Damn, I Have to Marry the Strongest Antagonist at the Start? - Chapter 217

Chapter 217: Chapter217-Rachel’s Confrontation
Inside the quiet restaurant, Owen and Leslie calmly ate their noodles. Their striking appearance as a couple drew admiration from many onlookers, especially the mages.

However, this tranquility was soon disrupted by Rictor’s arrival.

Ssshhh…

Outside the restaurant, the air twisted, and suddenly, a dark void ripped open, forming a black space tunnel. Powerful spatial waves forced the crowd back.

Then, an elderly mage wearing an elegant white robe with a solemn expression stepped out.

It was none other than Rictor, the headmaster of Melodic Academy.

“The headmaster of Melodic Academy!”

As soon as Rictor appeared, everyone’s attention was drawn to him, and expressions of surprise spread across their faces.

Melodic Academy, one of the three great academies of Middle Earth, was renowned, and nearly every mage dreamed of training there.

And Rictor, as its headmaster, was a legendary figure, known by all.

But why would such a prominent figure suddenly show up here?

Was it because of Owen?

Many people turned their curious gaze toward Owen, wondering if there was a deeper connection between him and Rictor.

Previously, Rictor had appeared in the Pyrothrone Kingdom’s royal court and personally overruled the Pyrothrone King’s order to pursue Owen, a matter that had caused widespread commotion.

Now, not long after Owen’s arrival in the capital, Rictor had followed. Could there be a close relationship between the two?

Amidst the curious stares, Rictor paid no attention to the crowd and strode into the restaurant.

“Owen, I’ve brought what you asked for. Where’s Rachel?”

As soon as he entered, Rictor flipped his hand, revealing a glass bottle inscribed with runes, his expression stern.

Owen glanced at the bottle, which contained a special light-blue liquid, as pure as the clearest ocean water, radiating a strange aura.

Even though the runes on the bottle sealed the energy, Owen could feel the tremor of the Godslayer Staff within him.

Clearly, the blue liquid in the bottle was the Holy Water needed to unlock the fourth seal of the Godslayer Staff!

Owen’s eyes grew more intense as he gazed at it.

Each time a seal of the Godslayer Staff was broken, its power surged, granting it new forms and powerful abilities.

The last time, using the ruby found in the Kyrik Mausoleum, Owen had unlocked the Godslayer Array, which had blocked and even countered an attack from the Kyrik Founder King.

If the fourth seal were opened, how much more powerful could the Godslayer Staff become?

Owen couldn’t wait to find out.

Without delay, he activated his magic and summoned Rachel from his personal dimension.

In a flash of light, Rachel appeared beside Owen.

Rachel frowned slightly, then spotted Rictor, her former mentor, standing nearby.

When Rictor saw Rachel, his gaze focused on her.

He noticed that not only had her energy not diminished, but it had actually increased.

The bloodline aura she emitted was significantly stronger than before.

This brought a faint smile to Rictor’s lips.

It seemed that Owen had behaved appropriately and hadn’t mistreated Rachel.

Moreover, the ordeal might have even spurred a breakthrough in Rachel’s bloodline power—a great boon, increasing the chances that the academy’s founder could use her bloodline to achieve a breakthrough.

Just as Rictor was about to finalize the exchange, Rachel suddenly spoke up,

“Rictor, I just have one question—did you plan to marry me off to the Founder of the academy?”

At the mention of this topic, Rictor’s eyelid twitched, and he cast an annoyed glance at Owen.

If it weren’t for Owen exposing this secret, Rachel would still be the obedient prodigy of Melodic Academy.

But now, all he could do was harbor some resentment toward Owen.

“Rachel, some matters should be discussed back at the academy. Don’t be misled by Owen’s words.”

Rictor avoided directly answering the question, not wanting to dwell on the subject in front of Rachel, who was, after all, still his student.

Seeing that Rictor wasn’t giving her a straight answer, Rachel’s face grew pale, as if her spirit had been drained. She stared blankly at the elder she once deeply respected, her voice hoarse as she asked,

“Is there really no other way?”

Rictor remained silent.

Rachel felt as if a sharp thorn had pierced her heart. She found it difficult to breathe. After a long pause, she slowly raised her head and stared at Rictor with determination.

“If returning to the academy means becoming someone else’s tool, I’d rather stay in Owen’s dimension, planting trees, than ever go back!”

Rachel’s firm resolve caused Rictor’s expression to darken, and he glared daggers at Owen, convinced that Rachel’s defiance was entirely due to Owen’s influence.

The crowd of mages watching were also surprised at Rachel’s outburst.

They had heard of Rachel, the top prodigy of Melodic Academy, but none expected her to side with Owen after being “kidnapped” and to refuse to return to the academy.

Could Owen have some special ability to win over this renowned prodigy of Melodic Academy?

Rachel herself was a stunning beauty, and after Owen’s encounter with the Order of Life, her ancient succubus bloodline had awakened, adding to her allure.

Many of the mages who gazed upon her found it hard to look away, each captivated by Rachel’s undeniable charm.

Some men, especially, felt their blood boil the longer they looked at her, imagining pulling her close and dominating her.

As they thought of Owen locking Rachel in his dimension, alone together…

Their expressions turned envious, as they glanced at Owen.

Sitting beside Owen, Leslie elegantly wiped her mouth, having finished her meal, and calmly watched the unfolding scene.

Rictor, as the headmaster of Melodic Academy, still had his pride to consider. Seeing Rachel cause more of a stir, his face darkened further.

“Rachel, enough nonsense! Come back with me at once. Even if you want to stay, do you really think Owen would want to keep you around?”

“Owen already has someone as beautiful as Leslie by his side.”

Having lived for centuries, and as Rachel’s mentor, Rictor could tell that Rachel’s reluctance to leave stemmed not just from the academy’s plans, but also from a growing affection for Owen.

Exposing her feelings so directly, Rachel’s pale cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

She glanced at Leslie, who sat gracefully beside Owen.

The two looked like a match made in heaven, their silent understanding unmistakable.

Leslie’s serene but proud demeanor, combined with her beauty, made Rachel feel inadequate.

At that moment, Owen leaned over to Rachel and whispered,

“Rachel, no matter what happens, I need to get that Holy Water today.”

Hearing this, Rachel, already feeling despondent, felt as if she had fallen into an abyss. A tear slipped from the corner of her eye. Like a lifeless puppet, she turned toward Rictor.

Seeing this, Rictor knew she had resigned herself. Not wanting to risk any further complications, he quickly handed the glass bottle containing the Holy Water to Owen.

“Here’s the Holy Water. We’re done.”

Without another word, Rictor prepared to take Rachel and leave.

But as Owen weighed the Holy Water in his hand, he suddenly called out,

“Rachel, are you really going back as my prisoner?”

“You’re quite good at planting trees, but remember, if you go back this time, it’s entirely your choice.”

Owen’s words fell softly, but to Rachel, they were like a ray of light in the dark abyss she had fallen into.

She snapped out of her daze and turned to look at Owen, her resolve hardening.

Though she hadn’t spent much time with Owen, she knew him to be a man of honor who valued loyalty and would never truly harm her. She refused to continue being a pawn, kept in the dark and used against her will!

Suddenly, mana surged around Rachel, and she bolted toward Owen.