar sense of detachment and tranquility.
Lisanci and Lanqi had chatted at length about the Platinum-rank card maker exam.
"I really envy those card makers who are so amazing at such a young age. There's just such a youthful vitality about them."
She rested her chin on her hand and murmured as she gazed out the window.
The river wound like a silver ribbon embedded in the city. The historic architecture lining both banks of the Selena River was bathed in brilliant lights. Bridges spanned the water, their illuminated arches standing out in the night like gateways to different worlds.
In this fleeting yet drawn-out interval as they waited for the airship to reach its destination on the North Bank of Palieu, the faint vibrations through the magic conduits beneath the floorboards and the distant whir of turning mechanical gears were especially palpable.
"Indeed. That's what you call a youthful storm."
Lanqi nodded in agreement.
Youth was the color of bruises, brimming with challenge, fearless abandon, and hot blood.
That sort of youthfulness was something old fogies could never pull off.
Suddenly,
a small black cat leaped from Lanqi's lap and walked across the table.
"Meow."
Boss Cat gave Lanqi a thoroughly speechless side-eye.
It could tell that 'youthful storm' was probably supposed to be an inspiring phrase, referring to a group of young geniuses fearlessly striving for their dreams.
Yet coming out of this guy's mouth, its nature warped into something entirely different—more like a chaotic brawl among scrubs.
"Uh, did you actually buy a ticket for your pet cat?"
Lisanci's attention was instantly drawn to the lovely little black cat, and she sat up a bit straighter.
She felt like she was beginning to understand this young man a little.
Perhaps he even kept another pet somewhere.
"Meow, meow! I'm not a pet!"
Boss Cat cried out indignantly.
"Ah, the cat talked!"
Lisanci covered her mouth in astonishment.
Soon, however, she made sense of it.
The little black cat's true form was probably an archmage or a formidable magic beast, and quite powerful at that.
Perhaps Tier 4 or 5?
After all, Tier 4 or 5 mercenaries were rare in border regions and smaller nations.
"Meow, meow..."
Boss Cat sensed that while the young lady's thoughts were polite,
they were practically insulting.
Yet if it stated its own strength aloud, that would be even more humiliating.
"..."
Lanqi helplessly patted Boss Cat's head.
His doting gaze seemed to say: *You're not like the others. You're a Tier 8 national guardian beast. Don't worry about what other people think.*
"Lanqi, meow..."
Boss Cat looked at him, touched.
When no one else would recognize its strength, only Lanqi genuinely treated it like a Tier 8 big shot.
Then again, it didn't want to play Cat-ren anymore.
If the High Priest left behind yet another earth-shaking legend in the Kingdom of Posen, the entire eastern region of the Southern Continent might actually elect Loren as Speaker of the East.
"What does this little black cat's true form look like?"
Lisanci asked Lanqi, looking at Boss Cat.
"No, he's just a loaf of bread, and he doesn't transform,"
Lanqi said, shaking his head.
"You're the bread, meow! I'm a spirit cat!"
Boss Cat immediately flared up in annoyance.
"Oh? May I pet him?"
Lisanci was surprised at first, then quickly asked with nervous excitement.
"As long as he doesn't mind."
Lanqi casually withdrew his hand.
Boss Cat was very adept at distinguishing danger from safety, and most of the clerks it employed were allowed to touch it.
Lisanci tentatively reached out to touch the small black cat. Once she was certain he wouldn't resist, she gently began stroking his back.
"Lisanci, I heard you're great at making pastries, meow,"
Boss Cat asked.
"Not really."
Lisanci shook her head, chatting with the cat.
"Can't you make magical pastries? I can't make those at all, meow."
Boss Cat knew that its apprentice, Asna, could prepare a few magical dishes—after all, she was a top graduate of the School of Sages. But as her master, it felt too embarrassed to ask its own student to teach it. And during their last trip to the Demon Realm with Lanqi, it hadn't managed to learn a thing about the culinary techniques of the ancient demon chefs.
"Ah, my normal pastries turn out fine, but my magical pastries can taste awful. And the weirder the flavor gets, the stronger their stat boosts are. Last time, I made a super-sour strawberry daifuku that knocked my classmate right out..."
Lisanci said bashfully.
Having found a cat to pet, Lisanci began to find the half-hour wait before arrival much more enjoyable.
Time seemed to pass much faster.
Lanqi leisurely turned his gaze once more toward the floor-to-ceiling windows beside his seat.
The sides and roof of the *Floating Castle* were fitted with expansive panes of glass for passengers to enjoy the view outside. Even seated inside the passenger hall, one could look past the courtyard garden and take in the night scenery.
Gazing outside at this altitude revealed a colossal silver-white moon.
Legends told that during the full moon, the Goddess of Healing and the Silver Moon bestowed her blessings upon living creatures, soothing past misfortune and sorrow.
Yet tonight, the dark clouds and hazy mist drifting across the sky seemed to sever the full moon from time to time.
"Miss Lisanci, have you heard about the recent demon race attacks here in the Kingdom of Posen?"
Lanqi asked, as if something had just occurred to him.
Over a week ago, before setting out for Posen, this had been fairly confidential news when Professor Borao mentioned it.
Now, he had even overheard other passengers discussing the topic aboard the airship.
It seemed the incidents were indeed growing more frequent, gradually spiraling beyond the control of the Kingdom of Posen's Senate.
Lisanci, who had been playing with the cat, looked visibly flustered.
"I... I'm not really sure what's going on."
She placed her hands over her chest and averted her eyes as she answered.
"I see. Don't worry. The central city of Posen's capital is heavily regulated and generally very safe. From what I understand, incidents usually occur outside the City of Flowers or in the Posen Demon Realm,"
Lanqi offered reassuringly.
"Yes... In the Kingdom of Posen, demons who harm humans are put to death. In this day and age, there shouldn't be any demon who would knowingly break that law,"
Lisanci looked back toward Lanqi and added.
All registered demons held a basic civic covenant with the Kingdom of Posen's Senate, which could suppress them should they violate regulations.
She knew Lanqi was referring to the rumors that the Great Wizard Palroni's curse had resurfaced.
Such rumors had indeed been spreading recently. Although Palieu City Hall had issued multiple denials, the Posen authorities seemed unable to quell talk that had sparked so much panic among the populace.
It was not just humans who were afraid—the demon race was terrified as well.
Everyone knew that in ancient Posen legends, once a demon fell victim to the Great Wizard Palroni's forbidden curse, they were beyond saving.
Not only was there no known cure,
the terrifying executioners serving the Senate's prominent dignitaries would arrive immediately to put down the rampaging demon.
Just thinking about it made the curse mark on Lisanci's chest glow an even more vivid red, making it harder and harder for her to breathe.
Chapter 660