Bernice is more concerned about the young ones who could be hurt by the spread of his power during battle.

  Understanding the risk, Tseryo, Jacelin, Zeff, and Vichel quickly move back, joining the townspeople who have already reached the safe zone.

  The only target now within the high-level houl’s sight is Bernice.

  It’s exactly the situation the strongest mage has been hoping for—one where he can unleash his full power freely.

  Bernice raises his right hand toward the sky, purple electro sparks beginning to crackle in his palm—the same elemental type as Zeff’s.

  Bernice’s sharp eyes stare at the approaching high-level houl. The creature opens its huge mouth wide, revealing hundreds of dull, razor-sharp fangs that can shred a victim’s body in an instant.

  A look of fury appears on Bernice’s face, mixed with a long-suppressed disgust.

  “I keep hoping your big mouths could be used for speaking—so I can torture you into telling me why your kind always comes to destroy human life in this world!!”

  Bernice’s arm muscles tense as he channels an even greater surge of power. The purple electro sparks in his palm shift, blazing into a vivid red.

  Zeff’s eyes widen. “Red Electro?!”

  In the next instant, Bernice slams his power into the ground. Directly beneath the high-level houl, a blinding strike of red lightning erupts with a deafening roar, as if it were born from the depths of the earth itself.

  DHAARRT!!

  The shockwave ripples outward, shaking the ground all the way to where the townspeople stand. The red light is blinding—then, in a single devastating flash, the houl’s entire body is torn apart and scattered to pieces.

  The blackish-red portal instantly fades away the moment its ruling houl is destroyed.

  Tseryo, Zeff, Vichel, and Jacelin stand frozen in awe—their amazement mixed with dread—as they witness firsthand the overwhelming power of Carrion’s strongest mage.

  .

  In the quiet darkness of night around the academy, one of the workshop windows in the artificer building is still lit by a glowing lamp.

  After a date full of unexpected moments, Zeff ends up venting to his buddy, Yanzen.

  Yanzen nods, understanding everything Zeff went through that night.

  “So what you’re feeling isn’t attraction — it’s admiration that pops up in unexpected moments,” Yanzen concludes. “You don’t even have the urge to kiss her.”

  “Huh.” Zeff lets out a short, sarcastic laugh. “Just imagining it feels weird. But… there’s something about Vichel that fascinates me. I don’t know what it is, but I’ll write it down in my mystery journal to figure out later.”

  “Is it really that important that you need to write it down?”

  “This weird feeling’s something I can’t just ignore,” Zeff says, gesturing as he tries to make Yanzen understand.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  “Last year I already feel something like this when I first meet Vichel in the arena. I suddenly just like looking at her face, but that’s as far as it goes. That’s why I try not to let my punch land on her and toss her onto a pile of cloth so she doesn’t get hurt too badly.”

  Yanzen starts to get it. “So in the final match yesterday, for the same reason, you beat Vichel just by tearing her protective sheath?”

  “Exactly!” Zeff says firmly, relieved that someone finally understands his actions. “I just didn’t want her to get hurt, but she totally misunderstood. That annoying girl! Still… I like looking at her.”

  To Yanzen, Zeff’s personality seems even more complex.

  Zeff continues talking, his expression distant as he digs through his memories.

  “When we were fighting the houl army earlier, I felt this weird sense of familiarity,” he says.

  “It felt like…” Zeff pauses, searching for the right words to describe it, “…like we’ve fought side by side before — but I can’t remember when or where.”

  Fragments of a mysterious memory show a moment from long ago — Zeff stands in awe of Vichel, her body wrapped in a white-golden light. He isn’t the only one there; Tseryo and two others are also present, equally mesmerized by her.

  But back then, their forms were nothing like humans.

  .

  In the dimly lit rest room, illuminated only by a wall lamp, Tseryo sits back, resting his tired body against the soft sofa. His head tilts upward, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. The silence is so deep it makes it easy for him to sink into his thoughts, trying to recall a memory that keeps slipping away.

  It isn’t just Zeff — those mysterious fragments of memory come to him too during the battle alongside Vichel and Zeff.

  “It’s not just a feeling,” he murmurs. “I think I’ve known them before… maybe… in a previous life?”

  .

  Back in the workshop of Artificer building.

  After finishing his talk with Yanzen, Zeff walks over to a long sofa where Zoi is lying fast asleep, arms wrapped around an empty wine bottle.

  “So… how’d she end up this drunk?” Zeff asks, his expression a mix of confusion and amusement as he looks at Zoi.

  “Ah… well…” Yanzen struggles to explain — there’s no way he can tell Zeff that Zoi got drunk because she was heartbroken over his date with Vichel.

  “Looks like Zoi really liked the wine Jacelin brought, didn’t realize she drank too much of it.”

  Zeff lets out a soft laugh. “An introverted girl like her probably doesn’t drink often. No wonder her alcohol tolerance is so low.”

  Zeff leans down a little so his face is close to Zoi’s ear. He speaks in a playful whisper right next to her.

  “Zoi Zirly… it’s already late. If you don’t head back to the dorm soon, the ghost that haunts this building will keep you company, heehee….”

  Typical Zeff — the mischievous type. Yanzen just can’t believe his antics.

  “Uugh!” The only response Zeff gets is Zoi’s grumbling face, her eyes still closed.

  Zeff lets out an annoyed sigh but gently takes the wine bottle from her arms. “She’s gonna wake up with back pain if she sleeps like this till morning.”

  Yanzen, meanwhile, gets an idea as he watches them.

  “You both live in the same dorm building, right? Why don’t you just carry her back?”

  “Carry her?” Zeff frowns, looking conflicted. “Fine. Looks like she’s not waking up anyway.”

  .

  Zeff walks with Zoi on his back, the girl still completely out cold from the alcohol. After landing in the dorm courtyard using his electro ability, he strolls casually toward the entrance.

  There’s no sign of strain on his face from carrying her weight — instead, there’s a look of quiet concern.

  “Zoi, if you keep this up, I won’t feel at ease leaving you and going back to Argoust.”

  Even though he knows she’s completely out of it, Zeff keeps talking anyway.

  “Am I gonna have to send you letters just to remind you not to overdrink? Yanzen definitely wouldn’t be able to carry you all the way to the dorm like this.”

  A sense of loneliness starts to creep over Zeff — going back to Argoust means parting ways with the friends he’s grown close to.

  “Nngh…” Zoi murmurs softly, shifting her head slightly against Zeff’s back, eyes still closed.

  Zeff realizes he’s basically talking to himself.

  “Zeff…” Zoi’s soft voice suddenly calls his name.

  “I… like you…”

  Zeff freezes mid-step. His eyes widen — he can’t believe what he just heard.

  He tilts his head slightly, glancing back, and sees that Zoi’s eyes are still closed.

  Zeff lets out a quiet sigh. “You’re definitely drunk.”

  Then he resumes walking toward the silent dorm building.