Chapter 1 Ranch and Hyperion

In Talia's attic cabin, Ranch and Hyperion sat at the table, while Talia leaned against her armchair, a small round tea table beside her holding a steaming cup of lemon black tea.

The house had just enough chairs, and the tableware and objects were neatly arranged, with the occasional scent of snacks permeating the air.

"Don't you corrupt Hyperion."

Talia glanced at Ranch somewhat unhappily and said.

Although as a demon she shouldn't accuse a human of corrupting a half-demon, she couldn't help but feel that what she said was right.

She had spent decades observing and imitating humans, and it wasn't for nothing.

"...Tata, let me ask you, what magic have you taught Hyperion during this time?"

Ranch hesitated slightly, then asked.

"..."

Talia was silent, then turned her face away, no longer wanting to pay attention to Ranch.

It wasn't because his magic was useful, but because it was easier to teach Hyperion.

Hyperion ate the cake beside Ranch, listening to Ranch and Tata's daily conversation.

Sometimes she couldn't tell whether Ranch and Tata were arguing or just chatting normally. That's just how Ranch and Tata got along.

She wondered if Tata would be lonely if she and Ranch went to the Northern Continent for a long time and the house became too quiet.

But Ranch was right. The first magic Tata taught her this month was [Basic Etiquette] and [Friendly Communication].

Her affinity for spirit and curse were excellent, and her affinity for poison and darkness was also good. Moreover, the magic Ranch created mixed human magic script and demon magic script, so she learned it exceptionally quickly.

In addition to considering affinity and her own magical talent, the higher the tier of magic, the more difficult it is to learn, so first and second tier magic are the easiest to master.

In addition, the quality and tier of a spell after it is made into a magic card can directly reflect the difficulty of learning the spell.

The original spell corresponding to a [White Common] quality magic card can be learned quickly if the learner has a high magical talent and a good affinity with the spell type.

It would take at least some time to learn the original spell corresponding to a [Blue Precious] quality magic card, and it would be even more difficult to learn if the learner had a poor affinity with the spell type.

Reaching the [Purple Rare] level requires a relatively good affinity with the spell type, otherwise it may be extremely difficult to learn even with a long learning period. Whether a [Pink Divine] spell can be learned depends on fate, and magic books and learning methods are extremely rare. [Orange Epic] is almost equivalent to a talent spell, similar to the Blood Clan's authority. Unless a very special method is used, it cannot be learned even with good affinity.

This is also why [Orange Epic] quality magic cards are so expensive.

In this era of very convenient transactions, some practical spells are learned if you can, saving card slots. If you can't learn them, you can directly carry magic cards, without wasting a lot of time and energy to learn skills.

"After a semester of study...I have indeed become stronger."

Hyperion picked up the [Elegant Styling] Ranch gave her, staring at this translucent magic card, and couldn't help but recall her gains and changes over the past few months.

"You are completely different now than when you started school."

Ranch said with a smile.

He knew that Hyperion originally had four Pink Divine cards, three left by her father: Dagger, Invisibility, and Death Immunity, as well as a Witch Shield obtained from the Holy Church Shadow World.

Now that she has learned Ranch's two signature spells, and bound this fifth hairstyle modification, she has finally transitioned from a functional thief to a trickster, fully guaranteeing her life, and filled with acrobatic tricks to amuse enemies.

"Ugh, back then everyone would treat me like a half-demon..."

Hyperion felt ashamed to face her father when she thought about the spells she knew.

If she meets her father again in the future, he would probably be stunned.

According to Duke Michael's expectations, Hyperion should never have become such a mage.

Once upon a time, she was a damage-dealing mage.

Now she has become a support mage and protects Ranch.

"What about now?"

Ranch was already looking forward to teaming up with Hyperion again, who had mastered new skills.

"I have become you after all."

Hyperion shook her head.

Oh well.

It's good this way too.

At least staying by Ranch's side, no one dares to offend her now.

As a duke's daughter, she has more prestige than when her father was still around.

...

Ranch didn't stay at Talia's house for long.

After completing the main task of delivering the cards today, he said goodbye to Talia and Hyperion.

When he walked downstairs and opened the door of the Cat Boss Restaurant, a gust of wind chimes rang, and moist, cold air rushed in, and he found that rain was dripping from the eaves.

The pattering rain lines on the road in the distance gradually became clearer, and it seemed that the rain was getting heavier and heavier.

"It's raining."

Ranch observed the rain. It seemed he had to borrow an umbrella from the Cat Boss.

The weather has been rainy and unpredictable recently.

But before he could struggle, just as he turned around to go back into the store, he found Hyperion bringing him an umbrella.

"Ranch, I saw a drizzle outside the window."

Hyperion walked up to him and handed him the umbrella.

"Thank you."

Ranch took the umbrella, but didn't open it. He just smiled and looked at the rainy scenery of the royal capital's streets.

"Aren't you leaving?"

Hyperion walked to his side with a slight doubt, following his gaze to look at the rain scene he was watching.

"Hyperion, think about it. If someone specially ran downstairs to bring you an umbrella, and you took the umbrella and left, wouldn't the person who brought the umbrella feel a little disappointed?"

Ranch was free today and not in a hurry at all.

"That's true."

Hyperion thought for a while, and felt that it would be nice to chat with Ranch for a while longer.

Or just listen to the sound of the rain under the eaves.

"How is your card preparation going?"

Hyperion remembered that Ranch was going to make a core card that completely fulfilled the functions of a seal master. After going to the Northern Continent, he would no longer show himself as a white mage, but as a seal master that Ranch claimed was completely different from Bishop Ascesan of Oblivion.

"Probably in the next two days, we will set off."

The semester is over, and they should apply to the school and set off.

Going to the northernmost part of the Southern Continent, transferring to magic-powered rail trains and magic-powered airships across several countries would take several days, and crossing the sea would depend on the weather. If it doesn't go well, it may take more than a month on the Disaster Sea.

"Although I heard that things are a bit unstable in the Northern Continent, since we are determined to do this project this time, we must do it well and make some achievements."

Ranch added another sentence, his eyes full of determination.

As a philosopher, educator, thinker, and pragmatist, he not only shouldered the great ideal of serving the country and the people, but also resolved to uphold social justice.

"...Let's talk about the plan to retire at 20."

Hyperion is now a little afraid of Ranch's overly great ambition. Under the circumstances, perhaps it is his talent, perhaps it is his obvious intentions, but sometimes when he looks back, he finds that he is already standing at a high place and cannot bear the cold.

Hyperion doesn't ask for anything now, only that Ranch doesn't turn into a dragon once he encounters the storm in the Northern Continent...

(End of this chapter)