Since the Hundred Academy Exchange would last for nearly a month and had not officially begun yet, most people were still in a relaxed state of mind.
Groups of students could be seen everywhere in the Magic Tower chatting, strolling around, and familiarizing themselves with the environment, creating a relaxed and cozy atmosphere.
Except for Greg.
“Hey, damn cowgirl! I know you can walk on your own, so get off and walk up yourself! I need to go find my own room too!”
After leaving the girls' luggage in the dormitory area, Greg was still carrying a woman who reeked of alcohol on his back.
Because the elevator was too crowded, he could only painstakingly climb up the spiral staircase inside the Magic Tower, fine beads of sweat already forming on his forehead.
Olivia slumped on his back, her arms loosely wrapped around his neck. Her wavy, wine-red hair swayed against his cheek with every step he took, releasing a scent that mixed alcohol with a hint of floral fragrance.
Although her face was flushed from intoxication, her exquisite, mature features still exuded a peerless, breathtaking elegance.
“I refuse. Those people upstairs always assume that an outstanding woman like me must have zero luck with men. Today, I can use your face to show off a bit.”
Olivia mumbled from his back, her tone thick with drunkenness and a strange sense of pride.
Greg's temples throbbed violently.
“Don't you think starting a rumor with your own student is way worse than having no luck with men?!”
“What does it matter? It's not like you're going to lose a piece of flesh over it...”
“I'll lose a lot of pieces! It might even get me chopped into pieces in the future!”
Just as Greg was engaged in this pointless bickering with the Headmistress on his back, he rounded a corner and came face-to-face with a figure.
It was an elf with hair as white as snow.
She stood by a window in the corridor, the afternoon sun streaming through the high pane and casting a warm glow over her, making her already pale skin look almost translucent.
Her long white hair cascaded down to her waist, its tips swaying gently in the breeze.
Her eyes were a pale silver, like the surface of a lake under the moonlight—clear, indifferent, and devoid of any unnecessary emotion.
She had a tall, slender posture and wore a simple white-and-green robe, with a longbow slung diagonally across her back.
Simply standing there quietly, she resembled a cool moon—beautiful, distant, and seemingly separated from the mortal world by an invisible barrier.
Greg recognized her.
Luna Starfall, the Headmistress of Branch-String Sanctuary Magic Academy, one of the Five Great Academies.
Not only was she a Great Archmage who had reached over Level 80 in magical attainment, but she was also incredibly skilled in archery, making her one of the power ceilings in this world's storyline.
In the original game, she didn't have much screen time, but every single one of her appearances left a deep impression.
Her defining trait was that no matter the situation, her face would never show any emotional fluctuations. At the same time, she was a bit of an airhead, often saying things that caught people completely off guard.
Most importantly, in the original game's lore, she and his own Headmistress, Olivia, were very close friends in private.
The moment Greg saw her, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He could finally hand over the hot potato on his back.
He was just about to greet her when Luna's gaze bypassed Olivia on his back and landed directly on his face.
She stared at Greg's face for a few seconds.
Then, she reached out and unceremoniously felt Greg's arms and shoulders, even squeezing his biceps through his clothes. Her movements were as natural as if she were picking out a cabbage.
...
Greg didn't know what to say about this behavior. In any case, he certainly didn't dare to resist, fearing he might accidentally get slapped to death.
Fortunately, this process didn't last too long.
Luna quickly withdrew her hand, looked up, and stared at him calmly with her silver eyes before speaking:
“You. Do you want to become my disciple?”
“Huh?”
This left Greg completely dumbfounded.
His mind raced.
He recalled that in some of the original game's routes, Greg Sass had also used his connections to attend the Hundred Academy Exchange and had met Luna.
But in the original game, Luna hadn't shown much interest in Greg Sass, let alone offered to take him in as a disciple.
Yet now, she had actively extended this invitation...
Greg quickly figured out the cause behind this event: his exceptionally high Constitution stat of 8.
In this world, an ordinary human mage's Constitution was usually around 2 or 3. Elves were slightly better, but they still hovered between 5 and 6.
Meanwhile, his Constitution of 8—tempered by the dungeon and enhanced by the system—placed him among the absolute peak of physical conditioning.
To an elf like Luna who excelled in archery, this was likely far more appealing than raw magical talent.
Just as Greg was pondering how to respond, Olivia suddenly lifted her head from his back. Reeking of alcohol, she spoke in a sarcastic, mocking tone:
“What's this? Has a closet pervert of an elf like you finally started craving men? Too bad, though. I raised this student myself with my own blood, sweat, and tears, so I'm absolutely not handing him over to you. You can only watch from the sidelines! Hahaha!”
Greg immediately ruined her momentum. “I have absolutely no memory of ever being raised by you!”
Luna completely ignored Olivia's mockery. Her silver eyes remained calmly fixed on Greg as she continued:
“I am only stronger, not weaker, than the nymphomaniac on your back. So do not worry about her threatening you.”
These words were like a match, instantly lighting Olivia's fuse.
She leaped off Greg's back with a swiftness that didn't resemble someone who had been heavily intoxicated just a moment ago.
Landing steadily on her feet, Olivia reached into her bosom and pulled out her uniquely shaped, revolver-like magic conduit. She pointed the barrel straight at Luna, her eyes flashing with a sharp, serious glint:
“Hey, I can't just let that slide. Want to test that theory?”
Luna said nothing, but her hand slowly reached for the bow on her back.
The mana in the air began to surge violently, as if two invisible forces were clashing in the corridor.
The surrounding temperature seemed to drop, and the whistling of the wind outside the window grew sharper.
Standing right between the two of them, Greg broke into a cold sweat as he felt the oppressive aura that seemed on the verge of tearing the very space apart.
If two Great Archmage-level figures were to duke it out right here, he didn't know if the others in the Magic Tower would survive, but he was absolutely certain he would die.
And didn't the lore say these two were very close friends in private?!
But where exactly is the "good" part in this relationship?! I'd really like to know!
Rate on N.U.
