https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-485-Cardinal-Lanchi-s-Leisurely-Morning/12584678/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-487-Lanchi-s-Date-with-Sigrid-Part-2-/12584680/
Chapter 486: Lanchi's Date with Sigrid (Part I)
Chapter 486: Lanchi's Date with Sigrid (Part I)
Lanchi strode out of the principal's office with purposeful steps.
Outside, the corridor was bathed in soft, clear light, and the deep red lacquered wood floors created a beautiful pattern of light and shadow.
Pranai stood there quietly, and a smile appeared on his face when he saw Lanchi.
"Pranai, you're off early today. Get some rest, and we'll be on our way tomorrow."
As Lanchi walked past Pranai, he gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
"Yes, sir. I wish you a pleasant date."
Pranai stood still and bowed slightly to Lanchi.
"How do you always know everything?" Lanchi turned back, puzzled.
"Because you look happy," Pranai replied, his voice filled with relief.
"Alright, go and get some rest. Goodbye, Pranai."
Lanchi returned the smile, his tone lighter than usual, and then bid Pranai farewell with a wave.
He made his way down the corridor toward the stairs.
The stone steps were ancient and sturdy, each one carved with Redmond Building's unique deep gray bas-relief. Lanchi's footsteps echoed in the stairwell, perhaps a tad faster than his usual pace.
Exiting the Redmond Administration Building, Lanchi was greeted by the spring sunshine and fresh air.
He followed a path northward toward the lake.
The trees were lush and vibrant, filled with the chirping of birds. Sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting a luminous glow on Lanchi, adding a touch of lightness and joy to his stride.
He walked on.
Soon,
His eyes beheld the azure lake beside the northernmost church of the Proteros Royal Magic Academy.
The spring sunlight bathed the lakeshore, imbuing everything with a delicate golden halo.
Lanchi's footsteps left faint traces on the soft grass.
The lake shimmered, and the gentle breeze carried the moist fragrance of blooming flowers.
In that sun-drenched, panoramic view, he spotted a slender silhouette.
She stood by the lake, clad in a lightweight white dress, its hem fluttering gently in the breeze like ripples on the water's surface.
Her light-colored, smooth, long hair was lifted by the wind, and as she raised her hand to hold it back, the sunlight filtered through her tresses, casting a gentle halo that added a touch of ethereal purity to her silhouette.
Sigrid stood there quietly, seemingly admiring the lake and the distant scenery.
"... "
As Sigrid sensed a slight movement, she slowly turned around and met Lanchi's gaze from afar.
A warm smile bloomed on her face, and her eyes sparkled with a welcoming light.
"You've been waiting long. I'm sorry for the delay; changing my appearance took some time."
Lanchi approached and spoke.
"It's alright. You look wonderful, and it was worth the wait. I knew you'd change back to this black-haired, green-eyed appearance."
Sigrid's voice was soft and melodious, like a gentle spring breeze caressing the lake's surface.
"... "
Lanchi responded with a smile.
"There you go, smiling again. I've told you several times already—don't change your appearance like this. Do you want to attract even more attention from the girls along the way?"
She suddenly pointed at Lanchi, her expression turning stern as she scolded him.
"But—"
Before Lanchi could explain.
"So, today, I forbid you from making eye contact with any other girls. If they look at you, you're not allowed to look back at them. Understand?"
There was a hint of teasing in Sigrid's words, but also a touch of warning, as if she was genuinely displeased about something.
"So, you want me to focus solely on you today."
Lanchi shook his head helplessly and spread his hands.
Upon hearing this, Sigrid stared at him, incredulous, and then turned around and started walking briskly toward the southern side of the campus.
"What's wrong?"
Lanchi naturally fell into step beside her and asked.
"Some things don't need to be said out loud. As long as you understand what I mean, that's enough. Otherwise, things could get awkward for everyone."
She shot Lanchi a fierce glare and quickened her pace slightly.
Lanchi smiled and caught up with her. They walked and chatted, discussing mundane topics like school life and recent changes, as well as lighter subjects like the blooming spring flowers and the lakeside scenery they had just witnessed.
It was as if they had returned to the time when they first met and traveled together across the snowfields, always chatting nonstop and leaving the Cat Boss speechless.
However, the Cat Boss was not around today. He had been taken away by Antanas earlier in the morning.
As they walked along the school path, their voices echoed in the spacious northern residential area.
On both sides of the road were residential courtyards with newly sprouted leaves shimmering in the sunlight and vibrant flower beds. The long-missed scent of spring permeated every corner.
Suddenly.
At the end of the road, the rhythmic sound of wheels rolling over the pavement and faint meows could be heard.
"Meowww! "
The abrupt laughter and childish exclamations stood out amid the fragrant spring flowers, startling a flock of birds into flight.
As they turned the corner, they spotted a sightseeing sleigh pulled by a large black fox with three people on board. The sled drifted around the bend, and despite the fallen leaves, the smiles on their faces were unmistakable.
"The real speed is in the corners!"
The black fox in front was racing forward, its ears ablaze with golden flames, leaving golden shadows of varying sizes on the asphalt with its powerful strides.
Antanas held the reins, her face lit up with the brightest smile.
Even at this breakneck speed, Shinora maintained the graceful composure of a true lady.
Seated between these two powerful demons was Zestila, their expressionless junior sister, who nonetheless looked delighted to be sandwiched between her two elder sisters.
As the first student Lanchi recruited upon his arrival in the northern continent's southern town, Zestila had recently stopped receiving extra magic engineering lessons from her teacher. Instead, she was visited by three senior professors who took turns instructing her in magic.
During this time, Zestila had grown close to these professors and admired them greatly, sensing a unique demonic aura about them.
Upon spotting the two figures on the road, Antanas immediately slowed down and brought the fox sleigh to a halt beside them.
"Hey, big boss! Who's this student sister you're dating?" she asked in mock surprise, cradling her black kitten.
Or perhaps it was the large fox itself that had caught sight of Lanchi and Sigrid, for it eagerly ran up to them, nuzzling them affectionately.
"Hey, Antanas..." Shinora quickly grabbed Antanas' sleeve, knowing full well that she was being mischievous.
"Professor?" Zestila exclaimed, finally recognizing the black-haired, green-eyed young man as her teacher, Mr. Roche.
"Hmm?" Sigrid's lips curled up slightly.
She deliberately scrutinized Lanchi, standing beside her, awaiting his response.
"So, what's the deal? Care to spill?" Antanas inquired with a mischievous grin, holding an imaginary microphone.
"You're wrong," Lanchi stated matter-of-factly.
"I'm not your boss; I'm Lanchi Wilford, a first-year student at Proteros Royal Magic Academy."
"......"
Sigrid's smile widened at his response; he hadn't denied the date.
Hearing Lanchi's reply, Antanas raised her hands high, holding the Cat Boss above her head, and let out a cheer.
"You two, have a great date!"
With Antanas' blessing, the fox sleigh sped off even faster.
Lanchi and Sigrid exchanged helpless glances, watching the sleigh disappear at the end of the road, before turning and continuing their walk out of the school grounds.
"Speaking of which, the campus looks different again," Sigrid remarked, taking in the changes to the Proteros Royal Magic Academy since her last visit half a month ago.
Although Principal Roche McCarthy was about to retire, the artistic works he left behind would forever become legendary tales of the Proteros Empire.
If only this guy's attitude and skill in painting matched his dedication to architectural design; then perhaps her museum would have acquired a decent piece by now.
Sigrid thought to herself.
"This will probably be my last job at this school," Lanchi mused, reflecting on the many events that had transpired since his arrival in the northern continent.
It's hard to appreciate in the moment, but when you look back, every moment seems so wonderful.
As they chatted, the pair strolled out of the school gates and onto the streets of Helrom.
The southern district of Helrom was a bustling commercial area, even more vibrant than the campus. Skyscrapers and shops along the street had opened their doors early on this Saturday morning, and residents of Helrom went about their day, some in a hurry, others at a leisurely pace.
Crossing this busy street, the two walked alongside a river that flowed through the city, its surface shimmering with a deep blue glow.
This river on the south side of Helrom was no ordinary waterway; it flowed with liquid mineral springs imbued with magical energy, holding an extraordinary allure for magic engineers.
However, this time, Lanchi's attention wasn't on the river but on Sigrid.
Sigrid had transformed back into her female form, and instead of her usual practical attire, she wore a more girlish dress, a side of her he hadn't seen before.
"How do I look today?" Sigrid asked, lifting her skirt slightly as she twirled, giving Lanchi a view of her entire outfit.
"......"
Lanchi tilted his head, looking perplexed.
"Don't I look good?" Sigrid asked hesitantly, sensing that Lanchi's gaze seemed to be saying, "You look very feminine today."
She feared that if she probed further, her blood pressure might explode.
"I still think you look best in your original form," Lanchi replied, his eyes warm.
Lanchi replied seriously, "I'm afraid I don't understand what you're saying."
Sigrid was slightly taken aback, but quickly recovered with a light cough to hide her brief pause. "Let's go somewhere less crowded, and I'll change back to my original form so you can see."
Sigrid moved closer to Lanchi and said, her voice soft. She then playfully tossed her long hair.
"But today, you'll have to bear with me. You're dating Sid, not Sigrid," she added with feigned regret.
"Does that mean you're still going to calculate the affinity points? If it's low, will you not give me the tablet?" Lanchi asked, feeling the weight of Sigrid's scrutinizing gaze as if she were about to start grading him again.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand," Sigrid said, her index finger resting on her lips as she pretended to ponder.
Yes, that's right, she thought. But she decided not to say it out loud and let him figure it out.
"So, are you counting this date as being with Sigrid or Sid today?" Lanchi asked, determined to get to the bottom of this issue.
In fact, during their previous trip to the northern Empire, he had never quite understood Sigrid's criteria for distinguishing between the two identities.
"Well..." Sigrid was silent for a moment, as if thinking of a convincing explanation.
Gradually, she realized that she couldn't seem to come up with one.
Finally, she said, "My name is Sid, a second-year student at Proteros Royal Magic Academy. I'm nineteen years old, and here, take a look at my student monthly pass." She blinked her left eye and gave Lanchi an energetic look.
"..." Lanchi was left speechless. As someone who always followed the rules, this was the first time he had been hoodwinked by such an ambiguous rule, and for so long.
"Are you trying to report yourself to the principal for fabricating your student identity?" he asked. In all his years in the education industry, he had never encountered such a brazen student as Sigrid.
"Try and revoke my student status if you dare," she said, lowering her voice and poking Lanchi with a hint of warning, even a threat.
"I wouldn't dare," Lanchi shook his head.
"Speaking of which, after not seeing each other for so long, is there anything you want to say to me?" Sigrid suddenly asked, as if she had just remembered something.
"Congratulations, Bishop, on reaching the ninth-rank..." Lanchi said, bowing respectfully and offering his congratulations.
"Fifth-rank," Sigrid interrupted with a clear voice.
"You're one step closer to the ninth-rank..." Lanchi continued, pausing briefly before finishing his sentence.
"Fifth-rank!" Sigrid emphasized again, glaring at Lanchi to stop him from completing his thought.
She knew what he was trying to say! It would be better if he didn't congratulate her!
"Sid is a fifth-rank, always has been, and with a little more effort, you might even surpass her," Sigrid said, her arms crossed and her gaze averted as she mumbled towards the lake.
"What do you mean? Can you explain that in more detail?" Lanchi asked, curious.
"That's a deduction of affinity points," Sigrid replied.
They stepped onto the bridge that crossed the river, and after passing through, they found themselves in another bustling district.
The sun shone obliquely off the tall buildings, and transparent magical barriers supported floating aerial gardens. Singing plants and glowing ghosts swayed gently in the wind within these gardens.
They walked underneath the aerial gardens without any worry of them suddenly crashing down.
"Where are we headed next?" Sigrid asked, following Lanchi's gaze to the aerial gardens above.
"There's a weekend performance in the aerial garden today. For lunch, let's go to the fourth street of Helrom. I have a reservation-free card for every restaurant there, so you can choose wherever you like. I didn't plan anything for the afternoon because I felt that a fully packed schedule might be overwhelming. We can just stroll around Helrom and see where the mood takes us. And if you're up for it in the evening, I have tickets to the live recording of the 'Helrom Evening Show.' Would you like to go?" Lanchi explained, casually tapping his fingers as he outlined the day's itinerary.
A date without a clear plan or reservations would likely result in spending a lot of time waiting in lines and eventually ending up with a boring and unfulfilling experience. Especially since today was a Saturday in Helrom.
"How come you've got everything planned out?" Sigrid asked, a little surprised.
This mature, thirty-something-year-old man was acting rather strangely.
She had assumed that Lanchi hadn't prepared anything since she had been busy and only managed to rush back at the last moment without informing him beforehand. She had gone straight to the Redmond Building to meet him.
Looks like she would have to give him some extra affinity points today.
"You've found me out," Lanchi said, pulling out a small notebook from his pocket.
On it was a carefully crafted travel guide to Helrom.
The title of the chapter he had opened was—'The Helrom Travel Guide: Even a 3-Year-Old Child Won't Get Lost.'
Seeing this, Sigrid burst out laughing, feeling relieved and amused.
(End of Chapter)
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