Chapter 86: Subtle Advertising

After Vice Principal Jenny finished speaking, nearly every student bowed respectfully toward her projected figure on the crystal screen. A thunderous applause followed, echoing throughout the vast auditorium. It wasn’t just polite courtesy—many of the students were truly stirred, their hearts swelling at the encouragement and blessing from the academy’s leadership.

In their eyes shone a mixture of determination and burning anticipation. They longed for the vice principal’s words to become more than mere formality, to somehow transform into real fortune that would accompany them through the looming examinations.

Of course, not everyone reacted in solemn silence. A few students leaned close to their neighbors, whispering hurriedly in the seats. Their voices carried a nervous tremor, but beneath that nervousness was the restless excitement of young magicians about to showcase their abilities—the chance to prove themselves, to let their skills shine before peers and mentors alike.

Merlin leaned back slightly, letting his gaze sweep over the lively crowd. All around him, students clapped each other on the shoulders, exchanged high fives, and traded words of encouragement. It reminded him strangely of a university sports festival from his previous life, brimming with camaraderie and pre-competition fervor. Odd as it was, the atmosphere was infectious, and Merlin found himself savoring it with an amused smile.

Just as the murmurs and whispers reached their height, the enormous crystal orb suspended above the hall suddenly flickered. The unexpected ripple of light drew countless startled gazes upward. Students exchanged puzzled glances. Shouldn’t this be the moment when the exam officially began? Why was the orb reacting now?

Merlin’s lips curved into that familiar, devil-may-care smirk of his. Ah, finally. The true spectacle he had been waiting for had arrived.

Without warning, a peculiar yet strangely enchanting melody poured forth from the crystal screen, carrying a magical resonance that filled the hall.

“You love me, I love you, Honey Snow Time, sweet as can be~”

“You love me, I love you, Honey Snow Time, sweet as can be~”

The camera on the screen panned slowly, settling in front of a brightly lit shop nestled within the Arcane Academy itself—Honey Snow Time. Through the spotless windows, a shop attendant could be seen carefully preparing a pearl milk tea. The rich, creamy liquid shimmered in the cup, while the black pearls at the bottom rolled and swayed as though beckoning the viewer closer, whispering silently: Taste me.

Suddenly, the cheerful mascot—the plump Snow King—bounced into the frame, his booming voice cheerful and exaggerated: “In Honey Snow Ice City, every pearl leaps with the rhythm of sweetness!”

Immediately, a male narrator’s voice, smooth and magnetic, rose above the music: “Honey Snow Time’s brand-new pearl milk tea! Fresh on the market! For our opening week—buy one, get one free!”

【Purchase one pearl milk tea, and receive a refreshing lemon water for free.】
【Final interpretation belongs to Honey Snow Time Milk Tea Shop.】

A stunned silence swept across the hall. The students gawked at the enormous screen, utterly dumbfounded. What on earth was this… Honey Snow Time?

But not everyone was bewildered. A few students who had already tried the mysterious shop’s pearl milk tea jumped to their feet, shaking their cups with pride. “Look! Right here in my hand—it’s pearl milk tea!” they shouted, flaunting their drinks for all to see.

These, of course, were Merlin’s carefully planted first-year employees. Their task was simple—advertise. Spread the name. Make Honey Snow Time impossible to ignore.

Cackle cackle cackle…

Yes, this was Merlin’s true scheme. While everyone else thought only of final exams, he was using the stage to market his own brand. After a week of negotiations with the vice principal—and parting with a painful fifty thousand gold coins—he had purchased the rights to broadcast his advertisement right here, in front of the entire academy.

The crystal orb’s images continued to roll. The scene shifted to a summer afternoon. A radiant young academy girl appeared—none other than Stacie, the widely admired and famously talented fairy tamer. Sunlight glowed against her fair skin as she held a cone of Honey Snow Time ice cream. The creamy swirl was crowned with fresh slices of fruit and a sprinkle of rainbow-colored chocolate chips. She took a delicate bite, lips curving into a smile of pure contentment.

Her voice, soft and melodious, followed: “Cool yourself this summer with Honey Snow Time ice cream. Let your taste buds dance in the sunshine.”

The hall erupted in suppressed groans. Boys and girls alike swallowed hard at the sight of the ethereal beauty savoring her ice cream with such delight.

But amid the crowd, Stacie herself shrank into a corner, face burning crimson. She curled into herself as though trying to vanish. To her, the scene was mortifying—her of all people, eating ice cream in front of the entire student body? Being stared at so intently? So embarrassing, so shameful! Aaaaahhhhhh!

“Stacie! Look, it’s you on the crystal orb!”

“You’re gorgeous! They filmed you perfectly!”

“Wait—that thing called ice cream… is it really that delicious?”

A swarm of girls gathered around her, chattering like birds. Most of them were her admirers, friends, or both. It was no surprise—Stacie was as kind-hearted as she was beautiful, a rare soul who treated nobles and commoners with equal warmth. Everyone wanted her as a friend.

Once, she had kept her distance, haunted by fear that her identity as an elf might endanger those around her. But ever since Merlin had saved her, those fears had quietly dissolved. She had allowed herself to bond with these girls, and now they stood around her, eager and supportive.

Stacie covered her flushed face with both hands, crouching in the corner with a helpless squeak. “Ahhh, stop, stop!”

The image shifted once again, this time to a striking young man. He had just finished a workout; sweat glistened on his skin. Tugging his short-sleeved shirt halfway up, he revealed just enough of his sculpted abs to tease the imagination. This was none other than Leo Merlin himself. He strode confidently into Honey Snow Time, accepted a glass of chilled lemon water, and lifted it to his lips. Tilting his head back, he drank deeply, the icy citrus tang clearly washing away the oppressive heat of summer.

“Honey Snow Time’s iced lemon water—refreshing, thirst-quenching, bringing a wave of cool relief to your summer.” He flashed the camera a dazzling smile to finish the line.

That single smile was lethal. Countless female students gasped, their cheeks burning scarlet, hearts pounding as though bewitched. So handsome, so cool, too cool! Show more of those abs, please!

Merlin, in truth, had once despised the cocky posturing of idol stars back in his previous life. Perhaps it had been jealousy. But now, standing in their shoes—no, outshining them—his perspective was different. Hearing the shrieks of admiration, seeing the adoration in the girls’ eyes—it was intoxicating.

But then he caught sight of the other half of the audience—boys whose eyes gleamed with a disturbingly similar fascination, gazing at him with dazed, love-struck expressions. A chill shuddered down his spine, running from his scalp to his toes.

The montage reached its finale. The screen displayed a colorful table where pearl milk tea, ice cream, and lemon water gleamed together in harmony, drawing the gaze of all who saw them. Around the table sat cheerful customers—Merlin’s hired staff once again—who raised their voices in unison:

“Honey Snow Time—whether it’s the sweetness of milk tea, the chill of ice cream, or the freshness of lemon water, there’s always one flavor waiting to delight your taste buds!”

The scene froze on Honey Snow Time’s brand emblem alongside the round, jolly Snow King, both glowing brightly under sunlight. The catchy jingle continued looping as background music:

“You love me, I love you, Honey Snow Time, sweet as can be~”

Without realizing it, one student found himself softly humming along. By the time the tune slipped from his lips, he froze in horror. Around him, dozens of classmates were staring in disbelief.

Mortified, he wanted to dig a hole and crawl inside. Damn it, why did I sing along out loud?! But truly, the melody was insidiously addictive—it stuck to the brain like honey.

And he was not the only victim. Many students had the same song looping endlessly in their heads: You love me, I love you, Honey Snow Time, sweet as can be~ Though they didn’t dare sing aloud, their tapping feet betrayed them, beating time to the relentless rhythm.

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