“Kaede Takahas.h.i.+, even though you lacked the skills, you have worked hard these days and have proven your strength to join the National Inst.i.tute team. But is joining the National Inst.i.tute team your only target? You have to stand out in the World College Tournament among the powerful Mages and geniuses. You have to reclaim the country’s glory. Hence, you have to pay full attention even though this is just training, understand?!” said the instructor, Shou Watani.
“Noted, Mr. Watani. Thank you for putting a painstaking effort on me!” Kaede Takahas.h.i.+ nodded and dared not to think of anything else.
Shou Watani’s training was harsh. He seemed to be tireless.
Outside the arena, when the crowd noticed Shou Watani’s figure, they talked about him.
“Isn’t that Shou Watani? He’s the leader of the j.a.panese team that won the last World College Tournament,” said a man in a kimono and slippers while taking a sip of iced beer.
!!“It’s him. Never thought he’s the instructor of the National Inst.i.tute.”
“The members of the Twin Guardian Towers invited him to be the temporary instructor for the National Inst.i.tute players. He’s even stronger than the experienced professors.”
“Shou Watani is upset with the fact that he hadn’t been able to achieve a better result in the last performance. It’s no wonder the players of the State House for this batch are so strong. They repeatedly defeated the teams from the National Inst.i.tute!”
The training was mainly about the formation and cooperation among the members. They had to learn to keep calm in the face of a crisis.
Daylight faded. Before they even saw a sunset, it was already twilight. It seemed to arrive earlier than before.
Lingling sat there impatiently. She wondered when Mo Fan would wake up from his sleep!
She took out her phone and called him.
His phone rang a few meters away from him. Mo Fan yawned and took his phone. He did not answer it. Later he met her personally.
‘How’s it going?” Mo Fan asked.
“I don’t have definite clues yet, but many bizarre incidents have happened in the Twin Guardian Towers,” said Lingling.
She did not gather much information. Fortunately, they still had a couple of days left before the moonless night. Thus, they could take their time to find more clues.
They had to learn about the cunning Red Demon Kazuaki’s purpose and his aura. They had to make early preparations before taking it down.
Sharjah had mentioned that the Red Demon Kazuaki was going to hold its Ascension Ceremony in this place. There must be something like an altar that stored ma.s.sive evil energy. After all, it was impossible for the Red Demon Kazuaki to become an emperor in a single swoosh as soon as it reached the Twin Guardian Towers!
Since it chose to ascend and transform in the Twin Guardian Towers, the towers must contain something that it needed. It was either that the environment played a part in a.s.sisting him during the ascension and transformation, or the towers contained certain substances that it required.
It would be good if Lingling and Mo Fan could sort things out. Otherwise, how could they stop the Red Demon Kazuaki? How could Mo Fan become a Forbidden Mage in the process?
“Never mind. Take your time. Lingling, are you still a kid? How can you still leave the grains on the side of your mouth when eating a rice ball?” Mo Fan noticed some grains near her lips.
Lingling did not bother about it. She was still facing the laptop.
Mo Fan reached out and sc.r.a.ped the grains from her cheeks roughly.
“Oh gos.h.!.+ I just applied powder on my face!” Lingling was angry.
“You’re still young. Why do you even have to apply face powder? Your skin is good without it,” said Mo Fan with a huff.
“I recently developed a fondness for black, metal rebellious look. I prefer those with nose rings, earrings, Ghana braids, and so on!” Lingling complained.
“Fine. You look good anyway.”
…
Meanwhile, on the training ground, Nagayama rushed over to Kaede Takahas.h.i.+’s side with a great sense of urgency when the instructor was not paying attention to them.
“Your love rival is here! I saw a das.h.i.+ng man with the new girl whom you have been hanging out with! Why are you still training here? You might even lose your dinner date later!” Nagayama said.
Kaede turned his head around and saw Lingling with Mo Fan.
Judging from the way they interacted with each other, he could easily guess that the two were lovebirds. Lingling interacted intimately with the man who appeared out of nowhere. When they chatted, they looked accustomed to each other.
“Kaede Takahas.h.i.+! Wind Disc!” Ikuko Is.h.i.+da’s voice rose on the training ground.
Kaede Takahas.h.i.+ was lost in his own thoughts when the Wind Disc struck him. Fortunately, he had a solid foundation and was able to form a Light Wall using Light Element magic to hold back the attack.
After the Wind Disc dispersed, Shao Watani went over to him. Kaede Takahas.h.i.+ looked down. Shao Watani glared at him before turning to look at Linling in the corner.
Shao Watani noticed where Kaede Takahas.h.i.+’s gaze was a while ago.
“The tournament is around the corner, but your mind is somewhere else. You disappoint me,” said Shao Watani.
Kaede Takahas.h.i.+ was aware of the problem.
He also wondered why his heart was captured by the Chinese girl whom he met just a while ago. He was curious if he was attracted by her beauty or her mysterious ident.i.ty as a Seven-Star Hunter Master.
“Sir, I’m sorry. I…,” Kaede Takahas.h.i.+ apologized to Shao Watani earnestly.
Even before he could finish his words, Shao Watani walked to Lingling!
Kaede Takahas.h.i.+ was petrified! ‘Was Shao Watani about to scold her?’
Kaede Takahas.h.i.+ quickly caught up with Shao Watani. However, his teacher increased his pace and reached Lingling.
“I recognized you,” said Shao Watani.
Kaede Takahas.h.i.+ caught up with him. He was about to stop him when he noticed that Shao Watani wasn’t looking at Lingling but at the man beside her. The man looked like a scatterbrain.
“Me?” Mo Fan pointed to himself.
“You’re Mo Fan,” said Shao Watani.
“Who are you?” Mo Fan stared at Shao Watani. He looked familiar but Mo Fan couldn’t recall where he had seen him.
Shao Watani looked a little unhappy. He was the strongest player in the j.a.panese team. Even though Mo Fan took the first place in the World College Tournament and was known as the strongest young Mage, he had expected Mo fan to at least remember him.
Shao Watani sucked in a deep breath. “You and I haven’t crossed paths, so you might not remember me.”
Mo Fan tried his best to recall Shao Watani. Still, he could not remember who he was.
Just then, a familiar lady walked over to them.
“Mo Fan, he’s Shao Watani. He’s the leader of the j.a.panese National Inst.i.tute. When the Chinese team competed with our team in Venice, you didn’t play the game,” Chihaya said with a warm smile.
“Oh, now I remember! Shao Watani, we’ve seen each other in the Caribbean Sea, right?” Mo Fan finally recalled.