Chapter 385 - 334: Is the Future Terrible?

Chapter 385: Chapter 334: Is the Future Terrible?

Once she’d reverted to the ’Childhood Sweetheart’ Lloyd was familiar with, Hildina turned to Dean Hazled with that same mischievous smile and said:

"You see? I told you Lloyd is fun. Just tease him a little and you’ll get the cutest reactions."

With that, she floated to Lloyd’s side, reached out to pinch his cheek, and continued,

"Did you think I’d turned into someone else just now?"

"I... I was just..."

Lloyd opened his mouth, wanting to speak but holding back. He couldn’t bring himself to say what was truly on his mind.

’I really wanted to retort. You’re a lofty Saint, how can you have such a cunning, mercurial side?’

’Then again, having a ’Childhood Sweetheart’ side is pretty strange in itself, isn’t it?’

"Alright, alright. Let’s talk business first. You can spend more time with me afterward, okay?"

Hildina suggested, changing the subject.

How could Lloyd possibly object? Whatever the Saint said, went.

And so, the slightly awkward Dean Hazled finally found an opportunity to speak.

"This is the medal for outstanding contribution being awarded to you. I had originally planned to organize a grand ceremony, one at least more prestigious than the presentation for academic excellence, but Tina suggested we keep it simple..."

Hildina, who was beside them, quickly nodded and added,

"Yes. I don’t think it’s a good time for my Lloyd to be so conspicuous. What if other girls start eyeing him? Besides, past ceremonies for the outstanding contribution medal have always been simple, haven’t they?"

"That’s true. Including the one you received, which you didn’t even come back to accept in person..." the Dean added.

The two went back and forth, seemingly trying to console Lloyd for not getting a formal award ceremony, but he didn’t care in the slightest. In fact, he felt the current scene was already more than grand, magnificent, and formal enough.

’A Saint is here in person. What in the world could be grander or more formal than this?’

It actually spared him a great deal of noisy and meaningless red tape, which suited him just fine.

So he quickly said,

"This is perfect. Having a Saint personally attend has already made this the most glorious, unforgettable moment of my life."

"Good. In that case, you can hold on to the medal for now. This next part is a thank-you gift from the Biology System, to show their respect for your heroic feat of saving the academy."

The Dean continued, taking out several lead boxes designed to hold Spiritual Materials. He placed them in front of Lloyd and gave a brief introduction.

"This is the complete set of materials for the fourth [Transcendence] of the [Veto] system, including the Spiritual Ink and incense."

Lloyd was secretly delighted. He hadn’t expected to receive such a perfectly timed, substantial reward. He’d assumed he’d get some money or a Holy Artifact, but it turned out to be these incredibly practical materials for Transcendence.

Compared to money, Holy Artifacts, or equipment, Lloyd much preferred receiving something he could use right away. It would save him a great deal of time and energy, not to mention the trouble of haggling with people outside.

’They even included auxiliary materials like Spiritual Ink. How incredibly thorough!’

Combined with the materials he had already prepared and sourced for his fifth [Transcendence], he wouldn’t have to worry about materials for the [Veto] system for a while.

’I just need to keep collecting for the [Manifestation] and [Twist] systems...’

As if reading his mind, the Dean then said,

"As for your future expenses for the [Twist] system, just tell me directly. Consider it a reward from the academy."

Hearing this, Lloyd was ecstatic. He’d thought the previous reward was thoughtful enough; he never expected there would be something even more substantial to follow.

’With the Dean’s promise, the academy will cover all the materials I need for the [Twist] system, not just for [Transcendence]. This means I’ll no longer have to worry about finding those rare and dangerous [Twist] materials. It’s convenient and, more importantly, safe.’

Lloyd was already more than satisfied with just these two rewards. He never imagined there was something even more significant to come.

"What? The *Book of Illusion*?"

When Lloyd heard the Dean announce the grand gift the Mage System had prepared for him, he was no longer just happy; he was stunned and filled with desire.

The shock stemmed from the name itself—it sounded incredible. The Mage System was actually allowing him to borrow it?

It made Lloyd feel a little embarrassed. He had only saved three lecturers, yet the Mage System was being this generous...

The desire, however, stemmed from the name *Book of Illusion* itself. The instant he heard it, an inexplicable longing surged within him, just like the first time he’d seen the *Book of Truth* in another’s memory and wanted to claim it for himself.

This desire wasn’t as intense as when he’d first encountered the *Book of Truth*. Back then, he had directly "seen" and "touched" it, and the impact on his mind had been far more direct—so much so that the longing had interfered with his judgment.

Right now, Lloyd’s mind was at the stage of ’I must have this treasure, or I’ll know no peace’—a feeling he could still suppress with some effort.

Just then, Hildina spoke up again.