Reincarnated with an SSS-rank Tamer System: My Harem of Villainesses-Chapter 33 – No Rules
The room was silent when Adam closed the bathroom door behind him.
The hot water was already prepared in the tub, steam rising slowly and filling the small space. Adam undressed unhurriedly and stepped in, letting the heat envelop him completely as he released a long sigh.
’Without Ravenna this is different...’ he thought while staring at the ceiling. It wasn’t that he struggled to do things on his own; before arriving in this world, he managed perfectly fine by himself.
But after a month with someone taking care of every detail of his daily life, going back to cleaning his own room, preparing his things, and bathing without anyone leaving the towel in the exact right spot... it was a change.
One he was already getting used to, anyway.
That was when he felt extra weight on his chest; he didn’t need to look to know it was Nox.
His small dark body completely submerged in the hot water up to his neck. The dragon closed his eyes and let out a soft sound, something between a purr and a murmur, while his tail moved lazily beneath the water.
Adam watched him for a moment before smiling faintly and running his hand over the little one’s head, stroking him carefully.
"I’m sorry for not giving you the attention you deserve these past few days." He said quietly while Nox opened one eye to look at him. "With everything that’s happened since we arrived... I pushed you aside. You’re a great help, Nox. More than I probably show you."
Nox only let out another one of those adorable sounds, louder this time, as if accepting the apology in his own way while settling more comfortably against his chest.
Adam continued stroking him in silence for a while, enjoying the moment of calm he rarely had.
[What a touching scene. The great Adam Shadowend apologizing to a pocket lizard. If I could cry, I would... from laughter]
The system screen appeared in front of him.
’I knew you couldn’t stay quiet for long.’ Adam thought without changing his expression.
[It’s my job. Speaking of important matters, I have information that will interest you]
Adam raised an eyebrow at that. ’What kind of information?’
[First things first: your connection with Nox is deeper than you think. Right now you can feel part of what he feels, his basic emotions. But it’s only a fraction]
’And?’
[Once you control your mana one hundred percent, the connection will be complete. You’ll feel every single one of his emotions, his thoughts, everything. And not only that... you’ll be able to do things with him that you can’t even imagine right now]
Adam read that and then looked at Nox, who still had his eyes closed, enjoying the hot water.
’What kind of things?’
[You’ll find out when the time comes. I’m not going to ruin the surprise]
’How generous of you.’
[I know. Now, changing the subject...]
The screen flickered before displaying a new message.
[In a few days, a practice combat event will be held among the first-year students. An event designed to evaluate the true quality of the new entrants]
Adam read the message carefully. ’Practice combats?’
[Exactly. The academy wants to see what you’re really made of. The entrance exams are one thing, but a real fight against other students is something entirely different]
’Well, that’s interesting.’ Adam thought as the water began to cool slowly. ’That means I’ll have a chance to see everyone’s real level...’
[Precisely. Use it to your advantage]
Adam nodded slightly before closing his eyes.
***
The next day, Adam was sitting in the classroom beside Piers while they waited for class to begin.
This time it wasn’t with Professor Vane. At that moment, the door opened and a woman around thirty-two years old walked in, her light blue hair tied neatly into a bun and rectangular glasses that suited her well.
"Good morning. I am Professor Maren Holloway." She said bluntly. "I will be in charge of the Magical Legislation and Regulations course this year."
Adam almost sighed when he heard the name of the subject: pure theory...
Professor Holloway wasted no time and began speaking about the regulations governing the use of magic inside and outside the academy, the kingdom’s laws regarding official and unofficial duels, and the legal consequences of certain magical acts.
Most of the students listened attentively, some taking notes and a few others fighting against sleep.
Adam was somewhere in the middle, listening with moderate attention until the professor said something that captured his full focus.
"As for official tournaments and combats within the academy..." Holloway paused as she adjusted her glasses. "You must understand that the combat rules here are considerably more... flexible than many of you are used to."
She paused, letting the silence fill the classroom.
"In an official combat within the academy, if both parties accept the prior conditions, the final outcome is the sole responsibility of the participants." Her tone was completely neutral.
"This includes, in extreme cases, the possibility that the combat may end with the death of one of the participants."
The entire classroom fell into absolute silence. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
And understandably so, since that little detail wasn’t something they even knew existed...
’So basically, we can kill each other...’ Adam thought as his gaze hardened slightly. ’What a charming place to study.’
Some students exchanged nervous glances; others seemed to have already known and remained unfazed. The professor continued the lesson as if she hadn’t said anything out of the ordinary.
When class ended, Piers turned toward Adam with an expression somewhere between surprise and concern. "Did you hear that? They can really kill you in an official combat?"
"Apparently so." Adam replied as he stood from his seat.
"That’s... pretty extreme, isn’t it?" Piers followed him as they left the classroom. "I mean, I understand we’re nobles and duels exist, but inside an academy..."
"It’s an academy for future leaders and warriors, not a daycare." Adam said without looking at him. "It makes sense if you think about it."
Piers fell silent for a moment before nodding slowly. "I guess you’re right. Still doesn’t make me feel much better."
Adam didn’t respond and simply kept walking.
***
That night, when Adam was about to go to bed, the system screen appeared once again.
[Tamer System]
[Mission: Go to Alice Velmoor’s room and provoke her]
[Objective: Create tension. Make her lose her composure]
[Reward: ???]
[Penalty for refusal: A nerf to all your stats to 50% for two weeks]
As soon as he finished reading the message, Adam could only click his tongue in annoyance. If he didn’t complete the mission, he would go into the combat with half of his current stats, and that was practically death.
’You’ve got to be kidding me,’ he thought with a deep frown as he stared at the screen. ’Go to her room at night and provoke her? What kind of shitty mission is this?’
[One that you’d be wise to accept. Trust the process...]
’Trust the process? Are you seriously telling me that?’
If he were accused of harassment, his student life would be over...
[Completely serious. Now go before she falls asleep. Room 47, second floor of the east wing]
Adam stared at the screen in silence for several seconds. He was irritated.
Finally, he closed his eyes and let out a long, heavy sigh.
’For fuck’s sake...’
