Within the framework of the Hundred Academy Exchange, the gap between the Five Great Academies and other magic academies was not only reflected in their teaching standards and student cultivation quality, but also in a far more practical dimension—funding.
This was immediately apparent in how they traveled to the Imperial Capital.
To participate in the exchange, representatives from other magic academies usually had to set off more than half a month in advance.
Lacking their own aerial transport, they had to make the long journey on the ground using carriages.
They had to cross mountain ranges, traverse plains, and pass through several transit towns, arriving dusty and exhausted after spending an immense amount of time and energy.
Their accommodations along the way were inconsistent at best, sometimes even forcing them to camp in the wild.
By the time they reached the Imperial Capital, they were completely exhausted, and their condition was far from peak form.
Of course, some academies were fortunate enough to travel by airship.
However, they only rented public airships from merchant chambers, which featured cramped cabins and rudimentary facilities.
Sharing a cabin among several people was the norm; the soundproofing was terrible, the turbulence was jarring, and the meals provided were barely enough to stave off hunger.
Yet, for those ordinary magic academies on tight budgets, this was already considered quite a luxurious choice.
The Five Great Academies, however, were on a completely different level.
Each possessed its own exclusive luxury airship—a masterpiece that combined advanced magical technology with exquisite craftsmanship.
The interiors of these airships were spacious and elegantly decorated, with every representative allocated a luxurious private cabin.
These rooms came complete with a private bedroom, a comfortable bed, a fully equipped desk, ample storage space, and even a dedicated pantry and private bath.
More importantly, these airships were incredibly fast. Powered by state-of-the-art mana-driven engines and wind-attribute acceleration arrays, they could travel from the academy to the Imperial Capital in just a single day.
“It's been a long time since I've been this comfortable.”
At this moment, Greg was lying on the bed in his private cabin with his hands behind his head. Staring at the magical lamp casting a soft glow from the ceiling, he mentally organized his goals and plans for this trip.
His primary objective, of course, was to ensure his own survival.
He had to successfully conquer the third layer of the Empire Dungeon before Act Three of the plot concluded.
Although he had Allie to help him, the Empire Dungeon was different from the Academy Dungeon. Since he had never been there before, the hidden dangers and variables were entirely unknown, and he couldn't afford to let his guard down.
His secondary goal was to find a way to get the current Saintess of the Holy Church of Light to lift his damn curse.
He already had a concrete plan for this, which also happened to align perfectly with Headmistress Olivia's demand for him to put on a good show.
By displaying dazzling strength and potential during the Hundred Academy Exchange, he would catch the Saintess's attention and create an opportunity to approach her.
Once he established a solid connection with the Saintess, he would have a chance to sweet-talk her into willingly lifting the curse for him.
Next was the point that required the utmost vigilance: he had to maintain his distance from the Primary Heroine, Melina, who was about to make her official debut.
According to the original game's plot, Melina's primary target should be Victoria, so logically, she shouldn't pose much of a direct threat to him for the time being.
However, Greg knew all too well that this heroine was incredibly calculating and deep, and every single one of her moves could harbor a hidden agenda.
He had no desire to get dragged into her complex web of schemes due to a momentary lapse of judgment, so it was best to proceed with extreme caution.
Knock, knock, knock.
Just as Greg was lost in thought, a sudden knock sounded from outside his cabin.
Huh? Who could be looking for me at this hour?
Greg sat up, straightened his collar, and walked over to open the door.
When he saw who was standing outside, he froze slightly.
It was Silvia.
She was wearing a black-and-white academy uniform. A black cropped jacket was layered over her form-fitting white shirt, a delicate ribbon tied neatly at her collar. Her lower half was clad in a black pleated skirt that hemmed just above her knees.
Her signature long pink hair fell smoothly over her shoulders, shimmering with a soft luster under the corridor lights.
Her figure was already outstanding, and the snug tailoring of the uniform perfectly accentuated her curves, with her ample chest being particularly eye-catching.
Beneath her skirt, her slender legs were wrapped in black thigh-high socks, exposing a sliver of fair skin between the hem of her skirt and the top of her socks, creating a perfect absolute territory.
Standing at the door, her hands were clasped somewhat nervously in front of her. She kept her head slightly lowered, her pink eyes filled with a mix of apprehension and anticipation.
“Silvia? What brings you here?” Greg asked, slightly surprised.
He was indeed caught off guard.
Before boarding the airship, he had noticed that Silvia seemed rather anxious about the trip, constantly burying her head in her studies.
He had assumed that given her diligent nature, she would lock herself in her room on the airship as well, cramming for the exchange until the very last moment.
He never expected her to take the initiative to come find him at a time like this.
“Hmm... I have a feeling that bitch from the Holy Church of Light isn't here with good intentions. You'd better watch your back.”
Nightmare's voice echoed in his mind, carrying a gloating tone.
Greg immediately shot back in his mind, Please stop looking at the world through your biased cat eyes. How could Silvia ever do anything dangerous to me?
“Heh, foolish man.”
Ignoring her mockery, Greg refocused his attention on the pink-haired girl at his door.
Silvia looked up, her pink eyes peering at him tentatively, her voice laced with nervousness and unease.
“U-Um... Senior Greg, do you not want me to come see you?”
“No, that's not what I meant at all. I was just a bit surprised.”
Greg quickly waved his hands and stepped aside, clearing the doorway.
“Anyway, come on in. I'll pour you some tea.”
“Okay.”
Silvia nodded gently, a faint smile gracing her lips as she followed him into the room.
What Greg failed to notice was that as he turned toward the pantry counter, Silvia quietly pulled the cabin door shut behind her. With a light flick of her finger, the lock clicked into place.
The cabin's furnishings were simple yet cozy.
A single bed with crisp white sheets rested against the wall, with an adjustable reading lamp mounted at the headboard.
A compact wardrobe and shelving unit stood in the corner, while the opposite side featured a built-in pantry counter holding tea tins, a kettle, and a set of clean ceramic teacups.
A round porthole was set into the bulkhead, offering a view of the churning sea of clouds outside, which glowed with a golden-red light under the setting sun.
Greg walked over to the pantry counter and picked up a tea tin, preparing to open the lid and brew some tea—
Before he could react, a soft yet powerful force slammed into him from behind, pushing him flat onto the bed.
His back sank into the soft mattress, and immediately after, a warm body straddled his stomach, pinning him down firmly.
“Silvia, what are you doing...!?”
Greg's eyes widened as he stared up at the pink-haired girl straddling him, his mind instantly descending into utter chaos.
Rate on N.U.
