Chapter 7: Harpist Academy (16)
==============================
“How dare you, foreign woman from the monster race, speak such nonsense here!”
In the testing ground, Lin Nan boldly pointed out the current problems plaguing Harpist Academy in front of everyone. The arena fell into an awkward silence, and even the female judges were left speechless, unable to fathom who had given her the audacity to slander the academy so brazenly.
A middle-aged woman who had been observing from the sidelines couldn’t take it any longer and jumped in to lay down accusations.
The judges turned to her, immediately standing up and bowing, “Greetings, Vice Dean!”
Vice Dean Sani of Harpist Academy looked cold as she addressed the room, “Has this girl applied for harpist level evaluation?”
Lisa, who stood beside her, hurriedly replied, “Yes, my lord.”
“Since she has so many grievances against the Harpist Academy, why should we sully ourselves serving her? Cancel her testing qualifications immediately!”
Lisa rubbed her hands nervously, “My lord, to be honest, her qualifications were approved by the Dean. Should I report this situation to the Dean for clarification?”
Sani replied, “Since it’s the Dean’s decision, there must be her considerations; don’t rush to cancel. However, I have serious doubts about her harpist skills and need to examine her again.”
Lisa forced a smile, “Of course, my lord.”
Everyone thought that after Trissa’s testing concluded, interest in the showdown between the two talented harpists would d*e down for a bit.
But to everyone’s surprise, Trissa’s so-called friend, that half-masked foreign woman, boldly admitted she had orchestrated that terrifying life-and-d*ath test that made everyone break out in cold sweat.
Despite Konglif expressing his dissatisfaction publicly, that foreign woman insisted that the Harpist Academy was all show and no substance.
In truth, many had seen the subtle changes in the Harpist Academy. Some astute individuals in the Empire had long been worried, but most people only cared about themselves and followed the growing trend further away.
Now, that mysterious woman exposed the scars people had been deliberately hiding in front of everyone—it was as if she was saying that the harpists, once capable of standing on their own, had turned into playthings for the nobility, mere status symbols for noblewomen.
What about actual combat skills? Who cares about that?
Therefore, when Trissa suddenly found herself facing a dagger that could take lives, it not only shocked the audience but also made the academy’s management feel utterly embarrassed. Lin Nan had undoubtedly turned the tables, declaring centuries-old traditions worthless.
Sani had come as the Dean’s delegate to observe the testing ground, only to be confronted with something she couldn’t tolerate. Lin Nan’s statements echoed through the big screen and loudspeakers, reaching every citizen’s ears—a massive blow to the Harpist Academy’s reputation.
Thus, she couldn’t help but speak up.
If anyone dared insult Harpist Academy, they’d have to get past her first.
Facing Sani’s accusations, Lin Nan remained unfazed upon learning her identity, “Respectable Vice Dean, if you believe what I said is wrong, then please provide corresponding explanations or data. I trust the eyes of the people are sharp; they can discern who is right and who is wrong!”
Sani sneered, “Justice lies in the hearts of the people. The state of the Harpist Academy is clear to all in the Empire, and I don’t need to explain myself to a foreigner. Moreover, these test results are merely data we rely on to evaluate harpist levels and do not represent our true strength.
Since the academy was founded, the role of harpists has been designated as supportive.
Any harpist who graduates successfully possesses the necessary skills. I can assure you, if the nation were to suffer, we wouldn’t have a single student who had previously left the harpist profession rejecting the call to return.”
Lin Nan sighed, “You’re wrong, and fundamentally so.
The harpist has always been a profession of both offense and defense. Why, after over a thousand years, has it become purely a supportive role?
Isn’t it because you have downplayed the true role of harpists in your daily teaching, while instead treating mere scraps as treasures to be passed down?
If Casey, one of the Four Warriors, were to know this from the afterlife, I wonder if he’d rise from the grave just to scold you for forgetting your roots.”
Sani hadn’t anticipated this foreigner to be so eloquent, and to act as if she were well-versed in the historical past of harpists. But she had been trained within the traditional views since entering Harpist Academy; she couldn’t believe that a harpist could charge into battle like a warrior.
“Vice Dean, this Lin student probably doesn’t understand the true meaning of a harpist. Student Edith is willing to use her pure harp skills to defeat her, so she can see what the spirit of a harpist really is.
If she cannot even manage the most basic harp skills, how can we use music to comfort injured soldiers on the battlefield or inspire warriors to fight for their country?”
Edith bowed to Sani, seeking her approval.
Indeed, the core of the harpist’s profession lies in their harp skills.
Even though many abilities are now released using simpler four-stringed harps, without continuous practice of full compositions and mastering how to release music at the right opportunities, one cannot be considered a qualified harpist.
Plus, she’d heard from Lisa in reports.
That foreign woman had zero harp skills when she first took the stage, like a clumsy peasant fumbling with strings—absolutely devoid of beauty.
Just moments ago, she had witnessed Trissa’s performance as well.
Seemingly influenced by the foreign woman, Trissa struggled to pluck the even coarser strings of her harp, producing a sharp and dull sound.
This showcased that the foreign woman, having not undergone systematic education at the academy, didn’t understand musical theory. She probably didn’t even know that there are only about two hundred existing pieces of music that can allow harpists to incorporate various buffs.
This unknown foreigner, clearly lacking demon bl**d, somehow possessed harpist skills akin to those of demons, yet those rough skills would never compete with the refined artistry of an academy-trained harpist.
Moreover, Edith was the academy’s star genius among this graduating class.
Her performance and standards had always been noted and understood by the academy. If she represented the academy in a pure art contest…
That foreigner, with only superficial knowledge, would surely be exposed immediately.
The citizens of the Empire may not be smart, but they surely wouldn’t trust a foreigner who couldn’t even play the harp well.
If so, all the foreigner’s accusations would end up as trash, ripe for stepping on.
“Alright, Edith, it’s all yours!”
