In the night, raindrops danced lightly against the car window, making a fine, scattered sound that mingled with the conversation between the three of them.
The atmosphere inside the enclosed space was peaceful and comfortable, utterly different from the rain outside and the noise fading into the distance.
"You—you can't be the principal this time, can you?"
Hughberlian nervously clenched her palm as she waited for Lanchi's response.
According to the Ice Witch, Protos Royal Magic Academy was a school with vicious competition. It was directly under the Ministry of Education and could be interfered with to some extent by Great Sage Isis, but in terms of its rules, it operated entirely according to the ancient magical barrier established when it was founded a century ago.
Even the many powerful nobles of the Protos Empire could not manipulate the school for their own private interests. At most, they could give their children considerable preferential treatment within the rules. Thus, the school had no principal position at all, blocking Lanchi's chance to make use of his vocation at its very root.
In theory, Lanchi was not a noble now and did not even have student status. Becoming a teacher at the academy should have been a hellish start, and his political identity might not necessarily intimidate those students.
She had heard that the student at the very top of the academy was the young lady of Duke Berenhard's family, the most powerful household in the imperial capital—simply someone beyond their reach.
"..."
Lanchi turned around and smiled at Hughberlian. He spread his hands, as if a thousand words needed no explanation. It was as though he were welcoming Hughberlian to Helrom, having already opened a new world for her.
"Although I'm not the principal in name, everyone calls me the principal."