‘Magic Barrier? Element Reshaping?’

Accompanied by a dazzling white light, the residual magic on the high platform was rearranging itself according to the Arcane spell formula. The spell Llyn had cast earlier was perfectly reproduced in this moment.

"So, Sir Llyn didn't follow up with a sneak attack after Her Highness Louise's strike? Instead, he even gave that Dust Clan lad a moment to catch his breath?"

"That makes no sense. Sir Llyn clearly detests that person, so why would he do that?"

"Exactly! And if that's the case, why didn't Sir Llyn defend himself against Sophie's accusations just now?"

Listening to the buzzing discussions from below, Louise's heartbeat momentarily stopped, a trace of bewilderment flashing across her captivating face.

‘Yes, why?’

Memories of her previous life flashing through her mind, Louise forcibly suppressed the urge to bury her face in her hands and weep.

‘Why, Llyn, why do you always have to shoulder everything alone? Why, even when wrongly accused, even when framed and bullied by that insatiable clown Ivan, do you still choose silence, and even go so far as to help him in return? Just because of that so-called Savior prophecy?! How could that bastard Ivan possibly deserve such a title? Hah. No, I cannot accept this!’

A fierce flame erupted in Louise's eyes, as if capable of incinerating all the injustice in the world.

‘Therefore…’

Louise steadied her emotions, turned around with a radiant smile, and with all her might, prevented herself from throwing herself at the figure she thought she would never see again, the one she so deeply cherished in her heart. She said softly, "Senior Llyn, I know you don't want to admit that you actually felt pity for a mere lowly Dust Clan member, but..."

The maiden glanced back with a smile. In that instant, it seemed as if the entire space was filled with a rich, refreshing fragrance. The charm exuding from her every gesture even made everyone present breathe a half-beat slower.

"These little tricks of yours cannot fool me, teehee."

With that, Louise reached out with both hands, slightly lifting her long skirt, and curtsied towards Instructor Chris below the platform.

"Father, this is the truth of the matter."

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Louise's explanation stirred the crowd like a rock thrown into a pond, further intensifying the already restless atmosphere below.

"The Reproduce Spell? Isn't that an even more profound secret art than a forbidden spell, the highest-rank secret technique of the Balance School? Her Highness Louise has mastered it?!"

"And look, the reproduced Arcane spell formula is indeed a defensive technique, not an offensive one? Could it be, as Her Highness Louise says, that Sir Llyn wasn't taking advantage of a vulnerable moment, but rather protecting Ivan?"

"Hiss... then Sir Llyn's silence just now, ah, I understand!" One student gesticulated wildly as he 'deduced': "It must be that he simply couldn't be bothered to explain. Yes, with the Prefect's usual arrogance, how could he be willing to discuss such trifling details with us?"

"This is the bearing of a true expert! In contrast, look at that certain servant..."

With Louise's "explanation," the tide of opinion that Ivan and Sophie had created reversed once more.

"You... you bunch of idiots..."

Ivan's eyelid twitched furiously. He never imagined that his originally ‘excellent situation’ would be overturned just like that, "That guy Llyn, when he cast Element Retrospect earlier, he clearly intended to sneak attack me! How could it possibly have been to isolate the scene and let me breathe?!"

However, the protagonist's vehement denial was utterly useless, as a figure had already gracefully stepped onto the high platform.

"..."

The middle-aged man in simple mage robes stroked his graying beard. Instructor Chris nodded slightly in confirmation. "Indeed, it is not an offensive Arcane Art. Hmm, it even contains traces of a healing spell? It seems your skill has advanced yet again, Llyn. Truly worthy of being my First Disciple."

Clap, clap.

The instructor's warm hand patted Llyn on the side of his shoulder.

"Honestly, you fool. Something that could be cleared up with just a few words—why didn't you explain it properly?"

Chris's eyes were filled with puzzlement regarding his First Disciple. "Don't tell me you have some sort of fetish for being misunderstood?"

The response that greeted Instructor Chris's "concern" was an utterly lifeless face.

‘It was over. Completely and utterly over.’

Feeling the adoring gazes of the students below, Llyn felt as if his heart were being carved up, as if his entire body were being subjected to the torture of a thousand cuts.

‘Heavens above, earth below. Why? Why was it that with such brilliant acting, with such forward-thinking strategy… My plan still ended in utter failure?!’

Llyn clenched his teeth, yet dared not reveal his true feelings in front of his instructor.

‘And Louise... weren't you just now utterly despising me? Why are you suddenly speaking up for me? And what the hell is up with that Reproduce Spell of yours?! Isn't that a top-tier forbidden spell that very few even among Master-rank Arcanists can master?! Doesn't it involve the domain of spacetime itself?! Could that damned black cat Guide be pulling strings from behind the scenes?! That's not how it is!’

Just as Llyn was utterly baffled and bewildered, that powerful, resounding voice once again rang out, piercing the heavens.

Llyn mechanically turned his head towards the speaker—a certain protagonist completely consumed by fury.

"Master Chris, you absolutely must not be deceived by that shameless scoundrel."

Ivan glared at Llyn, gnashing his teeth.

Wuwu!

‘Truly worthy of the protagonist—even in such a desperate situation, he still hasn't given up! No, I must learn from this indomitable courage! Never give up!’

Llyn reignited his fighting spirit, desperately racking his brains for a way to break the deadlock.

"Oh?"

However, just as Llyn was about to speak, he was shocked to find that his voice had been silenced. It wasn't just him; practically everyone present lost the right to speak in that very instant.

‘Silence Spell.’

Llyn turned his thoughtful gaze to Instructor Chris.

"Are you implying... that my most kindhearted and innocent, precious daughter is lying to frame you?" Chris let out a cold snort and opened his palm. Within it, ripples of light swirled, and the vague outlines of profound runes could be seen flowing within.

"Or perhaps you are suggesting that I am shielding my own student? Or that I can no longer even distinguish the purpose of a spell?"

Instructor Chris asked with an amiable smile, but coupled with that chilling gesture, Llyn had no doubt that if Ivan dared to answer carelessly, the outcome would be utter annihilation.

‘This Chris is dangerous, absolutely not someone I can deal with right now! Damn it, damn it, damn it! As expected, all Sun Clan are the same! What noble and virtuous princess of the Emerald Alliance, what Balance School master of the Neutral City-States who cares not for birth and holds no sectarian prejudice? It's all lies. That Llyn clearly makes no attempt to hide his malice, yet they protect him time and time again?

Hurry up and apologize! Revenge is a dish best served cold; even ten years is not too late!’

Zzz—

Lightning flashed and thunder crackled in Chris's palm.

"Not even willing to apologize?" A trace of sinister coldness flashed through Chris's eyes.

"Then let your death serve as recompense."

Boom!!!

‘Oh no!’

In his desperation, Llyn could no longer sit still.

Forbidden Spell: Spell Nullification.

Thump.

Llyn swiftly dispelled the restraints on his own body, lunging forward in a single step to place himself between Chris and Ivan.

"Elemental Tide!" Without a moment's hesitation, Llyn poured all his magic power into his palm, forming a protective wall.

‘Please, block it for me!’

"Llyn, what the hell are you doing?!"

"Lord Llyn!!!"

Amidst Chris's astonished gaze and Louise's anguished cry, that thunderous spell collided with Llyn's spell wall.

‘Pain, pain, pain!’

Llyn felt as if his soul were being ripped back and forth countless times. For a brief instant, he truly thought he might evaporate from the face of the earth.

But he managed to hold on, nonetheless.

Pfft.

A trace of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"Hey, Llyn, you..."

The smoke cleared, and Chris rushed swiftly to his side, his eyes filled with concern.

"Father! You... you've gone too far."

Slap, slap, slap.

Beside them, Louise, her emotions written all over her face, flailed her tender fists, striking her usually deeply beloved father.

"What were you thinking? Do you have a death wish?" After examining Llyn from head to toe and confirming that there was no major injury, a relieved Chris asked with immense confusion, "Weren't you just looking down on that Dust Clan servant? Why the sudden change of heart, shielding him now?"

‘Ahhhh, what do I do, what do I do?!’

Having finally managed to stop his instructor's wrath, Llyn's heart was in utter turmoil, yet his face remained expressionless, as if he could not even be bothered to answer his instructor's questioning.

But he truly had no choice. With his instructor's strength, even if Ivan possessed the Indestructible Body...

‘Hmm? Indestructible Body? I've got it!’

A lightbulb flickered in Llyn's mind.

"Jie jie jie, I mean, heh, Instructor. Surely you didn't think the reason I saved this lowly servant was because I felt some sort of pity?"

Llyn looked 'greedily' at Ivan. "You didn't see it earlier. There's something special about this Dust Clan servant... something like... the ability to self-regenerate?"

‘How about that? That's the Indestructible Body, right? Surely that can restore Instructor Chris's opinion of Ivan?’

"I suspect it's related to that medallion on him."

Rip.

Llyn tore the medallion from Ivan's body. "So then, Instructor, it just so happens that I'm short a handy servant. I wonder if you could permit this fellow to serve me as a menial disciple?"

He made the request softly to his instructor.

"Servant?! No way!" Ivan beside them was absolutely enraged, staring at Llyn in horror and fury as Llyn seized the ancestral medallion that could prove his identity. "You shameless thief! You're clearly after my..."

‘Ivan, calm down!’

At that very moment, the urgent voice of Ivan's mentor echoed in his mind.

‘You are the future Savior. How can you be so easily rattled?’

‘Savior... Savior!’

As if the word possessed some magic, after his mentor spoke this title, Ivan quickly suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his heart.

"Well, Junior Sister Sophie." Without waiting for anyone else to speak, Llyn hurriedly made a request to Sophie that he was certain could never be accepted.

‘Heh heh, quick, rebuke my greedy shamelessness~’

"Three years."

‘Huh?’

"Senior Llyn." Just as Llyn thought he was about to be met with rejection, the response he received was Sophie lowering her head in resignation. "I can hand Ivan over to you for a period of three years, but..."

The daughter of the wealthy merchant house of the Golden Oak Confederation flashed a sharp glint in her eye.

"In the Academy Grand Tournament three years from now, if Ivan defeats you, you must grant him his freedom?"

‘Three years? But wouldn't that be far too long? However…’

Feeling the murderous aura from his instructor behind him, Llyn could only stiffly nod, though his face remained utterly disdainful as he coldly said, "Three years? Don't say three years. Even if you gave him thirty, he still wouldn't be able to touch a single hair on my head."

"Damn it..." Ivan's face was full of struggle, as if he wanted to say more, but Sophie reached out and stopped him. When the shrewd daughter of the wealthy merchant looked at Ivan, there was a faint trace of disappointment in her eyes.

‘Sigh, in the end, is it because he is of Dust Clan origin? Although he does have some ability, he still lacks an overall perspective. Forget it. At the very least, this Ivan is still a useful pawn for now.’

Looking at Llyn, who had already turned away and left, Sophie rubbed her chin.

‘Father specifically ordered me that, no matter what, I must bring that precious collectible, Morsol, back home to be kept.’

Sophie murmured, "A pet of the Gold Royal Bloodline? Hmph, indeed worthy of our family's wealth."

She eagerly looked forward to the arrival of that day.

What kind of expression would that utterly arrogant Llyn, with his handsome face, show then?

Sophie excitedly licked her lips.

She was a little hungry.