Chapter 27: A Reversal of Public Opinion?

“Lin Yue·Hawke.”

Principal Lossefer gazed out the window at the lively scene, unable to help recalling the wild times back in the day with his and Lia’s teacher.

“The future… truly belongs to the young.”

The maid at his side placed a bowl of murky medicine before him and said, somewhat tiredly, “Thank you, Melinda.”

As soon as Lossefer took a sip, he started coughing violently.

“Lord Lossefer, are you alright!”

The maid named Melinda, with her light blue hair, picked up a napkin and wiped his now-damp collar.

She was a child Lossefer had adopted.

Seeing the principal before her looking weaker by the day, she grew anxious, yet could do nothing.

“I don’t have much time left. Avilina with only Lia to rely on—I can’t rest easy. Those two geniuses from the Valiana family have their own backgrounds; they may not be willing to work for the Academy.”

The principal paused, then continued: “As for Allen, his figure also appears in the Astrologers’ prophecy. He must have even more important things to do.”

“I don’t want these gifted fledglings chained up by the Academy.”

“As for Lin Yue, he’s been driven out by his family and has no one to rely on. I expect he won’t refuse, and besides, Lia trusts him deeply.”

“To stand up to so many fifth-rank Magisters without flinching, and to argue with reason—he’s got the makings of a principal.”

Lossefer seemed a bit tired now, his gaze turning to the ceiling of the council hall with a smile in his eyes: “A future shrouded in chaos… Those who cannot see what lies ahead are either a Death God who can destroy all, or a Fool who can change the world…”

Lossefer looked at the downcast Melinda and said, “Sorry to make you listen to this old man’s complaints.”

“But the people I trust are only Lia and you.”

Looking at these two girls as if they were his own daughters, Lossefer thought again of his dearest friend. “Really now… Even in death, you won’t let me catch a break, huh.”

“You go on. I’m alright.”

Melinda bowed, then wheeled herself out of the council hall.

After Melinda left, Lossefer slowly stood up.

He hadn’t even noticed when he’d started playing with a black and red stone in his hand, a stone that radiated an all-too-familiar eerie aura.

“Well then, why are you people out to harm my Avilina’s students…”

Now that the students’ matters were settled, it was time for the adults to deal with the darkness lurking in the shadows.

At that thought, a cold, steely light flashed in his eyes.

Once the time was right, he would demand an explanation.

He just had to wait for them to come to him.

…

It had been several days since the council hall incident.

Lin Yue was now sitting in a corner of Mapele’s Café with his gray wig on, praying no one would recognize him.

What are these school news clubs even doing all day?

Just chasing after me for tabloid gossip.

Don’t any of you actually study magic?

Now he understood why the principal had given him a month off to recuperate.

Just the day before, he’d tried going to the classroom building.

He hadn’t even gotten into the elite class before being hounded and chased all over, finally having to retreat to his camp to hole up for a few days.

Seriously, who spread that business about me picking both?

Not many people even knew about that…

He’d barely made it out to buy groceries, only to get spotted again.

So now he had no choice but to go about disguised like this.

Still wearing that gray wig, he’d come to Mapele’s for a breath of fresh air.

“Mhm… Is that the famous Lin Yue gracing us with his presence?”

Why did it sound like there was a touch of sarcasm in her tone?

Seeing Mapele before him, with her thoughts written plainly on her face, Lin Yue couldn’t help but think this girl definitely had some secret.

But nothing like that showed up in the original story.

She was just an ordinary student, which was baffling.

“What would you like, sir? Our shop can make it for you.”

“Alasa coffee, with milk and sugar.”

He thought that something sweet was just what he needed right now.

“Alright, please wait a moment.”

With that, Mapele turned and busied herself, as if she didn’t know Lin Yue at all.

What did I do?

He watched Mapele, usually so friendly, now acting like she couldn’t care less, and Lin Yue was left puzzled.

Back at the camp, he saw Airella—whom he hadn’t seen for some time—gathering firewood and cooking.

He greeted her out of habit.

“Scumbag, stay away from me.”

“?”

Lin Yue was dumbfounded.

“What did you call me?”

He thought he must have misheard and moved closer to confirm.

“Nothing, you must have heard wrong.”

Airella suddenly put on an extremely odd, dazzling smile, squinting at Lin Yue.

“Oh my, Young Master Lin Yue·Hawke, arms around the Valiana sisters, ready to marry them both—how do you still have time to come home…”

Why did it feel like the world’s opinion of me flipped completely just because I went to the council hall?

Even my friends think so?

No, more importantly…

“This is my house, isn’t it?!”

Why did Airella act like she was the mistress of the place?

It was just weird.

Incidentally, compared to the tabloid gossip, most people actually cared more about what Lin Yue had done during the exam to be allowed into the council hall to give advice.

“And how… how do you people even know these things?”

Lin Yue awkwardly sat down on his newly made wooden chair, stoking the fire a little higher.

“Who knows? I just heard it from someone else…”

Airella’s sharp words were all because she’d misunderstood Lin Yue and Isabena’s relationship earlier, running around for nothing.

So they’re actually enemies, huh?

That explains why Isabena’s look was so fierce—I thought it was aimed at me.

With this in mind, she’d come to settle the score with Lin Yue.

And the real culprit who spread the rumors was now humming a tune while wiping the tables in the café.

“Uh… Miss, don’t you think you went a bit far this time?”

The uncle scratched his head.

He’d done everything Miss Mapele asked, spreading the rumors about them—and hadn’t even charged a cent.

“With such an enviable scandal, even if others wanted to have one, no one would believe it.”

Mapele walked to the counter and picked up a tray.

“Don’t worry. He’ll take the olive branch I’m offering him.”

A cunning glint flashed in Mapele’s eyes, as if she’d already seen through Lin Yue entirely.

Thanks to the exam uproar, Mapele had picked up a lot of interesting information, especially about Airella and Lin Yue’s abilities.

She’d suspected they weren’t simple, but hadn’t expected them to perform so well.

“Lin Yue, oh Lin Yue, even if you don’t want to join us now… there’s nothing you can do about it…”

Mapele had the means to gradually quash the rumors, but only if Lin Yue did her bidding.

Spreading them was also payback for that time the brat peeped on her changing clothes.

She looked at her own hand.

Next to the faint mole on the back, a subtle crest appeared—a pattern like a nightingale.

…

“Good evening…”

Just as Airella was scolding Lin Yue with her dissatisfied tone, a familiar voice emerged from a spatial rift.

“It’s Lia! Come here and let me give you a hug!”

After he’d touched the last mana crystal that day, Lia had immediately opened a rift to ask what all the fuss about that high-level spell was.

You had to admit, this girl was not only nice to look at, but also extremely useful—once you got close, she was as fun as a little bunny.

“No… I’m so tired, haa… Wake me when dinner’s ready.”

The exhaustion built up during the exam still hadn’t worn off.

With those words, she dove straight into Lin Yue’s tent and soon soft snoring could be heard.

“Lia, at least take off your magic hat before you sleep. How are you supposed to sleep comfortably like that…”

With that, Airella lifted the tent flap and went in to help Lia arrange her clothes.

That girl definitely treated Lia like a doll to play dress-up with…

Watching all this, Lin Yue could only poke at the campfire in exasperation, wondering what they’d do when winter came.

Anyway, better take a bath first.

After all this fuss, he’d worked up quite a sweat.

He took off his shirt and grabbed a towel, heading for the river to wash up.

When he got back, he saw a familiar figure sitting on the log he’d placed, looking a bit lonely, playing with a little fire dragon conjured from mana.