Chapter 67: Trouble In The Cafeteria

’…But still, what was his plan?’ Gray thought as he picked up a piece of bread and bit into it.

’He can’t be stupid enough not to notice that Maelis has already set her eyes on Emryn’s persona.’

He chewed slowly, his gaze sliding to the hall filled with noisy students.

Laughter, clattering trays, and the hum of chatter filled the air, but to Gray, all of this seemed fake, as moments ago, students were killing each other in hallways.

At Gloria Academy, nothing was ever simple.

Friendships, alliances, even so-called crushes, behind every smile was some kind of plan.

And to Gray, Leon confessing to Maelis in front of everyone wasn’t just about feelings; it was a move by him, saying that Maelis belonged to him indirectly.

Even if she had indeed rejected him.

Gray smirked faintly, tapping his spoon against the edge of his bowl.

’Maybe he thought making it public would corner her… But if that’s the case, he underestimated her badly.’

“Oyy!” Jess leaned on the table, squinting at him.

“Why are you smiling like that? You look like you’re planning someone’s funeral.”

“Just thinking about how entertaining this academy can be.”

“You’re weird,” Jess rolled her eyes, stuffing a bite of chicken into her mouth.

Gray leaned back in his chair, smirking as he reached across the table and poked Jess’s cheek once again.

“You really eat like a monster sometimes, you know that?”

Jess puffed her cheeks, swatting his hand away. “Better than looking like a starving crow like you.”

Gray chuckled softly, leaning closer.

“Careful, or I’ll start feeding you like a pet.”

Her eyes widened, and before he could blink.

Thud!

Jess’s foot shot out under the table, slamming against his shin.

“Argh—!” Gray groaned, his leg jerking back as he gritted his teeth.

“You little—”

Jess grinned victoriously, folding her arms.

“That’s what you get.”

Gray’s lips curved into a cold smile. He leaned forward, fist half-raised, his tone playful yet edged with annoyance.

“You’re dead when I land this, Jess.”

But then…

Whsshh!

The faint whistle of metal cutting air reached his ears.

“WATCH OUT!” Jess shouted.

Gray reacted instantly, and in one smooth motion, he flicked a small stone from his pocket, and with a sharp snap, his body vanished, switching places with it.

Clink!

The knife buried itself into the wooden table where he’d been sitting a moment ago.

Gray reappeared a few steps away, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward the source.

A young man stood there with long, dark brown hair that brushed his shoulders. His sharp eyes glared at Gray with a deadly seriousness, his hand still raised from the throw.

Gray tilted his head slightly in confusion as he didn’t seem to know that person at all.

“Joseph, what do you think you’re doing?!” Jess’s voice cracked across the hall as she stepped between them.

Joseph’s hardened expression softened the instant he looked at her. His face flushed slightly as he scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“I… thought he was about to hurt you, so naturally, I… tried to protect you,” he said, forcing a small, almost shy smile.

Gray’s brow twitched at his words.

’Simp…’ he thought, grimacing in the distance.

“Haah…”

Jess let out a long sigh, already tired of Joseph’s reckless act. She turned toward him, ready to scold him again, and froze…

His eyes weren’t soft anymore.

No, his gaze locked on Gray carried something darker… and that was pure killing intent.

Jess’s breath caught. She spun around quickly, her lips parting in shock.

Because…

Gray was leaning back on his chair like a king.

Two girls sat on his lap, one blushing as she fed him small bites of bread, the other quietly peeling an apple with careful hands.

They were the same girls from that night, when Selene had passed out, and Gray had needed… another way to deal with his lust.

Jess’s heart lurched instantly.

“GRAY!”

She directly shouted, her fists trembling at her sides.

The whole cafeteria went silent.

Gray only turned his head slightly, a piece of bread stuffed in his mouth.

“Whaght?” he muttered, his cheeks full.

He chewed, swallowed, then gave the left girl’s ass a casual pat before standing up as if nothing was wrong.

“Do you need something?” he asked flatly, walking toward them, his two lap partners giggling behind him.

The students nearby sneered and whispered, disgust written on their faces. But Gray didn’t give a single fuck about it.

They probably knew about his old reputation, so it was something normal for him.

Jess trembled where she stood, her finger raised, her words stuck in her throat.

“Y-you… you…!” she stammered, her lips brushing together as if she was fighting what she really wanted to say.

After all, she was just his friend… right?

Before she could speak, Joseph’s voice cut through the silence coldly.

“…Why are you teasing other girls when you already have Jess?” His glare burned holes into Gray.

Gray’s smirk widened.

“Why? Do you have a problem?” He tilted his head and slowly lifted his hand.

Resting in his palm was Joseph’s knife, the same one thrown at him moments ago.

“She’s just a friend,” Gray said casually, turning his black eyes toward Jess.

“So I can do anything I want,” he winked at her.

Jess’s fists clenched so tightly her nails bit into her skin. Every part of her screamed to punch him.

To hit him until he finally stopped smirking like that.

But before she could act, Joseph moved first.

“You damn bastard!”

“JOSEPH, NO!!! HE’S PROBABLY STRONGER THAN YOU!” Jess shouted, but her words came too late.

CRACK!

The sickening snap echoed across the hall. Joseph’s elbow bent the wrong way, the joint nearly torn from its socket.

“ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

He screamed, dropping to his knees in shock and pain.

’…Dumbass.’

Gray stood above him, expression calm, eyes sharp, his hand still gripping Joseph’s arm.

The cafeteria stayed silent.

Only Jess’s voice broke the stillness.

“GRAY!” she screamed again, though this time it was in pure rage.

“STOP!”

Jess cried, throwing herself between them, her arms spread wide.

Gray’s grip loosened instantly.

“Pathetic,” with a cold scoff, he let go of Joseph’s mangled arm, letting the boy collapse to the floor.

The room held its breath until suddenly, a crushing weight pressed down on Gray’s shoulders.

“Fuck…”

His body almost buckled, knees threatening to give out, as a voice like ice cut through the silence:

“Fighting is prohibited in the cafeteria.”

The pressure was suffocating, causing sweat to form on his forehead, but even then, he still had the same annoying smile on his face.

Gasps and whispers spread like wildfire among the watching students.

“Th-that voice…”

“Isn’t that…?”

“It’s her! Cecilia White!”

“The student council president herself…”

“No one dares cross her. She’s been unbeatable for two years straight.”

All heads turned to the figure stepping into the light.

Cecilia White, the only daughter of the Southern Duchess.

Her long black hair shimmered faintly under the sun spilling through the tall windows, her posture regal, her cold blue eyes fixed directly on Gray.

The pressure of her cultivation alone bore down on him, enough to make even upperclassmen pale.

Her gaze sharpened, her presence demanding he bow his head, but when she blinked, the spot where Gray had stood was empty.

A murmur of shock rolled through the cafeteria.

“Where—?”

“He disappeared!”

Cecilia’s brows drew together, turning her head left as she felt Gray’s aura on that side.

…And there he was.

“Mhm…” Gray’s voice came smooth, completely casual, as he leaned against the wall beside her.

He took a slow bite from the apple one of the girls had peeled for him, his eyes never leaving hers.

“You really are beautiful, just as the rumors say.”

Cecilia frowned, her expression not changing even a little.

She had heard the stories about how Gray was nothing but a lustful playboy who chased after any girl in reach.

Yet when her eyes locked with his, she froze for a split second.

Because his gaze wasn’t clouded with lust.

No, his eyes were clear, like the night sky itself. Calm, endless, and utterly unreadable.

Two inky black pools stared back at her like she was something that he didn’t even care about.

But she quickly ignored those words, as she spoke in a monotone tone:

“Fighting is prohibited in the cafeteria. Gray, this is the second time. That makes two negative points. Reach five… and you’re expelled.”

Gray didn’t even blink. He just gave a lazy nod, his expression flat, making it clear he couldn’t care less.

Her gaze then turned to Joseph.

“Since you were the one who initiated this fight, you’ll receive a negative point as well.”

Joseph clenched his jaw, biting back his irritation, but managed to nod in compliance.

Satisfied, Cecilia gestured to the student council members and turned to leave.

And to Gray’s mild surprise, among them was Leon, who paused just long enough to glance back at him.

His eyes gleamed with a faint, amused smile that carried more malice than warmth.

Gray’s eyebrow twitched upward.

’…Oh?’

His lips curled up slighly.

’Now… he’s quite useful for me.’

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