https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-170-Lanchi-Almost-Lost-His-Father/12584154/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-172-Lanchi-s-Farewell-with-Friends/12584159/
Chapter 171: That Radiant Devil Will Never Appear in the Mortal Realm
Chapter 171: That Radiant Devil Will Never Appear in the Mortal Realm
The next day.
As the morning sun bathed everything in a clear light, a magi-rail train rumbled into the central station of Ecclesiarch.
The station, with its roof constructed from ochre-hued bricks, served as the transportation hub of the Hutton Kingdom, blending classical and modern styles. Its soaring arched ceiling, marble columns, murals, and stained glass windows left a profound impression on first-time visitors.
Only after the mechanical behemoth came to a halt on the platform, and a broadcast announcement concluded, did the doors of each carriage open, some ten seconds later.
Unlike the typical travelers, those who disembarked from the luxurious first-class carriage were a group of young men and women who exuded an air of composure and depth beyond their years.
They navigated through the station's concourse, skillfully avoiding the bustling crowds and tourists hesitating before the specialty shops of the Hutton Kingdom.
Their presence in the station's concourse drew attention, and many onlookers found their gazes drawn to this remarkable group.
With the exception of the professor leading them, the young men and women were dressed in tailored suits. Their neckties bore the emblem of the Royal Aloran Academy—a fiery red flame set against a black checkerboard background. The double-breasted jackets, with peaked lapels, omitted the epaulets and military sleeve ornaments typically found on military uniforms, while the cuffs, hems, and pocket edges were trimmed with colorful piping that denoted their grade and house.
In this group of students, the travelers of Ecclesiarch witnessed the youthful vigor and confidence unique to young geniuses, as well as the maturity and composure that spoke of their strength.
The academic delegation from the Kingdom of Alora numbered around twenty individuals, including several exceptionally powerful third-year students who possessed formidable combat capabilities even by the standards of the mortal realm.
Unlike the well-rounded Ecclesiarch Academy, the Royal Aloran Academy specialized in training for combat roles in both the mortal realm and the shadow world.
Consequently, their scholars and magi-engineers were not as well-rounded as those of Ecclesiarch Academy.
In previous years, the visiting delegations from the Royal Aloran Academy would bring along promising students specializing in logistics to learn at the College of Alchemy and the College of Magi-Engineering.
However, this year was different. They had primarily brought along students who excelled in combat roles, seemingly intent on challenging their counterparts at Ecclesiarch.
This shift had two underlying reasons. Firstly, there was the bitter rivalry between Grand Master Julianna, the head of the Aloran Kingdom's Royal Knights, and Loran, the dean of Ecclesiarch Academy's Sage Council.
Secondly, and quite unusually for the Royal Aloran Academy, which typically lagged in magi-engineering, they had managed to recruit a rare genius in that field. This student had recently obtained a license as a South Continent Gold-level Registered Card Engineer, an achievement all the more remarkable given that they had just advanced to their second year.
Even within Ecclesiarch Academy, there were no second-year students in the College of Magi-Engineering who had attained the rank of Gold-level Card Engineer, and Gold-level Card Engineers among the third-year students were exceedingly rare.
This visit, therefore, carried a hint of braggadocio.
Overall, the relationship between the two academies had been quite amicable for many years, and it was only with the recent change in leadership that a sense of competition had begun to emerge.
"Since Duke Migaya, no other card engineer in the Hutton Kingdom has dazzled us with their genius."
"Who knows if Duke Migaya disappeared or defected? There were even rumors that the elusive Night Bishop of the Resurrection Church was none other than Duke Migaya. Although it was always treated as a joke, it's starting to sound more and more plausible."
"Don't spread such talk in a foreign country."
"It's fine. I've heard that Ecclesiarch Academy has a reputation for being unconventional, and they're even more ruthless when it comes to gossip about their own."
The students in the group chatted casually as they walked.
As they ascended from the platform level to the concourse of the Ecclesiarch Central Station, they were greeted by the crisp air and warm sunshine of Ecclesiarch.
"So this is Ecclesiarch?"
The tall young man at the forefront of the group had his hair cut in a neat, crisp style, and the morning sun made his hair shine brilliantly. His eyes were clear and bright, like stars.
"As Grand Master Julianna's sword, I intend to seek instruction from the most outstanding student under Dean Loran."
The cheerful young man exuded confidence, and his purpose for this visit was clear.
He was indeed powerful; back then, he had only narrowly lost to the Putrid Son.
The arch-nemesis of Grand Master Julianna of the Aloran Kingdom's Royal Knights was none other than Putrid Bishop Farmer.
And the mortal enemy of High Priest Loran of the Church of the Fate Goddess was none other than Destruction Bishop Ivanos.
To date, numerous clergy members of the Church of the Fate Goddess had perished at the hands of the Destruction Saintess, yet Loran had never nurtured a young disciple capable of countering her.
Loran, overly indecisive, too soft-hearted, and lacking in sternness, was a failure as an educator.
Not everyone possessed Loran's monstrous talent, and with Loran's laid-back and gentle teaching style, even the most promising students could end up underperforming.
They could only remain in the school and hope for the best.
In terms of education alone, Julianna had already surpassed Loran by a wide margin.
The young man thought to himself.
"But rest assured, Sister Karen, I know my limits, and I won't cause any trouble for Dean Loran."
The young man turned back and spoke to a girl with light-colored hair and green eyes, who exuded a pleasant aura, walking behind him.
"If possible, I hope you won't engage in any fights, Adam. I know you're considering Grand Master Julianna's wishes, but I... I just don't want to see you get hurt."
"This young lady, known as Karen, is also a genius Magi-Engineer who achieved the rank of Gold-level Card Engineer in her second year at the Royal Aloran Academy," one of the students remarked, his eyes sparkling with admiration and a touch of innocence in his soft voice.
The students around them immediately erupted in a chorus of enamored exclamations, regardless of gender, their hearts melting at the mention of her accomplishments.
"My apologies, Junior Karen," one of the boys said, his voice filled with admiration.
"Junior Karen is truly too kind," another chimed in.
"An angel has descended into our midst," a girl added, her voice filled with awe.
As the others continued to voice their admiration, Karen maintained her gentle smile, but inside, she was cursing:
"Idiots, do you know that I'm here to observe the [Primal Stone Tablet - Wind]? And you still want to pick a fight?"
Magi-Engineers were a rare commodity at the Royal Aloran Academy, so naturally, those with exceptional talent like Karen were highly sought after and revered.
Although only a second-year student, her status within the academy was evidentially higher than most.
She relished this idolization and was confident that her innate talent would ensure that she would be the center of attention wherever she went, even at a prestigious institution like the Ecclesiarch Academy.
In her mind, she was the epitome of purity, and everyone would inevitably adore her.
As the students at the front of the group continued to sing her praises, a smaller clique at the back continued their own discussion.
"I heard that the fighters from the Knight College of the Ecclesiarch Academy are quite formidable. When the time comes, we should challenge them to a battle, wagering our Martial Souls," one of the boys suggested enthusiastically.
"But I heard that last month, the strongest fighter and Gold-level Challenger at the Knight College, Tzervyny, suddenly transferred to the School of Alchemy's law program," another student interjected. "Apparently, she's given up on her Martial Soul and would rather take on a heavier course load to make up for the credits. She's torturing herself by studying tirelessly to become a lawyer."
"No way? Do we finally have a fighter who can actually hit the books?" one of the girls asked, clearly skeptical.
"If she doesn't dare accept the challenge, we'll just have to teach her underlings a lesson," the first boy said, his voice hardening with determination. "Then she'll have no choice but to pick up her Martial Soul again!"
The fervor for battle among these young fighters from the Royal Aloran Academy was palpable, surpassing even that of the strongest third-year student at the front of their group, Adams.
Everyone had their own agenda and motivations for this visit.
Soon, the professor leading the group located the Ecclesiarch Academy's staff members and student council representatives who had been tasked with receiving them, and they began their discussions in the station's concourse.
"..."
A young brother and sister duo within the group had been silent since disembarking the train, a notable contrast to the lively atmosphere around them.
"What's wrong? Didn't you get enough rest?" the brother, a Holy Knight, asked with concern as he noticed his sister, a priestess, looking somewhat unwell.
"I'm sorry, but I've been having nightmares ever since that Shadow World incident," she replied, closing her eyes and shaking her head gently.
Two months prior, right after they had advanced to the second year, they had taken on a fourth-tier Shadow World with a demon realm theme as their first challenge of the new school year.
For them, a pair of fourth-tier Silver-level Challengers, the Shadow World had been dangerous but not insurmountable.
However, the experience had left a deep impression, particularly on the young priestess, who now carried a psychological burden from the ordeal.
In that Shadow World, they had faced a dire situation where their lives hung in the balance, and they had encountered an ancient archdemon—a being far beyond what they should have encountered at the fourth tier.
Just when they had resigned themselves to their fate...
That terrifying Radiant Devil had forcibly taken them away.
For two grueling hours, they had been in the presence of the Radiant Devil, every second filled with extreme fear and mental torment as they waited in the principal's office.
Strangely, the Radiant Devil had ultimately let them go.
They couldn't fathom the true rank of the principal of the Corridor of Purgatory Academy, as they hadn't sensed even a hint of his magical power.
This complete suppression of his aura only served to highlight the vast gap between their strengths.
Even when facing Grand Master Julianna, they had never felt such overwhelming fear. They suspected that the Radiant Devil was at least on par with a Cardinal of the Resurrection Church—an embodiment of extreme evil.
Just the thought of being in the same room with a Cardinal of the Resurrection Church for two hours was enough to drive most young people insane.
Due to the South Continent Shadow World Management Association's policy of protecting the privacy of challengers, they couldn't inquire about the identities of the other challengers who had been matched with them during that particular challenge.
"I hope that this trip to Ecclesiarch will help ease my mind," the priestess whispered, her voice tinged with hope.
While her brave Holy Knight brother seemed to be handling the aftermath better, she had been left traumatized and was afraid to enter Shadow Worlds again.
The priestess vividly recalled that there had been six people in that Shadow World, titled "[Corridor of Purgatory Academy]."
But for some strange reason, it felt like only the two of them had been there, and they hadn't encountered any of the other challengers.
Then came the chaos, and somehow, they had emerged victorious.
They had never experienced such an absurd Shadow World before! They should have counted themselves lucky to have survived, but the terrifying impression left by the Radiant Devil principal of the demon academy was indelible.
However, looking on the bright side, they knew that they were unlikely to encounter such a devil in reality.
The Radiant Devil they had faced was merely a projection of an ancient archdemon from the Shadow World, long extinct in the historical records.
Over time, the mental scars left by that encounter would fade, and she would heal.
(End of Chapter)
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