Observing the figure before him, Matthew's lip curled into a sneer as he leaped backward, creating some distance.
"Seriously? What's your problem? Are you mentally ill or something like that?" Matthew spat out.
"Why didn't you use your class abilities!? This is meant to put their power to the test." Stella complained.
"And why should I give a fuck? It's my class! Why do you need to pry into it?" Matthew shot back with anger.
Seriously, what was the deal with this woman?
"Besides, although I know that I'm quite homophobic..."
'For... reasons...'
"You don't have to get so fucking annoying, besides, couldn't you simply wait to get alone with her and then hug her!?"
"It was just a hug! What's your fucking issue?" Stella snapped back, her eyes glaring daggers at Matthew.
"...I can't stand homophobic people like you!" she added vehemently.
"Is that so?" Matthew's aura surged, enveloping his body in a red haze.
Seeing the crimson aura, Stella instinctively recoiled.
"And I can't stand lesbians either!" Matthew's fists clenched tightly, blood trickling from his hands to the ground below.
However, his aura suddenly dissipated as his fists loosened up.
'...I can't cause trouble now. Especially since Stacy is watching me closely... if I report signs of 'villainish' actions, she may report me and maybe the church will act against me.'
'I need to be extra careful with that.'
He turned around and simply walked to the place where the other students were gathered.
He was receiving quite a few gazes, but simply ignored them as usual.
"I need to blow off some steam," Matthew muttered to himself, his hand instinctively reaching for his pocket.
"Oh...?"
"Did I lose the paper with that woman's address?" Matthew pondered, his brow furrowing in thought.
"Ah, forget it," he sighed, dismissing the thought.
"Now that the examinations are over..." Stella's voice interrupted his musings, her gaze still fixed in Matthew.
"You students will finally have some time to rest. You'll be provided with a room for dinner and a dedicated, luxurious suite for tomorrow's—special event!"
"Please, make the most of your rest."
—
'That's surprisingly good.'
Shortly thereafter, each arrival received a private room that already contained dinner for the day.
As soon as the maid left Matthew's room, taking the dishes and leftovers he hadn't finished, he sat down on the bed and thought about the situation.
[Broken Nameless Sword (No Grade)]
"That bitch... she really broke my growth-type sword!" Matthew seethed with frustration.
After all, this sword was going to be very useful to him!
'Fucking gorilla...'
Kyu?
Suddenly, a beautiful creature appeared on Matthew's lap as she gazed at him with a happy gaze.
"Lua? Do you want something?" He asked.
Kyu!
Immediately, she jumped into Matthew's chest, where he caught her with his arms, cuddling her closely to him.
Kyuu!
"Mh? You can repair this sword?"
Kyu! Kyuuuu!
Lua chirped in response, she looked at the sword, and her mouth opened wide.
Pufff!
With a puff, a purple flame emerged from Lua's mouth, enveloping the shattered pieces of the sword.
"Ahh...." Matthew was left speechless.
As the flame consumed the fragments of the sword...
Pop!
The flame transformed into a purple blade, landing directly in Matthew's grasp.
[Broken Nameless Sword (No Grade) ——— ⋙ Purple Flame Sword (Rank: C)]
Instantly, a radiant smile spread across Matthew's face as he gazed at Lua.
Kyu!?
He enveloped her in a tight embrace, gently patting her petite form.
"You truly are my little treasure," he chuckled, holding her close.
Kyuuu!
Lua responded with delight to Matthew's affection, showering him with gentle licks. In her excitement, she even ventured to give his neck a playful nibble, prompting Matthew to laugh and squirm slightly.
"Pff... stop it, that tickles!" Matthew exclaimed, laughing because of Lua's actions.
But Lua persisted, her playful nibbles eliciting a soft groan from Matthew.
"Ah... enough!" Matthew gently placed Lua on the bed, breaking the embrace.
Kyu...
Lua's demeanor shifted immediately, her face looked disappointed and sad.
Seeing her reaction, Matthew couldn't help but sigh, a faint smile playing on his lips.
He cuddled her into his arms once more, pulling the blankets over them both.
"Goodnight," he murmured to Lua.
Lua chirped softly in response, snuggling her adorable head against Matthew's chest as they drifted off to sleep.
—
As soon as Matthew awoke, he swiftly left his room to find a maid waiting patiently in the hallway.
With a gentle smile, she presented him with a special set of clothes, tailored for the occasion.
Matthew accepted the garments, though he was unfamiliar with how to properly don them, after all, he was from a much more modern world.
Thankfully, the maid assisted him in dressing, ensuring that he looked impeccable for the day's events.
(A/N: The clothes are the same as Matthew's Image, on the comments of Chapter 15)
"Woah... this feels unusually comfortable." Matthew couldn't help but exclaim.
"These clothes are crafted from a special material, designed for optimal comfort and protection. If you observe closely, you'll notice a unique layer of mana woven into the fabric, offering added defense against imminent dangers," the maid explained with grace.
Matthew nodded in understanding.
"Then, Student Matthew, please follow me to the main event," the maid said softly, leading the way.
Matthew followed the maid through winding corridors until they finally arrived at a grand ballroom.
The ballroom was adorned with elegant decorations, from shimmering chandeliers casting a warm glow to intricate tapestries lining the walls.
The air was filled with the murmurs of excited students, it seems that they already knew why they were here.
Among the crowd, Matthew spotted familiar faces from his class: Leon, Kennard, and Stacy, each dressed impeccably for the occasion.
Stacy, in particular, looked stunning in her elegant attire, catching Matthew's eye.
And then, there was Lilian.
She was elegantly dressed in a breathtaking black ball gown that hugged her every curve with exquisite precision.
The bodice of the gown accentuated her blossomed figure, hugging her slender waist and highlighting her big breasts with delicate lace detailing.
The neckline dipped in a graceful curve, drawing attention to her collarbones and adding a touch of allure.
The gown flowed seamlessly into a voluminous skirt that cascaded to the floor in layers of luxurious fabric, swaying with every graceful step she took.
As she moved, the fabric gently caressed her peach-like buttocks, accentuating their curves and adding to the allure of her silhouette.
'Mhm... GYAATTTT... Hahaha, what am I even saying?' Mathew chuckled inwardly.
'...However, she indeed looks stunning.' Matthew admitted.
Looking around, the first thing that caught Matthew's eyes was definitely the saw of a small bar.
Instantly, Matthew had a urge to drink which was obvious that his intrusive thoughts had won.
He walked towards the bar, and instantly ordered his drink.
"A Bloody Mary, please."
"Oh? Right away...!" The bartender smiled lighlty, after all, not that Matthew knew, but his speciality was indeed the Bloody Mary.
In just a minute or so, the drink had arrived at Matthew which his eyes instantly sparkled.
He took a sip, and tasting that same familiar flavor couldn't help but make him smile.
"Oh? A Bloody Mary, that's quite the peculiar taste." A unfamiliar voice reached out to his ears.
Matthew glanced to his right, where an incredibly beautiful woman stood, delicately sipping her Margarita.
Her lips parted gracefully as she spoke, "Margaret. And you are?"
Matthew smiled faintly.
Clink!
"Matthew." He replied as their glasses clinked together, and they both took a sip.
"So, Matthew, what brings you here?" Margaret asked softly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Mhm, actually, I don't really know. I just came here as a student with my classmates. Next thing I knew, a maid led me here." Matthew explained with a shrug and a faint smile.
"Oh my~, you're a student? You seem so mature in that suit of yours, I never would have guessed!" Margaret exclaimed, genuinely surprised.
Matthew chuckled softly. "Appearances can be deceiving, I suppose."
Turning the conversation back to her, he asked, "And what about you? Do you know anything about this 'special event'?"
Margaret leaned in closer, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Perhaps I do. But, darling, information like that doesn't come for free. What are you willing to offer?"
Matthew raised an eyebrow, "Well, that depends. What are you interested in?"
A playful smile danced on Margaret's lips as she leaned even closer, her hand inching toward his.
"Oh, you'll just have to find out."
Hearing her words, Matthew was about to lean his head closer when a sudden shout caught his attention.
"MATTHEW!"
'Fuck... who's cock-blocking me this time?'