Chapter 280: Dominating the Academy.

"Rael Ashborn! That arrogant pervert should be hanged!"

"I swear he used some strange magic to make Princess Arza engaged to him."

"He is scrawny as hell! I hope Prince Varek beats the hell out of him."

"I hope he dies."

"Nah! Death is mercy for that bastard. I hope Prince Varek cuts his thing off!"

"Ahahahaha! That sounds like the perfect punishment for him!"

The useless and worthless peasants around me blabbered away like they always did. But who could blame them? When someone was as glorious as myself, jealousy was only natural, especially for peasants like them.

Ignoring their chatter, I turned my gaze towards Varek, who was striding forward with a stiff expression, looking as though he had come with every intention of making my life a living hell.

Why does he look so serious?

Is Naga rebelling or something?

Nah... that’s impossible with the restrictions.

Maybe he still hasn’t gotten used to his new body.

I arrived at those conclusions within seconds.

Shrugging my useless thoughts away, my gaze drifted towards the side where the judge of this match was seated. Normally, it would have been some ordinary disciplinary committee member, but since Alya, the student council president herself, was present, she had taken the role instead.

When my gaze landed on her, she gave me a smile.

I smiled back before turning towards Varek, who now stood right in front of me.

"Is everything okay?"

I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Naga, wearing Varek’s body, replied immediately.

"I am just slightly nervous, my lord... and it’s still awkward moving like this."

As I had expected, even after two days, he still hadn’t gotten used to the body. Apparently, possession didn’t work as instantly as they showed in novels.

Shaking my head, I asked him what actually mattered.

"In any case, you remember what to do, right?"

"I have memorized everything."

He replied and my smile widened.

My goal for coming here today, before everyone Varek had gathered, wasn’t to fight, it was to crush his reputation completely.

I could have pretended to fight him and won overwhelmingly but with Naga’s current control over that body, the act would have been exposed immediately.

Not to mention, even if I did that, people would merely call me strong and not terrifying and my goal was to become terrifying enough that those other nobodies would never dare mess with me.

I looked back at Naga and shook his hand as instructed by Alya before walking back to my corner while Alya descended onto the stage to recite the rules of the sacred duel.

Naga did the same and returned to his corner as Alya continued.

"We aren’t mindless beasts and that is why we can make rational and sound decisions. That’s why sacred duels exist to resolve grudges without bringing harm to others."

She explained while I listened with disinterest.

"This is a sacred duel between Varek Ashen Noctharion, a second-year student at Noxvalen, and Rael Von Ashborn, a first-year student at Noxvalen. Both have accepted the duel of their own free will."

"The duel shall conclude when either participant dies or becomes incapable of continuing. Any outside interference or assistance will be considered an act against the honour of the Demon Realm."

"Do you agree, Rael?"

She looked at me, and I nodded.

"Do you agree, Varek?"

She then turned towards Varek.

But he didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his expression suddenly twisted, turning unnaturally stiff, before he abruptly dropped to all fours right on the arena.

Immediately, all eyes fell on him as the students began muttering amongst themselves. I could feel the gazes of Viola and the others on me, as though wondering what was happening, but I didn’t avert my eyes and simply looked at Varek with my usual smile.

"What are you doing, Varek?" I asked. "Did something happen for you to fall on all fours? Do you no longer wish to kill me?"

I didn’t show it on my face, but I was having a lot of fun, especially when my eyes drifted towards the needle hidden in my hand.

I didn’t know whether Varek’s soul could see it, but how I hoped he could.

That would have been fun.

Meanwhile, Naga continued his act as tears streamed down his cheeks. Although his control over the body was still stiff, damn, he was acting well.

Or perhaps he wasn’t acting at all.

Maybe he was simply channeling his true emotions.

Either way, he was damn convincing.

"I am sorry for messing with you, Rael! I am sorry for trying to kill you. Please forgive me with your benevolence. I promise I will become your subordinate for the rest of my life. I promise I will never try to harm you again."

He continued as the chatter around us grew even louder. By now, even Alya looked surprised.

"What is happening?"

"Why is Prince Varek acting like that?"

"What did Rael do to the prince?"

"What did he do to make Prince Varek so scared? Did he use some magic like he did with Princess Arza?"

"Idiot, why does it matter?! Whether it was magic or something else... that guy is bad news. Stop talking shit about him, or he’ll come after you."

"Weren’t you the one talking about how the prince should cut his—"

"You bastard, you wanna fight?"

Chaos erupted throughout the audience. I even saw two idiots who had been trash-talking me just moments ago start fighting each other, only to freeze when my gaze landed on them with a smile.

Immediately, both of them shuddered and ran away.

Ahh, how good it feels.

I savored the feeling once again before looking back at Varek, who was smashing his head against the ground as blood flowed from his forehead.

Then I walked towards him. Crouching beside him, I spoke loudly and dramatically.

"Normally, I would have eliminated you for the stunt you pulled... but you see, I am quite benevolent to those who serve me. So, with all my kindness, I shall forgive you and grant you permission to serve me as my subordinate."

Immediately, Rio, the second-year in charge of my little faction, started cheering my name loudly.

"Rael!"

"Rael!"

And even those who had been badmouthing me joined in.

"Rael!"

"Rael!"

Through the constantly echoing cheers and the surprised expressions of my friends and even Alya, all I could do was widen my smile.

Because with this little stunt of mine, I had already united the races that had been busy fighting amongst themselves and transformed myself into someone terrifying.

Someone they should never mess with.

And, most importantly, I had secured a ticket to my peaceful academic life without having to worry about some cliché young master trying to act against me.