Eldritch Horror Theatre

”Good evening, Professor Fu. How was your rest?”

The pursuit of knowledge always made one forget the time.

After finishing his daily check-in, Professor Fu, who had been busy for half the day, did not adjust the Dislocation of the sky back to normal. Instead, he chose to take a solid nap in the darkness.

When he opened his eyes again, his capable Laboratory employee was already at her post, checking on her boss with a bright smile.

”Age catches up with everyone; time waits for no one. The future belongs to you young people after all.”

Fu Qian let out a long sigh and stretched, looking every bit the overworked hero before looking Ji Liushuang up and down.

Dayun Mingwang did not speak falsely. This young person, who had dragged her exhausted body to report to the Academy, wasn’t just far from completely drained after a long day; her eyes had even recovered a bit of their radiant vigor.

”There wasn’t much to do today, so I found an opportunity to slack off for a bit.”

Ji Liushuang clearly understood what he meant. She covered her mouth and chuckled, confessing to a rare act of slacking on the job.

”It was getting a bit late, so I thought I’d come back. Mostly, I wanted to see if Professor Fu had any interest in grabbing something to eat together.””Oh? And what was the secondary reason?”

Classmate Liushuang’s answer was perfectly reasonable, but Fu Qian, a master of the linguistic arts, heard something more in her words. He blinked and asked.

”Dean Li somehow heard that you had returned. When I ran into him at the Academy today, he asked me to send his regards.”

Classmate Ji had indeed brought interesting news.

”He also wanted to see if you might have some time recently to represent the Academy and do the Night Watchers a favor.”

......

Facts proved his judgment right. Where there was a primary reason, there was a secondary one. Classmate Liushuang’s purpose for returning wasn’t just to eat and drink on the company dime.

In fact, no matter how he looked at it, this latter matter seemed a bit more important.

Li Weixuan knew he was back? That wasn’t surprising.

He was the acting head dean, after all. It was only normal for him to keep constant tabs on everything happening in the Academy, let alone the return of a colossal academic giant like himself from an expedition.

There was no reason to doubt the sincerity behind his immediate decision to send his regards.

As for this opportunity to contribute to the Academy, Fu Qian didn’t think they were deliberately waiting for him; it was far more likely to be a coincidence.

”Why is that secondary?”

Noncommittal, Fu Qian decided to test his Laboratory assistant.

”Because Dean Li specifically emphasized the ’by the way’ part, telling me just to ask the next time I saw you.”

Classmate Liushuang showed no signs of stage fright; her smile didn’t even waver as she answered.

As expected.

Setting aside his personal relationship with Dean Li and his familiarity with the man’s character, if this had truly been some calculated scheme, the invitation would have been far too mild.

Although everyone knew Classmate Liushuang worked for him, asking a student to pass on this kind of request—and doing so in passing—was itself a subtle subtext: don’t feel pressured.

If he wasn’t interested, he could completely ignore it.

After all, it was already public knowledge that Ji Liushuang, the future star of the Sword Comprehension Institute, had been led astray by a treacherous villain.

When the time came, her likely response would simply be that her boss was busy and she hadn’t managed to see him again, avoiding any negative reflection on his part.

”Next time you see Dean Li, just tell him I’m available.”

Without much hesitation, Fu Qian casually accepted this volunteer labor.

He even remembered to match the overall atmosphere, keeping his posture easygoing and relaxed.

After passing the personal test from the old man Chaumont last time, the identity of Apocalypse’s Professor Fu currently had the highest accumulated Merit Value.

With upright righteous energy surging in his chest, why would he mind helping the Night Watchers uphold justice?

Not to mention it concerned the Academy’s image.

How did that saying go again? Today, the Academy is proud of me; tomorrow, the Academy will be proud of me.

How could the awareness of a Lifetime Professor be compared to a certain professor who would try to shirk even the arrangements of a person in charge?

”Also, for important matters like team-building, just bring them up separately next time.”

As Classmate Liushuang softly agreed, Fu Qian added one last remark.

......

Obviously, Li Weixuan’s sudden greeting had completely caught Classmate Liushuang off guard, which was why she had hurried back.

Her talk of ”primary” and ”secondary” was just to convey Li Weixuan’s attitude as accurately as possible.

But aside from that, this was clearly also a great opportunity to drag her rarely-seen boss out for a company-funded meal—it would be a shame not to take advantage of it.

And the meaning Fu Qian ultimately wanted to convey was simple: you don’t need to overthink these things; you can bring them up anytime.

”Understood. Should we head out now?”

It was clear that Classmate Liushuang got the message. She nodded with a smile and gestured for him to lead the way.

”Alright, where to?”

Fu Qian gladly agreed.

”That place we drank at last time? I remember you saying the fish was pretty good.”

Ji Liushuang had clearly already thought it through.

”And the lady boss there can provide a receipt.”

”How could we do that? The Academy’s money should be saved wherever possible.”

Unexpectedly, Professor Fu voiced a differing opinion, his face completely serious.

”I was actually just about to apply for a grant to further upgrade the Laboratory’s hardware.”

”...Alright.”

”We can stay and eat a little longer over there. Then we’ll have Professor Lanaya expense it to the Disciplinary Department’s account.”

As Classmate Liushuang humbly accepted the criticism, Professor Fu had already stood up and walked ahead.

As a qualified leader, how could he only raise problems without offering guiding advice?

......

”I came back here one more time later on. It feels like it’s getting livelier.”

The sky outside had long since grown dark. Though it wasn’t quite time for the Midnight Diner yet, there was already a sense of leisurely comfort.

The two of them, having been busy all day, were in no rush and seamlessly blended into the atmosphere.

Even so, by the time they arrived at their destination, the small shop had only just opened for the day’s business.

If they wanted to wait for Professor Lanaya to come and pay the bill, they really would need to eat a little longer, just as Fu Qian had said.

Of course, it truly had gotten livelier.

Listening to Classmate Liushuang’s introduction, Fu Qian took a seat alongside her and looked around, quietly agreeing with her assessment.

”Welcome, what would you like to eat?”

Amidst his slight murmurs of agreement, a figure earnestly dressed in a waiter’s uniform had already approached to ask them enthusiastically. The voice sounded somewhat familiar.

It wasn’t the lady boss, of course. That couple was currently busy with ingredients behind the counter.

As for the source of this familiarity?

Fu Qian turned his head, his gaze falling upon a head of dazzling blonde hair.

With delicate features and a slender figure, the person holding the menu was actually a young woman.

Her demeanor was warm but not overly eager, a refreshing presence that displayed utmost professionalism. She carried the poised competence of someone who had worked in the restaurant industry for years—or perhaps she really had been in the industry for years.

For a moment, Fu Qian quickly searched his memory, recalling the name of the lady boss who sold alcohol at the Wasteland Dragon Peak Inn.

Was it Sunny?