NOVPUB"Lanci, you’re back."
The door to the student council room opened, and the air, infused with the scent of coffee and candles, wafted in. Lanci quickly spotted the president sitting behind the desk.
In front of him, a long table made of dark wood, meticulously polished to a sheen that reflected the last rays of the sunset through the partially covered large window. Next to the window, the deep red curtains swayed gently in the breeze, shimmering in the evening light like the curtains of a theater.
It seemed the president was still around at this hour, likely waiting for Lanci.
"Monasite Senior, I’m sorry for being late."
Lanci promptly walked over to the desk and took a seat opposite the president.
However, as he passed by the rest area on the left side of the room, he saw a female with pearwood-colored hair sitting on the exceedingly comfortable leather sofa of the student council. She glanced curiously back at Lanci, and he nodded to her as a simple greeting without further conversation, as speaking with the president was more pressing at the moment.
"Actually, there’s nothing urgent in terms of official business; you don’t have to worry."
Monasite closed the book in his hands and placed it beside him on the table, his gaze turning towards Lanci,
"This time, the academic visiting team from the Yarolan Kingdom seems quite ordinary compared to the last, except for a girl named Kukulka Paccas who has put forth a request."
"Kukulka?"
Lanci had not heard this name before.
But from the president’s expression, it seemed that she was related to their student council.
"Do you remember Kuise? The strongest martial artist from last year’s Arolan Royal Academy Academic Visiting Team, who kept challenging our Soul of Fighters’ Club Team, until you personally coached them and defeated him in the fighting contest."
Monasite asked again.
"I remember."
Lanci suddenly understood.
Last year, during the first term, it all started when Kuise from the Royal Arolan Academy wanted to challenge the strongest leader of the Soul of Fighters’ Club Team, Cervini. However, Cervini had already transferred to Alchemy College to study law, so Kuise kept tormenting and attacking the members of the Soul of Fighters’ Club Team, trying to force Cervini to face him in combat. Even when the student council members approached for dialogue, he made disrespectful comments towards Hyperion.
In the end, under the president’s guidance, a fair five-on-five competition was arranged, and the Soul of Fighters’ Club Team coached by Lanci won a resounding victory.
"Miss Kukulka is Kuise’s sister, and they both are nobles of the Arolan Kingdom."
Monasite continued to explain.
"So she wants to avenge her brother?"
Lanci held his chin in puzzlement.
"No, at least not as I see it. She is quite reasonable, and the first thing she did upon arriving at the student council room was to apologize to Hyperion for her brother’s rudeness."
Monasite shook his head,
"She applied to be a one-year exchange student at Ichrite Academy, with her sights set on Sage Academy, and she also wants to join the ’Hutton Times’ newspaper club where Lavisseir belongs. She needs a senior student from Sage Academy to show her around the campus. Moreover, as a priest, she is very interested in Dean Loren."
Monasite spoke to Lanci as if discussing family matters,
"Forgive my presumption, but it’s evident that her main goal is Dean Loren. After some thought, I sent Hyperion to show her around."
There didn’t seem to be any significant issues with this routine academic visit.
"I see."
Lanci thought it over and agreed that Hyperion was indeed the most suitable person.
They both were priests of the Church of the Goddess of Destiny and would likely have a lot to discuss.
That meant the woman sitting in the student council room was not Kukulka.
Miss Kukulka had already been taken away by Hyperion.
After chatting for a while, Lanci realized that he had been ignoring the woman sitting on the sofa in the rest area all this time.
"And who might this be?"
Lanci turned his head and looked towards the sofa in the rest area, asking President Monasite.
The woman appeared more mature than a student, her whole being emanated a harmless aura, and her features were indeed delicate.
Her skin was tender, and her bright red lips were especially memorable, seemingly natural rather than made up.
Most notably, she shared the same pearwood hair color as the president.
"Miss Florence, my sister. You know that I’m not from Hutton, right?"
Monasite introduced her, inviting Lanci to join them by the sofa, sitting opposite the pearwood-haired woman.
Lanci looked sidelong at the president.
Many students from other countries attended Ichrite Academy, such as the well-born president, who was clearly not a noble of the Hutton Kingdom, and his family did not reside in the Hutton Kingdom.
However, if the president were to marry Senior Asina in the future, he might stay in the Hutton Kingdom and not return to his homeland, the Camberra Kingdom.
Lanci immediately understood why the president was so knowledgeable about Dean Loren, as previous rumors about the Dean had come from the president himself.
"Hello, Student Lanci!"
Florence waved at Lanci and Monasite with a smile, revealing her dimples.
"Don’t be fooled by her fragile appearance; she actually has a monstrous talent for fighting. It’s just that she doesn’t look the least bit imposing, so she normally uses armor and Divine Arts to conceal her face and voice,"
Chairman Monasite leaned on the sofa and sighed helplessly,
"As a result, she takes off her armor and not even Dean Loren recognizes her."
"Uh."
Lanci, looking at the approachable Florence, to be honest, couldn’t imagine what she would look like in a suit of heavy armor.
"So, Chairman, you’re seeking me out for a private commission?" 𝖓𝔬𝖛𝔭𝔲𝖇.𝔠𝔬𝖒
Lanci inquired.
"That’s right."
Monasite crossed his arms and gestured for Florence to explain to Lanci herself.
Florence glanced at Lanci.
"I’m actually really worried about Loren. He’s looked ashen these past few days, but I don’t know which face to meet him with."
She muttered nervously.
Even dressed plainly, her cute and charming qualities were apparent, and her voice was as clear and melodious as the sound of heaven.
She had come to the Hutton Kingdom on a secret mission to investigate a mysterious Cardinal Bishop and would not reveal herself in the guise of the Paladin unless necessary.
This led to her being unsure how to meet her dear friend.
"She heard that you can create an impeccable Transformation Magic, so she wants to ask you to make a Magic Card that can disguise her as a male. That way, she can walk arm-in-arm with Dean Loren openly as a close friend,"
Monasite added from the side.
"A card-making commission, huh."
Since becoming a Cardmaker, this was the first time Lanci had received a formal card-making commission.
Actually, it was also because he had never opened his schedule as a Registered Card-making Master at the Cardmaker’s Association.
Lanci roughly understood. To put it simply, Florence didn’t know how to meet her online friend.
Dean Loren thought he was meeting a reliable male buddy online, but in reality, it was a woman. To reassure Dean Loren, the woman wanted to disguise herself as a man.
"Is there a risk of being found out?"
Lanci leaned forward slightly and asked.
He thought it wasn’t inherently a bad thing and being found out wouldn’t be a big deal, but there might be trouble on Dean Loren’s end.
"It’s okay, as long as the ’Bingxue Witch’ doesn’t find out, there should be no problem. She’s the only one in the Church here who knows I’m a woman. Although the ’Bingxue Witch’ has come to the Hutton Kingdom, she clearly has no interest in Loren. If I just avoid her a little, there will be no issues,"
Florence shook her head firmly.
She knew that the ’Bingxue Witch’ Almis had been in the Hutton Kingdom for a long time and had even been helping Loren handle church affairs recently. If Almis hadn’t helped him, he probably couldn’t have coped.
But Florence guessed that Almis’s goal was likely also to investigate the Cardinal Bishop from the Northern Continent.
With Almis occupied with her own work, she wouldn’t be watching Loren all the time.
If Almis really were to keep such a close watch on Loren, Florence would feel a chill.
Anyway, Florence had some understanding of Almis. Almis was not that kind of perverted woman.
"No problem, how about this look?"
Saying this, Lanci took out paper and pen from under the coffee table and soon sketched a drawing. It depicted a pear wood-haired beautiful youth, retaining features of Florence’s appearance while making her look like a boy.
"Perfect! Can you really make me look like this without Loren realizing I’ve used a disguise spell?"
Florence looked at the sketchpad, her eyes wide with excitement, and her lips a glistening red, she resembled an exuberant and lively young woman.
"Of course, I should be able to give you the card by tomorrow. I’ll leave it with the Chairman here, and Miss Florence can come to collect it from him,"
Lanci replied with a smile.
Whether helping Loren or the Chairman, he was more than willing.
Previously in the Northern Continent, when disguising his identity, he had to be completely identical to the target, which took nearly a day to create a specific Transformation Card.
This time, as there was no need to be completely alike to the sketch, only to turn Miss Florence into a male appearance, the work would be finished quickly.
Lanci was already highly skilled; the Magic Card he was best at now was the "Transformation Magic".
"Thank you so much, Lanci!"
Florence clapped her hands joyfully.
Soon, she would be able to meet her dear friend!
