"I object…"
"...!"
The barrier of the arena field was taken down, and people rushed in to check on the unconscious man who had attempted to interrupt the duel when someone's voice caused others to turn their way.
At first, a few, but then many, and finally everyone in the arena were looking at the patriarch of the Treedor family.
"I OBJECT! I WAS ACCUSED OF DABBLING IN GEDWYLD! I DEMAND THIS BRAT TO BE EXAMINED FIRST!"
"!!!"
The patriarch of the Treedor family growled like a hurt animal, pointing his finger right at Rotsard while spitting saliva everywhere.
"HE MUST TAKE DOWN HIS NATURAL MANA BARRIER AND LET HIMSELF BE SCREENED FOR GEDWYLD'S POLLUTION! IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE! A KNOWN TRASH LIKE HIM COULD NOT BECOME SO STRONG NATURALLY! HE MUST…! HE MUST HAVE MADE A PACT WITH THE DEOFOL!"
Not being interrupted didn't calm him down, but rather spurred him on, and the patriarch of the Treedor family kept growling and screaming his lungs off while baring his teeth like a feral animal.
"...done…"
"HE…! Wh-what…?"
But then the person right next to him said in annoyance, completely throwing the patriarch of the Treedor family off and making him shut up and mutter in shock.
"The screening for gedwyld pollution. It's done. There's no trace of it."
"That… that doesn't make sense! He! He is just a…!"
That person was none other than the Royal Magician, and he added, causing the patriarch of the Treedor family to turn ghastly pale and start shaking his head in disbelief.
"He didn't remove his natural mana barrier!"
"He doesn't have one currently. He hasn't had it since he entered the arena in the first place."
The disturbed man complained with his voice cracking, but the Royal Magician simply continued speaking, revealing all the facts to not just him but to the entire arena.
"Isn't that right, young lord?"
"Lord Royal Magician is correct. Close to a year and a half ago, I suffered a severe internal injury that has left my body unable to produce the natural mana barrier, and I still haven't completely recovered from it as of yet."
The Royal Magician turned his head towards the bleached-blond-haired youth who was still on the arena's field, and got a polite answer instantly.
"Was it some heavily guarded secret in the Royal Academy?"
The Royal Magician added one more question while glancing at the stunlocked patriarch of the Treedor family.
"I do not believe so, my lord. I can't speak about the students, but the hospital wing staff is perfectly aware of the issue, and so is most of the staff in general, although the latter is only my hopeful assumption."
"!"
The youth said, but despite his polite tone and not even being addressed directly, the patriarch of the Treedor family flinched and recoiled as if he was physically struck by the revelation.
"My Lord, would you say that I've fulfilled my obligation here?"
"Indeed, you have. You're free to go."
Rotsard then asked, and the Royal Magician nodded his head with a magnanimous expression.
"In that case, I bid all of you adieu."
*whoom*
The bleached-blond-haired youth nodded back and declared, turning around where the air, already frozen into a circular pane of frosted ice, soon gained a circular outline of bluish-white light.
The next moment, the ice within the circle cleared up, showing not the reflection of the youth in front of it and not even the arena behind it, but rather a dormitory room back in the Royal Academy.
"Rotti."
Rotsard was about to step through the gate spell when someone called out to him in a familiar manner.
"Yes…?"
Rotsard recognized the voice and turned around with a relatively gentle expression while his beastly yellow eyes focused on the wife of the patriarch of the Vallhall family.
"I know it must be a bother, but please, continue keeping an eye on my daughter."
Lia Vallhall said with a gentle smile, completely shocking her own husband as well as the rest of the representatives of their family.
"I'll do what I can, aunty~"
"...~"
Rotsard snickered and grinned cheekily, making the woman chuckle silently.
After that, Rotsard didn't give anyone else a chance to strike the conversation with him and passed through his gate spell…
*CRACK*
Immediately after he passed through, the bluish-white outline dissipated and the ice turned cloudy again before shattering into fine pieces the very next moment, leaving only fine shards of ice as proof of its existence.
"Honey… since when are you on good terms with that brat…?"
The patriarch of the Vallhall family ended up leaning down and asking his wife quietly.
"Since when?"
"Yes."
Lia raised her brow and asked back, to which her husband nodded vigorously.
"Since the day Fort and Orina arrived at our doorstep holding his tiny hands, of course, silly. I do not antagonize members of my family, unlike some people. And as you can see, I'm proven correct about my judgement. Again."
"..."
Liat tilted her head, letting her dark brown hair cascade to the side as she smiled… only slightly, yet the aura of confidence and pride surrounding her was unparalleled.
"It's a real shame, though. If Saria didn't mess up so horribly when they were children, she could stand a chance against Rotti's fiancee…"
"Wait… what…? What? What do you mean by that!?"
She added with a slightly somber voice, causing her husband to flinch and gasp, asking again and again in agitation that only made her chuckle while dodging eye contact.