Magic Card Era: Infinite Deck Enhancement — Chapter 124

Chapter 124: Madam, I Declare My Love For You!

‘Madam?’

Staring at the peerless enchantress standing before him, the word nearly slipped past Luke’s lips. Her cascading silver hair and crimson eyes were a staggering ninety-nine percent match to Irisviel von Einzbern from the Fate series. Fortunately, he managed to bite his tongue at the very last second. He knew perfectly well that the stunning woman gracing this room was absolutely not the Holy Grail’s vessel.

Across the space between them, the Night Queen, Yue Nishang, was conducting her own quiet appraisal.

In person, the young man possessed a striking, youthful magnetism that the broadcast screens had failed to capture. Yet, to a woman of her standing, mere physical appeal was trivial. She cared for the raw, unpolished diamond of his inner potential—the terrifying talent he had unleashed during the College Entrance Examination.

What truly caught her off guard was his cultivation. During the exam, the overseers had focused on his tactical brilliance, but now, standing face-to-face, Nishang could clearly read his aura.

An Eight-Star Commander!

To an Undying Realm master like herself, an Eight-Star Commander was no different from a speck of dust. In the face of the Undying Realm, the distinctions between Commander, Monarch, King, Emperor, Sovereign, and even Immortal were utterly meaningless. However, for a candidate fresh out of the Eastern Region’s exams, this level of power was monstrously abnormal.

If her memory served her right, when Meng Ningdie took the exam years ago, she had only reached the Five-Star Commander Realm. That was already considered a generational benchmark, perhaps a notch above this year’s prodigies like Shangguan Wan’er and Meng Chuyun. But compared to Luke? The gap of three stars within the Commander Realm was a chasm that perfectly illustrated the terrifying disparity in their talents.

“Ahem.” Seeing the boy frozen in place, Cang Fenghua let out a deliberate cough. A flash of anxiety crossed the City Lord’s eyes; he was terrified that Luke’s stunned silence would leave a poor impression on the Night Queen.

The sound snapped Luke back to reality. He drew in a slow, steadying breath, finally processing the sheer, suffocating presence of the woman before him. She was an absolute enchantress, a fairy descended to the mortal plane.

Only then did his gaze shift to the figure standing obediently behind her. It was a young woman who balanced on the delicate edge between youthful innocence and mature elegance. Her features were flawless, easily surpassing the likes of Wan’er and the others. Anywhere else, she would be hailed as a dream goddess, the sweetheart of millions. Yet, standing in the shadow of this world-ruining enchantress, her brilliance was entirely eclipsed.

Thank god it isn’t Illya standing back there, Luke thought dryly. Otherwise, I’d seriously suspect I woke up in Fuyuki City.

“Luke, allow me to handle the introductions.” As the guests moved deeper into the room and took their seats, Fenghua stepped forward with practiced tact. “This is our Eastern Region Lord. The Night Queen, Lady Yue Nishang.”

Though Fenghua was a City Lord, in this room, he was little more than a glorified receptionist. He didn’t dare harbor a single complaint. But the moment that title left his lips, Luke’s pupils contracted sharply.

The Night Queen!

As a Magic Card Master native to the Eastern Region, it was impossible not to know that name. He just hadn’t expected this peerlessly graceful woman—this absolute dead ringer for Irisviel—to be the sole known Undying Realm powerhouse guarding their entire territory.

More, he hadn’t expected the apex predator of their region to show up at his doorstep so soon. Glancing at the heavy, dark circles under Fenghua’s eyes, everything suddenly made perfect sense.

“And beside her is Dream Consort Meng, Meng Ningdie,” Fenghua continued, gesturing to the beautiful girl. “She is currently Lady Night Queen’s only student, and an esteemed instructor at Tianfu Academy.”

While the Dream Consort’s title didn’t carry the world-ending weight of the Night Queen’s, she was still a figure of immense nobility to the masses.

“To be completely honest, this lineup is a bit overwhelming.” Luke exhaled slowly, forcing his racing heart to settle. He met the Undying Realm master’s gaze. “I have to wonder why Lady Night Queen has sought me out personally.”

With the Eastern Region Lord holding court, Fenghua wisely melted into the background. Nishang was a titan, a being so far removed from the mortal coil that she felt more like a myth than a person. Luke respected her strength, but he wasn’t the type to trip over his own tongue in a panic. The real question was why she had come to him, rather than summoning him to her.

“You don’t seem particularly surprised by my identity,” Nishang murmured. Her voice was a slow, lazy drawl that dripped with an innate, intoxicating charm.

Hiss. She was a walking disaster, a woman sculpted from head to toe to bewitch the souls of men. That single, velvety tone was enough to instantly overshadow every woman Luke had ever met. The most terrifying part? She wasn’t doing it on purpose. This was just her natural speaking voice. If a man listened to her for too long, he would inevitably lose his mind and spill his deepest secrets without a second thought.

“It’s not exactly that,” Luke replied, shaking his head. “It’s just that the distance between ordinary people and Lady Night Queen is too vast. When the gap is that wide, seeing you in person doesn’t trigger a sense of shock. It just feels surreal.”

He offered a faint smile. “Take Cangling City, for example. Everyone knows Lord Cang is the City Lord. He’s a topic of casual gossip over tea. But if the City Lord suddenly knocked on a commoner’s door unannounced, and they realized he looked just like any ordinary, greasy middle-aged man… what kind of deep thoughts could they possibly have?”

Off to the side, Cang Fenghua suddenly felt a phantom chill run down his spine, a faint sense of malice that left him deeply confused.

“A very unique perspective.” Nishang blinked in mild surprise before a soft, devastating smile bloomed on her lips. “Most say that seeing is believing, that witnessing greatness breeds awe. I didn’t expect you to argue that absolute distance neutralizes it.”

Her smile was casual, yet it radiated a lethal seduction. If she had been born an ordinary woman with such world-ruining beauty, her life would have been a tragic nightmare. Fortunately, she was the Eastern Region Lord. Anyone foolish enough to harbor dark designs toward the Night Queen had long since become fertilizer for the weeds on their own graves.

“I watched your performance during the exams,” Nishang said, her tone shifting smoothly from playful to precise. “You are the only young person I cannot see through.”

Hearing the Region Lord evaluate Luke so highly sent a jolt of shock through both Ningdie and Fenghua.

“Should I take that as a compliment?” Luke asked, shrugging lightly.

“That depends entirely on how you interpret it.” Nishang leaned forward slightly, her beautiful, peach-blossom eyes locking onto his with sharp intrigue. She didn’t bother with pleasantries; her Undying Realm strength afforded her the luxury of absolute directness. “Your talent is exceptional. It may very well reach a height that others cannot even comprehend. Therefore, I want to take you as my student.”

Though Fenghua had guessed her intentions before they even arrived, hearing the formal offer out loud still made his blood boil with excitement.

A student of the Eastern Region Lord! For years, Ningdie had been the only one, and her acceptance had sent shockwaves across the entire Ancient Kingdom. If Cangling City could produce the second, it would be a monumental rise to glory. Compared to this, taking first place in the exams was trivial. A new champion was crowned every year, but an Undying Realm master’s disciple was a once-in-a-lifetime anomaly.

Refuse? Only a lunatic would refuse. Luke was no lunatic. If the Night Queen hadn’t been sitting right there, Fenghua might have actually jumped into the air and cheered.

“Ahem.” Luke cleared his throat, looking directly at the peerless enchantress. He didn’t reject her, but his immediate response nearly gave the City Lord a heart attack. “So, Teacher… do I get a greeting gift?”