NOVPUBThe large glass windows surrounding the natural landscape staircase classroom provide an unobstructed view of the campus landscape. The zinc screen on the glass filters out harsh sunlight, allowing the sun to subtly shine into the classroom, nurturing a cozy and harmonious discussion atmosphere for the learning environment. 𝒏𝙤𝙫𝒑𝙪𝙗.𝙘𝒐𝙢
Apparently wanting to join the students in discussion, Teacher Teresa leaned against the lectern and sighed as if she were chatting during a break:
"Among the academic tour group from the Arolan Kingdom coming the month after next, there are students interested in observing Dean Loren’s ’Original Tablet of Wind’. However, the ’Undying Sword Emperor’, the head of the kingdom’s knights who owns the ’Original Tablet-Rebirth’ in Arolan Kingdom, is somewhat difficult to talk to. Consequently, our students’ visits there often end up fruitless, gradually straining the relationship between both parties."
"The significant individuals who possess the Original Tablets today are typically at least of the eighth-order or higher, and are virtually the strongest ones who specialize in this category."
"So if you students come across an owner of an Original Tablet, be sure not to offend or upset them! Not all of the strongest are as kind and gentle as Dean Loren."
Teacher Teresa on the podium switched through images on the magic projection while smiling at the lively discussion among the seated students.
Thought the Original Tablets represent the supreme existence among Magic Cards and can even be said to be a must-have for those aiming to become the peak powerhouses of their era, they are correspondingly a dangerous poison that could lead to one’s death.
If one doesn’t possess the formidable power to guard these tablets, they could likely be killed and have them snatched away!
This is because the usage of the tablets leaves noticeable traces of special bonuses.
Thus, unless the owners never use the skills or tools corresponding to the tablets, their ownership would soon be known to the public.
"..."
Sitting at the back of the class, Lanci was originally planning to further ask about Hyperion’s situation. However, since the teacher had resumed teaching, he first focused on the lecture at the front of the class, listening attentively and nodding in agreement.
In his view,
The Original Tablets are indeed supreme artefacts that only the strongest deserve to possess.
That’s precisely their inherent value.
"Currently, more than half of the thirty-two Original Tablets’ owners around the world are humans, while the rest are scattered among the Demon Race, Blood Clan, Elves, and other non-human races..."
At this point,
Despite being a fact that should make them proud being in a human kingdom, Teacher Teresa’s tone and expression seemed a bit off, as if trying to steer away from the topic of the number of Original Tablets.
"..."
Many students went silent. They knew why.
Among the roughly twenty Original Tablets possessed by humans, a full ten are held by the Rebirth Church.
These belong to those ten ultimate Cardinal Bishops.
This is not just a disgrace to humanity, it’s also a dreadful nightmare that fills every creature on the North and South Continent with fear.
"Our Hutton Kingdom initially had two Original Tablets, but now, only the ’Original Tablet of Wind’ owned by the Dean of the Sage Academy, Loren, remains."
Teacher Teresa felt forced to steer the conversation towards the situation within their own country.
Hutton Kingdom is a formidable country in the South Continent. While it can’t compare with the Cerryti Empire occupying the entire southernmost territory, it is amongst the top ranks within the cluster of kingdoms.
Unlike smaller kingdoms, even if a bishop from the Rebirth Church were to arrive, the kingdom still has the power to deal with it.
"What about the other tablet?"
A student promptly raised their hand, asking with curiosity.
"..."
Teacher Teresa opened her mouth as if to answer, but seemed to hesitate as if realizing something.
In the back row of the classroom,
Lanci noticed that Teacher Teresa’s gaze seemed to involuntarily drift onto Hyperion momentarily before swiftly moving away.
Turning his head, Lanci noticed that Hyperion’s expression had turned rather grim.
Teacher Teresa on the podium cleared her throat and composed her words.
She’d overlooked the fact that an important party involved was present in the classroom.
She was at a loss for how to articulate this matter.
And at this point, it would be too difficult to brush it aside.
"The other ’Original Tablet-Dark’ has been missing along with Duke Migaya Alansar."
Teacher Teresa briefly explained, switching the images on the Magic Fluorescent Screen in an attempt to segue to the next lecture section.
However,
After her words had fallen,
It seemed to incite a surge of discussion in the classroom like a wild tide.
Although many students had heard before enrollment that Duke Migaya, who resides in the capital city Ekrite, was not only of a noble status but also one of the strongest in the Hutton Kingdom,
They didn’t know that Duke Migaya was an owner of an Original Tablet, a detail from the higher world’s information.
Therefore, Duke Migaya’s inexplicable disappearance left them even more in an incredulous daze.
Did he defect or is it related to other people?
Or did someone close to him conspire with the enemy?
Actually, many people in the capital city had suspicions about Hyperion, the daughter who was closest to Duke Migaya Alansar, as well as his demon race wife who had vanished and kept a mysterious profile for many years.
In the noisy classroom.
The last row where Hyperion sat had somewhat become the focal point of attention, like the eye of a storm.
Despite many students daring not to stare unabashedly at the back row, a good number inadvertently cast their eyes on the person in question when they were engaged in conversation.
However, next to Hyperion.
"This isn’t right..."
Lanci seemed to isolate himself from the bustling surroundings, his eyebrows furrowed in thought, his lips opened and closed slightly as he murmured to himself.
He now understood why Hyperion was in such an unusual state earlier.
But the serious problem he recognized, did not lie here!
In the game plot that Lanci was familiar with, although the setting of the [Original Slabstone Tablet] existed, it was a supreme item only encountered in the final stages of the game.
Even in the most recently developed game plot, most bearers of the [Original Slabstone Tablet] remained hidden from the players. One could only possibly find a clue from a specific character by completing side quests within the game. Its functions were also not officially opened yet.
The side quest [Wilford Tragedy] that would lead to the annihilation of Lanci’s Wilford Trading Company Family in the future was corresponding to the whereabouts of a certain [Original Slabstone Tablet].
At the same time, this super-difficult side quest was also a prerequisite for unlocking epic quests.
But in this school, it seemed that the whereabouts of quite a few tablets could be directly inquired from teachers, without the many mechanisms intended by Sima’s plan!
The problem was, the characters possessing the tablets, were somewhat different from those Lanci was familiar with!
First of all, the current point in time he was at was still part of the extra story plot, and the official plot would only begin nearly two years from now.
In the original plot, that is, two years from now, the holder of the [Original Slabstone Tablet - Dark] would be Marquis Bernhard, the ninth progenitor of the Blood Clan, who had just unsealed!
Definitely not Migaya Alansar of the Hutton Kingdom.
The Southern Crayney Empire on the other hand, was actually the Blood Clan’s lair.
This seemingly prosperous empire was currently being gradually infiltrated and controlled by the awakening Blood Clan who was unsealing, and they would even announce a very abstract bill - the "Covenant of Coexistence with the Blood Clan" in the future.
By the time they were capable of enacting this bill, Lanci didn’t dare to imagine to what extent the Blood Clan would have eroded the empire.
The content of the game should be accurate, with only the timeline differing.
If everything went according to the original plot, the holder of the [Original Slabstone Tablet - Dark] two years later would become Marquis Bernhard, the ninth progenitor of the Blood Clan.
And the current holder was indeed Hyperion’s father, Migaya Alansar.
There was only one way to change the holder of the Original Tablet.
That was to kill the previous holder of the tablet and seize his slab!
In other words, Duke Migaya’s whereabouts were related to the South Crayney Empire in the south and the Blood Clan!
If Migaya could not be rescued in more than a year’s time, he would inevitably die.
Lanci supported his chin in thought.
He pondered upon it thoroughly.
Based on the difference in the information he currently had, once his rank went up a bit, within a year and a half, he could go to the South Crayney Empire to reinforce Marquis Bernhard’s seal and reorganize the Blood Clan.
Then, he would try to save Duke Migaya.
With such a strong backer, he wouldn’t have to worry about the [Wilford Tragedy] at all. From then on, he could follow Big Brother Migaya, and it would be no issue to be rampant and domineering in the Hutton Kingdom!
As for why he was so confident about going on an adventure in the lair of the Blood Clan?
The map of the core area of the Blood Clan’s ancient underground city was drawn by him!
His understanding of the traps, secret passages, and Blood Clan cemeteries may even exceed that of the Blood Clan marquises and princes!
The classroom atmosphere gradually became somewhat solemn, seemingly unable to avoid the topic.
Even a number of different gazes were cast increasingly frequently towards Hyperion, causing her, who was already feeling terrible, to be increasingly uncomfortable. Her heartbeat and breathing became more and more chaotic and she did not dare to lift her head for a long time.
Even though Lanci was sitting next to her, she couldn’t feel the slightest bit of reassurance.
Just then.
"Teacher, what kind of reward would there be if the lost Duke Migaya was found and the [Original Slabstone Tablet - Dark] was recovered for the Hutton Kingdom?"
Lanci suddenly raised his hand and posed a question to Teacher Teresa on the podium.
His seemingly absurd, joking remark made many classmates fail to stifle their laughter, and the atmosphere in the class became a lot more harmonious. The topic gradually turned in a more humorous direction.
"Then his majesty the king would certainly bestow upon him a peerage, announce his heroic deeds throughout the nation, and Duke Alansar would see him as a close confidant without a doubt."
Teacher Teresa replied with a slightly sarcastic smile.
When she finished speaking, she also finally let out a sigh of relief.
Teresa knew Lanci had made this comment to help make the atmosphere in the classroom more relaxing, so that Hyperion would no longer feel so embarrassed.
Even though she also noticed, some of Lanci’s actions were indeed humanely inappropriate.
But he was undeniably a gentle and sensitive teenager most of the time.
