I Swear I'm Not a Demon Masquerading as a Human

Lance rose early and made his way to Ikerite University alone. After passing the station at the school gate, he watched the golden light rising in the east and illuminating the campus. It was a sight that filled him with a refreshing sense of vitality.

Three days had passed since the entrance exam had concluded, and today marked the beginning of his life at the university. According to Theresa, he first needed to head to the College of Magical Engineering to exchange his credentials for a student bracelet. Following that, he could move into the student dormitory.

For the past few days, Lance and Talia had been staying at a hotel not far from campus. The demon princess was in the room right next to his, and she would tag along whenever he stepped out.

Lance had already told her that once he moved into the highly secure Ikerite University, she would no longer need to protect him in this manner. Of course, her pay would remain unchanged. He would only bother her when he had questions to ask.

Consequently, Talia now enjoyed a freedom that felt almost like a new lease on life. She no longer had to be Lance’s bodyguard every day. She even possessed a fake identity as a member of the Wilford family. As long as she didn't draw too much attention to herself or attempt to register with a major guild, her cover was unlikely to be blown.

In just a few short months, Talia had left behind her life of a wandering, destitute vagrant. Now, she could enjoy a leisurely existence in the capital supported by a generous "retirement pension."

This morning, while they were having breakfast together, Talia had seemed somewhat absentminded. It was as if she had truly retired. Lance felt gratified to see her living such a comfortable life. Providing for his elderly mentor was, after all, a matter of filial piety.

Lance muttered to himself as he walked along the campus's main thoroughfare, "Come to think of it... Every time I think about her advanced age, she seems to glance at me... Is it just my imagination?"

Although Talia’s innate talent for lie detection could theoretically evolve into mind reading if upgraded further, she was almost certainly nowhere near the threshold of unlocking such an ability. After all, according to the information Lance knew, Talia had never mastered any form of mind reading, even in the main storyline set two years in the future.

So, there's no need to worry. Having an advanced age really isn't that big of a deal, and she likely won't mind it much.

Lance smiled, feeling reassured, and continued walking toward the College of Magical Engineering's Liberal Arts Hall. The plants lining the path were bathed in morning mist and sunlight, releasing a fresh fragrance. There were numerous flowers whose names he didn't know. Some were vibrant, some were delicate, and others had bizarre shapes.

Accompanied by the singing of birds, the buzzing of bees, and the gentle murmur of flowing water, he walked from the end of the path onto a soft, flower-strewn lawn. According to the signs, the buildings in this area were nestled within the gardens.

After walking for a few more minutes, Lance finally located the building. It was a textbook example of Ikerite Renaissance-style architecture, and it was situated on the edge of the college. Its ancient red-brick exterior was adorned with statues and reliefs, marking it as one of the campus landmarks: the College of Magical Engineering's old Liberal Arts Hall.

This historic structure had once been a workshop where magical artisans unleashed their creative ingenuity. Decades ago, it had undergone renovation and began serving as a support hub for students from other departments who needed assistance from the College of Magical Engineering.

Lance glanced around but saw little evidence of other students in the area. The only people visiting this place were the incoming freshmen. It was still early, and the doors to the hall hadn't even opened yet.

Lance said with a touch of regret, "Oh dear, I'm too early... I forgot that the people here work strictly from nine to five, not a minute earlier nor a second later."

He thought about how the laid-back work habits of the people here differed vastly from his own. Many shops would close up at five o'clock sharp, prioritizing clocking out over making more money. The school's service departments would be no different.

Lance had no choice but to stand on the lawn, arms crossed in boredom, as he waited for the staff to arrive. He decided to treat it as the kind of leisure time a modern person ought to enjoy. Sometimes, simply whiling away the hours could be a form of happiness in itself.

Actually, thinking of it as a bit of sightseeing isn't bad, either... Lance tilted his head back to admire the historic building before him. It was a veritable work of art. The scents of flowers, grass, and earth mingled with the moist air of the garden and enveloped him, putting him quite at ease.

Atop the old Liberal Arts Hall stood a towering spire that was inlaid with a carved emblem of Ikerite University. The base of the emblem featured a silver shield, which represented the steadfastness and enduring faith of the Kingdom of Hutton.

Centered upon the shield was an image of the Goddess of Fate. She held a laurel wreath amid a radiant cross, and it was set against the backdrop of the Southern Cross constellation, symbolizing the university’s geographical location on the Southern Continent.

Inscribed on a white banner at the top of the emblem were the bold, vigorous characters of an ancient magical script that stated: "We shall grow in the respect of posterity."

Merely gazing at it stirred a surge of emotion within Lance, instantly dispelling the last lingering traces of early-morning drowsiness. He found himself captivated, unaware of the minutes ticking steadily by.

Lance stood motionless on the lawn, murmuring to himself as he fixed his gaze upon the emblem, "Such craftsmanship... This must be a masterpiece made by a legendary sculptor..."

A familiar voice rang out from nearby, interrupting his train of thought, "Indeed. It was created two hundred years ago by Gela Zelt, a magical artisan and Ikerite University alumnus. If you look closely, you’ll find quite a few of his works around the campus."

Roused from his reverie, Lance turned to see a young woman with long, light blonde hair standing gracefully in the garden. He recognized Princess Vivian instantly; he had encountered her briefly at the examination hall three days ago, and he recalled she had a strained relationship with his teammate, Hyperion.

Lance hadn't expected the princess to arrive so early. However, a closer look revealed that her arrival had prompted the staff from the College of Magical Engineering to hurry over and unlock the old Liberal Arts Hall for the day's operations. The nuances of social dynamics and connections existed everywhere.

A faint smile appeared on his face as he greeted the princess, who had evidently been waiting there for some time. "Your Highness Princess Vivian, my apologies for not noticing you sooner. I was so entranced by that beautiful work of art.”

Vivian paused for a moment. In truth, she hadn't originally intended to speak with Lance. After their previous encounter, she had realized that his personality was somewhat difficult for her to handle. He was a bit too agreeable and came across as an airhead, yet his mind was remarkably sharp.

Without engaging in any preliminary pleasantries, the princess looked up at the carved emblem atop the old Liberal Arts Hall and asked Lance, "How do you think this carved emblem differs from a standard magical artisan's work?"

Having met him twice now, Vivian was certain that this commoner youth, Lance Wilford, lacked a sense of distance or reverence toward nobility that most people held. He was more like a traveler visiting from a land where aristocratic culture was entirely absent.

However, she didn’t mind this at all. Lance was undeniably a promising talent from her country, and his background was impeccably clean. Right now, she simply wanted to discuss the ancient masterpiece adorning the tower with him.

Lance possessed an innate aura that was a blend of poet, painter, and artisan altogether, and it felt entirely natural and not fabricated. It was rare for her to encounter a peer with whom she could truly discuss art with. She decided to take this opportunity to gauge the depth of his understanding.

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