Chapter 3020 - 33: The Dean Without Rank

Chapter 3020: Chapter 33: The Dean Without Rank

No grand inauguration ceremony.

No splendid welcome banquet.

No high-profile meeting or interview.

Zheng Qing silently became the first dean of Edge Academy.

The only proof of his appointment was a neatly framed portrait that appeared in the previously vacant spot for the Edge Academy dean on the bulletin board of the Professor Joint Meeting.

And a not-so-short introduction beneath the portrait — Zheng Qing, male, human. Currently serving as the dean of Edge Academy at First University, staff member of relevant departments, and chief tester of the Giant God Soldier Project Team. Registered Talisman Drawer, Authorized Talisman Bullet Maker, Registered Shape-shifting Wizard; Founder of the registered hunting team "Absolution"; recipient of the Special Contribution Award from First University; recipient of the Great Merlin (Gold) Medal; codenamed "World" in the "Magic Wand" Big Arcana Sequence; member of the Magic Alliance Great Wizard Conference; honorary councilor of the Wizard Council; honorary councilor of the Moon Council; recipient of the Wizard Alliance "Legendary Allowance."

When Zheng Qing first saw this introduction, he was stunned.

He had initially thought the school would present him to the world in a more ’subtle’ way — such as making him the Edge Dean under the name ’Taiyi’ or appearing in public with a mask — either option would have been more convincing than a student who had just graduated two years ago.

But they did not.

The school very naturally confirmed his true identity.

This made the young wizard feel a lot of pressure.

The good news was, in the words of the Yellow Flowered Cat, this was an excellent way to increase his Legendary Level. The bad news was, almost everyone who noticed this appointment would immediately ask, who is Zheng Qing?

"—He looks quite young, doesn’t he?"

"—Of course he’s young! I heard he was in our academy’s Level 08 class and graduated from school in just two years! He must be only twenty-four this year..."

"—Two years! In two years, I probably wouldn’t even earn a hundred credits; how did he complete four years of study? The magical zoology teacher wasn’t wrong — the gap between humans is bigger than between people and dogs!"

"—Don’t slander Gouzi; I’m aware there are several canine beings at the Great Wizard Level!"

"—Be more careful... I heard Zheng Qing was always a scholarship student at the school, entered a professor’s lab in his freshman year, joined the teaching assistant team in his sophomore year... and apparently even participated in the Black Prison war!"

"—The name does sound familiar... Wasn’t Su Councilor’s rumored husband called Zheng Qing?"

"—Yes, yes! It should be... wow! No wonder he could win the most beautiful woman in the Wizard World, becoming a dean-level figure at such a young age; what will he achieve in a few years?"

"—What does ’Legendary Allowance’ mean?"

"—It’s not an allowance; it’s a subsidy! They say it’s a stipend given by the Wizard Alliance to Legendary Wizards. Huh, hold on, how could he receive the Legendary Allowance? Is Zheng Qing a Legendary Wizard?"

"—Impossible! Two years ago, he was still in school; ask any senior classmates, and they’ll definitely remember. If Zheng... the dean were a Great Wizard at that time, it would have been widely known at school."

"—Or maybe he became a Great Wizard a year after graduation and a Legend after two years?"

"—That joke isn’t funny. The youngest Great Wizard recognized by the Alliance is still the North District Sage Korma. Zheng Qing is younger than Great Wizard Colmar; if he were a Great Wizard, the title ’youngest’ wouldn’t belong to Colmar."

"—That said, becoming the dean of First University at such a young age and having such legendary achievements, receiving a ’Legendary Allowance’ doesn’t seem unjustifiable. Ah! I remember now! The school dean seems to have a ’fruit position’; maybe that Great Wizard Conference member or other honorific titles come with being the Edge Academy dean?"

"—That’s certainly possible!"

A few witches in red robes chattered away, whispering as they passed by Zheng Qing. By the end of the corridor, Zheng Qing had already heard their gossip, and as they approached, he quickly straightened his back, raised his head, and wore a serious expression to maintain the dignity of a school dean.

But to his disappointment, the witches seemed focused solely on their hushed and fervent gossip, not noticing the young warlock who brushed past them.

Feeling a bit awkward, Zheng Qing quietly pulled up the wide hood to hide his face.

The office building of First University was originally shared by four academies.

Now it was used by five academies.

Zheng Qing’s office was located at the innermost side of the fifth floor; however, while on his way upstairs, he hesitated and decided not to go to his own office but instead headed to Old Yao’s office.

Unlike when he was a student, now The Door God quickly announced Zheng Qing’s arrival as soon as he spotted him from afar. By the time the warlock reached the door, it was already open, and Old Yao was smiling at him from behind the desk.

"A rare guest, indeed."

The dean of Jiuyou Academy rose and warmly greeted him, jokingly saying: "—This isn’t an exaggeration; you really are a rare guest in that you are one of the few deans to walk in personally through the main door of my office. Others consider it polite enough to come via a hologram... and some simply show up as a mouth and start barking over the table."

He pointed above his desk.

Zheng Qing tugged at his lips, unsure whether to laugh.

After a few seconds of hesitation, he didn’t maintain his student-like demeanor and directly said: "—Professor Yao, sorry for the intrusion. I wanted to confirm the date for Jiuyou Academy’s registered wizard assessment this year."

Old Yao raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"You’re planning to take the registered wizard assessment?"

"...Uh, is there something wrong with that?"

Noticing the tone, Zheng Qing hesitated: "I just saw the introduction on the bulletin board downstairs, and other professors and deans listed the dates they became registered wizards; mine didn’t, so..."

Old Yao picked up a pipe from the table, fiddling with it as he shook his head: "I wouldn’t recommend you take the registered wizard assessment. It’s beneficial both for you and for the school. Given your skills, passing the registered wizard assessment shouldn’t be a problem. Then what? Even if you obtain the high-level registered wizard status at once, what’s the point? First University has never had a dean who served based on registered wizard status. Without the assessment, you’re a genuine Legend... People will only notice your presence at the Alliance Great Wizard Conference, receiving the ’Legendary Allowance,’ and serving as the Edge Dean. After the assessment, everyone’s attention will focus on your actual rank... It’s not beneficial for anyone. As Lin Qi said, we want everyone’s attention on the donut, not the hole in the middle."

Zheng Qing understood the school’s intention halfway through Old Yao’s explanation and strongly agreed.

Only, he felt unfamiliar with the name mentioned by the professor.

"Who is Lin Qi?"

"Don’t worry about it; he’s just an obscure old wizard, already deceased."