"I'm talking about fighting my granddaughter, Noelle, in the Summoners War before her graduation."
"Fighting Noelle before the graduation?" Nathan furrowed his eyebrows. "Are you serious? Do you know how big the gap between us is?"
"Yeah. I'm serious." Sullivan nodded. "I know how big the gap between you two is. However, you should have thought about it, no? If you are able to defeat Noelle before graduation, your reputation will soar even further. And with just a bit more achievement, you will become a noble."
"Don't you know that a noble has to fulfill all kinds of obligations? I don't really want to handle all those problems."
"I am aware." Sullivan waved his hand. "Whether or not you want to be a noble is up to you. The only question will be if you would fight my daughter before graduation."
Nathan looked down, falling into deep thought.
'If I fight Noelle, I don't know if I can win or not. In case I lose, I still get Sullivan's support for the rest of the year. If I win, the situation will be much more complicated.
'Still, being a noble, huh? My original plan is to either become a mercenary or a noble to avoid most of the problems. If I end up defeating Noelle, a lot more people will focus on me. In addition, the range of information I can access will be much higher.
'Well, I can become a noble if I want it, so it doesn't really matter. I guess I can get his support and lose.
'What Sullivan wants is just for Noelle to progress. If she is to fight me, she will have to... No, wait. Is there even a need to fight her at all?'
Nathan couldn't help but smile. "Principal. You said that you want me to fight your granddaughter. I wonder, is it because you want her to progress, or is it just for a mere fight?"
"Of course, the former. I have told you the reason. She is simply too stiff. If this goes on, she will end up in trouble. That's why I want her not to be stubborn."
"If that's the case, I have a better solution for you." Nathan grinned. "Instead of fighting her, I will just play with her."
"Hmm?" Sullivan crossed his arms. "Do you understand why I want her to get stronger before graduation?"
"After graduation, I bet she will be deployed to the front line."
Nathan raised a finger. "He wants me to fight you in the Summoners War right before your graduation."
"Eh?" Noelle wasn't the only one confused. First Alavenya, and this time, it was Noelle. "Why?"
"I don't know. However, he tells me about these conditions. If you lose to me, you are going to get married after graduation."
"What?!" Noelle clenched her hands.
"Also, if you reject this challenge, he will immediately marry you off."
Noelle's right hand reached for the sword on her waist.
"If you win against me, that means you will marry me instead of someone else."
"What are you even doing? You're getting involved now?" Noelle frowned.
Nathan sighed and started sobbing. "I am being threatened, you know. If I can get away from this, I would have done so."
Noelle contemplated. "Doesn't that mean I have no escape? I thought he gave me freedom to join the army after graduation..."
"It might be due to the recent event. The front line has become so dangerous that he can't bear to part with his granddaughter... I don't know." Nathan shrugged. "Then again, even if I want to find a marriage partner, I would find someone I personally choose. So, I'm also in a bind."
"True." Noelle seemed to be thinking hard, trying to find the solution to this situation.
That was when Nathan raised a finger. "Actually, there is a solution."
"A solution?"
"Yes. As long as we don't fight, everything will be solved."