“To put it simply…”Rhys scratched his cheek awkwardly.“I remembered what Captain told me about Castor’s fists.”“She said he’d trained them until they became tougher than steel.”“So I started wondering…”“What if I treated my own body as a weapon?”“That became the starting point.”“I used the same principle as my bullets.”“I gathered the Mana.”“Compressed it.”“Then released it from inside my body instead of creating the bullet outside.”He shrugged.“That’s basically it.”“It’s only a new technique.”“I didn’t invent some groundbreaking concept.”Nayla blinked several times.Without saying anything, she took his hand again and carefully examined each finger, making sure there wasn’t any hidden damage beneath the skin.After a thorough inspection, she finally nodded.“…There aren’t any side effects.”She let go of his hand.“Thinking about it…”“It isn’t an unreasonable idea either.”“A Beast Tamer’s body is already filled with Mana.”“So treating your body as a weapon isn’t act

As soon as everyone entered the Student Council office, Ivory rushed straight toward the student council president.“Jay!”She pointed accusingly at Wyndia.“Look at her. She’s bullying me again.”Wyndia folded her arms and snorted.“See?”“That’s exactly why you’ll always be weaker than me.”“The moment something happens, you run to your boyfriend.”She pointed a finger at Jay without the slightest hesitation.“I don’t care if you’re the student council president.”“I won’t back down.”“So come at me if you want.”Jay Envien couldn’t help laughing.The black-haired young man raised both hands in surrender.“All right, all right.”“That’s enough.”“You two don’t need to argue every single day.”Nayla looked around the office with a smile.“This place hasn’t changed at all.”“It’s as lively as ever.”“You must be tired.”A gentle voice came from the side.“Please, have some tea.”Another young man approached, carrying two steaming cups.“My goodness.”Nayla took a small step back in su

“Everything has gone according to schedule.”Nayla looked at Raya through the silver mirror with a satisfied smile.“Now there’s only the banquet left.”She clapped her hands together.“That’s enough.”“My turn.”“I’m going to make your hair even prettier.”Raya gave a small nod.She carefully adjusted the last hairpin, making sure the loose strands resting beside her face were perfectly in place.After checking her reflection one final time, she stepped aside and let Nayla take over.Nayla rubbed her hands together with an excited grin.“Hehe.”“As always…”“I’m going to make you the most beautiful woman in the room.”“Every person there is going to fall for you.”Raya sighed helplessly.“Are you trying to make the line of suitors even longer?”Nayla laughed.“Maybe.”She continued arranging Raya’s hair while talking.“But compared to what I expected…”“This year’s banquet is actually pretty mild.”She met Raya’s eyes through the mirror.“Your talent has already surpassed everyone yo

“It makes me want to ruin you.”“…!!”The instant those words left his mouth, Raya reacted.She spun on one foot and drove a kick straight toward his head.The man only grinned.“What a violent little thing.”He caught her leg with one hand as though it weighed nothing.Raya immediately tried to pull herself free.“…Kh!”His grip refused to budge.The man slowly raised his other hand, spreading his fingers to reveal long, sharp nails that looked more like claws than human fingernails.He slowly ran the tips across her exposed leg.“What a beautiful pair of legs…”The claws barely brushed her skin.That alone was enough.Thin lines of blood immediately appeared before crimson drops began sliding down her calf.“Tsk!”Raya pushed off with her free foot and flipped into the air.Using the momentum, she drove another kick toward his face.The man laughed.“Pointless.”His other hand caught that leg as well.He looked completely relaxed.“Your strength…”“…is insignificant compared to mine

The soft clink of ice against a glass broke the silence of the room.Moonlight poured through the window, illuminating Ivory as she sat alone with a bottle of liquor beside her.She quietly lifted the glass to her lips.Her bedroom door had been left slightly open.Anyone peeking through the narrow gap would immediately notice the framed drawing resting beside her bed.It showed two smiling young people.Jay and Ivory.Both of them were proudly holding up their left hands.On their ring fingers were matching silver rings.The very same rings now lay side by side on the table in front of her.Ivory slowly raised the glass again.Just before taking another drink, she stopped.Someone was behind her.Grace had fallen asleep at the nearby table.Books were scattered everywhere, evidence that she had been studying until exhaustion finally claimed her.Ivory quietly stared at the sleeping girl.“…”After a long silence, she gently set the glass down.Without making a sound, she walked over,