Chapter 355: Chapter 355

355 A duel at the wedding

“Ahem, I will accept on the condition that Lupa can never participate in a duel or competition. I can’t let others think I favor my students or start a new trend where every student brings two servents instead of one.” Darwin accepted. He didn’t want to bring chaos to the academy by letting Lupa attend as a fake familiar.

Vincent, Ester, Lupa, Iris, Lilith, and Plow were going to attend the academy. Only Sakura was going to stay in the mansion.

Next, Darwin informed them how the academy would start on the last day of August, which was a week later. The lessons start on the first of September, which Darwin said was on Monday morning.

They would form a team of five on that day and later be sent to a large private house where the five students, five servants, and if they have, five familiars live together. Leonis, Byron, Caramel, Darwin, and Vikki were a team.

At the south of the Southern Continent lay multiple islands. Darwin mentioned they are remnants of the war between the Asura and the Dragon Gods. These islands are the closest to the edge of the world.

The three largest human Kingdoms in the Southern Continent claimed a certain amount each. They signed a contract with the dwarves, and with their skilled craftsman, the islands were split into smaller, roughly one hundred meter islands.

The islands have a tracking system, a two-way teleporter, a camouflage barrier, and a protective barrier. Additionally, the island can move randomly to deter the possibility of an attack if it is discovered.

Vincent and the Lionheart girls were surprised to hear about this. This kind of unheard technology could change the world, such as a teleporter. However, Darwin soon explained the conditions to travel to their private island.

Every noble will be given a pass that only works by their commands. Additionally, the pass can be used four times every day and three times on the first day. Furthermore, an emergency teleport can be used to travel, but the student will be charged a penalty fee if it is used without just cause.

.....

Darwin noticed apart from Lilith, and the nobles, Vincent and the Lionheart girls didn’t know how such a revolutionary device worked. Lilith knew some details, but after losing hope of attending the academy, she forgot some specifics.

Darwin explained how the dwarves used parts of ancient Asura technology to create a simple teleportation hub and connected teleportation links. However, the cost of each teleportation is the energy of Beast Cores. In other words, the kingdom invests in the safety of its students and treats the next generations well.

Vincent and Kazumi were the most amazed out of Ester, Lupa, Iris, and Sakura. Both of them wanted to experience teleportation and hoped it could help them understand how the book of heroes works and why it could teleport Vincent and the six before him through worlds.

Darwin couldn’t hold his curiosity. Vincent married five women, but four of them shocked Darwin, while Lilith’s unheard-of awakening with the Divine Blessing skill shocked him even more.

“Vincent, are you building an army? Your wives are all strong and special.” Darwin asked.

“Didn’t you tell us nothing was out of the ordinary?” Biro asked.

“Did I misjudge their power?” Caramel questioned.

Vincent shook his head and said, “no.” He looked at all his women and continued, “Well, you can think of us as a married adventurers team, hehe.”

[Nice answer. Why need a team when you can have a harem, hahaha.]

“Yep, thank god my father didn’t come. I don’t know what would happen with his personality.” Biro quietly mumbled to himself.

Caramel chuckled behind her fan. “Good answer. A family adventure is nice, and power will bring safety. It looks like I can acquire more info on the next Lionheart...”

“Dear, please don’t say such things.” Her husband Revos interrupted.

Vincent looked at his women to his left and his right. “I feel safe being protected by my wives, hehe.” He joked.

*Step, step* “Humph! Do you feel no shame cowering behind your women?” Melissa appeared and mocked Vincent all of a sudden. She was frowning as if Vincent had done something to her.

Vincent turned around and looked back at Melissa Griffionheart. She has a fit yet seductive curvy body with a bountiful chest and is about five foot six tall. On her head was luscious well-maintained golden hair styled with two large curly drills on each side. Her eyes were brown, unlike Lilith, who has the same hair color but different eye color.

Clair was behind Melissa. She became scared when Sakura looked at her and went to sit beside her mother in a hurry.

Lupa was hungry, and words mocking Vincent made her angry. She frowned and said, “Weak human mocked my mate. Apologize, or I will slap you.”

“Fine. I accept the duel.” Melissa said all of a sudden.

Lupa was angry, but Vincent, Ester, Iris, Lilith, and Sakura tried to calm her down. The Griffionheart family are their allies. A fight could cause a problem in their relationship.

Melissa’s parents went to remind their daughter that they don’t know most rules since only Lilith was a noble from birth. However, Melissa insisted on dueling.

Melissa wasn’t a bad woman, but her parents were raised spoiled. She became an attention seeker the more she grew older.

Melissa would’ve been fine if it was an ordinary noble one wife and one husband wedding, but the attention Vincent and his wives gained was blown out of proportion. After less than half the guests praised her dress and good looks, she became irritated. And there weren’t many guests at that.

Melissa was proud of her spell cast time and fireball size for her age. But she didn’t have the chance to boast. Hearing how a man married multiple women to protect him made her more irritated as he didn’t deserve the attention as much as her.

Soon, the duel caught the attention of everyone. They started looking their way. It made Melissa happy.

“Little lady Melissa. You better listen to your father. Vincent has grasped how to use Domination Arua. He even made my student, which is a C Ranker go all out.” Biro warned.

Melissa looked at Vincent and asked him to change places with Lupa if he was so powerful. It appeared she wanted to prove herself and gain attention.

[Looks like you need to teach this spoiled girl a lesson to remember.]

-I don’t feel like it. This is a wedding and not a wedding brawl.-

[What about a bet?]

Vincent liked the idea. “What do I get in return? Will you marry me?” He sarcastically asked.

Darwin noticed his wife looking at him to intervene. However, he didn’t know if he should reject the offer. ‘Will my daughter be tamed if she becomes his wife?’ He pondered.

Darwin sighed. His daughter would hate him if he accepted. “I could offer some books about classes if you want. Let’s make this a fun and friendly spar.” He suggested.

Darwin heard multiple times that Vincent was strong. He was the most mysterious person he had ever laid eyes upon. ‘Vincent should be able to win with only my daughter’s pride being hurt.’ He hoped.

[Great. Check her stats first. It’s better to be safe than sorry, but it should be an easy win. We don’t want to damage your clothes, do we, hehe.]

.

[Name] Melissa Griffionheart

[Race] Human

[Age] 18

[Condition] Healthy

[Traits] None

[Class] Mage

[Stats] Strength 7 || Agility 8 || Perception 10 || Mana 199

.

[Class Mage]

*Fire Ball

*Fire Manipulation

.

“Thank you, Melissa, for your generous wedding gift. ” Vincent revealed a grin.

Similarly, those who knew about Vincent’s strength smiled, grinned, or laughed.

“You! You will lose. CQC can’t beat my fireball.” Melissa was brimming with anger after feeling mocked by most of the people.

A few minutes later, a part of the garden was cleared. The spectators formed one line at each side, and they eagerly waited for the show to start.

Well, one forgot all about the fight. Lupa was stealing food off the table while everyone’s attention was on Vincent and Melissa. She wasn’t afraid of Vincent losing if he was sure of the win.

“Go easy on her.”

“Do your best, and don’t get hurt.”

“Give us a good show.”

“Yeah. Don’t end it in one move.”

One by one, both lines of the audience cheered... well, some made Melissa angrier after asking Vincent to take it easy. The pity made her glare at Vincent as if he humiliated her.

“My class is a mage, and I have a strong fireball. What’s your class?” Melissa flexed as if she was a powerful mage. She wanted to attract all the attention on her.

“My class is called Mutation. I can shapeshift a pair of gauntlets. Nice to meet you, hehe.” Vincent chuckled and spoke as if she wasn’t an opponent in his eyes.

Darwin was the referee. He was both the strongest mage nearby and the headmaster of the Lusterfall Noble Academy.

“Start!” Darwin said after Vincent and Melissa nodded to begin. He took a step back and watched the two prepare to duel.

Melissa began chanting, “O warm spirits, heed my call. Thy warmth is what I request. Listen to this call as thy foe pursues to oppose thy benevolence.”

[What the... all her haughtiness just to recite a poem. Just how slow can she cast a fireball?]

-...-

Vincent looked at Darwin with a confused expression and asked, “Is casting a spell this slow?” He looked at Ollie and continued, “Ollie’s wind spells weren’t this slow. I think I might go to sleep.”