Eldritch Horror Theatre

Their academic field inspection—a pleasant, several-hour stroll around the Ring Giant Crater—finally came to a successful close.

All three participants agreed they had gained immensely. Not only had they corrected some of the Linghui Courtyard’s long-standing misconceptions, but they had also laid another important cornerstone for the Academy’s practical and innovative path of the Transcendent.

Tutor Lisa in particular—successfully designated the youngest member of the group—was in high spirits after humbly accepting the patient guidance of her two seniors. Carrying the only test specimen they had collected, she took the lead along their original route, squeezing her way out of the giant beast’s throat.

Naturally, the personnel lined up outside to welcome them couldn’t quite share in her joy.

Aside from Professor Shi En, who had left and returned, several more members of the Linghui Courtyard were now present.

Facing the three scholars, their reactions were remarkably uniform: their gazes unanimously zeroed in on the snakeskin sack in Lisa’s hand.

Easily recognizing the source of the item inside, their faces fell so hard they practically hit the floor.

”We tried releasing the restraints on one of them, and we’re bringing it back for testing.”

Unfortunately for them, Professor Lisa’s mental state had undergone Sublimation; she could easily handle such scrutiny. She even hefted the sack and calmly introduced its contents to the group.

”You...”Professor Shi En clearly wanted to say something. However, the subsequent emergence of the two great pillars of Apocalypse forced him to swallow his words.

”Thank you for your hard work.”

Dean Casi looked even more radiant than when he had arrived.

Shi En’s first instinct was to ignore him. His second was the realization that the words weren’t actually directed at him; the Dean was patting the giant beast’s mouth in passing.

The beast slowly closed its jaws, restoring its previous solemn majesty.

...

”Professor Fu, do you have time to go see your laboratory now?”

Signaling that Fu Qian and Lisa could head out first, Casi stayed behind to discuss the handover details with the members of the Linghui Courtyard.

Given what had just transpired, there probably wouldn’t be much resistance.

After heading out with Fu Qian, Professor Lisa took a deep breath of fresh air, seemingly wanting to purge the filth from her mind as quickly as possible. Then, she smiled at him.

”Sure.”

Fu Qian agreed without hesitation.

As a Demigod scholar, a Lifetime Professor, and a leading figure in Transcendent scientific research, lacking his own laboratory would simply be too undignified.

”Let’s head out, then. I need to put this away, too.”

Lisa shook her loot again.

...

”We’re here.”

After weaving their way through the grounds for quite some time, Lisa finally stopped and pointed.

”Are you sure?”

Following her gesture, Fu Qian voiced his genuine shock.

Why was the architectural style so entirely out of place?

In the direction Lisa pointed, half-hidden by the trees, a circular Spire stood tall.

It wasn’t particularly massive, but its classical design, paired with the ornate relief carvings wrapping its exterior, gave it a profound sense of majesty.

Its topmost Spire, in particular, looked completely seamless at first glance, as if carved from a single piece of Amber.

Punctuated by Gold embellishments, it gleamed radiantly in the sunlight.

When he had gone with Casi to solve Professor Rob’s problem earlier, that building had been a bit old, but it had still maintained an obvious laboratory aesthetic. With a little modification, the structure before him could easily serve as a wizard’s tower.

”Of course.”

Lisa nodded with a smile, seemingly very satisfied with Fu Qian’s reaction.

”A Demigod Level tutor is naturally different from everyone else.”

”A more private experimental space maximizes your protection from disturbances. At the same time, any dangerous operations are less likely to affect others.”

”The building in front of you might be an antique, but trust me, you will definitely like it.”

”Understood.”

Fu Qian quickly accepted Lisa’s explanation.

Since it involved a qualitative change related to divinity, certain operations truly could harm the innocent. The logic behind an independent laboratory made sense.

Even so, the overly exaggerated architecture before him vividly reflected Dean Casi’s deep favor, as well as the underlying resources of Apocalypse.

Since it was an antique, it couldn’t possibly be unused; perhaps it had once belonged to a Demigod who had already kicked the bucket.

”But didn’t Casi say I was next door to you?”

After graciously accepting the arrangement, Fu Qian thought of another question.

”You are next door!”

Lisa’s smile didn’t falter as she slightly shifted the angle of her arm.

”Just a little further over.”

Following her direction, Fu Qian quickly spotted another Spire a short distance away, one that looked even taller than the first.

”That’s right, I’m not a Demigod.”

Anticipating what he was going to say, Lisa preemptively explained.

”Casi gave that one to me.”

Casi really was taking good care of her!

While marveling at the excellent employee benefits at Apocalypse, Fu Qian could somewhat understand the Dean’s intentions.

Due to her race, Professor Lisa clearly had some psychological issues and might not get along harmoniously with others.

”It’s still early. Do you want to go take a look? Let me show my appreciation for Professor Fu’s guidance just now.”

Professor Lisa suddenly lowered her voice. She casually slipped off her glasses as she spoke, her slender eyes narrowing into an elegant curve.

”Only there can I safely take the thing off my neck, too... Wasn’t Professor Fu looking for a tail earlier?”

He really hadn’t come to the wrong place. Everyone at the Apocalypse Branch truly was a talent.

Faced with the overly alluring suggestion, Fu Qian praised her inwardly, then turned dead serious a second later.

”Little Lisa!”

His demeanor brimmed with earnest sincerity.

”You’re still young, and your perspective on certain things might still be too simplistic. By the time you reach my age, you’ll clearly understand one thing—when it comes to true academic research, any shortcut is merely the wrong path.”

”I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you just said. I won’t breathe a word to the Dean, either. Don’t bring it up again.”

What a perfect posture of a clear stream resisting temptation... How had he made it sound like she was trying to sleep her way to the top?

In that instant, the expression on the snake-spirit Professor Lisa’s face was remarkably colorful.

She had only been irritated by his deliberately sleazy attitude earlier and wanted to turn the tables to regain some ground. How had it been interpreted like this?

The worst part was that she had absolutely no way to defend herself.

This guy was simply despicable! The folks at Linghui truly had it coming when they got screwed over by him!

Young people were still just too young!

Taking in Lisa’s reaction, Fu Qian sneered inwardly.

To reach his current position, what kind of storms hadn’t Professor Fu weathered?

Wanting to add your name to my academic achievements? Keep dreaming!

...

Lisa clearly wasn’t fully aware of what Fu Qian was thinking, so she ultimately managed to stabilize her emotions.

However, after taking a deep breath, the thoroughly unamused tutor was just about to take her leave when she suddenly froze.

”Casi wants you to head back over.”

”Huh?”

Fu Qian was briefly surprised as well.

”Back where we were?”

”No.”

Lisa shook her head.

”To where you were yesterday. The Night Watchers have arrived.”