Chapter 493: A Burglary at Lanchi's Residence?
Chapter 493: A Burglary at Lanchi's Residence?
The iconic Ikelite Magic Academy, located in the heart of the royal capital, stands as a landmark in its own right. The school lacks enclosing walls, and the entire area, including the buildings within, bears the name of the prestigious academy.
Even when merely passing by, one can spot the emblem of Ikelite Academy on the nearby buildings, along with its distinctive tower. Traveling further east, crossing two streets, one arrives at the old, familiar restaurant, Cat Boss.
The building is constructed from slightly rustic, chestnut-colored wood, with a gently curved roof and broad eaves that extend beyond the walls, forming a comfortable, spacious balcony ideal for relaxation, conversation, or even enjoying an afternoon meal.
Hepburn led the way as they disembarked from the carriage, unloading their luggage. In the distance, the chiming of a bell rang out.
It was the sound of the bell tower at Ikelite Academy, ringing out three times before leaving behind a lingering echo, signaling that it was now three o'clock in the afternoon.
The warm afternoon sun lazily shone on the roof of the small restaurant, and the air was filled with the light smoke of cooking fires and the lingering aroma of lunch—a blend of pastries and cheese that intertwined like the scent of flowers along a country path, soothing the mind and soul.
"We're back."
Hepburn pushed open the door, and the wind chimes hanging under the eaves tinkled gently, adding a touch of tranquility and pleasure to the afternoon.
The wooden door closed softly behind them with a gentle click.
Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting dappled patterns on the floor. The interior of the restaurant was elegantly decorated, with a few vintage photos and small dolls adorning the walls, filling the air with a subtle coffee aroma and the comforting scent of freshly baked goods.
At this time, Cat Boss wasn't particularly busy. Behind the counter stood a young woman with her long hair tied back simply, wearing the restaurant's work attire. She looked both professional and friendly.
Asna, who had been working at the Ikelite Academy Student Council just that morning, noticed the new arrivals and her eyes widened in surprise, quickly turning into a joyful smile.
"Cat Boss, you're back!"
Asna emerged from the kitchen with a beaming smile.
She had started using the clone spell, allowing her to manage the front desk and work in the kitchen simultaneously.
Although it was a little tiring, she felt that her three years of studying at the Sage's College in Ikelite Academy had finally proven useful.
"Senior Asna, we're sorry we're back so late. I'm sure the student council work has been keeping you busy," Hepburn apologized to their vice-president.
She and Lanchi had returned nearly a month later than expected, and the semester was almost over. On top of her student council duties, Asna was also handling front-of-house duties and working as the head chef.
"Not at all! The influence you left behind still lingers on campus, and the student council work has been going very smoothly," Asna replied with a smile, taking Hepburn's hand.
"..."
Hepburn didn't know how to respond to the mention of their "influence."
"Is Tata off today?"
Cat Boss jumped onto the counter, his head swiveling curiously as he looked around the shop but failed to spot Tata.
He sensed that Antanas had also been anxious for half a day, not having seen Tata, and this seemed to make him even more nervous.
"Miss Tata happened to take a few days off," Asna explained. "She said she needed to head back to the South Vanettina Border Territory."
"What a pity, meow."
Cat Boss shook his head.
He had originally wanted to surprise Tata by having her reunite with her three childhood friends.
Now, it seemed that they would have to wait until she returned and pushed open the door to discover the surprise.
"By the way, why did Tata go back to South Vanettina?" Hepburn asked, puzzled.
She recalled that Lanchi's hometown was in the South Vanettina Border Territory.
Hepburn had initially assumed that Tata was also from Lanchi's hometown in South Vanettina, but later, upon going to the Northern Continent, she learned that Tata's true identity was that of a demon princess from the Northern Continent who had happened to encounter Lanchi in South Vanettina.
"Hmm, I think she mentioned something about wanting to see Lanchi's paintings."
Asna furrowed her brows in thought, looking perplexed as she turned to Lanchi and said, "Lanchi, is there something wrong?"
A shocked expression appeared on Lanchi's face. "My paintings?"
Hepburn knit her brows, trying to recall. "Now that I think about it, Tata did mention something about being curious about a painting in your home, Lanchi. It was called 'The Poor and Pitiful Old Lady,' and she wanted to see it."
Unbeknownst to them, Tata, who rarely ventured out, had already taken it upon herself to act.
"Lanchi, about that painting in your home..." Hepburn turned to face Lanchi, about to say something, but trailed off.
She noticed that Lanchi had been silent since the topic came up. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his expression turned stiff.
"Lanchi? Lanchi..." Hepburn had never seen Lanchi like this before, and it unnerved her. She had no idea what was going on, and her friend's unusual behavior was beginning to scare her! But if her dearest friend was in danger, she wouldn't let Lanchi face it alone!
"...?"
The three Demon Kings looked at each other, unsure of what to make of the situation. Antanas and Sinora turned to Pranai, feeling that he might have an idea of what was happening.
Pranai simply shook his head. He was feeling conflicted. On one hand, he hoped that something had indeed happened to the King for the sake of the Queen. But on the other hand, he felt that something was amiss. Now, it seemed that only those who wished for the King's demise would hope that nothing had happened to his family.
"Huff." Asna sighed helplessly and looked toward the door, as if she had grown accustomed to Lanchi and Hepburn's abrupt departures. The two of them were always so proactive when it came to student council matters.
After a moment of silence, Antanas spoke up, introducing himself and the others warmly. "We're new here, and we're also old friends of Tata. We'll be helping Cat Boss take care of the restaurant. I'm Antanas, this is Pranai, and she's Sinora, his sister."
Cat Boss had already introduced them to his disciple, Asna, before he left. In his absence, Asna was in charge of the restaurant.
"That's wonderful!" Asna breathed a sigh of relief and took Antanas' hand. "I was just thinking about how to introduce you all to Tata. It's perfect timing!"
"How has Tata been doing lately?" Antanas asked with concern after a brief pause. He knew that Tata was an alias for Talia. Though he was excited to see Talia again, he also feared that she might have endured many hardships over the years.
Sinora shared his concern and hoped that Talia had been doing well, but she also struggled with the idea of Talia possibly marrying into wealth.
"She's doing very well, don't worry," Asna assured them with a gentle smile. She offered them seats and brought over a tray with tea, pouring them cups before sitting down beside them and sharing stories of how she had been taking care of Tata.
Tomorrow, the story returns to where it all began—with Lanchi in peril!
PS: Check out my friend's book, 'They're All Abstract Pets, But You're the Beast Taming King?'
(End of Chapter)
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