Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 736 - 680: Precept and Example

"You’re not even pretending anymore, are you?" Lyle looked at the familiar object in his hand, feeling no joy from reclaiming the artifact. The response from the other side was extraordinarily cold, completely unlike a prisoner who has been freed from jail. The Mithril crown still dazzled, emitting a mysterious light in the deep night. Its tendrils of magic power weakly twisted at the edges, listlessly curling then falling back, as if greeting Nia and Lyle.

The Lich Crown lay limp in Lyle’s palm, its semi-transparent tendrils of magic power giving Lyle a slick sensation. Lyle and the Lich Crown were already quite familiar; perhaps it was because in their last collaboration the crown had revealed its true nature as a magical beast, the Lich Crown had shed its artifact pretense, becoming a second tentacle decoration on Lyle.

A whiff of defeatism.

In fact, ever since the last time Raymond brought the truth to light with Lyle, the Lich Crown had fallen into a slump, transitioning from a love-stricken girl to a depressive state akin to a mourning woman—loveless, awaiting destruction. Raymond would never wear it, not for the sake of harmony at Andrei Academy, even casually giving his true affection to the enviable newcomer before him. Considering the efforts it had once made, the Lich Crown was utterly disheartened. It didn’t care to work hard anymore; it only wished to live one day at a time, spending a tool-like pitiable existence under the neurotic manipulations of the liches. The Lich Crown itself possessed a degree of scholarly enhancement, so it wouldn’t fail to live up to its name as an artifact even without willing cooperation. The principal, like a father to it, knew the reason for its dispiritedness and had not remade it, which was already as generous as a father’s deep love. Now, he adopted an attitude of ’out of sight, out of mind’ towards it.

"What’s wrong with it? Tired?"

The unexpected voice that came from Lyle caused the Lich Crown to stir. Tiny black tendrils crawled out from Lyle’s shoulder, gently caressing his cheek. The Phantom race had taken residence in Lyle, providing assistance during this time while conservatively making contact with the outside world. Even though they might startle at times, sometimes acting like a "why" asking machine, the Phantoms remained obediently attached to Lyle.

"Does it need help?" The eager-to-assist little creatures climbed onto Lyle’s shoulder one by one, joining Nia in watching the Lich Crown with some concern.

"It’s just encountered some disappointing events, like being abandoned or something..." Lyle was unsure how to convey the entanglement between the sycophant and the deity to these naive Phantoms. The challenges of looking after children were indeed like this. You need to help them establish the right values, while reining in their ever-curious and sometimes exasperating inquisitiveness.

"Can we help it perk up?" The Phantoms looked to Lyle, their linked minds radiating a mixture of entreaty and coquettish emotions. Lyle found it hard to refuse them; the collaboration between the creature communities was infectiously affecting his mood. At least they had first asked for his opinion, and helping out wasn’t something difficult.

Lyle cradled the Lich Crown in his hand, bringing it closer to himself, allowing the magic power of the crown a slight touch with the tiny creatures as a greeting. "Wanting to change someone’s emotions is very hard, and you don’t know whether the change will be good or bad..." The fact that Mr. Raymond had rejected the Lich Crown was unchanged, and the reason for the crown’s continued dejection was not alleviated. He gently reminded the Phantoms that trying to cheer up the Lich Crown might be futile.

"It’s so beautiful, shining and sparkling..." The Phantoms’ simple thoughts communicated directly into Lyle’s mind, their connecting tendrils also taking on the glow of Mithril, "Beautiful things should be protected well, right?"

No, it’s only glittering on the surface; the true nature of the Lich Crown isn’t so shiny. It merely covets Raymond’s head.

After some thought, Lyle responded to the Phantoms’ expectations. Without speaking, the Phantoms, now clear on his meaning, generated waves of joy, hiding in corners with muffled cheers of triumph, and two even punched their little fists in the air to massage Lyle’s shoulders.

His mood increasingly influenced by the Phantoms’ positivity, Lyle’s reason also persuaded him. Indeed, it was beneficial for him to have the Lich Crown buck up; its improved working attitude could boost the efficiency of his future tasks. So, responding to the creature community’s expectations and helping the Lich Crown along the way was quite worthwhile. Plus, it was an opportunity to experiment...

Lyle closed his eyes, and upon opening them again, the joy within him was veiled by seriousness, as he let out a scoff towards the Lich Crown.

"Turned into trash after being rejected by Mr. Raymond, have you? Or should I say, you’re truly a loser."

The Lich Crown moved slightly, continuing to play dead.

Lyle’s eyes narrowed slightly, his lips curving into a mocking smile.

"That’s where I’m different, Plague Doctor sir, which is to say, myself. Not only am I lauded as a potential new star at Andrei Academy, but I have also earned the affection of His Excellency Raymond," Lyle flicked his finger, causing the Holy Light Mark on the ring of Andrei to shine brightly, "Ah, what a dilemma, His Excellency Raymond keeps trying to pull me into the Holy Light Almighty Sect, I wonder what excuse I should come up with to refuse him next time."

The artifact, being cognizant of human nature, clearly understood mockery, and Lyle’s salt-in-the-wound behavior sparked a new reaction in the Lich Crown. The resplendent gems embedded in the crown reflected Lyle’s vile face, like eyes filled with rage.

Lyle gazed at the crown with the condescension of a victor, moonlight filtering through the window leaving a shadow on one side of the man’s mask. The stereotypical villainous smirk was enough to make someone want to throw a punch.

"Alright then, I’ve decided. If next time Mr. Raymond agrees to let me ride on his head, I’ll join reluctantly..."

The Lich Crown had lost it, its magic power swirling wildly like a gust whipping up Lyle’s robe; the monstrous form stretched out to fill the corridor, and from the center of the crown, a roar shattered the stillness of the night.

Lyle’s mouth twitched downward, facing the Lich Crown’s threat unfazed.

"Oh? You have an objection?"

Words woven by magic power materialized in the air, the burning glow seeming to set the air aflame.

"You say I’m not worthy? Heh...," Lyle suddenly exploded in the revised voice of the Lich Crown, "Of course, I’m worthy! And I’m far more deserving than a pathetic worm like you, who arrogantly believes you’ve made such great sacrifices and are self-satisfied!!!"

"Because... because!!!"

Mental Analysis, activate, target, Lyle’s own conscience.

"Because I am the biggest bootlicker under His Excellency Raymond!!! I am the one who admires Lord Raymond the most at Andrei Academy, what are you in comparison!!!"

Lyle, like a keg of gunpowder ignited, his words transformed into the loudest thunder striking the crown.

"Why would Lord Raymond favor me! Can’t you see why!"

"What?! Because of my purity status! Foolish! Absurd! What do you take the Angel of Light for!!" The ultimate control over his spirit caused Lyle to shudder with indignation and burn with fervor as he spoke these words.

Lyle spread his arms, cheering like a madman in the corridors of Andrei Academy, of course, after making sure there was no one around.

"Lord Raymond appreciates me because I have done so much for him! No! Not so much! Everything!!!"

Mental Analysis, maximize, to the limit!

"I! Raymond’s Holy Light is my everything, I will shine and radiate for him even after my death!! Raymond is my god!!!"

"Let me tell you what I’ve done! My life is for Raymond!!!"

"At Andrei Academy, I diligently studied academics and soon held my own academic gatherings. The first gathering! I enabled the Liches to feed, why?! Because I knew His Excellency Raymond’s Holy Light cuisine is unbeatable! Those damn Liches who oppose my lord, I would make them kneel before the skill of a deity! The Holy Light Culinary Society was born! I had the first batch of Liches become followers of the Angel of Light!!!"

"At the second academic gathering, I resurrected a dragon! Do you think I did it to oppose His Excellency Raymond!!!" Lyle’s hands were trembling, and he even took a step or two back while clutching his chest, "No!! My heart is bleeding! But I had to do it! The disappointed look in Lord Raymond’s eyes is a curse upon my soul, I wish I could breathe life into myself just to bear the Holy Light’s punishment, but I had to do it!!! I am Lord Raymond’s bootlicker!! I needed to set a target, a goal for Mr. Raymond to defeat and to build his glorious image!!"

"I love Raymond, so I resurrected his enemy!!!"

"What!! You don’t understand!!! Of course, you wouldn’t comprehend!!! Because this is what a first follower should do!!!"

"I did so much, and naturally gained the favor of the Angel of Light! He invited me warmly, but I still refused! Why! Because I know! I am not worthy!!! I haven’t done enough for him! I can’t yet stand beside him, basking in his glory with a clear conscience! I need to restrain myself, I need to resist!! I must remember this longing, let this driving force push me to strive for a brighter future under His Excellency Raymond!"

"I came to Andrei Academy because I was guided by Raymond, everything I do here is in service to that great man!!!"

"What is a bootlicker! It is selfless devotion! It is the ultimate love and pursuit! Even if that person looks on me with cold indifference, even if the world and fate separate us, my initial resolution will not change!!! Because I believe, my feelings, are noble and intense!!!"

The Lich Crown knelt down, in its eyes Lyle had become a giant, a great giant burning with light and fire.

Lyle was burnt out, the aggressively oppressive aura returning to gentleness. As though everything that happened before was but a dream, but the Lich Crown would never awaken from it.

Lyle reached out his hand, a gentle smile on his face.

"My anger, it isn’t because you questioned me, my heart and mind have long been dedicated to that man, even when a thousand point at me I remain unruffled. What truly made me lose my composure... it’s your changed heart, it’s the Raymond you have abandoned in your heart."

"We were friends, Lich Crown. You have disappointed me." Lyle lifted the Lich Crown, gently stroking its surface, like caressing a lover’s face, "But I forgive you, because your love for Mr. Raymond is as pure and sincere as mine."

"Promise me, continue being Raymond’s bootlicker, will you."

That night, Andrei Academy burst forth with light as bright as day.

The next morning, the latest issue of the Andrei Academy News was in high demand.

"Child of the Holy Light’s Night of Passionate Teaching in Bootlicker Studies, Those Years, We Loved Raymond."