Seeing the massive boulder hurtling toward him, the bespectacled man hadn’t completely lost his composure yet.

He immediately controlled the vine hands on his back to stab at the boulder, shattering it into countless fragments.

However, being too close to the explosion, he was inevitably injured by the sharp debris and forced back several steps.

If that was all, it wouldn’t have been too bad.

But the worst part was, who knew which rock fragment had such perfect aim, it ricocheted right onto his face, knocking the glasses clean off his nose.

“Ah, damn it!” Suddenly finding his vision blurred, the bespectacled man froze for a moment before realizing what had happened.

He quickly crouched down, frantically searching for his glasses.

But the more anxious he became, the harder they were to find.

With his blurry vision and inability to distinguish people from objects without his glasses, he nearly pressed his face to the ground but still couldn’t spot them.

“Sir, here you go.”

“Ah! Thank you, thank you!” At that moment, some kind soul had found his glasses and handed them to him.

Overjoyed, the bespectacled man eagerly took them. But the moment he put them on, he sensed something was off.

Lifting his gaze, he saw a flanged mace rapidly enlarging in his vision before smashing into his skull with a resounding,

BANG!

His head was driven straight into the ground, officially eliminating him.

After dealing with everyone, Vanessa leaned on her mace, kneeling on one knee as she panted softly, her breaths delicate and alluring.

Was it over?

Even exhausted to this extent, Vanessa didn’t collapse ungracefully onto the ground.

Instead, she gazed toward the entrance, where a tall, shadowy figure could faintly be seen.

Her expression instantly turned grave.

“My, my, perfect timing indeed.” A lanky young man in a top hat, leaning on a gentleman’s cane, strolled into the underground ruins, clicking his tongue at the scene before him.

When had he appeared there?

Vanessa frowned.

Just moments ago, the entrance had been empty, and she hadn’t heard any footsteps. The top-hatted man seemed to have materialized out of thin air.

“Lovely lady, allow me to introduce myself. I am Mavie Terrell, eldest son of Count Terrell of the Tyrell Empire.” The man tipped his hat, spinning it deftly in his hand.

“You must not be a nobility from the empire, or I would surely remember you, just as you would undoubtedly recall a man of my extraordinary charm.” His face bore a somewhat sickly pallor.

He was indeed rather handsome, but his narcissism perfectly canceled out that advantage.

“If possible, I truly have no desire to trouble a beauty like yourself, nor the equally enchanting lady behind you.” As he spoke, Mavie pointed at the slumbering Isatia Lanteville behind Vanessa.

Vanessa glanced at Isatia Lanteville, feeling genuinely exasperated. She had no idea what Isatia Lanteville was thinking, trusting her enough to absorb the inheritance right in front of her.

Was she really that confident?

And even if so, shouldn’t she at least take precautions against others interrupting her during the process?

“Ah, both of you are so lovely. Honestly, aside from Her Highness the Imperial Princess, I can’t think of anyone in the entire empire who could rival your beauty.”

“What a shame. If only you could both enroll smoothly, then you could both fall for my charm together.” With that, the top-hatted man theatrically placed a rose between his teeth.

Vanessa’s face remained impassive.

What was the most common sight in Carillian Academy’s entrance trial? Spoiled young masters, of course.

That probably explained why such a cringeworthy specimen existed.

“But don’t lose heart. You both still have a chance. How about this? As a gentleman, I dislike taking advantage of others. If you two beauties promise to follow my lead after enrollment, I might consider letting you off, and even protect you afterward.” Mavie wore an expression that screamed, I’m giving you an out, completely oblivious to how inappropriate his words were.

“No need, Mr. Mavie. Just abide by the trial rules and make your move.” The warmth vanished from Vanessa’s eyes.

“Ah, what a pity. Won’t you reconsider?” Mavie shook his head, extending a hand toward Vanessa.

“Miss, there’s no need to push yourself. Anyone can see you’re at your limit. Don’t force it, even if I gave you a handicap, you’d stand no chance against me now.”

“Perhaps you don’t fully grasp my strength. Let me assure you, even if you teamed up with the lady behind you, you wouldn’t be my match.”

Vanessa said nothing, merely swinging her mace in response.

“Tsk, must it come to this?” Mavie sighed dramatically.

Vanessa’s eyes narrowed. Her danger sense screamed as a figure abruptly lunged at her from behind. She whirled around, blocking with her mace.

Clang! Clang!

Vanessa’s pupils contracted. Another Mavie had somehow appeared behind her, his cane locked against her mace as they struggled for dominance.

What the—?

Her peripheral vision caught two more Mavie charging at her from the sides, canes raised.

Clones?

This man could learn such a unique skill, meaning his Soul Armament must be extraordinary.

Vanessa shoved the clone before her aside and turned to face the three attackers.

Her heavy mace danced with almost supernatural precision.

But even an iron warrior would be exhausted after prolonged combat.

The extended battle, coupled with the energy spent lifting the boulder earlier, had drained Vanessa.

Her injuries hadn’t fully healed, and her mana was nearly depleted. Just as Mavie had said, she was at her lowest point.

This showed in her diminished strength and speed. She could only repel the clones, unable to overpower them through sheer force.

Four clones alone had Vanessa on the defensive, but Mavie’s limit far exceeded that number.

As she fought, he continued summoning more. Within moments, another clone joined the fray.

Soon, over ten clones surrounded Vanessa, trapping the utterly exhausted girl who could barely straighten her back.

“Well, miss? Do you see now that my earlier words weren’t empty boasts? I can handle multiple opponents with ease, in every sense.” Mavie smirked.

“So, have you changed your mind?”

Vanessa knelt on one knee, using her mace to prop herself up as she panted lightly, her abdomen rising and falling.

She remained silent, her hair cascading over her shoulders and thighs like a dazzling peach-colored silk.

“Very well. Though patience is a gentleman’s virtue, I’d advise against testing mine too far.” Mavie leaned down.

“I’d like your answer soon, will you surrender your heart and body to me?”

“Sorry, but this lady’s heart and body already belong to me. You’re far too late, sir. Persisting would only make you look pathetic.” A voice suddenly rang out from the direction of the crystal throne.

Hearing that melodious, endlessly enchanting tone, Vanessa didn’t need to guess who it was.

A golden holy sword descended from above, impaling the clone that had just spoken. A silver comet-like figure landed gracefully, like a delicate yet thorny cold rose.

“Oh? So that wasn’t the real one?” Noticing the remaining clones hadn’t dispersed and her points hadn’t increased, Isatia Lanteville tilted her head, violet eyes glinting.

“Silver-haired miss, you’re a bit too late,” Vanessa remarked, arching an elegant brow.

“Pfft~ Sorry, sorry! I didn’t expect absorbing an inheritance to cause so much trouble, and left me immobilized, forcing my dear to suffer for me.” Isatia Lanteville wore a sweet smile as she bounced over, pulling Vanessa up.

“You worked hard earlier, darling.” She moved to hug Vanessa’s arm, only for the latter to dodge.

“Wow, so cruel! Weren’t you just showing how much you loved me by blocking spells for me? Why the cold shoulder now?” Isatia Lanteville pouted, looking wounded.

“Could it be… you’re the tsundere type? Hmm, not bad either~”

“Oh? Is that so?” Vanessa smiled sweetly at Isatia Lanteville.

“Silver-haired miss, you could see everything earlier? You were conscious the whole time?”

Outwardly smiling, Vanessa was internally calculating whether Isatia Lanteville had witnessed her casting [Holy King’s Baptism] and intermediate healing light.

She’d been discreet, and the smoke should have obscured things. Even if Isatia Lanteville had been “spectating,” she shouldn’t have noticed.

“That’s right~ Though I really couldn’t move. Otherwise, I’d have chased away those unromantic intruders from our world long ago.”

“Thanks to you, darling. Without you, I wouldn’t have completed the inheritance, and might’ve been eliminated too.”

Really?

Perhaps Isatia Lanteville truly had been immobilized, and she hadn’t expected the inheritance absorption to be so troublesome.

But was she really at risk of losing her enrollment spot?

This was the protagonist, the one with the most cheat abilities in the original story. She might encounter unexpected situations, but she always triumphed in the end.

Not that it was absolute. Vanessa had chosen to help not because she feared Isatia Lanteville failing to enroll, but simply to avoid owing a favor, especially to the protagonist. That was a debt she couldn’t afford.

If Isatia Lanteville had truly been capable of escaping danger earlier, then intervening had been the right choice. Otherwise, repaying the favor later would be even harder.

But if Isatia Lanteville had been aware the whole time…

Vanessa checked her Virtue Points panel. Sure enough, it had increased by 200, now at 834.

So Isatia Lanteville had been “spectating” from the start?

Tch.

“Darling, I was so touched when you blocked that spell for me~ You must’ve ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ fallen for me at first sight too, right? Right?” Isatia Lanteville clung to her like sticky candy.

“No.” Vanessa rejected her flatly, stepping back to avoid being taken advantage of.

“Darling, you’re just shy, aren’t you?”

“Ladies, as much as I hate to interrupt such a lovely exchange, I feel obliged to remind you that I’m still here.” Mavie, unwilling to be ignored, reasserted his presence.

“Ah, right. Almost forgot about you.” Isatia Lanteville smiled at Mavie, a smile that sent chills down one’s spine.

Vanessa recognized that expression from one of Isatia Lanteville’s CGs in the original story, when men harassed her harem members.

“Now, darling, step back. You’re for my eyes only~” Isatia Lanteville giggled, her gaze repeatedly drifting to Vanessa’s exposed, flawless legs.

“Keep your eyes to yourself… Also, silver-haired miss, what did you mean earlier? Who ‘belongs’ to you? Explain.” Vanessa’s smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“Isn’t it obvious? Why else would you protect me so fiercely?” Isatia Lanteville winked.

“Maybe I should’ve given your uniquely wired brain a gentle tap with my mace while you were absorbing the inheritance.” Vanessa clasped her hands behind her back, tilting her head.

“Wuwu~ Would you really, darling?” Isatia Lanteville deployed her S-tier acting skills, her enchanting eyes brimming with tears as the petite silver-haired girl looked pitiful.

“Absolutely.” Vanessa’s smile was radiant. “Tell me, if I don’t fix that broken wire in your brain, how will you ever live a normal life?”

“Ladies, I’ve been standing here for quite a while. Are you truly ignoring me?” Mavie, thoroughly slighted, grew irritated, especially since neither beauty was paying him attention, bruising his ego.

He’d always been confident in his charm. Back home, a mere crook of his finger would have girls flocking to him.

“So heartless~” Isatia Lanteville pouted, leaning close to Vanessa before whispering, “The inheritance drained all my mana. I’m empty.”

Vanessa’s eyes flickered. She immediately understood Isatia Lanteville’s intent.

Their gazes met, communicating volumes without words.

“So, darling, how about a kiss?” The next moment, Isatia Lanteville reverted to her playful self, licking her lips.

“Silver-haired miss, your skin is thicker than the city walls. I wonder which would win in a contest.” Vanessa clenched her fist and swung with full force, not at Isatia Lanteville, but at the Mavie clone behind her.

Isatia Lanteville ducked, and the punch sent the clone spinning through the air before it dissipated.

“Hey! You’re serious? That’s too much!” Isatia Lanteville retaliated with a spinning kick.

Vanessa, having caught Isatia Lanteville’s cue earlier, sidestepped, letting the kick obliterate another clone.

“You’re mocking me?” Realizing the two had been putting on an act, Mavie flew into a rage, commanding all clones to attack simultaneously.

Vanessa and Isatia Lanteville exchanged a glance before wordlessly standing back-to-back, ready to face the onslaught.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep