https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-524-Lanchi-and-Hubertian-s-Return-to-School/12584741/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-526-Lanchi-Always-Repays-in-Kind/12584743/
Chapter 525: Sybrian Wants to Become a Duchess
Chapter 525: Sybrian Wants to Become a Duchess
The plants in the Kingdom of Hutton swayed gently in the summer breeze, their leaves and grass dewed with the morning's moisture, reflecting a timeless glow.
"Our school might not liven up until the latter half of the year," Lanchi remarked as he gazed around the campus, a hint of loneliness in his voice, addressing Sybrian.
"Indeed," Sybrian agreed.
What a principal-like statement, she thought.
"After everything settles down... I mean, if you truly become the administrator of the Ichthys Academy in the future, would you take up the position?" Sybrian asked quietly.
She recalled Lanchi's goal to retire by the age of twenty, but she wasn't sure if his ambition would lead him to accept a post-retirement reappointment.
"On the condition that Ichthys Academy desperately needs me. If everyone can live happily ever after without me, then I won't reappear," Lanchi shook his head nonchalantly.
"I could be a regular lecturer at Ichthys Academy, with not too many classes, and I can still help the school a little," he added.
Sybrian silently nodded at his words.
"But Lanchi, it's been over a year since my father went missing. Even if we rescue him by then, the one likely to become the duke is me, not the omnipotent Migaya. Are you sure you still want to cling to the duke's thigh?" Sybrian reminded him.
If a person was missing for over two years, they would be presumed dead, and the process of succession would have already begun, with the duke's title passing to the duchess. Even if Duke Migaya returned, he would no longer hold the title.
She worried that Lanchi's plans might not come to fruition, and all his efforts would be for naught.
"Then wouldn't it be even better? Just thinking about it is so cool. Duchess Sybrian, I'll rely on her to support me in my old age at Ichthys. Of course, I'll have to cling to her thigh," Lanchi laughed, praising the idea.
"...Then I guess so," Sybrian replied, hearing Lanchi's words and subconsciously looking down at her own thighs.
Even though they weren't speaking literally, Lanchi's mention of it made her mind wander to risque places.
Sybrian couldn't help but imagine the bizarre scenario of Lanchi hugging her thighs one day and shouting, "Duchess, I'm hungry, feed me!"
Of course, such a thing would never happen unless Lanchi drank fake alcohol.
"Since you put it that way, I'll have to work hard too," Sybrian muttered to herself.
Although her path to inheriting the House of Alansar and becoming the new duke might be fraught with obstacles and dissenters who outwardly obeyed but inwardly defied, she was determined to improve herself and change their perceptions. She wanted to show everyone that she was a trustworthy leader of the Alansar family.
The journey to the Northern Continent had made her realize that being a half-demon was just the beginning for her, not the end. Her teacher, the Ice Witch, had also ascended to become a revered and noble priestess despite her half-demon heritage.
The two continued their usual idle chat as they walked towards the Magic Engineering Institute district.
They took a different route today.
Instead of crossing the lawn in front of the Magic Engineering Institute to the old liberal arts building that led to the institute's entrance, they entered the Alchemist Academy's botanical garden.
Though they were obscured by the myriad of colorful flowers and startled by the occasional flying bird, once they walked out of the Alchemist Academy's garden, they could see the main building of the Magic Engineering Institute - a tower-like structure with artistic glass curtain walls and iron framework.
Lanchi and Sybrian had returned to Ichthys Academy to submit their report on the "Search for the Stone Tablet Holder" topic and to record their magic machinery, but Loren was still absent from the school.
As they passed by the Sage Academy, they learned from Teacher Theresa that a big shot from the Fate Goddess Church had arrived, and Loren had gone to receive them personally.
Moreover, it seemed that another important figure was expected to visit in a few days.
Loren wouldn't be returning to Ichthys Magic Academy anytime soon.
Lanchi and Sybrian were clueless as to why Loren had been so busy lately.
However, they were accustomed to his frequent absences due to his public duties during the previous semester, so they didn't find it unusual.
Since both of them were still technically on academic leave and had already exceeded the deadline by over a month, their Shadow World challenge licenses were locked and frozen to prevent anyone from impersonating them and entering the Shadow World.
With no way to report to the dean, the two had no choice but to seek help from Professor Borao of the Magic Engineering Institute to process their school transfer procedures.
With Loren absent, Professor Borao, the head of the Magic Engineering Institute, had the highest authority in the school. After all, he designed the entire Ichthys Academy's curriculum system and the royal capital's defense barrier.
"It's good that we don't have to go back to the Sage Academy. It feels great to not have to attend classes for an entire semester."
Lanchi stretched lazily, praising the school.
"It really is a sacrifice for you to attend classes since you've become the principal on the other side of the sea."
Sybrian turned to look at the school buildings, her emotions mixed.
Aside from taking leave for the Shadow World last semester, she hadn't missed a single class. But this semester, she had skipped all of them.
They wouldn't be attending classes this semester as they hadn't even registered for any.
As long as they submitted and passed their final project reports, along with the extra credits from the Shadow World, they would have more than enough credits to graduate.
"I do miss the Royal Magic Academy of Protor. I wonder how my good students, Zestil and Shaya, are doing with their studies."
A hint of worry crept into Lanchi's heart, stemming from his sense of responsibility.
"I miss my stepsister, Mishula, too," Sybrian sighed.
The days she spent in the Milford territory of the Northwest Province were unforgettable, and even now, she felt like a part of the Milford family. The luggage she brought back still contained numerous gifts from her stepsister.
"I wonder if we'll ever have the chance to visit the Northern Continent again. Protor Empire and Aesterland Kingdom are giants on the southern shore, and further north lie the Northern Kingdoms, the Theocracy, the Land of Eternal Night, and the Blighted Wastes."
Lanchi mused aloud.
Sybrian glanced at Lanchi and found him looking at her as well. The expectation in his eyes seemed to ask, "Do you want to go back to the Northern Continent? Shall we go together?"
"...”
Sybrian was concerned that if Lanchi went back, he might end up becoming President Lochi Maccassi again.
In the end, she nodded.
Supporting such a man was challenging because his ambition far exceeded his own imagination.
But she couldn't discourage him either.
She just needed to remind him to exercise moderation at critical moments; otherwise, he might never find the peaceful life he truly desired.
"But the most important thing right now is to first challenge the Blood Moon Badlands Shadow World and then head to the southernmost part of the Southern Continent to explore the giant empire of Kreise. To be honest, I've never been to the Kreise Empire either, and I've been curious for a long time."
Lanchi seemed to have set a clear vacation goal, and with a clenched fist, he felt motivated to tackle the tasks at hand.
"The only regret is that this time, it looks like it'll just be the two of us in the Shadow World."
The first thing they did upon returning to school was to look for Fred, but he had gone missing.
Even Vice-President Senior Sister Asina was unaware of Fred's whereabouts, and the president had asked her to remind them not to inquire too much about Fred to the school recently because they were close to him. They would likely be investigated by the Kingdom's Joint Parliament in the coming days.
"Fred..."
Without this powerful and reliable teammate, Sybrian felt that their upcoming challenges would be much more difficult. But she shook her head, believing that Fred would return.
"Anyway, the Kreise Empire is much larger in scale than the Protor Empire. This time, you must be more low-key. Please, don't bring the experience from the Protor Empire to the Kreise Empire, okay?"
Whenever Sybrian recalled the night Helrom saw Lanchi's interview, she felt a headache coming on.
Unlike the Protor Empire with its constitutional monarchy, the Kreise Empire practiced absolute monarchy.
Lanchi's approach in the upper and lower houses of Protor would not work in Kreise.
"Rest assured, I'm very good at adapting to new situations."
Lanchi nodded confidently.
"I hope your words are taken literally," Sybrian said softly.
But on a positive note, Lanchi had undergone his first metamorphosis in the Northern Continent, and the Kreise Empire was still part of the Southern Continent, so the chances of Lanchi undergoing a second metamorphosis there were slim.
(End of Chapter)
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