Villain Seduces to Rise in Status

Chapter 31: 31- Duel Challenge and Confrontation

After having a decent meal, Cale walked back to his dorms through the academy grounds. The night air was chilly, making him rub his palms together for warmth as he moved through the darkness. He could hear various birds and beasts’ sounds echoing through the trees and bushes, creating an almost peaceful atmosphere.

A servant came running toward him in a hurry, his body fat with an oily face, huffing heavily with each step he took. A bag held in both his hands seemed to contain something important, the way he gripped it suggesting it was valuable.

”Young master! This... huff... this is a gift sent from some hunter in the afternoon!”

Cale couldn’t bear to see him struggling anymore, so he asked quickly to relieve the servant’s burden.

”Who was it from?”

”He said he was helped by you a few days ago. He wanted to thank you for saving someone’s life and left this bag while leaving. He waited long, but you didn’t return.”

Cale tried to recall who this could be, and then remembered immediately—Lapu and Koza, the hunter father and son from the mountain expedition. A faint smile came across his face recalling that pair and their gratitude.

”So it’s like that... hmm.”

The servant continued explaining nervously. ”He entrusted this with some disciples, but I thought they would open it, so I took it and waited for your return instead.”

The servant here was one of the few who did pretty much all the work around the academy, since they were commoners with no aura or magic affinity. This was the only way for them to earn a bit of money for survival.

Cale felt a slight pang of guilt. ”I see. I have inconvenienced you for a long time. Forgive me.”

”Ah... no, no, young master. It’s nothing to be worried about.”

Cale tilted his head slightly. ”But why have you been calling me young master?”

The servant looked flustered. ”Uh... umm... right... Cale... sir.”

I wonder again how this guy too knew my name. Was it some common name or something? Cale thought with mild curiosity.

”Okay, you can leave now.”

He gave a wave of his hand to dismiss the servant, who bowed deeply before hurrying away.

The bag was slightly heavy as Cale carried it back to his room, appreciating the gesture despite not knowing exactly what it contained. He walked with deliberate steps, his mind already returning to cultivation plans.

The girl from before was too shy. I wonder what her deal really is.

He entered his room and sat down slowly, all his strain and tension wearing off as he relaxed into the familiar space. Then he proceeded to open the bag with excitement, curious about what Lapu had sent.

Inside were two pairs of robes—one white and one grey—along with two daggers made of highsteel. The craftsmanship was clearly professional, the blades sharp and well-balanced even by academy standards.

”He didn’t have to do this much... well, I will accept these gifts gratefully.”

He later put them aside on his desk and went to sleep, letting the exhaustion from the day finally claim him completely.

The window was open, making cold breezes enter and create various sounds that drifted through the room. Morning came, but Cale wasn’t greeted with chirping birds. Instead, he woke to a knock on his door.

He jolted awake suddenly.

”Coming, coming... fucking—who the hell is it this early?”

He got up and went straight to the door, still half-asleep and irritable. As soon as he reached the door, a letter slid from underneath it, sliding across the floor.

Cale got suspicious immediately and opened the door in a hurry, but whoever had been there was already gone, vanished like smoke.

He picked up the letter and proceeded to open it carefully, reading its contents:

This is a formal duel challenge for you. Since you will be targeted throughout the day, I will help you waste time. You can just show them this letter later on. Come and fight me.

—Elon

Cale laughed off seeing this kind of childish provocation, shaking his head at the obvious ploy.

”He thinks I’m afraid of accepting duels from seniors? Is he really the son of that guy?”

But then Cale thought strategically. Since he didn’t want to waste time again being targeted by a group enemy throughout the day, he should just waste time alongside Elon and his group, getting it over with in one confrontation.

”Well, alright. You’ve got me in your trap now, I suppose.”

The kid who had slid the letter went running to Elon, huffing from exertion. They were in the middle of a route connecting the martial arts department and the political studies department, though that kind of departmental separation didn’t quite make sense in theory. It was essentially just a brainstorming and martial arts hybrid, which Cale had wanted to try but refused due to the constant mental exams required.

Elon asked the messenger kid with anticipation. ”Did you see him read it?”

”Yes, he did read it.”

”Okay, let’s get ready. He will be here any minute now.”

All the kids around him nodded in unison. ”Yes!”

Cale, while walking toward the designated location, was thinking about what kind of childish prank Elon had prepared for him. The guy’s brain wasn’t too hard to understand these days—straightforward, predictable, driven by ego and pride.

While Cale was coming, students from the martial arts and political studies department were heading toward Elon’s direction. They looked bulky, not one of them looking like a typical student—more like bouncers hired for protection. Their presence suggested conflict was expected.

One of Elon’s guys asked nervously. ”Should we just avoid them?”

But Elon had pride and ego that wouldn’t allow retreat. ”No, why should we? If they’re coming to fight, let’s fight them.”

Since Elon wasn’t selected in the political studies department, he had a beef with nearly every person there. One of them being William Gunther, a kid from a scholar family responsible for many new inventions over the past few decades. William’s faction had more people than Elon. If a fight broke out, they had significantly better chances to win through sheer numbers.

As they came walking, William saw Elon approaching, his expression remaining completely calm and unreadable.

One of William’s sidekicks slowly whispered to him. ”These guys seem alone. If we take care of them now, wouldn’t it be—”

William raised a hand to stop him mid-sentence, stepping forward himself to face Elon directly.

”So the rat hiding in the bill has come out today of all days. How unexpected.”

Elon responded with a dismissive snort. ”Hmph, we’re not here waiting for you. Get lost.”

William didn’t rashly argue back, waiting to see how the situation would develop.

But then a woman in slight knightly armor came walking forward through the crowd, her presence commanding immediate attention. And she was none other than Ava, who had been sent here by her family to support a specific student from the shadows—though it wasn’t Cale.

Elon saw her and was completely stunned by her appearance. Unlike her previous appearance as a mere knight supervisor, in the uniform and with decent makeup, Ava was also undeniably a beauty. Her features were sharp and elegant.

Elon couldn’t help himself. ”Are... are you the top grader of the martial arts entrance exams?”

Ava looked at him with mild curiosity, a slight smile playing on her lips. ”Oh... you know about me?”