Chapter 110: Lance Goes for the Card Making Exam

In the sky, the morning sun climbed higher and higher. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the terrace's wooden railing, casting a long shadow across the floor. A comfortable wicker chair sat on the terrace, and a book lay half-read on the glass coffee table beside it. A breeze, carrying the scent of flowers, drifted past and brushed against Lance's cheeks, as if trying to sweep away his lingering drowsiness.

"Lance, it's time for the card making exam. Stop thinking about your animal friends for a moment."

While holding a watering can, the Poet of Boundless Love glanced at the clock inside the living room, then looked at Lance who was still squatting on the ground, leisurely feeding the birds. She couldn't resist giving him a couple of playful kicks on the back.

Lance rubbed his sleepy eyes. "I know, I know. There's still plenty of time. I won't be late."

Although he frequently summoned the Poet and had grown quite close to her, her attitude toward him had become increasingly casual over time. Sometimes, he didn't feel like she was a girl at all. In reality, her behavior and mannerisms were quite boyish.

The Poet grinned broadly in the morning sunlight. "Go on, Lance! Show the people of Ikerite City what your Sealing magic is made of. It makes no sense for the Cardinal of Annihilation to be the only representative figure for Sealing magic!"

"You're right. Sealing magic should be warm and radiant, not the gloomy, sinister version that Askesan practices." Lance smiled brightly and stood up, stretching fully.

Soon after, the Poet voluntarily ended her summoning, and Lance was ready to head out. After stepping out into the misty morning light at the entrance of the dormitory, Lance walked slowly along the campus path with a faint smile on his face.

Bathed in the pale golden morning sun, his expression was serene, and his demeanor radiated a cheerful, sunny warmth. Today was the day of the registered card making exam. It was also the weekend, so there were no classes or student council activities.

A month had flown by in the blink of an eye, filled with ordinary, uneventful days. Aside from visiting the student council to pick up tasks and then smoothly handle minor campus disputes, Lance spent most of his time either with Talia or in his dormitory, making cards.

Although he still lacked absolute confidence in passing the exam, thanks to Talia's demon-style training, combined with the discovery and diligent practice of the magic type best suited to his affinity, Lance believed he was far stronger than when he had specialized solely in Mental attribute enchanted cards.

He began to head to the Ikerite branch of the Card Maker's Association to take the registration exam.

Achieving a higher certification as a registered card maker entitled him to increasingly favorable discounts when purchasing both standard and rare materials from the Association. He could even arrange for materials to be shipped in from other nations across the Southern Continent.

Furthermore, the commission rates for selling cards and accepting specific commissions were significantly lower. The Association was also an excellent place to source high-rarity materials. Had he been trading merely as a merchant, as he once did, there were high-level materials he could sell to the Association, but could not purchase from them. The Association had long been committed to cracking down hard on scalpers and their proxies.

Not long after stepping out of the dormitory, Lance spotted Hyperion sitting quietly and waiting for him on a circular wooden bench beneath a large tree, which was the spot they had agreed upon beforehand. He waved at her and shouted, "Good morning Hyperion!"

She noticed him quickly. "Mm, good morning."

Hyperion had arranged with Lance well in advance to accompany him to the Card Maker's Association today. She was one of the few people at the school who knew Lance was a card maker, and she had long wanted to see his card making process firsthand.

After leaving the school grounds, they strolled along the quiet morning streets, walking the cobblestone path beside the Grand Ikerite Theater and crossing the canal via a stone bridge. They watched the waters of the Yara River shimmer with golden, rippling light under the morning sun.

The two chatted as they walked, just as they always did.

"Lance, did you know you've gained quite a bit of fame in the capital recently?"

"Is that so?" Lance had no idea that news of his exploits had spread beyond the university. He had been deeply focused on card making lately, spending most of his time at school.

The only times he left campus were to visit Cat Proprietor’s Eatery, located just a short distance to the east, to see Talia.

Hyperion sighed. "Even though the footage from our Demon Kingdom Shadow Realm adventure wasn't released publicly, the rumors have become increasingly exaggerated..."

She felt it might have been better if the footage had been released. It was precisely because there was no footage that people relied on their imaginations and word-of-mouth. The story likely changed with every person who retold it, eventually becoming utterly absurd.

Lance curiously asked, "Tell me, what kind of stories are going around?"

"Well, the most outrageous version right now claims that Headmaster Lance is invincible. Even while bearing the weight of all of Purgatory and holding up the academy with one hand to battle a Vampire Prince, he remained unrivaled in the world."

Lance nearly choked on his own saliva when he heard that. He coughed a few times. "Surely no one actually believes that?"

Hyperion shook her head. "Well, plenty of residents in the capital seem to enjoy spreading the tale. Some young parents even use the story to scare disobedient children: 'If you don't behave and be a good kid, Headmaster Lance will drag you off to the Purgatory Corridor Academy for re-education.'"

"I..." Lance was made speechless by this revelation. After all, what he had promoted in that Shadow Realm dimension was only positive energy—love, peace, and moral order. How on earth did it turn into a dark fairy tale? The way rumors got distorted was truly terrifying.

Hyperion smiled helplessly. "Alright, alright, don't let it bother you. Everyone knows the story was told partly in jest."

Although she knew the story was only thirty percent fact and seventy percent fiction, she could still see the look of utter bewilderment on Lance's face.

Upon hearing this, he nodded deeply. Then, with a determined expression, he said, "You're right. If I just put in more effort next time, I'm sure I can get everyone to truly grasp the abundant amounts of positive energy and wholesome love that I'm promoting."

Hyperion opened her mouth to speak but stopped herself. She couldn't help but feel that perhaps she shouldn't have said that in the first place.

***

About half an hour later, the two arrived at the capital's branch of the Card Maker's Association. It was on the east side of the city, near the Erika Magic Spire and Hutton Pedestrian Plaza.

This building differed greatly from the rustic-style branch Lance had seen in South Vantina. It was completed a decade ago under the supervision of the Ikerite municipal government, and this magnificent post-modern structure stood in stark contrast to the nearby Ikerite Neoclassical building of the Southern Continent Shadow Realm Management Association. While separated by Hutton Pedestrian Plaza, the two buildings were aligned along the same axis.

The glass walls of the Card Maker's Association incorporated Ikerite's urban grid pattern and reflected the scenery of Hutton Pedestrian Plaza. As they walked through the entrance that was framed by an automated, welcoming illusion of a waterfall, they were greeted by streamlined corridors and a decor that made the inside look like a forest. The design style clearly integrated elements of Ikerite's culture, geology, historical research, paleontology, magical engineering, and sociology.

"What time does your exam start?" Hyperion asked, turning her head as they walked past clear signage within the building.

"Nine o'clock. We've got plenty of time, so we can look around a bit first." Lance estimated it was just past eight. "We've both ranked up, so we might as well see if there are any new cards we can buy before the next Shadow Realm challenge."

Hyperion nodded. "Mm, sure."

She knew that Lance had acquired his entire Flawed Healing series of enchanted cards from the Card Maker's Association. Those supposedly useless cards, which ordinary people wouldn't use, could be purchased quite cheaply.

By browsing regularly, one might stumble upon a Flawed Healing card with even better effects. However, prices for the Flawed Healing series had been rising slightly across the Kingdom of Hutton recently. People were gradually realizing that these "trash" cards, usually destined to be dismantled for materials, could actually be used to annoy one's opponents.

Although they had no substantial tactical impact, they were incredibly effective at messing with an opponent's mental state. Hyperion knew that the instructors at the Sages' College must have figured out this usage after watching Lance, tried it out themselves, and gradually sparked this trend.

Dean Lawrence's ban prevented them from talking about it openly, but the faculty knew the price of these cards would soon skyrocket. The shrewd ones were already stockpiling them.