Chapter 10
The next morning, I was wearing an apron and carrying a platter of breakfast, having just walked out of the kitchen, when I saw Qifeng drape her white cloak over herself and hurriedly pass by me.
“News came from the Church. Because of the Mana Reactor leak last night, order needs to be maintained in the city today. I’m heading out.”
“Eh? You’re not going to eat breakfast before you go?” As soon as I finished speaking, Qifeng doubled back, snatched a slice of bread from the platter in my hands, stuck it in her mouth, and ran… I felt instantly helpless, watching her dash out the door with bread hanging from her mouth.
Suddenly, Lian Qi hugged me from behind.
Because I was wearing an apron, such an intimate action made me feel even more like a girl. It was a little bit shameful.
“It’s just the two of us now,” she said in my ear.
My face instantly turned red.
“What are you scheming? Stop messing around, I’m holding a platter. Be careful, or I’ll drop it.”
I tried to persuade her nicely. Perhaps thanks to the platter, I escaped her grasp with ease. I breathed a sigh of relief. Even if Lian Qi really had tried to do something to me, it’s not like I could have smeared the breakfast on the platter onto her face.
“Hurry up and come eat,” I said, placing the breakfast on the dining table.
Speaking of which, the three meals a day in this house are almost always made by me—a boy—wearing a cute apron. Isn’t there something wrong with that?
“After breakfast, we have things to do, too.”
I paused slightly and sat down across from her. “Eh? What things?”
“You were in the kitchen, so you don’t know. The Queen just sent a raven with a message for you. She wants the two of us to go to the royal palace to discuss the Mana Reactor matter.”
“Us? An accident as major as the Mana Reactor leak… it’s only natural that it would reach Tristina’s ears so quickly.” I took a bite of bread and couldn’t help but smile at her.
“What are you grinning foolishly about?” Lian Qi looked at me strangely.
“No wonder you let me go so easily just now. It turns out you have official business to attend to later.”
Lian Qi silently put down her knife and fork. I realized I had said the wrong thing and immediately sensed trouble.
“See? I really shouldn’t have let you go so easily. We still have time now, anyway. Why don’t we… put it to good use?”
“Ehhh?? You can’t do this…”
I shot up from my chair in fear and circled the table, ‘round and ‘round, almost getting caught by her— What a chaotic breakfast.
Ahem. After breakfast, we set off for the royal palace. The moment we stepped outside, what greeted our eyes was a gray, hazy smog. It’s been two days in a row now! With no sign of disappearing at all.
Right, what did that Druid call it… Miasma? I hope that’s not what it really is.
As we were walking, Lian Qi and I ran right into a procession. Against the fog, we couldn’t see clearly at first and thought it was guards or knights from the Church. It was only when they got closer that we realized this group was actually wearing… the Magic Academy’s school uniform!
Lian Qi and I were dumbfounded. We watched as this parade of students marched past us. They were all wearing masks and holding banners—Oppose Magic Pollution, Give Us Back Our Green Home!
Even more striking, one banner blatantly read—As Long as the Mana Reactor Stands, Our Home Will Know No Peace.
What… is this situation?
“They seem to be the underclassmen from the Magic Academy, right?” I said to Lian Qi.
“Fellow student, won’t you join us and contribute to the future of humanity?” A female student walked out from the procession and asked Lian Qi. Because Lian Qi was also wearing a student uniform, they mistook her for someone who hadn’t graduated yet.
“What are you planning to do?” Lian Qi asked.
“We’re planning to protest en masse at the main gate of the Mana Reactor! Please look at our slogan—” She pointed righteously at the As Long as the Mana Reactor Stands, Our Home Will Know No Peace banner.
“Was this organized by the school’s teachers?” Lian Qi asked again.
“No, we initiated this ourselves. The Mana Reactor leak that happened last night made us realize that the reactor is a ticking time bomb lurking right beside us! There are rumors that the technology for this wireless magic transmission is inherently flawed and produces magical radiation. It’s horrifying just to think about!”
“…There’s a rumor like that?” I said.
“Isn’t that right? Those in power have hidden the dangers of the Mana Reactor. I feel we must let the populace know the truth! Let magical radiation and pollution be far removed from our lives!”
“But… if the Mana Reactor is dismantled, we won’t be able to supply the city with magic power. A lot of people will still oppose it, right?” I said weakly.
“Whoever opposes it can have the Mana Reactor built at their front door,” the female student said self-righteously.
“If you dismantle the reactor, are you planning to transmit magic power with love? Fei’er, let’s go, we’re running out of time.” Lian Qi grabbed my hand and dragged me away.
“It’s a good thing the smog is thick. If you had stayed any longer, those people would have recognized you as the Saintess. Do you think you would’ve been able to leave then?” Lian Qi said while dragging me by the hand.
“You’re so thoughtful on my behalf.” I gave her a gratified smile, though she couldn’t see it with her back to me.
When we arrived at the royal palace, I pushed open the doors to the throne hall and found that not only was Teacher Mei Lin here, but Sister Aijieliya was as well. And Tristina was sitting on the throne at the end of the red carpet. Even the gesture of her pressing a hand to her forehead looked impeccably elegant…
“Sister, Lian Qi and I just ran into your students organizing an anti-Mana Reactor protest,” I weakly reminded Sister.
Hearing this, Sister Aijieliya slapped her forehead helplessly, looking very exasperated.
“They really know how to cause trouble. I understand. When I get back, I will implement a ten-day comprehensive exam for the entire academy. The scores will be factored into their total graduation credits.”
Immediately after, Sister turned her gaze to Tristina. “Pardon my rudeness, Your Majesty, but I must take my leave first. I need to bring those protesting students back to the academy before they cause any trouble.”
“Mm, you go ahead.”
Before Sister transformed into wind with magic and disappeared, she smiled and winked at me. I really feel that ever since… last night’s “tutoring session,” the way Sister looks at me has become especially suggestive.
“Fei’er, Transmigrator, you’re here?” Tristina greeted us with a smile. “You must have seen the smog, too, right? It’s gotten so bad I don’t even dare to leave the castle, or sit in the garden to enjoy my afternoon tea.”
“The… the smog outside is indeed quite severe.”
“I’ve heard rumors… saying that this smog isn’t a normal natural phenomenon, but miasma caused by the Mana Reactor’s emissions.”
“Your Majesty, that kind of talk is actually completely baseless,” Teacher Mei Lin said with a bow.
“Is it really baseless? I hardly dare to believe what you say anymore. You and everyone else have always emphasized that the Mana Reactor is extremely safe… yet now that a leak has occurred, how do you explain it?”
“But… the Mana Reactor’s design is extremely safe. Theoretically… an accident like last night’s leak shouldn’t have happened.”
“That is not the case.”
Following the aged voice, the great doors behind me opened. Professor Einstein walked in and said, “The fundamental theory of the Mana Reactor actually contains a hidden danger.”