IWYTBW - Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Hurry Up and Say ‘Thank You, Brother Yi Zhen’!

The boys nearby rushed forward, grabbing onto Qi Jiayou’s legs in a chaotic scramble, attempting to snatch the flower away. The scene instantly devolved into pandemonium.

Their instructor roared, “What did I just say? Strong alkali, strong acid, high temperature!”

One of the boys tugging on a leg yelled back, “Quicklime is easy to make! Reacts with water to release a lot of heat and creates a strong alkali! It’s the perfect counter to Dragon Tooth Flower!”

“Quicklime! Quick quick quick, quicklime! Sprinkle quicklime on it, hit it, hit its mother—!”

“…I told you to hit its mother, not me! Ah, my eyes!”

“I didn’t do it on purpose! It just stinks so much… Urgh—”

“Hey—! Where are you throwing up?! Put your mask on properly!”

“Everyone, get out of the way!” Natalia raised her arm, a particle cannon coalescing into a snow-white, incandescent light. “Don’t get in my way!”

The boys hastily let go and scattered. The beam shot out like an arrow, accompanied by an explosive burst and a wave of heat. The Dragon Tooth Flower’s roots were instantly blown to smithereens. The viscous fluid splattered onto the ground, emitting corrosive white smoke.

The air blast simultaneously launched Qi Jiayou into the air. A blurry figure flashed by mid-air, catching him and bringing him safely to the ground.

Nishikawa Hiroki wiped his hands expressionlessly. “That stinks.”

Ai Ling, who had witnessed all of this: “…”

Yi Zhen, who had also witnessed all of this: “…Where did this bunch of clowns come from?”

Ai Ling: “…Who knows?”

“Speaking of which, isn't someone missing from their little group? Where’s that blond boy?”

“You mean Oliver?” Ai Ling asked. “He’s only 20 and already an A-rank pilot. If nothing unexpected happens, he’ll definitely make it to the finals and be a top contender for the championship. Of course, someone like that needs special attention.”

“I see. He advanced again, huh.”

Qi Jiayou, without even uttering a word, was carried off by his instructor for treatment. Natalia, flipping her hair to hide her guilt at having indirectly injured her teammate, searched around and finally spotted Yi Zhen at the edge of the crowd.

“…Hehe,” she chuckled dryly, making small talk. “What are you doing here?”

Since the banquet, Yi Zhen hadn’t paid any attention to this group. However, now that they had approached him, he couldn’t exactly avoid them. “I came with Ai Ling to take a look,” he replied.

“Makes sense,” Natalia said awkwardly. “Since you also signed up for the competition, you should come and see…”

The surrounding students stared curiously in their direction.

Even with Azoth Empire’s stringent admission standards, family background wasn't the most important thing at Star Alliance University. Every year, a large number of top commoner talents were admitted, proving that as long as one possessed sufficient ability, even the gates of an aristocratic academy would open wide.

However, this concept wasn't a continuation of tradition, but the result of admissions reforms. Just a century ago, this university was a staunch defender of their ‘prestigious’ alumni, with the vast majority of board members adhering to the principle of "maintaining the dignity of the upper-class elite" and only accepting descendants of royalty and nobility. However, even more cruel than this prejudice was the reality that stared them in the face.

—In just twenty years, Azoth University, Imperial Industrial University, and First Technological University, among other prestigious institutions, had easily surpassed Star Alliance University, turning it into a story that only thrived in the past. Those institutions ignored the old-fashioned families and substantial financial resources behind Star Alliance University, effortlessly trampling this aristocratic academy underfoot solely on the merit of their excellent graduates.

The inability to attract outstanding students meant the complete disqualification of an institution. The Empire’s universities had their own “hunting grounds” and “private lands.” During the mid-year and end-of-year exams, these served as testing and training grounds for the students. However, years of defeat had caused Star Alliance University’s hunting grounds to shrink repeatedly, until they lost an entire resource planet. Even with the backing of the royal family, the board members couldn't stop the annexation strategies of other universities.

With the situation reaching this point, the university’s rules and regulations, as well as its admissions plan, had to be completely reformed. However, some board members still believed that this diluted Star Alliance University's bloodline and honor, rendering the concept of ‘pure blood dignity’ meaningless. The principal at the time, ignoring the objections, single-handedly overruled the opposition. He believed that as long as the royal family and the children of those few great noble families enrolled, Star Alliance University would remain unchanged. No matter how many commoner students flooded in, even if they broke down the university’s gates like a tidal wave, those noble students would be like pillars, forever maintaining the university’s ancient and noble status.

—The hereditary Grand Duke Norst, of the Rauðr Dreki family, was one of those pillars.

Therefore, Natalia held an exceptionally special status and position within the university. Saying that she was ‘second only to one person and above everyone else’ wasn't an exaggeration. At this moment, her tone wasn't exactly aloof, nor was it intimate. Rather, it was a bit awkward, like she was trying to make small talk… There wasn't another person in the entire school she would address in this manner.

Just who was this stunning young man?

Seeing the increasing number of curious gazes directed their way, Yi Zhen couldn't help but remind her, “So, is there anything in particular you want… ? If not, I'll go back to class. It's a rare opportunity.”

“Actually, I…”

“Oh my, isn't that Natalia?” A frivolous greeting suddenly came from not far away. “What are you doing, messing up the class again?”

Hearing this voice, Natalia’s expression immediately changed. Jin Qi pursed her lips and turned to disappear into the crowd.

Natalia's gaze turned icy. Without even looking back, she said coldly, “It’s none of your business, Eugene.”

Ai Ling exclaimed in surprise, “Ah, it's him!”

Yi Zhen looked over and saw a group of people fawning over a handsome boy. The boy had brown hair and green eyes, with three black moles under his right eye, adding an inexplicably effeminate touch to his appearance.

“Who is he?” Yi Zhen wondered.

“Eugene Hall, the grandson of Cabinet Minister Toran Hall,” Ai Ling replied in a low voice. “The current cabinet doesn’t have a Prime Minister, but Toran Hall's prestige within the cabinet is so high that some people call him ‘Little Prime Minister.’”

“Pretty bold, daring to challenge the Red Dragon's Valkyrie,” Yi Zhen remarked, anticipating a good show.

“They used to leave each other alone,” Ai Ling said, “but after the pillars of their families clashed a few times in court, the younger generation started getting at each other’s throats.”

While they were talking, Eugene had approached. He wasn’t the least bit intimidated by Natalia's cold face and said with amusement, “Oh, Miss Ai Ling is here too… Natalia, I heard that after you apologized that day, you went home looking dejected. How can you still have the nerve to stand in front of Miss Ai Ling?”

What had happened at the banquet that day was handled by Anji, a professional in these matters. Plus, the few people involved had kept their mouths shut about the details afterward, so no one knew exactly what transpired. But there were no secrets in the world that stayed as such forever, and snippets of information about the incident still managed to leak out.

“Hey, your conflict is between the two of you, don't drag unrelated people into it,” Ai Ling said frankly, immediately pulling Yi Zhen back a step. “I was just passing by, so there’s no need to use me as a shield.”

Eugene was startled, seemingly not expecting Ai Ling to be so blunt. The young men around him stared intently at Yi Zhen, their gazes cold as ice, impossible to ignore.

Yi Zhen suddenly turned his head to meet the gaze of one of them. He saw the other's blond hair and blue eyes, and the other saw his eyes, sharp as swords, bright as moonlight piercing the sky, stinging his pupils.

“You’re Yi Zhen?” the young man lowered his eyes, his voice like colliding icicles.

Yi Zhen frowned slightly. “I am. Why?”

Eugene immediately turned to look at him, his eyes lighting up. His gaze swept over Yi Zhen from head to toe. “So, you’re the one with Great Dark Sky… Oh, seeing is truly believing. What a delectable beauty!”

His smile was overly suggestive, his tone playful. The romantic affairs of celebrities were always a source of gossip, and the scandalous news of the strong was even more amusing due to the contrast. Rong Hongxue was both a celebrity and a powerhouse. Coupled with the ridiculous yet undeniable world setting of this novel, the attraction tripled, immediately diverting Eugene's attention.

Yi Zhen’s relationship with Rong Hongxue wasn't a secret. Moreover, the students of the aristocratic university had their own channels of information. While the students on Natalia's side remained relatively composed, on Eugene's side, as soon as he finished speaking, the group behind him erupted in snickers and lewd laughter.

Natalia’s heart skipped a beat. She finally turned to stare at Eugene, then glanced at Yi Zhen’s expression. A malicious smile crept onto her lips.

Idiot, you’re dead.

“Shut up, wart,” Yi Zhen said indifferently. “Next time, before you open your mouth, maybe you should get those three tumors on your face lasered off.”

— A personal attack! He started with a personal attack!

Natalia had already retreated to the sidelines to observe the unfolding battle. Ursula murmured, “Damn, he’s so daring. This is going to be good.”

“Record it, Hiroki, record it!” Natalia immediately instructed. “I have a feeling Wart is going to fall flat on his face today!”

Eugene stammered, “You… what did you say? You just said…”

He suddenly flew into a rage. “You… you commoner! What did you say?! These are beauty marks! How dare you call me a wart!”

Yi Zhen sighed.

Ah, he was really fed up with how everyone in this damn novel could just trample all over his private life.

“Eugene, is it? How about I give you a new name, ‘Warty’?” Yi Zhen gave a mocking yet pitying smile. “See? It captures both form and spirit. How apt.”

Eugene had never encountered an opponent like this.

His family was top-tier, his talent and strength were top-tier. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that he considered his appearance top-tier as well. He was only 19 and about to break through B+ and enter the ranks of A-rank pilots. How many geniuses like him were there in the entire Empire?

Of course, all of this was achieved through his endless hard work. He had tempered his physical and mental abilities in thousands of battles, undergoing arduous daily training from the age of four, continuing for fifteen years. He was also a registered disciple of a Grand Miracle and could already produce all the potions a B-rank alchemist could concoct. His teacher, the pilot of the S-rank mecha “Hundred-Armed Titan,” also smiled upon his talent and progress.

Time flowed like a river, and he hadn't failed to live up to his ambition and greed. What a noble life he lived, naturally destined to dominate the world!

—He firmly believed this.

Until he met Yi Zhen today.

The handsome young man looked at him coldly, his gaze sharp as a knife, discarding his family background like trash, discarding his talent and strength, discarding his appearance, his blood, sweat, and achievements, everything he prided himself on, and finally resting the tip of the blade on his… warts.

…As if out of his entire life, only his “warts,” were worth mentioning.

“Duel… a duel!” Eugene trembled all over, his blood rushing to his head, making his vision white. “I demand to duel this commoner!”

Main Quest: Duel Triggered

Quest Objective: Time for another face-slapping, is it?

Wart—no, Eugene Hall. Born into a prestigious family, heir to a powerful official, sees himself as the pride of his family, the center of the Empire, the master of the world.

—Until he met me, the protagonist of this damned novel.

...Well, time to give it my all.

Quest Rewards:

Skill Points x2

Azure Black Mamba x1

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