https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-611-Sigrid-s-Southern-Continent-Plan/12584946/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-613-Lanchi-is-Always-There-for-Loren/12584948/
Chapter 612: Loren's Nightmare Season 2
Chapter 612: Loren's Nightmare Season 2
Hutton Kingdom, Ikari.
In the afternoon, under the scorching sun, a magical train roared into the central station of Ikari.
The station, built with ochre-red bricks, served as the transportation heart of the entire Hutton Kingdom. The fusion of ancient architecture and modern renovations created a unique landscape.
As the mechanical behemoth came to a steady stop at the platform, the doors slowly opened a few seconds after the announcement.
Emerging from one of the carriages was a group of young people who appeared youthful yet exuded an air of composure beyond their years.
With determined strides, they made their way through the platform level, navigating through the bustling concourse, bypassing hesitant tourists lingering in front of the Hutton Kingdom specialty shops.
This group stood out prominently in the station's vast hall, drawing the attention of numerous passersby.
They were dressed in well-tailored jackets, their ties adorned with the emblem of the Royal Academy of Yarloran—a flame-shaped like a sword, a checkerboard pattern of red and black. They omitted the epaulets and cufflinks of the military uniform, and the edges of the cuffs and hems were trimmed with different colors to represent their grade and branch.
"Loren..."
The woman leading the group murmured a name so softly that it was almost inaudible.
Unlike the students, she was tall and donned a deep brown Yarloran Kingdom knight's gown. Even without armor, her aura left no doubt that she was a general, and her noble gaze seemed to belong to one who had just stepped out of the royal palace.
Many travelers paused in their tracks, captivated by her presence.
Her semi-tied hair, with golden locks cascading like a waterfall, caused those in the station to marvel at her natural beauty, which required no artifice.
She lifted her head to glance at the signboard.
A year ago, the Yarloran Royal Academy's academic exchange team had also visited this place.
Every year, in keeping with the fine tradition of friendly exchanges, the two schools would take turns hosting a visit.
Among the Yarloran Kingdom students, there were always some who would request to observe Loren's [Prototype Slab-Wind] activity, and likewise, there would be students from the Hutton Kingdom's Ikari Academy interested in observing Juliana's [Prototype Slab-Regeneration].
As one of the most renowned powerhouses in the Southern Continent, there always seemed to be some inexplicable gossip linking the two, and even Juliana, situated in the Yarloran Kingdom, had caught wind of it.
However, Juliana paid it no mind.
The only thing that concerned her was Loren's attitude towards these rumors.
Last year, Juliana had expected it to be a mundane exchange.
But she never anticipated that nearly half of the Yarloran Kingdom's academic exchange team would fail to return from Ikari unscathed.
Some had suffered severe injuries, been imprisoned, transferred schools, or endured deep psychological trauma.
Juliana had made several attempts to contact Loren, even contemplating arranging a trip to Ikari herself to meet with him. Eventually, it was Loren who assured her that he would ensure no further mishaps befell the Yarloran Kingdom's academic exchange team, and only then did Juliana temporarily cancel her plans to visit the Hutton Kingdom.
And then.
Ikari Academy hosted a fighting competition.
It was said to be a major incident that would go down in Ikari's safety annals, earning a reprimand from the city hall.
In the end, Ikari Academy decisively won the fighting competition with a score of five to zero, and the Ikari Health Center gained five new patients.
Led by Kuse, a third-year student, the Yarloran Kingdom's team of fighters required nearly half a year of recuperation and psychological counseling before they could finally return to the Yarloran Kingdom.
From that moment on, Juliana knew her visit was inevitable.
The date that had been set between her and Loren due to a bet involving his students also needed to be honored.
However, due to the capture of Phoenix, a secret agent of the Resurrection Church embedded within the Yarloran Kingdom's academic exchange team, and the chain reaction caused by the battle between the Destruction Bishop and the Dimensional Bishop, the Resurrection Church became highly active for a time. Juliana, as the Knight Captain, could not leave her post, and thus she had been unable to make the trip to the Hutton Kingdom to see Loren.
But she had given her word that once the issues with the Resurrection Church in the Yarloran Kingdom were resolved, she would personally come to Ikari to find Loren and asked him to wait for her.
Now, she had arrived.
This year's academic exchange team was led directly by Knight Captain Juliana herself, and she took the opportunity to combine her official duties with a chance to meet Loren.
She also wanted to see if the rumors about the increasing number of women around Loren were true.
At the very least, she was willing to trust Loren. He was upright, honest, and principled, drawing clear boundaries even with the Saint Knight Captain of his own church, let alone the legendary Divine Chosen Saint with her peerless beauty.
This year's Yarloran academic exchange team had arrived earlier than usual, and among them were several students whose strength was rarely seen even in the Hutton Kingdom's capital. Aside from a few new students who had just advanced to the second year, there were also some familiar faces.
“Ikari, I have returned.”
Aside from Knight Captain Juliana, another young man leading the academic visit team had neat and tidy hair. As he walked out of the station hall, the afternoon sun shone on his head, but his eyes were veiled in a misty haze, like an injured lion who had long shed his youthful passion and immaturity.
"Mr. Adams," asked one of the junior students walking behind him, "I've heard that the Ikari Academy Student Council is a bunch of unimaginable beasts who will stoop to anything. Is that true?"
All the students knew that Adams, who had graduated and was now a teacher at the Yarloran Royal Academy, had come to Ikari as the chief third-year representative of the Yarloran Kingdom the previous year.
It was said that he had overwhelmingly defeated Lanchi, Loren's ultimate weapon, in the artificial shadow world, but at a significant cost. Ever since returning to the Yarloran Kingdom, he seemed like a changed man.
"..."
Adams shook his head.
Essentially, he had a good impression of everyone at Ikari Academy except for Loren, the player who toyed with people's emotions, toward whom he felt suspicion.
"Regardless, at least the student council president, Monaster, is a very upright person who has played a positive guiding and mediating role on numerous occasions."
Adams said in a low voice.
"Then why does every incident he instigates end in an accident?"
One of the students behind him asked, tilting his head in confusion.
Adams: "..."
The sudden silence made the other students realize that this president was also a freshman and the most secretive one at that.
"Ah, Senior Adams back then was nothing like he is now. I remember his eyes were clear and bright, like the stars. The first thing he said when he walked out of the station was, 'As Knight Juliana's sword, I will go and learn from Loren, the best student under Dean Loren.'"
In the middle of the student group, a light-haired, green-eyed girl with a pleasant air to her, casually said as she scratched the back of her head.
She was a genius artisan who had become a gold-level card maker in her second year at Yarloran Royal Academy and was now a third-year senior.
"Karen..."
Adams turned his head and muttered.
"If I had a choice, I'd still prefer the confident Senior Adams. Even though you're more mature now, you never smile anymore."
Karen shrugged and expressed her regret.
Everyone could tell that Senior Karen wasn't mocking Mr. Adams but was trying to encourage him.
She was truly too kind and gentle.
"Hmph..."
Seeing the admiring looks from everyone.
Karen continued to smile innocently.
But in her heart, she was mocking him:
"You waste, you had to barely win against Lanchi at the cost of half your life. I really don't understand you hot-blooded fools who love fighting all the time."
Because Yarloran Royal Academy sorely lacked artisans, outstanding artisans were highly sought after.
Karen, who was about to go to the Kingdom of Posen to take the Platinum-level Card Maker exam, was held in higher esteem than anyone else in the student body.
She relished being adored like an empress.
And Adams, that fool, was just a stepping stone to highlight her superiority.
The students at the front of the group were all praising Karen, and after a long silence, one of the students at the back spoke up.
A second-year noble girl walked alone at the rear.
Her imposing demeanor and deep red eyes, cold as ice, seemed to see right through people.
In addition to the black and white interwoven family crest on her standard school uniform, her eye-catching inverted cruciform hair ornament, made of a red ribbon and gold metal lining, further emphasized her unique status as a priestess of the Church of the Goddess of Fate.
Although she and Loren belonged to the same Church of the Goddess of Fate, her visit this time was undoubtedly out of admiration for the High Priest, but the students around her knew that this was not the case.
Her brother, Kuse Pakkus, the eldest son of Pakkus, a noble earl of the Yarloran Kingdom, and leader of the fighter team, was also the most powerful fighter in the third year at Yarloran Royal Academy. During his visit to Ikari the previous year, he had suffered an unfortunate accident.
Even now, Kuse hid at home, afraid to go out. He wasn't just afraid of fighting; he would even get scared if the servants at home came too close to him, fearing they would hit him.
The instigator of that accident was none other than Lanchi Ranchi Wilford, Loren's student and coach for the Ikari Academy athletic team.
But when it came to who taught Lanchi, who gave the orders, and who was the referee presiding over that athletic competition, there was only one answer!
"Loren Cranter, you hypocrite. I will definitely expose you..."
Kukulka clenched her fists and vowed in her heart.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
