Chapter 73: A Peculiar Job Offer

Yalin slowly stirred awake from his bed.

Fragmented consciousness flickered, accompanied by throbbing pain at the back of his head.

“Ah…”

He raised a hand to his forehead, unable to suppress a sigh.

‘He had truly overdone it this time.’

‘Indeed, indulging in such depraved acts as hypnotizing a “phoenix among men” was bound to invite retribution.’

‘Still, at least he had managed to escape successfully; fainting was a small price to pay.’

Recalling the towering figure he had glimpsed in that ethereal space, Yalin still felt a shiver of apprehension.

‘What exactly were those entities?’

‘Could it be that, like himself, another deity resided within Celeste’s consciousness?’

Yalin shook his head, unwilling to delve deeper into the matter for the time being.

As he rose from the bed, Yalin realized he was in the academy’s infirmary.

‘Wait, why the infirmary?’

An old-fashioned clock hung on the wall, indicating that he had been unconscious for roughly half an hour.

‘Fortunately, it wasn’t too long.’

“Oh, you’re awake?”

A familiar voice drifted to him.

“…Professor Fulin?”

The white gauze curtain parted, and Professor Fulin entered with a cheerful smile.

“How are you feeling?”

“Thank you for your concern, I’m feeling quite well now.”

Yalin touched his head, asking with a hint of surprise, “But Professor, why are you here? I thought we were just on the street earlier…”

“It’s simple, because I was the one who brought you here.”

Fulin crossed her arms, nodding with a rather smug expression, as if savoring a delightful anecdote.

“My dear little Liyang went out shopping with a friend for the first time, and naturally, as a guardian, I couldn’t help but worry, so I secretly followed behind her… Hehe, and indeed, I witnessed something quite interesting.”

‘Something interesting?’

Cold sweat immediately beaded on Yalin’s brow. ‘Could she have seen those tentacles sprouting from his hand?’

However, judging by Fulin’s mischievous, almost impish grin, it was likely something else entirely.

“Thank you for your help, Professor. I’m truly embarrassed that you had to see me in such a state.”

“No need to thank me; I didn’t do much, merely carried you over here.”

Fulin gave Yalin a meaningful look, then covered her mouth, chuckling.

“If you truly wish to give thanks, direct them to those two girls… particularly Liyang. She paid quite a price to save you.”

“A price? What sort of price?” Yalin inquired, puzzled.

“That, I cannot disclose. If I were to tell you, the child would likely refuse to speak to me for a month.”

Fulin pulled up a chair and sat down, her smile fading.

“So, what exactly happened to you today?”

Yalin hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, a look of helplessness on his face.

“I’m not sure myself. I just felt dizzy in the head while near Celeste, and then I inexplicably fainted.”

In truth, Fulin was indeed a trustworthy person, and Yalin had once considered confiding everything in her.

However, she was, after all, affiliated with the academy, and whether she could be truly trusted remained debatable.

Moreover, the current situation was not dire; the evil god within him could still be temporarily suppressed by unconventional means, leading him to maintain his secrecy.

“Is that so?”

Fulin rested her chin on her hand, seemingly lost in thought.

“Well, it’s difficult to draw conclusions at present. But on the surface, it appears you suffered some sort of unknown mental attack. Fortunately, there’s no serious harm.”

“Yes, I feel my body has returned to normal.”

Yalin accordingly got off the bed and took a few steps, confirming he could move without issue.

“Very good. However, if you encounter anything similar again, remember to come to me immediately.”

“Of course, I’ll have to trouble you then, Professor.”

Yalin responded politely, and Fulin nodded.

“Speaking of which, Yalin, are you quite poor?”

“Huh?”

The sudden shift in topic left Yalin momentarily bewildered.

“Why would you think that, Professor?”

“Actually, I had noticed you even before you met Liyang.”

Fulin raised her eyes, scrutinizing him carefully. “It’s one thing to wear your school uniform within the academy, but you even wear it when going out shopping. And judging by your utterly obedient demeanor towards that young girl, I imagine… you must be working for her, employed by her, perhaps?”

She paused, a hint of apology in her smile. “Of course, these are merely my conjectures. Please forgive me if I’ve offended you.”

Yalin offered a wry smile.

“Professor, your discerning eye truly misses nothing. As you’ve surmised, ever since my parents passed away, my family’s fortunes have plummeted. This past year in Ailamia, I’ve exhausted all my savings and can only sustain myself by working odd jobs.”

While it might have sounded like he was exaggerating his plight, Yalin had actually toned down the truth; his real situation was far more dire than he let on.

Back when he had first transmigrated, he and Carol had genuinely faced the risk of starving to death!

“I see… The Ravenster family was once quite renowned. To think that in just a few years, they’ve fallen to such a state…”

Fulin sighed with a touch of melancholy, but then quickly changed the subject.

“In that case, I happen to have an excellent job opportunity for you. Would you be interested in trying it? You needn’t worry about the remuneration; not only will your tuition be entirely waived, but you’ll also receive a monthly stipend sufficient for your living expenses.”

“Is that truly real?”

Yalin was utterly astonished.

The academy’s tuition, after all, was astronomically high, easily costing hundreds of thousands per semester. Having it waived felt nothing short of a godsend.

“Of course. I am, after all, the academy’s vice-dean; such an amount is well within my means. Furthermore, if you simply asked, I could even give you this small sum, as you once saved Liyang, and I haven’t had the chance to repay you yet.”

“However, if we add this item into the equation, it might not be quite enough.”

Fulin withdrew a card etched with peculiar runes from her robes.

Yalin recognized it instantly: it was an access card for the academy’s archives.

With this card, one could not only consult standard texts but also access the ancient tomes and grimoires sealed away in the basement—a coveted privilege that scholars yearned for, typically reserved only for those of professor rank.

‘If he could use it to uncover clues about the evil god… its value would be immeasurable.’

Faced with such a vital item, Yalin had no reason to refuse.

“Then, Professor, what exactly is this work you speak of?”

“Hehe, it’s actually quite simple: you merely need to spend more time with Liyang.”

Yalin froze, struck by how much easier Fulin’s proposed job sounded than he had anticipated.

“Just… just that?”

“Yes, just that.”

Fulin lowered her gaze, complex emotions flickering in her eyes.

“Alas, I am truly old; I doubt I have many years left to live.”

“I haven’t taken on students for many years, and my former friends have all passed away one by one. Now, my only remaining concern is that child, Liyang.”

“Liyang’s nature is far too gentle and timid; she has never made any friends. But she trusts you. Therefore, I hope that during your time at the academy, you will spend more time with her.”

“Of course, you don’t need to do anything specific; simply attending classes with her, sharing meals, and occasionally visiting our home will suffice.”

Fulin raised her head, looking directly at Yalin once more. “These are my terms. What do you think?”