Chapter Sixty-Three: Steaming Warmth

After lunch, Louis escorted Helen back, thoughtfully leaving her a list of books to read whenever she had time. On his way back to the office, Louis’s eyes flickered with surprise as he lifted his head, gazing through countless walls and floors toward his office. There, he observed several male Foxes and human wizards sneaking into his office right under his nose, pilfering a few of his belongings.

Louis deliberately lingered outside, waiting until the group of wizards had finished their theft before returning to his office. As expected, it wasn’t long before a series of curses began to descend upon him.

Most of these curses were mischievous in nature, but their malice was unmistakable. At that moment, Louis was lounging on the balcony in an old man’s rocking chair, basking in the sunlight, when he suddenly felt an itch all over his body. After scratching himself, he opened his eyes and looked toward certain areas within the Academic City, seeing the distant scenes with perfect clarity.

It seemed to be the Foxes’ lounge for repeating students. The troublemakers of the Fox clan had all gathered there.

He took out a crystal ball and cast a prophecy spell. Instantly, the identities of those who had cast spells on him appeared within the crystal. Louis stood and walked to his desk, making a list of the curses and their casters.

Louis wasn’t in a hurry to retaliate, as the curses lacked imagination. He waited patiently, eventually encountering a few truly wicked scoundrels, the worst of whom was a tall, handsome wizard—apparently named Bob. His skills were impressive; he actually mastered the Mind-Bending Curse, which had quite an amusing effect—within minutes, he’d be compelled to eat Oreos publicly in the dining hall.

Louis obliged him.

Next, Louis drew a voodoo doll from his sleeve and pinched it, transforming it into a fragile porcelain figure that looked exceptionally cute—like something Helen would own.

He then fanned out the dolls across the left side of his desk, pulling them to the right like a deck of cards, producing an entire row of porcelain dolls. Picking up one, he released it; it crashed to the floor and shattered instantly.

Had Harold been present, his jaw would have surely dropped in astonishment.

Counting the number of dolls, Louis nodded with satisfaction, then, matching his list of names and spells, tapped each doll with his wand.

Today, he would give these troublemakers a proper lesson—teach them what true wizardry was all about.

Once finished, Louis checked the time and began his afternoon rest.

...

After Bob had completed his machinations in secret, he found that his Mind-Bending Curse had taken effect. Brimming with confidence, he returned to the lounge with his entourage. Seeing Miss Lilith forcing a smile while conversing with everyone, Bob felt a pang in his heart.

He closed his eyes, drew a few deep breaths, and when he opened them again, his face was radiant with a sunny smile.

Sitting at the central table of the lounge, Bob became the focal point, surrounded by friends listening to stories told by Lilith and the others.

Yet, Bob and his companions felt a chill in their hearts.

He didn’t know what that man had done, but Bob could see that the young ladies’ eyes were red, and their behavior was odd.

They avoided sitting in chairs, walked with a limp, and, most distressing to Bob, spoke with hoarse voices, bearing marks on their wrists and ankles—remnants of self-imposed restraints and upside-down bindings by the little Foxes themselves.

“Actually, it was just a beating, then some dancing, and in front of Helen we rode... cough, cough, don’t overthink it, really.” Seeing Bob’s eyes blazing, Xenia hurriedly added, “Don’t tell anyone I told you; Lilith is a bit embarrassed…”

With that, Xenia turned away to wipe her tears—what’s there to be embarrassed about? I was the first to ride a unicycle in front of Helen!

You all rode tricycles!

When I tossed the ball, I was even praised, but none of you did as well... boohoo.

Thinking of this, Xenia nearly burst into tears, covering her mouth and turning aside.

Bob and the others felt a sudden jolt in their hearts.

...

Lilith, who was recounting tales of the office skirmishes at the table, heard the whispers and shot Xenia a glare, then forced a smile at Bob: “It was just a beating, nothing serious. That boy not only knows mirror magic but is frighteningly strong. When he charged… hiss… Xenia, get me a cushion, my backside’s bruised… why are you all looking at me like that? He ran into me! Ran into me!”

Bob closed his eyes in anguish. When he reopened them, flames of hatred blazed in his eyes beneath a twisted smile.

Seeing Lilith’s pale face and forced smile, Bob’s heart was wracked with pain!

She’s still hiding the truth from me…

How could it have been just a beating, some dancing, riding a unicycle, and ball tossing?!

You’re not circus monkeys!

At the very least, shouldn’t there have been a striptease? Those who owe debts usually perform like that in this lounge, don’t they?

Witch Madness, indeed…

No need to say it—I already know.

No rush; this is just an appetizer. In the afternoon, Daniel and his four companions would return—they were involved with Xenia and the others, and this matter would not be allowed to rest.

We’ve always been the ones tormenting others; never has anyone dared humiliate us!

The disciples of Osyclis… This time, we must properly confront this reckless upstart!

Suddenly, Bob felt perhaps it was time to eat—he wasn’t hungry, but surely Lilith and the others were?

“Come on, everyone, let’s go to lunch. There’ll be a good show in the dining hall soon.” With a wink at his goddess, Miss Lilith, Bob led the way.

Bob’s antics were well-known among the gentlemen; after his remark, they exchanged meaningful glances and burst into hearty laughter—clearly, someone was in for misfortune today.

We’ve always bullied others; who would dare provoke the Foxes?

No matter what, after watching the performance, the ladies would surely be cheered up.

The gentlemen exchanged mysterious looks, leaving the ladies a little confused.

“My dear Miss Lilith, let’s go to the dining hall.” Bob made a gentlemanly gesture, looking at the pure lotus of his heart, feeling his soul purified: “Soon, the hot food will be gone.”

...

It was already past noon. Most dishes had been served, and the remaining students and wizards had taken their seats.

Since only a few dining halls remained open during the holidays, the restaurant was packed, with no seats left.

But the Foxes seemed not to notice, chatting as they headed for the best spot in the center of the hall. Seeing such a formidable group approach, most people promptly lowered their heads and vacated their seats. Only a few gluttonous Yordles remained, unaware, feasting away.

Thanks to the gentlemen’s witty banter and the ladies’ admiration, Lilith and her friends’ moods had improved somewhat, but upon spotting the Yordles and goblins, they couldn’t help but frown.

The sight of the Yordles reminded them of those tricycles!

“These ugly gnomes are getting more and more insolent,” one of the gentlemen said, noticing Lilith’s frown and sounding displeased.

Several burly Fox wizards went up and slapped the Yordles on the head, one after another. Bob cast a few prank spells, causing the poor creatures to stagger like drunken clowns, clutching their heads, dancing a tap routine, stripping off their clothes, and running away, bawling with bare bottoms.

As they left, they shouted threats: “Just you wait until after hours, boohoo, I’ll get my boss, see if you dare leave after work!”

Their threats were fierce, but their legs moved even faster. Seeing the Foxes ready to escalate, they vanished in a flash.

Witnessing this comical scene, Miss Lilith finally broke into a genuine smile.

...

“These little brats are getting bolder by the day. Do they really think they deserve these seats?”

“If not for the ladies needing to dine soon, I’d have forced them to drink dung soup again and hung them outside for a night to teach them a lesson.”

Amid the hubbub, some had taken their seats, while a few Foxes headed to the kitchen. The kitchen staff and Yordle cooks had been resting, but seeing the bullies, dared not protest and prepared new dishes.

As food was brought out and the Foxes began to eat, Bob felt something was missing.

“Bob, what’s today’s mysterious show all about?” a plump girl whispered, “It’s not just hanging goblin clowns upside down or making Yordles ride unicycles again, is it?”

These cruel pranks had long been a source of public amusement, but they’d grown stale.

The comment jogged Bob’s memory.

“Secrets mustn’t be revealed.” Bob smiled mysteriously, then told everyone, “I’ll ask the staff to prepare some new dishes in the kitchen. You all start eating.”

He patted Lilith’s shoulder and went to the restroom.

Seeing Bob’s gentlemanly attentiveness, everyone smiled knowingly. The ladies, buoyed by the gentlemen’s humor, gradually felt their spirits lift.

For a moment, the table was warm and lively. Many Foxes who had secretly cast curses today became the life of the party.

Amidst the merriment, Lilith and the others forgot the day’s unpleasantness.

‘We’ll discuss things when Daniel and his group return this afternoon. Only his magic can counter that guy’s trick.’ With this thought, Lilith ground her teeth.

Everyone was getting hungry, new dishes were arriving, and though Bob hadn’t returned yet, the table was growing more animated.

But when a certain figure swaggered in, carrying a steaming iron tray, and took a seat, the whole hall fell silent.

“Something smells, doesn’t it?” Lilith, chewing bacon, wrinkled her nose and sniffed the air, “What’s that smell? Xenia, do you smell it?”

Xenia nodded blankly, stunned. Lilith followed her gaze and was dumbfounded.

“Eat, eat, don’t just sit there. Come, Miss Lilith, have a piece.”

Bob, wiping black chocolate from his mouth, enthusiastically shared food with everyone. The tray was piled high with Oreos, his mouth stuffed and face smeared with them.

Ignoring the odd looks, he grinned bizarrely at Lilith, then bent his head and devoured the cookies. The elegant Fox gentlemen who’d cast curses that day suddenly leaped onto the table, dropped their trousers, and squatted. Someone even squatted next to Bob.

“I’ve brought extra snacks for everyone, hahaha... bang, bang, bang...”

Many onlookers retched and staggered out, while students at nearby tables vomited onto their plates. But the usually bullied Yordles and goblins covered their mouths, snickering.

The whole dining hall was thrown into chaos.

Staring at the surreal scene, Lilith and the others gaped—the men were all under the Mind-Bending Curse!

Suddenly, they remembered who it was that these troublemakers had provoked.