“No need, I’ve already taken the test… Oh well, since we’ve run into each other, I’ll go with you to have a look.”
Luofulei initially wanted to refuse, but hearing the latter part of his sentence, she suddenly changed her mind.
She was indeed a bit curious about whether Ailundun had actually passed the Wen’erdun entrance exam.
All things considered, she had only been Ailundun’s teacher for about half a month.
Could he really have gotten into the Magitech Institute of the Wen’erdun Imperial Academy based on that?
Even if she told someone, no one would believe it, right?
If he didn’t have that kind of talent, then she wouldn’t have to worry about this sudden relationship in the future.
Besides, she had just been familiarizing herself with the general layout of the academy… and just happened to run into Ailundun.
The two walked side by side, passing through the corridors, becoming the focus of everyone’s attention along the way.
“By the way, if it’s convenient to ask, what’s your class?”
Ailundun inquired curiously.
“White Mage.”
Having clearly anticipated that Ailundun would ask this question sooner or later, Luofulei answered without hesitation.
“White magic is good, white magic is worth learning…”
Ailundun nodded in agreement, suddenly feeling a bit envious of Luofulei’s talent.
Invincible in theoretical studies was one thing, but she also had magical talent.
“Did you read the instructions for the official assessment’s secret realm…”
They made idle conversation, finally arriving at Professor Fuke’s door.
Ailundun knocked on the door very politely.
“Professor Fuke, I’ve come to collect my test results.”
After the knock, they only waited two seconds before the door swung open with a clang.
Opening the door should have been the assistant’s job as usual, but this time, Ailundun saw Professor Fuke first.
He slightly raised his gaze and, through a crack in the door, saw the assistant inside, who seemed to have already fallen asleep, showing none of the drive he had in the afternoon.
It seemed even the work pressure at the Magitech Institute, with its sparse student body, wasn’t small.
Professor Fuke came forward with a beaming smile, looking to be in a very good mood.
‘It’s in the bag.’
Ailundun couldn’t help but think proudly to himself.
“So it’s Ailundun… I reviewed your test. Very impressive. You had unique perspectives on many magical engineering tools. It’s probably the best test paper I’ve seen this round.”
Professor Fuke chuckled.
His impression of Ailundun was very deep.
“Thank you very much, Professor Fuke.”
Ailundun said modestly, acting every bit the capable and worry-free student.
“No need for modesty. Hmm? … Is this student also here to take a test? Let me see, your magical talent is quite remarkable, almost enough to get into the Sage Institute.”
Fuke turned his head, noticing Luofulei beside them, and instinctively assumed she was also a student coming to take the Magitech Institute’s entrance test.
“She’s already a student of the Sage Institute.”
Ailundun smiled slightly, proactively explaining for Luofulei. Luofulei didn’t speak, tacitly agreeing.
‘And my introductory magic engineering tutor.’
He silently added in his heart.
He wondered if Professor Fuke would still be this enthusiastic with him if he discovered Luofulei’s talent in magical engineering.
“I see. Please wait a moment while I go wake the assistant instructor. Once we find your test paper, we can give it to you.”
Fuke adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, still in high spirits.
With a gem like Ailundun before him, his attitude towards Luofulei was very good.
Though it was a bit of a pity, a refined young lady like Luofulei probably wasn’t some magical engineering genius.
Well, he could only comfort himself like that.
Soon, the assistant instructor was awakened, his face full of work fatigue and drowsiness.
He tried to rally his spirits and began searching through stacks of materials on a table in another already-organized room for the one belonging to Ailundun Ke Lande.
The grading room was now left with just Professor Fuke, Ailundun, and Luofulei.
“Please, come in and sit anywhere. Before you receive your exam paper, there are some things I’d like to ask you.”
Fuke smiled, looking up at the young man, sizing him up for a moment.
“Please feel free to ask, Professor Fuke…”
Ailundun found a seat opposite and sat down, waving his hand.
“I mainly want to hear your views on the Magitech Institute.”
Fuke’s expression became earnest and serious.
“…Very profitable blacksmiths?”
Ailundun thought for a moment and said.
Fuke shook his head helplessly, sighed, and still explained to Ailundun:
“Skilled magic engineers all have their own unique approaches.”
“In terms of making money, compared to money-draining mages and paladins, some senior-year students at the Magitech Institute, still in school, already have the ability to sell low-tier magical engineering tools for profit.”
Ailundun understood.
‘The hidden support personnel are actually the most formidable in combat.’
“This is also the main issue with our Magitech Institute students. They don’t believe they have combat power, often placing themselves behind those paladins. This is the main reason they are looked down upon…”
Professor Fuke became more and more impassioned as he spoke, as if recalling some grievous fact, feeling like he was pouring out his heart to Ailundun.
In his era, people from the Magitech Institute were known as the blacksmiths you least wanted to mess with.
Whether it was conquering secret realms or one-on-one duels in real life, they never feared anyone.
Relying on a full set of equipment loaded with various enchantments and buffs, along with some debuff magical engineering tools that could be hidden in various organs or on the body, they were often undefeated and unstoppable.
Even the goblins living in the dark, damp caves of secret realms, seeing all sorts of enchanted items thrown into their homes like they were free, could only huddle in their caves, not daring to step outside.
That feeling of having your home stuffed with all sorts of strange devices, where every step outside required a dozen goblin lives to slowly clear the mines…
It left a deep impression not just on goblins, but on all the cave-dwelling creatures in those secret realms to this day.
A card nearby, a simple pen, even a seemingly harmless little goblin companion might have already been stuffed with a ‘toy’ at some point, forcing you to avoid it.
Who wouldn’t say after seeing that—you magic engineering folks are just sunshine and rainbows, aren’t you?
He didn’t know when it started, but the students of the Magitech Department—no, the Magitech Institute—began to decline.
They started becoming timid and cowardly, truly seeing themselves as nothing more than enchantment-applying blacksmiths.
He hated it.
He hated his own powerlessness, his inability to stop it before it happened.
If he were born in this era, he would definitely show these Magitech Institute students what a true magic engineer looks like.
“That sounds truly sorrowful, Professor Fuke…”
“If I am able to enroll, I will definitely do my utmost to change the world’s stereotypical impression of magic engineering students.”
Ailundun, with genuine emotion, spoke to Professor Fuke with a look of sincere feeling in his eyes.
His brow paused for a moment, and he spoke words that shocked both people present.
“Reforging the honor of magic engineers, our duty is unshirkable.”
Hearing this sentence, Professor Fuke was even more astounded.
For a moment, he even had the thought of taking Ailundun as his disciple.
“What a line! ‘Reforging the honor of magic engineers, our duty is unshirkable!'”
Luckily, he restrained himself, or his future reputation might not have been safe.
“…”
Luofulei, who had been listening to the conversation nearby, felt the corner of her mouth twitch slightly, her expression inscrutable.
She knew Ailundun quite well.
‘I hope the Magitech Institute won’t suffer too much in the coming days.’
“Good child.”
Fuke smoothed the slightly graying hair at his temples.
Looking at Ailundun’s earnest expression, his eyes were inexplicably moved, and he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
‘What a good child.’
Students with such good grades and such fine character were rare these days.