The midday light, like pale golden feathers, reached in through the window into the central hall, gently caressing the boy and girl, letting both feel a trace of warmth.
“You are a true genius.”
After the test, Ailande finally let out a helpless sigh, her words tinged with a hint of defeat.
“That’s what everyone says about me.”
Ailundun smiled somewhat smugly, accepting the praise without any discomfort.
“I wonder who created this book. If possible, I’d really like to personally praise them. Many of their insights are even more impressive than those of some self-proclaimed Magic Engineering masters in the Weierdun Empire.”
After his self-praise, he offered praise without hesitation.
Ailande lowered her head, saying self-deprecatingly,
“I don’t know. Perhaps they’re just a homeless wanderer.”
“That’s not necessarily true. Who can say for sure?”
Seeming unwilling to dwell on this topic, Ailande didn’t say anything more.
“Since you’ve completely mastered this book, then as you said, let’s move ahead to the next stage of learning.”
Ailande stated flatly.
“Alright.”
“…”
Actually getting hands-on practice in creating Magic Engineering-related items was a bit more difficult than Ailundun had imagined.
It seemed this part would just have to be slowly ground out with time.
He still needed to put in considerable effort before he could quickly test into the Weierdun Empire Academy and begin participating in the real plot changes.
Fortunately, the Capable Glasses had already helped him quickly bypass many time-wasting areas, so he didn’t need to be too anxious.
When evening came and Ailundun suggested setting up a room for her to stay in, she firmly refused.
He then had the maid escort Ailande out and began researching another function of the glasses.
That was simulation and combat.
Today, while Ailande was asleep, he had secretly performed a recording.
Now, the glasses clearly displayed Ailande’s corresponding information.
Begin Simulation
Simulation Mode: Magic Engineering Knowledge Duel
Simulation Target: Ailande
Select Difficulty: Entry Level
Just kidding.
Ailundun was temporarily aware of his current skill level.
Directly simulating combat was impossible.
At most, he could compete in Magic Engineering, just going through the motions.
Right now, the most crucial thing was time.
So he tried his best not to waste any.
Then… let the battle begin!
Late at night, moonlight spilled over the land like water.
Aside from the hardworking Ailundun, on the other side of the mansion.
Aide’wen listened to the maid Milan’s report with disbelief, slightly frowning, his expression somewhat complicated.
“You’re saying… it’s true? That son of mine, he actually took the initiative to study?”
“It’s all true, young master… he was really diligent today.”
Milan reported respectfully, pinching the hem of her skirt, imagining the young master’s demeanor today, also finding it rather incredible.
“It’s just a passing fancy. Watch, in a few days, he’ll show his true colors.”
Aide’wen was silent for a moment, then chuckled, shaking his head without saying anything more.
Milan looked up, wanting to explain on Ailundun’s behalf.
But seeing the master’s expression, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
Ever since the mistress passed away, this father and son pair seemed to have always been like this, with an unresolved knot in their hearts.
Even the housekeeper had no way to advise them.
They could only hope the young master would strive a bit harder.
Until the night quietly receded and the bustling sounds of the crowd faded away again.
No one in the entire Keliande family noticed.
A faint, weak light always remained lit in Ailundun’s residence.
And Ailundun, who had been thoroughly beaten by Ailande all night, nearly had his fighting spirit collapse.
“You call this Entry Level difficulty?”
On the bed, the exhausted Ailundun couldn’t help but mutter.
The Ailande in the simulation mode and today’s Ailande were completely different people.
She showed no possibility of being gentle with him because of gold coins.
Several times, he was taunted to the point of losing his temper and could only resort to underhanded tactics.
Forcibly covering her mouth.
Making the simulated Ailande blush with shame, momentarily forgetting to answer the questions.
Allowing him to easily secure victory.
It was just a game, after all, so of course his will should be the master!
Yes, the simulation mode allowed him to set any situation he wanted.
He had chosen a Magic Engineering creation duel with Ailande.
Based on his observation, the Entry Level mode Ailande should be a weakened version of the current Ailande.
Even so, he was still utterly crushed.
But then he thought, Ailande was originally a top-tier theoretical genius, not something his cheating methods could compare to, so he felt slightly relieved.
Right, it wasn’t that he was weak.
It was that the opponent was too strong!
Even though he’d been crushed all night.
Fortunately, he gained a lot, secretly learning many of Ailande’s techniques, techniques that probably even many of the Weierdun Empire’s Magic Engineering masters didn’t know.
Ailande truly lived up to being the final world-ending boss.
He saved quite a few gold coins too.
He really was a thrifty and diligent young master.
The following days proceeded in this simple yet fulfilling manner.
With the support of the Capable Glasses, Ailundun trained day and night, continuously stealing Ailande’s Magic Engineering techniques during that time.
Ailande gradually accepted the fact that Ailundun was a genius.
She no longer taught him as an ordinary person, and the teaching progress far exceeded before.
In the central hall, Ailundun and Ailande sat facing each other, the soft sofa relaxing both their moods.
Ailande took a small sip of black tea.
For some reason, ever since she drank this black tea last time and fell asleep during the lesson—an incident she tentatively defined as a teaching mishap—she had come to enjoy the feeling of drinking this tea.
She thought she simply liked the taste.
Until one night, back at her home, she tried to brew a similar drink herself.
But she quickly realized she was wrong.
Even if the taste was the same… she couldn’t find that feeling.
Finally… she had to face the facts.
The black tea at Ailundun’s house was brewed through a unique secret method.
Mmm… that must be it.
This time too, using the excuse of wanting the same drink as last time, she effortlessly obtained the black tea without any fuss.
Of course… without any added sleep aids or the like.
“It seems the teaching should be able to conclude soon.”
Ailande said calmly.
“Yeah, this way I can finally realize my dream.”
Ailundun said with a warm, sun-like gentle smile.
“Your dream?”
Ailande was taken aback.
This was the first time she’d heard him mention it since she started tutoring him.
Previously, she had never cared why Ailundun wanted to learn Magic Engineering.
Her eyes were only on the desire for those 5 gold coins per hour.
“That’s my secret. Can’t easily tell others.”
Ailundun forcibly held back his laughter, thinking for a moment.
He wondered what expression Ailande—or rather, Luofulei—would have when she saw him at the Weierdun Empire Academy.
“A secret… I see.”
Ailande lowered her head again to sip her tea, her azure hair falling down, lost in thought.
After all, her relationship with this young master was just a simple transactional one.
Once this transaction ended, it would likely be difficult to have any further contact.
Naturally, he had no need to tell her his secret.
Having thought it through, she raised her head again, seeming to have understood something, her eyes regaining their firmness and stubbornness.
Like a flower blooming in adversity.
Indeed, this time… was also just a small fragment in her many years of wandering life.
No, I can’t laugh yet.
Ailundun indicated he really didn’t want to laugh.
But thinking about the days ahead at the Weierdun Empire Academy, where Ailande’s true self, Luofulei, would have to pretend not to know him…
He was having a hard time holding it in.
“Then let’s end today’s study session here, Miss Ailande? Stay for dinner tonight, as an early celebration of the successful conclusion of our teaching journey.”
Ailundun took the opportunity to force out a smile.
He swore, if he didn’t laugh out loud soon, he’d really hurt his stomach from holding it in.
“Alright.”
Ailande nodded, agreeing to the suggestion.
She always felt Ailundun was holding back laughter, but she had no proof.
Ailundun called for a maid in advance.
This time, it wasn’t Milan, but a maid Ailundun had only seen a few times before by chance.