Chapter 295: Meeting At The Tavern!

“…Gulp, gulp, gulp…!!!!”

The tavern was lively as always, filled with the warm glow of lanterns and the loud chatter from other students enjoying the start of summer holidays.

Gray pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside, Selene walking just a half-step behind him with a satisfied, slightly flushed smile on her face.

“Gray!!”

His step-sister practically launched herself out of her seat, long black hair flying as she rushed over and threw her arms around his neck in a tight, overly affectionate hug.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again, okay? Your sister was lonely without you…”

She didn’t say anything yet, but her fingers tightened around her glass.

Leon sat with his usual refined posture with a small smile on his face. His were a little annoyed, though, since he had been dragged to this place.

“Took you long enough to wake up, pretty boy. We almost started the party without you.”

She gave him a shy little wave, unable to meet his eyes for long. Ronan, the resident dumbass of the group, was already waving both arms wildly with a huge grin.

Lira, as usual, remained completely expressionless, her arms crossed, simply giving Gray a small nod.

Gray took his place in the middle of the group, Maelis still clinging to his arm on one side while Lyra’s gaze burned into him from the other.

Seeing this, Gray grabbed one of the beer mugs and took a big sip before finally speaking.

“It took longer than expected. That’s all.”

“What technique?” Selina asked curiously, leaning forward but with the intent to show Gray her cleavage.

“Was it dangerous?” Claire whispered shyly.

Gray simply shrugged, brushing off the barrage of questions with a small smile.

“The main reason I wanted everyone here tonight is that I’m quitting Gloria Academy,” he spoke directly without any drama.

“WHAT?!” Maelis screamed, nearly knocking over her drink as she whipped her head toward him.

“You’re actually leaving?!”

Leon’s smile froze completely, though a flicker of satisfaction flashed in his eyes for a split second before disappearing.

Ronan, being Ronan, dramatically threw himself off his chair, crawled under the table, and grabbed Gray’s leg with both hands, shaking it like a child throwing a tantrum.

Lira, the only one who stayed completely silent, simply stared at Gray with her usual blank expression, though her fingers tightened slightly around her glass.

“Instead… I’ll be joining Clementine’s Sword & Magic Academy. So I might meet you guys during the academy’s competition.”

A heavy silence fell over the group as the implications sank in.

In the inter-exchange, they met plenty of them… and now Gray was going there.

Their gazes instinctively shifted toward Lyra.

After her the recent breakthroughs she had displayed, she had become an absolute monster, someone who could probably stand toe-to-toe with the strongest students from any academy.

“…At least we have Lyra,” Selina muttered under her breath.

’Mhm… I really need to finish the contract, and quickly!’ he thought inwardly.

“So… we’re safe because Lyra is a walking calamity now?” Ronan, still on the floor, peeked up with teary eyes.

She simply stared at Gray, her expression unreadable, but the faint golden glow in her eyes made it clear she was already thinking about how to “handle” the situation later.

“Alright, enough of this sad talk! If our boy is leaving, then we’re throwing the biggest farewell party ever! Drinks on me… I mean, on Leon, since he’s the prince!”

The mood quickly shifted from shock to chaotic celebration. Selina slammed her mug on the table with a grin.

“Yes! Let’s play cup toss! The one where you throw the little ball into the cups!” Maelis clapped her hands excitedly.

“Two teams! Losers drink! Winner gets bragging rights and the right to make the loser do something stupid!”

The first game was classic beer pong with two teams of four.

Team 2: Lyra, Adrian, Ronan, and Leon (with Claire and Lira as referees/cheerleaders).

Gray went first.

The small white ball bounced once and landed perfectly in the center cup.

“Already?!” Ronan groaned.

Lyra’s eyes narrowed as she downed her drink in one go, glaring at Gray the entire time.

Gray was on fire during the games, as every throw he made was deadly accurate. Even when the others on his team missed, Gray carried them.

Plink! Plink! Plink!

But because of the rules, every single point scored by the opponents meant the winners still had to drink, Gray had downed almost as much as the losers.

Ronan slammed his head on the table.

“That’s our Gray! Undefeated even when drunk!” Selina laughed loudly.

Selene, sitting right beside him, kept “accidentally” brushing her leg against his under the table, a sly smile on her face.

Gray won every single one.

By the end of it, he had drunk nearly two full pitchers’ worth of strong ale, yet his posture never wavered, and his aim stayed terrifyingly precise.

Claire was red-faced and giggling shyly every time Gray looked her way.

“My big brother is the best~♡” Maelis was clinging to Gray’s arm even tighter, her cheeks flushed red as she pecked at Gray’s neck.

For someone who was extremely extroverted as her… she had changed quite a bit.

The night continued with more dumb games, flip cup, never-have-I-ever, and a chaotic round of “kings cup” that ended with Ronan singing off-key tavern songs while standing on the table.

Eventually, he stood up.

He weaved through the crowded tavern toward the back hallway where the restrooms were located.

He unzipped his pants, pulled himself out, and started to pee.

Just as the stream began, a delicate, soft hand suddenly reached from behind him and wrapped firmly around his cock, stopping the flow instantly.

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