Free Web NovelChapter 31: Chapter 31: The Audience with the Sovereign
The moment Lina left the Class A building after lunch, Qhuin noticed her grip tightening around him.
The black invitation scroll from the Principal’s Office was still tucked inside her academy satchel.
Her steps were stiff and slow, like she was nervous, and to anyone watching, she looked like a frightened commoner who had just been summoned by the most powerful man in the academy.
Which, unfortunately, was exactly what had happened, before they could head toward the command tower, however, Lina had another problem.
Her room.
More specifically, the damage she had accidentally caused while training throughout the night.
The memory alone made her face burn with embarrassment, the broken brass handle, cracked floorboards, destroyed pillows.
She still couldn’t believe all of that had happened because she had tried to pick things up normally.
"Stop walking like a condemned prisoner," Qhuin’s voice echoed inside her mind. "You are attracting attention."
Lina nearly jumped, even after an entire night of hearing him speak through their contract, she still wasn’t used to it.
"You could at least warn me before suddenly talking..."
"You could at least learn how to control your emotions."
Lina puffed her cheeks, this rabbit was impossible still, she changed direction and headed toward the residential reception desk.
An elderly dorm matron sat behind the polished counter, reviewing maintenance reports.
The old woman looked up over her glasses.
"Yes, dear?"
Lina immediately placed the heavy brass handle onto the counter.
The metal clunk echoed through the quiet hall, the matron blinked then glanced at the handle and back at Lina.
"What happened?"
Lina’s face instantly turned red.
"I-I’m really sorry, Ma’am."
She lowered her head.
"When the lockdown alarms went off last night, I panicked. I tripped over my carry-bag and fell forward. I grabbed the door handle to stop myself and... and..."
Her voice grew smaller.
"It came off."
The matron stared at her, Lina forced herself to continue.
"I also accidentally cracked one of the floorboards."
The old woman sighed heavily, and for several seconds she simply looked at the embarrassed girl standing before her.
Then she shook her head.
"You freshmen are always causing trouble."
Lina bowed repeatedly.
"S-Sorry!"
"I’ll send a maintenance golem this afternoon."
The old woman waved her hand dismissively.
"Try not to destroy the rest of the room before then."
Lina nodded rapidly.
"Y-Yes, Ma’am."
She hurried away before any more questions could be asked, Inside her mind, Qhuin gave an approving hum.
"Well done."
Lina blinked.
"Really?"
"Your ability to appear completely incompetent is exceptional."
The compliment somehow felt like an insult, and by the time they reached the central command tower, the academy atmosphere had changed completely.
The lockdown was still active, runic barriers shimmered along the walls, as atrol beasts prowled across the courtyards.
Students moved in groups while instructors watched from every corner. The entire academy felt tense like a fortress preparing for war.
Standing before the massive obsidian doors of the Grand Office was a familiar figure.
Professor Valerius.
His black cloak stirred lightly in the wind as his golden eyes shifted toward Lina, Nothing in his expression changed.
"Student Lina."
His voice remained cold and calm.
"The Principal is waiting."
Lina swallowed.
"Y-Yes, Professor."
Without another word, Valerius pushed open the enormous doors, the room beyond was unlike anything Lina had ever seen.
The office was vast, ancient, and beautiful, with Golden sunlight streaming through towering crystal windows.
Bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling, floating magical screens hovered above elegant desks.
At the center of everything stood a single figure.
The Principal;Lord Alistair.
Lina had heard countless rumors about him, Some claimed he was hundreds of years old.
Others said he had personally defeated calamity-class beasts before the Empire even existed, but hearing stories and seeing him in person were completely different things.
He looked young, way too young; his silver-gold hair fell neatly across his shoulders and his features seemed almost unreal, perfect and elegant.
Yet none of that was what captured Lina’s attention, it was the pressure. The moment she stepped into the room, her breathing nearly stopped.
It wasn’t hostility nor was it bloodlust.
It felt like standing before something large, something impossible to measure, Inside her bag , Qhuin’s body suddenly became completely still.
For the first time since arriving in this world, the ancient vampire king felt genuine caution as a red warning screen flashed across his vision.
[WARNING]
[UNKNOWN ENTITY DETECTED]
[THREAT ASSESSMENT: UNAVAILABLE]
Qhuin ignored the screen, his ruby eyes narrowed looking at the principal
The pressure radiating from Alistair was different from anything he had encountered before, even Valerius didn’t feel like this.
The Principal smiled.
"Relax, Lina."
His voice was warm and gentle, Yet somehow that made him even more terrifying.
"You look like you’re about to faint."
Lina almost did.
"S-Sorry, Principal."
A soft chuckle escaped him.
"You don’t need to apologize for being nervous."
His gaze shifted downward, Directly onto Qhuin.
The rabbit’s ears twitched and For a brief moment, silence filled the office.
Then Alistair spoke.
"So this is the famous Snowy."
Lina stiffened.
Qhuin remained motionless as the Principal stepped closer.
His eyes studied both rabbit and girl carefully.
"The academy records regarding you are... unusual."
Lina’s heart skipped a beat.
’Unusual? What did that mean?’
Alistair continued.
"A commoner enters the academy, and a rabbit classified as a low-potential snow beast. Then suddenly a Class A placement."
His smile remained calm.
"I wanted to see the source of that anomaly myself."
Before Lina could respond, a wave of power spread through the room, Valerius instantly recognized it.
A divine appraisal.
The pressure slammed into Lina and Qhuin even spreading to every corner of the room.
Inside Qhuin’s mind, alarms exploded.
[WARNING]
[HIGH-TIER SCAN DETECTED]
[FALSE VEIL ACTIVATED]
[MASKING CONTRACTOR DATA]
[MASKING HOST DATA]
The system worked frantically, as Layers upon layers of false information appeared, trying to hide the truth.
Eventually, the invisible wave passed over them, and for a few seconds, Alistair remained silent.
Then he smiled.
"Interesting."
Lina’s stomach dropped.
’Have we been discovered?’
The Principal walked back toward his desk.
"It appears your rabbit experienced a rare mutation event."
Lina froze, Qhuin remained perfectly still watching.
Alistair tapped a finger against the polished desk.
"The resulting feedback affected your mana development."
Lina almost sighed in relief, The system had worked.
Again.
"You currently possess potential that exceeds normal first-year standards."
Alistair folded his hands.
"That does not mean your place in Class A is guaranteed."
The warmth disappeared from his face, enough to remind everyone in the room who he was.
"The Inter-Class Grand Tournament begins soon."
Lina nodded nervously.
"If you perform poorly, your promotion will be revoked."
Her face paled.
"And your rabbit?"
Alistair glanced toward Qhuin.
"Will be transferred into academy research custody for further study."
The room became silent.
Lina felt a chill run down her spine, Qhuin’s ruby eyes tightened.
The Principal smiled once more.
"As long as you perform well, there won’t be any problems."
Lina bowed immediately.
"I-I understand."
"Good."
Alistair leaned back as his attention shifted, for the first moment since entering the office, he looked directly at Valerius.
The atmosphere changed instantly, the warm conversation vanished as if two monsters were staring at each other.
Valerius stood silently, then Alistair smiled faintly.
"You’re still thinking about the ravine."
"It wasn’t normal."
Valerius’s answer came immediately.
"The wound patterns match vampire feeding behavior."
The Principal sighed, looking tired
"Valerius."
His voice remained calm. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
"You’re chasing ghosts."
The professor didn’t respond as Alistair continued.
"Vampires have been extinct in this world for centuries."
"The academy investigation concluded that the culprit was a mutated predator."
Valerius’s expression remained unchanged, yet looking at him Lina somehow felt he wasn’t convinced.
Not even slightly.
The Principal noticed too, as a faint smile touched his lips.
"Lift the lockdown."
"The tournament approaches."
"The Empire needs strong students."
His gaze hardened.
"Not frightened rumors."
Several long seconds passed and eventually Valerius gave a single nod.
"As you wish."
The meeting was over, Lina released a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding.
The office doors opened and Valerius turned, Lina scurried after him.
Only when they stepped back into the corridor did she finally feel like she could breathe again.
Then she froze, someone was waiting outside.
Assistant Professor Elizabeth.
The cheerful history teacher stood beside a tall pillar.
Her smile was as bright as ever, looking innocent.
The moment she spotted them, her eyes curved happily.
"Finished already?"
Valerius stopped as Elizabeth stepped forward casually and handed him a sealed white envelope, with no explanation.
Valerius accepted the report, his golden eyes flickered briefly, and for the first time all day, Qhuin noticed a tiny change in the professor’s expression.
Not in surprise, but Interest.
Elizabeth’s smile widened.
"Looks like your day just got more exciting, Professor."
Valerius tucked the envelope away, and without another word, he walked down the corridor.
Elizabeth watched him leave, Then she looked toward Lina and Her cheerful smile returned immediately.
"Oh, don’t look so nervous, sweetie."
She giggled softly.
"The Principal didn’t eat you, did he?"
Lina forced a weak smile.
"N-No, Professor."
"Good."
Elizabeth waved happily before following after Valerius, soon both instructors disappeared around the corner.
The corridor became quiet once more, Lina looked down at the rabbit in her arms.
Qhuin stared toward the direction the two teachers had vanished, as his ruby eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
The academy’s strongest people were all moving, investigating planning and definitely Concealing things.
And for the first time since arriving in this world, the ancient vampire king realized something unsettling, he wasn’t the only one keeping secrets.
Far from it.
