My System Just Exploded, And You Ask Me to Become a God?-Chapter 25 --The First Grand Duke

"I don't need to flip the heavens to deal with a worm like you!"

The First Grand Duke snorted coldly and slapped the old mage across the face.

Old model mage Peter tried to say something more, but the First Grand Duke cut him off with an icy voice:

"I advise you to keep your mouth shut. Don't forget—it's your Pyrothian Kingdom that came begging us."

"If I'm not pleased, don't even think about taking anyone with you."

"You dare threaten me?!"

Old Mage Peter turned green with rage, but the First Grand Duke showed him no mercy. With a wave of his hand, he cast a binding spell that locked Peter in place, completely immobilizing him.

"Throw him into the academy's detention room. If the Pyrothian Kingdom doesn't give us a satisfactory explanation, he can rot in there for the rest of his life!"

...

Headmaster Simar watched the scene unfold with a helpless expression.

The First Grand Duke's temper was as fiery as ever.

The surrounding students, however, were filled with admiration.

They hadn't expected the First Grand Duke to have such a violent temper!

Joad was especially impressed—he liked this version of the First Grand Duke very much.

Just then, the First Grand Duke suddenly turned and looked at Joad.

"You're Joad, right? Don't worry. I'll make sure you get a proper resolution for what happened today. No one bullies people from Ilan Royal Academy."

Joad immediately beamed with joy and repeatedly expressed his thanks.

But among the onlookers, many began to feel a tinge of unease.

The Pyrothian Kingdom was incredibly powerful—a dominant force in the region.

Now that they had offended them, no one knew how things would end.

Ivy looked around in confusion. She honestly had no idea what was going on.

But what she did know was that her rank had been promoted.

She had advanced directly from Apprentice Mage to Full-fledged Mage, and her physical condition had improved drastically.

This surprise filled her with joy.

After all, under normal circumstances, it would've taken her another two or three years of meditation and accumulation to achieve this breakthrough.

But thanks to Joad's help, she had done it in just a few days.

Remembering the training package Joad had mentioned, Ivy grew even more excited. She immediately wrote a letter home, asking her family to send over some mana stones.

To her, this deal was an absolute win—and her father thought the same.

Ivy also found herself more and more curious about Joad. She wasn't even interested in Leit anymore!

Joad, overjoyed, returned to his dorm with the crimson witchgrass in hand.

Meanwhile, in the Ilan Royal Academy's conference room...

Headmaster Simar looked at the First Grand Duke with deep concern.

"Your Grace, weren't we too heavy-handed today? After all..."

"What are you mumbling about? They came to our door and started trouble—are we supposed to just tolerate it?"

The First Grand Duke was as domineering as ever. Headmaster Simar, however, still looked worried.

"But he's from the Pyrothian Kingdom..."

"No need to worry."

A sharp gleam flashed in the First Grand Duke's eyes.

"Duke Blazefury of the Pyrothian Kingdom took a liking to Lena's magical talent. He came to us first. So tell me—do I need to be afraid of some mere Peter?"

Simar fell silent for a long moment.

"Your Grace, I'm more worried that they'll retaliate against Joad. And Leit is about to participate in the Pearl Trial—could he be targeted because of Joad?"

Ilan Royal Academy was still small, and Simar hoped Leit could be admitted to a more prestigious institution.

But the First Grand Duke just smiled.

"You're overthinking it. With Leit's talent, schools will be lining up to recruit him."

"Besides... you don't really think Marquis Whide will just stand by, do you?"

Marquis Whide?

A look of surprise crossed Headmaster Simar's face.

"Your Grace... you've found Marquis Whide?"

"That guy was never lost in the first place!"

"But..."

"Don't worry about his business. Just pretend you don't know anything. What you should focus on is getting Lena ready."

"Yes, Your Grace."

Simar nodded and was about to leave when the First Grand Duke suddenly spoke again:

"Oh, and this year's Pearl Trial—give one of the slots to Joad."

"Why?"

Simar frowned.

"Your Grace, we only have twenty slots. Giving one to Joad would be a waste."

"Just do as I say!"

...

Old Mage Peter was locked in the detention room, still wearing a pair of anti-magic shackles.

The students who had come with him were now all trembling with fear, their faces pale.

What they feared most now was being beaten up by the students of Ilan Royal Academy.

After all, even their own grand scholar had been beaten half to death—dealing with them would be child's play.

...

In the following days, peace finally returned to Ilan Royal Academy.

Joad emerged from the potion lab, stretching with a smile he could no longer hide.

The crimson potion had finally been completed. That meant the biggest hurdle to becoming an Archmage had been cleared.

"Now... all I need is the mana stone..."

Joad murmured to himself, a frown forming on his face.

He tallied the mana stones he currently had, including the hundreds of thousands he'd gotten from Ivy—and still came up 150,000 short.

That wasn't a small number.

"I can't just keep milking Ivy forever..."

Joad rubbed his chin, looking troubled.

Although Ivy was a little rich girl, he couldn't just fleece her endlessly!

Besides, Joad had recently noticed something that made him uneasy.

It seemed... Ivy had lost interest?

Before, she used to run off to see Leit every other day, supposedly to ask about magic arrays.

But lately, she had calmed down a lot and hadn't gone to see Leit at all.

This left Joad scratching his head.

Could Ivy's interest in Leit really have faded so quickly?

...

Along a tree-lined path in Ilan Royal Academy—

Joad and Ivy walked side by side, heading toward the library.

"Ivy, haven't seen you visit Leit recently."

Ivy paused mid-step and turned to Joad with a curious look in her eyes.

"Why are you suddenly asking that, Joad?"

Joad shrugged.

"No reason. Just curious."

"Didn't you used to go to him all the time?"

Ivy blinked, then responded calmly,

"I just didn't want to disturb him anymore."

Joad fell silent. His heart sank a little.

If Ivy wasn't chasing after Leit anymore... didn't that mean his mana stone business might collapse?

Just then, Ivy suddenly said:

"Joad, I've been here for quite a while now, but it seems like... you've never discussed magic with me."

Joad was surprised and asked, puzzled:

"Haven't we been doing that all along?"

Ivy shook her head.

"That was you instructing me, not discussing magic. It's not the same."

"And I wasn't teaching you either—it was our family's old friend... you know, I was just passing along his words."

"So, Joad—how do you think one should raise their rank?"

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"Depends on the mood, I guess."

A confused look appeared on Ivy's face.

"Depends on your mood?"

"Put simply, it's about listening to your heart, setting a goal, and practicing toward it."

"But, senior... you don't seem to have a goal?"

"I..."

Joad opened his mouth but couldn't find the words. His face showed a hint of helplessness.

He couldn't exactly say that he had a goal—but lacked the mana stones to pursue it, right?

With a deep sigh, he muttered,

"Ivy, sometimes I really envy you. If only I were part of House Rima..."

Ivy blinked. She didn't say anything, but a faint blush crept up her cheeks.

Just then, several figures suddenly flew out of the Ilan Royal Academy's administrative building!

Before long, Grand Scholar Geoffrey approached with a middle-aged mage Joad didn't recognize. Lena was with them as well.

"Bachelor Geoffrey, are you here to find Leit?"

Joad stopped and asked.

Grand Scholar Geoffrey shook his head.

"No, someone's looking for you. I'm just leading the way."

"Someone's... looking for me?"