IRM Chapter 83

That evening, after bidding farewell to Ji Chi, Linton returned home alone and remained silent for a long time.

Nana, who had also eaten her fill that day, slowly rubbed up against him and asked softly, “Brother Linton, what are you thinking about?”

Linton came back to his senses, reached out to pull her over, and rubbed her not-very-fleshy face twice. “Nana, do you think there’s any difference between us and those gentlemen?”

Nana thought seriously for a moment, her eyes lighting up. “They have lots of clothes! And very pretty ones too!”

Linton waited patiently. “And what else?”

Nana shook her head. “That’s all.”

Linton zoned out for a while, then couldn’t help but laugh. He realized Ji Chi had been absolutely right—in the process of growing up, they had all been led into misconceptions by people with ulterior motives, and had even trembled with fear while helping them uphold these wrong ideals.

Linton felt the fog before his eyes dissipate somewhat. He lowered his gaze to look at Nana, who was watching him with concern, and asked gently, “Then if one day, the clothes on your brother become fewer and fewer, and more and more worn out, would Nana look down on me?”

Nana stared at him for a long time, her face scrunching up severely.

Just as Linton’s heart gradually turned cold and he couldn’t help but lament the fickleness of the world, Nana suddenly turned and rushed out of his embrace, running and wailing as she went, “Waaaaaah—Brother Linton has gone crazy! He doesn’t want to wear clothes anymore! Even Nana at three years old knows shame!”

Linton was dumbstruck. “Hey, no, that’s not what I meant… Stop shouting! The whole street is going to know!”

The results of the Engineer exam would only be released a month later.

Ji Chi, who had boldly declared he would become a ray of light, returned to his usual lazy state.

As usual, he avoided Joseph’s training class and hid in the small grove beside the training lawn, comfortably lying on a tree branch, enjoying the warm early summer breeze. He propped up one foot while reading through engineering texts, the light filtering through the forest casting dappled shadows.

It should have been a pleasant experience, but he felt an inexplicable irritation.

These past few days, an indescribable unease had been occupying his mind. Ji Chi pinched the bridge of his nose, trying hard to recall what might be causing it. Unable to figure it out, he could only attribute it to seasonal adjustment syndrome and forced himself to focus his attention on the ocean of knowledge.

The bright patches of light falling through the treetops shone on the pages, making the already obscure and difficult text even harder to take in.

“Bzzzz—” A summer cicada landed right by Ji Chi’s ear and began making noise without any sense of self-preservation.

“Smack!” Ji Chi endured and endured, but finally couldn’t help but backhand the book away. The thick tome had an attack power comparable to a wooden mallet, making even the large tree beneath him shake.

“Ji Chi, so you’re here. I’ve been looking for you for ages.” Evan was startled by the suddenly shaking tree and looked up helplessly.

He stepped back a few paces to avoid the falling leaves and, tilting his head back, found Ji Chi hidden among the branches. His sky-blue pupils showed concern, and he hesitated before saying, “Today’s training class is reviewing the magic we learned before. Why don’t you come down and practice…”

Although they were no longer roommates, their relationship was still very good, and Evan habitually worried about this guy.

However, if this guy could be obedient, others wouldn’t need to worry about him.

Ji Chi lay on the tree without moving, irritably flipping through his book with a rustle. He snorted and disdainfully wiggled his foot. “What’s a training class? Can you eat it? If you can’t eat it, then I…”

Evan was used to his occasional nonsense and calmly reminded him, “Ji Chi, the final exams are in a few days. If you still haven’t advanced to Junior Mage this time, you’ll be held back… no, you’ll be expelled.”

After a moment of silence, the cicada that had flown to another tree began to buzz arrogantly again.

No one wanted to pay attention to it now.

“Thud—” A black shadow fell straight down from the tree. Sitting on the ground, he looked up at Evan in horror. “What did you say?!”

Evan stood quietly in place, tucking both hands into the wide sleeves of his robe, smiling as he watched Ji Chi. “Which part didn’t you hear clearly? The final exam in half a month, or the imminent expulsion?”

“Hmm? Mr. Ji Chi, Magic Apprentice?” Evan tilted his head, smiling as brightly and beautifully as a little angel, but his words struck at the heart with each syllable.

Ji Chi finally understood where his unease these past days had come from. It wasn’t some damned seasonal adjustment syndrome at all—it was the anxiety-inducing, nerve-wracking, hair-raising series of exams, one after another!

Ji Chi’s despair was clearly written all over his face. Evan put away his smile, walked over to pull him up, and kept consoling him, “Don’t worry, your talent is so high. If you practice a few more times, you’ll definitely pass.”

Ji Chi looked at Evan with a weathered expression. Gazing at the tender young face before him that would produce water if pinched, he said mournfully, “Young man, do you know what lies beyond that mountain?”

Evan was annoyed by his unreliability. Leaning back his upper body, he struggled to pull him up, squeezing out a few words through gritted teeth. “Is it Junior Mage?”

Seeing his face turn red from exertion, Ji Chi finally went along with his force and got up, saying gloomily, “You’re right. After climbing over this mountain, the next ones are Intermediate and Advanced Mage… Tell me, when will I see the sea of freedom?”

Evan gave a cold laugh. “That question is too profound. You need to discuss it with Professor Joseph.”

Ji Chi immediately shut his mouth and dejectedly followed Evan back to the training lawn, listening to him repeat the exam requirements with vacant eyes.

That afternoon, Harvey rarely finished the academy’s affairs early. Humming a tune, he strolled all the way back to his little nest.

He had been in a very good mood recently because a certain neighbor had finally stopped causing trouble. These past few days had been peaceful and quiet, and that person hadn’t been constantly barging into his office to find him, which made Harvey very comfortable.

This comfort lasted until he walked to his courtyard.

He sensed that someone had been there. Frowning, he scanned the surroundings, then looked down to see three green little branches stuck neatly and properly in a small patch of dirt in front of his white carved gate. They were even wrapped with wisps of golden faith power, looking like some kind of bizarre ritual was being performed.

A vein throbbed on Harvey’s forehead. He yanked out the branches and, without thinking, rushed to the neighboring courtyard and pounded on the door so hard it shook.

After a long while, rustling sounds came from inside the house. Ji Chi poked his head out and asked dejectedly, “What’s the matter, Mr. Harvey?”

Harvey thrust the three branches in front of Ji Chi’s eyes and said angrily, “What are you up to now? Why is there even faith power involved!”

Ji Chi stared at those wisps of golden mist for a moment. “Oh, so this is faith power. I thought it was the incense from my devout heart.”

Harvey’s expression twisted for a moment, looking like he was about to explode. He took a deep breath and said seriously, “Do you know how serious it is for one god to have faith in another god?”

“In other words, do you know where a deity’s power comes from?” Harvey pointed fiercely at Ji Chi’s heart. “It comes from faith power!”

Harvey dispersed the mist on the branches, letting it scatter in the air. He took a deep breath to calm down, then turned to look at Ji Chi and said very seriously, “Don’t ever do this again. If you also get bewitched by the God of Light… this world will truly be doomed.”

“So, what exactly happened that could make you so helpless that you’d even sacrifice faith power to me?” Harvey casually placed the branches on Ji Chi’s windowsill and slowly asked.

Ji Chi scratched his face and stammered, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Harvey became alert and waved his hand to freeze time around them. He didn’t hesitate to expend divine power to investigate the surroundings. After confirming there were no problems, he asked in a low voice, “Did that false god come looking for you?”

Ji Chi sighed. “No, it’s just that final exams are coming up…”

“Crack!” Within the frozen time domain, all the glass windows simultaneously shattered. The fragile glass couldn’t withstand divine wrath and broke into fine crystalline powder in the sunlight.

“Ji Chi!!! Do you want to die—”

Harvey’s furious roar echoed throughout the entire North Street residential area.

Many people opened their windows and looked toward the source of the sound in confusion, muttering doubtfully, “Who made Mr. Harvey angry? That’s really not easy. I always thought he only smiled.”

“Yes, Mr. Harvey is a good person. This morning I accidentally knocked off one of his roses, and he didn’t say anything.”

“Then his temper is really good… Eh? Did you go get your hair trimmed this morning?”

“Huh? No.”

“Then why is there so much hair missing from the top of your head?”

“What… Ah— Why?! Am I going bald? Am I going bald!”

The next morning, Ji Chi arrived at the classroom half an hour early with a serious expression on his face, sitting upright in his seat, waiting for class to begin.

Evan was the second person to arrive at the classroom. As usual, he secured the classroom door to the corner of the wall to make it convenient for students arriving later. After finishing this, he looked up and got a big fright.

“Ji Chi! Did you sleep in the classroom last night?!”

Ji Chi gave him a dismissive glance. “Don’t be ridiculous. I arrived several minutes ago.”

Evan looked utterly incredulous. “Don’t be ridiculous. Did you get the class time wrong?”

Ji Chi clicked his tongue, unwilling to argue with him. “Shh— Don’t talk. Class is about to start. Don’t disturb my listening.”

Only two people have arrived and you’re already talking about class! Evan looked at his head again and again with suspicion on his face, feeling that particular part definitely had some problems.

The clock in the classroom gradually pointed to the usual class time. Every little mage who came in would be severely startled at first sight of Ji Chi, quickly turning their heads to check the clock. After confirming they weren’t late, they’d clutch their aching necks and walk to their seats with dazed expressions.

Seeing this, Ji Chi’s face was full of displeasure. “What’s wrong with how I usually am? Look at those expressions!”

Evan ignored him, keeping his head down flipping through his magic grimoire, unwilling to answer.

“Evan! Do you know what I saw outside the academy yesterday! I saw a girl’s back, and that little figure was exactly like Ji Chi’s! I almost pounced on her, but fortunately I realized something was wrong in time…” Brandon rushed into the classroom in a flurry, plopping down next to Evan and immediately launching into his story.

His little eyes didn’t even glance in Evan’s direction but kept darting toward the classroom door as he said, “You absolutely must not tell Ji Chi. I discovered he really hates people talking about his small frame… but isn’t that the truth? Think about those arms, that waist, those legs—even the girls at the opera house aren’t that slender…”

A sinister cold wind kept blowing past. The young master sensed something was wrong. He turned his head frame by frame and met Ji Chi’s gloomy eyes.

“Would you like to become a slender girl too?” Ji Chi asked gently.

The young master: “Haha.”

The young master had never said nice things to anyone in his life, but today he struggled through various compliments. “Oh! My goodness! These are muscles, aren’t they? Why are yours so magnificent?”

Saintess Coralie, sitting in the back, was about to vomit from listening and clutched her head with an indescribable expression.

The little master of the demon clan was getting a taste of demonic whispers.

Fortunately, Professor Joseph suddenly received a substitute teaching assignment and arrived at the classroom early, inadvertently saving the entire class’s SAN value.

He frowned and scanned the circle of little mages with stiff necks and dying appearances, saying angrily, “Is this how you all are during Madam Emma’s classes! Should I have her rest a few more days so I can properly discipline you all?”

This threat was too terrifying. Upon hearing it, the little mages immediately perked up.

Joseph snorted heavily, pushed up his glasses, and began the lesson.

Throughout the entire morning, his gaze couldn’t help but drift toward Ji Chi’s direction.

This guy was simply too conspicuous—those jet-black eyes thirsting for knowledge, plus the diligent little hands constantly taking notes, everything about him made the old professor’s hair stand on end.

Joseph hazily finished teaching the class and even dismissed them early. After hastily assigning a few tasks, he left the classroom in an awkward gait.

The old professor felt uneasy and walked slowly in the corridor beside the classroom, silently counting in his heart.

Three, two, one.

Sure enough, a voice like a little demon eerily called out from behind him. “Professor Joseph, please wait.”