Chapter 411: Serious Right Now

It was quite a bold statement coming from Calyra, who rarely spoke so confidently about another person’s abilities.

Because of that, such confidence had piqued Lord Evrard’s curiosity, especially given what he already knew about the examination.

Through his own connections, he had received information about the structure of the Vazrun Island Test well before it took place; he knew that the test was designed to assess not merely individual prowess, but also cooperation, adaptability, and strategic judgment.

Furthermore, with numerous talented scholars competing for the same distinction, securing first place was already an impressive feat in itself.

The possibility that Ruvian could have achieved such a result entirely on his own was therefore difficult to imagine.

At first, Ruvian was somewhat concerned about Calyra’s sudden intervention. He certainly hadn’t expected her to outright accuse him of lying, especially in front of her own parents.

For a moment, he even suspected that she was planning to betray him. However, upon giving it some thought, Ruvian began to understand what Calyra was trying to accomplish.

Rather than deliberately putting him in an awkward position, she was actually trying to improve her parents’ impression of him.

"Calyra, would you care to elaborate on what you meant by that?"

"Why don’t we ask the person himself?"

With that, she shifted her gaze toward Ruvian, who was seated beside her.

"There’s no need for you to be so modest about your accomplishments, Ruvian. The entire academy is already aware of how you fought against twenty scholars simultaneously and emerged victorious. In fact, that was the very reason none of the other squads could keep up with your points."

’Twenty scholars at once?’ (+500PP)

Lord Evrard couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows slightly upon hearing that. If what his daughter had just said was true, then it was certainly an extraordinary feat.

Turning his attention back toward Ruvian, Lord Evrard regarded the young scholar with a more serious expression.

"Ruvian, may I ask how you managed to do that? Forgive me if my question sounds a little rude, but from what I can tell, you’re still a First-Class Magus at best, are you not?

"And I assume most of the scholars you fought were around the same rank as you. Defeating twenty of them at once is something even many experienced magus would find difficult."

Lord Evrard leaned forward slightly, his gaze remaining fixed on Ruvian. "So, if what Calyra says is true, I must admit that I’m rather curious to know how you managed it."

Now that he had been put on the spot, Ruvian figured it would be better to simply tell the truth. But on second thought, perhaps there was no need to be completely honest about everything.

Ruvian wore a knowing smile.

"Actually... I’m not really a First-Class Magus." (+1,000PP)

*****

[Lord Evrard’s POV]

Lord Evrard’s expression darkened slightly upon hearing Ruvian’s response.

"What do you mean by that?"

He couldn’t quite tell whether the young man was joking or being serious. Still, from what he could sense, Ruvian’s mana was clearly that of a First-Class Magus.

There was no mistaking it. Even after examining him more closely, he couldn’t detect anything that suggested otherwise.

For Ruvian’s sake, he sincerely hoped that the young man was merely joking rather than deliberately making a fool of him.

"I’m trying to say that..." Ruvian began, looking surprisingly composed. "I can become a Grand Magus whenever I want to—"

Crack!

Splash!

Without warning, the wineglass in Lord Evrard’s hand shattered into pieces, spilling its contents across the tablecloth.

At the same time, a wave of mana pressure spread from his body, causing the atmosphere within the dining hall to grow heavier. Both Calyra and Lady Clarissa immediately turned toward him, their expressions filled with concern.

Lord Evrard, however, paid them little attention. His gaze remained fixed on the young man seated across from him.

"Ruvian Castelor."

His voice was calm, yet there was an unmistakable authority behind it.

"There is a time for humor, and there is a time for serious discussion. I asked you that question because I genuinely wished to understand your abilities."

He paused briefly, his expression growing increasingly stern.

"I have no objection to a young man possessing confidence in his own strength. In fact, I find such confidence admirable, provided it is justified. However, do not mistake my courtesy for an invitation to make light of my questions. Especially when I have asked you to answer me seriously."

For a moment, silence settled over the dining hall. Yet, to everyone’s surprise, Ruvian showed no sign of being intimidated.

"Then, what makes you think I’m joking, my Lord?" (+2,000PP)

The young man’s voice remained steady.

"If you find my words difficult to believe, I would be more than willing to give you a demonstration." (+2,000PP)

Even under the pressure of Lord Evrard’s mana, Ruvian neither flinched nor lowered his gaze. Instead, he continued looking directly into his eyes, unbothered by the tension that had filled the room.

"Then, show me—"

However, before Lord Evrard could even finish his sentence, he suddenly noticed a change in the young man seated across from him.

The mana surrounding Ruvian had begun to grow stronger.

At first, the increase was barely noticeable. But within seconds, his mana surged to an entirely different level.

’What...?’

Lord Evrard’s eyes widened slightly.

Although the pressure was nowhere near his own, it had already surpassed what an ordinary First-Class Magus could possibly achieve. And more importantly, he could sense that Ruvian’s strength was still increasing.

For a brief moment, Lord Evrard found himself genuinely astonished. However, having maintained his composure through countless difficult situations, he quickly concealed his surprise behind a calm expression.

He wasn’t the only one who noticed the sudden change. Lady Clarissa, who had been quietly observing their exchange, also looked visibly surprised.

Although she had never seriously pursued the path of a Magus herself, she was still familiar enough with mana to recognize the tremendous pressure coming from Ruvian.

Calyra, on the other hand, appeared entirely unbothered; she simply lowered her gaze and took another spoonful of her mushroom soup.

A moment later, with a calm yet firm voice, Ruvian finally spoke.

"This is how I managed to defeat those twenty scholars, My Lord. And it’s also how I managed to hold my own against the Black Knight."

His blue eyes gleamed faintly.

"I know when to joke, my Lord, and I know when to be serious."

His expression remained composed, though there was now a certain coldness in his voice.

"And I can assure you... I’m being completely—"

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[Chapter 411: Serious Right Now]

Plot Points = 287,500

A/N: Sorry, only one Chapter today! I need a little more time to work out some plot details for the next arc