https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-6-A-World-Renowned-Painting-One-of-Filial-Piety-and-One-of-Joy/12582083/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-8-Thalia-Finds-Humans-Incomprehensible/12582085/
Chapter 7: Lanchi's Enrollment Understanding
Chapter 7: Lanchi's Enrollment Understanding
The tall clock in the study ticked away, its gears whirring softly. The scent of aged books wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of incense from the intricately carved bookshelves in the corner.
Noe removed his glasses, closed his eyes, and relaxed, soothed by the warm amber light of the magical desk lamp. At least, Lanchi's calm and slow demeanor brought him some comfort, whether feigned or not.
"But Father, I need some money before the exam. Can you ensure that I have ample funds for the next three months?"
Just as Noe thought Lanchi was about to leave, his words made him open his eyes once more.
"What do you plan to do?" Noe asked, his guard instantly up.
He suspected that Lanchi intended to swindle as much money as possible before the entrance exam and then squander it all.
"Creating magic cards requires a lot of money for materials, and I also need to hire a suitable teacher," Lanchi explained, his expression and tone remaining calm and peaceful.
He didn't seem to be lying; his words rang true. After all, he intended to delve into magic card research as soon as he finished reading the codexes.
"You know how to make magic cards?" Noe asked, surprised.
Lanchi didn't answer immediately this time. In truth, he didn't know how yet, but he needed to craft his words carefully to gain his father's trust and willingly invest in his endeavors.
"I assure you, young master, he will create excellent magic cards," the butler, who had been standing behind Noe, interjected.
He bowed slightly and continued, "If you could see the painting in the young master's room, you wouldn't worry about him anymore."
"Oh?" Noe turned his head, his eyes fixed on the butler.
He was surprised by the butler's words, but soon a delighted smile spread across his face.
His interest piqued, he looked at Lanchi, "Lanchi, have you started painting again? For Hans to praise it so highly, it must be quite a remarkable piece."
Hans was the name of the butler, though rarely addressed so directly. Following the habits of his predecessor, Lanchi simply referred to the butler as "you" when communicating with him.
"It's more than that..." The butler shook his head with a smile.
Clearly, the master had yet to realize the true extent of his son's artistic abilities.
Anyone could hear the pride in Noe's voice as he spoke to his son.
"Hans has always been kind to me. He's just exaggerating," Lanchi said, a slight curve to his lips as he cut off the butler before he could finish.
He hoped his father would never see the portrait of Thalia hanging in his bedroom; it could lead to all sorts of ridiculous misunderstandings if his father ever met Thalia in town.
"I see," Noe replied, not giving it much thought.
The only surprising thing to him was Lanchi's humility. Typically, Lanchi would seize such an opportunity to boast about his talents and seek investment.
Hearing Lanchi's response, the butler also chose to remain silent. With a slight smile, he stepped back to his position behind Noe.
"Very well, I hope you pass the exam for the Alchemy Institute. Hans..." Noe sighed, offering words of encouragement to Lanchi and then instructing the butler to provide Lanchi with the funds he required.
Noe agreed to Lanchi's request so readily out of respect for the longtime butler and because of Lanchi's improved attitude today.
After all, he had given this foolish son quite a sum of money already.
He hoped Lanchi would mature soon. May the Goddess watch over him.
If only today's calm, confident, and polite demeanor weren't an act, how wonderful that would be.
...
As night fell, the wall lamps on the spacious corridor of the second floor of the mansion glowed softly, bathing the entire mansion in a peaceful tranquility.
The servants in the mansion had mostly finished their work for the day and retired to rest. Of course, there were still some who remained on duty.
As Lanchi pushed open the door to the study, he found a maid waiting outside - the thoughtful and less fearful Franchine, compared to the other servants.
Lanchi realized that she and the butler were probably the only ones in the mansion who treated him with any respect. After a polite greeting, Franchine voiced her concern.
"Young Master, are you sure you're not pulling a fast one on the Lord?" She asked quietly as she followed him out of the study, her worry evident. She had overheard the conversation in the study and was well aware of how Lanchi had been spending his days.
The entrance exam for the Alchemy Institute was no easy feat, with written tests covering a range of subjects, including kingdom arithmetic, pharmacology, material processing, magic engineering fundamentals, and alchemical principles. Even if Lanchi hired the best teachers and started studying vigorously, it would be a challenge to catch up in time.
"A mere entrance exam," Lanchi chuckled, his eyes closed in a relaxed manner, as if the difficulty of the exam didn't concern him at all, nor did he intend to step up his revision efforts.
"Er..." Franchine was so taken aback that she wondered if Lanchi was truly giving up and indulging in one last hurrah. However, she also knew that even if he failed the entrance exam, he wouldn't be sent home or end up on the streets of the royal capital with nothing but a blanket. The young master could certainly find a way to thrive in the city.
Just selling his paintings would bring in a decent sum.
"Rest assured, I'll start studying for the exam tonight," Lanchi assured her with a smile, sensing the maid's worry. His eyes held the same clarity they did when he studied the law books.
"Oh... that's good," Franchine replied, somewhat relieved.
"Exam rules?" She asked, suddenly realizing something.
She felt there was more to Lanchi's words than met the ear. While it was definitely a good habit to carefully read through the exam instructions beforehand...
What was there to research about the entrance exam rules for the Alchemy Institute?
Soon, Lanchi bade her farewell and quickened his steps toward his bedroom, leaving the maid standing in the corridor, her face a picture of confusion and perplexity.
...
Back in his room, Lanchi closed the door and pulled out the reference book for the Ikelite College entrance exam from the bookshelf. He sat down at his desk, slowly picked up a pen, and began planning his schedule for the next three months, his eyes fixed on the book in front of him.
When it came to enrollment, he was serious. He had promised his father that he would gain admission, but he had never specified which faculty.
"I may not be a fighter by nature, but I understand fighting well enough. And if it comes to that, I don't believe I will lose as long as I am prepared," Lanchi murmured to himself as he flipped through the Ikelite College recruitment brochure.
The college had two faculties that focused on theoretical research and backend support, making it challenging to pass the exams with minimal effort: the Alchemy Institute and the Magic Engineering Institute.
On the other hand, there were the Sage's Institute and the Knight's Institute, which emphasized direct combat and tactical applications.
Lanchi's plan was simple: take a curved path to enrollment. He would simply change his preferred college from the Alchemy Institute to one of the other faculties when the time came.
While the assessment points for the Law and Engineering Faculties were significantly different, the focus of the exams over the years had always been on the candidates' ability to think on their feet, their character and temperament, and their actual combat capabilities - all of which were closely linked to the most challenging instance in this world, the "Shadow World."
Over the next three months, if he could successfully create a few key magic cards with his unique "Lanchi flair" and purchase a few complementary ones available on the market,
Lanchi was confident he could pull off a move that would leave the leaders of all the colleges bewildered!
(End of Chapter)
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