Chapter 40: Sinclair’s Spring

Sinclair came from the Western Continent.

He was the youngest son of Prince Valen of the Arcandi Empire.

At the age of twenty-one, he had already reached the lower level of Tier 5 as a mage.

At Caldeia Academy, he could be considered an exceptionally talented student.

His father had written many letters urging him to return to the empire, saying it was time to enlist in the army and begin walking the official path as early as possible.

However, all of them were rejected by Sinclair.

Sinclair had always prided himself on being a genius.

But after coming to Caldeia Academy, he discovered that there were indeed many geniuses like him.

Having taken only six years to reach the third year, his current goal was nothing less than reaching the higher Earth tier.

The years of studying at Caldeia had greatly changed his outlook.

His hatred toward other races was no longer that strong.

Instead, he found many other cultures quite interesting, and felt that the people of his hometown were ignorant and vulgar.

As the first day of the new semester, he naturally went to class early.

Seeing second-year juniors from the Battle Academy gathered in small groups along the roadside, observing the passing freshmen and occasionally going up to strike up conversations, his eyes were filled with disdain.

“Hey, Brother Clai, this year’s freshmen are higher quality than usual.”

“Several especially pretty ones just passed by.”

“We saved you a good spot—easy to advance or retreat.”

“Come watch together, and if you fancy one, we’ll cheer you on.”

The students calling out to Sinclair were also from the Battle Academy, likewise from the Arcandi Empire.

Their strength was only at lower to mid Tier 4, and their fathers’ noble ranks were slightly inferior to Sinclair’s.

“Not studying or training hard at the start of a new semester, and instead wasting time here early in the morning.”

“This really is the sorrow of the Arcandi Empire.”

“Get lost and go to class.”

“If the Discipline Committee or teachers catch you later, you’ll be in for a beating.”

Sinclair shook his head and spoke with disappointment, as if scolding iron that refused to become steel.

“Brother Clai, you didn’t say that last year.”

“You were more enthusiastic than anyone, and even said you were familiar with the Discipline Committee—one word from you and everything would be settled.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Why are you suddenly acting detached this year and not playing with us anymore?”

“Stop pretending to be deep.”

“Come on over.”

“Maybe you’ll run into some beautiful imperial princess and save yourself twenty years of effort.”

However, Sinclair’s group of close followers refused to give up so easily.

Laughing, they dragged him along to look at the freshmen together.

“Ahem.”

Hearing his followers’ words, Sinclair coughed twice and said somewhat awkwardly,

“Well, isn’t it because I’ve reached Tier 5.”

“Seeing third-year students, each and every one of them not only with high status but also ridiculously hardworking.”

“If I don’t work hard, when will I ever make something of myself?”

“I’m telling you, back at Tier 4 I thought I was insanely strong, practically invincible.”

“But once I reached Tier 5, I realized how trash I was.”

“There are plenty of third-years at upper and peak Tier 5, all aiming for the Earth tier and a good mentor.”

“As for watching freshman girls, I’ve already graduated from that.”

“Stop bothering me.”

“I’m going to train seriously now.”

Sinclair deliberately acted profound.

Back then, he himself had been excitedly squatting by the roadside with princes of the Arcandi Empire at the start of the new semester, watching freshman girls with arrogant pride, feeling incredibly impressive.

But thinking back now, it was unbearably embarrassing.

Perhaps that was youth—once it passed, it could never return.

In truth, it was mostly just for looking.

Over the years, there really had been some particularly beautiful and strong freshman girls.

Even if he mustered the courage to strike up a conversation, it always ended without result.

Either they ended up with princes from great empires, or were swept away by powerful, smooth-talking senior students.

At worst, they stayed single, too proud to look at anyone.

If he were to casually pick a junior with poorer background, looks, and strength, Sinclair felt unwilling to settle like that.

At Caldeia Academy, his strength might not place him in the top hundred.

But if he returned to the Arcandi Empire, he would definitely be the center of attention, with a bright future ahead.

Sigh, what else could he do.

If love failed him, he would devote himself to cultivation.

After all, a junior who truly suited his tastes and also liked him back—how could that be so easy to find.

“Come on, Brother Clai.”

“Anyone who reaches the Earth tier is a chosen prodigy of heaven.”

“That’ll take at least several years, right?”

“It won’t hurt to stay a bit longer.”

“Once this chance passes, you’ll have to wait another half year.”

“If someone else snatches her first, you’ll regret it.”

“Look!”

“That junior with the golden wavy long hair.”

“Just look at her clothes—definitely expensive.”

“Those long legs, that big—OO.”

“She might be some empire’s princess!”

Dragged under the big locust tree by his diehard followers, Sinclair glanced over.

He smacked his lips and turned his head back.

“Can you people improve your taste a little?”

“All you ever notice are long legs and big OO!”

“Those legs are trained so solidly—aren’t you afraid she’d use you as daily practice?”

“And her clothes are obviously loose-fitting.”

“I guarantee there’s fat on her belly and a thick waist.”

“Stop talking about princesses.”

“I’d guess she’s just from a wealthy merchant family or a minor noble at best.”

Once an expert made a move, everyone could tell.

Sinclair’s analysis immediately made the surrounding followers clap in admiration.

See what professionalism is?

This is professionalism!

“Brother Clai, teach us too!”

“Save us twenty years of effort!”

Sinclair looked disdainfully at his useless followers and said angrily,

“That’s you saving twenty years.”

“My father is a prince.”

“Saving ten years at most!”

Sometimes starting too high wasn’t a good thing either.

After all, the ceiling was already close.

Even if he married a great empire’s princess, wouldn’t he still just end up as a prince?

Could he really marry a Saint-tier powerhouse as a wife?

Would imperial princes then bow respectfully when they saw him?

Sigh.

Recently, comics and novels in Caldeia City loved writing stories like that.

They were hugely popular among first-year juniors.

But Sinclair didn’t believe such good things really existed in reality.

It was better to find a pretty, cute junior with a good figure.

Noble or not didn’t matter.

The important thing was feeling happy just by looking at her every day.

Oh right.

Preferably a warrior or mage with a higher level.

That way she’d age more slowly!

“I’m going to focus on studying and training.”

“Stop dragging me.”

“I’m leaving!”

Sinclair said he wouldn’t look.

But after a couple of involuntary glances, he felt it was truly irresistible.

The junior girls were youthful and beautiful.

Very few wore standard uniforms.

They were all dressed flamboyantly.

With money, power, or strength, their temperaments weren’t bad at all.

Sinclair’s suppressed little springtime heart began to stir again.

But then again, he had already put on an act for so long.

If he now happily joined his followers in ogling juniors, wouldn’t his image as their big brother collapse?

So Sinclair deliberately acted extremely reluctant.

Yet he lingered and didn’t leave.

His mouth stubbornly said he wasn’t looking, while his heart hoped his followers would keep pulling him along so he could feast his eyes.

“Hey, I’m really leaving!”

???

For some reason, the previously enthusiastic followers suddenly all fell silent.

No one paid him any attention.

Sinclair was left full of question marks.

Turning back to see his followers with vacant expressions and eyes about to pop out, he said with disappointment,

“You guys…”

“Seeing anyone a bit good-looking and your souls just leave your bodies.”

“As if you’ve never seen a wo—”

As he spoke, Sinclair followed their gazes.

Then his words stopped halfway.

His mouth opened wide enough to fit three eggs inside.

Vacant expression +1.

Among the freshmen walked a demi-human girl around sixteen years old.

She had long silver hair with two cute cat ears standing atop her head.

Her features were delicate, her expression natural.

Her crimson-red eyes were clear and translucent like gemstones.

The Caldeia Academy uniform on her body perfectly displayed her nearly flawless figure.

Everything that should be there was there, yet her waist was slender.

The absolute territory between her skirt hem and white thigh-high socks was endlessly alluring.

With not a trace of excess fat, yet no visible muscle lines either, making one want to reach out and touch.

But at the same time, the demi-human girl’s temperament was so clean and pure.

It made anyone harboring such thoughts feel ashamed, cursing themselves as beasts.

Yet also hating themselves for being unable to become beasts.

This was the first time Sinclair had ever stared at a girl so intently.

Only after the demi-human girl disappeared from his field of view did he come back to his senses.

Seeing his followers still dazed beside him, he quietly and secretly joined the enormous crowd trailing behind the girl.

Sinclair knew.

His spring had probably arrived.