CHAPTER 34: SOME FUN

Chapter 34: Some Fun

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"I know, dummy," she replied without stopping. "We’re going to have some fun." She flashed a wide, bright smile that made Arios’s heart skip a beat. She’s beautiful, he thought.

"All right," Arios conceded. "Some hours of fun won’t hurt."

"Now that’s the spirit," Lucy replied. "Mmm... where should we go first?" she said, placing a finger on her mouth as she scanned the academy’s ground. Her eyes lit up as she spotted a restaurant. "Let’s have dinner first. I’m kinda starving after all that studying."

That doesn’t sound bad, Arios thought. "Okay, that sounds great."

Lucy moved toward the restaurant with a joyful bounce in her step, doing a cute spin before flashing him another wide smile.

She seems so happy, Arios thought as he watched her move towards the restaurant. Then with a flicker of his hand, Arios materialized the familiar translucent screen and began to view his stats. A little look at my current level won’t hurt, he thought.

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[Stat Window – Arios Pureheart]

Job: Academy Student

Class: Swordsman

Realm: Mana Refinement - First Stage ( 200/1000 XP)

Affinity: Earth (A) | Wind (P)

Mana: 800/10,000

STR: 97

INT: 16

WIS: 12

CHA: 11

AGI: 77

REP: 10

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Still a long way to go before I’ve finished refining mana and can start building my spirit veins, he thought, staring at the mana gauge. He let out a sigh as his gaze dropped to his affinity data. Earth and Wind. It’s not all that bad. I’m just happy it’s not worse. Fire and Wind would be nice, though.

His strength at 97 and agility at 77 made Arios smirk. He was confident in his new physical prowess. With another hand gesture, he turned to the next section of the system.

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[Skills]:

Swordsmanship (Passive) (LVL 7):

Enhances blade control, attack speed, and precision with every swing.

Higher levels grant instinctive parrying, armor penetration, and sharper mana efficiency.

Always active when wielding a sword.

Dual Mana Cultivation (Passive) (LVL 5):

By passively engaging in acts of intimacy and pleasure, you gain both experience points (XP) and mana. If performed with a partner who is two cultivation stages above yours within the same realm, you will ascend to that Cultivation stage within that realm.

Notice: Threesome Cultivation now available.

Note: This skill is only compatible with female partners.

MILF Prime Seduction (Passive) (LVL 3):

Any MILF with a cultivation stage at least two levels higher than yours within the same realm who touches you will fall madly in love with you and immediately becomes one of your harem.

Higher levels will increase the scope and intensity of the effect, and broaden the criteria for what constitutes a "MILF."

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All my skills have leveled up, Arios thought as his gaze swept through the section.

Dual cultivating with Mrs. Sarah is definitely a sure way to quickly ascend to higher stages, he noted, his gaze lingering on the prime seduction skill. Another flick of his hand, and the system turned to a new screen.

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[Traits]:

Divine Rod of the Valley (LVL. MAX):

Your Rod increased, reaching 9 inches long.

Seven Winged Physique (LVL. 100):

Boots strength stat by +80 and agility by +65

Delicious Ever Pure Seed (LVL. MAX): Your seed tastes extraordinarily good to whoever consumed it. They will also crave more of it.

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Arios’s eyes widened as he stared at his traits, a familiar mix of amusement washing over his face, as the trait’s names never cease to light him up

The Seven Winged Physique was fine, even the Divine Rod, a ridiculous name for a frankly impressive physical enhancement, but... Delicious Ever Pure Seed? he thought.

That trait name was the funniest for him, his first reaction to it was,

’What in the name of all that is holy?’

’The system is giving me a skill for... that?’

’What do you mean "whoever consumed it"?’

’Is this even a normal trait to have?’

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Martial Manual]:

Lean Edge Martial Manual(E-tier):

Lean Edge is a sword technique that allows the user to execute a powerful, arcing slash. The user ’leans into’ the attack, using their body weight to increase the force and range of the sword’s path.

[Inventory]:

None

[Bond Log]:

Liza Garnet:

Bond level:★★☆☆☆

Realm: Mana Refinement - First Stage (170/1000 XP)

Mana: 680/10,000

Title: ’The First among Many’

[Current Quest Log]:

Bond with Lucy Nightshade

Pass the Mid-semester Test

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I need to purchase more manuals, Arios thought, reacting to having only a single available manual. His gaze met the inventory section, which was empty. This is where the Azurine Blade would be added, he noted.

Liza’s stats are looking pretty good, he observed, glancing at the bond log. Finally, his gaze swept over the quest logs, and he clenched his hands, knowing these were the hurdles he needed to overcome to rise to the top.

"Hey, Arios," Lucy called out, pulling him from his thoughts. "What are you staring at? Let’s go."

"Okay, I’m coming," Arios responded, quickly closing the system.

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The restaurant was small and cozy, bathed in the soft glow of golden lanterns. They found a table in a quiet corner and ordered their food. The aroma of spices and roasting meat filled the air, a welcome scent after a long day of studying.

"You’re awfully quiet," Lucy said, breaking the silence as she took a sip of water. "What’s on your mind?"

Arios decided to seize the opportunity. "I was just thinking about what you said yesterday," he began, his voice low and serious. "About not wanting to be a typical noble daughter."

Lucy’s smile faltered slightly. "Oh, that. Yeah, what about it?"

"I think your thought process is a bit selfish," he said, meeting her gaze directly. He saw a flicker of hurt in her eyes, but he continued. "You’re trying to defy expectations by going to the opposite extreme, but you’re only hurting yourself and, more importantly, the people around you. Your actions reflect on your family, our class, and on the academy as a whole."

Lucy looked away as her expression hardened. "They’re a bunch of stuck-up hypocrites," she muttered. "They don’t care about me; they only care about their reputation. And this class? They’re just a bunch of idiots who’ll probably get us all expelled."

"Maybe you’re right," Arios conceded, softening his tone. "But what if you used your freedom to change things for the better? Imagine the impact you could have if you were an academic prodigy and a free spirit. You could do so much good. Your family would have to respect you then."

Lucy didn’t respond, but Arios could tell his words had landed. The rest of their dinner was quiet, with only the occasional sound of their forks clinking against their plates.

After they finished eating, Arios suggested they go to a nearby karaoke bar. Lucy’s eyes lit up. "Now you’re talking!" she said, a grin returning to her face. The bar was loud and vibrant, filled with students singing their hearts out. Lucy dragged Arios to a private booth, handing him a microphone.

"This is not happening," he said, his face paling. "I can’t sing."

"But you suggested karaoke," she said sighing.

"yes you have to sing," she said with a laugh. "It’s just us. Come on, you have to sing with me."

She chose a popular duet, and Arios, with great reluctance, began to sing. His voice was a little shaky at first, but with Lucy’s encouragement, he soon found a rhythm. They laughed at their off-key notes, and for the first time, Arios saw the genuine, carefree girl beneath the defiant persona. The romantic song and the shared laughter created a genuine intimacy. When they finished, Lucy leaned her head on his shoulder, her laughter echoing in the small booth.

After karaoke, they decided to go to the city’s famous aquarium. The lights were low, and the only illumination came from the vibrant, glowing tanks. The peaceful, hypnotic movements of the sea creatures soothed them. As they walked through the tunnel of light, Lucy, without a word, rested her head on his shoulder. He could feel her soft hair against his cheek. He knew this was the moment to continue their earlier conversation.

"You know," he said softly, "you don’t have to choose between being who you are and being a Nightshade. You can be both. You have so much potential, Lucy. Don’t let your disdain against your family stop you from reaching it. Not just for your family, but for yourself and for the rest of us."

They walked in silence for a while longer, and then Lucy looked up at him, her eyes glistening. "Okay," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I’ll try. I’ll try to do my best in this test. For you, and for our class."

Arios felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had done it, and completed another requirement for bonding with Lucy.

They went back to his room to drop off the souvenirs he had bought at the aquarium. Lucy looked around, her earlier disapproval replaced with a soft smile. "I had fun today," Arios said. "Thanks Lucy for bringing along."

"Your welcome," Lucy said, smiling at him.

At his door, she turned to him, her eyes full of gratitude. She leaned in and planted a soft, lingering kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, Arios," she whispered. "For everything."

She turned and began walking down the hall, and Arios watched her go, a warm feeling spreading through his chest. He closed his door and turned to put the souvenirs away, and that’s when he saw it. Her handbag was on his bed, forgotten.

Damn it, he thought, grabbing it. He quickly opened the door to give it back to her, but she was already gone. He peered down the hall, but it was empty. Lucy was nowhere to be found.

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[A/N]: The book will go premium, meaning Chapters will be locked after Chapter 36, so thanks for reading and supporting, hope you would continue this journey.