"My greatest regret is not being able to win the tournament, and become your fiance," Cai said as it pressed its forehead against Iris', making the latter giggle. "But because I know that you love your step-brother, I decided to take it easy on him and let him win, without making myself look bad."

"Thank you for letting him win, Cai," Iris replied. "Also, thank you for doing your best for me. I really appreciate it."

If Lux was there, he would have definitely slapped the shameless boar's bum for being thick-skinned. Clearly, it had fought with everything it had during the tournament, and still lost to Lux, even though the latter had fallen unconscious near the end of their battle.

"Um, will you come to our festival again next year?" Cai asked. "I'd like to see you dance again. Your step-brother stole my precious recording crystal. Next year, I promise that I will get a dozen copies of your dance, and treat it as my family's treasure."

Iris nodded "Okay. I will also come next year."

"Great! I look forward to accompanying you next year. Um, you can also bring My Daddy, we won't mind."

"Thank you."

Iris and Cai met in private because the latter wanted to talk to Iris without being interrupted before it returned to the Rowan Tribe. It had traveled all the way to Barbatos Academy in order to protect its friend's freedom from her own father, who decreed that she would become the fiance of the Champion of the Tournament.

After chatting for a few minutes, Iris suddenly remembered the letter that Cai's Grandpa had sent to her when the Boar decided to join the tournament. Cai's position in the Rowan Tribe was special, so there were several restrictions placed on it, preventing the boar from doing things that it must never do, while away from home.

"By the way Cai, did you make sure that no one saw your true form while you were participating in the tournament?" Iris asked while playfully rubbing the boar's face. "Grandpa Rowan gave you this restriction before you left the tribe, right?"

"... Of course! Hahaha!" Cai replied after a brief pause. "How can I possibly let someone see my true form? Wouldn't I be taking a loss if that happened? I still want to get married, you know?"

"That's good to know. I don't know what Grandpa Rowan would do if someone really saw your real body."

"I know, right?"

Cai laughed along with Iris, but if one was to pay close attention, they would find out that the boar was laughing nervously.

It had forgotten to lock the door when its transformation was about to be undone due to its haste, which allowed Lux to see its true form when the Half-Elf visited its room to look for it.

---

An hour later, Lux, Cai, and Keane, stood at the gates of Barbatos Academy.

Eiko was perched on top of her Papa's head just like always. In fact, the slime was very excited to set off on a new adventure with Lux. Ever since the tournament ended, the Baby Slime was raring to return to Elysium in order to train, and gather more Beast Cores so that it could become stronger.

The tournament only pushed Eiko's desire to become stronger so she could beat her rival, the Unicorn Astra, in their next rematch.

"Make sure to help your Papa at all times, okay?"

"Ma!"

"Always eat on time, okay?"

"Ma!"

"Tell me all the names of the ladies who try to flirt with your Papa, okay?"

Eiko nodded her head, while perched on top of Lux's head, making the Half-Elf give Iris a bitter smile.

The blue-haired beauty then smiled mischievously before planting a kiss on Lux's lips, in front of everyone, who were also gathered in the gate of the academy, making the boys look at Lux in envy and jealousy.

"Be careful and don't push yourself too hard," Iris said as she cupped the Half-Elf's face. "Just come back to me safely."

"I will," Lux answered before kissing Iris' lips in front of everyone.

When their kiss ended, Cai lightly snorted and gave the two a disapproving look, voicing everyone's thoughts.

"You two should just get a room," Cai stated. "What are you two, exhibitionists? Are we a joke to you?"

Lux and Iris gave the boar a side-long glance before grinning at each other. Iris had kissed the red-headed teenager to let everyone know that she now belonged to him, making those who still had thoughts about her stop completely.

Lux, on the other hand, understood what she was doing, so he decided to play along and kiss her as well in front of everyone, to show them that the blue-haired beauty now belonged to him, so they should look for other fishes in the sea.

After sharing one more kiss that made Cai almost vomit sugar, the trio finally left the academy, leaving Iris and Vera behind.

Lux's Grandma had talked to Lux in private, at the same time that Cai was talking to Iris. They both said their farewells to each other, and Vera told him that she would return to the Wildgarde Stronghold and wait for his return.

Right now, Barbatos Academy, the Rowan Tribe, the Six Kingdoms, as well as other prominent families were all gearing up to challenge the Hidden Domain that only opened once a year.

"Let's go," Cai declared as it faced the West. "To the Rowan Tribe!"

As if waiting for that moment, a giant Manta Ray descended from the sky. It was the mount that Cai had used to travel to Barbatos Academy, and it would be the same beast that would carry it back to where the Rowan Tribe was currently settled, which was near the outskirts of the Hidden Domain that would be opening in a few days.

Lux and Keane followed behind Cai as the Boar mounted the Flying Manta Ray, which was a beast that the two of them were seeing for the first time.

The Half-Elf had only heard stories of the Nomadic Rowan Tribe from his Grandmother, and most of her stories told him how hospitable this tribe was even when interacting with strangers.

However, Vera warned Lux about one thing and one thing only.

"Rowan is known to spoil his only granddaughter very much," Vera said to him before they parted ways. "As long as you do not disrespect her, you will be able to leave the tribe in one piece."

Vera had said these words in a teasing manner, so Lux didn't know if his grandma was only joking when she gave him this warning.

Even so, he decided to not take chances and make sure to be on his best behavior during his visit. That way, he would get a better understanding of what kind of person the Chief of the Rowan Tribe was, and find a way to form a good relationship with him, so he would gain a backer that had the strength of a Saint.

As the Giant Manta Ray flew towards the West, the corner of Iris' lips curled up with a smile.

'I wonder what Lux will think when he finds out that I am also challenging the Hell Mode of the Sacred Dungeon,' Iris mused. Although she didn't look like it, she was a very competitive individual.

She believed that this time around, Serenity would be able to get the Sacred Lotus Flower back from the dungeon, and help the people that were inflicted with the Purple Plague, which had left many peopleincluding Cai's grandmotherencased in a block of ice, waiting for the day that the cure for it would finally be found.