75 Adrias' Education

"Your name is Vivianne, right? What's your last name? Are you a noble?"

Grace bombarded Vivianne with questions, but she simply stared at him without answering, then quietly turned her head. The clear expression of disregard made Grace widen his eyes and shout.

"You! Do you know who I am? How dare you act so arrogantly! I am Grace Mayern, the third prince of the Mayern Kingdom and your superior! Do you think you can disrespect me and get away with it?"

As the commotion unfolded, Morgan and the representatives from Mirko Academy approached, trying to restrain Grace.

"Your Highness Grace, please calm your anger."

"Your Highness, as foreigners, please be mindful of your actions..."

"Shut up! How dare you lecture me?"

Amidst the commotion, Grace blocked the path of Vivianne and Adrias, who were about to leave, then pulled out a staff from his embrace.

"Your Highness!"

"Do you think you can disrespect me and just leave like that? If you kneel down and apologize to me, I will personally forgive you and create an opportunity for us to dine together."

As Vivianne's complexion gradually turned icy, Adrias stepped forward.

Adrias's action surprised Vivianne, and she reached out her hand towards him.

"Vivianne, it's because of me that you had this unpleasant experience."

"No, it's not Adrias's fault..."

Adrias gently smiled at Vivianne's outstretched hand, then turned to Grace and spoke.

"Did you say you're Prince Grace Mayern?"

"What are you? I have no interest in someone like you. Are you trying to impress that woman? If so, that's a misguided choice..."

"Grace, Grace Mayern. This place is currently Rodren Academy. I don't know how things work in Mirko Academy, but at least here, all students are equal regardless of social standing. Your meager position means nothing here."

As Adrias spoke, his aura gradually emanated power.

The energy made of mana spread and gradually enveloped the atmosphere.

Though he maintained a respectful tone, the intensifying energy made his presence fierce.

It was a raw sense of untamed wildness, yet it emitted a sticky sense of danger.

"Grace Mayern, your position holds no significance here. Only your abilities matter. If you're confident, prove it with your strength. I'm willing to take you on right now."

Adrias' calm words carried a sense of authority.

With it, his confidence in being able to crush his opponent at any moment was evident.

His intense and arrogant appearance silenced the surrounding people, who watched in suspense.

"Ahem, um..."

Was it due to Adrias's emitted energy?

Grace coughed awkwardly and made an empty excuse before quietly returning to his seat.

The staff trembling in his hand betrayed his inner turmoil.

"Adrias. I apologize for this unfortunate incident."

"It wasn't me, but Vivianne who felt uncomfortable."

"Oh, um, I see. I apologize to Vivianne."

"...It's okay."

Morgan, absorbed in Adrias' intense presence, apologized without acknowledging Vivianne.

But Adrias, who was observing Vivianne's flushed face, realized that she might be angry, so he took care of her.

'Adrias stood up for me.'

Of course, Vivianne's mind was filled with a garden of flowers.

When the situation was resolved roughly, a staff member of the restaurant wiped the sweat off his forehead and spoke.

"Excuse me, guests. There happens to be an available spot near the pond outside. How about having your meal there?"

"What do you want, Vivianne?"

If this had happened when she was alone, Vivianne would have felt upset and looked for another restaurant. But now, thanks to Adrias, she was in a good mood.

Moreover, she couldn't miss the opportunity to enjoy a meal alone with him.

"I'm fine. I'm hungry."

As they moved to a new table, Adrias glanced once more towards the representatives from Mirko Academy.

There, Grace, still wearing a sulky expression, and a blue-haired magician who seemed to be Keshrun, were present.

He hadn't expected Grace to participate in the exchange program, considering that only top-ranking students were selected.

"Well, that's good."

Adrias had let it go earlier, but he had no intention of leaving Grace alone, even if it meant doing it for Keshrun's sake.

The exchange program lasted a whole week, so they had plenty of time to resolve things.

'I'll break his spirit and render him speechless.'

Adrias harbored a sinister smile that no one noticed.

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In a chilling atmosphere, inside a personal training room, a man lay as if he had given up on the world.

His name was Todlon Terry, a man who had held the top position in the Knight Department until recently.

"Ugh..."

With great effort, he opened his eyes and tried to get up, but the scattered bottles in the training room hit his body.

Eating in the training room was strictly prohibited, but he didn't pay it any mind.

Ever since he was eliminated in the tournament, only making it to the round of 32, he had acted as if everything was over.

Due to his large build and heavy drinking habits, he had spent the past few days confined here, drowning himself in alcohol.

Since the graduation classes at the academy either attended personal lessons or chose individual projects, his behavior went unnoticed.

Thump, thump, thump!

With a pounding headache from the hangover, Todlon managed to stand up and stumbled towards the door as he heard someone knocking.

"Who is it... and what's with the disturbance?"

Already in a bad mood, Todlon approached the door, which was roughly opened.

And there, in front of him, stood a person he had never seen before.

"Who are you? What's with the audacity to knock on the training room door?"

'Who is this bastard...?'

"Todlon Terry, right? I'm Antonio Holt from the Magic Department."

As Antonio introduced himself out of the blue, Todlon spit on the ground and tried to close the door, thinking that he must be insane.

But Antonio's subtle voice seeped through the closing gap of the door.

"Todlon Terry, aren't you frustrated? Losing in just the round of 32 is an unexpected result."

"This bastard...!"

In an instant, Todlon's anger flared up, and he reopened the door, grabbing Antonio by the collar and lifting him up.

Antonio, hanging in the air, remained nonchalant with an expression that seemed to say he didn't care.

"Judging by the smell of alcohol, it seems like you're drowning your sorrows in drink. Do you think that will help you surpass the woman who defeated you?"

"Say one more word. I'll show you a magic that will make your limbs disappear."

As Todlon exuded his aura and revealed his fighting spirit, Antonio smiled.

Digging through his pocket while suspended in the air, Antonio pulled out a small vial.

"Here's a gift."

"What?"

Todlon received the vial that Antonio handed over and pushed him away.

The vial was incredibly small, just the size of a baby's fingernail, and it contained a black liquid of unknown origin.

"What the hell are you?"

"As I mentioned, I'm a student from the Magic Department, and just like you, from the same graduating class. I felt a sense of camaraderie with you, given the unfavorable results of both of us in the tournament."

"I don't find that amusing. So, what's this potion?"

"This potion was newly created by Professor Kyler Schumann, the professor of Potion Crafting. It would be better for you to experience its effects firsthand rather than me explaining."

"A potion created by the professor? Why do you have it, and why should I believe in its effects?"

Antonio continued to smile despite Todlon's words.

Then, he shrugged his shoulders and began to step back slowly.

"Well, whether you drink it or not, that's up to you. But one thing I can say for sure is that I'm the only one who can obtain this potion. Thanks to my work under the professor, I was able to take it."

After saying that, Antonio waved his hand and disappeared with a nonchalant expression.

"See you next time. Come back here in a week."

"This guy is insane."

Thinking that he had encountered a complete lunatic, Todlon reentered the training room.

However, he held the potion given by Antonio tightly in his hand.

His body was already worn out from the past few days, and his enthusiasm for improvement had dropped.

'Maybe it's not a poison or anything.'

Making various excuses, Todlon decided to try it since he had already reached the point of desperation.

Gulp.

"Hmm?"

The effect of the potion immediately manifested.

And the reaction was completely different from what he expected.

Even though he hadn't activated his body, a powerful energy surged through his physique.

Not only that, but his mana, which had been exhausted, felt as if it had been pumped up and increased.

"What is this!"

He used his mana to seize power.

Then, with a sound of exploding air, he felt a power beyond what he had seen before.

Todulon went wild, swinging his sword in the training room.

To feel this power a little more, he struggled but eventually stopped, feeling regret for the fading power after about 10 minutes.

'I'm going crazy. How can such a potion exist?'

He felt regret as if he had wasted the potion in vain.

However, remembering Antonio's words that he would come back in a week, he grinned with madness.

'If only the potion comes back into my hands...!'

Vivian Vellocan.

He could defeat her.

The unheard-of female swordsman who shamelessly defeated him, the top student of the graduation class.

His career had completely collapsed because of her.

Now was the time to seek revenge.

"Wait for me, Vivian Vellocan!"

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After finishing the meal, they arrived at the administrative district.

Although there had been an unfortunate incident on the way, fortunately, Vivianne didn't pay much attention to it.

They could arrive precisely on time for the appointment.

At the open space in front of the main building where they were supposed to meet, all the Rodren Academy students who had agreed to attend were already gathered, along with those who had shown outstanding performances in the previous tournament and an unexpected person.

'I didn't expect Louis to come as well.'

Although Louis' appearance was unexpected, considering that he was the top freshman, and with unprecedented grades, the principal seemed to pay attention to him.

Considering her reputation, Lucia would have been invited too, but since she wasn't present, it seemed like she had probably declined.

"Adrias Cromwell."

A familiar voice could be heard from somewhere.

Vivianne, who was standing beside, also reacted to that voice.

"Congratulations on winning the tournament, miss."

"It's too late for congratulations now. And..."

Dianne suddenly turned her gaze awkwardly and hesitated for a moment before speaking softly.

"Stop calling me 'miss.' You used to call me comfortably when we were younger."

Why is she suddenly acting like this?

Did I eat something wrong?

Regardless, since she asked to be called that way, I should do as she wishes.

"Yes, Dianne."

"Enough with the formalities! Oh well, do whatever you want."

Watching her reaction, Bart Alben came to mind.

Her behavior seemed as if she had a sense of guilt towards me.

It was too similar to how someone would react when they felt guilty about their daughter.

'What's going on? Have I done something wrong to her?'

I couldn't think of anything in particular.

By the way, as I continued conversing with Dianne, Vivian came out with a strange expression and looked at Dianne.

Observing her inexplicable gaze for a moment, this time, Louis approached from afar.

'It wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on Louis as well.'

Unknowingly, I felt tense.

I still couldn't fully grasp the fact that I could have a conversation with Louis.

Just as he was getting closer, someone's shout echoed.

"Everyone! Attention, students!"

Morgan waved his hand from a distance and called us.

He gestured to us and spoke.

"The preparations by the president are complete. Let's all go together!"

If Morgan is coming from there, does it mean that the Mirko Academy students are already in place?

The thoughts of the other students seemed to be in line with mine, as a strange atmosphere circulated.

It was similar to a gathering storm.

'I don't want to make the students of the other academies feel intimidated.'

As expected from young people, a fight seemed imminent.

However, I had a different mindset since I participated not to fight them but to build friendship as the playable character, Keshurin.

'Keshurin Violga. A genius in auxiliary magic and magic circles.'

There's nothing wrong with getting to know him better.

Following Morgan, as we entered the building, the interior was decorated like a banquet hall, contrary to my expectations.

Contrary to expectations, the students from Mirko Academy were not visible, and we arrived first.

"The Mirko Academy students will arrive shortly. I hope we can interact with each other and build camaraderie."

With those words, Morgan headed somewhere.

Soon after, the door opened, and the members from Mirko Academy entered.

Along with them, the tension that had existed before reached its peak.

"Hmm."

Mirko's students also seemed to sense that atmosphere and scanned us with a tense expression.

This isn't good.

I attended this event to get closer to Keshurin, whom I might not see again.

'Well, I can't help it. Should I show off a little?'

I wasn't interested in taking the lead, but if it served my purpose, I could step forward at any time.

I took a step forward.

And just as I was about to say something to ease the tension.

"You there! You were blabbering so confidently earlier! I heard you're just a mediocre guy who handles both swords and magic! I also heard that your magic skills are only at a beginner level! How dare you disrespect Grace Mayern like that without fear!"

...My thoughts changed.

Indeed, it seems that meta works have their own merits when it comes to refreshing the atmosphere, right?