IRM Chapter 75

That day, the topics at the Magic Academy were exceptionally abundant. One was the fireworks that had bloomed across the entire city last night, and the other was the first-year Class S, where electric arcs and flames had interwoven and illuminated the morning.

According to the vivid descriptions from the little mages in Classes A and B near Class S, the first half of the Principles of Magic class in Class S had been quiet and peaceful, but the second half had suddenly erupted with explosive commotion!

By the time the instructors and professors couldn’t help but go over to watch, the entire class had already descended into complete chaos. Frantically fleeing figures and brilliant, gorgeous magic circles had continued for half the morning, with teachers and students throughout the entire academy enjoying the various fireworks that Class S was performing.

For others, this was merely a topic of delighted discussion, but for the four people involved, they were exhausted and breaking out in cold sweat……

Ji Chi was so tired he collapsed directly against the wall. Madam Emma was even harsher than Chloe. She very clearly knew that Ji Chi was a bug, so she restricted all his methods of counterattack and defense, only letting him rely on his own initial speed to pull along three short-legged teammates to dodge and evade.

Fortunately, the little mages in the class were still rather immature in their use of magic circles, which allowed them to barely escape disaster.

Brandon had been carried on Ji Chi’s shoulder and run around the entire time, his face pale from being jostled. “Madam Emma is too terrifying when she’s angry. It’s a good thing we weren’t caught, otherwise we’d have to run 20 laps around the academy…… That would kill someone!”

Ji Chi was panting harder than he ever had before. He glanced at the young master, whose body was completely clean and tidy, wiped away some sweat and complained, “Didn’t you notice that I’ve already finished running those 20 laps for you? Bringing you along was far too inefficient. I should have just thrown you down at the very beginning……”

The young master looked at him incredulously. “What do you mean inefficient?! That was a full 20 laps! Why don’t you talk about Saintess Coralie instead? What’s so difficult about not being sarcastic for a week? She should have learned to……”

The young master didn’t continue speaking, because Saintess Coralie’s wand was already pressed against his neck.

Saintess Coralie looked at him coolly and said sarcastically, “I should have learned what? To learn to be number one at screaming like a certain someone?”

Under the young master’s cowardly gaze as he admitted his mistake, Saintess Coralie slowly withdrew her wand and thought about it very seriously, “Having me not speak for a week—I’d rather remove the headmaster’s wig once every day instead.”

Evan smiled bitterly and waved his hands. “Don’t drag me into this. I really can’t do it. Headmaster Harvey already works so hard managing the academy every day, how could anyone play tricks on him?”

Evan fell silent for a moment, then kicked the ball back. “Compared to these punishments, Professor Joseph’s supplementary lessons seem more like a reward……”

Ji Chi finally recovered his strength, propped himself up and glared at him. “You’ve changed, Evan! Don’t you even think about who worked so hard to pull you through until the end of class? Is this how you treat me?”

Evan’s eyebrows curved as he smiled, his sky-blue pupils full of bright, glittering amusement.

After the group bantered for a while, they collapsed in their seats, staring blankly and wearily at the empty classroom.

“Hey.” Brandon lay on the desk, tugging at his fingers as he suddenly spoke up. “If you…… stay at the Engineering Academy for a long time, will you just not come back to the Magic Academy?”

Saintess Coralie and Evan turned their heads to look at Ji Chi, the ease in their eyes slowly fading.

Ji Chi laughed and reached out to roughly ruffle the young master’s slightly curly red hair. “I’m just auditing classes there. I still have to pick times when the Magic Academy doesn’t have classes to go, and besides, even if I didn’t want to come back here, I’d still have to see whether Professor Joseph agrees or not.”

The young master clutched his head to prevent him from messing up his hairstyle. He was about to scold him with feigned anger, but in the end couldn’t help but laugh. He seemed much more relaxed, raising his eyebrows with great interest. “Then I want to audit at the Warrior Academy too! Hey, why didn’t I think of this before! I can even bring my Dragon-Slaying Agony Greatsword over there to practice!”

The others looked at him with expressions beyond words. What kind of ridiculous name did you give that greatsword?

Saintess Coralie thought more deeply. After pondering for a while, she asked Ji Chi, “Auditing at other academies—is this a special situation just for you, or can everyone apply to the headmaster?”

“Do you want to apply to the Summoning Academy too?” Ji Chi didn’t immediately draw a conclusion, but just said to her, “You can go ask the headmaster. I don’t think he’ll refuse anyone who thirsts for knowledge.”

Saintess Coralie nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll find time to ask him.”

The young master chuckled and added a sharp-tongued remark, “You could also try removing his wig while you’re at it.”

Saintess Coralie reached out to pinch him, but the young master was quick and hid behind Evan. He tugged on Evan’s shoulder, squeezed the slender shoulders in his hands, tilted his head and asked Evan, “Why don’t you also go find an academy to apply to? Once everyone advances to the Combat Academy, the four of us can form a team with seven professions! Doesn’t that sound cool?”

Evan smiled with pursed lips. “I’ll pass. Magic alone is enough to consume my entire lifetime of studying.”

He lowered his eyes to look at the magic grimoire on the desk, reaching out to stroke the rough cover. Only he knew that every single page inside was covered with countless magic circles, so densely packed it was shocking to behold.

Seeing that Brandon was about to say more, Ji Chi reached out and pulled him over. “You just practice your whatever Agony Dragon-Slaying Greatsword properly, but don’t forget about magic either. Being a jack of all trades and master of none is the worst thing.”

The young master corrected him with dissatisfaction. “It’s Dragon-Slaying Agony Greatsword! Also, you’re the last person who should be saying that, aren’t you?”

Evan watched them roughhousing and couldn’t help but laugh as well, but soon his eyes darkened, as if he had strengthened some kind of conviction. His little-sun-like smiling face vaguely revealed a sharp edge.

After the chaotic morning passed, the afternoon training class seemed especially bland. Professor Joseph taught seriously, and Ji Chi also seriously let his mind wander.

Joseph glared at him several times, but thinking of the upcoming Engineering Academy exam, he held back his anger and didn’t scold him aloud. He just gradually increased the intensity of his tone, making the little mages feel stunned one after another.

Finally making it to dismissal, the young master ran up to Ji Chi with quick steps, grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the academy gates. “Hurry, hurry! I had the butler prepare the carriage this morning. We can get there in just a few minutes.”

Ji Chi was unusually not kept behind by Joseph today. Evan had been planning to wait for him to have dinner together, but seeing the two of them like this, he paused. “You’re leaving the academy?”

Ji Chi hummed in acknowledgment and said vaguely, “We have something to take care of outside.”

Evan didn’t suspect anything and waved at him, warmly saying goodbye before heading toward the cafeteria alone.

Brandon turned his head to glance at Evan’s retreating figure and asked Ji Chi, “You still haven’t told him you’re moving out?”

Ji Chi looked at him helplessly. “I only received the house key this morning. I didn’t think it was necessary to say anything the past few days, and today I still haven’t figured out how to tell him……”

Ji Chi paused, looked at Evan’s retreating figure, and sighed honestly, “I’m afraid Evan will overthink things.”

After returning from the Demon King’s castle, Evan had become much more silent. Sometimes he would be lost in deep thought, not knowing what he was thinking about. The number of times he went out of the dormitory was also gradually increasing…… Ji Chi knew the biggest reason was that Evan didn’t want to disturb his studying of other professions, and there were other reasons—perhaps he also didn’t want Ji Chi to disturb him.

For two people who both had secrets, living separately was the best plan.

But Ji Chi didn’t know how to bring this up. Evan’s emotions were sensitive, and he was somewhat worried it would cause a misunderstanding.

The carelessly straightforward young master obviously couldn’t understand such delicate feelings. He scratched his face in confusion. “Will lying to him prevent him from overthinking? You’re really strange.”

“What do you know? Shut up.” Ji Chi put on a stern face and pushed the young master forward.

Though he knew Brandon wasn’t wrong—deception was the worst kind of explanation.

The young master was in a pretty good mood today. He was too lazy to quibble with someone so rude and leisurely sat in his family’s luxurious and exquisite carriage, humming an off-key little tune, his eyes bright and sparkling as he watched the scenery outside the window recede.

The residential district on North Street didn’t allow idle people to enter and exit. He had passed by that area many times but had never actually gone in to look around. The young master was very curious, and also somewhat proud—this was yet another place his father hadn’t been!

The old butler endured the completely off-tune melody while helping the young master remove a strand of hair stuck to his shoulder. He took out a delicate small silver tweezer, gently picked up the slightly curly red hair, placed it in an unfolded handkerchief and wrapped it up. Lowering his head, he reminded, “Young Master Brandon, Madam has asked you to return to the manor tonight.”

The young master’s off-key singing stopped abruptly. He raised his head to look at the old butler. “Why?”

The old butler said with lowered eyes. “Madam saw your unique insights on the Thirty-Six Dragon-Slaying Sword Techniques and the Eighteen-Day Hell Fist Speed Course in your room, and wishes to discuss warrior training methods with you.”

Brandon froze, then cold sweat poured out frantically. “Wh-what? How did she find those? No, no, no, I can’t train with her! I’ll die at her hands!”

The old butler smiled and gently shook his head. “Madam is merely skilled at excavating people’s potential. I firmly believe she deeply loves her only son.”

The young master’s eyes were brimming with tears. “In her eyes, deeply loving me and wanting me dead aren’t contradictory! No way, I absolutely must get into the Warrior Academy, otherwise I’m afraid I won’t live to see the day I can lift the greatsword……”

Ji Chi listened from the side, black lines running down his forehead.

Wait, so you also know you can’t lift the greatsword! Then what’s the point of buying it?

Brandon’s mood sank to rock bottom, and even arriving at the North Street residential district couldn’t cheer him up.

Numbers 200 to 250 on North Street were exquisite independent residences hidden behind a patch of shrubbery. The shrubs bore magic that made them difficult to pass through easily. Only homeowners who had been imbued with the aura of the contract could freely enter and exit.

Each residence here was like a small manor. In front of and behind the generously and beautifully designed houses were open, flat areas where flowers, grass, and trees could be planted, and new sheds could be built.

Number 223 was in the most central location of the district, with neighboring residences on either side. The distance wasn’t close—unless they deliberately made contact, they wouldn’t disturb each other.

Ji Chi pushed open the white carved railing gate of the courtyard. Light pink roses were planted all around the yard, complementing the emerald green lawn, making everything look very vibrant and beautiful.

Ji Chi nodded with satisfaction and pointed at the lush and bright roses. “This courtyard has a good width. Dig up those flowers and put an archery target there—it’ll be just right.”

The young master and the old butler following behind looked at him with expressions beyond words. They had just been about to admire the courtyard’s tasteful layout when their minds, full of noble romance, were overtaken by a crude archery target.

Ji Chi walked through the long courtyard to the front of the house, pulled out a heavy silver key, and opened the matching white door.

Inside, the house was clean and tidy. Daily necessities were also arranged according to royal standards, completely furnished. Everything was brand new and luxurious, and the air was filled with incense specially supplied to the royal family.

The house had three floors, with every corner arranged very thoughtfully. As long as Ji Chi was willing, he could move in comfortably without bringing anything at all.

Brandon followed Ji Chi as he toured his buddy’s little nest, his mood gradually improving. He poked his head around observing, somewhat excitedly offering suggestions: “This windowsill has perfect lighting. You could put a daybed here. In winter, sitting here drinking tea and watching the snow would be especially enjoyable!”

Ji Chi glanced briefly. “Oh, I was thinking of putting an herb stand there. Some plants like sunlight, so putting them here would be just right. Watering and changing soil would also be convenient.”

The young master’s smile cracked. Not believing his bad luck, he looked around and persistently suggested. “In that corner you could install a fireplace. It would be best to embed a circle of obsidian around it—the lighting in the room would be very warm and soft……”

Ji Chi nodded. “Mm, you’re right. That’s a good place to pile up refining ore. The stone furnace could also be placed nearby.”

The young master’s smile disappeared. He had never seen such an unromantic fellow. He tentatively pointed to the exquisite balcony extending out from the second floor. “Over there……”

Ji Chi turned his head to glance. “I can house my familiars on the balcony. Some familiars have odors and really can’t be kept inside the house.”

The young master quickly turned around. “I think I’d rather go back and train with Mother after all……”

The old butler behind him had long since been left with vacant eyes by this inhuman aesthetic sense and followed the young master downstairs. Suddenly, he stopped, turning his head toward the entrance of the courtyard.

“What is it?” Seeing him stop, Brandon asked in confusion.

The old butler said, “Someone is waiting there.”

Ji Chi stood on his toes and looked over, seeing an unfamiliar head with dense curly hair. He couldn’t think of who would come looking for him here and slightly furrowed his brows. “I’ll go out and take a look.”