https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-498-Loren-Found-the-Rumors-Ridiculous/12584691/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-500-Lunch-at-the-Lanchi-Residence/12584693/
Chapter 499: Lanchi's House is About to be Full
Chapter 499: Lanchi's House is About to be Full
Loren understood the price of growth, having endured his fair share of outlandish rumors. He had learned to pay little heed to the gaze and actions of others and had long abandoned any thoughts of changing their minds.
If there was one thing that gave Loren a slight headache, it was the impending arrival of the Ice Witch in the South Continent once the Cardinal returned from his duties as the Judge in the far north of the Northern Continent, battling the Calamity Earth.
The last Priestess evaluation had been embarrassingly awkward.
Loren was prepared to apologize to Arermis in person.
As he sighed, his thoughts wandered, and his gaze drifted out the window, taking in the beautiful campus and the distant Ikelite.
The text appears to be from a fantasy novel, possibly with elements of cultivation or adventure. The city names, such as Ikelite and Gederia, seem to be fictional, and the mention of a royal capital and a school suggests a rich world-building.
With the semester drawing to a close, the prolonged peace and tranquility on campus brought Loren a sense of contentment.
Lanchi and Superelin should have been back by now, according to their estimated time of return.
Although Loren, as the dean, should have been concerned about the students in the college and wished for their safe return, knowing that they were with the Ice Witch meant he didn't have to worry about their safety. In fact, he hoped they would stay and explore the Northern Continent a little longer.
Loren's thoughts then returned to the task at hand, and he continued reading the last page of the confidential letter.
"...The new Cardinal is still heading south and may have reached the border of the Kingdom of Horton. His pace seems to have slowed, and he may be staying for a while. The purpose of his journey remains unknown."
At this point, Loren gently crumpled the letter, watching it turn into golden light and disappear into the air.
A slight frown creased his brow, and he remained silent, his hands resting on the desk before him.
The tidy office exuded a calm wooden fragrance, complemented by the scent of ink from the books on the shelves that lined the walls. A historic painting and a uniquely styled world map hung alongside, capturing Loren's gaze in the moment.
"South Vantina... Isn't that the place Megiya likes to visit?"
Loren's eyes fell on the handmade map gifted by his old friend, stirring memories that prompted him to murmur.
With Megiya away, a significant portion of the responsibility for protecting the Kingdom of Horton rested on Loren's shoulders.
Whenever the burden felt overwhelming, he would think of Megiya, as they shared a bond forged through both official duties and personal friendship.
However, recalling the period when he interacted most frequently with Megiya, Loren's emotions became mixed.
Megiya was exceptional in every way and skilled at everything.
But sometimes, he had peculiar ideas.
For instance, Megiya enjoyed using magic to disguise himself as a girl, purportedly to make up for Superelin's lack of a motherly figure in her life, and he had considered taking on both paternal and maternal roles.
On one occasion, Loren and the femininely dressed Megiya were photographed by a journalist while discussing matters, leading to rumors that Loren was involved with a mysterious black-haired noble lady.
Furthermore, due to Megiya's popularity, many noble ladies in the Kingdom of Horton continued to express their admiration for him even though they knew he was already married. This often forced Megiya to use his most proficient magic to change his appearance and evade their attentions. Megiya managed to escape, but Loren later developed a fear of seeing Megiya using transformation magic.
Unlike when Megiya was around, the rumors circulating in Ikelite City about Loren this year had become increasingly abstract. The latest count of his supposed "fiancees" had Loren laughing in exasperation.
He had no choice but to let these rumors slide.
However, he feared that one day, following this trend, Megiya might also be included in the list of his "fiancees." Loren knew that even if he went insane, he would never get involved in a scandal with a married man!
Loren both longed for Megiya's return and dreaded it, as Megiya's striking good looks and beauty struck fear into his heart.
"Ah, Goddess, if anyone can bring Megiya back, I'm willing to pay any price."
After a long while, Loren gently closed his eyes and whispered a prayer.
If a choice ever presented itself to bring Megiya back by sacrificing himself, he would agree without hesitation.
Just then, Loren's train of thought was interrupted by a faint sense of awareness.
There were two soft knocks on the office door.
"Come in."
Loren lifted his head and looked toward the door with a gentle gaze.
The door slowly opened, and a female student with a serene expression entered. She carried a folder and approached the desk with the efficiency of a skilled department staff member. She greeted Loren with a smile.
"Good morning, Dean Loren."
Vice President of the Student Council, Asena, had a voice as pleasant as a nightingale's, and her face always wore a smile.
Asena was not only an efficient member of the student council but also a great assistant to the teachers at the Sage Academy, often helping them with various school-related tasks.
And for this reason, Loren felt a sense of reluctance as Asena would be graduating soon.
She didn't plan to pursue the Seventh Tier in the future but instead wanted to focus on becoming a chef.
"Good morning, Asena."
Loren smiled and nodded.
He would offer advice to students regarding their career choices, but if they already had a clear idea, he would wholeheartedly support them.
Without Asena, the next Chief of the Sage Academy would likely be Lanchi, who was about to advance to the second year.
To Loren, that was a terrifying story.
Asena politely nodded to Loren and opened her folder, efficiently summarizing and reporting the matters of the Sage Academy.
It didn't take long.
"I understand."
After listening to Asena's report, Loren nodded.
"I'll be away from Ikelite for a few days. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you, Asena, to assist Vice Dean Ron in handling the affairs of the Sage Academy for a while. If there's anything that requires the approval of the Dean, please seek out Professor Bolao, the Dean of the Mage Academy. He has the authority of all the deans."
Loren stood up and apologized sincerely.
Whenever he had to leave the Sage Academy, he would entrust many tasks to Asena.
Even though Asena was already quite busy.
"It's no trouble. Three new employees joined my master's restaurant yesterday, so I won't be as busy anymore."
Asena replied politely.
She could tell that Dean Loren was about to leave, so she walked alongside him as they spoke.
"Is that so? How are they doing?"
Loren asked with a smile, opening the office door.
"I get along well with them, and they have very elegant manners. They seem to be from noble backgrounds."
Asena thought for a moment as they walked out.
"Haha, that little black cat is indeed fortunate. I'll have to find an opportunity to meet it as well."
Loren exclaimed happily, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
He had heard that Asena's teacher was an adorable little black cat.
Although there had been many strange occurrences lately, there were also these small, heartwarming stories that brought him joy.
However, to protect all of this,
He had to bring the investigation team of priests from Ikelite to the South Vantina border to take a look.
If that mysterious Cardinal had any secret plots lately, he would be there to stop them in their tracks.
Speaking of which, Lanchi's family was from South Vantina. The last time Lanchi's father came to Ikelite Academy, he apologized profusely for the incident in the arena. Perhaps it's a good time to pay them a visit.
(End of Chapter)
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