Miss Witch’s Devotion Has Gone… Twisted

”I didn’t do it, that’s not true!”

Paqina instinctively started to defend herself, and she didn’t even control her volume, causing the entire class’s attention to focus on her. Even Loren stopped his lecture to check on Paqina’s situation.

So Paqina awkwardly shrunk under her desk, and seeing Anna grinning mischievously beside her, Loren could guess what had happened.

”How did Anna figure out it was her...”

This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened, so Loren didn’t pay it much mind and continued his lecture:

”The things corrupted aren’t just magical beasts, but also animals, including humans.

”It’s just that due to lifespan issues, magical beasts suffer the deepest corruption.

”Against these corrupted magical beasts, conventional magic isn’t very effective. Magic infused with the power of the Orthodox Gods works better, but this kind of magic is hard for ordinary mages to access. Only Scarecrows-level clergy can use it frequently.

”Now, can anyone tell me where the corruption is most severe?”

Loren was actually quite good at being a teacher, and his lectures were fairly interesting.”I know! In the wilds outside the territory of the Orthodox Gods, the corruption is the most severe!”

The girl who had answered Loren’s question earlier stood up again. Loren nodded and then asked:

”Can you be more specific?”

While the girl was thinking, Paqina stood up:

”It’s at sea! The Endless Ocean is not within the gods’ jurisdiction, and the ocean’s scope is far larger than the land.

”So the corruption in the Endless Ocean is much more severe than on land.”

”Correct answer.”

Loren applauded for Paqina and the girl, and the others instinctively followed Loren’s lead in clapping.

”So, students, stay as far away from the ocean as possible. Only the coastal waters around the God of Vows and Wind’s territory are somewhat safe.

”Even if you don’t get corrupted, the monsters and demons in the ocean are terrifying enough. Plus, there are many pirates and evil gods at sea that even the Orthodox Church can’t completely clean out.”

”Master Mentor’s lecture is really good. Since he left, I haven’t had such an interesting class.”

”Mhm mhm...”

Jessica wanted to talk to Luna, but Luna just gave a few perfunctory ”mhms.” Then Jessica saw Luna staring at Loren on the podium, daydreaming like a lovestruck fool.

”Haven’t you two already had your... in-depth exchange? Why are you still so shy?”

Hearing Jessica say that, Luna felt even more embarrassed and directly dropped her head onto the desk.

”Don’t talk about that anymore...”

By now, class was almost over. Loren glanced at his watch and then waved his hand to dismiss the class.

”Class dismissed, everyone. The next class is a practical session, and I’ll be teaching that too. Take a short break and then gather on the training ground.”

After giving his instructions, Loren walked directly toward Paqina. He planned to let people know that he and Paqina were acquainted. After that, whatever Paqina did would be much smoother, and she wouldn’t even need to register her name when borrowing books in the future.

”Master Mentor...”

Paqina’s voice had noticeably softened when she called Loren. She wasn’t usually like this, but after Anna exposed her, she found it hard to look Loren in the eye.

”Did I teach well?”

Loren directly placed his hand on Paqina’s head, as if staking a claim. The other students nearby looked at Paqina with envious eyes.

”Yes... I’ve never heard a lecture this good...”

”Oh ho, another freebie falls for him.”

Watching the blushing Paqina, Anna muttered a sarcastic comment. Loren completely ignored her.

”Come on, take me to where you usually have your practical classes.”

”Okay...”

Paqina’s movements were very stiff. She hugged her textbook and notebook to her chest. Loren noticed the contents of her notebook—she had written down every single word he had said. Now he knew why she needed such a thick new notebook.

Still, Loren didn’t waste words during his lectures. Most of what he said was useful, so Paqina hadn’t taken notes in vain.

As they walked out, Anna moved to Loren’s other side and kept pushing him toward Paqina. Finally, Loren had to grab her by the scruff of her neck and lift her up.

”You’re in danger, Luna.”

Jessica, who was following behind Loren, suddenly warned Luna while gesturing toward Paqina beside Loren.

”That’s your biggest rival. Your ecological niche is very similar—both commoners who got into a good school, both students who met Master Mentor when he was substitute teaching. And the fact that she got into the Bountiful Magic Academy means she’s much stronger than we are.

”But that’s not the most important thing. Her biggest threat is that she isn’t as timid as you are. Look how fast she’s already walking side by side with Master Mentor.”

Jessica’s warning instantly put Luna on high alert. She quickly quickened her pace and stayed close behind Loren and Paqina.

She could hear Paqina talking with Loren. The content was very ordinary, all about study-related matters, but Luna still felt a sense of crisis.

Back then, she hadn’t dared to talk to Loren like that. Sure, she often went to the office to find Loren after school, but she would frequently go an entire afternoon without saying a single word.

After a period of conversation, Loren had also gotten a clear picture of Paqina’s abilities. Paqina was exactly the kind of research-oriented talent Loren had been looking for. With Paqina, he wouldn’t have to work alone when researching magic in the future.

Just as Loren walked out of the teaching building, a crow urgently landed on his shoulder. Loren immediately realized it was Movila.

Judging by Movila’s demeanor, something urgent must have happened.

”What’s going on?”

Since the only people around Loren now were the witches, he didn’t bother hiding it and directly demonstrated his ability to communicate with animals.

”Someone came looking for you...”

”Who?”

Normally, if it were an ordinary person, or even the Pope coming to find Loren, Movila wouldn’t react this strongly. At most, she would just make them wait for Loren to return. She wouldn’t come looking for him.

So Loren guessed that the person coming to find him wasn’t ordinary—at the very least, not a commoner.

”It’s a man, with white hair, covered in blood, and with barnacles growing on his head. He’s already been taken away by the church people...

”Oh, and he looks a lot like the guy I saw at Christmas who killed the boss’s whole family...”

From Movila’s description, Loren guessed the person’s identity.

”It couldn’t be Noah, could it...”

In Loren’s memory, only Noah would look like that. It was also normal for Noah to be captured by the church.

”Whatever, let him rest in prison for a while. I’ll go bail him out after class...”

Noah might be obsessed, but he wasn’t stupid. Even if captured, he wouldn’t say anything that would harm Loren. Besides, he wasn’t afraid of severe torture, and the church people couldn’t kill him.

Compared to what Noah had been through before, being tortured in prison really did count as rest.