Chapter 25: Rosalind’s Problems

As the sun began to set over Verdant Dawn Academy, the day’s magical performance practice came to an end. Alaric, drenched in sweat and satisfied with his training, had accumulated a remarkable number of experience points.

His Harem God System had tallied the results—he had gathered over 11,000 Experience Points, propelling him to Level 14.

He bid farewell to the voluptuous senior girls—Mariel, Rosalind, Isolde, and Viviana—who had been more than generous with their intimate guidance during the practice.

With their well-endowed figures highlighted by their sweat-drenched, tight-fitting clothing, they smiled at him before departing, leaving Alaric to return to his dormitory. He wasted no time.

The first thing he did upon reaching his room was to take a long, relaxing bath to wash off the day’s grime.

The warm water soothed his aching muscles, and as he stood under the shower, he smirked to himself.

Today had been a good day—not only in terms of training but also in the rewards the system had bestowed on him.

After bathing, he dried off and dressed in fresh clothes before heading to the dormitory dining hall for dinner.

As he sat down with his tray of food, Cedric soon joined him.

Cedric’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he asked, “So, how was the magic performance training? You’re the only first-year who gets to participate. That’s gotta be awesome, right?”

Alaric, already engrossed in his meal, looked up briefly and nodded. “It’s going well. The senior girls are… helpful.” He left out the more enticing details of how ‘helpful’ they were.

Cedric sighed, clearly envious. “Man, I wish I could join. But my magic control is still a mess. I can’t even properly sense mana in the air, let alone cast a spell like you can.”

Alaric didn’t bother to sympathize with Cedric’s struggles. His mind was too focused on his growing powers and the steady accumulation of experience points.

Cedric’s concerns about not being able to join the performance didn’t matter to him. He shrugged and continued eating, leaving Cedric to deal with his own inadequacies.

After dinner, Alaric decided to take a walk around the academy grounds to clear his mind before bed.

The cool evening air felt refreshing against his skin, and the soft glow of the setting sun bathed the campus in warm hues.

As he walked along the cobblestone paths, his eyes landed on Rosalind in the distance.

Something felt off. She was standing near one of the garden fountains, engaged in what looked like a heated argument with a male student.

As Alaric drew closer, he could hear fragments of their conversation.

“Why are you spending so much time with that first-year brat?” the man demanded, his voice filled with frustration.

Rosalind frowned, her arms crossed defensively. “It’s none of your business who I spend time with, Harlan.”

Ah, so this was Harlan, a senior student from Rosalind’s year and apparently someone she knew well.

The argument escalated quickly. Harlan grabbed Rosalind’s arm, his grip firm as he pulled her toward him.

“You’re wasting your time with a kid like him. You belong with someone like me!” Harlan’s jealousy was palpable, his voice tinged with possessiveness.

Rosalind struggled against his hold, her face contorted in discomfort.

She tried to cast a spell to free herself, but Harlan was quicker. With a swift motion, he struck her in the stomach, interrupting her spell before it could manifest.

The sight of Rosalind being manhandled ignited a spark of anger in Alaric.

He wasn’t about to let this go on. His mind raced through his options.

He had to help her, but he knew that using his magic against a senior student could have consequences.

Still, there was no time to hesitate.

Alaric decided on the Wind Sphere Blast spell—his most powerful offensive spell.

He knew that if he used all his mana, it would be strong enough to give Harlan something to worry about.

Given that Harlan was in his eighth year, he would likely erect a defensive barrier in time, but even then, the sheer force of the spell could weaken him.

With a deep breath, Alaric focused all his mana into the spell. He raised his hand, gathering the swirling wind into a tight sphere. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he launched it straight at Harlan.

The Wind Sphere hurtled through the air, crackling with energy.

Harlan, sensing the incoming attack, immediately formed a defensive barrier around himself.

However, Alaric’s spell was more potent than Harlan had anticipated.

The barrier shimmered and buckled under the impact, and although it managed to absorb some of the force, the blast still knocked Harlan off balance.

He winced in pain as the spell struck his shoulder, causing his grip on Rosalind to weaken.

Taking advantage of the moment, Rosalind broke free from Harlan’s grasp and hurried over to Alaric’s side.

Her eyes were wide with a mix of fear and gratitude.

Now that she was no longer restrained, she had enough time to prepare a spell in case Harlan tried to attack again.

Harlan glared at Alaric, his eyes burning with rage. “You’ll pay for that, boy. You have no idea who you’re messing with.”

His voice was a low growl, dripping with menace. He turned his gaze to Rosalind, his expression darkening. “And you… this isn’t over.”

Without another word, Harlan stormed off, leaving Alaric and Rosalind alone by the fountain. Rosalind let out a breath of relief, her shoulders sagging as the tension of the moment finally released.

She turned to Alaric, her eyes softening.

“Thank you… you really saved me.” She knelt down to his level and, in a sudden gesture of gratitude, hugged him tightly.

Alaric’s face was buried in Rosalind’s voluptuous chest, her large breasts pressing against him in a way that was undeniably pleasant.

Her soft curves enveloped him, and for a moment, he couldn’t help but enjoy the sensation. But he quickly composed himself, gently patting her back as if to comfort her.

“It’s alright, Rosalind. You’re safe now,” Alaric said, his voice calm and mature for his age. As he continued to tap her back, he asked, “Who was that guy? And why did this happen?”

Rosalind hesitated, a conflicted expression crossing her face. She seemed unsure whether to tell Alaric the full story. But after a moment of silence, she sighed and spoke.

“Harlan… he’s someone I’ve known for a long time. We grew up in the same town, and he’s always been a little overprotective.” She paused, then added, “But the truth is… I don’t really like him. He’s part of an aristocratic family in my area, and when my family couldn’t afford the academy fees, his family paid them for me. That’s why I’ve been reluctant to cut ties with him, even though I don’t want anything to do with him.”

Alaric’s eyes narrowed in understanding. He had known that Rosalind came from a humble background, but he hadn’t realized the full extent of her situation.

“So you’re saying he thinks you owe him for that?” Alaric asked, his tone serious.

Rosalind nodded, her expression downcast. “Yes… he keeps reminding me that I’m indebted to him. I thought if I stayed friendly, he’d eventually stop because I had been planning to return the entire amount after I start earning once I graduate and join a guild, but it’s only gotten worse.”

Alaric’s lips curled into a grimace as he considered the situation. He couldn’t stand the idea of someone taking advantage of Rosalind like this.

He leaned in closer, his voice firm. “You shouldn’t have to put up with that. If he thinks he can control you just because of money, then I’ll take care of it. I’ll pay your academy fees myself.”

Rosalind’s eyes widened in shock. “Alaric, you don’t have to—”

“I insist,” Alaric interrupted, his voice resolute. “My family might not be nobles anymore, but we have more than enough money to cover your fees. You shouldn’t have to deal with someone like him.”

Tears welled up in Rosalind’s eyes as she listened to Alaric’s words.

She was deeply touched by his offer, and before she could stop herself, she hugged him again, this time with even more emotion.

At that moment, Alaric heard the familiar mechanical voice of his Harem God System in his mind.

[System Notification: Your intimacy with Rosalind has increased significantly. You have now developed an Emotional Bond with her. Experience gained: 15,000 points.]

Alaric felt a rush of power surge through him. The notification continued.

[System Notification: Congratulations, Alaric! You have reached Level 15.]

With a smirk, Alaric realized that not only had he helped Rosalind, but he had also achieved a new level of strength. This day had turned out even better than he had hoped.