Bear School Astartes

"I hope we have a pleasant collaboration."

"Yes, I hope so."

Tishaya reached across the table, gave Lann a quick handshake, and released immediately, avoiding prolonged contact.

Lann left the headmistress's office, while Margaret, who had her head buried in her chest and originally planned to sneak away with him, was pushed back onto the cashmere couch by Tishaya's emotionless gaze.

Faced with the pitiful big eyes of the current headmistress, the Demon Hunter deliberately lowered his gaze when closing the door, avoiding eye contact.

Tsk, tsk, tsk... He didn't want to stand there and get lectured by Tishaya together.

Only after the Demon Hunter left the office did Tishaya retract her severe gaze from Margaret.

This allowed the current headmistress to lift her head from her chest.

"You helped him perfect the spell for casting this metal, which was at least two or three months ago, and as the headmistress of Airetusa, you haven't mentioned it once during this time..."

Tishaya no longer looked at Margaret, focusing back on the piles of documents on the table.

"We intended to recruit a trustworthy Academy Hunter for the academy to become the power and deterrence of the Academy. I reminded you to 'bind' this quality Demon Hunter... But don't you think you've already fallen too deep, Rita?"

Margaret seemed to return to her student days, able to relax and enjoy herself as long as Tishaya wasn't staring dead at her.

She heavily leaned back into the cashmere surface of the couch, causing a vigorous ripple in her chest, smiling at the corners of her mouth.

"I couldn't help it, Tishaya. You know, I'm a Warlock who casts spells with passion and talent. Calmness and reason reside in my mind, but they can never become the masters of my mind."

"Moreover, our decision back then has brought significant gains to the Academy, not losses, right? Your crystal cultivation project, which you pursued single-mindedly, made breakthroughs after he joined, and now he has brought a goose that lays golden eggs."

"Airetusa didn't have the possibility or necessity of conflict with an alone Demon Hunter, Tishaya. Our interests and paths can remain aligned. In this case, how deep I am in doesn't matter."

"When it comes to romance, I'm more experienced than you."

Margaret's fingers twirled circle after circle in her hanging blonde hair.

The action seemed aimless, but her expression remained determined.

"Love requires contributions from both sides, and maintaining a good relationship between Airetusa and Lann is my contribution."

People are the sum of all social relationships.

Margaret is the current headmistress of Airetusa, involved in a romantic relationship with Lann.

She is committed to keeping her two social roles in cooperation and alignment, rather than division and confrontation.

Although there isn't even a hint of opposition, she has started to remain constantly vigilant.

Tishaya was silent for a while, finally tidying her slightly untidy lace cuffs behind her office desk and stood up.

"Very good, Rita. Very good."

"You've finally developed your own persistence and insights, something I couldn't teach you in decades, yet you've learned by yourself on the Demon Hunter's bed. Now then..."

Tishaya paced forward to Margaret, her expression still dignified and cold.

"Will you join me in exercising the powers as headmistress for our Academy's Hunter?"

"Of course, Teacher." Margaret gracefully stood from the cashmere couch, smoothing her skirt. "Together we will."

The documents prepared for submission silently floated over, landing in Margaret's hands, as the two proceeded deeper into Airetusa's office area.

The world believes that Airetusa's clusters of classrooms are where power converges within this magic academy, but they are gravely mistaken.

These inconspicuous places, akin to regular clerical offices in Vizima City, are where true power gathers within Airetusa.

Airetusa is a flourishing and expansive magic academy with extensive roots.

Its logistics department is complex and important; without them, there wouldn't be the luxurious lifestyle of female Warlocks or the expensive teaching materials within the Academy.

In the early days of the Academy's establishment, accomplished witches began to release their influence to the surroundings.

But wherever there is a group of people, circles are born; within the Academy, they form factions based on proximity, teaching relations, creating sect-like groups.

Airetusa is truly not small, meaning there are plenty of factions within the Academy; a headmistress can't dictate everything with just her word alone.

Tishaya and Margaret both clearly understand Lann's value. As figures at the top of a power structure, their standard for discussing a person can only be 'value.'

However, the female Warlock groups within the Academy who don't have much contact with Lann might not regard a lone Demon Hunter highly.

It's unlikely they would accept that every ten golden eggs laid by this 'goose' needs to be shared out three.

But Tishaya and Margaret are determined, at least in this matter, they want the people within the Academy who can't accept it to properly accept it.

-----------------

Lann is unaware of the factional divisions and the strengths of various factions within Airetusa.

Margaret never intended to bother him with such vexing matters.

In her mind, Lann's job is to deal with troubles from different worlds, then come back with peculiar inter-world specialties to romance her.

Meanwhile, she provides Lann a gentle and comfortable safe haven in this world.

What's wrong with being romance-minded? Aren't women like her with such status and identity entitled to be romance-minded?!

Back in the headmistress's room, Lann began drafting a letter to Belengar.

In the letter, he told Belengar about partnering with Airetusa Academy to operate Valerian steel, and asked him to first send a small piece of the newly forged sample over, to increase credibility.

This letter will be delivered by Airetusa's messenger, ensuring quick and secure delivery.

"That old guy probably doesn't have any concept of a 'steel industry' in his mind. I bet he'll only show that astonished expression of suddenly not worrying about living expenses for the rest of his life when I tell him face-to-face... Honestly, I'm kind of looking forward to it."

Lann recalled Belengar once mocking novice Demon Hunters who get disoriented upon receiving huge bounties.

Now he's a bit looking forward to seeing this old Demon Hunter's 'calmness' when learning about his overnight riches.

Just then, the alchemy pouch he had set on the corner of the bed by the wall suddenly emitted a gentle glow.

Lann raised an eyebrow, stepping forward to rummage through the pouch and retrieving the glowing conical crystal.

As soon as the crystal was in hand, a clear and gentle female voice like a lake resonated in his mind.

"Good morning, my champion."

"...It's already afternoon, ma'am."

Lann said with a sideways smirk, but the voice from the crystal was indifferent.

"Oh, it's morning on my side."

The lady's voice occasionally carried the sound of rippling lake water, causing Lann's mouth to twitch.

Well, concept gods can cross hemispheres at will in medieval times, which is very magical.

"Are you disappointed that I wasn't there to welcome you back, Lann?"

The lady teased, and the Demon Hunter sighed helplessly.

"You know, ma'am, I'm not that kind of person. By the way, what kept you busy?"

"Oh nothing, a country here performed a blood sacrifice summoning an evil Lake God, I took the chance to eliminate it before it gained a material form, hic!"

...Did you eat it?!

Such a dainty mouth, yet such an appetite?!

The Goddess sounded cute even with hiccups, but Lann was still a bit choked.

"Alright, no need to elaborate on such trivial matters. I'm here to inform you of the next celestial convergence time."