Mist Empire’s Rise: Fake Noble to Fog Queen

Chapter 366 Mist Empire’s Rise- 365: Mage Medal Ceremony

Theodore didn't know how many laurel branches he'd used. He'd woven the wreath flat and dense, with only a tiny circle in the middle. Worn on the head, it looked like a green pot lid.

"Old guinea pig, I wish you endless gold coins every day, endless food, never hungry or cold again, and never having to collect junk!"

Theodore was somewhat sentimental tonight. Though he had small complaints about Sebastian pursuing Laura, Sebastian was one of his few friends. Learning he was leaving the academy, he still felt a bit sad.

This afternoon he'd deliberately picked a large basket of laurel branches and leaves, wanting to weave the biggest, best-looking crown to give Sebastian—an apology for always targeting him these past six months.

Sebastian wore the bright green pot lid hat, looking at Theodore's sincere, earnest eyes. For a moment, he'd rather Theodore target him than give him a wreath.

After three seconds of stiffness, he steadied his smile and spoke: "Thank you, junior."

Theodore walked away with pursed lips. He'd put so much effort into weaving the wreath, yet Sebastian's reaction was so cold. He really was still that annoying!

The last to step forward was Laura. The crown she wove was delicate, but unfortunately there was no space left on Sebastian's head. It could only hang on his arm.

"Senior, may you always bathe in glory, forever enjoy flowers and honor, and have lifelong peace."

"Thank you, junior."

Sebastian accepted her blessing.

Crowns worn had to stay on until bedtime. Sebastian, covered in laurel wreaths, was now out of the running for the next dance segment.

He was now a walking laurel tree. Surrounding classmates passed by and silently detoured around him. No girls came to ask him to dance, and he didn't dare invite anyone—too much movement and the triple crown on his head would fall off.

In the end, Sebastian could only sit in a small corner with Luo Wei and the others, drinking cup after cup of the academy-provided wine.

Free wine—drinking it was profit. Drink more, earn more!

"Senior, where do you plan to go after graduation?" Laura asked, holding her wine cup. "Back to the Northlands?"

"No," Sebastian shook his head. "I still haven't found the hero in the prophet's prediction. I don't plan to leave Siria for now."

"You're staying in Siria?" Theodore's eyes widened. "Why didn't you say so earlier!"

He'd been sad all afternoon for nothing!

"Do you have a place to live in Siria, or will you work at that farm from before?" Theodore asked excitedly. "Now that you're a mage, working for people should get you a lot more pay, right?"

"Haven't decided yet," Sebastian rubbed his wine cup. "Actually being a mercenary isn't bad—taking missions and such. Can earn money and gather information."

"Senior, do you want to work for me?" Luo Wei extended an olive branch to Sebastian. "Room and board included, generous salary, simple work. I'm going out for practical training the next three months. You just need to visit my shop and estate daily."

Such a good deal existed?

This thought flashed through everyone present. Theodore even cast an envious look at Sebastian.

If he weren't also going for training, he'd want to do such easy work!

Sebastian finished the last sip in his wooden cup, set it on the table, and looked at Luo Wei with deep eyes.

"Junior, are you serious?"

"I said it myself. Would it be false?"

Luo Wei said solemnly: "Senior, I believe your future is limitless. With your abilities, staying with me is somewhat beneath you."

"But I don't have many people I trust in the Western Continent. Since you said you don't plan to leave Siria for now, I presumptuously extended this invitation. Everything I just said came from my heart. I hope you'll consider it."

After a pause, she added: "Everyone really doesn't want you to leave."

After Luo Wei finished speaking, the Death Penalty Squad members all quieted down.

The one graduating was Sebastian, but the confused ones were the others.

They'd never thought before about where to go after graduation. Before meeting these companions, they didn't have even one person to talk to, much less feel sad about parting.

Gladys was sent to Siria by her father and brother. After three years of study, she should return to her Northlands home and continue being the Ice Wolf Tribe's little princess.

Hessel, Laura, Sebastian—all three carried blood feuds. Revenge, overthrowing the Church—this was the entire meaning of their existence.

But their power was too weak. They'd probably end up shattered to pieces, heads separated from bodies.

Theodore's purpose in coming to Siria was similar to Gladys's—to study magic.

If he hadn't met Laura, he'd likely return to the Kraken clan, relying on longevity genes to outlive all enemies and become a new generation of powerful Kraken who could command wind and rain in the sea.

Hol—not a true word came from his mouth. Except for his Lich identity, everyone knew nothing about him.

Originally they were all solitary individuals. Coming alone, leaving alone—they didn't feel anything was wrong with that.

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But by chance they'd come together, mutually tolerating each other, weathering difficulties together, finding a sense of belonging on this strange land.

They had shared memories, similar experiences. Between them, there were bonds.

This year Sebastian graduated. Next year would be Hessel, Theodore, and Laura.

The year after, Luo Wei, Gladys, and Hol would also leave this academy.

The Death Penalty Squad was formed hastily and disbanded hurriedly. No formal ceremony at the start, but at the end they had to clear out one by one.

Everyone felt reluctant, but no one said it.

Perhaps for them, friendship was a luxury. They had no right to keep someone who should leave, and that person didn't need to pay for their selfishness.

Moreover, the one leaving was Sebastian. He'd joined the squad less than two months ago. His feelings for them might not even be as deep as for the suburban farm owner. What reason did they have to keep him?

Now, Luo Wei had given them a reason.

She'd also voiced everyone's thoughts.

They didn't want him to leave.

The atmosphere was subtle. Everyone drank their wine, but their peripheral vision kept watching Sebastian. When he didn't respond for a long while, everyone gradually lowered their heads.

Nothing to be disappointed about. They weren't that close anyway, right?

"Pfft—"

A light laugh broke the silence.

Sebastian's eyes rippled with fine light, smiling: "Don't be so serious!"

"I didn't say I wouldn't agree."

"Besides, I'm just leaving the academy, not leaving Siria. Working anywhere is working. Even if I didn't agree to Junior Luo Wei, you could still come find me!"

Theodore couldn't hold back: "How is that the same?"

Working at Luo Wei's place, at least they could hear news of him through her. Working elsewhere, how could they have the nerve to bother him every day?

The clever ones heard Sebastian's subtext. Hol asked: "So senior agreed?"

Luo Wei looked at Sebastian with a smile: "Senior already agreed in his heart but won't say it. Are you sulking at us?"

Sebastian pointed at the green hat on his head and green collar around his neck: "You made it so no one dares confess to me even at graduation. What's wrong with sulking a bit?"

"What do you mean, what do you mean?" Theodore jumped up in rage. "What do you mean we made it! Do you know how long I spent weaving this! This is absolutely the best-looking crown in the world. Didn't you see everyone enviously stealing glances at you!"

Sebastian's facial muscles twitched. In the end, he didn't say anything harsh.

That was envy? That was clearly looking at a freak!

What normal person would weave a crown into a pot lid?

"Actually, even without wearing this, no one would confess to you." Hessel's tone was ghostly as she exposed him.

"Exactly, exactly," Theodore immediately chimed in. "You steal water and collect garbage. Who wants to hang out with you?"

Hol also spoke fairly: "Senior, really not our fault. We actually helped you out. Otherwise tonight not a single girl would pay attention to you, and you'd have no good excuse."

Sebastian pressed his twitching eyebrow: "I'm not as bad as you think. Many girls at the academy like me, okay!"

Though he was a bit poor, he was handsome and outstanding. Quite a few people had shown interest openly and secretly.

Especially this afternoon after passing the magic assessment and receiving the Intermediate Mage medal, many noble classmates came to him, wanting to recruit him to marry into their families.

These guys thought no one would confess to him because when he stood with them, no one dared approach!

He was completely implicated by these notorious guys!

The atmosphere became lively again. The group argued noisily and drank quite a bit. The alcohol went to their heads, making them dizzy and flushing their cheeks.

Laura had low alcohol tolerance. Sitting there, she slumped over, dropping her wine cup. Theodore frantically supported her and picked up her cup.

Gladys poured wine into her nose, sneezed several times, tears sparkling in her eyes.

Hessel leaned back in her chair gazing at the stars, the starry river reflected in her dark eyes.

Luo Wei was discussing arrangements for the next three months with Sebastian.

Star Luo Residence and Escore Dessert Shop's management staff were quite mature, with well-established systems. No changes needed for now.

Only the mulberry orchard lacked a person in charge. Luo Wei planned to have guinea pig senior try the orchard manager position, just freeing up Bella.

For salary, ten gold coins a month should be enough. Magic Association mages only got two gold coins monthly.

Hearing about ten gold coins monthly salary, Sebastian readily agreed and decided to report to the mulberry orchard tomorrow afternoon.

Advanced department students would leave the academy tomorrow morning. If he reported to the orchard in the afternoon, Luo Wei would definitely arrange lodging for him. He could save another night's accommodation fee.

After they finished discussing, they looked—more than half the five companions had collapsed!

Except for Theodore and Hol, who frequently drank high-concentration alcohol at the dessert shop, everyone else was drunk.

Laura scratched at table legs sharpening her claws. Gladys hugged a wooden cup and gnawed wood shavings all over the floor. Hessel stared with hazy eyes, not moving for a long while.

Looking around them—wow! Seven or eight empty wine barrels!

The wine others were too busy dancing to drink—they'd guzzled it all down.

Each person drank a barrel and a half. These guys' stomachs really could hold it!

The night wind grew cool. While others were still dancing, Luo Wei and Sebastian quickly dispersed the empty barrels to other areas.

Seven people drank seventy people's worth of wine. She worried that when everyone discovered the wine was gone, the few of them would be attacked by the mob.

The academy square sang and danced until dawn.

The midnight bell rang. The bonfires burned to ashes. Only then did everyone reluctantly disperse.

The professors, worried their presence would dampen students' fun, only came out after the party ended. Using magic, they cleaned up scattered barrels and cups on the square and returned tables, chairs, and lamp stands to their places.

Standing on the deserted square, advanced department professors looked up. The stars above were brilliant, no gloom visible.

"Sigh, three years passed in a flash."

"Yeah, this summer it's our turn to recruit new students again."

"Ugh, just sent off these little brats and I wanted to rest!"

"There'll be plenty of time to rest later..."

...

Luo Wei couldn't carry three drunks alone. Theodore, Hol, and Sebastian helped send them to the base of Rose Castle.

Boys couldn't enter the girls' castle. Luo Wei first sent Laura and Hessel to the intermediate department dorm, then came back out for Gladys.

Hol tossed the howling Gladys to her, told her to wait, then took out a wooden sign from his spatial ring.

Seeing the words on the sign, Luo Wei's eyelid twitched: "Where did you pick this up? Did anyone else see it?"

"Um, besides me, probably only Theodore and Senior Noel!" Hol answered.

Theodore and Sebastian stood nearby suppressing laughter, very graciously not laughing aloud.

Luo Wei glanced at them, face drooping. Seeing this kind of sign and not immediately destroying it, but bringing it before her for verification—weren't they just wanting to see her embarrassed?

Hmph, as long as she wasn't embarrassed, others would be!

"The professor wrote it wrong. Give it to me."

Luo Wei reached out to take it. Now! Immediately! She'd use her wand to burn it to ashes!

Who knew Gladys would suddenly break free from her hand, lunge forward, snatch the sign and stuff it in her mouth.

"Awooo... crunch crunch—"

"Awooo awooo bite, bite green turtle crunch—"

The wooden sign became a pile of scraps in Gladys's mouth in moments. Luo Wei quickly pulled her away, checking that her lips weren't cut before sighing in relief.

"Why bite everything?"

"Awooo~" Gladys howled chaotically.

Luo Wei had to cover her mouth with her right hand, hastily said goodbye to the three, and dragged Gladys toward the castle.

Finally getting her upstairs, she released her right hand to open the bedroom door.

But at this moment Gladys suddenly hugged her, raised her head with an "awooo," stared with ice-blue eyes, and shouted in disbelief: "At the academy, there's, there's, green turtles!"

"Awooo awooo, awooo awooo!"

"I'll bite—"

Luo Wei quickly covered her mouth, kicked the door open with one foot, dragged her into the bedroom, pulled out her wand and cast a soundproofing spell, pressing Gladys into the blankets.

Even in bed, Gladys wasn't settled, clamoring to go to the castle rooftop to see the moon.