NOVPUBThe two continued on their journey, gradually disappearing into the shadows at the end of the corridor, only leaving scattered spots of light on the empty road.
They eventually reached the foundation layer, walking out of Chinston City Prison together under the watchful eyes of the prison guards.
Beyond the imposing grey stone walls, Chinston City with its attractive scenery could be seen in the distance.
At the moment, it was one in the afternoon and the sun was high in the sky, casting a warm light. The sky was a pale blue, adding to the clear brightness unique to spring in the snowfields.
Returning to Chinston City after almost a month, a sense of familiarity and intimacy immediately surrounded them, making their strides lighter.
In this snowfield, apart from the road full of wind and snow, the place they would most likely stay and enjoyed the most was Chinston City.
"Actually, I think you make a great headmaster."
Sikder said thoughtfully.
He had been able to teach Shaar, a great student, and manage Anello, a troublesome one.
"Oh? You think so?"
Lanci’s eyes lit up.
"Sure."
Sikder said, smiling smugly.
Now they were planning to rest in the Lord’s Mansion in Chinston City for the night, head south the next day to Hezishan Province, the transportation hub in the northern part of the Protoss Empire, from where they could then take the Magic Power Rail Train back to the capital, Herram.
During their previous visit to Chinston City, they had stayed at Viscount Levin Chinston’s mansion, and this time Viscount Chinston had already readied a room for them there.
As they walked the streets, their gazes would occasionally meet amid their conversation.
Upon hearing Lanci and Sikder resume their usual banter, the cat boss couldn’t help but worryingly raise its head in Sikder’s arms.
"We still have to pass through the blockade in Hezishan Province, how are we going to do that meow?"
It looked at Sikder, then Lanci, and asked. It had overheard Lanci and Sikder talking about the issue at the inn.
Once they reached Hezishan Province, regardless of how Sigrid was disguised, the sealer there would sense the curse mark’s power on her and detect her immediately.
The main forces of the Nirvana Branch, the Grand Priests, were in Hezishan Province, and it was definitely not a barrier that Lanci could break through with the influence he had in Xue Yuan Province.
In contrast, Sigrid, now completely unconcerned about anything, seemed to be genuinely enjoying her relaxation and even playfully teased the cat!
"Don’t worry, leave it up to me."
Lanci looked at the cat boss and answered confidently,
"I need to craft a card soon and then we can set off."
Viscount Chinston’s mansion had a room suitable for crafting cards and it was fully equipped with the necessary tools. He was finally getting back to his track after a long time.
No matter what, he needed to get Sigrid back to the capital, Herram, as soon as possible.
Firstly, he himself had a major interview program with the Herram Broadcasting Company to attend to, a commitment as a distinguished headmaster that he had to honor.
Secondly, Sigrid’s Bishop election was coming up. If she, being a Bishop of Hegemony, could win it, she would become the sole decision-maker for the Rebirth Church in the Protoss Empire, and thus the church in the country would be under their control.
"So, I want to see how you craft a card. Would it distract you if someone was around?"
Sikder asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.
She had nothing to do at the moment and was curious about the Saint Heir’s job as a Magic Artisan, so she thought she might as well watch him work.
"No problem. I indeed need someone to watch when I’m crafting a card."
Although his assistant, the Great Love Poet was not around, the card he was going to make this time wasn’t difficult. He was familiar with the process.
Moreover, if he could have an older woman by his side watching him, he believed it would surely increase his success rate.
"...Did you think of something inappropriate just now?"
Sikder stared into Lanci’s eyes, carefully examining him before asking disdainfully.
"Not at all, just respect."
Lanci replied with certainty.
"Really——?"
Sikder dragged her words out.
"I truly respect you."
Lanci looked at her with his usual natural expression.
"..."
"Fine. Regardless of whether it was during my prime or now in my weakened state, your attitude towards me remains the same, which I guess could be considered consistent in a way. I’ll overlook this once."
Sikder closed her eyes in resignation, waving her hand dismissively.
"So what’s the point of a high favorability rating now?"
The more Lanci thought about it, the more he felt that as long as Sikder didn’t leave the team, favorability ratings didn’t make much of a difference.
"...Sikder is willing to die with you, isn’t it moving to have such a girl by your side?"
After some pondering, Sikder began to portray the scenario from earlier that day when they faced the Saint of Nirvana on the snowfield, like a girl telling a fairy tale.
"..."
Lanci stared at Sikder, finding himself at a loss for words.
This lousy boss, putting no effort at all into his stories.
Seeing Lanci bewildered, Sikder started laughing again.
"You need to keep going, Saint Heir."
Patting Lanci on the back, Sikder looked content.
Even though she’d lost her powers, she didn’t worry about the future at all.
With each step they took, the familiar Lord’s Mansion gradually came into view.
The imposing structure seemed to greet them, with the familiar red-brick walls and rooftops particularly noticeable.
Upon seeing them, the uniformed guards at the gate of the Lord’s Mansion immediately opened the doors and saluted them with the utmost respect.
The courtyard still had its usual landscaping. Under the sun, flowers, plants, and fountains glistened. The melting ice at every few steps and the moist snow on the rooftops could be heard going drip-drip, making the snow covering the buildings sparkle like inlaid crystals.
Having listened to the two’s conversation all the way to the mansion, the cat boss frowned, as it had just realized a problem.
During the last two months of traveling alone with Lanci on the Northern Continent, it had thoroughly understood that Lanci harbored such a strong ambition that even he himself was unaware of its existence.
However, Lanci was gentle like a housewife at times, carrying a hint of tender concern. His eccentric talent mixed with the aforementioned traits made him dangerously irresistible. Tata seems to be quite resistant to this, always consciously keeping a distance.
For Xiu Bao, not only was she able to resist falling under his spell, she could even negate his toxic charm altogether.
But Sikder had the monstrous ability to unabashedly indulge in his spell.
Thus, in addition to indulging Lanci, she was continuously aggravating Lanci’s demonic nature, and he felt fulfilled by her acknowledgment and support, seeing her as a female version of himself. To him, he thought, this seems pretty normal.
The more the cat boss thought about it, the weirder it seemed.
Generally, a youthful romance story is about a boy meeting a girl, where both parties heal and save each other...
Where others fly together like lovebirds towards the sky, these two would likely be digging their way towards the underworld, like an energy-drilling machine.
So weird, too weird... need to observe them more.
