CHAPTER 1032: NEW STUDENT ENROLLMENT

23:59

The clock hands nearly overlap.

Worm Station platform, the only true area of Midnight City Main Station.

They appeared after the surface became dangerous, accommodating the surging passenger flow in Midnight City.

In front of Platform 224, several silhouettes dressed like wizards with round pointy hats and dark robes quietly wait. In old sewers full of oddly shaped outlines, they don’t seem strange or unusual.

Patient waiting will always yield results.

The worm of Platform 224 suddenly wriggles, pushing out a figure landing on the ground.

He is spotless, the white shirt under his black coat remains clean and neat, unlike other passengers who are covered in slime and desperate to reach the waterside.

"Lu Li."

The only one not wearing a wizard’s hat and robe, Professor Caesar, excitedly greets Lu Li. After the academy merged, he still serves as a linguistics professor, though he became one of many.

Lu Li observes the figures dressed as wizards behind him.

"They are the wizards protecting you."

Professor Caesar answers Lu Li’s inquiry: "The academy professors are not suited to pick you up, as that would attract unnecessary attention."

As someone Lu Li has interacted with before, Professor Caesar starts introducing the academy’s situation, even though Lu Li already understands the details about Giant Tree Academy before arriving, he doesn’t stop this ordinary professor from speaking excitedly.

"We should leave before the Law Enforcers here discover us."

One of the wizards lowers his voice to interrupt, as if afraid of being overheard.

Lu Li nods, following this group of "wizards" away from the bustling station, boarding the rapid elevator like stone pillars leading to the surface.

...

The surface no longer belongs to humans, except for the Land of Light."

In an irregular classroom like a treehouse, the Mysticology professor is teaching knowledge that makes students feel bored at the starfruit wood desk.

"Mr. Guppes?" The professor puzzledly turns to the brown-haired youth raising his hand.

"Professor Hagrid, you mentioned this two weeks ago." The brown-haired youth reminds.

"I need to say it again because—"

His words are again interrupted by a figure impolitely entering the classroom, signaling him: "Professor Hagrid, please step outside."

Professor Hagrid sets down the book, leaving behind "Everyone review yesterday’s rune circuits," following the figure out as a buzzing hum like whispering flames echoes due to his departure.

"What’s going on? I’m teaching, Gatekeeper." Professor Hagrid curiously asks why the academy’s Gatekeeper came to find him.

"The Exorcist has arrived, currently in the Dean’s lounge."

"Oh my God..."

Professor Hagrid loses his composure, lip starting to tremble, even walking unevenly along the indented wooden corridor marked with tree-heart patterns.

Exiting from the path leading fastest to the top floor Dean’s lounge from the lower grades, knocking on the door decorated with the Ouroboros plant, linguistics Professor Caesar opens the door for him.

Then he sees that elating, cheering, worshipping slender figure.

"Respected Mr. Lu Li..."

Bowing, Professor Hagrid almost touches Lu Li’s shoes.

"Professor Spiter Hagrid, a lower grade Mysticology professor." Professor Caesar introduces Lu Li.

"You can call me Spiter, Mr. Lu Li." Professor Hagrid humbly says.

"Professor Hagrid."

Lu Li doesn’t do that, he has come to learn, respecting those who impart knowledge.

"Ernie Hamilton Wayne." Lu Li asks.

Having met this Mysticology professor from the Alchemical Tower and who provides mutant potions along with Professor Criss are the only professors Lu Li knows from Giant Tree Academy.

"He is a higher-grade Mysticology professor. You won’t see him for at least two years...if any of you survive until then."

A charming female’s soft laughter rings out from the pushed-open door, presenting in front is a gown of wine-red silk folds, she is unusually tall—her head must duck under the two-meter high doorframe.

As she raises her head, revealing a face from which the depths of one’s soul spring desire and possessiveness, a beauty full of maternal grace.

Professor Caesar turns to look at the birdcage, avoiding her gaze in view.

"Vice-Chancellor Criss, you should show respect to Mr. Lu Li." Professor Hagrid, loyal defender of Lu Li, does not count in this category.

"Don’t forget, Mr. Lu Li will soon be our student." With lips slightly open, Professor Criss, like a little giant, sinks into a sofa wrapping her body.

Despite sitting so, Professor Criss is still taller than Professor Caesar.

"Is the potion useful?"

"It helped me greatly."

"So, have you decided which department to join?" Professor Criss pours herself a glass of red wine, both the wine bottle and glass seem tiny and exquisite to her.

Lu Li had already chosen his major before coming: "Mysticism Department."

There Lu Li can grasp the power of the Cursed Title.

The Mysticism Department is the largest department in terms of students, followed by Professor Criss’s Alchemy Department.

"I guessed as much."

Professor Criss sips her wine, glancing at the excited and trembling Professor Hagrid.

"I have fifteen minutes of free time left, do you have anything to ask?"

"Um... Dean Asamons?" Professor Caesar asks.

Professor Criss states the Dean is away, and she’ll be hosting the welcome ceremony tonight as Vice-Chancellor.

Students entering Giant Tree Academy undergo three school years: lower grades, middle grades, higher grades.

It’s too long for Lu Li: "I hope to graduate quickly."

"Credits. When your credits are sufficient, you can apply for the advancement trial."

Determining entry details, Lu Li recalls the pitch-black silhouette formed in the last stage of "the door": "I can’t stay in one place for too long due to a curse following me."

"A curse?"

Professor Criss fails to detect any curse traces, thus instructs Lu Li to visit her three days later at the bottom layer, leaving precisely at minute fifteen.

Professor Hagrid is also urged to prepare lessons, leaving Professor Caesar to thoughtfully lead Lu Li to a temporary guest room to rest—the Apparent Academy only has him fortunate to join the Giant Tree Academy.

Ten hours later, Lu Li follows dozens of students gathered in the corridor to the treetop auditorium.

Before entering the grand auditorium, they are taken to a small room, waiting for the enrollment ceremony calling out their names.

"Vena Logan!"

A freckled girl takes a deep breath and steps out of the room first.

"...join the Mysticism Department!"

Sparse applause comes in from outside.

"Zetun Pal..."

With the calling of names, new students continuously step out of the small room.

"Mysticism Department!"

"Alchemy Department!"

"Mysticism Department"

"Divination Department!"

The number of new students in the small room dwindles, eventually arriving at—

"Lu Li!"

The noisy auditorium filled with scattered whispers suddenly turns so quiet a pin dropping can be heard.

The first-year professors in the seats turn to the entrance of the small room. Students seated at the back benches stretch their necks, lifting off their seats, hoping to see clearly the newcomer named Lu Li.