The First Magic World War

Two young gentlemen who were not particularly handsome suddenly took flight and descended into the crowd, provoking screams from many people.

When Charles landed on the ground, he realized that he was the only one in the dueling area. By logical deduction, the two who had attempted an ambush and were then kicked away by him must have been the gentlemen engaged in the duel.

Well, astonishingly weak.

He also saw that Miss Sumei!

She wasn't any Miss Sumei he knew! She was neither Menilman Sumei nor Taoles Sumei!

Alright then!

He also didn't recognize the third Miss Sumei.

This Miss Sumei exuded a heroic charm, slightly more attractive than any Inglima Empire noble lady he had seen at the ball.

She possessed a certain valor that ordinary girls lacked.

To make a simple comparison, she somewhat resembled a Yue Opera actress Charles used to see online before crossing over, one with a slightly devilish and haughty air.

She wasn't adorned in a luxurious, complexly styled, and expensive gown. Instead, she wore a hunting outfit that was quite out of step with the ballroom atmosphere—a waist-cinched short jacket, rather tight leather pants, topped off with a pair of ankle boots. Though slightly dusty, the outfit gave her a vibrant and distinctive appearance.

This Miss Sumei, who first appeared impatient, couldn't help but be slightly surprised by Charles's sudden descent from the sky and his bare-handed dispatch of two duelists.

She secretly thought to herself, "No wonder Susie said she'd arrange a surprise for me! I thought it was just a common, trite duel, but she organized a more complex act. That must have cost quite a sum!"

"We are just ordinary friends, why would she spend so much money?"

"But still, it's pretty boring."

"This type of play-acting a duel for a lady is really too dull, even with the added drama, it's just... unbearably boring."

"I clearly refused her..."

Charles realized he had become the focus of everyone there, but when looking at the unfamiliar "Miss Sumei," he felt slightly embarrassed and chuckled, about to explain himself, when he heard someone call out, "I, Jorance, am willing to issue a duel challenge to this gentleman on behalf of Miss Sumei!"

A man in his late twenties strode into the area, and everyone hurriedly cleared a path for him, clearly indicating that this Jorance had considerable prestige within the Inglima Empire and must hail from no ordinary family.

"Miss Sumei's" expression changed suddenly, and she said, "Thanks, but I don't need a man to duel for me."

Jorance bowed slightly towards her and elegantly said, "According to the customs of the Inglima Empire, a duel does not require the lady's consent, as long as both gentlemen are willing."

Charles quickly said, "Sorry, may I choose to forfeit?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he knew he had misspoken. Whether in Fars or Inglima, rejecting a challenge was seen as cowardly. Conversely, bravely facing a challenge, even if defeated, would only earn one commendation.

Of course, that applies to a conventional duel.

Unscheduled duels generally do not allow for fatalities.

If it's the type of duel where both parties have severe animosity and the duel is to the death, that's a different set of rules, involving formal legal procedures, and one can seek assistance.

The Old Continent took blood revenge very seriously, if one party declined, the law allowed the one who proposed the duel to kill the other under any circumstances, including but not limited to assassination.

As soon as he uttered those words, he provoked laughter from countless people, with some mocking him in whispers and scolding him as a coward, even starting to attack him from various angles, such as mocking Charles's appearance.

Jorance said with great grace, "If you swear never to pursue Miss Sumei, I can allow you to give up the duel."

Charles took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions, and said, "I apologize, if you had said the full name, I might have relented, but since you only said Miss Sumei, I cannot back down."

He picked up a rapier from the ground, one of the weapons used by one of the Duelists just now, gave it a light flick, and indeed it was a fine sword, just in the wrong hands.

Charles's words elicited reactions from everyone present.

"Miss Sumei" was slightly surprised, then said, "Are you a man from Fars?"

Charles nodded and answered, "Yes!"

Realizing the truth, "Miss Sumei" then commented, "No wonder you rushed in so fiercely!"

"My name is Aurora Sumei!" Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

"Menilman is also my distant cousin, only our families split several generations ago, and our branch moved to the Inglima Empire."

Although it was just a misunderstanding, and Aurora Sumei didn't consider herself a petty girl, an inexplicable sourness still welled up, and she couldn't help but say, "The First Rose of Fars indeed never lacks Duelists."

Well, this statement seemed like a compliment but was a direct jab at a certain lady's heart.

If Menierman Sumei had been present, upon hearing this statement, she would have bristled like a cat with its tail stepped on.

The Empire Rose incident was a scar that Charles, as her senior, never wished to touch in her entire life.

Because too many young people had died because of that affair.

The beginning of the matter was so disgraceful.

Of course, this statement was also an attack on nearly all noble girls on the Old Continent, with strong collateral damage of the critical hit variety.

As opposed to those noble ladies who had to pay for duels out of their pockets, simply for the sake of ridiculous pride.

Under the skirts of the First Rose of Fars, the innumerable admirers who were willing to challenge the Sacred Order for Menilman, even at the cost of their lives, were like a message to all the girls on the Old Continent, showing how pitiful their charm was.

Although in Fars, Menilman was called the Empire's First Rose, in other countries, she would be referred to as the First Rose of Fars, but the charm of this "Miss Sumei" was like a mountain reaching into the clouds, weighing heavily on the hearts of every noble girl on the Old Continent, suffocating them irrespective of their nation.

No matter how much they prided themselves on their endless charm, exquisite beauty, and unparalleled elegance, none could escape feeling ashamed once they compared the number of men willing to duel for them.

If someone were to say, "The First Rose of Fars indeed never lacks Duelists!" what kind of humiliation would that be?

Charles, being a man, would never fully understand this feeling.

After saying this phrase, Aurora Sumei found herself also the target of backlash, and felt a blockage in her heart.

Jorance was silent for a long time, then suddenly bowed deeply to Aurora Sumei, and only after a long while did he straighten, speaking in a slightly fervent tone, "This gentleman from Fars, please allow me to propose a duel on behalf of Miss Menierman Sumei."