https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-177-Huberian-Resembles-a-Human-Too-Much-in-Lanchi-s-Eyes/12584180/
Chapter 178: Cardinal Lanchi's Adventures, Happy as the Plum Blossoms Bloom Twice
Chapter 178: Cardinal Lanchi's Adventures, Happy as the Plum Blossoms Bloom Twice
The hospital room was decorated with large windows that let in ample natural light and deep brown wooden furnishings, creating a warm and reassuring ambiance.
Cardinal Lanchi approached the bedside and sat in the chair next to it, a gentle smile on his face as he looked at his father.
Noe, meeting Lanchi's smiling gaze, didn't know what to say.
"I've also been resting these past two days and haven't left the hospital room much. But I heard you've been doing well in your studies, and that puts my mind at ease, but..."
Noe shuddered as he recalled the horrified expressions of the three clergy members. He couldn't even begin to imagine what Lanchi had done to warrant such a reaction.
He had been browsing the newspaper near the outdoor giant screen when his vision started flickering, and he had only skimmed the headlines before passing out.
"Never mind. I'm just glad you're safe and sound," Noe sighed.
Just looking at the photos taken inside the shadow world was enough to know how dangerous it had been.
"I know you're concerned about my studies, Father, but rest assured, even if I may not always succeed, I will always do my best in my academic pursuits!" Lanchi assured his father earnestly.
"Lanchi, all I ask now is that you stay on the right path and develop steadily. I don't expect you to be as dazzling as Duke Migaya," Noe said, feeling relieved after hearing Lanchi's words.
However, a vague sense of unease crept into his heart, and he couldn't quite explain why.
In the past, he had been worried that Lanchi wouldn't work hard enough.
Now, he seemed a little afraid that Lanchi might be working too hard. He patted Lanchi's shoulder and advised, "I don't want you to lose yourself in pursuit of overly ambitious goals that may be beyond your reach."
Although he had initially wanted Lanchi to attend the Ikelite Academy with the hope that he would learn from the exemplary graduate, Duke Migaya, that desire was more of a parental aspiration.
"Lanchi actually possesses talent that is no less than that of Duke Migaya," Huberian said humbly.
In the past, she would never have admitted that anyone could surpass her father in talent, but after spending so much time with Lanchi, she felt that he defied comparison.
"Huberian, don't praise my son too much," Noe shook his head. With a disdainful glance at Lanchi, he added, "Aside from his good looks, how can he compare to Duke Migaya?"
How dare this boy compare himself to the legendary genius of the Herton Kingdom, Duke Migaya? Although Noe could tell that Huberian genuinely thought highly of Lanchi, he himself was an ardent admirer and fan of the duke.
He would get especially angry whenever he came across news that spoke ill of the duke.
"He really is amazing," Huberian insisted, her conviction unwavering.
While she always enjoyed hearing praise for Duke Migaya, she also valued truth and accuracy.
"Take their academic performance, for example. Duke Migaya entered the Knight's College of Ikelite Academy as the top student. Which place did he get in the Sage's College?" She pointed at Lanchi and asked Noe.
She felt that this young man might have an exaggerated sense of his abilities.
"First place," Huberian replied.
"What?!" Noe exclaimed, staring at Lanchi in shock.
"Really? First place?"
Lanchi merely nodded calmly.
Noe's heart raced. Initially, his expectations of Lanchi had been so low that he would have been content if his son had just barely passed the entrance exam for the Alchemy College.
Now, he felt like he was dreaming.
Although Noe had suspected that Lanchi was doing well in his studies, as evidenced by his ability to enter shadow worlds after only two months of school, he couldn't quite believe that Lanchi was actually ranked first.
It was common knowledge that the top students from any of the four colleges of Ikelite Academy were guaranteed a brilliant future.
Noe took a moment to compose himself before continuing, "However, Duke Migaya applied to the Knight's College, and it was his talent in magical engineering that truly astounded everyone. Not only was he proficient in magic and various scholarly pursuits, but he also excelled in alchemy and card crafting. One could say that he would have been the top student regardless of which of the four colleges he chose. Surely, since you've been in the capital for a while now, you must have heard the story of how Duke Migaya crafted three pink sacred cards during his card crafter registration exam, a feat unprecedented in history?"
Noe felt proud of Lanchi's achievements, but it was precisely at times like these that he needed to remind his son not to become arrogant or complacent.
Lanchi merely smiled and nodded, choosing to remain silent.
"...?" Huberian looked at Noe, confused by his reaction.
However, she soon understood.
Lanchi's card crafter registration exam had taken place just a few days before they entered the shadow world.
Only those present in the resting area—herself, Prince Ainol, the high-ranking members of the Card Crafter's Association's Ikelite branch, the upper echelons of the Magical Engineering College, and Dean Loren—knew that Lanchi had been appraised as a Platinum-level card crafter. This information had not yet been made public.
The news circulating in the capital was that Lanchi had crafted an epic-level card, but there were so many exaggerated stories about Principal Lan floating around that people were starting to doubt their authenticity.
According to the president, Noe had fainted shortly after arriving at Ikelite Academy, so it was understandable that he wouldn't know about Lanchi's card crafter registration exam results.
"Although Lanchi might not be good at everything, he's the type who dedicates himself wholeheartedly to whatever he pursues, refining his skills to perfection... And his Card Crafter registration evaluation was even higher than that of Duke Migaya."
Huberian paused, concerned that Lanchi was planning to give Noe a huge surprise. Additionally, with Noe praising Duke Migaya so highly, she felt a bit embarrassed.
To prevent Lanchi from causing further trouble, Huberian decided to take matters into her own hands and reveal the truth.
Noe was initially stunned, his brain freezing from information overload.
The last time he had met with Lanchi in the study of the South Ventina territory, Hans, the butler, had assured him of Lanchi's talent in card crafting, and Lanchi had also requested a sum of money from him, claiming it was for "materials and tuition fees for card crafting."
At first, Noe thought Lanchi was merely indulging in a hobby and that he might create some fluffy clouds and blue skies, nothing too impressive.
But how could this kid have progressed to the point of taking the Card Crafter registration exam in just half a year?
Wait a moment.
"Higher?"
Noe had pinched his fingers, calculating.
Duke Migaya should have been rated at the Gold level, right?
Higher than that?
Could it be Platinum?
Noe looked at Lanchi with a hint of disbelief, as if he were staring at a monster.
Previously, Butler Hans had told him that Young Master Lanchi would definitely be able to make decent magic cards.
Initially, Noe thought Hans was just trying to protect Lanchi, but now it seemed that Hans was serious?
"Huberian, you're not pulling my leg, are you?"
Noe's lips quivered as he struggled to form the words.
He found it hard to believe that Huberian was joking with him.
"The official rating hasn't been approved yet, but unofficially, he's been deemed a Quasi-Platinum level card crafter."
Huberian replied accurately.
Noe's eyes glazed over as he looked at Lanchi, unable to speak for a long moment.
He trusted that Huberian, an honest and good child, wouldn't play such a prank on him.
This felt even more surreal than a dream.
A Platinum-level card crafter, a true big shot.
Noe had never imagined that Lanchi could achieve such a feat.
"Well, I was just thinking that your stance might be a bit odd..."
Lanchi mumbled from the side, feeling like he had become the one providing the comedic relief.
Both of them had their elbows pointing outward.
If Duke Migaya heard his daughter belittling him like this, he would surely be heartbroken.
However, Lanchi felt that Noe hadn't yet realized that Huberian was Duke Migaya's daughter.
Noe remained stunned for quite a while.
Finally, he couldn't contain the joyful smile that spread across his face.
"Hmph, even so, I'm still certain that there's one aspect in which this kid falls short of Duke Migaya."
He couldn't quite process the joy in his heart, and as the conversation reached its climax, he seemed to want to joke around while also maintaining his stubborn stance.
"What?"
Huberian didn't know how to get Noe to sincerely acknowledge Lanchi's excellence.
"Duke Migaya could marry a Demon tribe woman. Can Lanchi do that?"
Noe laughed with a hint of schadenfreude as he asked the question.
"Of course, he ca..."
Huberian instinctively started to agree, but her face soon twisted in shock.
"I'm sorry, please excuse me for a moment."
She quickly averted her gaze, her lips pressed together, as she stood up and walked out of the hospital room, her head lowered.
"Well, I guess you can't argue with that."
Noe laughed, feeling like he had scored a point.
"Father, she's..."
Lanchi sighed.
He was about to explain, but he was afraid that his father would faint again.
If he fainted twice, it might truly be dangerous, and he hesitated, unsure if he should continue.
"Who is she? Could she be Duke Migaya's daughter?"
Noe's joy knew no bounds, and he found it amusing that Lanchi was at a loss for words.
"Where would you find a Demon tribe woman as gentle and kind as her? I'm very good at reading people, and I'd rather believe that you're a Demon tribe member than believe she has even a drop of Demon tribe blood in her."
"..."
Lanchi fell silent at Noe's words.
Forget it.
He would mind his own business and respect his father's fate.
Seeing Lanchi's calm and collected demeanor, Noe couldn't help but marvel at how much his son had matured.
"If you're so capable, why don't you go and marry a Demon tribe woman? If she's a pure-blooded Demon tribe member like the Duchess of Migaya, I'll acknowledge you as the strongest."
Noe continued to laugh, patting Lanchi's shoulder in jest. He was in high spirits.
Demons weren't to be trifled with, and with Lanchi's personality, he'd likely be killed before he even started courting one.
As for a pure-blooded Demon, such a calamitous existence would probably squash Lanchi like an ant.
"..."
Lanchi shook his head helplessly.
This was the one thing he couldn't do.
Marrying a pure-blooded Demon tribe woman was out of the question. Firstly, their way of thinking was vastly different from humans. After marriage, if they argued, the wife might either murder her husband or suddenly disappear; a peaceful end was unlikely.
The only way he would marry a pure-blooded Demon would be if he was forced to at knifepoint.
But obviously, such a situation would never arise.
(End of Chapter)
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