Beast Taming? Nah, Dragon Herding is Way Better!

Now staring down at the proud young noble who still have that threatening look on his eyes, Diluc's face shifts the usually tranquil expression he has, only lasting for a while before it once again, changing into something else, eventually ending with a seemingly forced, polite smile on his face, making everyone, particularly the more experienced people watching all the more shocked with him.

"That sort of control…"

"Is it possible that he's an old monster wearing that young man's skin? Just how can he control himself like that?"

"He's still young, and it shows when that kind of look previously appears on his face, but for him to reign in that sort of emotion…"

Talking about and recalling the previous expression of the emperor-like young man, the very same one that was burned into the eyes of the observing students unfortunate enough to see it, they start admiring him even more as a lot of them thinks to themselves that put in the young man's shoes, they definitely won't be able to hold themselves back after hearing words that will hit their nerves, not to mention controlling themselves all too well just like what Diluc is doing right now.

"See that Aeonia? I told you, you should be worrying about those brats who tries to hit on that kid" looking at her future disciple showing such sign of discipline in him, the usually volatile and grumpy principal had such a satisfied smile showing on her gorgeous face that made the one she was talking to just too stunned to speak, the charm oozing out of her making even the greatest beauties of the land pale in comparison, and that is despite the fact that she is in her usual, less presentable yet still admirable petite form.

Being a talented warrior and assistant to the principal though, the beast kin lady managed to regain her bearing after just a few moments of being dumbstruck by the rare smile from who she treats as her closest friend, her sudden recovery from this state prompting her to shake her head to clear her mind before she replies to the words previously spoken to her.

Directing the majority of her attention towards the emperor-like young man floating no more than some couple of arms distance from the proud young noble, the beast kin lady, Aeonia, merely looks for a while before she understood what Aria is previously talking about, the fact that there is something else hidden in his eyes beside the clear anger towards the one who hit his nerves making her feel like there's more to this young man than just his absurd talent for magic.

"Remember who has those kind of eyes in their younger days?"

Still feeling a bit surprised as she recalls someone all too familiar to her bearing the same gaze as the one the young man has right now, Aeonia was once again pulled back into reality by the voice of the principal beside her, the question reaching her ears, her mind immediately coming up with the answer to the query of the white-haired beauty.

Seeing the expression on her old friend's face, Aria already knows that Aeonia has the answer she wants in her mind, opting her to just dismiss the question as is before she starts explaining once again.

"That kid… he's definitely going to places beyond my reach…"

Feeling a bit melancholic as she said those words, Aria mentioned without a single tinge of jealousy or even envy in her voice, her expression, after the oddly sad one previously, immediately replaced by a genuine expression of excitement mixed with joy, almost as if she just found something all too interesting that will make her entertained for the years to come.

Hearing her words however, the academy staffs, as well as the instructors couldn't help but sit frozen on their current spot as their minds fails to process the words from the principal's mouth, sure, being the great minds they are, they understands the words, and even the phrases without any problem, but as a whole, they just can't wrap their heads around the idea that such a proud lady, such a great genius admits to someone being better than her, even if its in the uncertain future.

While most of the instructors smiles and feels like having such student will definitely be beneficial to them and the academy as a whole, some others couldn't help but feel all the more alarmed as they heard such statement coming out from the principal herself, making them feel that the emperor-like young man is a much bigger threat than they initially expected.

While all of these are happening, Diluc himself is just focus solely on the proud young noble who is currently looking up from his current position, the angered, the humiliated expression on his face making the emperor-like young man wonder just how could someone that stands in such a high position in the society they live in possess such fragile pride and ego.

"I try to be civil and deal with everyone by the rules of the competition, and you know what, I will stick to that since its already this late in this round…" speaking with such relaxed, even amiable tone in his voice, Diluc said, his words making the proud young noble regain his confidence and bearing once again as he immediately concluded that this young man flying quite high in front of him is clearly scared of his support, his noble lineage that has quite the influence even in the capital of the Flammenherz Kingdom.

Opening his mouth to start preaching about himself once again, the young noble is stopped as he saw that Diluc is once again speaking to him, something deep inside him near instantaneously stopping him from interrupting this monster of a batchmate they have, acting as if everything is going bad should he decide to interrupt the emperor-like young man's next words.

"Don't you dare expect that you will come out unscathed though…" as these words were spoken by Diluc though, the previously assured young noble starts to reel in fear once again, his confident and even proud behavior once again collapsing as he watches the magic circle on the emperor-like young man's hands becoming more pronounce, the mana all around said magic circle recently just dancing in joy now hurriedly rushing towards it in sheer terror.

"Do you intend to humiliate me further than you already does!?? Leonhart!!!!" clenching his fist in a mix of terror, anger and hatred, the proud young noble shouts as he wills himself to face Diluc once again, his eyes that of someone who appears to have nothing more to lose and willing to do anything just to bring his enemy down along with him.

Hearing the question of the proud young noble, Diluc merely keeps the modest smile on his face as the magic circle hovering just a few centimeters away from his hand continues glowing even brighter, an indication of the fact that anytime now, another attack will head its target, the noble standing just a few meters away from him.

Seeing that their acquaintance, a friend they had known since childhood due to their similarity in talent, about to be attacked by the monster that they deemed themselves capable of besting with just the three of them, both the odd young lady and the maniacal young man who previously tries to get as far away as possible from Diluc's location shouts worriedly towards the proud young noble, their words carrying the same intent as they want nothing more than safety for the young noble, casting their previous greedy and selfish thoughts from before the battle against this emperor-like young man starts.

"Lucas you fucking dumb piece of rock!!! Move the fuck out of that monster's way!!!"

"Lucas, run!!!"

Hearing the words from the two previously accompanying him, the proud young noble's eyes widened in a pleasant surprise before he caught himself turning around to face them, stopping himself in the process as he directs his attention towards Diluc once again, his demeanor being of someone who appears to rule over everything ticking something off him, yet somehow, somewhere in his being, he couldn't help but feel like there is nothing wrong with it.

With the words of the two reaching Diluc's ears as well, he also pauses for a while as he thought that perhaps, this noble, Lucas, shouldn't be as bad as he had initially thought, still having others care for him at a situation like this, making him think just a little bit more positively of the young man.

'Not enough to let him go of that though' as he recalls how Lucas called his deceased parents' names though, Diluc realizes that it will take more than just him appreciating this opponent a little bit to dismiss the offenses he committed.

"End of the competition between us, Lucas" as Diluc utter those words, the spell he cast materializes out of the magic circle, a beautiful arc of violently burning crimson flame shooting towards the proud young noble's position at a speed faster than what the eyes could see.