50. Carla, Carla, Oh, Carla. (4)
The Exchange Battle proceeds in a total of three categories.
The Captain’s Battle, the Team Battle, and the Exploration Battle.
Setting aside the Exploration Battle, which participants must organize their own groups, and the Captain’s Battle, where individual prowess is most important, the Team Battle is where the key factor lies in how well the five members of each class can synergize with one another.
Though the eastern team with a Carla or Ivan from the past would have been the most advantageous, Carla is now effectively out of action, and Ivan is alone. Therefore, the western team judged that if they could focus on countering Ivan while taking out the other members, they had a good chance of victory.
For the eastern team, Liam is their key player, and for the western team, it is Wilhelm.
Wilhelm von Mittenburg, who ranked third in the entrance exam.
A user of Earth Magic, he stands in stark contrast to Liam in many ways.
In fourth place, Lucas von Scheiskel.
In fifth place, Zofia von der Chauver.
In seventh place, Kiara di Servitore.
In ninth place, Michele Bricone.
In contrast to the eastern team, which was largely comprised of lower-ranked individuals apart from Ivan in first place and Carla in second, the western team is fairly evenly distributed. Thus, if they can effectively counter Ivan, the western team’s chances of victory could be considered higher.
And now, here stands Lucas von Scheiskel, ranked fourth.
*
“Ah, so you’re saying you will use hereditary magic. Fascinating.”
It’s no longer surprising, yet the atmosphere remains as menacing as ever. In the middle of his room, where yet another aura is being unleashed, Lucas smiled smugly as he looked at Venere.
“Well, you see. The hereditary magic of the Scheiskel family isn’t something easily wielded openly. That’s why it’s combined with secret magic. But since the stage of the Exchange Battle has been set, there’s no need to hold back.”
“True.”
Venere, elegantly lifting her teacup, appeared casual, but her mind was racing.
The hereditary magic of the Shaiskeil family is poison. There’s no better place for poison to flourish than on a battlefield, and Shaiskeil has achieved significant victories in war. That’s how they’ve managed to grow their influence, but the magic, due to its nature, carries a stigma that makes it reluctant to be shown openly.
“Truthfully, your help wasn’t even necessary. I could handle someone like Carla on my own. Still, my acceptance of your proposal shows a certain level of magnanimity, wouldn’t you agree?”
“You’re very kind, master.”
Venere sighed heavily.
How on earth did someone like this become the successor to one of the empire’s four great houses?
No, it’s probably all about bloodline. How could such a person end up as the heir to one of the empire’s four great houses?
It’s incomprehensible, but for now, she had no choice but to accept it.
“Still, master, the person you should be worried about now isn’t Carla… it’s the next challenger, Ivan.”
“Not a girl, Venere. Watch your tongue.”
“Huh?”
Lucas frowned and shook his head.
“Only I can call Carla a girl. Only the one who will become her husband can do so. You must not address her like that, is that not right?”
“A… yes. Then, Miss Carla.”
“That’s better.”
“…Continuing on, the one you should be worried about, master, is not Miss Carla but the next challenger, Ivan.”
“Worry about that commoner?”
Lucas paused in thought.
Reflecting on the past, Venere does have a point.
Lucas hadn’t been very wary of Ivan.
But there was the inexplicable sense of pressure he felt from Ivan the last time they met, and besides, didn’t Ivan rank first in the entrance exam? He managed that even surpassing Carla, so Ivan definitely had something special.
“There is a need to worry about that commoner, it seems. He must have some hidden abilities.”
“Yes, exactly. And also, aren’t you and Miss Carla childhood friends? So, once you defeat Miss Carla, Ivan will surely become enraged.”
That’s exactly what Venere and Mercurio hoped for.
If Ivan were to witness Carla being defeated by Lucas right before his eyes, it would undoubtedly be an unprecedentedly powerful stimulus for him.
As Lord Cascata mentioned, it would certainly be a means to elevate Ivan’s sense of honor.
“Even so, if I focus slightly, that commoner cannot defeat me regardless. That’s the nature of poison.”
“That may be so, but don’t you need an overwhelming victory?”
“That does make sense.”
Though essentially random remarks from Venere, Lucas, failing to detect anything amiss, nodded in agreement, impressed by what he was hearing. Venere couldn’t help but inwardly sigh at his obliviousness.
“Anyway, master, I have prepared something to ensure that Miss Carla is completely and even more effectively taken as yours.”
“Explain.”
He is a presumptuous one.
Seeing the utterly brash Lucas, Venere wanted to twist her stomach, but this was a time to endure. If she mishandled things here, Lord Cascata would definitely not let her off easily.
“This.”
Venere presented a small box.
Too flat and small to truly be called a box.
Upon receiving it, Lucas immediately opened it and found a long needle inside.
“Just a needle?”
Lucas examined the needle, turning it this way and that.
It could be called a scalpel – quite long, and furthermore, something seemed to be smeared on the tip, emitting a faint brown hue.
“It’s an aphrodisiac.”
“Aphrodisiac?”
“Yes, an aphrodisiac. It’s potent enough to make even a Gigantis go crazily aroused.”
“To use this on Carla?”
“That’s right.”
While Lucas placed the needle back in the box and closed the lid, Venere continued her explanation.
“Even though it’s an Exchange Battle, the Exploration Battle has the highest point weight. Even if they lose the individual and team battles beforehand, victory in the exploration battle can lead to a reverse win due to the high point allocation. That’s just tradition at the Academy and there’s not much to be done about it…”
“Your point is too long.”
“…In the exploration battle, teams of two or three are formed. You know this, right? Ivan and Carla will probably be paired together. Master should partner with Kiara. We will prepare a special map for your use during the exploration battle. And if you follow our signals, you’ll quickly find Ivan and Carla.”
“And then?”
His interest is piqued.
As expected, lacking in skill, he becomes intrigued when others offer to assist.
“We will prepare tools to deal with Ivan. After you’ve taken care of Ivan, wherever on Carla’s body you like, just insert this needle. That’s all there is to it. You’ll have a comfortable and pleasurable exploration battle filled with desires and pleasures. Plus, you’ll claim Carla’s virginity.”
“Hm.”
Lucas stroked his chin and emitted a low humming sound.
There was no visible change in his expression, so for a moment, Venere wondered if Lucas was disapproving of such an unconventional method.
There’s no way.
Why isn’t he reacting?
While Venere pondered, Lucas finally spoke after tasting his lips a few times.
“That’s all well and good, but with this approach, I wouldn’t be able to control the outcome of the exploration battle. Is this truly advantageous to me?”
Lucas frowned as he looked at the needle in his hand.
His voice was calm, but his eyes glittered with a disquieting desire.
“Master.”
Venere pretended to sigh and raised the corner of her mouth as if she had comprehended Lucas’ true nature.
“The outcome of the exploration battle… isn’t the real prize for master more important than that? Isn’t Miss Carla the more crucial matter?”
Lucas’ eyebrows twitched.
Seemingly deep in thought with his mouth tightly closed, he then gave an eerie smirk.
“It’s true the result does matter. But—”
“Ultimately, they are all people who will bow under your authority. Does the outcome of a competition alongside such individuals really matter?”
Venere cut herself off, and Lucas silently gazed at her, then redirected his eyes to the needle in his hand.
“Carla is mine. If she is paired with Ivan, I cannot possibly tolerate the sight of them together. It’s not jealousy, but the very idea of my woman being paired with another man is abhorrent.”
As he placed the needle back in the box, he twisted the corner of his mouth.
“Venere, you are right. The results mean little. If I obtain Carla, that alone will be enough for me to gain everything.”
Venere shook her head internally.
‘This fool. Doesn’t understand the big picture and is just indulging in immediate desires.’
But on the outside, she smiled sweetly and nodded.
“As expected of the master. Then, you know how to use the aphrodisiac I prepared, correct?”
“Perhaps… this needle might not even be necessary. It might be better without it.”
Suddenly, what on earth was he saying? Venere couldn’t help but raise her eyes in surprise.
Just a moment ago, he was being a foolish lecher, now he’s muttering something about wanting to take Carla with his own abilities?
“Carla is already a broken woman. She will surely crumble with just a little push from me.”
Lucas’s villainous laugh echoed throughout the room.
His eyes were filled with burning desire and shallow pride.
“Just as you say, the results of the exploration battle truly don’t matter. It’s not something I should concern myself with when it’s obvious that these people will end up beneath me. It’s better if they secure the victory while I enjoy myself. Excellent, I’m very pleased. So, how long does this aphrodisiac last?”
Of course.
Venere forced a smile.
“For as long as you need to enjoy yourself.”
“Good. Very good. Thank you, I’ll make good use of it. I’ll definitely remember this and repay you when I seize control over Cascata and Shaiskeil.”
Lucas was too delighted to even hide his smile.
At the sight of Lucas, Venere thought it might be better to kill him now.
The empire’s future cannot afford a rotten noble like this to rise.
But if she did, she would undoubtedly miss out on something crucial, so Venere suppressed her boiling anger and held back.
