Chapter 148 [Event] [Enigma Red Dungeon] [9] Will You Support Me As My Duchess?



"I saw you, Lyra."

-Bam!

Carlos slammed his hand on the rocky wall behind Lyra.

"I saw all your sneaky glances at Simon." Carlos clenched his fist. "Do you know how I felt when I saw that? Do you know how hurt I was?"

"..." Lyra stared disdainfully at Simon without finding any need to answer Carlos.

"What is that gaze Lyra? Do you think that guy will save you? You think he will be a good match for you?" Carlos chuckled and shook his head. "He is nothing compared to me, since I'm stronger than most of your noble childhood friends now."

Lyra didn't say anything and just scoffed. 

Putting aside all her childhood friends, Aurora, Alfred, Elona, Edward ect—Lyra was sure that Simon was stronger than Carlos. He wasn't named as new Heir of the Falkrona Duchy for nothing. He had the strength behind to justify it.

"And…" Carlos closed his face closer and whispered near Lyra's ear. "I'm now a high-ranking noble, Lyra Kertalir."

"!" Lyra opened her eyes wide at Carlos' words.

"What?" Carlos smiled, amused by Lyra's reaction. He had dreamed to see her reaction and now it was happening. "How do you think that I managed to enter the prestigious Royal Eden Academy?"

"Talented commoners are-"

"Indeed, commoners like that Jayden Rayena are able to enter the Academy if they show enough talent and prospect but my case is different." Simon denied Lyra's justification. "I was found and recognized by Marquis Benson."

'Marquis Benson?'

It didn't long before Lyra understood who helped Carlos to join the academy.

"Liart's father…"

It was Liart Benson's father.

"Of course, you must know Marquis Benson. He adopted me and I am representing Benson's House." Carlos said.

"But you do not carry their name. You are still Carlos Dugary." Lyra said. "They are just using you." Lyra was convinced of that. She really had a bad impression of Liart and it was the same for his father.

But something was off.

If the reason behind Carlos' confidence was that his backer was a Marquis then he was plainly stupid. Simon was the step-son of the most powerful Duke of the Kingdom.

Carlos just smiled without letting anything out. 

"Now…that I have the social status and strength, we can be together again, Lyra. What do you think?"

"No." Lyra's answer was immediate and without an ounce of hesitation.

"I expected that answer but do you think you have any choice?" Carlos quickly grabbed Lyra's hand and nailed it on the wall.

Lyra gathered mana in her other hand to punch Carlos but the latter was faster and parried with his arm. "It's simple, Lyra. If you don't want me to destroy your family's reputation, you will do as I say. After the exam, you will tell your father about me and convince him for our engagement."

"N-No-"

"I can also use a more forceful method, Lyra." Carlos stroked Lyra's cheek. 

Lyra had an expression of disgust feeling that and tried to get away but Carlos was stronger than her. She couldn't believe it.

"You became so beautiful in two years, Lyra…" Carlos muttered. "I don't want to do that but if taking your pride as a woman will force your father to consider our engagement, then it might not be a bad idea." Carlos leaned his face closer and brought his lips closer.

Lyra closed her eyes tightly and stopped any struggle.

'I deserve that…'

-BAM!

Wind caressed Lyra's face at the same time, Carlos' grip on her vanished.

When she opened her eyes, she saw Simon standing next to her. He looked clearly angry.

"I know now…" He bit his lips. "I understand now. I thought it was Edward but it was him huh?" He asked Lyra for a last confirmation.

Lyra's lips quivered, unable to comprehend what to do. Carlos has evidence about their relation and if it goes out, she will be responsible for the tarnishing of her House. 

Simon scanned Lyra's expression and spoke. "I will talk to my father for us." 

"..."

"I'm sure your father will not refuse an engagement between me and you, Lyra. Regardless of what he can do, I will be on your side. The Falkrona House will be on your side." Simon said in a reassuring tone.

Lyra listened silently as tears streamed down from her face.

"I…I have been a little stupid and I don't think I am currently good enough to be the next Duke." Simon continued ignoring Lyra's tears. "That's why…" Then he reached out his hand with a smile. "Will you support me as my Duchess?"

-Bam!

"Next Duchess?"

The lovely moment was cut off by Carlos' voice.

He stood up with a mocking smile. "Ahahahaha! You are sure good with your words, Simon Falkrona." 

Simon furrowed his brows seeing Carlos without any scratches. Though he held back, he punched Carlos with the intention of knocking him out.

"But not good with your punches," Carlos stopped and stomped the ground.

"!" Simon crossed his arms before him and a painful shock ran through his whole body. "Hah!" He slid back several meters away before crashing in the wall.

"Simon!" Lyra rushed toward Simon.

"You aren't going anywhere Lyra!" Carlos tried to grab Lyra's hand but the latter wasn't going to let it happen a second time. 

"Don't touch me!" She swung her wand and pressurized water burst out from her wand, striking Carlos in his stomach.

"Agh!" Carlos, coughed out blood and covered his stomach. His tracksuit was holed and his reddened skin was visible. "You did it…you really did it Lyra!"

A tremendous amount of mana leaked out from Carlos' body. A stunning amount of mana for someone like Carlos.

"Are you okay?" Lyra helped Simon to stand up.

"Yeah…but I didn't know that your former lover-" Simon couldn't finish when Lyra glared at him. "Ahem…your acquaintance was this strong…"

"I didn't know either…" Lyra replied as she looked at Carlos. "I knew he had talent but I wouldn't have imagined that he'd become this strong…"

"You jest. He has more mana than me." Simon said before stretching out his limbs. "Stay back, Lyra, I will take care of him."

"I won't cower behind."

"I know." Simon smiled. "But it's better if I take care of him. You want to avoid any more problems, right?"

"Yes…" Lyra nodded. "But the others might already be looking for us, we should finish it quickly…"

Though they went a little far so that their teammates won't hear anything, Lyra didn't want to waste time here. They were supposed to be on the night shift after all.

"Count on me for that." Simon said confidently which earned a blush from Lyra.

"I will cripple you Simon, regardless of your status!" Carlos, who witnessed the sweet expression on Lyra's face, became enraged. 

"If you do that, Edward will be displeased since he doesn't want to be the next heir, Carlos." Simon joked as sand started to swirl around him.

"After you I will take care of your step-brother and step-sister." Carlos snorted and created a spear of earth on his hand.

Simon's expression hardened when heard that. "Leave my family out of this." He said before taking out a shining sword from his spatial ring. 

-BOOOM 

Simon's sword and Carlos' spear collided and a powerful impact rippled around them, making the rocky ceiling to shake. Rubbles started to fall from the wall and the ceiling because of the resulting shock.

"I think you took illicit products…" Simon said as he noticed Carlos' weird state.

"Shut it!" Taking a step forward, Carlos kicked out his leg but a wall of sand appeared and blocked Carlos' leg. "Your sand is nothing against me!" 

"!" Simon opened his eyes wide seeing his sand hardening. His sand was permeated with his mana and it should be nearly impossible to turn his sand into earth unless he was several Ascension higher than him.

"Tear him apart!" The sand that was supposed to protect Simon became less ductile and took the shape of dozens of spikes.

"Arghhh!" Simon barely escaped alive but his body was filled with holes from what blood flowed out in a river. "D-Dammit…"

"Simon!"

"N-No…it's alright…" Simon raised his hand to stop Lyra from coming up. "I…feel as weak as when I fought that guy…" A monster using Sunfire capable of burning to ashes his sand came to Simon's mind. But a small smile emerged on his face as soon as he thought about that. "Thankfully I'm stronger than before." Wiping the blood from his lips, Simon punched his chest. "Bloodline Awakening."

*****

Hundred meters away…

"Hello, it's Dylan, overseer of Group C." Dylan said, tapping his earpiece.

["Yes, what is Dylan?"] A voice answered from the earpiece.

Dylan who was hiding was looking via binoculars two people fighting and a girl watching it.

"Professor Walter? There seems to be an internal fight in the Group between two members, Simon Falkrona and Carlos Dugary. Lyra Kertalir seemed to be involved as well. Do I have to intervene?"

["Why are they fighting?"] Professor Walter Celesta asked.

"Well…I think it's a love triangle." Dylan replied awkwardly.

["..."]

"Professor?"

["This is an exam. They are aware of that. Let them do what they want. Cohesion is also evaluated in this exam. But don't hesitate to stop them if the fight goes too far."]

"Noted, Professor."