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Thanks to my Harem, I Rise as the Dragon King-Chapter 7: Gauntlet
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Chapter 7: Gauntlet
Β«Aaaah, finally,Β» Arielle sighs. πππππ¨π²πππ¨π―ππ.ππΌπΊ
She stretches and lets out a long sigh of relief, while the five of usβme, her, Viktoria, Selene, and Jasmineβwalk through the corridors of Astralea.
Β«Professor Laxarβs Magical Theories classes are such a drag... if he werenβt ridiculously hot, Iβd fall asleep within ten minutes,Β» she adds with a yawn.
Β«You can say that again!Β» Viktoria agrees. Β«By the end, I want him to fuck every hole in my body! Jade already said he wouldnβt mind.Β»
She shoots me a provocative glance.
Β«Still going on about this?Β» I mutter, annoyed.
Β«Um... Jade...Β» Jasmine timidly gets my attention. Β«I finally finished the poem I told you about a few weeks ago... if youβd like, I could read it to you.Β»
I nod, more curious than I thought Iβd be. Sheβs about to open her precious blue notebook when Arielle jumps in first.
Β«Jade, Jade! I wrote a poem for you too! Want to hear it?Β»
A bad feeling creeps over me... Arielle clears her throat.
Β«Jade, my heart beats quick,
may I take in my mouth yourβ?Β»
Β«ARIELLE!!!Β» Jasmine cuts her off sharply.
Β«What? You didnβt even let me finish reciting it,Β» Arielle grumbles.
Β«Poetry is serious! I wonβt let you disgrace it like that!Β» Jasmine scolds her, clearly upset.
Β«Or what? Youβll dedicate a sonnet to me?Β» Arielle snaps back.
Viktoria and Selene burst into laughter while I struggle to keep mine in out of respect for Jasmine, who doesnβt look amused at all. Jasmine clenches her teeth, fists trembling.
Β«Now youβll see... Elemental Invocation β’ EarthβΒ»
Β«STOP! LEAVE HER ALONE! PLEASE!Β»
The playful fight is cut short by desperate cries from a girl echoing around the corridorβs corner.
Β«Come on, Rebecca, let us have some fun with your friend...Β»
Β«Yeah, donβt be a buzzkill, just a little feel. We need to give the foreigner a proper welcome...Β» two male voices jeer right after.
I turn the corner and spot themβLuke Finghan and Eirik Aelthorn, pathetic third-years. Their victim lies on the floor: Anastasia Krasnof, a girl with snow-white hair cut to just above her shoulders, her right eye hidden by her bangs. Sheβs Rebeccaβs classmate from the frozen kingdom of Volgradia. Her uniform hangs open at the front, wrinkledββclear proof of the abuse sheβs been subjected to.
Rebecca stands tall between them, arms outstretched to shield her friend.
Β«I TOLD YOU TO GET AWAY FROM HER! DONβT MAKE ME SAY IT AGAIN!Β» Rebecca shouts furiously.
Her face is twisted in anger and tears, her ragged breathing on the verge of losing herself to uncontrollable rage. Honestly, sheβs overreacting. Why get so worked up over something that doesnβt even concern her directly? Either way, not my problem.
Β«Donβt get cocky just because you made it to the last tournament finals,Β» Luke snaps back. Β«I could easilyβΒ»
Β«I wonβt tolerate this kind of behavior in my school,Β» I cut in. Β«Cut it out now, or itβll get worse for you.Β»
Not that I really care, but as a senior itβs my job to keep order when no teachers are around.
Β«J-Jade,Β» Luke, pale, stammers. Β«Y-youβve got it wrong, we were just, you know, getting to know the new girl, thatβs all...Β»
Β«Y-yeah, Lukeβs right,Β» Eirik adds quickly. Β«W-weβd never hurt anyone.Β»
Β«Get lost. Now. And count yourself lucky Iβm in a good mood, or Iβd report you straight to the professors,Β» I warn coldly.
They donβt wait for me to repeat it. Both bolt at once.
Anastasia slowly pushes herself up, still trembling, then runs straight into me, wrapping her arms tightly around my waist. Sheβs small, so her breatsβunusually developed for her ageβpresses right against my stomach.
Β«Jade Kyndrake, my hero,Β» she whispers with overwhelming gratitude. Β«Thank you for saving me. Thank you so, so much!Β»
But that flood of affection doesnβt sit well with Viktoria and the others.
They glare at her, especially Selene, who clears her throat loudly to remind Anastasia sheβs crossing the line. Yet, as if to spite them, she clings to me even tighter. I canβt deny Iβm uncomfortable; after all, sheβs barely more than a kid, and feeling her chest pressing into me... yeah, not good.
I grip her arms and gently ease her away, enough to calm the girlsβ jealousyβand to keep certain natural reactions under control.
Β«No need to thank me,Β» I reply. Β«Rebecca couldβve taken those two down by herself. I just made sure they didnβt hurt themselves or get her expelled.Β»
My goal is to defeat Rebecca in the next semesterβs tournament and prove once and for all that Iβm the best. I canβt allow rumors like, "Jade only won because Rebecca got expelled. Actually, I think he used his fatherβs influence to kick her out, so he wouldnβt have to face her again."
All bullshit.
Rebecca gives me a timid smile. The rage and tension seem to vanish from her face.
Β«Then Iβm the one who should thank you...Β» she murmurs.
She takes a few steps toward me. She seems nervous, like sheβs speaking to some important political or military figure. Sure, Iβm the prince of Kristalia, but here in Astralea Iβm just Jade Kyndrake, and everyoneβs always treated me that way. Fights with other students, especially in the first years, and getting scolded by teachers were never rare, royal blood or not.
Β«You know, I was thinking... since our fight, weβve never had the chance to talk about it...Β» she says, her voice barely audible and her cheeks flushed.
Β«And weβre not going to,Β» I cut her off coldly.
My cold, blunt reply stuns her. The smile fades, leaving trembling lips and watery eyes on the verge of tears.
That girl is the reason Iβve had sleepless nights these past weeks; the last thing I want is to chat like nothing happened, like Iβve already forgotten the humiliation she put me through in front of my father.
Β«Are you mad at me?Β» she asks. She looks genuinely sorry, probably clueless about why I hate her. Β«Whatever I did, Iβm really sorβΒ»
Β«Didnβt you hear what he just said?!Β» Viktoria growls, cutting her off. Β«Jade has no intention of wasting his breath on a stupid brat! Get lost!Β»
Rebeccaβs eyes, which had been holding back tears, finally break like a dam bursting. Anastasia hugs her, trying to comfort her, but Viktoria keeps pressing.
Β«Youβre just an overrated kid who only fought Jade by pure luck. You cast the Crystal Chant and risked your life just to humiliate him in front of everyone, didnβt you? Like, βLook at me, Iβm a first year and I can already use it, when Jade couldnβt at my ageβ. Want to know something? Jade could already use that spell at fourteen, but he wasnβt dumb enough to do it without training his body first to endure that much magic!Β»
Β«Youβre wrong, I swear. That was never my intenβΒ»
Β«You think youβre on our level? How pathetic!Β» Viktoria interrupts again. Β«Since the tournament ended, everyone in the kingdom just talks about you and your ridiculous strength, overshadowing Jadeβs extraordinary performance. Iβll prove to himβno, to all of Kristaliaβthat weβre on a completely different level from you. Rebecca Asheart, I officially challenge you to a duel!Β»
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