Chapter 575: Chapter 03: Blood Elf Magic Academy_3_2
After thinking for a moment, although hesitant, Angel finally nodded: "If I become a great mage without falling into temptation like my brother, without being lured by the devil, they’ll acknowledge me and realize they were wrong, right?"
"Yes, that’s exactly what it means."
"Wait a second, you’re the devil—you lure me every single day."
"Uh... would you believe me if I said I wasn’t? I’m not luring you, really. That’s the truth. But the thing is, you don’t seem to have another path you can take unless you’re planning to drop out and actually become a gardener. Would you like that?"
Angel stopped in his tracks, quietly gazing at the devil beside him for a long while. Then he said, "Alright, I believe you aren’t luring me."
After speaking, he resumed walking forward.
"Hahaha, exactly, that’s the spirit." The devil finally let out a sigh of relief.
In the blink of an eye, Angel arrived at the Magic Academy.
At night, the Magic Academy wasn’t exactly brightly lit, but it was much better compared to other places. At least the "street lamps" were all on.
Do you know, Cornelia’s new policy only allows "fireflies" for illumination.
Do you know what that means?
It means the cost of lighting has multiplied several times.
You see, fireflies aren’t cheap. A single firefly costs about as much as one original lamp, yet it takes ten fireflies to produce roughly the same amount of light as a lamp. Moreover, they must be fed and replaced.
Additionally, due to the Blood Elves’ harmony with nature ethos, imprisoning fireflies for illumination cannot exceed a month. Afterward, they must be returned to the breeding farm... and then purchased again.
Returning to school, Angel first went to Amos’s office to change his clothes, then headed toward the election venue.
Yes, he had to change clothes twice every day. Casual wear at home, but once at school, he’d put on his apprentice robe. As for anything related to school, he wouldn’t dare bring it home—not even books. Every day was handled with utmost caution.
Yet, he seemed unfazed by this lifestyle.
Walking down the corridor, from afar, he spotted a large classroom crowded with people.
Standing at the entrance was someone waiting for him.
Who? Mosharili.
Seeing Mosharili, Angel was momentarily stunned.
"You really came! I knew you’d come because you said earlier that you’re interested in the academic post!" Mosharili hurriedly ran over, standing in front of Angel.
Angel looked at her expressionlessly and asked, "So... why are you here?"
"I’m here to participate in the academic post elections, too."
"You’re interested in the academic post as well?"
"Not particularly, but I figured since you’re interested, there must be a good reason for it! I want to learn from you!" Mosharili said earnestly. "Besides, we’re friends. If we both get in, we can look out for one another."
As she spoke, Mosharili playfully tilted her head.
This little gesture was directly ignored by Angel, who said, "Wait here for a moment."
Angel brushed past her and walked to a desk set up at the classroom entrance. A note labeled "Registration" was taped to the desk, where two mage apprentices sat.
"I’ve already registered for the election. What should I do next?"
"Sign your name," one of the mage apprentices handed Angel a form, then pointed to the pen on the desk, all without lifting his head.
"Why sign?"
"It indicates you’ve arrived, which lets us assign you a number."
"Alright." Angel signed his name: "Are all the names here people participating in the election?"
"Yes."
"Sixty people in total?"
"Right."
"Sixty people competing for six positions?"
"Correct, any issue with that?" The mage apprentice finally lifted his head to glance at Angel and froze instantly: "You’re... You’re that special admission student?"
"Yes, any problem with that?"
"No, no problem. You’re called..." After glancing down, the apprentice recited Angel’s name hesitantly: "You’re Angel? Apologies, I didn’t remember your name, though your face left quite an impression. Are you participating in the election, too?"
Angel turned around and walked away without a word, as though he hadn’t heard anything, leaving the embarrassed apprentice behind, attracting the surrounding gaze toward Angel.
The people staring at Angel instantly increased.
Returning to Mosharili’s side, Angel spoke quietly, "My goodness, sixty people competing for six slots. I thought it’d be easy."
"No, it’s never been easy. After all, there’s a stipend involved, right?" Mosharili sighed helplessly.
"Then how do you know we’ll both be elected?"
"I just imagine, maybe neither of us will get selected, then we’d have to come again next time. My senior told me that as long as you persist, you’ll definitely be chosen eventually. She said persistence means participating several times so the voters become familiar with your face. Then they’ll vote for you."
"So..." Angel hesitantly asked, "it’s necessary to make ourselves recognizable?"
"Yes."
"So it’s certain we won’t get selected on the first try?"
"That’s what she said." Mosharili grinned sweetly, "Maybe we can agree to always come together in the future, and then..."
"No." Before she could finish speaking, Angel interrupted, "I don’t want to wait, nor do I want to participate in a second election. I’ll get elected this time."
After speaking, Angel turned and walked away, leaving Mosharili standing in disarray amidst the breeze, momentarily clueless about what to say.
"Have you figured out how to get elected?" the devil asked anxiously.
"Not yet, but I can try. Just getting familiar, I think I can manage."
"Details?"
Without answering, Angel walked straight to the registration desk and approached the apprentice who claimed to know his face.
"Hello, I’m Angel." Angel extended a hand toward him.
The apprentice, initially annoyed by Angel’s earlier brusqueness, was now flattered: "Hello... uh, is there anything I can help you with? I mean, why are you looking for me?"
"I just wanted to apologize. Sorry, I suddenly remembered something important earlier and walked away before introducing myself. I hope you don’t mind."
"No, of course not. Of course not." The apprentice smiled awkwardly.
"What were you saying to me earlier? I may have been distracted. I mean right before I walked away, what did you say?"
"Oh, I asked if you’re here for the election."
"Yes, I’m really interested in the Vein Council."
"Really? I’m in the Vein Council myself."
"Really? Do you have voting rights?"
"Yes, why?"
Angel paused briefly, then smiled slowly and said, "Could you introduce me to the other voters so I can meet them?"
"You want to meet others?"
"Yes, since if I’m elected, I might be working with them. I’d like to start early. It’d give me a chance to learn about the Vein Council’s work."
"Of course, I’ll introduce you to some people right now." The apprentice promptly stood up, telling his colleague, "Excuse me for a moment."
"Sure."
Following the apprentice meant to handle registration at the door, Angel walked into the classroom.
Outside the classroom, Mosharili stared in stunned disbelief: "He already seems to have blended in."
After thinking for a moment, she consoled herself, "It doesn’t matter; it doesn’t matter. Even if he gets elected and I don’t... I’ll keep participating each time. He has to vote for me eventually, right?"
...
"I’ve realized you’re getting craftier. Haha, not bad—you blended in quickly this way. By the way, you really seem to be getting the hang of ’benevolent lies,’ huh." The devil was praising Angel in his ear.
Angel didn’t reply, attentively greeting the many voters around him, making himself appear approachable. Meanwhile, he was working hard to memorize their names.