Chapter 61: A Surprising Encounter and an Unexpected Gift

After a dull and uninteresting time of speeches, the most crucial part of the opening ceremony was about to begin. This was the chance for the new students to experience the unique charm of the academy through a stage performance. Gern, too, was eager to join in the fun. He hadn’t seen this so-called stage performance before and thought it would be a good opportunity to broaden his horizons.

Just as he was about to leave, he was stopped.

“Gern, we have something to discuss with you. Please come with us.”

The speaker was none other than Miss Snow, the witch, and behind her stood a white-haired dragon girl, Eliza. Eliza curiously examined Gern, still surprised to see the traitor from the Heretic God Cult again. She never expected that Gern would be recruited by the academy, especially under Snow’s guidance.

“Hello, Gern. Thank you for saving my life that day.”

Eliza extended her small hand, and Gern politely shook it. However, Gern felt something strange in Eliza’s gaze.

“Is there something on my face, Eliza?”

“Ah, no, nothing.”

Eliza averted her gaze, her curiosity growing. She felt that Gern’s demeanor was familiar, as if she had seen him before. She then remembered the day when she saw Gern take out the pendant, and the sensation of familiarity returned.

Snow glanced at the two of them knowingly, patting Eliza’s shoulder without saying much. Hiding one’s identity was a normal behavior, and Snow wanted this plan to remain unknown to outsiders. Even though Eliza had made great contributions to the academy, Snow didn’t want the younger generation to get involved in such matters, as they were still very young.

Gern, being the fire seed carrier, was the hope of the new world. Under the guidance of Snow and Eliza, Gern soon found himself in front of the familiar castle.

“Eliza, you can go to the meeting now. I have some things to discuss with Gern.”

“Of course, Vice Principal. I’ll take my leave.”

Eliza bowed to Snow and left with a smile at Gern.

“Miss Snow, did you bring me here for something specific?”

“You really are forgetful. I promised you a surprise, remember? Come with me.”

“Oh, right.”

With Snow’s reminder, Gern recalled the promise made after he uncovered the Heretic God Cult’s plot.

The two quickly arrived at a small room filled with steam, resembling a bathhouse. Gern looked at Snow, unsure of what to expect.

“Miss Snow, is this the surprise you mentioned?”

“Yes, follow me.”

“Alright.”

Despite his doubts, Gern followed Snow without question. The room was small, with white tiles covering the walls and mysterious magic creating steam that obscured most of the space.

“What is this place?”

“It’s a bathhouse, specially built for you. How do you like it?”

“A bathhouse?”

Gern was taken aback. He never expected that his reward for uncovering the Heretic God Cult’s plan would be a bathhouse. He would have preferred some gold coins or even a loaf of black bread.

Could this be a chance to open a bathhouse? He pondered, wondering about the maintenance costs and whether he could make a profit. In the academy’s castle, he could charge a premium, but would it be worth it?

As Gern’s thoughts wandered, Snow led him to a large, white bathtub. The tub was flawlessly crafted, and Gern couldn’t help but run his hands over it, feeling the smooth, cool surface. It was far superior to the wooden tubs he used at home.

“Gern, take off your clothes.”

“Wait, is it appropriate for me to undress now?”

“Don’t be shy. Just take off your top and bottom, or you can transform into a dragon if you prefer.”

Gern’s mouth twitched as he envisioned himself as a naked Silver Dragon Girl sitting in the bathtub. The image was unexpectedly beautiful.

Gern wiped the blood from his nose and quickly removed his upper garments, revealing a muscular body. Snow was momentarily captivated, as this was her first time seeing a man’s torso, especially one as masculine as Gern’s.

Gern’s body was surprisingly fit, a testament to his rigorous training as a knight. Despite being only sixteen, he already had visible abs.

“Could you turn around, Miss Snow?”

“Sure, sure.”

Snow turned away without hesitation, and Gern heard the rustling of fabric as he removed his pants. After a moment, Snow spoke without turning back.

“Gern, lie down in the bathtub. I’ll be right back with something for you.”

“Okay.”

As soon as Snow left, Gern lay down in the tub. The water was warm and soothing, although there seemed to be too little of it.

After a while, Snow returned, lifting a wooden basin filled with a brown liquid. She poured it into the bathtub, where it mixed with the water. The liquid was freshly brewed and hot. Gern, startled by the sudden heat, tried to rise from the tub, but Snow pressed him down.

“Stay still and meditate!”

Snow’s voice was firm, and Gern, though confused, quickly understood. This was a medicinal bath, beneficial for knights. In his previous life, Gern had heard of such baths but never had the means to use them. Now, with this opportunity, he was determined to make the most of it.

The brown liquid seeped into his body, and Gern knew he couldn’t waste this chance.