Show Them a Fierce One - chapter 7

Anuo was full of energy on his first day as Guidance Senior.

Rarely, he got up early this Saturday, and at the break of dawn, greeted the morning sun and began to write-slowly-at the curved sliding desk in his Dormitory.

Although his motivation was high, objectively, he simply couldn’t go fast.

Fortunately, Anuo had always been a loyal follower of the theory “Nothing in the world is difficult if you’re willing to give up.” After being slow for a hundred and eighty years, anyone would get used to it. Besides, in a way, Anuo actually enjoyed the leisurely pace; the scenery seen from a slow train has its own unique charm, doesn’t it?

The Morning Star atop the highest point of the Sky Fortress sparkled, and the whole world was still in tranquil silence.

While recalling how, fifty years ago, when he first entered the academy, the Elven Senior Sister had taught him everything, Anuo picked up the experience he’d gained in his previous life working at a major internet company and drew a neat OKR table in his Magic Diary. He even thoughtfully made an explanatory note about what OKR was.

OKR, that is, Objectives and Key Results, is a method for setting goals and tracking key outcomes. Simply put, it’s a system that helps track project progress and assists employees in completing their work within set parameters. Many big companies use it.

Anuo treated guiding his Guidance Junior to adapt to life at the Sky Fortress as a new project to be completed.

There were milestones, indicators, and data-driven feedback loops. If Ludwig was willing, they could even have a brief weekly group meeting in the future to review any issues encountered while advancing the project, ensuring product iteration and optimization.

“Could you please explain it again in language I can understand?” Ludwig stood at the Dormitory door at nine in the morning, dressed in a satin waistcoat and holding his pink-gold Magic Diary, a rare trace of confusion in his eyes. His intelligence was enough for him to keenly realize that the Prince Brother had proposed a very interesting and useful work method, but his first contact with the non-human jargon of big companies wasn’t enough for him to decipher this code.

It took Anuo a moment to realize that he’d gotten carried away making tables, completely immersed in his previous life as a forced corporate drone, and had come up with something rather odd. Even with an explanatory note, it wasn’t OK; he needed to make an explanatory note for the explanatory note.

“No rush, let’s take it slow. After all, there are still two days before the official start of term.” The Demon Race youth with purple eyes still looked as gentle and agreeable as ever, but had already, almost unconsciously, taken control of the conversation’s pace. He first summoned his frameless glasses from his room with his Staff, then led Anuo downstairs for breakfast.

Meals at the Dormitory were at fixed times, and usually everyone ate together with the Dormitory Supervisor. But since term hadn’t started yet, students who arrived early had more freedom.

When Anuo and Ludwig went down to the first-floor dining hall, it was just the two of them.

After sitting at the table covered with a checkered cloth, plates and cutlery bearing the Sky Fortress crest automatically appeared before them. On the plate, besides a napkin folded into a crown shape, was a breakfast menu listing what the cook could offer that day.

Anuo promptly played the Memory Crystal in his hand, which contained a pre-recorded memory. The beautiful Elven Senior Sister, with short blue hair gentler than the sea, had sat in the same spot fifty years ago and patiently explained to Anuo: “Just tick what you like and put it back on the plate. The dishes change daily, cycling every month, and each quarter brings a batch of seasonal specials. Personally, I recommend an ounce of eggnog on weekend mornings.”

Eggnog, as the name suggests, is a Cocktail made with fresh milk and brandy or rum, very low in alcohol and especially sweet. It’s usually popular in December, the Month of Rebirth, as a festive drink.

But…

“I want to drink it on ordinary days. If you don’t like it, let the sheriff arrest me.” The Elven Senior Sister said with great character.

Actually, the Elven Senior Sister had a second half to her sentence-wait, I just remembered you’re still underage, so just drink sweet milk and behave.

As a result, Anuo had never tasted eggnog, but today was different; he had risen up, and as the Guidance Senior…

Ludwig had already selected the breakfast drinks for both of them: one sweet milk, one freshly squeezed orange juice. Anuo could have whichever he liked; Ludwig would take the other.

Anuo: “…” I suspect you’re bullying me for being slow, but I have no proof.

Soon, as the breakfast menu disappeared, a sumptuous breakfast appeared on their plates. While slowly spreading butter on his sliced bagel, Anuo formally began explaining to Ludwig how to use OKR, giving an example based on their schedule for the day.
Today’s Tasks:

P1: Get familiar with the Dormitory.
P2: Tour the main areas of the Sky Fortress.
P3: Identify the locations of classrooms for each subject, as well as the main Training Grounds for magic.

Current Status:

Goal: Adapt to the daily routine of life at the Sky Fortress as quickly as possible.

Key Result 1: Understand all time points in the Dormitory schedule. (Progress 20%: Breakfast details known.)
Key Result 2: Get familiar with all transportation methods within the Sky Fortress. (0/3)
Key Result 3: Unlock important locations needed for study and daily life. (0.5/10)

Future Plans:

Visit surrounding towns.
Select courses.
Sign up for interest clubs.
Learn about the major fraternities/clubs/orders.
…etc.

Status Indicators:

No delay risk for any project at the moment.

The Magic Diary that Anuo gave to Ludwig actually comes in a set of two-one for Ludwig, one for Anuo. No matter which book you write in, the writing is flawlessly replicated in the other. Originally, it was a magical item for noble boys and girls to express their feelings, but when Anuo was preparing his OKRs this morning, he suddenly thought of another use for it.

Isn’t this just like a work report app?

He drew a task flowchart on it, assigning responsibilities and clarifying objectives. Every time and place, whether it was him or Ludwig, what they should be doing, was written out clearly and plainly.

For example, right now, after breakfast, they should adjust the initial arrangements on the task flowchart to better suit themselves-after all, Ludwig surely has his own plans.

Ludwig, wiping his mouth with a napkin, quickly realized after digesting the whole workflow that this might be something useful for managing the Demon Race.

This Elf Prince Brother does have some ideas.

He did have other plans originally, as busy as the Elven Queen herself, but he briefly changed his mind. He wanted to personally test the efficiency of Anuo’s workflow.

Anuo was truly working hard to be a good Guidance Senior. He mapped out a very reasonable route that would allow them to visit all the task objectives without doubling back.

The first stop was to get to know the Dormitory where they lived.

This was a classic Gothic building made of red brick and oak, with spires, arched gates, and flying buttresses visible at a glance. Four floors above ground, two below, with a lawn in front and a pool in back. The Dormitory was located at the center of the residential area, making it convenient to go anywhere; it was only a ten to fifteen minute walk to the academic area.

The Oak Tree Dormitory was theoretically able to house fifty people, but in reality, only thirty-seven lived there. Everyone had a single suite with a private bath, and shared several common areas for study and entertainment. For example, there was a basement laboratory perfect for magic research.

The Dormitory had a Dormitory Supervisor, two assistants, and five Attendants, providing all sorts of convenient help for students’ study and daily life.

Anuo spoke a bit slowly, so he used a Memory Crystal throughout, relying on the recollections of the blue-haired Elven Senior Sister to introduce the Dormitory to both of them. The Oak Tree Dormitory Supervisor was also a Long-lived Species, holding her position for decades, while assistants and Attendants changed regularly. Anuo had prepared a list of corresponding portraits and names.

Using a Magic Pen.

It truly was a great invention. Ever since the Magic Pen was created, Anuo rarely wrote by hand anymore, much like modern people typing on keyboards. Only his sister, the iron-willed Oath River Queen, would order him to use a Dip Pen personally for a whole year. How cruel and unreasonable!

The tour of the Dormitory ended quickly, and they finally stepped out of the ancient building carved with plants and flowers.

Elven architecture is always full of Tree of Life worship. No matter who their main deity is, they all regard the Kabbalah Tree of Life as their mother-and who wouldn’t love their own mother?

After leaving the Dormitory, Anuo led Ludwig on foot to the Magic Shop to buy study supplies. It was right next to their Dormitory, and even at Anuo’s pace, it only took three to five minutes to walk there. There were many branches throughout the school, since the entire Sky Fortress was so vast, like a microcosm of society.

The Elven Senior Sister’s recorded voice began to play at just the right time: “Here, you can buy almost everything you need for study-Dip Pens, Parchment, Magic Array Round Corner Rulers. If you can think of it, you can buy it here. Your Highness, did you bring your own Potion Vessel? They have those too, though they probably don’t match your aesthetic preferences.”
What is Anuo’s aesthetic? Naturally, it’s things that are flashy but impractical. Everything here is far too conventional-never mind colorful magical special effects, there isn’t even the most basic gemstone inlaying.

But the advantage is that the goods are affordable and you can buy on credit to a certain extent, using credits as IOUs.

Anuo led Ludwig to first purchase a Magic Map of Sky Fortress School. It was a very simple map: it couldn’t plan routes or give voice directions, but it could show you the entire campus at any time, and where you were on the map. At this moment, Anuo and Ludwig were standing at the entrance of the “Lamplighter’s Button” Magic Shop.

Anuo stood at the door, holding up a pre-written signboard to ask Ludwig-[Do you need to buy anything else?]

Ludwig looked at the simple map in his hand. This was a novelty he hadn’t seen three hundred years ago, though even if it had existed back then, he probably wouldn’t have bought it-his gold coins always had to be spent where they mattered most. Now, however, he had received it for free, thanks to his enthusiastic Guidance Senior. Even if it was three hundred years late, Ludwig still felt rather pleased.

“Yes, I have quite a few things to buy. I hope you can wait for me a bit.”

Anuo nodded, feeling quite proud of himself. He let Ludwig try shopping on his own, while he sat on the bench outside the shop and began revising the OKRs in his notebook.

-Key Result 3: Unlock important places needed for study and life. (2/10)

-Walking (√) School Map (√) Lamplighter’s Button (√)

Before long, the cloaked Demon Race student came out, surprisingly efficient. It looked like he hadn’t bought much, but in fact, he’d bought everything he could, even though he was only back to retake Classical Music Appreciation and had no use for most of it. His revenge spending was very clear, and he used the House of Asmodeus’s money without a hint of regret.

Anuo was already waiting by the carriage.

Yes, their school was so large that students with the means were allowed to ride carriages within the campus.

Anuo’s new carriage was a birthday gift from his sister Salamander last year: a silver-white body, Baroque-style design, with the shield emblem of the Elven Empire inlaid on the body using fine woodwork, and a dazzling statue carved at the rear, blessed by both the Goddess of Nature and the God of Light. On the roof was a gemstone butterfly symbolizing Prince Brother Anuolaide, its wings shimmering with iridescent light as if truly alive. It could be called a masterpiece of contemporary art.

Although his sister always said his taste was strange, Anuo simply adored it. Over the past year, he often looked for opportunities to show it off at school-and if there weren’t any, he’d make them.

This was the second mode of transportation they needed to experience today.

Anuo deliberately waited by the carriage for a while, ready for Ludwig’s reaction and mentally prepared for him to have no appreciation for it. But…

Ludwig looked at the sparkling carriage and sincerely thought that he should get one for the Demon Race as well.

Strangely, Anuo’s mood improved even more. After they boarded the carriage, Anuo used pre-made Q&A cards to conduct a brief rapid-fire quiz with Ludwig. Of course, Anuo still didn’t speak; he only showed the cards. The questions were all about the activities they’d already done today, like how to order breakfast or use the map.

When Ludwig passed with full marks, Anuo happily gave him a Lamplighter’s Button.

This was a real Lamplighter’s Button. Anuo had once helped a Lamplighter at school with a small favor, and the person had taken the button off their uniform and given it to him on the spot. As everyone knows, touching a Lamplighter’s Button brings good luck.

“May-the God of Light-bless you.” The beautiful Elf smiled like a free bird, with colorful feathers and a vast sky.

“Thank you.” Ludwig accepted the button with a smile, though his eyes lowered as he thought, although I doubt the God of Light would bless a scheming Demon Race. Not that I need it, anyway.