The Return Of The Exiled Villain

Upon reaching the Headmistress’s office, Gray didn’t even bother to knock. He simply opened the door and walked in.

It wasn’t because of his arrogance or anything like that, but because, if his guess was right about the deal they were about to make... then he would be the one holding the upper hand.

”Mhm? You really dared to enter my office without knocking, huh?”

A teasing female voice reached his ears immediately.

”As expected of someone who killed fifty students in one go during my speech.”

He looked towards it immediately.

She was gorgeous... so beautiful that Gray would be stunned before, but right now, when he had already had quite a few encounters with goddesses.

Sitting behind the polished mahogany desk was the Headmistress herself, Gloria.

Her beauty was breathtaking in a dangerous way.

Long golden hair flowed down her shoulders like threads of sunlight, each strand shining faintly under the light.

Her golden eyes glimmered with playful authority, and her full lips curved in a knowing smile.

Her uniform blouse looked almost ready to give up under the size of her chest, the tight fabric straining slightly whenever she shifted her posture.

A narrow, elegant waist disappeared behind the edge of the desk, where her crossed legs moved slowly, teasingly, as she adjusted her position.

She placed her pen down with a soft click before leaning her cheek on one hand.

”So, what did you come here for, Student Gray Vireux?” she asked, her tone light, but her eyes were strangely sharp, studying him carefully.

Gray walked over without hesitation, sitting down on the sofa in front of her.

”I’m here to make a deal with you,” he said flatly.

”A deal?” Gloria’s eyes narrowed slightly.

With a small motion of her hand, she pulled out a bottle of wine from a shimmering dimensional pocket, along with a delicate glass.

Pop~

The bottle opened with a light pop.

”Sluc~”

She took a slow sip of the red liquid, her lips leaving a faint mark on the rim of the glass. Then, her crimson-tinted mouth curved into a faint, intrigued smile.

”And what exactly,” she murmured, swirling the wine lightly, ”would you offer me in return... for whatever it is you want?”

Gray leaned forward, his eyes meeting hers without fear.

”...The location of a true sealed dragon.”

”...A TRUE DRAGON?!”

Gloria suddenly straightened, her regal posture forgotten as shock flashed across her golden eyes.

But the moment she realized her reaction, she coughed lightly and composed herself again, the calm, queenly air returning almost instantly.

”Ahem...” she muttered, clearing her throat and regaining her poise.

”How can I confirm your words?”

Her gaze fixed sharply on Gray.

”Will a mana oath be enough?” he asked lightly, tilting his head slightly.

Gloria’s eyes narrowed at his words because she knew many ways to alter a mana oath, and his strangely confident demeanor made her a little cautious of him.

”...Make a Soul Oath with me,” she said flatly.

”Ah?”

Gray raised an eyebrow in surprise, then let out a short laugh.

”I didn’t even tell you my conditions yet, and you’re already offering something that serious?” His lips curved into a teasing smirk.

”You haven’t even bought me a drink yet.”

For a second, he expected a scoff or glare.

Snap!

But instead, a glass of red wine materialized right in front of him.

When he glanced up, Gloria was already looking at him with playful, challenging eyes.

”Well,” he murmured, accepting the glass and taking a sip, ”can’t say you’re not quick.”

Sip...

The flavor was deep and rich.

’Oh? This one... is quite tasteful,’ he nodded in approval.

Gray wasn’t much of a wine drinker, but this one... it was surprisingly good.

Gloria set her own glass down, then rose gracefully from behind her desk.

Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she approached and sat beside him.

The subtle scent of her perfume drifted through the air, smelling sweet with a sharp undertone that reminded him of danger.

”Now,” she said with a faint smile, crossing one leg over the other, ”what are your conditions, I wonder?”

Gray twirled the wine in his hand, pretending to think. ”Hmm... before that, I want to know something.”

”Oh?”

Her brows lifted slightly.

”What are my limits?”

”...Probably either graduating early, or asking for an item as precious as a Dragon’s Heart,” she said after thinking for a while.

The first thing made Gray raise an eyebrow.

Graduating early was denied...?

How obsessed was she with keeping her students under control?

He cleared those thoughts away, but now, he knew the limits of what he could as her. But, before that, he kind of wanted to tease her a little.

”What about you?” he asked casually, taking another sip of wine, his tone dripping with lazy amusement.

”Is that something I can ask for?”

[The authority 『Beauty』 is currently in effect...]

[You have gained the title: Incubus In Human Form! (Grants 50% more attraction towards young women, and 75% more towards women older than 35 years.)]

’Ah?’ Gray’s lips twitched at the notification.

Then, he looked at Gloria, who had a casual expression, but strangely, her eyes were a bit conflicted... as if she was weighing both of the conditions... as if she were seriously considering it.

”...That... almost sounds plausible,” she finally said, nodding lightly. ”But unfortunately, possessing me would also mean possessing everything I own. And among my possessions are items far beyond the worth of a Dragon’s Heart. So, I’m afraid that offer isn’t acceptable.”

’Unfortunately?!’

At her words, Gray deadpanned.

”What’s that face for?” Gloria tilted her head.

”...I was joking,” he muttered flatly.

”Oh, I see.” She nodded, utterly unfazed.

Gray’s expression darkened slightly as he took another sip of wine.

’...What the hell is wrong with her?’

He shook his head, deciding not to tease her any further, at least not now. It was clear this woman’s emotional compass pointed in whatever direction she pleased.

”I want an Instant Mastery Scroll,” he said finally.

Gloria’s eyes flickered with mild surprise.

”...What grade?”

”Maximum.”

Her gaze sharpened instantly.

”That’s above the value of a Dragon’s Heart.”

”Tsk...” Gray audibly clicked his tongue.

That was the one thing he truly needed. With that scroll, he could instantly master the god-level movement technique, saving himself months, maybe years, of painful repetition.

’Then... I guess the 9th step, I’ll fucking try to learn it myself,’ he gritted his teeth.

”Fine,” he muttered after a brief pause.

”One grade below maximum. And...” He trailed off, watching her expression carefully to see if she’d accept the change.

Gloria remained silent, her expression unreadable, but she didn’t reject it either.

Good. That was one.

”...And a Talent Restoration Scroll,” he added, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

Both of the items were below the value of a Dragon’s Heart, but together they surpassed it by a little.

His offer was practically a gamble.

Tap, tap...

Her manicured nails tapped lightly on the sofa as her golden eyes stared deep into his. The intensity in her gaze made Gray’s heartbeat quicken slightly, though he didn’t show it.

Finally, she exhaled slowly.

”...Deal.”

’YES!’ Gray shouted internally, though his expression stayed cool.

”However...”

’Fuck, don’t make me fucking nervous!’

Before he could even finish the thought, Gloria leaned closer. The faint scent of her perfume brushed against him as she lifted his chin gently with one finger.

”You’ll be my partner at the Seven Stars Ball,” she said with a soft, playful smile.

”How’s that sound?”

Gray froze momentarily.

The Seven Stars Ball—attended by the high nobility, the royal family... and worse, his father and older sister.

Exactly the people he wanted to avoid because of the inheritance dungeon.

Still, those two scrolls were far too valuable to refuse.

He exhaled quietly.

”...Sure.”

”Perfect!” Gloria smiled brightly, her eyes glinting with mischief.

”Now,” she said, clapping her hands together lightly, ”let’s make the Soul Oath.”

Gloria extended her hand slowly, a faint golden circle forming beneath her palm as the light spread across the room.

The air grew heavier, the pressure of mana twisting faintly around them.

”Then, let’s begin,” she said softly, her tone almost ceremonial now.

Gray placed his glass down and rose from the sofa.

Their eyes met, black and gold, calm and playful, both aware that this was more than a simple contract.

A small silver dagger appeared in Gloria’s hand, shimmering faintly with divine runes.

Without hesitation, she sliced her fingertip, letting a single drop of golden blood fall onto the glowing circle. It hissed faintly as the light absorbed it.

She offered the dagger to him next.

Gray took it without a word and repeated the gesture, cutting his own finger. His blood, dark crimson and faintly shimmering with something unnatural, fell right where hers had.

Ssshhh...

The two drops met and swirled together, creating a brief pulse of light that expanded, forming a symbol between them, half gold, half red.

”State your name,” Gloria said calmly.

”Gray Vireux D’Aurélion.”

Gloria smiled faintly and followed.

”Gloria Seraphina D’Lume.”

At the moment their voices overlapped, the circle beneath them flared to life.

The light twisted upwards, forming a thin thread connecting their chests, blood and mana merging in a single oath.

Gloria raised her hand slightly, and both of them spoke the final words in unison:

”By the bond of blood and soul, our promise shall hold—until fulfilled or broken.”

The light exploded softly, vanishing into sparkles that faded into their skin.

For a moment, silence filled the room.

Then Gloria exhaled, lowering her hand.

”It’s done,” she said quietly.

”Mhh...” Gray nodded, flexing his fingers as he watched the faint mark of the ritual, a small red line shaped like a thread, appear near his wrist.

It glowed once, then faded from sight.

Swoop!

Two scrolls suddenly materialized in the air, to which Gray calmly took them, and in front of Gloria, he summoned his dimensional storage and threw them into it.

”Now, where’s the dragon?”

Gray’s lips curved slightly.

”At the vacation island.”