The Return Of The Exiled Villain

Splash~

Warm ripples curled around their bodies as they stepped into the crystal-clear lake, the water glowing from the reflection of the pink and blue minerals carved in the cavern walls.

Steam drifted lazily along the surface, wrapping the four of them in a soft heat.

Gray leaned back slightly, letting the warmth soak into his aching muscles.

Lyra stayed close beside him, her golden eyes soft as she stretched her arms, sighing as the tension left her shoulders.

On the opposite side, Selene and Selina eased into the water, letting it rise up to their collarbones. Their skin glistened under the ambient light, their hair floating gently around their necks.

"It still feels strange," Selina murmured, trailing her fingers through the water. "Thinking about it… after we get out of this dungeon, the first semester is going to finally end."

"Mm. Hard to believe that time passed that fast. But I mean, we've been busy most days, so it should be normal for time to pass that fast," Selene nodded, pushing a wet strand of hair behind her ear.

Lyra chuckled from Gray's side, tilting her head back as she closed her eyes, letting the warm water lap at her neck.

"Yeah... and since Gloria Academy is a place where you literally learn how to survive, you're always with your senses sharpened."

They nodded lightly at her words, but at the same time, Selina took a small step to the side, closer to Gray.

Selene followed shortly after, drifting nearer as if pulled by the warmth of their conversation… or by something else entirely.

Gray felt the shift in distance immediately. He didn't look at them, didn't call attention to it; he simply tilted his head back, pretending to focus on the ceiling crystals.

Then, Selene's voice came softer now, close enough that he could feel the tiny warmth of her breath brushing his shoulder.

"By the way, something that I've been curious about... How did you two meet?" she asked curiously.

Gray decided to answer that question.

"In the entrance exam... I was kind of healing myself when she appeared out of nowhere," he muttered softly.

Selina edged forward as well until she was practically beside Gray, only a small distance left between them.

"Interesting..." she murmured, looking slightly downward at the water rather than his eyes, "What exactly was your first impression of her?"

"My first impression...?" Gray thought about it for a moment.

"Someone unbelievably naive... and quite pretty," he nodded lightly.

"Oh, absolutely," Selene agreed, her eyes glimmering with interest, beneath her lashes. "Our Lyra is indeed very gorgeous."

"Mhm!" Lyra hummed happily, still unaware, her eyes closed as she enjoyed the heat. "Of course! If not, how could Gray, this damn playboy, fall in love with me?"

The two girls chuckled at her words, but that made Lyra frown slighly.

Because... their voices weren't coming from that far, just like before...

Thinking of this, Lyra opened her eyes slowly, saw the distance between the three of them...and froze.

A faint twitch pulled at her lips.

Selene's shoulder was practically brushing against Gray, and Selina's fingers swirled the water near his hip, pretending to be lost in thought.

"Oh…" she whispered to herself, realizing exactly what was happening.

Lyra's eye twitched so hard it was a miracle her eyebrow didn't fly off her face. A vein throbbed at her temple as she straightened, causing water to ripple sharply around her.

"So this was what that little peaceful talk was leading to, huh?!" she snapped, her voice turning cold enough to freeze the lake solid.

Her glare locked onto the two girls, practically carving holes into their bare bodies.

Both met her murderous gaze without even a drop of shame.

"Didn't you notice your boyfriend is basically a walking temptation? He's a playboy. Obviously," Selene leaned forward slightly, her lips curling in a sly smile.

Selina nodded at Selene's words, tilting her head sweetly, though her eyes sparkled with clear challenge.

"Right? If you don't like it, you can always break up with him. Stay friends, no hard feelings."

Then she stared him dead in the eyes.

"…Isn't that right, Gray?"

Lyra slowly turned toward him while Selene and Selina waited for his answer.

The tension thickened around them like steam.

Gray didn't answer.

He simply reached out, took Lyra by the waist, and pulled her onto his lap with ease. Water splashed around them as her body settled against his.

Then he leaned in, close enough that only she could hear, and whispered into her ear:

"…Lyra, I'm sorry that I'm this attractive."

All three girls jerked, the exact same twitch of annoyed disbelief hitting them at once.

For a moment, the entire cave fell silent except for the gentle dripping of water.

"…You absolute bastard," Lyra breathed, face flushing deep crimson as she tightened her grip around his shoulders, torn between strangling him and melting into his lap.

Lyra didn't even finish her breath because the moment Selina smirked.

"That's right, cling to him while you can—"

Lyra EXPLODED out of Gray's lap like a launched spear, water flying everywhere as she lunged straight at Selina.

"You wanna DIE today?!" she roared as her arms cut through the water like blades as she charged.

Selina didn't back down; she stepped forward with her chin raised, hands spreading wide, her expression a perfect blend of mockery and challenge.

"Oh, please," Selina snapped back, throwing her hair behind her shoulder with a mocking flick.

"You're just scared he'll realize I'm the better choice!"

Plop!

They collided.

Lyra grabbed Selina by the upper arms and shoved her back, forcing waves to crash against the smooth cavern walls.

Selina staggered for a moment, then dug her heels into the warm sand beneath the water, pushing forward with her forehead pressed against Lyra's.

Their breasts squished together, their legs kicking under the water, sending up sprays with each angry motion.

"BETTER?!" Lyra snarled, grabbing her by the shoulders. "You? You can barely keep eye contact without turning pink!"

"At least I don't cling to him like a jealous barnacle!" Selina snapped before grabbing Lyra's wrist.

Lyra reacted instantly; she twisted out of Selina's grasp and shoved her again, making Selina's back slam gently into the water's surface with a loud splash.

"You bitch!"

"You jealous twig!"

Selina lunged up from the water with a swipe of her hand, only for Lyra to slap her hand aside with a sharp smack, sending droplets flying.

Selene, meanwhile, had been staring at them with growing disbelief… until her eye twitched.

"H—HEY, WHAT ABOUT ME?"

She surged forward, splashing both of them in the face as she charged in like a woman possessed.

"DON'T START YOUR CATFIGHT WITHOUT ME!" she shrieked, shoving her way directly between them.

Lyra stumbled back a step. Selina flared her nostrils.

Selene grabbed both girls by their shoulders and yanked them in.

"All of you shut up! He obviously likes ME the most!"

Both Lyra and Selina froze.

Then turned on her, and simultaneously:

"YOU?!"

"WHY YOU?!"

"ARE YOU DELUSIONAL?!"

Selene didn't hesitate as she slapped a handful of water into Selina's face.

Selina instantly recoiled, sputtering, then lunged for Selene's hair.

Selene dodged and shoved her shoulder into Selina's chest, making her stumble back again.

Lyra screamed something unholy and tackled Selene from the side, dragging her under the water for a split second before both popped up again, gasping.

Selina retaliated by kicking a huge wave toward Lyra, splashing her entire upper body.

Lyra launched herself forward, arm swinging through the water like she intended to decapitate someone.

Selene ducked, grabbing Lyra by the waist and using the momentum to flip her partly over, water roaring up as Lyra crashed back.

Selina tried to jump in again, but Lyra sat up instantly and threw both hands out, pushing both girls back with a burst of raw strength that sent another explosion of water upward.

"HE HELD ME FIRST!" Selene screamed.

"He pulled me into his lap!" Lyra fired back.

"He looked at MY chest longest!" Selina yelled triumphantly.

Lyra practically choked on air at Selina's words.

Selene's jaw dropped.

"STOP MEASURING BREAST TIME YOU MANIAC!" Lyra screeched.

"I WILL DROWN BOTH OF YOU!" Selene declared, actually making a grab for Lyra's shoulder.

And just like that, the fight devolved into a chaotic flurry of splashes, grabs, insults, and wild lunges.

Meanwhile Gray…

Gray was still resting against the stone wall, half-submerged, enjoying the warmth as if he were in a luxury bathhouse.

"…Warm water is nice," he muttered calmly.

Lyra had completely forgotten about him.

Selina too.

Selene for about three seconds, which was why she slowly drifted back toward him, pretending to "float innocently," until her thigh brushed his.

Gray didn't move as she leaned in a little closer.

Then a little more... until she was practically pressed to his side, pretending it was completely natural.

That was when Lyra and Selina finally noticed.

They froze mid-grapple, hands still on each other's shoulders.

Their eyes widened.

And then....

"SELEEEEEENE!!" they howled together.

She turned her head slightly.

"…What?" she said innocently, snuggling closer to Gray.