Chapter 1057: Chapter 26: The Real World
The afternoon sunlight was gentle and warm.
The light and shadows that spilled into the great hall blended dreamily with the steam rising from the food on the long tables.
Chicken legs were piled like mountains on the plates, colorful pastries were neatly arranged, exquisite blood wheat bread and pies were laid out, all delicious foods awaiting indulgence.
"I thought it was still daytime..."
"So much to eat..."
"How does this sunlight do it?"
The murmurs of small talk gathered in the hall, forming a crackling sound like burning flames.
With eyes shining with real light, Gou Rou followed the procession into the hall like a zombie, only the turning of his head in response to food indicated he was still capable of thought.
Students took their seats, and Gou Rou struggled to maintain his composure without reaching out—Giant Tree Academy’s etiquette lessons over the past two weeks had helped him overcome some instincts.
Once all the students were seated, the professors rose to announce the New Year banquet was about to start.
Clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang—
Suddenly, without warning, the urgent and chaotic sound of bells resounded throughout the hall, and amidst the confusion of professors and students, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the corridor outside the hall.
The cold and detestable Gatekeepers appeared, shouting indifferently, "Silent Hour has come, everyone stay quiet!"
After the announcement, they disappeared beyond the hall doors as swiftly as they arrived.
"Class Leaders of each department, ensure all students are here!" roared Wild Lion Professor Mavin.
The Class Leaders at the head of the long tables hurriedly left their seats to count the students.
The bustling and lively hall fell into complete silence.
The Class Leaders, with hurried steps, moved through the hall, and during the New Year banquet disrupted by the Silent Moments, everyone received the only good news: no students were missing.
The Old Professor then raised a silver vessel, tapping a dining knife against its edge.
Clang—
Amidst the bell-like clear and crisp tapping sound, the Old Professor moved the vessel aside, picked up a knife and fork, and sliced into the saucy meat steak on his plate.
The professors began dining in succession, followed by the students.
Under the warm sunlight, the clinks of cutlery and the sounds of chewing brought back a limited sense of vitality to the banquet.
This New Year was quietly celebrated here.
Gou Rou once again displayed his talent: eating quickly and silently.
Fudote ate slowly and elegantly, each small piece of food she lifted with a fork would take her a long time to chew quietly, and chicken legs requiring hands were not part of her menu.
The hall, filled only with the sounds of eating, was abruptly disturbed by the echoing footsteps from the corridor.
The doors were once again pushed open. The Gatekeepers remained outside while the elders entered the hall, their cloaks making them appear as brown bats, gliding silently inside.
He raised a wine glass with his withered hand, as the liquid swayed, Professor Chris’s lazy voice echoed from the glass: "Professors, bring the children to the upper grades."
The professors frowned, but Silent Moments prevented them from voicing refusal.
Since Professor Chris had made this decision...
The Old Professor gestured for the Class Leaders to lead the way, leaving their seats to follow.
Professor Rubacher, passing a seated and somber Professor Hagrid, gently patted his shoulder.
He could probably guess what Professor Hagrid was thinking... Hagrid never liked Lu Li leaving the canopy layer to go to the dangerous trunk layer. Professor Chris’s unilateral permission for Lu Li’s free passage badge had already displeased him, and now for the New Year banquet, all the lower grade students must go to the trunk layer—
The Gatekeepers, exuding a cold aura, escorted the new students.
Under the Silent Moments enveloping Giant Tree Academy, the students and the Night Watchers became alike: shared silence.
Descending a long spiral staircase from the Mixed Zone, taking an elevator down, after a few minutes, they entered the trunk layer.
The pervasive darkness and ominous influence affected the students new to the trunk layer, filled with curiosity and tension, as they traversed the silent corridors, reaching the archway leading to the surface.
Before stepping out of the Giant Tree, Professor Hagrid stood in front of everyone, silently gazing at the Elder Night Watcher.
"Hagrid, let the students in." Professor Chris’s voice echoed from the swaying liquid.
Unwilling, Professor Hagrid stepped aside, allowing the students to follow the Night Watchers out of the Giant Tree—
"...Conceal your presence, don’t scare the little ones."
Hearing Professor Chris’s voice, the students stepped onto the gnarled roots of the Giant Tree, an invisible protection covering the vast platform beneath their feet, still dozens of meters from the ground.
Winged eyeballs floated in the air, their pupils emitting a glow slightly brighter than fluorite, roaming in groups like a fractured moon shrouded by broken clouds.
Was there no sunlight in the upper grades? Why not use oil lamps for lighting?
This was the thought of the new students. Soon, they became uneasy because of the towering silhouettes around the platform and the chaotic and obscure auras they emitted.
The new students seemed like a group of frail children, huddling like quails to avoid the real gaze observing them.
The attention on Lu Li was especially abundant.
The wine glass in the hand of the Gatekeeper elder sprouted four thin legs, jumped to the ground, quickly crawled, and leaped into Professor Chris’s palm.
The lower-grade students thus saw the little giant Vice Dean at the head of the long table and beside her...
"Since Dean Asamons is out on a trip and hasn’t returned, I will host this year’s banquet." Professor Chris at the main seat gestured to the silhouettes beside her: "So, would you all introduce yourselves to the lower-grade little cuties first?"
"I’m Helmut, Senior Professor of Mysticology." A thin figure, dressed in an ancient and exquisite formal musketeer outfit, removed his hat.
"Divination Professor, the Undead." The pale, melancholic, poet-like man beside Helmut tore off his head, revealing centipede-like grotesque scars and stitches.
"Wild Lion, Lei, Combat Skills Study." At the seat’s edge, a lion-like burly man covered with golden-brown fur spoke in a deep voice.
"Not showing your wonders?" Helmut chuckled.
"For lower-grade students? I’m not a circus clown." Lei snorted coldly.
Lu Li noticed Professor Mavin’s expression becoming complicated in response to Lei.
"...I...am...Mont...Mus..."
The students raised their heads, listening to the whispers falling from the shadows.
"This is our Combat Skills Class professor who shelters here, preventing the darkness from encroaching, and staving off calamities during the Silent Moments."
As the words fell, the glowworm fireflies dispersed, revealing the reality beyond the open area—beyond the protection, the solidified darkness was crawling and writhing.
Buzz—
The sound of nails sliding across a wine glass attracted all the students’ attention.
"Although many are on missions on the surface, battling in the old sewer, undergoing trials in the Forbidden Zone, or have passed away, they cannot hear the following words, but I must say... Did you see the outside world? This is the real, no longer illusory world. It is also the world we wish to change. Remember the significance of Giant Tree Academy, remember your existence’s meaning... Do not go gentle into that good night."
Suddenly losing the interest, Professor Chris ceased speaking, raising her wine glass: "Now, let the New Year banquet officially begin. To our companions, to the Divinities, to Giant Tree Academy, to Dean Asamons..."
Her long, slightly arched pale golden eyes rested on Lu Li.
"To the Exorcist."