Chapter 0: Harpist Academy (19)
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“It’s Dean Janet!”
“Ahhh… The legendary dean, finally showing her face after being all mysterious!”
“Wow, the dean is really both sexy and youthful! Is she really the most powerful harpist in the Empire?”
“Hah, are you kidding? This is already Janet’s fiftieth year as dean!”
As Janet made her grand entrance striking a sultry pose, the crowd erupted into excitement, and host Betty was nearly tripping over her words.
Blake chuckled, “Didn’t expect the dean to be this young; it must be a shock for most people.”
“Blake, you don’t get it. Dean Janet is the idol of all harpists. If anyone inherited the legacy of one of the Four Warriors, it’s undoubtedly her!”
Despite the diverse crowd, Betty didn’t hesitate to declare this, as if Janet’s mere presence could solve all problems they had faced before.
Take, for instance, that masked foreign woman who threw down the gauntlet earlier—her conditions sounded lofty and altruistic, but in reality, it tightly gripped the academy’s lifeline. Even Vice Dean Sani wouldn’t dare to gamble on such an established precedent.
Edith, on the brink of despair, could only recall how most citizens remembered her disaster of getting mud all over her face, completely overlooking the moment she thrust Trissa down and scored an “SS” rank for this project.
If Lin Nan or Trissa refused to duel her again, redeeming her dignity would feel as distant as a dream.
Just as she was about to explode with frustration, Janet’s appearance, especially her agreeing to the foreign woman’s challenge, breathed new life into her spirit.
Yet simultaneously, Edith felt the heavy weight of the dean’s hopeful gaze and immense trust in her.
It felt like the outcome between her and Lin Nan would determine the academy’s future policies—talk about a crushing burden!
“Good, finally someone reliable is stepping up.”
Lin Nan gazed at Janet, his eyes showing some appreciation…
Of course, that look could probably only be deciphered by Trissa and Adeline. After all, Lord Lin was personally designated by the Goddess of Destiny as a Messenger, making her a divine avatar in a way.
Even if Dean Janet was a veteran figure in the Empire, to the divine, she was just another insignificant species that had lived a few more years. Getting the attention of a god was already a big deal.
However, this look was undeniably a provocation for Lisa and the others, who had no clue about the hierarchy.
“b*stard! How dare you disrespect the dean!”
Chubby Lisa was about to summon the guards again when Janet intervened.
“It’s fine; let’s see their duel first.”
Janet took a seat in the judges’ original spot, with the rest, including Sani, standing obediently behind her. Even with an empty spot next to her, no one dared to sit beside the dean.
Although she had never interacted with Janet before, her demeanor suggested she wasn’t tough to deal with.
Perhaps it was her openness and sense of responsibility that earned her so much respect.
She was a qualified leader.
But why did the Harpist Academy end up like this? Didn’t Janet have a role in this decline?
Of course, Lin Nan’s purpose in coming to the Empire wasn’t just to rectify the academy’s policies; it was to witness firsthand the legacy of the great Casey that had survived through the years, allowing her to glimpse the state of the Empire after thousands of years.
Moreover, based on her observations, her earlier performance in the test alone had earned her 10,000 Godhood Value points.
Since Edith was so insistent on a public competition, why not use this duel as an opportunity to rack up even more Godhood Value?
“Edith, Lin Nan.”
Sani volunteered to be the referee for their duel.
Of course, it wasn’t just her—evaluating a student’s harp skill needed at least three to five judges to determine the final result.
After all, in fiercely competitive contests, the gap in contestants’ abilities shrinks, so to avoid bias, expanding the number of judges, while ensuring their skill level, prevents too much deviation.
“Sani, count me in as a judge too,” Janet said.
“Yes, Dean.”
Sani gasped. Janet hadn’t personally judged for at least thirty years!
This showed just how much importance the dean placed on this duel.
“Edith, keep a calm heart. All of us teachers see your level clearly; I believe you can uphold the academy’s dignity.
That foreign woman may have some unorthodox methods for these tests, but when it comes to basic harp skills, I trust there’s no place more professional than our academy.
You’re the best!”
Sani cheered for Edith, who slipped into a hyper-focused mode, just like when she practiced alone in the music room.
“So, who’s going first?” Sani asked. “If no one wants to go first, we can decide by drawing lots.”
Lin Nan shrugged. “I’m just afraid that if I go first, Edith might lose all her courage, and that would hit her harder.”
Edith fell silent, brewing her emotions and wishing to avoid any conflict that could rattle her before the official match.
So when she heard what sounded like a taunt from Lin Nan, she merely huffed.
To make someone else fall, one must first make them go mad.
Under pressure, that Lin student seemed to be losing grip on reality.
“Then let’s draw lots.”
As soon as Sani finished, Janet chimed in, “Let’s have Edith go first. Since we fancy ourselves as the real deal, let’s give this girl from another race a slight advantage.”
With the dean making the call, Sani couldn’t say anything more.
Meanwhile, Edith felt her competitive spirit ignite upon hearing the dean’s decision.
She intended to return Lin Nan’s earlier words with interest, making her listen so that any prospects of competing with her again would be met with shame.
This way, that superficially calm and arrogant woman would deeply regret it, and her apology to the academy would undoubtedly become the talk of the Imperial Capital—an everlasting joke.
