Chapter 16: Interlude: Between A Student And A Professor (I)
The morning breeze filtered through the open window, carrying the faint scent of flowers from the garden below.
I leaned against the small table in my hotel room, staring at the system message still faintly glowing in my vision.
"Think well before you act."
What's up with those cryptic messages?
When I read novels, I always found these kind of messages annoying. Couldn't you simply tell the main protagonist directly instead of pulling it around?
"I should speak with my professor; after all, she is still one of the informants in the capital." I sighed, running a hand through my hand.
The first thought that came to mind when I saw the message was Professor Vivian. She has a pretty high status in the capital, being one of the most 'popular' informants.
If I'm not entirely wrong, she was once the head of the Capital's Intelligence Network, however, she did quit, don't know why.
Yeah, I should pay her a visit.
"Lumi?"
"Mhm~?"
She stirred, her slimy body stretching lazily.
"I'm heading out for a bit, alright?"
Swoosh!
As soon as those words left my mouth, a missile came directly at me, wrapping her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck.
"Nooo...!"
Lumi spoke in a muffled and reluctant tone, and as if expressing herself, her body wrapped even more tightly around me, coiling like a snake.
"Lumi... This time, I'll come back soon." I tapped her head a few times.
It took a few seconds, but then, she finally looked up at me.
"Promise...?"
Her sparkling eyes stared right into mine
"Promise."
I nodded at her words, smiling softly at her.
"Fine..."
She unwrapped herself around me and went back to the sofa. She was somehow obsessed with the sofa, all she was doing was staring at the ceiling while sprawled on the sofa.
I grabbed my coat and stepped out into the hallway before saying goodbye to Lumi.
Which... she did not reply to me.
'She must be irritated that I didn't spend much time with her. I should get her a small gift, but what exactly do slimes like?'
Anyways...
Professor Vivian's room was a few floors up in the same hotel.
It wasn't unusual for instructors to be in the same hotel or even floor, because if there was an emergency the professors could act fast.
So, I went to the elevator and tapped the last floor button.
Gosh, she really needed to be extravagant.
It took a few minutes, and I was lucky enough not to meet anyone on the way up.
Then as the elevator opened, I walked down the hallway until I stood in front of her door before pressing the doorbell.
A soft chime rang from inside.
Moments later, the door opened, and there she was—Professor Vivian.
Her long, silky red hair cascaded over her shoulders, glowing faintly in the light from the hallway. She wore a fitted blouse that accentuated her figure, paired with a high-waisted pencil skirt that hugged her curves.
Her emerald-green tie rested neatly against her chest, with a name tag pinned to it. And surprisingly, she was wearing glasses.
"Aestrea?"
Her eyes seemed to have widened slightly in surprise, but a delighted smile quickly spreaded across her face.
"Well, this is a pleasant surprise! Come in."
She stepped aside, her hair swaying gently as she gestured for me to enter.
"Thank you."
I replied softly, entering her room.
Her suite was much larger and cozier than mine. The living room had plush furniture arranged neatly around a small coffee table.
A faint scent of jasmine lingered in the air, and soft sunlight streamed in through the half-drawn curtains, giving the space a warm, relaxing atmosphere.
"Make yourself comfortable," she said, motioning to the couch.
"I'll make us some tea."
She walked towards the kitchen area with small steps, so I sat on the sofa, leaning back slightly as I took a deeper look at her room.
The space was immaculately organized, with a few books stacked neatly on the side table and a vase of fresh flowers on the windowsill.
"It fits her."
After a while, Vivian returned shortly, carrying a tray with two steaming cups of tea. She placed it on the coffee table and handed me a cup with a small smile.
"Here you go," she said, sitting down across from me.
She smoothed out her skirt and crossed her legs elegantly, the sunlight streaming in through the window catching the glossy red strands of her hair.
Then she leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees as her smile widened.
"It's been a while since we've had a chance to talk. What brings you here, my dear Star Student?"
Her voice carried a playful warmth, but the way she emphasized the last two words made me feel like she was teasing me.
I stared into the swirling tea before taking a small sip. Then, I met her eyes as I put the tea back on the coffee table.
"I need some help."
Hearing my words, Vivian's smile faltered for a moment.
"I see...," she said softly, leaning back into the sofa.
She crossed her legs again, her expression shifting into something more serious as she took a sip of her own tea.
There was a brief pause, and then her gaze locked onto mine. Her voice was cooler this time, almost detached, as she asked:
"Are you currently asking for Vivian or Professor Vivian?"
"Vivian."
"Very well."
She raised an eyebrow, then nodded slowly.
She reached up and removed her glasses, placing them neatly on the side table.
The simple act seemed to strip away the professional barrier between us.
She adjusted her posture slightly, crossing her legs the other way and resting one arm on the back of the sofa.
"What exactly do you need?"
"Information about every kind of demon that has been encountered in the capital." I went straight to the point.
Tap... tap...
As soon as she heard my words, her fingers started tapping lightly against her arm as she crossed them, her expression shifting into something more thoughtful.
Her gaze lingered on me for a few moments, and her expression softened slightly.
"May I ask the reason?"
"I need Demon Beast's Cores," I replied quickly, too quickly if you ask me.
But it was all to make sure she didn't suspect that I would be lying to her. Unlike the Saintess, Professor Vivian didn't seem to have a special lie-detection ability.
For a moment, she simply sat there, tapping her arm as her gaze grew distant. Then, with a small sigh, she uncrossed her legs and leaned forward again, resting her chin on her hand.
"You're not exactly giving me much to go on..." she let out a small sigh.
"But if it's Cores you're after, the type of demon makes all the difference. There are low-level demons scattered around, but if you're targeting something stronger…"
She trailed off, her golden eyes staring deeply into mine.
"Ahh... I really like that calm expression of yours."
Vivian smiled lightly, before getting up from the sofa.
"I'll go and get the documents, I've been searching about myself."
And just a few moments later, Vivian returned from her shelf with a slim notebook in hand, her lips curved into a faint smile.
She sat back down across from me, flipping through the pages as her fingers delicately brushed over the handwritten notes.
"Alright," she said, glancing up at me.
"I've got plenty of information about the demon activity in the capital. But..."
She trailed off as her eyes glinted mischievously.
"But?"
She closed the notebook with a soft thud and leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. Her expression turned teasing, her lips curling into a playful smile.
"But I'm not just going to hand it over for free."
"That's obvious."
I nodded in response.
Even if she was my professor, now I was talking with "Vivian" and not "Professor Vivian", if I wanted information, I needed to give something in return.
Crossing my arms, I finally asked:
"What exactly do you want?"
At my words, Vivian's smile widened, and she tapped a finger against her chin as if she were pondering something.
Then, she leaned back, crossing her legs again.
"A date."
"A date...?" I repeated her words in a surprised tone.
Was she joking or something?
I don't get it.
But then, her next words confirmed my thoughts.
"Exactly, a date between only us two. A proper one. Dinner, maybe a walk—whatever strikes our fancy. What do you say?" She tilted her head slightly as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out.
Was she serious?
I couldn't tell if this was one of her jokes or if she was genuinely asking.
"Are you joking?"
I couldn't help but finally ask.
She shook her head, her smile never faltering.
"I'm completely serious. If you want this notebook, that's my only condition. One date. Think of it as... an exchange of favors."
"You're my professor, though..."
"Outside the academy, I'm just Vivian."
She said smoothly, brushing a strand of her red hair behind her ear.
"And don't overthink it. It's just one little date. Surely that's not too much to ask, is it?"
Sigh...
"You really won't give me the information unless I agree, will you?"
"Bingo." she smiled.
There was a moment of silence as I considered my options.
On one hand, this felt... awkward, to say the least.
But on the other hand, I needed that information
"Sure, one date."
Vivian's smile grew, and there was a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"I'll hold you to that."
She handed me the notebook, her fingers brushing against mine for a brief moment.
"Here. This should give you what you need. And don't forget—this means you owe me some quality time."
I took the notebook, flipping it open briefly to glance at the notes.
It was packed with details—locations, types of demons, and even a few theories on their patterns of behavior.
This was exactly what I needed.
"Thanks."
"Don't thank me yet," she said, standing up and smoothing her skirt.
"I'll be expecting you to deliver on your promise. Let's say... tomorrow evening?"
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes, tomorrow," she said, her smile turning playful again.
"I'll text you the details. Now, off you go. I've got to prepare for our date."
Before I could respond, she was already ushering me toward the door with a cheerful tone.
As I stepped out into the hallway, notebook in hand, I couldn't help but feel like I had just been dragged into something far more complicated than I anticipated.
Still, a promise was a promise.
And as the door clicked shut behind me, one thought remained in my mind:
What have I gotten myself into this time?
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone