Chapter 14: A Wager With the Body as the Stake

“Huh?”

Everyone present was stunned by Ian’s answer.

Aetherinra’s face, on the other hand, flushed a deep red.

What was Ian blabbering about?

What did he mean by his favorite type being half loli and half onee-san?

She hadn’t even asked what kind of girls he liked!

She was questioning what kind of tricks he was up to.

Besides, what on earth was “half loli, half onee-san” supposed to mean?

Ian looked at the stunned expressions of the people around him.

Even Elise, who sat beside him, looked confused.

‘Why are they making those faces? Something’s not right.’

Suddenly, the reason clicked in Ian’s mind.

‘Could they have misunderstood and think I like both of them?’

Considering his answer, Ian felt that was highly likely.

It seemed he needed to explain that he didn’t mean it that way.

With that thought in mind, Ian stood up and said to himself, “Actually, you’ve all misunderstood my meaning.”

“What I meant was that I actually like lolis with onee-san bodies.”

Hearing Ian’s explanation, everyone was once again dumbfounded.

Just what was this guy talking about?

Aetherinra’s expression turned to one of pure shock.

Ignoring their reactions, Ian was already immersed in his own explanation.

“Don’t you think there’s a great sense of contrast in seeing an onee-san who looks mature on the outside but is actually a fragile loli on the inside?”

“So, I only like your body, Aetherinra, and Elise’s personality.”

“As for you two as individuals, I don’t like you.”

“So, that should make things clear, right?”

‘With an explanation like that, Aetherinra should finally understand I don’t have those kinds of feelings for her.’

Ian gave himself a mental thumbs up for his genius explanation.

However, to Ian’s surprise, Aetherinra’s face turned ashen, looking like a volcano about to erupt.

“Scumbag. Pervert.”

Aetherinra lowered her head and softly spat out those four words.

Because she spoke so quietly, Ian didn’t hear her clearly.

He leaned his face closer to hers.

“What did you say?”

“I said you’re a pervert!”

Seeing Ian’s face so close, Aetherinra suddenly threw a punch that sent him flying.

Then, Aetherinra looked down at Ian, who was lying on the ground, with cold eyes.

“After you saved me last time, I originally thought you might have changed a bit.”

At this point, Aetherinra let out a cold snort.

“Now it seems you’re simply an irredeemable scumbag.”

Ian, who had been sent flying by Aetherinra, had traveled a full 3 meters.

However, since he was a practitioner of Sword Magic Power, his physical body had been strengthened, so he didn’t take much damage.

Feeling the strength behind Aetherinra’s blow, Ian frowned.

‘That’s not right. Why did Aetherinra call me a pervert?’

Could his perfect explanation not have made it clear that he had no designs on her?

Before he could think it through, he saw Aetherinra approaching him step by step with a sword in her hand.

“Let’s have a duel!”

“If I win, you will give that child her freedom.”

The child Aetherinra was pointing to was, naturally, Elise.

Aetherinra was a compassionate person.

Elise’s past was already tragic enough, and now she was being tormented by Ian.

This was unacceptable to her.

Whether it was for Elise’s sake or Ian’s, she had to rescue her.

“Aetherinra, do you know what a duel means?”

Ian sat on the ground, frowning as he asked her.

“Of course I know. A duel is a special means for Nobles to resolve disputes. The losing party must satisfy any condition set by the winner.”

“Since you know that, then you should also know that a duel requires both parties to agree, right?”

Hearing Ian say this, a flash of gloom appeared in Aetherinra’s eyes.

“Are you refusing?”

“Do I have to agree?” Ian asked back.

“As a Noble, are you going to run away from a duel? Do you have no Noble pride left?”

Hearing Aetherinra’s words, Ian’s lips curled into a smile.

“What is Noble pride? Can I eat it?”

After speaking, Ian brushed the dust off his clothes, stood up, and said to Aetherinra, “Besides, you only mentioned the reward if you win, but you didn’t mention the penalty if you lose!”

“I cannot accept such an unequal duel.”

Hearing Ian’s point, Aetherinra realized that the duel she proposed was indeed somewhat inappropriate.

After a moment of thought, she spoke slowly again.

“If you win, I can give you money.”

“Ha. What use do I have for money? All the money in the Duke’s Mansion is mine. Do you think I’d care about your pittance?”

Ian was dismissive of the wager Aetherinra proposed.

Would he risk his life for that little bit of money?

Would he duel the female lead for such a small amount?

How could that be possible?

“So, if you can’t offer a wager that satisfies me, I won’t accept your duel.”

“Come find me again once you’ve thought of a proper stake.”

“Elise, let’s go.”

Ian couldn’t be bothered with his unfinished meal.

Fearing that Aetherinra would cause more trouble, he wanted to take Elise away from this den of chaos.

“Yes, Young Master.”

Hearing Ian’s command, Elise naturally followed behind him toward the hall’s exit.

Just as Ian was about to step out the door, Aetherinra suddenly appeared behind him and grabbed his sleeve.

“Wait.”

Feeling the tug on his sleeve, Ian said helplessly, “I’ve already told you, if you want to duel me, you have to bring a wager that satisfies me. Otherwise, I won’t accept.”

Ian thought that saying this would make Aetherinra give up.

After all, he didn’t want to fight her.

Although Aetherinra was a Mage who specialized in Support Magic in the game, she had grown up in the Duke’s Mansion and had learned a lot about Swordsmanship from Deere.

Combined with her powerful Support Magic, the probability of him winning against her was nearly zero.

If he couldn’t win and Elise was taken away, his hopes of passing the Entrance Test would be completely gone.

Ian would never allow such a thing to happen.

Therefore, he wouldn’t gamble no matter what was said.

“I’ll use my body as the stake.”

Aetherinra’s face was beet-red.

She gritted her teeth and forced out each word.

“Huh?”

Ian heard her words and suspected he had misheard.

‘Miss, is this part of your character setting? Could you please not change the plot on a whim!’

Ian was extremely dissatisfied with Aetherinra’s reckless behavior.

As the female lead, how could she use her own body as a wager?

While Ian was complaining internally, Aetherinra continued.

“Didn’t you just say you liked my body?”

“Now you have no reason to refuse me, right?”

After saying this, Aetherinra’s face turned even redder, as if it had taken immense courage to speak those words.

Normally, she would never propose such a wager.

But to save the innocent girl being deceived by Ian, Aetherinra was willing to risk it all.

Moreover, she was very confident.

Even if she was just a support Mage, she didn’t believe for a second that she would lose to Ian.

Hearing Aetherinra’s words, Ian pondered for a moment.

“The condition you proposed is indeed very tempting, and I do indeed like your body.”

“In that case, we’ll do it at the Training Ground outside…”

Hearing Ian’s words, Aetherinra thought he had agreed to the duel and was preparing to choose a location.

But at that moment, Ian gave a resounding answer.

“However, I refuse!”

After speaking, Ian thought to himself, ‘She actually tried to lure me with her body? I didn’t expect the female lead, Aetherinra, to be so wicked. Does she want to snatch Elise away and trap me in a dead end? Sorry, but I won’t fall for it!’

‘And she’s using this to test me?’

After Ian finished his thought, he glanced at Aetherinra’s figure.

It was indeed very curvaceous and graceful.

An ordinary person would surely be consumed by desire.

But who was he?

Was he someone who could be lured by such things?