Angelica was defeated by the young noble from Lundy City!
This earth-shattering news spread like a giant stone thrown into a calm pond, causing waves upon waves and completely stirring up the academy.
"Hey, hey, did you hear? In that duel, Char actually won in the end!"
"How is that possible?"
"It's true! There were thousands of students present who can testify!"
"Him? A young noble from the countryside?"
Without any surprise, the students and mentors of the entire academy were shocked and started discussing it. Their eyes were filled with disbelief, and their initial reaction was that Char must have used some unsavory methods.
However, with so many experts present at the time, if there were any doubts, they would have been pointed out immediately.
Moreover, in the end, Angelica even summoned an Transcendent knight-level creature, yet she still lost to Char.
For countless students and teachers of Norton Academy, this was nothing short of a fairy tale.
They could guess the beginning but never anticipated the outcome.
After all, who could have imagined that a first-year student with no background or presence could defeat a genius girl from a prestigious noble family in such a way?
His weapons were shabby and substandard, with hardly any notable magical tools or ancient artifacts. He relied solely on his own strength.
Meanwhile, those students who didn't witness this unprecedented and thrilling duel regretted not being there when they heard their peers vividly describing the scene.
It was not merely a source of entertainment.
For numerous border nobles living at the bottom of the academy, and even for all commoner students, this duel held a strong symbolic significance: it was a "rebellion" launched by the lower class against the upper class.
Char seemed to convey a message to them.
No one is born lowly.
As a result, he became instantly popular after this incident.
The entire academy, including many upper-class individuals from the capital, showed unprecedented interest in this news and developed an intense curiosity about this unknown young noble.
Furthermore, some even coveted his formidable abilities, demonstrated by his swift defeat of the Mountainous Giant at the end.
However, after Lucius, the headmaster of Norton Academy, issued an official notice, everything quieted down.
In simple terms, from now on, Char is protected by the academy, and any external oppression or threats will be considered as directly opposing the headmaster.
No one wants to oppose a powerful sorcerer.
Of course, it is unknown how much manipulation is involved from the Althia family in the background.
After all, family secrets should not be exposed, and they don't want this matter to attract too much attention and discussion, as it would undermine the prestige of the noble family.
In conclusion, an invisible storm centered around Char has been stirred up in the outside world. It appears calm, but it has the potential to transform into turbulent waves that could crush him to ashes at any moment.
However, at this very moment, the male protagonist at the center of the storm is troubled by other matters.
.....
When Char regained consciousness from his coma, it was already dark outside.
He had barely fainted after the arbitrator declared his victory because the effects of the "Explosive Battle Qi" had worn off. The aftermath of overexerting his power manifested, and he collapsed into the arms of Dahlia, who had hurriedly arrived.
According to the information provided by the system, it seemed that he wouldn't be able to use this ability again in the short term.
However, that was for ordinary people.
As long as Char went to the witch's side and let her kill him, then he would be reborn at the respawn point, and his body would be restored to its perfect state.
It was another kind of unconventional card bug.
Char glanced around the surroundings and realized that he was seemingly in the bedroom of an apartment, which instantly relieved him.
He lifted his heavy head, attempting to sit up and go to the bathroom to splash cold water on his face.
But the next second, Char, who had regained his senses, was incredibly shocked to discover that each of his limbs was bound by ropes tied to the sides of the bed. He lay on the bed in a ">->o" character shape, completely immobilized!
Kidnapping?
That was the first possibility that crossed Char's mind.
However, soon after, Char noticed Dahlia sitting on the nearby sofa, seemingly occupied with something, and he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
At the moment, he was incredibly weak, unable even to break the ropes binding his hands and feet. If something were to happen to him, he wouldn't be able to resist. After all, Char's golden finger could only resurrect him after being killed by the antagonist; it didn't grant him resurrection upon any death.
So compared to some unrestrained protagonists in certain online novels from his past life, Char's actions are still somewhat restrained and cautious.
Moreover, he has people he cares about by his side, and he can't endanger them.
Char looked at his bound limbs and said, "Dahlia?"
At this moment, he hadn't realized the seriousness of the situation.
"Young master, you're awake?"
Upon hearing the voice of the master awakening, Dahlia, who was sitting beside him, was somewhat surprised. However, she didn't stand up and hug him as warmly as usual.
Char felt a bit strange and struggled to turn his head towards the side. He noticed that Dahlia was wearing a loose bathrobe, with wet hair indicating that she had just finished bathing.
Not only that, there was a wooden basin placed under the sofa, filled with milky bathwater and floating rose petals on the surface.
Dahlia's slender and symmetrical legs peeked out from under the hem of the bathrobe, and her snow-white bare feet lightly tapped in the soaked wooden basin. Her ten toes were flawless and lustrous, with nails painted a light pink, resembling delicately crafted seashells.
Char blinked his eyes. "What are you planning to do?"
She chuckled softly, lifted her petite feet out of the wooden basin, carefully drying them with a towel, and then stood up and walked to the edge of the bed.
Staring closely at Char's face, Dahlia's pretty face turned red.
"We agreed earlier that if you defeated that woman, I would reward you."
As she spoke, she sat on the edge of the bed, picked up something from the cabinet, and gently shook it. The fabric instantly unfolded in the air.
Upon closer inspection, they were two thin over-the-knee socks, with a faint shimmer.
In fact, these things had already developed far ahead before Char transmigrated into this world, with various styles available, leaving no room for Char to have any say in them.
"What reward?"
Char's heartbeat slightly quickened, and he felt the atmosphere around them becoming somewhat alluring.
Dahlia bent down, arching the sock opening, and lightly stepped her bare foot into it. She pinched the edge of the sock and pulled it up, the pristine fabric perfectly hugging her slender and beautiful legs. She then repeated the motion.
"Care to guess?"
She cast a seductive glance at him, her small hand lightly smoothing out the wrinkles.
Under the dim yellow light, the white socks were gently stretched by the graceful curve of her jade-like foot, revealing a hint of pale pink skin on the sole.
"Dahlia, calm down. I feel that our pure affection shouldn't be tainted like this. You know, I'm not that kind of... hiss--"
....
The ice cream is delicious.
You're asking what flavor it is?
Of course, it's the scent of roses.
...
The following morning.
When Char woke up from his slumber, he discovered that the ropes binding his hands and feet had been untied at some point. His previously weak and feeble body had also slightly recovered, at least enough to get out of bed and walk without much difficulty.
Char slowly got up, put on his clothes, and pushed open the bedroom door, immediately greeted by a pleasant fragrance.
Upon closer inspection, Dahlia was busy in the kitchen preparing breakfast. She was wearing her usual maid's dress but was not wearing white stockings. They had gotten dirty the previous night, so she walked around barefoot in cotton slippers, giving off a cozy and domestic look.
After freshening up in the bathroom, Char leisurely walked to the living room and sat on the sofa where he usually read letters and newspapers.
To his surprise, there was a letter on the coffee table.
Judging from the address, it was sent by an informant, but they had just received a report a couple of days ago.
I'm not sure of the reason either.
Char furrowed his brows slightly and slowly picked up the envelope, carefully opening it and unfolding the letter inside.
Just then, Dahlia, carrying a plate emitting steam with the prepared breakfast, walked out of the kitchen.
Seeing Char's actions, she blinked and explained, "That letter arrived just yesterday."
After waiting for a long time without the expected response, Dahlia became somewhat puzzled.
"Young master?"
"...I see."
Char's voice was low and dry.
He kept his head lowered for a long time, motionless, his gaze fixed on the contents of the paper. He clenched the paper, causing deep wrinkles to appear, and his hands trembled slightly.
On that piece of paper, hastily written, were a few lines.
"Three days later, Red Spider Tavern, the usual spot... There is a lead on 'Sun.'"