The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　Everyone piled their belongings at the back of the carriage and sat down one after another, leaning back in their seats to relax.

　Professor Mitia summoned a giant crystal ball with a diameter of over one meter in the center of the carriage. The crystal ball's field of vision rose high, encompassing the entire area within a kilometer radius of the carriage.

　Complex magic circles bloomed at the bottom of the carriage, and dark incantations converged into a dragon, coiling around the roof of the carriage.

　The "Fossil Aerial Dragon" transformed from the "Sword of the Mountain Giant" sat on the deck of a cart like a coachman, squinting at the two "Foxheart Flames" who were entwined in love.

　Once the magical barrier was fully activated, the fully armed pumpkin carriage suddenly took off.

　The flames of "Foxheart Fire" flickered, dragging the pumpkin carriage like a shooting star as it hurtled towards the sky above Saint Marian.

　The barrier's passage opened silently, and the pumpkin carriage, which had completely concealed its form, suddenly drove in.

　Professor Jones and Eve, who remained at the academy, looked up slightly at the fleeting brilliance in the sky, silently offering their blessings.

　This trip is destined for victory.

Chapter 928 Darkdemon Enters the North (4k)

　St. Maryan's Academy is located in the northern border of the kingdom, and is practically adjacent to the territory of the Northern Duke.

　However, the northern lands are vast, and even if one were to traverse them, reaching the location of the Mountain of the Gods would not be possible in a short time.

　Furthermore, the northern region has a unique environment with cold currents and icy seas high in the sky, making it difficult for even griffins and dragons to cross, and they usually have to take a detour.

　That would take even more time.

　But the situation was urgent, and the professors were clearly not prepared to waste time on pointless travel.

　As Professor Mitia's pumpkin carriage entered the skies above the North, it unfurled a pair of golden-red wings.

　The blazing flames distorted the air. Although their form was erased by the magical barrier, the heat they generated spread beyond the barrier, creating a twisted corridor high in the sky.

　The heat from outside the carriage did not penetrate inside.

　Dak and the others sat on the sofa chairs, making the most of their time to draft a plan. A tea table fixed in the middle of the carriage was set with snacks and tea; the rich aroma of coffee and the sweet fragrance of black tea blended together, filling the carriage with a unique ambiance.

　Despite the urgency of the situation and the tension in my heart, I still need to maintain a certain level of elegance.

　A quick look around the week.

　Of the fourteen people seated in the carriage, Professor Mitya was still dressed in her classic pointed hat and witch's robes. The deep purple stockings contrasted sharply with her fair skin. Her oval face was adorned with heavy, elaborate makeup, and her long eyelashes, paired with light purple eyeshadow, accentuated her allure and mystery.

　She wasn't wearing a veil, and her expression carried a hint of seriousness.

　Professor Cazell had changed into a black suit and a black top hat, leaning against a cane, looking every bit the gentleman.

　Professor Sylph... she simply put on the "Dermeter's Dress," her long hair casually draped over her shoulders. Although her face was expressionless, she was still beautiful—she even looked somewhat like a pure young girl.

　However, the dark aura emanating from the two-meter-long "Ghost Eye" wand slightly altered her demeanor.

　Professor Lily, on the other hand, was dressed as an adventurer, her clothes bulging and making one wonder how much stuff was stuffed inside.

　Professor Harvey's attire was similar to Professor Cazell's. Ophelia, on the other hand, was quite unassuming and ordinary.

　Dark and Aurora, on the other hand, went out in their school uniforms. They had no intention of hiding their student identities, nor was there any need to.

　Nix, sitting close to Aurora, was wearing the same clothes as Aurora, except for slightly different colors for her shoes and hairband.

　To conceal their identities, Ergani also donned an academy uniform. The four of them sitting together appeared to be students. Meanwhile, Auri, Chris, Angrey, and Trina were dressed in their usual maid outfits.

　Dark's gaze finally settled on Aurora, and he asked curiously, "Where's that shrunken snakeskin dress?"

　Aurora waved her long sleeves and whispered, "It's worn underneath." Dark nodded slightly and didn't ask any more questions.

　Previously, the shed skin of that "oil snake" was very thick, but now it can be worn under a school uniform without being visible, indicating that it has been thinned. It's just unknown what additional functions it has.

　In any case, Aurora wearing snakeskin certainly has more security.

　After feeling somewhat relieved, Dak continued to participate in discussions about the follow-up plans. In summary...

　After they arrive at the foot of the Mountain of the Gods, they will first meet up with the Academy troops stationed there.

　After gaining a clear understanding of the latest developments, they will contact surrounding forces and express their intention to cooperate in exploring the Mountain of the Gods.

　It is the "Mountain of the Gods," not the "Heavenly Court."

　They need to temporarily conceal their intention to enter the "Heavenly Court" and not let their purpose be exposed too quickly.

　The person in charge of this operation was not Professor Sylph, but Professor Mitis!

　Professor Sylph's identity must not be revealed among the group; in short, the longer it can be delayed, the better.

　Ophelia's existence is also an uncertain factor; she will use the same "disguise" technique on Professor Sylph as she does on herself.

　Ophelia's "disguise" is different from ordinary "transformation". It uses blood magic to make a certain degree of physical change to the physical body, thereby achieving a "transformation that cannot be seen through by magic".

　The only drawback of this "disguise" is that it is not permanent and needs to be done every few days.

　But this has little impact.

　In short, after obtaining the consent of some forces, they will rely on cooperation to quickly open up the road to the "Heavenly Court," and then... decisively enter the "Heavenly Court"!

　The entire preliminary plan was devoid of any unnecessary complications, and the collaboration with others was solely for the purpose of reaching the "Heavenly Court" faster and more safely.

　As for what to do after entering the "Heavenly Court"

　In short, all the preparations that could be made have been completed. Entering the "Heavenly Court" is equivalent to "entering the game," and there is no turning back.

　Their understanding of the current state of the "Heavenly Court" was extremely limited, and they had virtually no resources to plan ahead.

　To prevent unforeseen circumstances, Professor Sylph gave each person a wisp of "the blessing of the wind spirit" so that they could stay in touch at all times.

　Then it's time to "gamble"!

　It's a gamble on each person's luck.

　It was also a gamble on trust in Principal Arte.

　Throughout the entire incident, Principal Arte never conveyed the message that "they absolutely must not come."

　This is, to some extent, a kind of "signal".

　Professor Mitia also performed a divination on the future of this event, and the final result was "chaotic and unclear", but not a dead end!

　It's a matter of life or death, enough to warrant the risk.

　Everyone who came here had already made a decision.

　“We will split into four groups,” Professor Sylph said. “The Holy Church, the Northern Dukes, the royal spies, and the Elves will contact them as quickly as possible. If it works, great; if not, no need to say more. We seek cooperation only for convenience. It’s a win-win situation; cooperation only happens when there’s a need. As for the Holy Church, Chris will go to make contact, since you’ve already cooperated before.”

　Chris replied directly, "No problem."

　Professor Sylph continued, "Next up is the Duke of the North."

　Her gaze shifted to Dak.

　Dark nodded slightly and said, "I'll give it a try."

　“Hmm,” Professor Sylph continued, “I don’t have high hopes for the royal connections; let’s just treat it as a formality.”

　Professor Harvey's lips curled into a smile, and he said, "Then I'll go." Professor Sylph nodded and said, "Okay, be careful. The elves are last."

　Professor Kazel said, "Mitya wants to stay at the base, so I'll go instead."

　Professor Sylph said, "Let's leave it at that for now. The rest of you are free to choose which side to follow. Mitia, when will we arrive?"

　Professor Mitya glanced at the crystal ball in the center and said, "We have entered the northern border. If things go smoothly, it will only take another five hours to completely cross the northern territory, and then another two hours to reach the Mountain of the Gods."

　Sylph did a quick calculation and said, "In other words, barring any unforeseen circumstances, we should arrive before midnight."

　Professor Mitis said, "That's true. However, it seems unlikely that anything unexpected will happen."

　As soon as she finished speaking, a patch of azure cloud squeezed into front of the crystal ball.

　A cold current surged within the clouds, and icebergs stood tall, resembling glaciers above the clouds, a truly astonishing sight.

　But it is a unique and spectacular sight in the skies above the North – “cold current and icy sea”!

　This "cold current and icy sea" is naturally formed, floating in the air, and is extremely dangerous. Even though the climate in the north is cold, there are times when it warms up again.

　At that time, the icebergs above the "cold sea ice" affected by the warm current will melt and fall as raindrops or hail.

　Heavy rains caused flooding, and hailstones directly injured people.

　Therefore, although the northern territory is vast, there is very little habitable land. Within the city-states surrounded by high walls, there are special professions that specialize in clearing away the "icy currents and icy seas" above the clouds to prevent them from causing damage to the city.

　Correspondingly, they also pay more attention to their airspace, patrolling the skies within their territory to observe the movements of the "cold currents and icy seas" in various places.

　Faced with the oncoming "icy sea of ​​cold," Professor Mitia did not try to force her way through, but instead chose to avoid it appropriately.

　She spurred the carriage to sink, and the flames on her golden-red wings and the flames of the "Fox Heart Fire" pulling the carriage joined together, making the carriage's forward momentum into a giant flaming arrow that roared past below the "Frosty Sea".

　In that instant, transparent, icy tentacles emerged from the "Frosty Sea" and reached down towards the carriage.

　But the tentacles melted under the intense heat before they could be touched, and the scorching raindrops fell from the sky, then cooled rapidly and froze into ice ripples.

　The ground was a desolate wasteland with no inhabitants.

　Thick-furred wild beasts ran across the desolate land, while plants radiating a cold light stirred restlessly in the cold air.

　The pumpkin carriage quickly outpaced the cold front and disappeared into the distant sky.

　Keep going.

　……

　"Special species, mostly elemental life forms, live in the frigid seas. But there are also rare magical beasts that will launch indiscriminate attacks on any creature that passes by."

　Professor Mitia spoke casually, her gaze focusing on the crystal ball, searching for another possible threat—humanity!

　After the war ended, humanity entered an era of peace. But this peace was only the general trend; localized wars still existed. Not to mention the bandits, like weeds, who could never be eradicated. The wounds inflicted by war are not so easily healed. Those who lost everything in the war...

　People who lack the ability to survive.

　A person who cannot satisfy their own desires.

　When all sorts of people come together, they become ruthless bandits. There are mountain bandits in the mountains and pirates at sea.

　In the air, there are naturally also air thieves.

　Special environments create special species.

　The most numerous species living in the "cold, icy seas" of the North are called "ice fish".

　The "Ice Fish" can fly through cold currents and swim freely in glaciers. The air pirates of the North have tamed the "Ice Fish" in the "Cold Currents and Icy Seas" and use their high-altitude advantage to plunder merchants.

　Once targeted by the knights of the North, they can ride the "Ice Fish" and hide in the "Frosty Sea".

　The "Frosty Current and Icy Sea" is fraught with danger, and the Knights are often reluctant to venture deep into it.

　But air pirates are not afraid of death.

　In short, air thieves are truly fearless!

　"We've run into them again," Professor Mitya sighed softly. She didn't ask anyone else how to handle it. Since the other party had already drawn their sword, she would send them to their doom.

　The pumpkin carriage was spotted as it crossed the "icy sea of ​​cold currents," and was soon targeted.

　Although the impenetrable magical barrier aroused the air pirates' vigilance, as the saying goes, the greater the risk, the greater the reward.

　The mind of a greedy person is unfathomable.

　From sending people to investigate to launching a coordinated attack, the group of air pirates who had their lives on the line only took a few minutes.

　It wasn't that they were particularly efficient, but rather that the pumpkin carriage was moving too fast. If they hesitated even a moment longer, they figured they wouldn't be able to catch a whiff of its exhaust.

　Suddenly, a swarm of "ice fish" appeared in front of the pumpkin carriage. Each "ice fish" was two or three meters long, and the largest "ice fish" was flying in the center, roughly estimated to be at least ten meters long.

　Some of the "ice fish" were ridden by bandits. But the vast majority of the "ice fish" were driven there.

　On top of that enormous ten-meter-long "ice fish," the leader of this group of air pirates stood arrogantly atop its head, fiercely waving down his scarlet flag.

　"on!"

　The air pirate leader suddenly roared. The school of fish scattered slightly.

　At the rider's command, the "Ice Fish" in the center conjured a hard, icy head, attempting to force the flying creature to a stop by a head-on collision.

　Meanwhile, the "ice fish" on both sides conjured sharp fins and pounced at an even faster speed.

　The pumpkin carriage was instantly surrounded.

　But even Aurora, inside the carriage, only frowned slightly as she looked at the crystal ball.

　The professors remained completely unresponsive. Darker simply sighed slightly.