Early morning.
A hazy mist drifted over the lake as golden rays of light pierced through the clouds.
Residents shuttled through the complex districts in horse-drawn carriages, occasionally looking up to see flying cars racing across the narrow strip of sky.
It had taken Grinya a long time last night to gradually accept the reality that two evil gods were about to be revived in this peaceful and prosperous city.
From now on, she could only live as a vessel for an evil god’s resurrection.
But she would not yield. She would definitely stop the evil god within her from reviving. However, in order to prevent the cultists from reviving another evil god, she was determined to temporarily utilize the power of the evil god within her.
This morning was the day the Yiertaya Academy would release the results for the theory exam.
Whether or not she could get into the Yiertaya Royal Academy depended on today's theoretical results.
But honestly, she didn't hold much hope.
She still remembered how the Lord Evil God had controlled her body yesterday, doodling and scribbling all over the exam paper.
She didn't think the teachers at Yiertaya Academy would be able to understand those complex symbols. In her knowledge, those symbols had nothing to do with any known ancient script.
It was just a bunch of graffiti that no one could understand.
Perhaps it was a script that only gods could read.
But... who could tell?
"Grinya Loran!"
At the main gate of the Yiertaya Royal Academy, a slightly chubby boy dressed in noble attire called out to her sharply.
Grinya turned around, somewhat dazed.
She immediately recognized him as Young Master Buze of the Kritov family.
This was bad. So much had happened yesterday that she had completely forgotten about this noble young master whom she had severely humiliated.
The image of Buze finally running out of the training hall in tears was so vivid that when she saw him again, it was the only thing that came to her mind.
What should she do? If she offended the Kritov family in Yiertaya, would she even have a way to survive?
Grinya's mind was a complete mess.
Buze suddenly drew the rapier at his waist and barked, "Grinya Loran, I told you I would prove myself! I will never forget the shame you brought upon me until the day I defeat you!"
"Draw your sword!"
The surrounding students stopped in their tracks, watching the scene with great interest.
A young master of the Kritov family making things difficult for a country girl—this was big news worthy of the kingdom’s major newspapers!
The crowd spontaneously gathered, surrounding the two of them in the center.
"I heard Young Master Buze was chugging experience potions like crazy yesterday. He finally boosted himself to Level 5."
"For real? I thought Young Master Buze hated taking experience potions?"
"Can't you tell? Young Master Buze did it for revenge!"
The crowd whispered as they watched them.
Being watched by everyone didn't bother Buze; in fact, being the center of attention was the norm for him.
But at this moment, Grinya only wished she could dig a hole and crawl into it.
The Lord Evil God wasn't here today. Even with a hundred times her usual courage, she wouldn't dare humiliate a young master of the Kritov family in public.
So, without a moment's hesitation, Grinya followed her instincts.
Grinya bowed sincerely at a ninety-degree angle, wanting everyone to see the sincerity of her apology.
"I'm sorry, Young Master Buze. I really didn't mean to offend you yesterday. It's just that by the time I came to my senses, you were already lying on the ground."
As soon as she finished speaking, a roar of excitement erupted from the crowd!
Sensing that the crowd's reaction was different from what she had imagined, Grinya looked up, bewildered.
Had she said something wrong?
She raised her head and was startled to see the veins bulging on Buze’s face. His fists were clenched tight, and his teeth were gritted together.
At the same time, she could hear the whispers of the people around her.
"I haven't seen such a pure provocation in a long time."
"Honestly, I couldn't even say something like that if I was trying to pick a fight."
"Young Master Buze must be driven insane with rage right now, right?"
"..." Grinya was speechless.
She only now realized how offensive her words had been. It was a blatant provocation!
She didn't even dare to muster the courage to look Buze in the eye.
Buze gritted his teeth and said, "I know I am weak in your eyes, but the me of today is not the me of yesterday. I will reclaim my own dignity."
"Grinya Loran, draw your sword! Just you and me!"
Seeing that Buze was about to strike, Grinya's face turned pale, and she waved her hands frantically. "Young Master Buze, you've misunderstood me. I didn't mean to say you're weak."
"What I meant was that the gap between us is too large. If I had used my real skills yesterday, you wouldn't even be standing here today."
The atmosphere suddenly froze. Everyone stared at Grinya, their gazes completely changed.
Realizing she had said the wrong thing again, Grinya wanted to slap herself.
"Young Master Buze, I really didn't mean it like that," Grinya said, on the verge of tears. She was practically ready to kneel down.
Buze fought to suppress the rage within him.
This woman kept provoking him!
"Words are useless! You have seriously insulted my name and my bloodline! If I cannot reclaim my dignity with my own hands, I shall no longer carry the name Kritov!"
Buze roared, as if all his resentment was packed into that shout.
Watching Buze's sword edge cut through the air like a crescent moon, rapidly expanding in her vision, Grinya suddenly held her breath in panic, her heart skipping a beat.
She closed her eyes in fear.
Whoosh—
Buze's blade stopped precisely a centimeter away from her.
"Why won't you draw your sword? Are you looking down on me?"
Buze questioned her in a rage.
Grinya opened her eyes. Seeing that Buze's sword hadn't fallen, she felt both relieved and guilty.
She was just a commoner; where would she get the standing to dare engage in a public sword fight with a young master of the Kritov family?
Wouldn't that be purely asking for trouble?
Grinya grumbled to herself, but she accidentally let her thoughts slip out loud.
"Where would I get the standing..."
Buze's expression changed drastically, and he stumbled back repeatedly.
"Are you saying... I don't even have the standing to make you draw your sword?" Buze said in disbelief, his face full of pain.
If he had been angry at Grinya's words before, now that he heard from her own mouth that he didn't even have the standing to make her draw her sword, his lifelong pride suddenly shattered.
So when she closed her eyes just now...
Did she mean she didn't even place him in her sights at all?
A wave of bitterness washed over Buze.
The swordsmanship he had always been proud of, and the surname he had always taken pride in, all shattered like bubbles at this moment.
It was as if this woman was telling him: without the Kritov name, you are nothing but trash.
No... that's not it...
He wanted to say he wasn't trash, but if he didn't even have the standing to make his opponent draw their sword, how could he prove he wasn't trash?
Buze's hands and feet went cold, and he looked utterly lost.
Grinya: "..."
"Young Master Buze, she can't draw a sword," someone suddenly reminded him.
"Why?" Buze turned his head to look at the person.
"Because she didn't bring one."
Upon hearing this, Buze stared blankly at Grinya and realized she indeed didn't have a sword on her, not even a wooden training sword.
"You don't have a sword?"
"Respected Young Master Buze, not everyone comes from the Kritov family like you, allowed to wander the streets openly with a weapon," Grinya said sincerely.
"Why didn't you say you didn't have a sword earlier!" Buze yelled.
"You didn't ask."
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