The Useless Prince Is A Gangster
Chapter 146. Noble Defender Of My Honour

Chapter 146: 146. Noble Defender Of My Honour

Leo stood in front of the academy, their fancy designs shining in the morning sun, casting pretty shadows on the cobblestone path.

Leo’s carriage was unloaded by Liana and several servants. As he rolled his shoulders and stretched his body in his academy uniform, Nimbus imitated him, arching his sleek back and shaking out his dark fur to attract the attention of onlookers.

Running a hand through his red hair, he looked around the Academy, watching the students as they moved through the courtyard, their brooches flashing gold, silver, iron, and bronze.

"Isn’t that Leonhardt Caulem?" With wide eyes, one of the students whispered.

"He’s definitely him," a softer voice added.

"I’ve heard that he defeated an S-rank monster by himself."

He was the reluctant hero of the Academy because of the forest incident. He did notice another thing: a restless hum in the air, students moving quickly toward the arena building, their voices tinged with excitement.

Out of the crowd, a familiar figure rushed wildly toward him. Gasping for air, Mori’s chest heaved as he skidded to a stop. "Leonhardt! You’re back at last?

With a slight smirk on his lips, he nodded in a calm yet inquisitive tone. "I needed to finish up some business. Have fun on your vacation? "

Mori dismissed the inquiry with a wave. "forget about that—there’s an emergency!"

Leo looked at Liana, who was leading the servants.

"Take everything to the dorm," he said, his voice low but firm. "I’m heading out."

Liana nodded, her auburn hair catching the light as she gave a warm smile. "I’ll handle it, Young Master."

Leo turned to Mori, walking toward the arena, Nimbus padding quietly beside him.

"Good thing I’m already in uniform," Leo muttered.

As they moved through the crowd, Mori’s eyes flicked to Nimbus, confusion showing, but Leo cut through his pause. "What’s going on?"

Mori snapped back, his voice tight, urgent. "One of our bronze-class students challenged a gold-class to an official duel."

Leo sighed, rubbing his temple, his tone sharp with annoyance. "The tournament preliminaries are two months away, I haven’t even picked our fighters, and you guys are already picking fights with gold-class? What’s the deal?"

Mori’s gaze dropped to the cobblestones, his jaw tightening like he was struggling to speak.

His patience wore thin, his voice turning sharp. "Spit it out, Mori."

Mori swallowed hard, his voice low, almost hesitant. "Some gold-class students were insulting you. Things... escalated."

Leo snorted. "Dogs bark. Why should we care what they talk about?" He glanced at Mori. "Who’s this noble defender of my honour?"

Mori paused, his face tightening more, then muttered, his voice barely audible, "It’s Rin Valarune."

Leo’s steps stopped, his boots scraping the path as he froze, his crimson eyes widening in disbelief. "You’re joking, right?" he said, his voice low, almost a growl, staring at Mori, searching for any sign of a prank.

Mori shook his head, his expression serious, his eyes meeting Leo’s with uneasy certainty. "She insisted on fighting the guy herself."

Leo sighed, his gaze shifting to the arena, a mix of frustration and worry in his chest.

The arena filled with excitement.

At one end of the dueling ground Rin Valarune stood holding her new staff, a gift from her father. Her pink eyes burned with fierce determination.

Across from her stood Berend Laros, a towering gold-class student, his longsword held loosely, its sharp blade reflecting a dangerous gleam. His eyes fixed on Rin, a smirk twisting his lips, his confidence unshaken by her bronze-class rank.

Professor Gidon stood between them, his face showing surprise. A duel on the second day of the Academy’s Leopening was unexpected, and Rin, known for her kind smiles, was the last student he’d pictured here.

He cleared his throat, his voice rough but strong, carrying authority. "Combatants, are you ready?"

Berend swung his longsword in a slow, mocking arc. "Ready to end this quickly."

Rin raised her staff, her stance steady. "I’m ready."

Berend’s smirk grew, his eyes flashing with scorn. "Back off now, princess, and you might dodge a public shaming."

Rin’s pink eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a bold, almost dangerous smirk. "Apologize to Leonhardt, and maybe I’ll go easy on your humiliation."

Berend’s grip tightened on his sword, anger flashing in his eyes, his jaw clenching.

The stands erupted, Gold-class students led the noise, their voices heavy with pride and mockery.

"Crush her, Berend! Show bronze their place!"

"Make her beg for mercy!"

"No way she lasts a minute!"

But a small group of bronze-class students cheered for Rin, their voices fierce and loyal.

"Kick his ass, Rin! Bronze isn’t weak!"

"You’ve got this, Rin—show ’em what stubborn looks like!"

"She’s fierce and gorgeous—go, Valarune!"

Across the arena, Elara’s group lounged in their front-row seats.

Astrid muttered, "This better wrap up fast."

A lanky boy beside her smirked, his voice full of scorn. "She’s got guts, I’ll give her that, but poking Berend? She’s done."

Elara, graceful and calm in a silver-trimmed gown, watched Rin with a blank gaze, her delicate hands folded, her eyes showing a hint of curiosity beneath her kind mask.

Gidon, feeling the rising tension, raised a scarred hand, his voice booming like thunder across the arena. "Begin!"

Berend charged, his longsword slashing in a fierce arc, aimed to end the duel in one brutal strike. Rin stepped back and a glowing mana barrier shields her.

The sword hit it with a loud crack, the impact shaking the dirt floor.

The crowd gasped, gold-class cheers faltering as the barrier held for a moment before shattering into pieces. But Rin was already gone.

Berend stood, his smirk turning into a scowl, but Rin’s staff was inches from his face. Her voice was low, as she whispered a spell, her pink eyes fierce with focus. A bolt of crackling blue mana shot toward him, its energy hissing like a storm. Berend dove aside, the bolt grazing his shoulder, burning with a sharp, smoky smell. The crowd roared, bronze students jumping to their feet.

"That’s our Rin! Keep him running!"

"Burn him, Valarune!" a girl screamed, waving her hands wildly.

Before Berend could stand, the ground shook, sharp stone spikes bursting from the earth beneath him, their edges gleaming like knives. He scrambled back, the spikes scraping his legs, tearing his clothes as he rolled to his feet, panting, sweat on his brow.

The gold-class stands grew quieter, murmurs of shock spreading. "She’s... holding her own?" a gold student muttered, stunned.

"No way, she’s bronze!" another hissed, clutching as he losing his bet.

Berend’s eyes locked onto Rin’s, he wiped sweat from his brow. "I underestimated you, Valarune."

Her smirk didn’t change, her grip tightening on her staff. "You’re not the first," she said, her voice steady and bold, ready for whatever came next.