The Rich Cultivator
Chapter 217. Class

Chapter 217: 217. Class

"Miss Astrid, you are a natural genius in Array Making. Shall we go for a cup of coffee after class? I’d love to share some insights on Array work with you." A hopeful young man in a pristine white and purple-striped uniform lingered beside Astrid, his tone trying to sound casual yet betraying his eagerness.

Astrid, seated comfortably in the classroom, barely glanced up. She was preoccupied, browsing through virtual resources on her VR glasses, which looked like a sleek pair of regular frames but housed a full network interface. Controlled by her divine sense, the glasses let her manage any data she needed with no hand gestures or visible movement. The glasses themselves were a luxury most students could only dream of owning, yet Tyler had bought them for her without a second thought. For him, there was never a question of cost when it came to supporting his crew.

Among her peers, Astrid’s noble demeanor, half-angel heritage, and rumored high status had led to quite a few admirers, both in and outside her classes. And though she was used to the attention by now, she found it more amusing than flattering.

"Sorry. Not interested," she replied flatly, her tone enough to freeze the poor young man’s hopes on the spot.

He hesitated, visibly thrown off. Rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, he managed to stammer, "Uh... may I ask who you’re interested in, then?" His voice attempted a casual laugh, but the slight tremor betrayed his nerves.

"Of course, it’s me," came a confident voice from behind him.

The young man turned around and found himself face-to-face with Tyler White, who stood just a few feet away, arms crossed and smiling as if he’d been there all along.

"Tyler White?" The young man muttered his name with a mixture of frustration and resignation. Shoulders slumping, he backed away with a sheepish nod, heading to his seat without another word.

Tyler had earned quite a reputation in the Department of Technology for his extraordinary skills with Arrays and Runes, skills that bordered on the revolutionary. Even among upperclassmen, his presence was respected, sometimes feared. Coupled with his remarkable wealth and easygoing attitude, Tyler was not a student most dared to challenge. He freely attended advanced training classes reserved for seniors and often impressed his instructors, making him even more popular.

"You’re as popular as ever," Tyler remarked, taking the seat beside Astrid with a smirk.

"Look who’s talking," Astrid replied, her gaze sliding over to a group of girls across the room, who were openly admiring Tyler with lovestruck expressions.

Their exchange was interrupted as everyone’s devices pinged with a sudden notification. A message appeared on their screens:

"[Attention: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Professor Ray is on leave, and today’s Master Level Array class is canceled.]"

"Oh, that’s disappointing," Tyler said with a mock sigh, turning to Astrid. "Want to go grab a coffee?"

Astrid smiled and nodded. "Sure."

The young nobleman, still lingering near the door, overheard the exchange and nearly tripped over his own feet as he left, muttering something about "luck" and "undeserved" under his breath.

---

The hallways of the academy bustled with students and instructors as Tyler and Astrid left the classroom, walking side-by-side. The academy was an expansive, multi-storied building that housed countless classrooms, labs, and lounges, blending technology with classical architecture in a way that felt both timeless and futuristic.

"So, since when did you become the one I am interested in?" Astrid asked, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

"Isn’t that even better?" Tyler shrugged, grinning back. "Now they’ll stay away."

Astrid raised an eyebrow, nodding. "I guess. They do tend to keep their distance when I’m with certain people."

"Certain people? Who could be scarier than me?" Tyler joked, feigning a dramatic gasp.

"Of course, me!" a cheerful voice piped up from behind, and suddenly, Mathilda’s arms were around their shoulders, squeezing them playfully.

Tyler wrinkled his nose, taking a sniff. "You smell like potions."

Mathilda, dressed in a slightly stained lab coat, flashed a mischievous grin. The faint scent of herbs and arcane potions clung to her clothes. "The labs here are amazing! I’ve been trying out so many new formulas—it’s a dream come true! Also there are lot of things I am learning."

Tyler chuckled. "Well, just don’t forget the Life potion. Remember that it is a Billions Of Lydia project."

Mathilda’s grin shifted to a determined expression. "As I’ve said before, I need a proper lab. The academy’s setup is great, but I need something even more specialized if I’m going to make real progress on it."

"Well, hang in there until next semester," Tyler said with a slight shrug. "I heard a certain news about our branch academy. If it happens then don’t worry about the lab and stuffs."

Tyler said confidently.

"Oh, speaking of classes," Astrid interjected, "after coffee, we’re going to history class."

Tyler and Mathilda groaned in perfect unison. "Not history..."

"Yes, history," Astrid replied, with a firm nod that brooked no argument. Her dedication to her studies was something they unexpected she is surprisingly strict and diligent when it comes to this kind of things. Though history class wasn’t a required class for their department, Astrid had a habit of dragging them along for every lecture, believing it added depth to their other studies. Reluctantly, Tyler and Mathilda exchanged glances before nodding.

---

The history classroom was buzzing with conversation as they found their seats. Their teacher, a dignified, silver-haired elf with a scholarly air, stood at the front, adjusting his glasses as he prepared his notes. The lecture began with the familiar, sonorous tone the elf always used.

"In the north, there were once two great continents: Valaria and Ixia," he started, his voice resonant. "But when the first Abyss erupted, Valaria fractured into countless fragments, scattering over the oceans. For centuries, the Abyss has relentlessly encroached upon Ixia, nearly breaking it as well. But through a heroic effort, many brave immortals and practitioners came together to mend the broken land and seal the Abyss. The surviving continent came to be known as Ixalaria."

Tyler stifled a yawn, the lecture’s slow pace and intricate details beginning to blur together. The teacher continued, undeterred. "Today, academies, sects, and other organizations maintain a watch over the Abyss, each working to suppress its dark influence. Even some of you students have completed some Abyss Demon suppression task, right? Can anyone explain what an Abyss Passage is?"

The teacher’s gaze settled on Tyler, catching him just as he was halfway through another yawn. Blinking, Tyler quickly straightened up and responded, "An Abyss Passage is a spatial rift, formed in the upper layers of the Abyss, that connects to other realms and worlds at random. For some reason, these passages only seem to open in the north."

The teacher nodded, a faint smile crossing his face. "Correct, Mr. White. Though, please try to suppress those yawns during my lectures."

Several students chuckled as Tyler gave an embarrassed scratch of his head.

Mathilda leaned over, whispering to him with a grin, "Hey, the girl with the thigh-high boots is staring at you. Think you could introduce her to me?"

Tyler rolled his eyes, clicking his tongue. "How about no?"

But Tyler also took a peek at the girl. The girl blushed and turned away. She has cute rabbit ears. Her legs are the main attraction.

"Maybe... I should introduce myself." Mathilda whispered.

Just then, his watch buzzed, and Tyler glanced down to see a message from Lily: [I found the target.]

A spark of interest lit up Tyler’s eyes. The elusive signal from his enchanted copper pot—a resonance he’d been trying to track down for months—was finally within reach. Now, it seemed like Lily had located the source of the anomaly.

As class wrapped up, Tyler made his way to the academy’s common area with Astrid and Mathilda. They found a quiet corner in the student lounge, where Tyler could read Lily’s message in more detail. The lounges were bustling with activity, but the area they’d chosen was near a stained-glass window that cast colorful light over the cushioned seats and small tables, offering them a bit of privacy.

"Tf... I’ve been searching for a clue for six months, and she found the person in just two days," Tyler muttered as he messaged Lily to come over.

"Lily onee-sama is scary as always," Mathilda remarked, with Astrid nodding in agreement.

"You haven’t managed to touch Lily onee-sama yet, right?" Tyler asked, smiling.

"So what? You’re just as bad. I mean, every girl in the crew is ready, you coward."

Astrid kicked Mathilda’s leg. "Except our angel," Mathilda added with a smirk.

"Why are you even talking about this?" Astrid sighed. These people are always so... incorrigible.

Tyler shrugged.

"To drag you down into the pit with us," Mathilda whispered mischievously.

Astrid clicked her tongue and put on her VR glasses, though a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.