Chapter 201: Lawrence Hasnt Realized Just How Serious Things Are

Chapter 201: Lawrence Hasn't Realized Just How Serious Things Are

The next day was a beautiful autumn morning in Ikerite. The violent storm of the previous night receded, and the first light of dawn slowly unveiled itself across the horizon. Under the sunrise, raindrops clinging to the city’s buildings shimmered like countless crystalline gems.

Sunlight slanted across the red-brick academic buildings of Ikerite University, casting a glow that felt particularly warm at the edges of the light.

Ikerite University really is the best place to be. There are no issues weighing me down.

A young man dressed in a classic black suit walked along the tree-lined campus path. He had a cup of coffee and a morning newspaper in hand with a hint of weariness on his face.

He appeared entirely non-threatening, devoid of even the faintest trace of magical aura. However, the holy cross emblem adorning his buttons and collar revealed to any passerby that he was a high-ranking member of the clergy.

The university's sidewalks were carpeted with a layer of damp, fallen leaves. Autumn had turned the foliage crimson, and the rain made the colors appear even more vivid. Each step produced a soft crinkle, the melody of the season.

Lawrence made his way toward the main building of the Sages' College. The ancient structures had weathered countless storms; their red-brick walls looked deep and textured after the rain, with each brick bearing the marks and stories of time.

On the lawn before the ancient library tower, a few parrots hopped about in search of food, pausing occasionally to look up. They were a sight for the passing students just as the students were a sight for them.[1]

Another day full of hope, Lawrence thought to himself.

Soon, he arrived at the entrance of the main building. After pushing open the heavy solid wood doors, he was immediately greeted by the building's warm air. It was a stark contrast to the chill of the late-autumn morning outside. In the corridor, a few students were hurrying along, heads buried in books or voices lowered in hushed conversation.

Upon spotting Dean Lawrence, they immediately looked up and bowed respectfully.

"Dean Lawrence... Good morning!"

"Good morning."

Lawrence offered a slight nod in return before heading toward his office upstairs. Each step looked slightly worn with age, yet remained rock-solid, having withstood the test of time. Upon touching the banister, one could feel the wood's grain and the warmth imparted by the passing years. At the bend of the staircase, a church-style stained-glass window cast a dappled play of light and shadow across the corridor.

Upon reaching his office, Lawrence finally felt a sense of returning home. His desk was piled high with books and documents, and it was accompanied by the scent of fresh incense drifting from the windowsill.

He set his coffee and newspaper down, settled comfortably into his chair, and let out a breath. At that moment, the entire world seemed to fall quiet.

Despite shouldering heavy responsibilities within the church and serving as the dean, he was not, in truth, a workaholic. Yet, sometimes, immersing himself in official duties gave Lawrence the perfect excuse to escape troublesome personal matters.

"Right, I still need to arrange a time for that young Gold Certified card maker to study the Wind Primal Tablet," he mused while taking a sip of his coffee.

Initially, he had been somewhat surprised to encounter a second year student who was already a Gold Certified card maker. However, because of Lance, he now found himself thinking, Well, I suppose that's just how it is.

He recalled his meeting with Karen, that Gold Certified card maker from the Yaloran Kingdom's Royal University, a few days prior. For some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that she shared an inexplicable resemblance to Lance.

It wasn't a matter of talent, but rather something about their temperament... Aside from her green eyes, Lawrence couldn't quite put his finger on exactly where the similarity lay. Oh well, the young woman seemed to have a pleasant personality, so there was no need to compare her to a scoundrel like Lance.

Just as Lawrence was quietly savoring this rare moment of tranquility, two soft knocks sounded at the office door. He looked up, his gaze gentle as he turned toward the entrance. "Please, come in."

The door opened slowly, and a young woman with a serene, pleasant demeanor walked in. She held a folder in both hands, looking every bit the seasoned staff member. "Good morning, Dean Lawrence."

Student Management Council Vice President Asina's voice was as melodious as a nightingale's. It was clear and resonant, with a natural quality reminiscent of mountain spring water splashing against stone.

She was not only an outstanding student at the Sages' College, but also a capable assistant to the faculty, frequently handling matters that bridged the gap between the administration and the student body.

"Morning, Asina." Lawrence smiled and nodded, gesturing for her to take a seat.

Aside from her utter lack of interest in magic, Asina was, in every other respect, the model of an exemplary student at the university. Of course, even though she devoted little effort to her academic coursework, she remained the top performer among third year students when it came to practical combat ability.

Many nobles and ministers in the kingdom lamented her path, believing Lawrence had "ruined" her potential, but Lawrence was perfectly content with the situation. If she wanted to be a chef, then so be it. He did not consider the "waste" of exceptional talent to be a bad thing. If a young person had a choice, happiness and fulfillment were what mattered most.

An educator's role was simply to guide students toward understanding the complexities of the world, not to forcibly dictate their futures or career paths.

Asina gave Lawrence a polite nod and sat down gracefully on the opposite side of the desk. She opened her folder, retrieved the documents, and began a detailed, methodical report, demonstrating a flawless familiarity with the operations of both the student council and the school.

In the distance, the clock tower chimed right on schedule. The sound echoed across the campus, reminding every student that while time marched on, the pursuit of knowledge never ceased.

As the last echoes of the chimes faded, Lawrence finished listening to Asina's concise briefing and nodded.

"I see."

He leaned back in his chair, sipping his coffee, and fell into thought, a look of mild perplexity crossing his face. "Asina, lately I've felt like there's been a lot of gossip circulating about me around the school."

Lawrence had noticed that whenever students saw him today, they would nervously cut off their conversations, as if they had been secretly talking about him. So, he decided to ask Asina.

Asina asked, "Which version are you referring to?"

Wait, there are multiple versions? Lawrence straightened up in his seat, sensing that things were taking a turn for the worse. "Tell me the latest one."

"They say that your relationship with Knight Commander Juliana has actually been deeply romantic all along, that the apparent conflict between the two of you was merely a ruse to mislead your group of fiancées. The story goes that you two use official business as a pretext to sneak off for secret dates every now and then."

Asina paused, glancing surreptitiously at the dean's expression, and then continued. "Not only do you harbor a special affection for Knight Commander Juliana, but you also possess the silver tongue to charm dozens of fiancées, keeping them all happy and completely captivated by you. The students have even dubbed you 'the Ladies’ Man of Ikerite,' and they're convinced that the next time you go on a date with Knight Commander Juliana, you'll definitely win her heart."[2]

Upon hearing this, Lawrence nearly spilled the coffee he was holding.

1. There are species of parrots in our world that can survive in temperate climates, the thick-billed parrot being one of them. Had to look that up. ☜

2. I really wanted to use Casanova here but since this is a different dimension, I refrained. ☜