Twenty minutes later.
Fifth floor of the Magi-Engineering Institute’s main building.
Floor-to-ceiling glass windows flooded the hallway with natural light. Every so often, a staff member from the Institute passed by, their footsteps softened by the carpet laid over the polished wooden floors.
Wearing a black classical-style suit paired with a white shirt and gold tie—diamond-cross holy emblems glinting on his buttons and collar—the Dean of the Sage’s Institute, Loren, led Lan Qi up the stairs to this level.
They walked along the glass-walled corridor, chatting now and then, their tone warm and clear, more like a teacher and student who were also friends.
As they passed offices and classrooms, they made their way toward the Dean’s office.
“Dean Loren, can I borrow a look at your Primordial Slate—Wind?”
Lan Qi asked with a bright smile.
The first slate holder he had ever met turned out to be, perhaps, the most gentle-natured among the world’s strong. Being beside Loren felt strangely natural—no sense of distance at all.
“Ai… you’re hopeless. I’ve got to hurry to the Church later. The Northern Continent’s been unsettled lately, which means the Church of the Goddess of Fate has been buried in affairs. Give me a few days, and when I’m free, I’ll have someone notify you to come to my office.”Loren sighed helplessly, as though he had predicted Lan Qi would ask this.
Normally, even gold-ranked Card Artificers weren’t qualified to make such requests. But though Lan Qi’s platinum certification wasn’t officially recognized yet, Loren acknowledged his skill and had no intention of turning his own student down.
Observing a slate wasn’t something that could be done in a rush. At minimum, he’d need to set aside one or two hours just for Lan Qi.
“Thank you, Dean!”
Lan Qi grinned happily.
Soon, they arrived at the Dean’s office door.
Truthfully, Loren didn’t have to come in person today.
He could have just asked a faculty member to escort Lan Qi to Professor Bolaor.
But he didn’t trust Lan Qi not to offend Bolaor further, so he came along himself.
Ever since the second-round entrance exam fiasco, when Loren begged Bolaor to urgently repair the Shadow World’s startup terminal, Loren hadn’t dared show his face again. The expenses hadn’t even been reimbursed.
Now, thanks to Lan Qi—the very culprit—his platinum certification business made it unavoidable to face Bolaor once more. Loren was resigned to another scolding.
Back when Loren was a student at the Sage’s Institute, Bolaor was already Dean of the Magi-Engineering Institute.
Even as top freshman back then, Loren never imagined he’d ever cross faculties and offend the Magi-Engineering Dean.
The more he thought of how he’d been such a rule-abiding student, the more ridiculous Lan Qi seemed.
Shaking off his thoughts, Loren knocked on the door.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
Glancing at Lan Qi, Loren muttered:
“Don’t you dare step inside unless I call you.”
After the warning, he steeled himself and pushed the door open.
Immediately after, standing at the door, Lan Qi heard scolding and apologizing from inside—
“This repair job costs at least 8,000 pounds! Who’s paying? You or us? If it’s from the Institute’s budget, I’ll make sure that brat sheds a layer of skin!”
“Please rest assured, I’m already applying for special funds from His Majesty the King. If it fails, I’ll pay personally. The Institute won’t lose a single coin of research funding.”
“…”
Lan Qi figured Loren probably got chewed out even worse during the entrance exam.
“Bring that kid to me.”
The words carried through the door—then suddenly, it swung open. A gentle breeze lifted Lan Qi like a cloud and floated him inside.
The avant-garde office space gleamed with flowing designs and sharp geometry. Vast transparent windows let sunlight drench the room, merging with the bustling campus scenery outside into a living panorama.
At its center stood a sleek, surgery-table-sized white desk, spotless and orderly, its silver legs shining under the lights.
Professor Bolaor sat at the desk, brows furrowed, eyes locked on Lan Qi.
Off to the side, Loren slouched like a scolded child, his fingers flicking lightly—it was his wind magic that had floated Lan Qi inside.
Feet landing softly on the carpet, Lan Qi steadied himself and shot Loren a grateful smile.
This wind magic is too convenient. If only he could keep floating me around like this…
Then, he turned to face Professor Bolaor, whose anger had yet to fade.
From overhearing their earlier conversation, Lan Qi had already guessed why the old man was furious.
The room’s air grew stifling, almost sliceable, heavy with the suppressed heat of Bolaor’s restrained fury.
Loren prayed desperately that Lan Qi wouldn’t make things worse.
But to his astonishment, instead of shrinking back, Lan Qi walked boldly to the desk, bowed slightly, and spoke earnestly:
“Professor Bolaor, about the research funding issue—I actually have a solution.”
“What?”
Bolaor squinted, arms crossed.
Eight thousand pounds was no trivial sum. Even Loren would struggle. What kind of solution could a mere student offer with such confidence?
Lan Qi smiled calmly.
“Here’s the plan: have Dean Loren continue applying to the King for research funding, but change the wording. Don’t write ‘repairing the Shadow World terminal.’ Write it as ‘further research on existing malfunctions.’
Then, you issue my father, Noe Wilfort, a fine—reason being compensation for damaging the terminal—and attach my confession letter. If the King doesn’t approve, you take the 8,000 pounds from my father.
If the King does approve, you take the King’s 8,000 first, then split my father’s 8,000—seventy for you, thirty for me. The two sources don’t conflict, and it’s not double-dipping the King’s funds.”
He clapped his hands together as if the problem had vanished into thin air.
“Hiss—”
Bolaor sucked in a sharp breath, scrutinizing Lan Qi anew.
With the funding problem solved—and perhaps even profit to be made—he looked at this soon-to-be platinum artificer with newfound fondness.
This is exactly the kind of talent our Institute needs! The kind who can make the electric meter spin backwards!
“You’ve got guts, boy. From now on, I’ll have you help test safety issues on our new magi-tech prototypes. You’re perfect for it. I like your way of thinking.”
He stood, patted Lan Qi’s shoulder, and spoke with newfound respect.
If this boy could talk like that, his father—Mr. Noe Wilfort—must have serious wealth too.
“Professor Bolaor, I admire you greatly! I’ve been your fan for ages. Back in the South Vantina territory, I read all your published works. I’ll definitely sign up for more of your classes. And as for safety testing—that’s my duty and honor.”
Lan Qi scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin.
Father can think of it as tuition money. An investment into the great future of magi-engineering. And once he sees my stellar performance, he’ll be thrilled too!
“Except for Card Artificer Association duties, most afternoons you can find me in the old humanities building, second floor—right below the student council offices. I’ll be in the lab developing new magi-tech tools. Come by to lend a hand, or ask me directly if you’ve got questions.”
For the first time in years, Bolaor felt hopeful about a youngster.
Talent aside, this boy was street smart. That was the most important thing.
Meanwhile, forgotten off to the side—
“…”
Loren watched dumbstruck as Lan Qi smoothly discussed money-making schemes with the most hot-tempered professor of the Institute.
Then why the hell did I just get scolded?
And why did I get chewed out during the entrance exam—for him?!
At this moment, Loren felt life wasn’t worth it.
He finally realized—whether at exams, in the Shadow World, or in the student council—whenever conflicts arose, Lan Qi somehow found a way to make everyone feel like they’d swallowed a fly. Disgusted, yet forced to admit the problem was solved, and everyone’s demands were—more or less—met.
The fact that this brat was still alive could only mean one thing: sheer, stubborn luck.
Shadow World arc begins tomorrow!