"Humanoid contracted creatures… Isn't this a privilege only high-ranking entities in the top 100 sequences possess!?"
"WTF! What kind of insane luck is this! A high-sequence entity like that is valued at no less than 100 million Imperial Coins at the Contractor's Guild at minimum!"
"No wonder the Blazing Lion couldn't even resist. So it was facing absolute suppression in terms of hierarchy!"
"Hmph, they were mocking him for having no contract talent just now. How presumptuous!
The one who truly lacks the talent to command a high-tier contracted creature is probably someone else here!"
"And she's so beautiful too… Compare her to my swamp monster and I just… Damn it, my back teeth are practically grinding to dust! Why isn't it me who's favored?"
Avelia's appearance was drastically different from her public image. Not only the new students, but even the instructors at the registration desk couldn't recognize her at first; she just seemed vaguely familiar.
Though… it probably wouldn't be long before her identity was exposed.
Jessica froze on the spot, her mind completely blank.
Just yesterday, she'd dumped Kylen for the sake of a "better future." Today, she'd put on this carefully chosen dress specifically to get closer to William and secure more resources for her journey as a Contractor.
Yet… in just one day, Kylen had appeared before her in such a shocking way, accompanied by a high-sequence contracted creature.
All her words and actions from moments ago must have seemed as ridiculous as a clown's in Kylen's eyes.
William grit his teeth through the searing pain in his legs and the humiliation. His gaze darted between Avelia's stunning face and her terrifying strength as he forced out a voice:
"My lady… I'll overlook what you just did. Leave Kylen and follow me!"
"A poor boy like Kylen can never afford to sustain someone like you! My Vander family has endless resources. Follow me, and you'll get the best cultivation you'll never regret it!"
Even though his legs throbbed with agony, and he hated Kylen and Avelia with a passion, winning the loyalty of such a powerful and beautiful contracted creature would not only greatly boost his strength but also allow him to humiliate Kylen thoroughly and avenge his shame.
Avelia's slender, smoky eyebrows furrowed slightly, and undisguised disgust flashed in her eyes:
"Disgusting noise. My Contractor, past, present, and future, has always been just one person."
"And the rot and greed oozing from your blood are truly repulsive."
She didn't even bother to glance at William again. With just a thought, the invisible blood energy coiled around him tightened sharply.
William suddenly felt an indescribable, sudden, hollow agony erupted somewhere in his lower body as if something had been torn away in an instant!
"Aaaah! How dare you… you dare to…!"
Everyone looked over at the sound, and a chill ran down their spines. They unconsciously squeezed their legs together.
Good god, that's brutal!
"Is… is that still usable after this?"
"Judging by the amount of blood… it's probably completely necrotic. He'll definitely need it removed."
"He's done for. Totally ruined."
Dingley, one of the admission instructors, finally couldn't stand by any longer.
He could ignore petty conflicts, but if someone was permanently maimed or even killed right at the academy's entrance, Director Van der Waals would never let it slide.
"Student, stop this at once! This is the entrance to Saint Laurent Academy, not a life-or-death arena!"
Kylen looked at Avelia and nodded slightly. Avelia waved her hand casually.
The Blood Throne that had pinned down the Blazing Lion disintegrated instantly, dissolving into a pool of ordinary blood that seeped into the ground.
The restraints on William also vanished.
He collapsed to the ground like a pile of mud. Only then did his two bodyguards dare to rush forward, scrambling to help him up.
"Kylen… and you… just you wait… I'll never…"
His words trailed off as he lost consciousness completely from the pain and blood loss.
After the bodyguards carried him away in a hurry, Instructor Dingley sighed and said in a low voice:
"Sigh, young man, you've gotten yourselves into trouble…"
Kylen's expression remained calm:
"I was only acting in self-defense."
"So, Instructor, can I register now?"
Dingley nodded quickly:
"Of course you can!"
"Student, even though your ability assessment report says you didn't awaken any talent, earning the recognition of a high-sequence entity and successfully contracting it proves your qualification in itself. You fully meet the criteria for special admission!"
"This is your temporary admission certificate. The academy will hold a unified entrance aptitude test tomorrow.
The results will determine which department you're assigned to and the resource quota you'll receive. You can refer to this manual first for basic knowledge about Contractors."
"Thank you."
Kylen took the manual and was about to leave when he saw Avelia leaning slightly forward, her deep crimson eyes gazing at Jessica, who had turned deathly pale, with obvious amusement.
"Hmph… So this is your standard of beauty? Other than having an unusually broad forehead, I really can't see what my Master ever saw in you."
"You…!" Jessica's cheeks flushed bright red instantly.
She'd always prided herself on her looks, considering herself an 8/10 beauty. But next to
Avelia, with her almost perfect face, stunning figure, mysterious aura, and invisible authority she faded into insignificance, like a firefly next to the moon.
"Kylen… is this your revenge?" Her voice trembled, laced with unwillingness and resentment.
Huh?
Do you two really think the same way…
Kylen rubbed his brows in resignation:
"I never expected to run into you here."
"Didn't we already end things between us?"
"Besides, can't you just stop clinging to this?"
Jessica was left speechless. The words she'd said to Kylen earlier had boomeranged right back at her!
Overwhelmed by shame and anger, she lost all reason:
"You! Hmph! You acted so calm yesterday, so you'd already hooked up with her, hadn't you!?"
"You scumbag!"
"Kylen, don't get too cocky! With your family's meager assets, how could she possibly stay with you sincerely? Can you even afford to keep a high-sequence contracted creature? She'll leave you sooner or later!"
Kylen frowned and was about to retort, but Avelia interrupted him with a soft laugh:
"Heh… It's just money, isn't it? That's the last thing I'm short of."
"Besides, it's only right that I take care of my Master~"
Avelia lifted her hand gracefully. On her slender finger, a dark gold ring engraved with the Contractor's Guild emblem glowed with a restrained, luxurious luster in the sunlight.
Jessica froze completely, as if struck by lightning.
Someone in the crowd of onlookers immediately recognized it:
"Whoa! That's a token issued by the Contractor's Guild to top-tier VIPs with cumulative spending exceeding 50 million Imperial Coins! So she's a wealthy lady!"
"My goddess! Everyone says powerful contracted creatures are money-drains, but look at her, she can not only support herself, but also take care of her Contractor on top of that!"
"That luck is off the charts! This definitely isn't something he got by luck with a contract crystal. This lady must have already had an extremely high status and wealth in human society!"
"Beautiful lady! Look at me! I want to be contracted by a wealthy lady too!"
Avelia glanced indifferently at the excited crowd and snorted in displeasure:
"Get lost, inferior bloodlines."
"The taste of your blood… makes me sick…"
Avelia pulled Kylen away from the noisy crowd. Yet the boys behind them, far from being angry at her insult, only grew more excited:
"Even her scolding sounds amazing!"
"Damn that new student… Kylen, right? I admit I'm jealous, jealous out of my mind!"
"Tsk, the Vanders are famous for being vindictive. They'll never let this go. Come to think of it, Kylen's entrance test tomorrow might…"
"The entire academy's teachers and students will be watching the test. They probably won't dare to do anything too extreme, right?"
"Oh, right! Maybe we'll even get to see the legend of Saint Laurent Academy, Senior Avelia Selis! Wait… Doesn't that high-sequence lady look a little like Senior Avelia?"
They pushed through the crowd and walked toward home.
Kylen smiled softly:
"Thank you."
The little tuft of hair on top of Avelia's fiery red head swayed slightly. She tilted her head in confusion:
"Hm? Why are you thanking me?"
"For standing up for me."
Avelia's face showed a hint of thought, and her tentacles waved gently:
"Human thinking is really complicated, isn't it?"
Kylen was a little surprised. Did she not fully understand human ways of expressing affection?
"Huh? Then why did you… Do that earlier?"
Avelia put on a serious thinking expression, the tip of one tentacle tapping her chin unconsciously:
"Well… when I heard them belittle you like that, I felt uncomfortable here."
She pressed a hand lightly to her chest.
"I just acted on instinct. And I thought… if I did that, you'd be happy."
Warmth welled up in Kylen's heart.
Perhaps this was the pure and straightforward expression of affection unique to a Vampiric Slime Queen.
No complicated pretense or calculation, just something more sincere and touching because of its simplicity.
Come to think of it, she was always so arrogant and dismissive toward others, yet only showed surprising patience and gentleness to him.
Then Avelia suddenly remembered something. A cunning smile curved her lips, and one tentacle poked Kylen's arm lightly:
"I read in a book that when humans want to express gratitude, they usually give gifts, right?"
Kylen chuckled:
"Sure. What do you want, Avelia? I'll get it for you if I can."
"I'm hungry."
"Oh… uh…" Kylen subconsciously reached for his lower back.
Admittedly, last night had been one of the most bizarre and wonderful experiences of his life.But… they really needed to take it easy!
Kylen tried to put on a serious expression:
"Miss Avelia, I think it's necessary to correct this dangerous mindset of yours! As a young lady, you should be a little more reserved!"
Avelia looked at him in confusion, her deep crimson eyes filled with puzzlement:
"I don't understand. Don't you want to share the pleasure with me?"
Kylen struggled to maintain his upright posture. As a man with healthy values, he must not give in to temptation easily!
"…I do."