Lanchi Was Never Some Kind of Comedian

The next day.

A gentle breeze blew beneath Ikelite's boundless, clear blue sky.

The sun was dazzling, the clouds were white, and the refreshing midsummer air was invigorating.

The wooded path from the Sage Institute to the Magic Engineering Institute Area was especially peaceful that weekend.

It was Sunday. Compared with weekdays, there were far fewer students strolling around campus early in the morning.

Except for Lanchi and Hughberlian.

Whenever they had nothing else to do, the two of them would often take this path to the Student Union Room in the Old Liberal Arts Building of the Magic Engineering Institute.

"Lanchi, whatever you do, don't take that out!"

Hughberlian warned him cautiously in a hushed voice.

As usual, she wore a pure white summer dress. Perhaps because the weather was already a little stifling, beads of sweat had appeared on her neck.

"I know, I left it in the dormitory. There's no way she'll find it."

Lanchi nodded confidently.

The Alchemy Institute Botanical Garden beside the path was brimming with life. Birds hopped from branch to branch, chirping from time to time, as if welcoming these two humans who passed by so often.

Here was what had happened.

This morning, Hughberlian had gone downstairs for breakfast. The moment she reached the stairwell, she saw Lanchi standing outside the Cat Boss Restaurant, chatting with Planai while holding a box marked with a flammable-material symbol.

Planai had nearly rubbed a glass cup right through.

Hughberlian had immediately guessed what was inside. She turned around, pushed Tata back upstairs, then ran down and stopped Lanchi in time, saving his life.

"No, seriously, would anyone actually buy eight hundred candles to celebrate a girl's birthday?"

Hughberlian still looked at Lanchi in complete confusion.

"But lighting eight hundred birthday candles would be so cool."