Chapter 34: The Entrance Exam (II)

Behind her were some familiar faces as well.

Her ever-persistent entourage, the so-called simps. A gaggle of arrogant young nobles, each one more desperate than the last to win her favor.

“Tch. What a vile, revolting place…” one of them groaned, flicking a speck of dust off his velvet sleeve.

“This stench is going to ruin my coat.”

Gray’s eyes narrowed as he recognized the voice right away.

Dexter F. Orwald.

The proud son of Count Orwald, one of the most influential men in the empir,e despite holding the lowly rank of count. Dexter was known for his twin axes and brutal close-range combat style.

His clothes might’ve been pristine now, but Gray knew his hands were often stained red.

Still… Dexter wasn’t the one who made Gray’s fingers twitch with tension.

That honor belonged to another voice.

“Prince Leon! Are you sure that the guy who slaughtered fifty people at the entrance… was that useless Gray?!”

That tone, so loud, so sharp, so irritating.

But it wasn’t the sound that rattled Gray’s nerves.

It was the name.

Leon Mirevant Étoile-Noire.

The First Prince of the Empire.

The emperor’s only son… born after years of failing to produce a male heir, even after marrying three different wives.

A golden child, and the one person who stole his Spatial Talent.

Gray’s lips curled into a cold smile.

How long had it been since he’d seen that smug bastard?

[Calm down, Gray… you won’t be able to beat them even if you use your Puppet Strings…]

’I know.’

Gray let out a long breath, almost like he was letting go of smoke. His fingers flexed slowly, but he didn’t move.

His eyes, though—they were locked on them.

And then Leon spoke.

“I’m certain it was him.”

His voice was smooth but hesitant. Too calm for someone who had just seen fifty heads roll.

Maelis turned to look at him, her brows furrowed in that usual sharp way of hers.

“My brother?” she scoffed. “That useless piece of trash? He was called a genius once, sure, but no way he did that.”

She crossed her arms, her tone coming out cold.

“Besides, no one even saw what happened. Their heads just… came off. Like something invisible.”

Leon frowned.

Deep down, her words unsettled him.

’No… there’s no way. No fucking way he got his Spatial Talent back.’ He clenched his fist tightly.

’I had to BEG my father to give me enough money to get one of those trash motherfuckers to steal his talent!?!’

’No, no… It’s impossible! Definitely impossible!’ Leon thought, his eyes glancing at Maelis for a few moments.

…The way he looked at her was a little strange, but that was because, in reality, Leon had fallen in love with Maelis.

Since the moment he laid his eyes on her beautiful appearance.

“Still…” Dexter said, breaking the silence. “Only Gray in the whole damn empire was born with both dark hair and dark eyes. Thanks to Madam Vireux.”

He smiled faintly, then casually tossed one of his axes into the air.

It spun once, twice, before landing neatly back in his hand.

“If it is him, I wouldn’t mind trading a few blows with the old genius.”

“Figures,” Maelis muttered, rolling her eyes.

But then, her whole expression changed as her eyes narrowed instantly.

“Who’s there?“ Her voice sharpened as she turned toward a boulder just a few meters ahead.

In a blink, weapons were drawn.

Leon’s brows drew together.

“…I didn’t sense anyone.”

“Same here,” Dexter said with a grin, gripping his axe tighter. “Guess Maelis really is a genius.”

His smile returned, faint but sincere.

A few others nodded behind them, still scanning the terrain.

Meanwhile…

’How the fuck did she see me?!’ Gray cursed in his mind, ducking behind the rock.

[…You sure it’s not because you were leaking killing intent?]

Jasmine’s voice popped into his mind, sly and amused.

’Killing intent…?’

[Yeah. When someone really wants to kill someone—like, really, really wants to—it leaks out. It’s an aura. If you’re strong enough, it can even kill people just by existing.]

’…I see.’

Gray’s eyes narrowed.

He was exposed, so he needed to think fast!

[But hey, if you can change your clothes at will, can’t you change your face too?]

Jasmine suddenly asked casually.

And Gray’s eyes instantly brightened up.

How come he had forgotten about the power that his class had granted him?

Fuck, he didn’t even need an artifact to change his appearance.

And as if he was being enlightened, Gray suddenly remembered an old conversation with Maelis. Back when she liked him, when she described her “ideal type” in a quiet, embarrassed voice.

The details weren’t hard to remember.

He grinned.

Fwip!

His appearance changed instantly…

“I’M GIVING YOU THREE SECONDS TO COME OUT!” Dexter shouted, his voice booming through the air as he stepped toward the boulder.

His axe scraped against the stone wall as he approached, eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

One…

Gray didn’t move.

Two…

He licked his lips, raising his axes, the muscles in his arms tensing with anticipation.

And then…

CLANG!

Steel crashed against steel.

A thin, silver rapier shot out from behind the boulder and met his weapons with a high-pitched spark, the sudden impact forcing him back half a step.

Dexter’s lips curled into a savage grin.

“Oh no, you don’t!”

With a roar, he shoved forward, throwing Gray’s blade aside and swinging the axe in his left hand straight for his chest.

It was a clean arc.

But…

Fwip!

The axe sliced through empty air.

“WHAT?!” Dexter’s eyes widened, completely stunned.

Gray had dodged his attack… well, it would be more accurate to say that he had slipped through the attack.

And that was because, as Dexter approached him, Gray took the opportunity to wrap the strings around himself, not to attack, but to pull his own body out of range in the blink of an eye.

“Oh?” Maelis, in the distance, raised an eyebrow, and that made Leon’s eyes narrow instantly.

He was very possessive of her, even though they weren’t even dating or anything like that.

“Tch… not bad.” Dexter blinked, then chuckled as Gray’s appearance came into view.

The strength of the grip on his twin axes increased once again, as his eyes blazed with excitement as he thought that he had found a strong opponent.

Gray said nothing.

He simply rolled his neck with a quiet crack, letting the stiffness fade from his shoulders.

His voice came out low and calm, almost lazy.

“…Fast, but messy.”

And then he stepped forward, fully into view.

The air seemed to pause.

“Ahh….” Maelis’s breath hitched.

Her eyes widened instantly, and for a moment… her face froze in disbelief.

Then, slowly, a faint blush colored her cheeks.

Her gaze lingered, drinking him in like she didn’t even realize it.

That hair, dark as midnight, with a few soft strands of violet that shimmered faintly beneath the sun. His eyes, deep purple and clear like polished amethyst, were calm but unreadable.

His jaw was sharp, his lips pale, and his expression… detached, dangerous, and beautiful.

He wore a simple dark outfit, nothing ornate, just a fitted shirt that hugged his frame, with an open collar and sleeves rolled just past his wrists. Loose pants tucked into boots, thin gloves wrapped around his fingers.

There was something quiet about his appearance.

Quiet, but unsettling.

Like a man who didn’t care whether he killed you or walked away.

“Is that…?” someone whispered behind her.

But Maelis didn’t respond.

She was still.

Her eyes were fixed on the young man standing just ahead, half-shrouded in the dappled light of the trees.

Her heart thumped hard once, then again, a little faster this time.

She didn’t recognize the face, no. His features were different, sharper, older, more composed, but there was something… familiar.

Not in appearance, but in feeling.

The quiet way he held himself.

The eyes that didn’t search for approval. The calm, unbothered posture of someone who wasn’t performing.

Something about him pulled at her… like a memory she couldn’t place.

Her cheeks warmed.

’Why… does he make me feel like this?’

It was silly. Immature, even. But part of her, an honest, unguarded part, felt like she was a teenager again.

Like she was seeing a boy she had a crush on, back when love still felt exciting instead of complicated.

And in that moment, without understanding it fully, Maelis knew.

It had to be him.

Even if it wasn’t…

She wanted it to be.

But while she stared, lost in the quiet chaos building inside her, someone else had noticed.

Leon.

He stood just beside her, jaw clenched, every muscle in his body drawn tight.

He had seen it, the way her eyes followed Gray, the way her lips parted slightly, and that tiny shift in her posture, like her body had moved closer before her mind even realized.

It was like she was being pulled toward Gray.

He saw it all.

And it made his blood boil.

Leon’s jaw clenched so tightly it hurt.

’No. No, no, no. She’s mine, only fucking mine! She belongs to me!’

However, he still didn’t speak, and instead, he decided to act directly.

Fwoom…

A ripple of energy sparked around his palm.

It was none other than Spatial Magic.

His fingers curved inward, ready to twist the space around Gray’s body and slam him into the ground.

But just before he could cast it…

“STOP!!”

Maelis’s voice rang out sharp and clear, echoing across the rocky field.

Leon froze, and his spell died instantly.

Even Dexter, mid-step, turned and raised an eyebrow, clearly confused by her actions.

Maelis didn’t care.

Her eyes had locked onto Gray the moment she spoke. Her heart was pounding, and her spine was practically tingling.

And when Gray’s gaze finally turned toward her…

Their eyes met.

A slow shiver of pleasure crawled down her back, curling in her stomach like warm smoke.

That stare.

That cold, focused, calculating stare…

It was terrifying.

And utterly beautiful.

“Oh?” Gray tilted his head slightly.

[…My, oh my… Is this what you humans call love at first sight?]

Jasmine teased him.

But truthfully, even he hadn’t expected this.

Not so quickly.

But looking at the way her body reacted to just his gaze…

His lips curled inward for a moment, hiding the dark smile that threatened to break out.

’How fun.’

But, in contrast to his smile, someone else was fuming.

’FUCK, FUCK, FUCK, FUCK! WHY IS SHE LOOKING AT HIM?!?’

Leon’s fists shook by his side, the air around him warping faintly as he bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from screaming.

He wanted to lash out.

But… Maelis had spoken.

He couldn’t risk making her angry.

He was too far gone.

A servant to her presence.

Even Dexter side-eyed Leon with a quiet scoff of disappointment.

But Maelis didn’t notice any of that.

She took a step forward and started approaching him, her eyes never leaving Gray’s.

And then, her voice came out soft, but filled with curiosity. Like a girl about to confess to her crush.

“What’s your name…?”

She tilted her head slightly, lips parting as if trying to confirm her fantasy with his answer.

Gray didn’t smile.

He simply looked at her.

And, remembering exactly the type of man she once said she liked…

He leaned slightly forward, just enough for his voice to come low and arrogantly sharp:

“Who are you… to demand my name?”

His tone was cold as winter, and his eyes practically said that you’re beneath me.

The words were sharp enough to slice skin.

The air behind Maelis exploded.

“WHAT DID YOU SAY?!”

“BASTARD!!”

“WATCH YOUR MOUTH, YOU SON OF A BITCH!”

The nobles behind her lost all composure at once.

Swords were halfway drawn.

A few of them were already moving forward in bursts of rage.

Dexter tensed, eyes sharp, ready to step in. And… Leon looked like his veins might burst open from how tightly he was clenching his fists.

But none of them saw her face.

None of them were looking closely enough.

Maelis’s head had dipped slightly, just enough to hide her expression behind the soft curtain of her hair.

Her shoulders had gone rigid, not in fear or anger, but in the overwhelming effort to contain whatever was building inside her.

Her hands, folded lightly in front of her, trembled.

Not from shock, but from restraint.

And her lips… couldn’t stop twitching.

The corners of her mouth pulled upward in a tight, small smile. One she didn’t want anyone to see. One she hadn’t smiled in years.

It wasn’t joy or amusement…

It was relief.

Like a question she hadn’t even dared to ask had finally been answered.

Her whole body trembled, not with fear, but with an electric kind of anticipation. The warmth in her stomach coiled like fire and refused to fade.

He didn’t care who she was.

He didn’t worship her.

He didn’t chase her.

And that made him perfect.

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