Anon finally ceased the Deafening Roar after five minutes, collapsing to his knees. His aura weakened, and he felt as though someone had thrust a long, scorching spear through his throat.
"M-MOTHER.... Save mmeeeeeee...." Eldric cried out, wetting his pants, as he sprinted toward the Colosseum's exit.
Link returned to his tattoo form, and Anon slowly rose from the ground.
"Who won?" Anon inquired, looking at Sam with a perplexed expression.
"Y-Yes... Ladies and gentlemen, after a fierce and captivating battle, we have the victor of today's final match. A resounding round of applause for Mr. Jule, the Royal Candidate," Sam announced.
Clap-Clap-Clap
The audience erupted into applause as they retook their seats. Even Fiona joined in the applause.
'I've depleted every ounce of stamina in my body. It feels as if I've run around the world three times without rest. Damn, my throat hurts,' Anon thought, walking back to his seat and sitting next to Fiona.
"What were you trying to say earlier, Mr. Jule? I didn't understand. Can you explain it again?" Maison inquired.
"Really? You want to pursue this after witnessing that?" Anon responded.
"Well, I'll let it slide this time, but just this once," Maison said, returning to his seat.
"So, you obtained a potent skill from blowing that Trumpet, huh?" Fiona asked with a smile.
"I did," Anon affirmed, donning his sunglasses and reclining in his chair.
"Mr. Jule, you're unique. Truly special. Now that I've found you, I won't let you go," Fiona replied with a smile.
"Good... I'd love to squeeze some things," Anon replied with a grin.
"Huh...? Did you just say that to me?" Fiona asked with a confused expression.
"I want to squeeze... Boobies," Anon quipped as he smiled.
"What the hell are you—" Fiona began, her tone angry, but she suddenly realized that Anon was sleep-talking.
"Ah... Sleep-talking. He must be really exhausted from the match," Fiona dismissed it and resumed observing the arena.
'Phew, Dodged a bullet there. For a moment, I forgot she's the Elven Queen,' Anon thought, a smile on his face.
Sam approached the stage.
"Well, ladies and gentlemen, many different and unbelievable things happened today. Even the history of our kingdom was altered by a very powerful young man. But in the end, it's all good. Today, we've learned that no foreign force can conquer our kingdom as long as we have promising youngsters like Mr. Gryphon, Mr. Jule, and Miss Elowen."
"This doesn't end here. Today was just the first day of the academic exchange event, and I guarantee we'll bring you more talented candidates over the next fifteen days. After those fifteen days, the elimination of candidates will begin, and that's when the real competition starts. So, make sure to return, everyone. I'll take my leave now and ask our Queen to offer some words of motivation before her departure," Sam declared as he stepped down from the stage.
Fiona stood up and walked a few steps forward...
"Hello, my children. Since you all witnessed what Mr. Jule did today and you all know why I chose him to fight for me in this year's Academic Exchange Event. He is very strong, as you all saw just now. I don't want to discriminate among my children, so I'm giving you all an equal chance to earn the reward you work hard for."
"Mr. Jule, the candidate fighting for Royalty, my official candidate. Anyone who faces him from tomorrow onward and wins even a single match against him will be declared the immediate winner of this entire Exchange Event," Fiona announced.
A moment of utter silence enveloped the entire Colosseum, and then everyone burst into different expressions—shock, jealousy, anger.
"M-My Queen, what are you saying? It's not ethical to—" Mrs. Glen tried to speak but was immediately cut off by Fiona's smile.
"What's wrong, Mrs. Glen? Don't you have faith in Maison?" Fiona asked.
"I-It's not that. What if someone else defeats Mr. Jule and becomes the tournament's winner, while Maison doesn't even get a chance to face him?" Mrs. Glen inquired.
"You're right, Mrs. Glen," Fiona replied, thinking for a moment.
"Thank you—"
"Mr. Jule, do you intend to lose to someone in this competition?" Fiona asked, smiling.
"I don't," Anon replied with a smile.
"Will you lose in this competition, Mr. Jule?" Fiona inquired again, looking at Mrs. Glen this time.
"I won't," Anon replied, his expression calm and carefree.
"You see, I know what I'm saying, and if he loses, he'll pay with his life," Fiona added, addressing Mrs. Glen.
"I-I see, My Queen," Mrs. Glen said, immediately ending the discussion.
"I'll take my leave now, my children. I'll see you tomorrow morning," Fiona concluded as she exited the Colosseum with Anon and the other ministers.
Once the Queen left the Colosseum, it erupted in noise.
"What the hell?"
"The Queen just declared that, didn't she?"
"Let's go to the match-setting committee and see if I have a match with him."
"I think she really has so much confidence in him."
"Who the hell is that guy? Did you see that technique he used? It was at the very least an S-rank ability."
The audience buzzed with conversation and exited the Colosseum.
"My Queen, are you sure about this?" one of the mages asked.
"Yes, my Queen. If it was a mistake in your speech, we can correct it for you," another mage added.
"I'm sure about this, and it's not a mistake in my speech. Just let it happen. I believe in that kid. Look at him; he's here to win. He won't go down that easily; there's something special about him. I felt it when he picked up that Trumpet, and he's definitely going to win this tournament," Fiona said.
"I pray that the great gods grant your wishes, my Queen."
They all boarded their carriages and returned to their homes.
"Wait, my home is here—" Anon began, but the carriage sped past his home without slowing down.
"You're not going to live there anymore, Mr. Jule. Your mother and sister have been moved to the Royal Palace. Until your house is ready for use again and while you're participating in the Academic Exchange Event, you'll stay with me in the Royal Palace," Fiona explained.
'Hehehe.... This is what you call 'The key to the treasury fell into my lap on its own. Let's start the main body corruption,' Anon thought with a silent smile.
Screeeechhh
The carriages halted in front of the castle, and everyone disembarked.
"Welcome back, My Queen."
"Welcome back, My Queen," the servants promptly greeted Fiona, bowing down to her.
"So, what are your plans for this evening?" Fiona inquired of Anon.
"Nothing in particular. Since my mother and sister are already here, I don't have any plans. I suppose I'll just focus on training my body," Anon replied with a stoic expression.
"Hmm...? What a boring youngster you are. I haven't seen anyone like you in the last 200 years. Don't you like girls or want to have fun? This is the royal palace, kid. You can wish for anything, and it will come true here, except the throne, hahaha," Fiona teased.
"I'll go and take some rest in my room," Anon said as he began walking toward his room.
"Wait..." Fiona stopped him.
"Yes?" Anon asked, turning around.
"Today, I'm hosting a party to celebrate your match victory. You should come, but I'm not forcing you. It's entirely up to you," Fiona offered.
"I'll think about it," Anon replied as he continued heading to his room.
Fiona was entirely taken aback by Anon's response.
'No one in this kingdom has ever said these words to me except this guy. If you weren't my golden opportunity to become the perfect Queen, I swear to the 14 elven gods... you'd be dead by now,' Fiona thought as she watched Anon walk away.
"Ma'am, your bath is ready. Shall we go?" maid Maria asked.
"Yes, Maria," Fiona replied, following the maid to her bath.
Meanwhile, Anon was walking through the corridors with a smile on his face...
"M-Mr. Jule... W-Welcome back," a maid greeted Anon as he passed through the hallway. This maid was the same one Fiona had assigned to him on his first day.
Anon immediately grabbed the maid by her waist and pinned her to the wall.
"Hello, love. Still so formal with me, huh...?" Anon asked as he lightly touched her left cheek with his fingers and trailed them down to her neck slowly.
"M-Mr. Jule, someone will see us here," the maid said with a red face, her heart racing like a train, and her breathing erratic.
"My, my, look at you. Getting all shy, huh...? In bed, you don't behave the same, do you?" Anon teased with a smile, slipping his fingers inside her dress and applying pressure against her.
"Anhhh.... I-I have work... I'll serve you tonight, Mr. Jule," the maid said in a very shy tone as she managed to free herself and quickly left.
"Oh, you will..." Anon muttered in a low voice, looking at her with a sinister smile.
'Show me,' Anon commanded.
Suddenly, a semi-transparent window appeared in front of him...
[Fola's Mind Corruption: 20%]
'Not bad... Corrupt one apple, and the whole basket will start rotting on its own,' Anon thought as he turned around and walked toward his room.
Now she would boast about it to her other maid friends... the virus of carnal desires will start to spread now.
"Hey, do you know the guy Queen brought in, three days ago?" Fola asked, standing among her other maid friends.
"Oh, the muscular guy?"
"Oh my god. He's so sexy. I wish he'd take me into his bed by force and ravage me like some cheap slut." one of the other milfy maid remarked.
"Bitch, you're married and you have 3 children; have some shame. Let us have him." Other maid spoke.
"What happened next, Fola? Did he take you to his bed and fucked you like a cheap slut ? Was his dick big ?" one of the maids asked with curiosity.
"Well, he did take me into his bed the night he arrived at the castle, and believe me, it was the best night of my life. I'd never seen such a big and thick dick in my life, my boyfriend was like nothing in front of him.
He throwed me into his bed like an object, removed my clothes and he took off my panties with his mouth. Then he started to lick my pussy with his tongue and it felt like heaven." Fola explained.
"Eew... What do you mean, he started licking you ?"
"You idiots... you wouldn't understand. His tongue moved on my pussy just like a god's hand on a harp. Then he... well, you can guess. That feeling... Anhhh. I still can't forget it," Fola spoke with closed eyes, lost in her reverie.
"So, was it that good?" a maid asked.
"Good? The next day, I broke up with my boyfriend. I don't want to be touched by anyone else other than Mr. Jule now. Just now, he grabbed me in the hallway and pinned me to the wall like a wild beast. Ahhh... I want night to fall even faster now so I can go to his room and do it again," Fola said as she left the room.
"Hey, do you think I stand a chance with him?"
"Yeah... No. Hahaha..."
"Hahaha...."
"Hehehe...."
Laughter filled the room.
In Anon's room...
Anon was sitting by the window, looking outside.
"How should I corrupt the Queen?" Anon mused, watching the kids playing in the garden.
"She doesn't eat or drink the same things as everyone else, and her food is magically checked, so there's a high chance of me getting caught if I tamper with it. I have to find another way to corrupt—" As Anon was pondering this, his gaze fell upon Fate, who was leaving the castle with her soldiers.
"Hehe... I heard that the one who checks her food every night is none other than Mrs. Fate herself. So, why not corrupt her first? It's time for me to complete that date, I guess." Anon thought as he leaped out of the window and landed directly in front of Fate.
Thud
Fate and her soldiers immediately drew their weapons, pointing them at Anon.
"Hello, Commander Faith," Anon greeted her with a smile.
"Weapons down," Faith ordered, ignoring Anon as she continued walking.
"Hey, Are you ignoring me ?" Anon asked as he continued to walk with her.
"Mr. Jule, please return back to your room. We are on a mission right now and we don't have time to play with you." Fate replied as she continued to walk again and ignored Anon.
"Hmm...? Are you ignoring me ?" Anon asked as he blocked her way.
"You guys, go ahead. I will have a small talk with Mr. Jule and come to you in a bit." Faith ordered and her soldiers immediately followed her orders.
"What do you want to say ? Say it fast... i don't have that much time to waste on you." Faith spoke with an angry expression.
"Are you angry with me ?" Anon asked.
"Huh... Me ? No, No... How can I be angry on you ? How can anyone be angry on a guy, who promised the girl a date, but he never showed up to it.
After 7 days, he shows up and guess what ? He was charged with his father's murder. After this he was being carried to the castle, but he blows the gate away and runs from the carriage and as if this wasn't enough, he humiliated me in front of the Queen too.
Can you be angry on a cute guy like that ?" Faith asked with a fake smile on her face.
'What a drama Queen ? I thought she would be a bit wise but i guess all bitches are same when it comes to this stuff. Well, let's play with it... manipulation is best done with emotions.' Anon thought.
"Look, i admit that I did somethings, that i wasn't supposed to do and i am sorry for that but I want to make it up to you. Let's go on an another date, what do you say ?" Anon asked.
"No Mr. Jule. I am not going to stand another night near a fucking lake waiting for a boy who never shows up to his dates and you should go and prepare for your next match." Faith spoke as she started walking again.
"Hey, i apologized for it." Anon spoke as he followed her to her carriage.
'Once i corrupt this bitch... I will train her througly like a real bitch. Who will stand up when I say 'Stand' and Sit down when I say 'Sit', just you wait.' Anon thought as he looked at Faith with a perverted smile.
Faith opened her carriage door and walked in. She immediately closed the door as soon as she got inside, so that Anon couldn't get inside behind her.
But as soon as she sat down on her seat, she noticed a presence besides her.
Faith immediately turned around and noticed that Anon is already sitting there.
"Hello..." Anon spoke as he waved at her with a smile.
"Y-You... But how ?" Faith questioned as she looked towards the gate and noticed that it was still locked.
"Magic, my Darling." Anon spoke with a smile.
'D-D-D-Darling ? D-Did he just called me 'Darling' ?' Faith wondered as her face turned red due to shyness.
"Is something wrong ? Why is your face all red ?" Anon questioned as he puts his hand on her forehead.
'Ah, he is touching me... his manly smell is going inside my nostrils, it's like my nose is melting from his smell.' Faith thought as she started sniffing.
"Umm...? What are you doing ?" Anon asked with a confused expression.
Faith immediately looked at Anon and stopped sniffing.
"N-Nothing... you get out of this carriage right now." Fate spoke as she pointed towards the gate of the carriage.
"Calm down... I am coming with you on this case. Just chill out." Anon spoke as she looked at Faith with a serious expression.
"Are you sure ?" Faith asked.
"Yes and there is a hair on your nose... let me pick it up for you." Anon spoke as he used his hand to pick up the hair from Faith's nose but suddenly he noticed something.
*Sniff-Sniff*
Faith closed her eyes and started sniffing Anon's hand, just like a dog would do.
'Wait, Is this what i think, it is ?' Anon wondered as he removed his hand from her face.
Faith immediately stopped sniffing.
'Hehehehe... this is fucking awesome. She is like the perfect bitch running around to get tamed. She has a fucking smell fetish. Hahaha... i don't know why but many evil thoughts are popping into my mind.
I don't know how this got missed from my eyes when we first met ?' Anon thought as a smile appeared on his head and an evil idea popped up in his mind.
"Woah, I am sweating inside this carriage." Anon spoke as he took out his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his sweat with it.
*gulp*
Seeing this view, Faith immediately gulped a mouth full of saliva and looked at Anon.
Anon noticed this with one eye and dropped his handkerchief.
"Oops, I think I dropped it, i should pick-"
"I will pick it up. Don't you dare bend down." Faith spoke in a very hurried sound as she swiftly bent down and grabbed Anon's handkerchief from the ground.
"Okay..." Anon spoke as he pretended to look out of the window.
Faith looked at Anon and noticed that he was looking outside,
So she quickly puts Anon's handkerchief to her nose and takes a very deep sniff.
'OH MY FUCKING GOD!!!! What a great smell ?' Faith thought as she closed her eyes and got engaged in her Sniffing.
'What the fuck ? She is a bigger masochist than i thought.' Anon thought as he looked at her for a moment and then turned his head towards the window again.
"Here, you go." Faith spoke as she came back up and gave it back to Anon.
"You can keep it." Anon spoke with a smile.
"Huh...? W-W-Why would I k-keep your H-Handkerchief ?" Faith asked with a confused expression as if she was trying to hide something.
"Well, okay." Anon spoke as he took it back from her hands.
"I was just trying to give it to you as a gift for our missed date and-" Before Anon could've completed his sentence, Faith grabbed the handkerchief back from his hands.
"Well, if it's that type of gift. I should accept it or you would get disappointed and I don't want to see you cry like a child." Faith spoke as her face turned red.
"Yes, Yes... you are right. I would be very disappointed..." Anon replied in a low tone as a smile appeared on his face.
click
The carriage stopped in front of a grand mansion, and Anon opened the carriage gate. He stepped out first, then offered a helping hand to Faith.
"So, why are we here again? Isn't this the Dark Elven territory, if I remember correctly?" Anon asked with a puzzled expression.
"Yes, our presence was requested here by the Chief Commander of the Dark Elves," Faith replied.
"Do you know anything about your mission?" Anon inquired.
"No, but the official letter said that it was a very critical matter, and we had to come as soon as possible, so we came," Faith replied as she started walking inside, and all the soldiers followed.
As Anon and Faith proceeded toward the grand mansion, the main gates opened, revealing five Dark Elves in dark blue plate armor who stepped out.
Upon reaching a certain distance, both groups halted.
"Hello, I am Julia, the Chief Commander of the Dark Elves, and this is my Vice Commander, Ella," Julia introduced herself, shaking hands with Faith, followed by Ella.
"I am Faith, the one and only Chief Commander of the White Elves," Faith responded.
"It's nice to meet you, ma'am. I am very sorry for summoning you on such short notice, but it was very important," Julia explained.
"No problem. Let's proceed and take a look without wasting any more time here," Faith suggested.
"Please follow me," Julia said, leading everyone inside the mansion.
Faith walked alongside Julia, while Ella and Anon walked together.
"Jule," Anon introduced himself, extending his hand for a handshake. However, Ella just looked at Anon without responding.
"My name is Jule," Anon repeated.
"I understood the first time. What role do you play in this team?" Ella asked with a disgusted expression.
Anon quickly withdrew his hand and responded, "I am just a nobody."
"Are you a noble, Mr. Nobody?" Ella questioned.
"I am not, ma'am," Anon replied with a smile.
"Then keep your disgusting hands away from me because I am a noble girl, Mr. Nobody. Even if I am dying, you don't have to touch me. You know what? Don't even talk to me with that pathetic mouth of yours," Ella declared with an egotistical tone.
'Yep, that's the right amount of attitude to get you killed. I can't believe she's still alive,' Anon thought.
"Got that, ma'am," Anon responded with a smile.
"Ella, be nice to the guests. How many times do I have to tell you this? Please forgive him, Sir. She is just a spoiled kid," Julia intervened.
"Sorry, ma'am," Ella muttered in a low tone.
"So, what happened here?" Faith asked as she noticed bloodstains on the wall.
"This morning, we received a report of unusual events taking place in this house. The neighbors continuously reported hearing loud shouting noises and sharp scratching sounds coming from this house.
Our teams were immediately dispatched to investigate, but..." Julia began, her expression turning somber, and she stopped mid-sentence.
"But... what?" Faith inquired.
"None of them returned from the mansion," Julia continued.
"Why? What happened?" Faith pressed.
"We don't know," Julia replied.
"What do you mean?" Faith asked.
"He will explain everything to you," Julia said, leading everyone into a room and gesturing toward a well-dressed Dark Elf seated inside with his hand on his temple.
"Mr. Freeman, I have called for backup. Please explain the situation to her. She is the Chief Commander of the White Elves, Mrs. Faith, and these are her soldiers," Julia said before leaving the room.
"Why is Julia involving White Elves in this matter?" Mr. Freeman whispered in a hushed voice.
"Please explain quickly. We need to take action," Faith urged as she looked at the man.
"Yes... please, have a seat," Mr. Freeman requested.
Both Faith and Anon took a seat on the sofa, their curiosity evident as they focused on Mr. Freeman.
"My daughter, Levine, got involved in some illegal work related to the transportation of illegal substances, or what you might call..."
"Drug supplier. She's a drug supplier, right?" Anon guessed with a smile.
"Yes, that. She was a drug supplier, but twelve months ago, she got in contact with a man who paid her a significant amount of money just to test his drug.
She began taking it for fun, but within three days, she developed an addiction, and within six months, she was fully addicted to that drug."
"Wait, you let your own daughter take drugs?" Faith asked with a puzzled expression.
"I am ashamed of that... I became so consumed with making money that I forgot to take care of my baby daughter, and God is punishing me for that today. Sob-Sob," Mr. Freeman said, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Okay, what happened after that?" Faith inquired.
"She stopped going out, but her friends started visiting our house more often. At first, I thought it was normal, but after some time, they began staying here in my house. They wouldn't leave. This morning, some of our maids took breakfast to their room, but as soon as one entered the room, a very horrific and terrifying scream started emanating from it.
The head maid immediately informed me, and I rushed to her room as quickly as possible. When I opened that door... I saw something very horrifying," Mr. Freeman paused, a traumatized look on his face.
"What did you see, Mr. Freeman? Tell me, what did you see?" Faith urged, waving her hand in front of him.
"C-Cannibalism... S-She and her friends were eating the maid's body like some monsters. I immediately closed the door and retreated to my room. Before I could call the authorities, many guards were already standing on my doorstep.
They barged into the house but when they barged into my daughter's room, not even one of them came out of that room.
I opened the door slightly and saw that all of them died brutally and that they are being eaten by my daughter and her friends.
Suddenly another batch of soldiers barged into the house, i warned them to stop but they didn't stop and barged into the same room.
This happened for the next one hour, no matter how much armed you go inside that room, you turn out to be a dead body." Mr. freeman explained.