Chapter 46: The Rival’s Delusion

Inside the Magic Temple, a group of young mages were chatting and laughing.

One of them, glancing around, happened to spot Ruolin and Lu Yuan conversing.

He immediately nudged his companion and pointed towards Ruolin.

“Look! Isn’t that your Ruolin? Who is she talking to?”

Hearing his remark, the others turned their gazes towards Ruolin.

“Wow! Who’s that pretty boy? Laughing and chatting with Ruolin. Is someone about to have their girlfriend stolen?”

“Don’t tell me, Ruolin really seems different from her usual self. When have any of you ever seen her interact with a man like this?”

The group teased for a while, but then a strange atmosphere descended upon them.

…

All eyes turned to the young man who had been the subject of their teasing.

“Brother…”

The young man smiled, said nothing, merely pushed aside the person in front of him, and strode out.

“Do you have some business at the Magic Temple?”

Lu Yuan heard someone speaking to them and turned his head.

A noble youth, clad in a deep blue robe, approached them. With golden hair and azure eyes, he was quite handsome.

A smile graced his face, and upon seeing Ruolin, he even offered her a greeting.

Lu Yuan cast a brief glance at him, then asked Ruolin, “Who is this?”

“I am today’s Temple Guide, Intermediate Mage Dailu.” The youth performed an elegant noble bow, introducing himself, then fixed his gaze intently on Lu Yuan. “And you, esteemed sir?”

Lu Yuan replied, “I am Lei Yin.”

“Hmm?”

Dailu had been waiting expectantly, poised to listen to Lu Yuan’s self-introduction, yet several seconds passed without further elaboration.

It was then that he realized Lu Yuan had merely uttered a name and offered nothing more.

‘What’s this? That’s all?’

‘What about his identity? His profession? His age? His orientation?’

‘Who introduces themselves like that? Does this fellow have no manners?’

Ruolin, observing Dailu’s expression from the side, instantly understood his thoughts.

A feeling of shared plight resonated within her; finally, someone else could experience the infuriating taciturnity of Lei Yin, that stoic and reserved individual.

She promptly patted Dailu’s shoulder. “Brother, I understand.”

‘That’s just how he is. Infuriatingly so.’

Dailu was dumbfounded.

‘Is there something wrong with this script?’

Ruolin was renowned; whether at the Apothecary Guild in the South City or within this very Magic Temple, she was a universally acknowledged beauty.

Her admirers were countless.

Dailu was one such admirer, a distinguished individual in terms of status, family background, and talent.

From the moment he first laid eyes on Ruolin, he had resolved to marry no one else. Yet, Ruolin consistently treated him with polite indifference, always maintaining a respectful distance.

His prolonged pursuit had yielded no results, leaving him utterly frustrated.

However, in private, when among his close circle of friends, he had all but claimed Ruolin as his own.

Today, seeing Ruolin and Lu Yuan together, interacting with an apparent seamless ease, he nearly exploded. When had Ruolin ever displayed such a range of expressions while with him?

‘Could this pretty boy possess some unique quality? How could he have advanced his conquest ahead of mine?’

‘Could he possibly tolerate this?’

A powerful sense of crisis welled up within Dailu, prompting him to disregard everything and rush forward.

He was determined to confront this pretty boy who had suddenly appeared from nowhere.

And now…

‘Dailu felt as though his brain had crashed…’

‘Did my goddess just pat my shoulder?!’

‘Holy hell… She actually patted my shoulder for the first time! This is a massive boost in affection! Absolutely thrilling, isn’t it?!’

‘What did my goddess just call me? Before, she always addressed me as “Sir Dailu” or “Mage Dailu,” but now she called me “Brother”!’

‘Holy hell! What level of affection has this just unlocked?!’

‘Dailu felt as though he was floating on air!’

‘Please, my goddess! Lady Ruolin! Say it a few more times!’

“So?” Lu Yuan looked at Ruolin. “You still haven’t told me what needs to be done to learn magic.”

‘Ruolin practically wanted to smack herself. Why on earth did she have to bring this guy to the Magic Temple? It would have been so much better to just kick him out of the carriage when she first saw him there.’

Then she noticed Dailu nearby. “Dailu… this is a friend of mine… not a close one. He wishes to study at the Magic Temple…”

Ruolin found it somewhat awkward to speak, as Lu Yuan was already in his twenties, yet still seeking to learn magic.

Typically, mages began their magical education and enrollment at the age of seven.

Upon hearing this, Dailu’s heart once again swelled with joy, and a wide smile spread across his face.

‘Ah! My goddess actually asked for my help! This is a first!’

‘So thrilling!’

“So, you want to study magic at the Temple, do you? Leave it to me!” Dailu thumped his chest, declaring with absolute certainty.

Thrilled beyond measure at being entrusted by his goddess, he had long forgotten his original purpose for rushing over.