A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Chapter 163: The Arrogant Stumbled in the Trap - IV

"Since you are here on behalf of the Elder Princess..."

Soon, Conrad revealed his previous composed smile, "Then, you are also a guest, Miss Ravenna."

"No guest would beat up their host."

Ravenna continued to walk forward, saying without expression, "Just continue to treat me as an enemy, just like the eighty-six assassination attempts you planned against me until yesterday."

Seraphina was shocked. She had only felt angry when she was talking to Ravenna, but now she deeply felt Ravenna's rudeness... Wasn't this worse than her inability to speak?

No, it wasn't that she couldn't, she seemed to be doing it on purpose.

Wasn't that even more disgusting!

Seraphina, who never knew how disgusting she was before, fell into deep thought while observing Ravenna's performance.

Did Ansel have a hard time tolerating me back then?

"Seraphina?" Ansel's call pulled the daydreaming Seraphina back to reality. "Let's go, we should start our tour."

"…Huh? Oh! Right, the tour… We came here for the tour…"

Regaining her composure, Seraphina stayed close to Ansel, unable to resist glancing at Ravenna, who walked at the front as if she were the guide, and then at Conrad, who had managed to maintain some dignity from the beginning.

"Ansel," the young girl whispered into his ear, "why did that weirdo suddenly come here to cause trouble, and how did she manage to get the support of that Elder Princess?"

"Who knows," Ansel replied nonchalantly with a light laugh.

He's just a visitor, invited by the Etheric Academy, not the one who actively sought out the Academy. So, what happens here has nothing to do with him.

Ravenna, it was clear, had sought out Evora as a backer, instigating trouble at the doorstep. Everyone was aware of the deep-seated animosity between this prodigious lady and the Etheric Academy, so it was only natural for her to challenge them, and it had nothing to do with Ansel.

But why did it have to be at this moment?

Of course, it was a coincidence.

How could it be a scheme orchestrated by Ansel of Hydral, who had just returned to the capital?

— At least, that's how it appeared to the outside world.

"The first level of Yuktreshil, is the foundation of the entire tower."

Conrad, leading Ansel, said with a beaming smile. "And as the foundation, the only fundamental essence of this level, apart from Ether, could not possibly be anything else."

Upon entering the first level of the Sorcerer's Tower, named Yuktreshil, Ansel and Seraphina first entered a spacious hall leading to six different directions. The hall was devoid of people, seemingly prepared in advance for Ansel's visit. The next generation's Duke of Luminaris continued to explain to Ansel in an orderly manner, "From here, each direction—"

"A waste of time."

Ravenna interrupted Conrad's words. "As I expected, you will waste nearly two-thirds of your time on these meaningless matters. Your true intention is to show your 'strength' to Hydral to win his favor, but you waste every minute and second that could be used for research to show your so-called elegance and style."

"Do you really think," she looked at Conrad, whose smile was fading, "that Hydral would be interested in these things?"

"In fact," Ansel shrugged, "I am quite interested."

"..." Ravenna, who had always maintained a cold, expressionless face, seemed to become even more severe due to Ansel's words and the position revealed in them.

"Mr. Conrad, let's continue. Until we reach the sparring session, you don't need to take Miss Ravenna's words too seriously, do you?"

On top of that, Ansel said to Conrad with a smile, making Ravenna, who was ignored every time she saw Ansel, almost materialize the coldness in her eyes into a tangible blade.

H-Y-D-R-A-L!

The floating cannons around her trembled left and right due to her unstable emotions, and the muzzle even began to condense lasers.

But Ravenna quickly controlled her emotions. From the perspective of others, she didn't seem to lose control at all.

"... No, Lord Ansel," Conrad bowed to Ansel, "Thank you for your support and tolerance, but I believe... if we let Miss Ziegler continue to provoke like this, it would be an insult to the dignity of the Etheric Academy."

"Could you please allow me to have a simple spar with Miss Ravenna now?"

"Since you've said so, I have no reason to refuse."

When the scene he had been expecting finally arrived, the corners of Ansel's mouth rose slightly, "Rather..."

Innocent Hydral, the spectator, smiled brightly, "I'm quite looking forward to what sparks will be ignited when you two clash."

Conrad placed the scepter at his waist and confidently said, "I will not disappoint you."

He looked at Ravenna and said, "Since we are in the first layer that regards Ether as the foundation, let's spar on the topic of Ether manipulation, shall we?"

"I have no problem with that." Ravenna put her hands in the pockets of her white coat, "Who will come up with the specific topic, you or me?"

"Well, how about..."

Kind-hearted Hydral showed a warm smile, "Let me, a sufficiently objective third party, come up with the topic, how about that?"

Conrad was stunned at first, then immediately nodded, "If Lord Ansel comes up with the topic, it will definitely be absolutely fair."

Ravenna was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded, because she didn't believe that Ansel had fallen to the point of cheating for these vulgar people.

"Then, let's decide the winner with the most basic spell, the Sorcerer's Hand."

Ansel said in a light tone, "The two of you, whoever can make Seraphina move a step with the Sorcerer's Hand within thirty seconds, wins."

Conrad was silent, Ravenna was silent, and Seraphina, who was looking at the gorgeous murals in the hall, also turned her head in confusion.

"Uh..."

Conrad hesitated for a moment, then said quite tactfully, "Lord Ansel, is this topic a bit... unfriendly to Miss Marlowe?"

Ravenna was just straightforward, "Do you think we can't even make her move a step? Are you serious? Hydral?"

-->