As a result, Zoemi ended up not having to walk onto the arena for that day and his next fight would be with none other than his adoptive father’s older brother – or rather just Letro Auequas since, as per the promise that was the entire point of the duel, Auequas family should no longer have any connection with either Mizoe or Zoemi.

That said, the next day had already arrived and the black-haired boy was patiently waiting for the blue-haired man to show up as the audience all waited impatiently for another show.

”Lord Zoemi Benevi Banemor representing the Victureo family will face sir Letro Auequas representing the Auequas family!”

One of the judges stood up and announced as soon as the blue-haired man finally showed up…

”You would save yourself a lot of shame by forfeiting from the tournament – but it’s not like honor and shame can be taught to overconfident trash who shoots their opponent in the back when they find out they can’t measure up to them. “

Zoemi shrugged his shoulders looking down at Letro whose face twisted from extreme annoyance.

”That fight was just a lucky stroke of a weakling who learned a single trick and nothing more!”

The blue-declared getting red in the face.

”Ah – I see, like mother like son – lady Auequas also tried to rewrite the truth by being loud before I proved her wrong, kicking the light out of her.”

”You…!”

Zoemi merely smirked and shrugged his shoulders, clapping right back, throwing no less shade than a mountain.

Letro was about to respond to that too and most likely speak his mind in rather strong and probably not very appropriate words but it wasn’t like Zoemi wanted to waste time hearing him.

”Say, since you are trying to make it seem like my father won out of pure luck, how about we spice up our duel? The only spell I will be allowed to use will be a physical enchantment while you can use whatever you want. If I win, you will have to promise that whenever asked about my father, directly or not, you will always call him a much better person than you, one with an actual spine, morals, and honor…”

Zoemi said with a wide smile as the two of them waited for the official signal to begin the duel.

”You got the title less than three days ago and you already dare to…!”

”…and if I lose, I will give you Banemor territory.”

”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Letro scoffed as thick veins started bulging out on his forehead and neck – but Zoemi did not care about his opinion on the subject and finished his sentence – which not only successfully shut the blue-haired man up but only caused the entire arena to go silent in disbelief.

”…you’re lying…”

Letro gulped down his saliva and squinted his eyes with suspicion at the relaxed black-haired boy.

”No, why would I? My father raised me to always keep my word and act honorable – you know, the opposite of how you act. Everyone here can be our witness too. If I don’t defeat you using only the physical enchantments I will really pass the ownership of the Bnaemor territory, together with the title and the high noble status, onto you. Do you agree?”

Zoemi shrugged his shoulders and doubled down on his words without the slightest intention of backing away or taking back his words.

”…”

The blue-haired man gritted his teeth for a moment as the vision of sudden gains way above his expectations successfully won over every single sound thought in his head…

”Deal!”

He called out, clenching his fists, barely able to hold himself back from already rushing at the black-haired boy.

”Isn’t that perfect~? I’m glad that a man without honor is as greedy as he is spineless. You are drooling, you know?”

”…?!”

Zoemi snickered, touching the corner of his mouth and winking, making Letro flinch and hurriedly wipe his own face – only to realize that the boy was just making fun of him.

”BEGIN!”

The judge who just like most members of the audience seemed to be mesmerized by the outrageous side deal the two duelists have made, ended up getting elbowed to the side by his colleague and called for the start of the fight,

”YOU WILL REGRET NOT HOLDING BACK YOUR TONGUE JUST LIKE I HELD MYSELF BACK WHILE FIGHTING THE TRASH THAT ADOPTED YOU!”

Letro howled as his body shone with an intense blue light before a translucent water bubble appeared around him.

The bubble remained translucent only for the first few seconds because the moment that the blue-haired man rushed to the side it first turned opaque, then its surface became reflective like a mirror, only to completely blend in with the background, basically turning Letro invisible.

If this was Zoemi’s first time seeing such use of the normally only defensive water bubble spell, he might have even panicked a little bit – or at least gotten interested…

…but that wasn’t really the case considering that teacher Rokiana used the exact same spell during one of her first lessons – and she did that far more efficiently as her water bubble didn’t need the few seconds to camouflage her…

Interestingly enough, Letro was not only using his spell to mess with his opponent’s sight – but his spell was also getting rid of his footprints, getting rid of any sound he made, masking any smell, and even completely hiding the body signature of his body, which alone would completely mess up with even a powerful fire magician.

”Since you are at such a ridiculous disadvantage that it’s only pitiful, you might want to attack me first too. Go on – I will only use the enchantments to protect myself so this is your best chance before I go into the offensive because I will end you in a single hit.”

Zoemi declared completely unbothered by the stunning use of the defensive spell that was rarely seen outside of the actual battlefield.