t as Lance was lost in thought, imagining himself floating among the stars.How much time did you spendA light, airy voice sounded from a distance near Ranch.Lanche tilted his head, and saw a woman of...Chapter 21: Lance Couldn't Forget His Sense of Lawfulness

As the first rays of dawn gradually dispelled the chill of night, they fell upon the streets, buildings, and benches lining them.

The light gradually lengthened.

The city of Ectere, as if awakened by the divine love, seemed to shimmer.

Not long after.

Shops along the street are opening for business one after another, and the enthusiastic shopkeepers greet each other warmly.

Under the cafe's open-air awning, wisps of delicate coffee aroma drifted through the air, accompanied by light and energetic jazz that filled the bustling street.

More and more people are starting to head to work early, bustling through the crowds in the center of Ikte city, their steps hurried.

In the morning breeze, which still carried the scent of fruit and flowers.

Lanche had a faint smile on his face as he walked down this Icter's Street with Talia.

Bathed in the morning sun, he had a peaceful expression and an aura of sunshine all over his body.

Lance looks to be in good spirits.

He now finds school exams and the film world both interesting.

While Talia was in a state of going to work like going to the grave.

She was very unwilling to accompany Lance back to the Ictereus Academy.

The last time she walked out of the academy with Lance, she was stared at several times, which made her skin crawl.

It's good that the third round of exams won't be broadcast live.

Only academy teachers will be able to view it in the background.

Otherwise, Talia wouldn't have called in sick today and wouldn't have come with Lance.

"Tata, are you feeling down"

Lance feels that Talia has spoken much less the past two days.

Today, I'm even more obviously resistant to being around him.

"...."

Tallia ignored him.

He was just looking ahead.

Proceed straight ahead.

Then Lanci quickened his pace a little, breaking into a light jog, and stole a glance back at Talia's face.

She remained expressionless and ignored Ranchi.

Just in that moment, Lance had inadvertently caught Talia's gaze.

Lanche felt that Talia seemed to hate him...

He froze in his tracks, standing there dumbfounded as he touched his head.

Lately, I've felt like our relationship has gotten a little bit better.

How come her attitude changed so drastically

It's so hard to understand the mind of a demon.

What's more, she's an old woman over a hundred years old.

Lan Chi was thinking.

"...."

Tallia just walked up to Lance's side.

She turned her face and stared at Lance.

She felt, for some inexplicable reason, a sudden and overwhelming urge to kill Lance.

But he clearly wasn't speaking just now, and his expression looked normal too...

"What's wrong, Tatta"

Rance asked gently.

It's impolite to not be able to tell what someone is thinking.

It's nothing.

The voice fell.

Then Talia ignored Lance and walked on.

"Chasing the cloud away~"

Lane also hummed a little tune cheerfully and walked along, following him.

……

Half an hour later.

The Hekate Academy, a building dedicated to learning and education, with a seven-story atrium.

Sunlight streaming through the massive glass dome refracts inside, forming soft beams of light that bring a sense of tranquility to the entire atrium.

As light and shadow danced on the ground, Ranch, walking along, could see teachers coming and going in the corridors all around him.

He walked into the spacious and bright examination hall again according to the exam schedule, and couldn't help but admire the ingenuity of the architect.

From afar.

The gigantic magical automaton's world-projection terminal seems to have been repaired.

But on the surface, there was also a conspicuous sign that read "Strictly Prohibited Forced Restart" in a prominent location.

From the font, you can tell that the person who added this warning was quite angry.

Different from the second round of exams.

There weren't many students and faculty members waiting here today.

The third round of the exam is arranged by the teachers of the Academy of Sages, and the examiners for each session will appear directly in the Shadow Realm.

Dean Loren is also gone.

It is said that he still bears the responsibilities taught to him by the Goddess of Fate, and often leaves the royal city of Ikereth.

Stepping slightly around the marble railings, he walked into the waiting area, and saw two figures looking at him.

One is Theresa, the teacher in charge of guiding at the examination venue, holding a tablet-shaped magical device.

She had met Lance when they first took the entrance exam.

Mother Teresa was very gentle and smiled kindly at Lance upon meeting him.

...and the other one, also wearing an exam wristband identical to Ranch's, was clearly his teammate for the third round of the test.

In the exam notice she received yesterday, Lanci saw a statement that —

The third round of the exam is on "Practical Skills and Survival".

In this mode of examination, healers and assistant healers often find it difficult to fight alone.

So the academy adopted a team assessment mode, grouping output mages and healers together.

In most cases, it is a group of three.

It can also evaluate students' teamwork skills.

After all, in the real film world, a team is often one for all and all for one.

If an accident happens, it's highly likely that the whole group will be wiped out. There's no if or buts about it.

However.

When Lance saw his teammate—that extraordinary aristocratic young lady—

Both parties seemed a little surprised.

At the end of the second round of exams two days ago, she asked Lan Qi how long it took him to clear the game.

And then, very conservatively, he answered for less than 50 minutes.

"Less than 50 minutes"

Hubert seemed to find it amusing, his tone laced with a touch of absurdity as he addressed Lance.

She heard about it as soon as she left the examination hall the day before yesterday.

A person with black hair and green eyes cleared the level in just 10 minutes.

She was still doubtful, could it be the guy beside her who said "it takes less than 50 minutes to clear customs"

Now, she was certain.

This is such an old jerk.

Lance awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.

He didn't expect the third round of assessment to be in this way, divided into teams.

Do you know each other

Mother Teresa, noticing the subtle reactions of the two people, couldn't help but ask curiously.

Both shook their heads.

Then.

"My name is Lance Wilford, I am a white mage, but my abilities lean more towards functionality than healing."

Lan Qi took the lead and confidently introduced himself.

What teammates value most is honesty, there's nothing to hide.

After a brief moment of silence.

"Huperlian Alanzar."

The Duchess slightly hesitated before giving her name,

"You can think of me as someone with the role of an assassin."

Her words came to an abrupt end, and the introduction was rather brief.

Apparently, there isn't as much trust in Lynch.

Lanche nodded.

I'm not going to ask any more questions.

He gazed at the entrance of the examination hall, as if waiting for their third teammate.

There's no need to wait, he probably won't be coming.

Hubberley said.

Her abrupt voice suddenly drew Lance and Teresa's curious gaze.

"Why"

If nothing unexpected happens, when the exam starts later, we'll receive a message saying this fellow can't participate in the exam here for some reason. What the specific reason is, depends on whether they were coerced or tempted.

Huperlian shrugged, his eyes cold.

Although her voice was laced with resignation, the rage in her eyes betrayed her inner fury.

She knows too well what those manipulative old aristocratic gentlemen are capable of.

"Um... Huiberlian, this is just your assumption, right"

Huibilian's aura was diametrically opposed to Lanchi's, causing Teresa to feel a shiver down her spine.

If we say that Lanci is like the pure and innocent warmth of sunshine in spring, then Huberlyan is like an ominous thing found at the bottom of a cold and dirty pool of blood, unable to be redeemed.

Mother Teresa looked at Lynch.

Ranche remained as stoic and composed as ever, showing no change in his emotions.

Since Lance wasn't speaking, she, as his teacher, didn't want to say anything more.

……

Not long after.

As the exam approaches.

Sister Teresa's magical device in her hand, as expected, started to ring.

Their teammate voluntarily withdrew from the exam because they decided to apply to other colleges.

"This..."

Mother Teresa also became somewhat troubled.

She probably knows deep down that this seemingly accidental event might not be as random as it appears.

After all, even Hubertian had guessed it beforehand.

"Shall I ask the dean or the vice dean"

Mother Teresa hesitated and asked.

She knew the practical exam conducted by Ferrat later would definitely not be easy.

Moreover, Ferrara himself belonged to those who did not want Hyberly to be admitted.

A mere Huberlian and a mage with weak white magic, Ranchi, stood no chance of passing through...

Hughbert shakes his head.

Her icy eyes softened somewhat as they fell upon Teresa.

Although she never really felt kindness, she only grew up in the midst of malice between each other.

But more or less, she could still discern some degree of good and bad in others.

These nobles love to create seamless coincidences, leaving no opportunity for anyone to catch them.

Hughbert laughed derisively,

Today's exam, even though it won't be broadcast publicly, I imagine many pairs of eyes are watching this stage secretly.

Even more ruthlessly, one could allow Hubert's last teammate to participate in the normal exam first, then become an actor, and even betray Hubert directly.

But if it were too obvious and Dean Loren noticed any clues, Loren might investigate the fairness of the exam.

Therefore, traders are more willing to create an accident.

"Why didn't these people come to look for me"

Ranchito tapped his chin thoughtfully, as if deep in contemplation.

Huberley was silent for a moment.

She doesn't know if Lanchi is truly clueless or pretending to be.

"That bunch also likes to save face. If we just bribed two test takers, it wouldn't look like a coincidence."

Huperbly explained simply.

Of course, she believed that someone as intelligent as Lance could easily understand the real reason.

Those bigwigs didn't think Lance had much combat experience.

Not only that, but Ranch can also allow the exam to continue as normal, becoming a tool for dragging Huberrian down.

If there was only Huberly left as a candidate, the academy wouldn't be so cruel as to have her continue to single-handedly challenge the head examiner. Instead, they would more likely place her in another team and slightly increase the overall difficulty of the exam.

"That's a shame..."

Lance nodded slightly and sighed.

His expression looked like he had missed out on a chance to get rich.

"Don't you want to be bought by them"

Huperian looked at Lanche's expression of undisguised regret and found it quite amusing.

What could he have done to disrespect himself so much that he wouldn't even act anymore

Even though this guy has some unique talents, he's no different from those bad hombres with ulterior motives.

Of course.

Lynch chuckled and nodded affirmatively.

"Hmph, dare they interfere with my exam Then I guarantee I'll gather evidence right there and then. I'll donate the stolen money to the Church of the Goddess of Fate and report these people for bribing and disrupting the order of the national examinations. At the same time, I will apply for the intervention clause on page 675 of the Hutton Code, requesting the Temple to use divine arts to trace the source of this misappropriation and conduct a thorough investigation. The priestesses of the Goddess of Fate will determine that I had no intention of extortion, merely collecting evidence. Afterwards, I will be rewarded and protected by the Church, perhaps even becoming an apprentice priest..."

He was so righteous and earnest that if he had a copy of the lawbook on hand, he would have probably opened it up to Hubert immediately and started explaining it.

Huberlianne: "..."

Teresa beside him, hearing Lance's words, also opened her lips slightly, but for a long time couldn't utter a single word.

Hughbert realized he had misunderstood.

She decided to take back her words.

Compared to that group of ruthless scoundrels, this ranch is the real sword tomb!

(End of Chapter)

[ ]t there to be any situations where they blamed each other because of differing opinions among the student council members later on."I will witness this friendly sparring."Lance replied with an elegant...