Arvin and Raven, along with all the feuding students, to turn simultaneously toward the source of the voice.
The one speaking was Dean Saires. The middle-aged man stood in front of the carriage line with a very serious and undeniable facial expression.
"Arvin, stop your grip right now!" Dean Saires commanded firmly, stepping closer. "If you take this violent act any further before the tournament officially begins, the committee will immediately disqualify you and our academy! You better just vent your anger during the legitimate test of strength in the arena later!"
Hearing the logical warning from the Dean, Arvin's common sense kicked back in. He absolutely did not want to be disqualified from the tournament just for entertaining a trivial dispute, because his main goal was to gain access to the royal library.
In the end, he complied and slowly released his grip from Raven's neck.
Seeing that Arvin had released his hand, Dean Saires immediately turned to Raven, who was still gripping Arvin's neck.
"You too! Please mind your manners and control your anger, Prince Raven!" Dean Saires ordered, not reducing his firmness in the slightest even when facing a noble from another kingdom. "The rules in this place apply fairly. If you end up hitting him and get disqualified, you will only tarnish the dignity of the Marland Kingdom and return home carrying shame."
The highly logical reasoning from the middle-aged man was like a hard slap that brought Raven to his senses. He realized his position. Reluctantly and with a jaw still hardened, the prince pulled his hand back, releasing his grip from the Vedegra descendant's neck, then roughly adjusted his crumpled uniform collar.
"We will settle this matter in the arena during the tournament later!" Raven said coldly, giving a final warning before finally turning around, stepping his feet toward the academy's registration building.
"I think... I don't need to go through the trouble of stepping in directly just to face someone like you in the arena later." Arvin replied far too casually, his voice sounding very condescending.
Raven's steps halted after hearing the words that were underestimating him. He turned his head quickly, his eyes glaring once again. For him, those words were an insult far more painful than a physical blow.
"Just Allen is enough to fight you." Arvin continued while pointing at his first spouse. "If you fight me, your pride as a prince will crumble in an instant in front of hundreds of spectators."
"YOU...!!!!"
Raven pointed at Arvin's face, his body trembling violently. He was truly burning with blazing anger because he felt so underestimated and deliberately degraded. However, the prince quickly realized that he could not act recklessly lest he be disqualified from the tournament.
"Fine!" Raven hissed with heavy breathing. "Go ahead and choose your spouse as your substitute! But mark this well in your head! Don't ever blame me or cry if one of your beloved spouses gets killed by my hands during the tournament later!"
"I assure you that you will witness something highly unexpected." Arvin replied calmly, his eyes radiating absolute confidence in Allen's strength.
"Whatever! And don't expect me to hold back. I will make sure you regret this ridiculous decision of yours!"
With a rough wave of his robe, the prince led the Marland Kingdom delegation walking quickly into the academy building. Raven's facial expression was filled with veins of anger ready to explode.
I will repay you for daring to underestimate me during our one-on-one fight later, Arvin Vedegra! Raven promised inwardly. I will destroy that spouse of yours completely!
After the departure of Raven and the entire Marland Kingdom delegation, the tension in the square finally evaporated completely. The Astoria Kingdom delegation ranks could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Allen, who had just been silently observing the dispute all this time, immediately stepped up to approach Arvin.
"My Husband, why did you ask me to fight him instead?" Allen asked in wonder, yet his eyes stared straight ahead, demanding honesty behind his husband's unilateral decision.
"You will know the exact reason later when the time comes, Allen."
That very brief and enigmatic answer clearly made Allen feel even more puzzled and dissatisfied with his husband's answer.
The same went for Alrain, Ordion, and Alvein who stood behind Allen. The three of them looked at each other with furrowed brows. They were just as puzzled as the first spouse after hearing their husband's answer, which gave the impression that he was secretly planning something.
Ignoring the inquiring gazes from his four spouses, Arvin walked up to Dean Saires who was organizing the students' formation.
"Dean Saires?" Arvin called out, changing the subject. "Can we rent an empty plot of land around this capital? I plan to build a house using my alchemy magic as a temporary resting place for all of us while we are in this kingdom."
Hearing that question, Dean Saires fell silent for a moment. He looked around, and slowly everyone realized one crucial problem.
Their group had a massive number, reaching hundreds of people. If they had to rent inn rooms in the capital, it would be highly impossible to find a place capable of accommodating all of them simultaneously under one roof.
"Your idea is indeed brilliant and can solve our accommodation problem, Arvin." Dean Saires said in agreement. He then rubbed his chin with a worried expression. "But... renting a plot of land in the Victoriaz capital, the price must be quite expensive. What about the cost? We don't have this kingdom's currency."
Hearing the financial concern, Arvin did not answer with words. The blue-haired youth merely raised his right hand and took out a medium-sized chunk of magic crystal from his storage dimension space.
Thud!
The magic crystal, which was about 52 cm tall, simply fell and lay in the square with quite a loud crashing sound.
Instantly, the eyes of Dean Saires, the teachers, and the students standing nearby widened broadly. Their mouths fell open soundlessly. They were all amazed to the point of holding their breath seeing the purity level and mana energy density of the magic crystal that was now lying haphazardly in front of them.
"Let's sell this magic crystal to the merchant guild for the cost of renting an empty plot of land for the next few days." Arvin suggested very casually, as if he had just thrown away a pebble. "But, if after being sold the price of this crystal turns out to be too large, just exchange some of the remaining money for jewelry so that when we return to Astoria later, the jewelry can be sold again there."
Arvin put both of his hands into his pants pockets. "And any excess money later, you can use for our academy's additional treasury funds."
Dean Saires swallowed hard, looking at the crystal and then at Arvin's face alternately.
"Are... are you serious with these words of yours, Arvin?" he asked with a trembling voice in disbelief.
"I am very serious, Dean Saires!" Arvin answered firmly with his always-flat facial expression.
Dean Saires bent down carefully to pick up the precious and quite heavy crystal. His eyes were teary, filled with emotion.
"You are truly an extraordinary and so generous owner of the academy!" Dean Saires praised full of deep admiration and respect. "Alright, I will take care of everything and do exactly as you commanded."