Multiversal Ascension-Chapter 74: Meeting Father-in-law (1)

Later, during the Array Creation and Manipulation class, Mikael was once again reminded of the importance of arrays. He resolved that once he finished his current mage training and addressed his weakness against larger enemies, he would dedicate time to mastering arrays.

After the class, he met up with Lyra. The two of them found a secluded bench in a quiet park on the Academy grounds and began talking. At first, there was a faint tension in the air, but as their conversation shifted to magic and related topics, the tension melted away. Lyra, ever the bookworm, quickly became engrossed in their discussion.

After a while, their conversation naturally drifted to more casual topics. At one point, Lyra "casually" asked, "Oh, now that I think about it, I've often seen you with Amelia. Is she your friend or...?"

After a brief pause to gather his thoughts, Mikael responded with a calm smile. "Amelia is someone I'm close to. We've spent a lot of time together, and I wouldn't rule out the possibility of something more happening in the future. For now, though, we're just friends." He met Lyra's gaze, his tone steady. "As for relationships, I am currently with someone—Kiara. She's very important to me, and we've talked about the future. While she's open to me having multiple women, it's something we're navigating carefully."

Hearing the first part about Amelia, Lyra inwardly bristled. However, when Mikael mentioned Kiara and explained the arrangement they had, her mood improved, and she became lost in her thoughts.

"Surprisingly" for a princess, Lyra seemed to take the mention of a harem better than Amelia. But when one considered their backgrounds, it wasn't all that surprising. While Lyra was a princess, she was one of many in the Mystoria family and held little real power. She was twelfth in line for the throne and not a serious contender, as she had no interest in politics or succession, preferring to focus on her learning new knowledge. Meanwhile, Amelia was the only daughter of a duke and was deeply cherished by her father, giving her a much higher status.

This difference in their backgrounds explained why Lyra's reaction was far milder than Amelia's, who was still grappling with the concept of a harem.

Though their conversation continued, Mikael noticed Lyra's answers became distracted, her mind clearly elsewhere. Eventually, they decided to part ways. Both left with plenty to think about—Lyra with thoughts of Mikael, and Mikael with thoughts of Lyra and his harem.

Back in his dormitory, Mikael reflected on his situation. Each time he needed to explain the harem to a potential partner, it carried the risk of backfiring. The only reason it hadn't been a disaster yet was that this world was far more accepting of harems than Earth. 'If I tried this back on Earth, it would fail 99.99% of the time,' he thought wryly.

He pondered for a solution. 'In the future, when I'm pursuing someone, I should probably make it clear from the start that I have a harem. It would be less scummy and easier to accept if they knew from the beginning. That way, if they're interested, they'll already know what to expect. But how should I do this?' he wondered

He considered it further. 'The simplest solution would be to spend more time with my women in public so anyone I'm pursuing sees it and understands what they're getting into.'

Shaking his head, he dismissed the thought. 'Anyway, that's a problem for the future. Right now, I'm only interested in Kiara, Amelia, and Lyra and these three know about my situation.'

With that, Mikael returned to his training. He started by finalizing the remaining first-circle spells he hadn't yet mastered. Within an hour, all the spells were learned and usable. Not satisfied, he moved on to the second-circle spells.

Though significantly harder than first-circle spells, his previous experience and growing familiarity with the elements allowed him to progress quickly. By the time it was just before 1 PM, all the memorized spells were learned. He had already begun working on intent casting for the newly learned spells.

As the appointed time approached, Mikael ended his training and took a quick shower. Using Clean on himself, he dried off instantly. He was about to put on his Academy uniform when a thought crossed his mind. 'Should I wear something more formal?' he wondered before shrugging. 'Nah, the Academy uniform is perfectly fine.'

Leaving his dormitory, Mikael spotted Amelia leaning casually against a pillar, her white and gold Academy uniform accentuating her regal elegance. Her beauty was impossible to ignore, radiating an air of grace that seemed almost effortless. As he approached, he greeted her with a warm smile. She responded, but her usual calm and assured composure seemed slightly shaken, a subtle hint of nervosity in her demeanor.

Afterwards they began to walk with Amelia leading the way, they quickly left the Academy grounds, passing beneath the majestic archway. Mikael was reminded of his decision to avoid going outside due to the threat of Wernon potentially sending assassins after him again.

However, after a brief moment of concern, he reasoned that as long as he stayed within the city and remained in crowded areas, there wouldn't be any real danger. With that conclusion, he pushed the thought aside and focused on the important event ahead.

Mikael broke the silence. "So, what exactly did you tell your dad when you mentioned me?"

"I just told the truth," she replied, her voice steady but quieter than usual.

"Truth?" he repeated, tilting his head.

She glanced at him and elaborated. "I didn't go into personal details—it's private, after all—but I told him I'm close to you and... that I'm considering a relationship with you."

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Mikael blinked in surprise before a playful grin appeared on his face. "Really?" he asked, a teasing lilt in his voice.

Amelia didn't immediately understand his reaction, but as the weight of her words hit her, her cheeks turned a shade redder. Mustering her courage, she affirmed, "Y-yeah, that's what I said. And I mean it."

"Oh, my sweet Amelia," Mikael murmured, his voice soft as he raised a hand to tenderly caress her cheek. Looking into her striking green eyes, he asked with a faint smirk, "Is this a confession?"

"M-maybe," she stammered, her heart racing as her thoughts narrowed to the warmth of his touch.

Mikael leaned closer, his lips brushing near her ear. "Take your time to decide," he murmured, his voice carrying a possessive edge. "Because if you choose to be mine, I won't let you go."

A shiver ran down Amelia's spine, and she could only manage a quiet, "Yeah."

Their intimate moment didn't go unnoticed. Passersby stared, a mix of envy and annoyance clear in their gazes. Among them were lonely individuals silently cursing the couple for displaying their affection in public and delivering critical emotional damage.

Unbothered by the attention, Mikael and Amelia continued their walk, though the atmosphere between them grew quieter. Both seemed lost in their own thoughts.

As they approached a large building, two men in guard uniforms straightened at the sight of Amelia. "Lady Amelia," they greeted in unison, bowing slightly.

Mikael's attention shifted to the guards. Now possessing a deeper understanding of both mana and aura, he estimated their strength from the energy unconsciously leaking from their bodies. 'A rank,' he noted silently, feeling a faint tension. They were strong enough to pose a nearly insurmountable challenge to the current him.

Amelia, hearing their voices, snapped out of her swirling thoughts and realized they had reached their destination. Her composure returned, her usual calm and authoritative demeanor settling over her as she spoke. "Lead us to the teleporter."

"At once," one of the guards responded, his tone respectful and eager to please. There was no arrogance in his bearing despite his strength, and he quickly led them inside, while the other guard remained at his post.

They were guided to a large, empty room with a glowing blue magical circle etched into the floor. After confirming they didn't need further assistance, the guard excused himself and left.

Amelia turned to Mikael, her expression neutral. "Do you know how teleportation formations work?"

Mikael gave a small nod.

Satisfied, Amelia approached a device embedded in the wall. After configuring their destination as Mournsky Manor, the device scanned her aura to confirm her identity. The system accepted the request, and the teleportation formation began to hum softly.

They exchanged a brief glance, understanding what they needed to do without words. Both stepped into the circle, ready for the teleportation process.

A familiar pressure descended upon them, growing steadily heavier. Unlike the teleportation Mikael had experienced at the Academy's Teleportation Hall, this one was significantly more intense. The pressure built until he couldn't mobilize even the smallest amount of mana or aura, despite his increased strength and control.

As the pressure peaked, the world around Mikael shifted abruptly, plunging him into darkness. A moment later, the sensation of solid ground beneath his feet returned. Blinking, he took in his surroundings and saw Amelia standing beside him, entirely unaffected by the experience.

The room they had arrived in was almost identical to the one they had left, save for a device on the wall now displaying their current location: Mournsky Manor.

Amelia stepped forward with calm, purposeful movements, her demeanor suggesting that this place was familiar to her. Mikael followed, taking a moment to adjust to his new environment as they exited the room.

What greeted him outside took his breath away. The first thing that struck him was the vivid expanse of flowers stretching as far as the eye could see. Rows upon rows of blossoms in every imaginable color painted the landscape, their fragrances mingling harmoniously in the gentle breeze. Beyond the flower fields stood a grand manor, its elegant architecture exuding wealth, history, and timeless beauty.

'This is... something else,' Mikael thought, genuinely impressed.

Amelia glanced at him, catching the slight widening of his eyes. A small, proud smile curved her lips. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" she said, her tone carrying just a hint of smugness.

"Yeah," Mikael admitted, his gaze still fixed on the scene before him. "You've got good taste."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Amelia said, her smile deepening. "Come on, I'll show you the flower fields before we head inside."

She led him down a path winding through the fields. Mikael noted the meticulous care that had been taken to arrange the flowers, each patch blending harmoniously with the next. As Amelia pointed out some of her favorite spots, her demeanor grew more relaxed, and Mikael couldn't help but admire how at ease she seemed in this environment.

After a short tour, they approached the manor. The massive front doors, adorned with intricate carvings and gilded accents, opened as they neared. A pair of uniformed servants greeted them with deep bows.

"Welcome home, Lady Amelia," one of them said warmly before shifting their attention to Mikael. "And welcome to you as well, sir."

Mikael returned the greeting with a polite nod, noting how the staff's deference toward Amelia extended to him as her guest. The interior of the manor was as grand as he had expected—marble floors, towering ceilings, and ornate chandeliers that cast a soft glow over the space.

They were quickly escorted to a sitting room where Cadmus Mournsky, Duke of the Mystoria Kingdom and Amelia's father, awaited. The duke was a tall, imposing man with sharp features and a commanding presence. His piercing gaze immediately fell on Mikael, assessing him with the intensity of a man used to being in control.

"Father," Amelia said, her tone respectful yet warm. "This is Mikael."

Cadmus rose from his chair, his movements deliberate as he approached. Mikael met his gaze evenly, unflinching despite the subtle pressure the older man exuded.

The two analyzed each other silently under Amelia's worried gaze. She didn't want her father to make things difficult for Mikael, though she knew he likely would. When Cadmus finally extended his hand for a handshake, Amelia felt a brief wave of relief.

Mikael took the offered hand, and the handshake started firm but soon escalated. The pressure on his hand increased steadily until it began to ache. Looking up, he saw the cold, calculating gaze of Cadmus fixed on him.

Thoughts raced through Mikael's mind. He knew Amelia was beside him and could intervene if things went too far. Still, based on his analysis of Cadmus's demeanor, he saw striking similarities to street thugs he'd encountered before—men who respected strength and toughness above all else. There was only one way to handle someone like that.

Author Note:

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