Chapter 44: Magical Creatures Research Institute
Members of Starry University seem to have more personality than I expected.
However, I now somewhat understand why Isda is so feared and respected.
Rast couldn’t help but glance at Isda, who was playing with her golden hair.
Just as “All Roads Lead to Rome” is the embodiment of the train attendant Rodri’s desire to find opportunities to escape, one can easily imagine the heart’s imagery reflected in Isda’s secretive eyes.
It’s no surprise that such a girl, who can easily uncover your secrets at any time, is revered like a tiger or wolf by other students.
“The saying ‘Every Night Traveler is seen as a madman by outsiders’ has become even more valuable,” Hiltina’s remark holds more weight now.
The two of them parted ways with the regretful Rodri and walked into the carriage of the Silver Gear train.
“To have the Academy send a special train to pick you up, it seems you really have a close relationship with Vice President Hiltina,” Isda resumed the topic that Rodri had interrupted.
“However…” she glanced at Rast, hesitated, and said, “Getting too close to Hiltina is certainly not a good thing.”
“This is not just my personal bias against her; it’s a widely acknowledged fact at Starry University.”
“Oh? Why?”
Rast slightly paused in his actions.
“‘Demon of Strategy’… Hiltina’s title is certainly not a compliment.”
Isda hesitated for a moment and continued, “Given the level of danger posed by the echoes of the Night World, anyone with a bit of common sense should know that teaming up is the best choice, rather than going solo.”
“There are too many dangers and uncertainties in the Night World. If one always acts alone, sooner or later, they will encounter an unforeseen accident… A simple example is that in a dangerous environment, team members can take turns keeping watch, while a lone traveler must remain on guard at all times, unable to afford even a moment’s peace.”
“And if Night Travelers of different sequences and equipped with different Night Blades team up to tackle the echoes, their complementary abilities would significantly increase their survival rates and tolerance for errors in those echoes.”
“Yet, Hiltina has always been a rare solo player.”
Isda said softly, “Actually, she was part of a team before—”
“It’s just that even the strongest team of her grade could hardly adapt to the intensity of Hiltina’s strategies against the echoes of the Night World and her obsession.”
“After a particularly serious incident that even alarmed the board of trustees, that team completely disbanded.”
“Since then, Vice President Hiltina has been a solo player.”
“People say that Hiltina’s obsession with tackling the echoes of the Night World has reached the point of madness, and one day she will d*e in the Night World… and those who accompany her will only become the sacrifices to her pathological obsession.”
Buzz—
The Silver Gear train let out a buzzing sound from its whistle.
Soon, accompanied by a slight vibration of the carriage, the scenery outside the window began to rush by.
Rast’s eyes flickered, “Isn’t the purpose of Starry University to tackle the echoes of the Night World and prevent the calamity of dusk from descending into reality?”
“If that’s the case, Hiltina’s persistence shouldn’t be seen as a negative example for you all?”
“Theoretically, that’s true, but in reality, every Night Traveler has their own thoughts, and how could they genuinely reach that point?”
Isda led Rast through the carriage of the Silver Gear train, “The reason students join Starry University varies; some want to grow stronger through the Night World, some want to stand out and gain higher status and wealth…”
“And even those who genuinely have ideals and want to stop the calamity of dusk from descending into reality… If the calamity is in their hometown, that’s one thing, but if it’s in other nobles’ or other countries’ territories, how many people could actually risk their lives and spare no effort to stop the disaster?”
“The great nobles in the royal capital are secretly cultivating many high-level extraordinary beings, but unless the calamity of dusk truly descends upon their territory and threatens their interests, how many would be willing to throw their cultivated power into the Night World?”
“Most people are selfish; those like Vice President Hiltina are merely the minority.”
Isda gazed at the rapidly changing scenery outside the train window, “Even I myself consider it impossible to act like Vice President Hiltina.”
“By the way, since you’re about to enroll, let me introduce you to the internal situation of Starry University.”
Seemingly sensing that the mood of their conversation was a bit heavy, Isda began to change the subject.
“Although Starry University is a violent organization focused solely on the Night World and the calamity of dusk, there are actually many different divisions.”
“The ‘Ruins Institute,’ formally known as the Key to Ruins Academy, focuses on researching the Night World and its lost history, culture, language, and customs.”
“They provide all the intelligence support for Night Travelers tackling the echoes of the Night World; most confidential files and intelligence about the Night World are stored in the ‘Tower of Secrets’ by the Ruins Institute, classified into different secrecy levels according to the students’ permission levels.”
“The ‘Ashen Academy,’ also known as the Forging Academy, is responsible for providing weapons and equipment support, such as creating and repairing Emblem Armor… and if the calamity of dusk truly descends into reality, their technologically advanced weapons deployed at the base will be the first line of defense; it was people from the Ashen Academy who were busy at the base earlier.”
“The ‘Lionheart Academy’ is the purest violent organization; their role is also the simplest—being the assault team to conquer the Night World.”
“The ‘Clockwork Academy’ is the logistics department, responsible for arranging logistics materials and travel for Night Travelers; Rodri, that coward, is one of them.”
…
Isda rapidly explained the internal structure of Starry University to Rast.
“Of course, besides these four core departments, there are also some less important divisions.”
“For example, the Arts Department, which is responsible for organizing school events and celebrations, and the Spirit Guidance Institute, which evaluates the mental state of Night Travelers and provides psychological counseling; I’m a member of that.”
“Oh, by the way, there’s also the most insignificant and peripheral department in Starry University… the Magical Creatures Research Institute.”
“Magical Creatures Research Institute?”
Rast repeated the name.
“Yes, the initial intention of establishing this institute seems to be—it’s necessary to research these magical creatures that possess extraordinary powers, not just humans, since some special plants and animals can also gain sequence tiers and Night Blade abilities.”
“However, as far as I know, the Magical Creatures Research Institute currently doesn’t have many members.”
“If you ask me, it’s a place that just eats resources with little to no actual output.”
“If they could allocate more of the Magical Creatures Research Institute’s funding and resources to the Spirit Guidance Institute, then I wouldn’t have to struggle so much conducting psychological measurements all over the continent…”
Isda’s words suddenly came to an abrupt halt, her expression stiffening as she stared ahead.
Rast followed Isda’s gaze.
Right in front of their previously empty two-person seat in the carriage, there was now a fluffy, snowy-white creature lying down, gazing at Isda with its ruby-like beast eyes.
(End of Chapter)
