"So… I've gained another uncle?"
Inside the girls' dormitory, Hiness looked utterly dazed—like she'd been completely broken—as she signed the contract Hel handed to her.
On the commercial street of the New District, when Hel took Hiness around to lease shops, her eyes were still unfocused, and she kept muttering under her breath.
Outside the city, when Hel said she planned to acquire all the vacant land and build factories there, Hiness still hadn't reacted at all.
It wasn't until the girls parted ways with Hel and arrived at the entrance of the New District church to attend the epidemic consultation meeting that Hiness was still murmuring:
"How did I suddenly get another uncle? How did this happen?"
She had basically become an isekai version of Xianglin's Wife.
"Hiness, if you're willing, you could even get another aunt."
Hel stood beside her, gently wrapping an arm around her shoulders and speaking in an intimate tone.
"And if you still think that's not enough, I'm sure Hamster and Senpai would be more than happy to help you with that."
"Awwoo! I'll bite you, you coo-coo monster!"
Hiness angrily raised her little claws, looking adorably fierce as she threatened Hel. Unfortunately, her intimidation failed completely—her claw was immediately caught by Tina.
The two of them ended up dragging Hiness toward the venue.
Behind them, Leflina covered her mouth and laughed softly. At that moment, a warm little hand took hold of hers.
It was Hel's.
"Don't laugh by yourself. Hurry up and keep up."
Leflina smiled brightly and quickened her pace to follow the others.
The four girls formed a striking scene at the entrance of the venue.
However, just then, an ill-timed voice sounded from the distance.
"Leflina from the Art Academy? I heard you openly offended Lord Fubot and are about to be expelled from the Spark Society."
A group of young men and women dressed in Baroque-style court attire approached them.
Leading them was a handsome blond noble. He walked forward gracefully, his face filled with unconcealed disdain.
"I once said that members of the Spark Society are like rats in a granary—no matter how many gather together, all they do is steal."
"So our dear Leflina has finally seen through the true nature of those misers?"
"What a pity that our clever Miss Leflina forgot one thing—rats only survive when they huddle together. Otherwise, they're wiped out by a cat in a single sweep."
He smiled politely and gave a refined bow, never once looking directly at the other three girls. Instead, he glanced at Leflina again and casually added:
"Oh yes, your coat today is quite beautiful. Unfortunately, on you it looks like something worn by a circus clown."
He smugly glanced back at his companions. Seeing them cover their mouths and laugh, he nodded in satisfaction.
This is what nobility means—mocking commoners while maintaining elegance.
He didn't even bother to observe Leflina's expression. In his eyes, a commoner girl who had lost the protection of the Spark Society was nothing more than a new target for amusement.
Then—
A glove flew through the air and struck him squarely on the head.
The force was strong enough to make him stagger.
Immediately afterward, a sweet yet cold female voice sounded from behind him:
"I've spent the past few years traveling through the Knight Empire. Compared to the ways used here in the Ymir Empire, I personally prefer the Knight Empire's methods."
Hel released the girls' hands and stepped forward.
She slowly drew the longsword at her waist, pointing the blade straight at the noble's nose as she spoke coldly:
"Pick up my glove and duel me. Don't hide like a coward."
The icy gleam of the pale blade made the noble's nose sting.
Facing Hel's sword, he felt an overwhelming sense of impending death.
He swallowed hard, then glanced at the companions behind him. For the sake of his pride, he stiffened his neck and said:
"A duel? Do you think the nobles of the Ymir Empire are like those northern barbarians?"
"Settling everything through duels? We are the wise people of Ymir, not brainless Knight savages."
"So you're choosing to be a coward, then?"
Hel sneered. Under her intense killing intent, the surrounding academy students didn't even dare to look at her.
Yet the blond noble refused to back down.
He neither wanted to accept the duel nor retreat.
He was gambling that Hel wouldn't dare attack him publicly without his consent.
So, despite his trembling legs, he forced himself to speak stiffly:
"The Ymir Empire has no such vulgar laws. Duels are a barbaric ritual that insults the elegance of our nobility."
"Are you truly certain you wish to carry out that ridiculous Knight barbarian custom on Ymir soil?"
He sneered, though it was obvious he was already terrified—his pride simply wouldn't allow him to submit before people associated with Leflina.
So he attempted to escalate the situation into a conflict between empires, hoping to force Hel to retreat.
What he underestimated was Hel's decisiveness and bloodlust.
Without hesitation, she flicked her sword and thrust straight toward his brow.
At that critical instant, a golden chain shot in from afar, wrapping around Hel's blade and stopping it midair.
[Mid-Tier Authority Magic: "Weapons Forbidden Before the Sovereign"]
The moment the magic appeared, Hel's lips curled into a pleased smile.
It seemed the big fish lurking behind the scenes had finally taken the bait.
At that moment, a group of people approached from the distance.
Leading them was a blond, blue-eyed young man.
A fitted vest, lace cravat, and a dark red wool coat trimmed with white sable fur—his attire alone marked him as someone of extraordinary status.
Behind him followed more than a dozen royal guards.
He stopped beside the blond noble and lightly tapped the jeweled staff in his hand against the ground before speaking in a low voice:
"I was wondering who had the audacity to cause trouble on my territory in Savant…So it turns out to be my dear little sister."