It was Zoemi’s turn to smile as he made sure.

”Considering your seniority and the social status, that is indeed quite a stretch on my part, my lord…”

”No, no – that is not what I meant.”

Devios flinched and hurriedly lowered his head with a worried expression, but that only made Zoemi shake his head and put his hand on the other boy’s shoulder.

”I am happy with the first name basis. But about your original purpose, my father is still out of commission so the actual talk will have to wait a little bit – you are also participating in the tournament, so…”

”Oh, the tournament? Don’t bother yourself with worrying about me – since you are representing the Victureo family, there is no reason for me to participate any longer.”

The black-haired boy explained the misunderstanding and pointed out, motioning at the door where another duel was already nearing its end with both participants approaching the limits of their mana.

”And before you try to talk me out of it – I would be sir Auequas’s next opponent, and if I and both my uncle and our third representative withdraw from the competition, you will have the chance to face him.”

Devios raised his hand and said with a relieved smile while glancing over his shoulder at unconscious Letro on the other side of the room.

”…but didn’t you sign in on…”

”Zoemi. I have witnessed your previous duels, you don’t have to be nice and lie to me that I have a chance to win when you are one of the obstacles to young lady Victureo’s hand.”

Zoemi pointed out but Devios tapped out with an amused expression.

”…I also feel obligated to make things up to you as my former fiancee tried to get you in trouble by placing false accusation under your name…”

The blue-haired boy added and his expression turned remorseful, even though that situation wasn’t his fault.

|I have entered this tournament to get stronger and claim more spells, but I cannot just refuse his offer, can I…?|

Zoemi thought to himself, waiting for Ludier’s opinion.

Perserios family defends one of the most dangerous borders of the Bellcephora kingdom, I have a feeling that you will be more efficient sparing with them during a family reunion than you would on a rare chance that you would face each other in this tournament.

|…huh… true…|

The unique shadow of the ice-magician responded after a moment of hesitation, making the black-haired boy nod in agreement.

”Will you stay behind to see the rest of the tournament?”

That was what Zoemi asked out loud, as his face brightened up as he indirectly accepted Devios’s decision.

”I wish to say yes, but after I’ll have a few words with sir Mizoe I will have to leave – truth be told having an excuse to leave the tournament earlier is very handy to me, as our feisty neighbors lacking the centralized government is annoyingly active during this time of year, and I honestly don’t have time to worry about making a good impression on a potential partner.”

The blue-haired boy lowered his head just a little bit with an apologetic expression.

”Is that so…”

Zoemi spoke more to himself than to Devios, before he snapped his fingers causing a dozen murky-black orbs to appear in the room around him.

”Since both of us seem to be sure to become family, I would like to give you a protective charm.”

The black-haired boy announced while gesturing down, making all of the newly created orbs descend and get sucked into the blue-haired boy’s shadow.

”…protective charm…?”

Devios asked, visibly disturbed about anything at all entering his shadow without his previous explicit consent.

”Think of them as backup mana crystals, just like your left eye – only that those ones will be at your disposal if you get mana depletion – and no, I cannot surveil you through them, those I gave you are just storing water mana that matches with your.”

”…”

Zoemi shrugged it off

dismissively but judging by Devios expression that was definitely not enough.

”Not those ones… so you have ones that can spy on others…?”

The younger boy asked cautiously, doing a good job of masking whether he was interested or scared of the possible answer.

”I can be a very useful ally to have – especially that I appreciate my family and friends the most.”

Zoemi smiled – but this time his smile was far more meaningful…

”Hmhm~!”

Devios face twisted with a grin as the blue-haired boy could not stop himself.

”And here I thought people from the Aspakeony Academy were all spineless~! Maybe I change my mind about attending it the next year~?”

He giggled and nodded as his eye sparkled with interest.

”Go for it – I am barely the first year and I do plan on graduating normally without dropping off, no matter what some people might be planning. Could be fun~”

Zoemi snickered back and…

”Nnn… Nngh…? Wha…?”

Maybe because of the voices of the two boys talking, or maybe because one of the voices belonged to his son, Mizoe let out a bothered noise and his eyelids shook shortly before he opened his eyes.

”THE DUEL?!”

The pale-blue-haired knight suddenly jumped right out of the bed as drops of sweat appeared on his forehead.

”Sir Mizoe, please calm down.”

Burushi was by his side instantly, raising both of her hands in a calming manner.

”Dad, it’s alright – you won. See? Letro is over there, still out of it, and even Devios showed up to check up on you.”

Zoemi was by his other side only a second later and cheered out while pointing at the others in the sickbay.

”I won?! Oh thank goodness…!”

Mizoe stared at his son for a few seconds and with Zoemi repeatedly confirming the outcome he finally breathed out and laid back down nearly knocked out by the relief.

”Hello again, sir Mizoe – here. And do not make my sister cry again, even if it’s for her own good – or at least explain things to her prior.”

Devios also stepped towards the bed, only that instead of calming or cheering Mizoe on, he simply reached out to his pocket and pulled out a green communication crystal.

”Wait…! YOU DIDN’T EVEN TOLD HER WHY YOU REJECTED HER?! DAD! EVEN I AM NOT THAT STUPID!”

Zoemi flinched, looked between the blue-haired boy and the pale-blue-haired knight, and raised his voice.