A stinky cultivator has arrived in the magic world.

Chapter 22 The Cat-like Senior and the Grumpy Broom

After calling out twice, a cat's head popped out from the statue, looking alert. When it saw it was Lorne, it lazily shrank back.

"Senior, I need your help with something," Lorne called out.

"No time." The cat's mouth didn't move, but its voice drifted down lazily: "I'm meditating."

Lorne glanced at its sprawled-out sleeping posture, remained silent for a moment, and knew that this cat was no ordinary cat. Worldly things could no longer move it; now, only academic credits were its sole desire. So he decided to get straight to the point:

"I can help you earn academic credits."

The cat's ears twitched, and one ear stood up:

"How many?"

"That depends on how much you want, senior."

Lorne said:

"Your credits are still negative this academic year, right? If you don't make up for them quickly, you won't even graduate from your second year, let alone advance to your third year. Even if you achieve the level of a novice mage, you won't get a degree, and your magical attainments will be illegal, while I can..."

Before he could finish speaking, Sir Meow Leon interrupted him, finally turning over and perching atop the statue's head, looking down at Lorne with his tail slowly swishing behind him.

"You're just a freshman, not even a magic apprentice, what makes you think you can help me earn credits?"

Lorne was prepared:

"One way to earn credits is by taking on quests, right? I may not have magical skills, but I have brains. If you do me a favor, I can give you ideas for your next three quests, and we'll split the profits 50/50."

Sir Meow Leon narrowed his eyes, recalling Lorne's performance in the intelligence test during the admissions assessment. This brat does have some intelligence; at least he couldn't have come up with such a dirty trick as manipulating a stone to run back and forth in his lower abdomen.

After a long pause, it snorted:

"Yes, but you must first become a magic apprentice. All missions at the academy require at least the skill of a magic apprentice to be accepted; otherwise, your life may be in danger."

Lorne thought this was perfect, and he went along with it:

"Okay, take me to the highest point in the East Ring Road, somewhere we can greet the first rays of dawn. In return, I can help you... with your homework?"

"I can do my homework myself."

"Shall I save you a seat?"

"I don't need to reserve a seat, I'll sit at the table."

"..." Lorne fell silent.

If he were a magic apprentice, he could first go to the place where quests are issued, pick out a few that would attract Sir Meow Leon, and then let those who are willing take the bait.

The problem is that he's a freshman now and can't even get into the mission hall, let alone find the right treatment.

Sir Meow Leon tilted his head and thought for a moment, his tail tip curling slightly:

"Well then, I happen to have a quest at the Dwarven Alchemy Workshop, you might be able to help. As for taking you to the East Ring now, that's not out of the question."

It leaped off the statue, landed lightly, and looked up at Lorne:

"In addition, the task is divided into four and six parts."

"Why don't you just rob it?"

"I'm robbing it!" the cat said matter-of-factly.

Lorne took a deep breath, looked at the opportunistic orange cat, and finally reached out his hand:

"……make a deal."

Meow Leon stretched out his paw and patted his palm with satisfaction:

"Let's go to the highest point in the East Ring Road. I know a clock tower that faces east, which will definitely meet your requirements."

Lorne was overjoyed and quickly followed.

Sir Meow Leon walked to the edge of the steps, raised a paw, and pulled out a short cane from somewhere. He casually drew a circle in the air while muttering something.

Lorne knew that all novice mages and magic apprentices, because their control over the elements was not yet high enough, had to rely on staves to cast spells. As for incantations, that depended on their proficiency with magic. With high proficiency, any spell could be cast instantly, just like Professor Sylvie and Professor Melanie he had seen before.

A faint light flashed, and a clanging sound came from the distant street. Two brooms flew over, one after the other, and landed in front of Meow Leon.

The broom in front was dusty and worn, with a few twigs sticking out and slapping the ground like a raging wild horse.

The second one was much cleaner, with a shiny black handle and a neatly arranged broom head. It hung quietly in mid-air, elegant in posture, like a cold beauty who doesn't like to talk.

"What did you call me out for again?" the grumpy broom spoke, its voice hoarse and rough, cursing and swearing.

"I'm sleeping!"

Lorne thought to himself that this looked like the broom he had seen yesterday.

"Take someone with you to the East Ring Road." Meow Leon raised his paw and pointed at Lorne.

The broom tilted its handle, and the few twigs on the broom head "examined" Lorne, the twigs sticking up:

"Hey, isn't this the kid from yesterday? My wife and I usually don't bring humans with us, but since you helped me out this time, I'll let you sit for a bit."

Lorne ultimately helped him out yesterday.

"Who are you riding? Me or my wife?" The man lashed out, wildly swinging the mop branch.

What kind of outrageous and inhuman language is this?

At that moment, the other broom, which had been silent all along, suddenly let out a clear, cold snort: "Hmph."

The irritable broom immediately bristled:

"What are you humming about! You think you're better than me? You can't even speak properly!"

The broom remained silent, simply drifting leisurely to Lorne's side, its handle tilting slightly as if it had volunteered.

Lorne then straddled the mop, adjusted the gear, and gripped the mop head tightly with both hands. Meow Leon also jumped onto the raging mop and landed on its head.

"Don't hold on so tightly, kid!"

The man lashed out with a broom, yelling, "Don't break my wife's foot! Be gentle! Be gentle! Can't you understand human language?!"

"...You're not human." Lorne muttered under his breath.

"What did you say?!" The broom branch suddenly came at you.

"No, no, it's nothing." Lorne quickly loosened his grip a little.

"Hold on tight!" the broom roared. "I'm not responsible if you fall!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the broom shot out with a "whoosh".

"Holy shit—!"

Lorne felt a gust of cold wind rush into his collar, the entrance to the Great Library receding rapidly into his vision, the whistling wind and the grumbling of a broom filling his ears:

"Get out of the way! You on the mop! What are you doing blocking the road, flying like a snail!"

"Hey you in the white shirt! Don't aim your spells at me! I'm not your practice target!"

"Meow Leon, you stupid cat, you've gained weight again! Did you sneak food from the cafeteria again?!"

"I didn't!" Meow Leon bristled.

Lorne gripped the broom handle tightly, not daring to let go. He thought to himself, this wasn't riding a broom at all; it was more like boarding a runaway carriage with a grumpy coachman.

The broom made a sharp turn in the air above the garden, and Lorne was almost thrown off. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the flowerbeds at his feet flying by like colorful puzzle pieces.

Several older students who were reading on the lawn looked up. Some recognized Meow Leon and gave him the middle finger, while others recognized the broom and silently withdrew their fingers.

"What are you looking at!" the broom yelled down, "Never seen anything fancy before?!"

Lorne decided to change the subject and distract himself from his fear, so he shouted:

"Senior, where are you taking me? Where's the highest point on East Ring Road?"

Miaoli raised her head without turning around, her long fur flowing gracefully in the wind:

"Let's go to the old clock tower number three!"

Old Clock Tower No. 3?

Isn't that one of the three forbidden areas?