Chapter 800: The Surprise Sigrid Left for Lanchi
Chapter 800: The Surprise Sigrid Left for Lanchi
The room was illuminated by the starlight and moonlight streaming through the skylight, complemented by the warm glow of the fireplace. In the chair of the principal's office, two figures locked eyes, their conversation pausing momentarily.
"You are one of a kind," Lanchi stated, his gaze unwavering.
Sigrid stared at him for a moment, her cheeks tingeing with a faint blush as she averted her eyes, unable to maintain eye contact any longer.
After a long while, their words took on a more casual tone, as if they were merely making small talk.
But his eyes remained sincere and intense.
"Hmph, you managed to wriggle your way out of that one," Sigrid remarked with a hint of displeasure.
Lanchi's response implied that she needed no comparison with other women.
He was cunning; when asked about other women, he skillfully avoided mentioning anyone else and only said what she wanted to hear.
Sigrid couldn't quite discern if Lanchi was impenetrable as a wall or genuinely innocent in his responses.
She had intended to ask him whom he preferred, her or Hyberian, a question that often plagued romantic rivals.
But it seemed he had anticipated her inquiry.
"When I have the chance, I'll pay a visit to Miss Talia," Sigrid declared nonchalantly. "I must thank her in person for taking care of my holy son for so long and for nurturing such a talented individual."
"Wait, it's not that simple with her—" Lanchi began, suddenly realizing the complexity of the situation.
Just recalling the virtual mother-daughter dynamic between Sigrid and Talia during the past few days made Lanchi's head spin, and he couldn't begin to imagine what would happen when they met face to face without their online personas as a buffer.
The memory of Sigrid calling out "Mom" still echoed in his mind, causing his head to buzz.
"Enough, no need to say more," Sigrid waved her hand dismissively, interrupting Lanchi's attempt to explain. "She's an insignificant old woman, probably good for nothing but her looks. I have zero interest in her."
Lanchi fell silent. He knew his interest in Talia went far beyond what he could express at the moment. He had even considered embracing her and inhaling her scent.
However, he hesitated to tell Sigrid about the false identity of Caliera, fearing the social repercussions for both of them.
But it wasn't a pressing issue. After all, Talia and Sigrid didn't know each other in the real world, and with the northern and southern continents so far apart, there was little chance of them meeting anytime soon. Lanchi had enough time to first address the urgent matters in the Kreise Empire and then tackle the secondary emergency of their complicated relationships.
He, Lanchi, was an expert in defusing such explosive situations.
"In front of me, the only woman you're allowed to talk about is Hyberian. After all, I adore her too," Sigrid conceded, a hint of possessiveness creeping into her voice.
"And she's like a little sister to you, right?" she added, her tone turning demanding as she sought confirmation.
"Even her mother is like a sister to me..." Lanchi replied, his gaze shifting away as he attempted to deflect the conversation with a joke.
"Hyberian's mother? I thought her parents were missing. Did you find them?" Sigrid's curiosity was immediately piqued by Lanchi's enigmatic words, and her attention shifted to the mysterious figures. "Is her mother adorable too?"
Sigrid began her inquiry into Hyberian's family, her interest sparked.
"I can't judge that, you'll have to meet her yourself to know," Lanchi shook his head, carefully navigating the conversation.
It was a classic trap disguised as a harmless question about family. By using the words "also" and "adorable," he would be essentially admitting that Hyberian was cute in front of Sigrid and acknowledging the attractiveness of another woman.
"I wonder what Aunt likes. I'll have to prepare a gift for her the next time we meet," Sigrid mused, already planning how to portray herself as Hyberian's good classmate and a well-behaved girl.
"Anything will do," Lanchi shrugged, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "She's quite sociable and outgoing, the opposite of Hyberian."
Hyberian's mother desperately needed some of Sigrid's blood. If Sigrid could provide wolf blood to Ifatia to counteract the poison, it would be a deeply touching gesture.
However, with Sigrid so far away, it seemed more feasible to obtain wolf blood from Violet, the Sixth Army God of the Water Jade Throne, in the short term.
"That's good," Sigrid continued, outlining her flawless plan to become Hyberian's sister. "When I arrive in Ikelite, I want to visit my sister's house often. I'll need to get close to her and her family."
She intended to transfer to Ikelite Academy as a student resembling Sigrid in appearance, evoking Hyberian's fond memories and leading her to view this new student as a reincarnation of Sigrid.
"Hiss—" Lanchi couldn't help but think of a serious problem upon hearing Sigrid's plan.
What would happen if Sigrid and Hyberian met again in the real world? Wouldn't Hyberian be utterly confused?
Would she see this girl as her beloved sister, Sigrid, or as her hated rival, the Bishop of the Church of Conquest?
Unable to differentiate!
"You're not allowed to meddle in the bond between my sister and me. Whether we're loving or fighting, you're not to stir up trouble between us. This is our business as sisters."
Sigrid pointed at Lanchi, warning him as if she had guessed that he might reveal her identity to Hyberian.
It would be unfair to Hyberian if Lanchi unilaterally divulged Sigrid's secret to her.
She would never pry into Hyberian's secrets from Lanchi either.
"..."
Not sis.
Lanchi broke out in a cold sweat.
Was he really going to end up eating the sofa?
Back then, he thought that saying this sentence would be fine.
This is our sisterly bond.
No problem with two sisters.
Nothing can affect the relationship between the two sisters.
Our two sisters have always been loving towards each other.
Wow, this reincarnation treasure from the Goddess of Fate is too deadly.
"Sid, no matter what, promise me that you won't fight with Hyberian, okay?"
Lanchi pleaded, his tone becoming more intimate.
This attitude made Sigrid feel both amused and annoyed.
"Hmph, if she gets too excited around me, I may have no choice but to forcibly restrain her."
Sigrid said with one eye open and one eye closed, her arms folded.
Unless Lanchi was willing to hug her right now, she might be open to discussion; otherwise, she was angry.
"No, she's a duchess. If you restrain her, you'll be arrested. A Cardinal ending up in prison will be laughed at for a lifetime."
Lanchi explained the laws of the Herton nation to Sigrid.
The Southern Continent is very different from the Northern Continent.
Just imagining the scandal that would erupt if the conflict between Hyberian and Sigrid from the Northern Continent's Protoros Royal Academy were to be reenacted at Ikelite Academy made him feel like the whole school would be buzzing with gossip.
If things got more serious and Hyberian decided to take Sigrid to court, he wouldn't even know whether to sit on the plaintiff's or defendant's side.
"Let's go to jail together?"
Sigrid's expression was filled with mischief as she extended a dual invitation to him.
The most important thing was to get Lanchi on her side, and whether it was being a defendant together or going to jail together, she wouldn't be afraid anymore.
"Are you two plastic sisters?"
Lanchi took a deep breath and asked Sigrid.
There was no doubt that Sigrid and Hyberian could get along very well.
But when it came to a dispute, she would become unyielding and the first thing she would think of was to make him take sides.
"You don't understand. The fun of being Sigrid is solely focused on sticking close to Hyberian, while the fun of being Sigride is to tease Hyberian."
Sigrid justified her character choices to him.
Whether it was provoking Hyberian's dislike or attracting her attention, she found it all very enjoyable.
"No, no, just continue playing the role of Sigrey, can the two of you always be good sisters? Why not just be like you were just now?"
Lanchi asked anxiously as he listened to Sigrid's unwavering dedication to her role-playing self-description.
"Hmm?"
Sigrid questioned with displeasure, her rebellious spirit stirred.
"Don't you find Hyberian rather interesting? For example, I really want to call her back right now and let her see me riding on top of you."
Sigrid chuckled as she caressed Lanchi's cheeks and asked him.
The purer and more saintly Hyberian felt, the more guilty she felt about bullying her, and yet this guilt was irresistible.
Sigrey would never bully her sister, but if it were the domineering Bishop Sigride, then it would be a different story.
Sigrid would never tolerate anyone who showed hostility towards her, and if her sister took the initiative to provoke her, she would certainly ensure her sister's defeat.
"..."
Lanchi's eyes twitched as he glanced at the sofa.
He dared not continue to persuade her, as it might have the opposite effect on Sigrid.
Seeing Lanchi's dejected appearance, Sigrid couldn't help but laugh.
Teasing Lanchi was quite fun, too.
She placed her hands on the armrests of the office chair and stood up, no longer pinning him down.
"Alright, I'll let you off the hook. Next time, when we have more time, we can chat slowly."
Sigrid was aware of the remaining time in this shadow world and the tasks that needed to be done, so she decided to leave some time for Lanchi to have dinner at the Demon King's Grace Restaurant.
Lanchi would probably rush to the Demon City of Nakalis tonight, and although he could rest along the way, the next few days would likely be spent in a hurry.
"Remember to take good care of yourself. I really can't bear to delay your precious rest time any longer."
Sigrid smiled and instructed Lanchi to take care of himself.
"Being with you is equivalent to resting."
Lanchi stood up and replied to her.
"Don't say that, I'll miss you so much that I won't be able to leave!"
Upon hearing this, Sigrid hugged Lanchi again, unable to let go,
"It's hard enough for me to make up my mind to separate from you, and I don't know when we'll meet again next time."
She whispered to him as she clung tightly to Lanchi.
"It won't be too long. After I resolve the calamity in the Southern Continent, at most, it will be a year. I promise I'll come to the Northern Continent to find you."
As Lanchi prepared to leave the Northern Continent, he had promised Sigrid that he would see her again within two years at most, eliciting her agreement to let him go without any resentment.
This was no mere lip service; he always kept his word.
"Perhaps..."
Perhaps it wouldn't take that long.
Sigrid thought to herself, but she didn't voice her thoughts aloud.
She couldn't wait to see the expression on the Holy Son's face when they were destined to meet again in the near future.
Such a fated reunion would surely make his heart skip a beat.
Sigrid slowly released Lanchi, no longer yearning for the warm and drowsy comfort of the principal's office.
"Then I guess I'll be going, Lanchi."
Sigrid walked to the door of the principal's office, opened it, and waved at Lanchi.
"I can't let you go by yourself. Let me walk you out."
Lanchi naturally followed, concern evident in his voice.
"I'm not a three-year-old kid, you know. I can find my way home from school by myself."
Sigrid didn't dislike the Holy Son's solicitousness.
But he only became solicitous at times like this.
That guy probably thought she would get lost in the Corridors of Purgatory Academy and needed him to personally see her out.
Moreover, he seemed afraid that she would wreck his school, leaving Sigrid feeling annoyed and unable to retort.
Old yin-yang master, indeed.
"No, I just wanted to walk with you," Lanchi said, his eyes sincere.
"...Alright..."
Sigrid wanted to say something else but ended up laughing instead, finally agreeing with a smile.
The two left the principal's office, closing the door behind them. The corridor was pitch-black at midnight, except for the golden patterns on the carpet that twisted and turned, appearing and disappearing in the darkness, shimmering with an otherworldly glow when they stepped on them.
As soon as Lanchi took a step forward, he realized that Sigrid hadn't followed.
Turning back, he saw her standing at the entrance of the principal's office.
"Do you remember how I got lost last time?"
Sigrid asked, standing in place.
"Well, that was really strange."
Lanchi had already reached the principal's office that day, but when he looked back, Sigrid was nowhere to be seen.
She had been walking behind him, and then she suddenly vanished.
"So, don't you think you should use your brain and figure out how to keep the Bishop from getting lost?"
Sigrid probed, emphasizing her point.
As she spoke, she casually glanced at the back of her hand, with no intention of hinting at anything.
Lanchi seemed to understand, or perhaps he didn't.
"Alright."
Lanchi took her hand, smiling helplessly at her.
"You really can't underestimate the Holy Son. He's already learned that when going out, he should hold the Bishop's hand."
Sigrid grinned, tightly holding Lanchi's hand and happily following him forward.
In the dim light of the corridor, their shadows elongated and danced on the walls.
"This time, it feels even more adventurous than when we were in the old district of Helrom. To think carefully, this Demon Academy is something you can't find in any amusement park in the mortal world."
Sigrid relished this moment, strolling through the Corridors of Purgatory Academy with Lanchi, round after round.
Her bright purple eyes stood out vividly in the darkness.
"It's a pity that the two of us will probably never get to experience the thrill of a haunted house in this lifetime."
Lanchi's voice was calm.
The school corridors were different from the bustling outside world of the academy. Only their conversation gently rippled through the air.
"That's true."
Sigrid acknowledged.
They gave each other an extraordinary sense of security.
"I didn't expect that in just half a year, you'd become so strong, Holy Son."
Sigrid hummed a little tune, her mood especially cheerful, perhaps because this farewell moment of their reunion felt so fulfilling.
The last time they parted in Helrom of the Northern Continent, Lanchi was only at the fourth rank.
Now, in the blink of an eye, he was about to reach the seventh rank.
"The shadow world connected to your dream last time was not easy. Passing through a seventh-rank shadow world was enough to propel me from the fourth rank to the sixth rank."
Lanchi turned his head to look at Sigrid as they walked.
He believed that Sigrid knew most of what had happened in the Umbral Day of Total Eclipse shadow world.
"Oh my, seventh rank, that's truly impressive. You're so much stronger than little old me, a fifth-rank."
Sigrid blinked her eyes, full of admiration as she looked at him, her cheeks even flushing with a hint of girlish pink, as if hinting at something.
Lanchi smiled in relief.
He finally understood why Sigrid had steered the conversation in this direction.
She had been waiting for him to take the bait.
"You flatter me, Bishop. Your strength is as mighty as the mountains and seas..."
Lanchi's words were cut off as Sigrid covered his mouth.
"That's a deduction from your favorability points!"
Sigrid warned.
The two of them laughed and chatted as they strolled through the corridors, stopping now and then, oblivious to the outside world.
It was just like when they had played together in Helrom of the Northern Continent.
(End of Chapter)
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