Eldritch Horror Theatre

’So you thought I didn’t know your interrupted nightlife was the main fuel for your anger?’

’Adults need to learn to look for the cause within themselves. Would I have found you in a place that didn’t serve alcohol?’

The momentum of offense and defense had changed. Under Fu Qian’s righteous, pressing stare, Lanaya felt the silent condemnation.

”It isn’t far. Once you’re done eating, I’ll take you there.”

Showing the poise of someone who had held a leadership position for years, she seamlessly deployed her ability to play dumb. Completely ignoring the subtext, she spoke with perfect seriousness.

’Hmph. I’ll save a little face for the Academy, for now.’

Professor Fu naturally wasn’t the type to push his advantage too far. Seeing her finally rein in her arrogance, he dropped the matter so as not to make a scene.

Meanwhile, the two bystanders—including Jia Keke—graciously saved face for her, keeping their expressions perfectly natural.

...

”Of the two, the younger sister named Lotte was in a rather foul mood. Did you have something to do with that?”Breakfast concluded in a harmonious atmosphere, and soon the three of them set foot on the Path of Xuanhu.

As for Jia Keke, whose work schedule had been changed yet again with instructions to go back and rest, she didn’t seem to have any objections. If anything, she looked slightly relieved.

Judging from her earlier behavior, Fu Qian figured she dreaded discussing corporate secrets in front of a third party even more than she minded a wasted trip.

As for Lanaya, although she had suffered a bit of emotional torment along the way, successfully tossing the job back to the person responsible finally resolved a troublesome matter.

Because of this, she was already feeling refreshed after just a few steps, even taking the initiative to ask about the situation.

”You could say that.”

Her words brought the sorrows of young Lotte to Fu Qian’s mind, along with her Innate Transcendent Insulation Sacred Body.

”After assessing her, I informed her that her aptitude couldn’t compare to her sister’s, and that she was destined to have no connection to the Transcendent Tier. I told her she would be better off pursuing a different, brilliant path in life.”

Seeing that his response had even piqued Ji Liushuang’s interest, Fu Qian met their curious gazes and told the truth.

’...You really don’t mince words, do you!’

Even though he spoke in a flat, straightforward tone, the words were still shocking.

Even Classmate Liushuang, who had never met the person in question, didn’t hide her astonishment. She could easily imagine the emotional blow Lotte had suffered.

It was one thing to have the path to the Transcendent Tier severed, but to be explicitly told she couldn’t compare to her sister? Anyone with even a bit of pride would be in a terrible mood.

”No wonder there was such an awkward tension between those two sisters. Isn’t your ability to sow discord a little too strong?”

Lanaya reacted the same way, her eyes widening as she stared at Fu Qian.

”Is that why Lotte chose to do that kind of thing?”

”Let me emphasize this: that had nothing to do with me.”

Seeing Lanaya’s thoughts quickly spiraling, Fu Qian directly interrupted her inappropriate assumptions. He gestured to his arm, indicating that Lotte’s limb grafting procedure had nothing to do with him.

Taking the blame wasn’t a big deal, but taking the blame for something with such a lack of technical skill truly damaged his clean reputation as an academic leader.

”That’s more like it.”

Despite having her theory debunked, Lanaya’s expression actually softened a bit as she frowned at Fu Qian.

”If you really were the one who did it, you wouldn’t be able to shake off the suspicion of abducting an ignorant young girl—”

”You’re wrong again. Keep distinct matters separate.”

Unfortunately, Professor Fu didn’t appreciate the sentiment at all, interrupting her again at the speed of light.

”Abducting ignorant young girls is actually something I do quite often.”

...

’And you look proud of it, too?’

Shocked once more by Fu Qian’s candor, Lanaya put on a look of bemoaning a family disgrace. Her first reaction was actually to glance at Ji Liushuang beside them.

He left absolutely no room for anyone to try and cover for him, especially with a ready-made example standing right there.

A genius student from the Sword Comprehension Institute had been abducted to serve as a Laboratory assistant; Lanaya had even recently received complaints about it.

More importantly, if she remembered correctly, the research assistant had even paid for their breakfast just now.

Just as Jian Jingzheng had stated in his complaint, the man’s actions were truly outrageous.

”So what did this Lotte choose to do?”

The fiercely intelligent Classmate Liushuang naturally understood the meaning behind that glance.

Seeing Professor Lanaya fall speechless once again, she spoke up at just the right moment to liven the atmosphere, asking out of curiosity.

”Limb grafting. One of her arms was replaced with a claw. Of course, even with that, there is still a gap between her and her sister’s level.”

Fu Qian answered without any hesitation.

”Her sister, Veil, spent a lot of effort rescuing her from an illegal organization and managing to remove the traces of what had been done to her.”

”Unfortunately, because so much time had passed, her recovery was only average. Even now, she still lacks some mobility.”

’An illegal organization...’

Listening to the medical history Fu Qian casually recounted, she found his phrasing rather wild, but it didn’t hinder the Saintess of an illegal organization from understanding.

Upon realizing that Lotte was actually a former member of the Rebirth Club, it suddenly made a lot more sense to Ji Liushuang how those two strange visitors had managed to find this place.

Of course, on the surface, she didn’t show anything unusual—only pity.

”It certainly wasn’t a rational choice, but for an immature youth, I can imagine how she ended up taking things that far step by step.”

...

’Classmate, even that younger sister is older than you. Who did you learn that old-fashioned tone from?’

Although Ji Liushuang’s sigh was genuine, it immediately sparked a silent retort in the heart of Professor Lanaya, who was used to seeing the dark side of human nature among the Transcendent Tier.

And without even needing to verify it, she directly attributed this to another one of Fu Qian’s sins—corrupting the minds of outstanding youths.

”It’s just ahead.”

While worrying about the moral and ideological development of an excellent student, she didn’t bother making any pointless accusations. Instead, she gestured toward a spot not far away.

”They didn’t seem to be in too much of a rush, so I suggested they stay nearby for the time being.”

”After getting an understanding of their situation, I escorted them all the way here before heading back to the Academy to handle things. I just didn’t expect to run into you two on the way.”

Explaining her sudden appearance earlier, Lanaya looked at Fu Qian.

”Now that you’re back, are you sure you don’t want to handle this yourself?”

”What? Don’t you have faith in Professor Lisa?”

Fu Qian raised an eyebrow, instantly defending his colleague against the slight.

”It’s just a bit of lingering trauma from limb grafting. Professor Lisa’s drive for academic advancement far exceeds your imagination.”

”When I suggested Lotte come here as a volunteer, it was primarily for her own recovery, but I also hoped to provide our younger instructors with more observation cases.”

”You really never forget about the Academy’s development, do you.”

Lanaya finally sighed helplessly, remarking that Apocalypse had truly found a treasure in him.

Knock, knock!

In the ensuing silence, Classmate Liushuang—who was acting in a similar volunteer capacity—had already walked to the front. After confirming with Lanaya, she smiled and knocked on a door.