Chapter 82: Senior? (Two-in-One)
Hiltina gazed at the delicate sword in her hand for a long time.
It resembled the flashing morning star, still possessing a silver-like blade, but with a hint of azure interspersed among the patterns on the blade, akin to a brilliant and translucent sapphire.
However, the radiance reflected by the blade was not as dazzling as that of the morning star… instead, it was quite soft and delicate, just like the quiet and profound depths of the long night.
After a long while, her wrist gently twisted.
The azure sword transformed into a faint glow of light, which eventually coalesced back into a small emblem that fell into Hiltina’s palm.
Hiltina carefully folded the pristine white letter and placed it back into the wooden box along with the emblem, closing it.
She tucked the wooden box into her bosom, slightly lifting her head to gaze at the dim sky.
Like the patterns engraved on the Emblem Armor, the pitch-black dome was adorned with stars, resembling a sea of floating lanterns.
“Thank you.”
Hiltina stared at the starry night sky, her soft voice dissipating with the evening breeze.
“No need to thank me.”
Rast naturally took the cue, smiling as he spoke, “So, how about this surprise I prepared for you as the conclusion to our journey? Are you satisfied?”
The chestnut-haired girl was momentarily taken aback, clearly not expecting such an unabashed person to exist in this world.
But soon after, a trace of barely detectable cunning flickered in her eyes.
“Very satisfied.”
“I’m really happy to receive this surprise today.”
Then her words paused slightly as her gaze lingered on Rast.
“In fact, I also prepared a surprise for you, Rast.”
“I originally planned to tell you tomorrow, but since you arranged such a journey for me today…”
“Consider it my return gift.”
“Oh?” Rast glanced at her, “What is it?”
Although Rast responded with what seemed to be great anticipation, Hiltina keenly sensed a hint of perfunctoriness in his words.
This was an emotion the past Rast would never have shown, after all, he had always been a perfect actor, always wearing the most appropriate mask, speaking to people in their language and to ghosts in ghost language.
However—
After their previous heart-to-heart talk, Rast seemed to have relaxed quite a bit in front of Hiltina.
Allowing her to occasionally glimpse the true self beneath the boy’s mask.
It was clear that the current perfunctoriness stemmed from Rast not believing Hiltina could truly offer him anything surprising.
Money, power, social status, even pleasure brought by the opposite sex… these were all things Rast had long experienced many times in the cycle of Deep Blue Harbor and found tiresome.
If there was anything that could genuinely pique his interest, it would likely only be an Emblem Armor that could directly enhance combat power.
After all, the so-called ideal of a “justice partner” also needed strength as its foundation.
But clearly, finding a powerful Emblem Armor that perfectly matched the other party was not something that could be easily achieved.
This was also why Rast seemed a bit disinterested.
Thinking this, Hiltina’s lips curved into a slight arc.
“Well, about—”
“The clues regarding ‘Canaan,’ how does that sound?”
“Would such a return gift be enough to thank you for what you did for me today and give you a surprise?”
……
The next day, noon.
Rast stood on the slightly simplistic white platform outside the main academy of Starry University, his feet surrounded by a pile of withered yellow leaves.
The cold wind of deep autumn blew across his cheeks, sharp as a blade.
Rast was examining in his mind the information regarding the Night Blade “Library of Fools.”
[Your “bond” with Hiltina Ingrid has deepened; the “Library of Fools” has gained a new power.]
[The current bond level of “Chariot”·Hiltina has risen from 4 to 5.]
[You have unsealed a new original text.]
[Night Blade “Infinite Sword”—true name liberation has been unlocked.]
After much anticipation, Rast finally obtained the “true name liberation” he wanted to use for the spotlight.
However, he had put in a lot of effort for it.
He even went so far as to plan a whole act to take Hiltina back to her old dormitory to say a formal goodbye to Fran and his past self.
And according to Rast’s conjecture, the maximum bond level should be ten.
A bond level from 1 to 3 should represent the process from casual acquaintances to ordinary friends, then to familiar ones.
A bond rising from 4 to 5, according to his judgment, still resided in the realm of close relationships, trustworthy friends, and dependable confidants…
But even just this was already quite challenging.
If he wanted to max out the bond to the highest level and obtain a complete Night Blade “Infinite Sword,” the difficulty would surely be even greater.
At the same time he raised Hiltina’s bond level to five—
He also received Hiltina’s prepared “surprise.”
However, Rast did not expect at that time.
The so-called surprise that Hiltina mentioned would turn out to be this significant.
Or rather, it could no longer be described as a surprise, but should be termed as a shock.
……
“During our time in Deep Blue Harbor, you mentioned that the place name ‘Canaan’ was important to you, possibly relating to your past… entering Deep Blue Harbor, falling into the past before the three hundred years of infinite reincarnation.”
“So, ever since the echoes of Deep Blue Harbor’s history emerged, I’ve been helping you look for clues regarding ‘Canaan,’ but I’ve found nothing.”
“On the current continental map, there is no place named ‘Canaan.’”
“But I didn’t give up. I suspected my inquiry was insufficient… So I used some of the authority belonging to the Twelve Seats of the Round Table, as well as some personal connections, to commission others to search for clues related to ‘Canaan’ in the name of Starry University.”
“In the end, there really was a breakthrough.”
“A graduate of Starry University, Senior Ingrid, who is now the Director of the Supervisory Bureau in the Granwill Empire, replied to me yesterday.”
“She, using the permissions of the Granwill military, found information regarding ‘Canaan’ at the Tower of Secrets headquarters.”
“The Tower of Secrets was established in collaboration between the Ruins Institute and the Granwill Empire, but that information seemed to come from a classified intelligence database exclusive to the imperial military.”
“Due to the high confidentiality level, it is not stored in cloud data and is only preserved in physical form within the archives of the Tower of Secrets… Even as the Director of the Supervisory Bureau, Ingrid cannot disclose the specific content.”
“If you wish to know, you will need to go to the headquarters of the Tower of Secrets yourself and examine the documents and evidence in person.”
“Senior Ingrid will return to her alma mater for the school celebration tomorrow.”
“If you want, I can ask her to bring you to the headquarters of the Tower of Secrets in the name of the academy’s collaboration.”
The words Hiltina left behind echoed in his ears.
“Canaan.”
He repeated this word in his mind, carrying a hint of homesickness.
Rast believed Hiltina would not joke with him on such matters.
Since she said she found clues regarding Canaan, there had to be substantial discoveries.
The current world outside the Night World… perhaps truly related to the “Canaan” in the gaps of that Night World.
For Rast, who had always sought the truth of Canaan, this was undoubtedly good news.
However, to be honest.
At this moment, even Rast himself found it hard to discern what sort of truth he expected to discover about Canaan.
“So cold, so cold.”
“At this time, other silver weasels should have begun hibernating; I can’t believe I was dragged out of my house by you.”
“I need some dried fish to soothe my cold heart.”
A voice of complaint echoed on Rast’s shoulder.
A silver weasel was curled up on his shoulder, its whole body tucked into its fluffy white tail, shivering in the biting autumn wind.
Rast couldn’t help but have a dazed expression.
This was the first time he heard that a magical creature, conservatively estimated to be above rank six, would actually need to hibernate.
Moreover, the fact that a snow-dwelling species originally living in the extreme cold of the North would shiver from the autumn wind was really no joke?
One could only say that the academy life at Starry University, including air conditioning, heating, and the internet, had thoroughly spoiled Mr. Silver, turning him into a complete homebody snow weasel.
But since Rast needed something from others now, he could only swallow his complaints back.
“There’s no helping it, Mr. Silver.”
“After all, we will soon leave the academy’s area and head into the imperial domain.”
“And according to the information I’ve gathered, Senior Ingrid has likely already broken through to rank six… still in unfamiliar territory; if I didn’t have you by my side, I wouldn’t dare go over.”
“What if my dealings in Deep Blue Harbor, as well as the secrets of the time loop, special sequence long ranks, etc., get leaked and I’m locked away in a small dark room?”
Rast explained.
“You’re such a coward; have you been reading those cautious and stable novels lately? You even need me to act as a bodyguard just to check on something outside the academy.”
Mr. Silver cast a disdainful glance at Rast.
“Moreover, the empire and the academy are originally in a cooperative relationship; the headquarters of the Tower of Secrets you’re going to is a collaboration between the Ruins Institute and the supervisory bureau of the imperial military.”
“Ingrid is also your senior and has been entrusted by Young Tina; would she really harm you?”
“However, with the number of secrets you’re hiding…”
Mr. Silver glanced at Rast, suddenly feeling that it wasn’t that secure after all.
Let alone anything else, if the Granwill Empire were to discover Rast’s ability to copy powers, capable of copying Night Blades like “Infinite Sword” and “Death’s Messenger,” it would definitely raise concerns.
As for slice research and such, it wouldn’t go that far, but frequent probing and monitoring could very well occur.
“And furthermore, Ingrid graduated a few years ago; her position is no longer with the academy, but within the imperial military…”
“Mr. Silver, is there a problem with her?”
Rast frowned slightly, keenly sensing a hint of worry.
Ingrid, this name was not unfamiliar to him.
She was the first Night Traveler profile he had seen when he first entered Starry University, within the Stellar Obelisk.
[Ingrid]
[Academy Code: “Shadow Iron”]
[Sequence Long Rank: Justice]
[873rd session’s “Round Table” Second Seat, graduated from Starry University’s Lionheart Institute six years ago]
[Currently serving as the Director of the Supervisory Bureau in the Granwill Empire.]
This senior’s resume was impeccable.
Being the Second Seat of the Round Table in that session six years ago indicated that Ingrid was undoubtedly one of the outstanding students.
And according to Mr. Silver’s gregarious personality, she must have had plenty of interactions with the excellent students within the academy.
Just like Akshia and Hiltina, both maintained quite intimate relationships with Mr. Silver, referred to as “Young Xiya” and “Young Tina.”
Yet, this senior was not addressed by Mr. Silver as “Little Ingrid,” but rather by her full name, suggesting their relationship during school was not harmonious.
“Well, it can’t be said that there’s a problem.”
“You should know that due to the role-play, training, and exceptional knowledge confidentiality, becoming an extraordinary person requires a considerable investment of resources… Most Night Travelers from Starry University come from noble backgrounds.”
“However, that little girl, Ingrid, is a rare exception.”
“She is the child of farmers, hailing from a poor township that doesn’t even have a name on the map, yet she managed to enroll in Starry University by passing multiple exams through the most basic education courses.”
“Initially, her rankings in the academy and her Night Blade talent were quite ordinary; she was rather unremarkable in the first two years.”
“But in the end, Ingrid worked hard and gave it her all in the Night World, step by step reaching the Second Seat of the Round Table, surpassing many noble heirs with decent backgrounds and resources.”
“Moreover, she subsequently joined the imperial military as an outstanding graduate from the academy and became the Director of the Supervisory Bureau within just six years… all of this was by no means easy.”
Mr. Silver swished his furry tail: “From a teacher’s perspective, Ingrid is undoubtedly an impeccable student.”
“It’s just that I’m not particularly fond of that little girl, just like how I feel about Young Tina’s sister.”
The moment those words fell.
In the next moment, on the steps beside the platform.
Came the distinct sound of military boots treading over fallen leaves.
“You are the ‘Rast’ classmate that Hiltina mentioned…?”
A voice rang in his ears.
It was a slender figure clad in a military cloak, her breast adorned with a black griffin pattern embroidered in gold thread, her long hair as dark as night.
She emanated a stern aura, prompting one to involuntarily ignore her age and appearance.
“First meeting, Rast classmate.”
This figure named Ingrid, the Director of the Supervisory Bureau, stepped in front of Rast and confirmed his identity before extending her hand to him with meticulous actions.
Her right hand was clad in a black glove.
At the same time, Ingrid’s peripheral vision also noticed the silver weasel on Rast’s shoulder.
“Long time no see, Mr. Silver,” Ingrid’s attitude was very respectful.
However, the silver weasel, touched by her gaze, instinctively slipped off Rast’s shoulder and directly dove into the hood of its cloak, avoiding eye contact with Ingrid.
Rast also extended his hand and shook hands with this senior.
The next moment, through the delicate fabric of the glove, he felt a cold and hard sensation.
What was shaking hands with Rast was a prosthetic limb made of metal.
(End of Chapter)
