NOVPUBThe living room was quiet for a moment after two o’clock in the afternoon.
The dazzling autumn sun streamed through the curtains, its golden beams roaming across the dark floor textures like fish.
However.
At this Friday afternoon nap time, no one felt sleepy.
Lanci had just narrowly escaped what could have been his cremation.
If the Great Love Poet had decided to provoke Talia with a few words, Lanci might have skipped straight to the hospital.
But the Great Love Poet was in a good mood today, and she decided to save the soldier, Lanci.
"Forget it, if I were to squabble with you, it would be my fault."
The Great Love Poet, seeing that Talia was still tightly gripping Lanci, spoke with a hint of helplessness in her voice.
Then she dismissed the summons of her own accord, reverting into two Magic Cards—one orange, one purple—and vanished from Lanci and Talia’s sight.
Out of sight, out of mind—they say. Having said what she needed to, it was better not to let Talia see her anymore.
"..."
Hyperion was at a loss for words.
She really wanted to tell the Great Love Poet, you want to learn how to be human, don’t learn it from Lanci...
Meanwhile, by the wall.
After the disappearance of the Great Love Poet, the entire living room felt even more silent.
"Lanci..."
Just as Talia continued to gaze at Lanci, wanting to see how he would defend himself and express his stance.
Lanci didn’t say much.
He just smiled and closed his eyes.
As if whether to kill or cut depended solely on Talia; as long as Talia no longer misunderstood him, that was enough.
It also seemed like he was betting on her showing mercy.
Time finally started to move synchronously again.
Talia was a bit overwhelmed.
She was certain that Lanci was not afraid at all, and even sensed a calmness in him, a demeanor too complacent to simply be playing games with her.
She carefully thought about the words of the Great Love Poet, and according to the Poet—
Lanci had always been indifferent towards the Great Love Poet, well aware of the difference between the Poet and herself.
Besides, if he were to be moved by the Great Love Poet, he should have been backfired by the dangerous Magic Card long ago, so in fact, it was impossible for Lanci to have any feelings for the Great Love Poet...
"..."
In Talia’s golden eyes, emotions gradually became complex, but significantly calmer.
She felt perhaps she had wrongly blamed Lanci.
He had always been loyal to her.
Perhaps, she should also be gentler toward him.
Although she wasn’t sure yet how to be gentle.
Talia let go of Lanci and turned her face away, no longer looking at him.
"Phew…"
Hyperion, who had been watching the argument between Talia and Lanci, breathed a sigh of relief.
Although Miss Tata still maintained her usual silence, it was unclear what she was really thinking under her typically cold demeanor, but at least she didn’t seem angry anymore.
Hyperion thought it was also likely that with Lanci’s skills, he wouldn’t easily fall into the Asura Field, unless he continued to escalate his efforts to doom himself, which could potentially have disastrous consequences.
And considering the level of Lanci’s recklessness, once a disaster struck, she couldn’t even begin to imagine what it would look like.
But then again, Hyperion thought, that day might never come.
Probably...
Lanci was always one to blend audacity with talent.
"I’m taking Cat Boss back with me, I’ll come to pick up Hyperion from school this evening."
Talia picked up the Little Black Cat from the floor, then turned to Lanci and Hyperion.
Cat Boss had been munching on melons on the floor and then crashed.
It didn’t understand why this young man wasn’t afraid of the Asura Field.
"Okay, thank you, Miss Tata."
Hyperion thanked her, saying goodbye to her and Cat Boss.
Not until Talia had left and closed the door did Lanci and Hyperion relax and sit down on the sofa in the living room.
It was Hyperion’s first visit to Lanci’s dorm.
But being in the same room with Lanci felt naturally comfortable.
There was no restraint between them.
It felt like being at home.
Probably because they usually spent so much time together, they were very familiar, and they had previously stayed at Tata’s house in the same way.
"Why does she seem like your mom?"
Lanci, scratching his head, asked in confusion.
Even though Talia and Hyperion had only known each other for a few days, their relationship had visibly grown very close, and there was a distinct sense of caring.
Although Talia was old enough to be Hyperion’s mother, they should consider Talia’s situation—being hundreds of years old and still looking after a kid, she’d never get married.
"Don’t say that. Miss Tata is still very young; she should be like a sister, not a mom..."
Hyperion tried to deny it, but her voice grew softer and softer.
In fact, she often secretly imagined Miss Tata’s warm care as maternal love.
Just thinking about it felt impolite and made her feel low.
"Right, I can’t imagine her turning into a domestic goddess either, haha."
Lanci thought Talia didn’t relate at all to words like "gentle," "good housekeeping," or "maternal."
Just then, the door of Lanci’s dorm opened again.
Lanci’s laughter abruptly stopped, and he sat up straight.
Talia first silently stared at Lanci for a while, then turned to look at Hyperion.
"Hyperion, are you having dinner with him tonight, or are you coming home to eat?"
Talia asked, cradling Cat Boss.
"I’ll come home to eat."
Hyperion thought for a moment and replied.
The days she could stay at Tata’s house were limited, and she’d eventually feel embarrassed to impose on her hospitality.
So, for these two weeks, Hyperion wanted to cherish the time living with Tata as much as possible.
"Then I’ll come to pick you up at five."
Talia nodded, and the door to Lanci’s dorm closed.
"..."
Lanci fell silent, as if pondering the origins of the universe.
Could it be that Talia was naturally awakening her maternal instincts because of her age?
No, that can’t be it—a demon race mother shouldn’t be this gentle...
At that moment, Hyperion was also watching Lanci.
She finally realized something.
Maybe Lanci always said Tata was harsh on him not entirely because of Miss Tata.
It was because this guy always unconsciously made mocking remarks!
Like he was always thinking of very impolite things but trying hard not to say them out loud!
"Lanci, can you please stop teasing Miss Tata in the future, I’m worried you might end up in trouble..."
Hyperion nervously clenched her hands, looking at Lanci sitting on the other sofa and urging him. 𝓷ℴ𝓋𝓅𝓊𝒷.𝒸𝓸𝓶
She didn’t know whether Lanci was genuinely honest or just found life too bland and was seeking some extreme thrill from Tata.
"How could I possibly tease my teacher? Besides, I do good deeds all day long; the Goddess of Destiny will surely protect me."
Lanci smiled naturally, leaning on the sofa and turning his head to look at Hyperion.
"..."
Hyperion was at a loss for words.
She could only silently repent to the Great Love Poet in her heart.
She had tried her best to stop Lanci.
She hoped that if Lanci ever, ever ended up causing a colossal disaster, it wouldn’t involve her...
