A faint glow suddenly appeared in front of Ashan as a familiar system window materialized in the air before his eyes.
—--------------------------------------
Mission Completed..
Reward:
<> Nervebreaker Touch
An ability that activates automatically depending on the user's emotional state. When the user touches the target, the ability forces the victim to experience the highest possible level of sexual pleasure, overwhelming their senses and causing them to temporarily lose control of their body.
This ability only affects the opposite gender, and the target must be physically weaker than the user in terms of physical strength.
Because the ability is activated using the user's natural aura, the user can forcefully stop the effect at any moment.
—--------------------------------------
Ashan stared at the system window in silence for several seconds, his expression slowly shifting from curiosity to visible confusion as he reread the description once again, trying to confirm that he had not misunderstood what the reward actually did.
'…Ehh?'
His eyebrow twitched slightly.
'What kind of ability is this supposed to be?'
He rubbed his temple while letting out a small sigh, clearly unable to decide whether the reward was ridiculous or simply useless for someone like him.
'The previous abilities the system gave me were actually good,' he muttered quietly, shaking his head as the window faded away from his sight.
'but what exactly am I supposed to do with something like this?'
A helpless expression appeared on his face.
'If you're going to give me a reward, at least give me another chakra technique… or maybe even a cursed technique.'
Just as he finished complaining, Zevi suddenly raised his hand in the air with an excited grin on his face.
"Hey," Zevi announced loudly, looking between the group, "we have three winners here today, so how about celebrating it properly with a small party tonight?"
Nevil immediately snapped his fingers as if he had been waiting for someone to suggest exactly that idea.
"I'll pay," he declared confidently.
Zevi immediately raised his thumb in approval.
"Same here," he added with a grin. "I'll pay too."
Ashan couldn't help laughing softly as he placed an arm around both Zevi and Nevil at the same time, pulling them slightly closer with a relaxed smile.
"Don't leave me out of it," he said. "Count me in as well."
The three of them laughed together, their carefree mood spreading to the others standing nearby.
Elara and her friends, who had been watching them from a short distance away, also started laughing quietly, relieved that the intense duels were finally over.
However, Ashan's attention soon shifted toward Zevi's body, his eyes landing on the visible injuries that still hadn't been properly treated.
His expression turned slightly serious.
"Before anything else," he said while pointing toward the academy building, "you two should get proper treatment for your wounds first."
He nodded toward the medical building.
"Let's head to the infirmary."
Just as the group was about to move, an instructor suddenly approached them from the side, stopping a few steps away while looking directly at the three duelists.
"Student Zevi, student Nevil, and student Ashan," the instructor called out in a formal tone, gaining their attention immediately.
"You have received a message from the Headmistress. She has asked that the three of you come to her office as soon as your injuries have been treated."
After delivering the message, the instructor gave them a brief nod before turning around and walking away without saying anything further.
Zevi watched the instructor leave before slowly turning his head toward Ashan with a smug smirk spreading across his face.
"See?" he said proudly.
"We're already becoming famous around here. Lady Maren herself wants to meet us."
Ashan let out a long sigh while closing his eyes for a moment, as if he had already expected this outcome but still found the situation troublesome.
"I had a feeling something like this would happen," he admitted calmly, "but I didn't think it would happen this quickly."
He then glanced at Zevi.
"You should probably start preparing a good explanation for why you kicked Rax's balls twice," Ashan added with a completely serious tone. "Otherwise you're definitely going to get into trouble."
His gaze shifted briefly toward Nevil.
"At least Nevil can claim that his aim shifted because his leg was injured during the fight."
Then he looked back at Zevi.
"But that excuse definitely won't work for you."
Zevi simply stretched his neck lazily while laughing without a single trace of worry.
"Haha… don't stress about it."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"When it comes to making excuses, I'm basically a professional."
…
After receiving treatment for their injuries at the academy infirmary, the three of them finally headed toward the Headmaster's office.
When they arrived outside the office door, a staff member entered first in order to inform Maren about their arrival.
After receiving her approval, the staff member returned and gestured for them to enter.
The trio stepped into the office.
And immediately felt the atmosphere change.
Inside the large room sat every professor of the academy, including Maren herself, all of them waiting quietly as if they had gathered specifically for this meeting.
Their expressions were calm, yet serious.
At the same time, their eyes were all directed toward Ashan and Zevi.
Because every person in the room was a high-ranked mage, the combined pressure created by their presence filled the office like an invisible weight pressing down on the air.
Zevi leaned slightly closer to Ashan and whispered under his breath.
"Man… the pressure in here is insane."
Despite the heavy atmosphere, the three students greeted the professors respectfully before standing in front of the desk.
Maren slowly inhaled before speaking.
"Students," she began calmly, "do you know why I called you here today?"
Zevi immediately shook his head.
"We honestly have no idea, Madam."
Maren nodded once.
"In that case, I will explain."
Her gaze moved across the three of them.
"We will address the matter one by one."
Her eyes finally settled on Nevil.
"Student Nevil," she said, "during today's duel, you attacked your opponent's private area. I believe you understand that such an action is considered disgraceful behavior in a formal duel."
Her expression remained neutral.
"I would like to hear your explanation."
Facing the heavy pressure inside the room, Nevil took a quiet breath in order to calm himself before speaking.
"Madam… it was an accident," he replied carefully. "I was originally aiming for his abdomen, but because my leg was already injured, the strike shifted at the last moment."
Maren observed his face closely, easily noticing a slight trace of dishonesty in his expression.
However, she decided not to pursue the matter further and instead turned her attention toward Zevi.
"And what about you?" she asked calmly. "You struck your opponent twice, so I don't believe you can claim that it was accidental."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"So tell me… what was your reason?"
Zevi sighed dramatically before answering.
"I won't deny it, Headmaster. I did it on purpose."
A few of the professors raised their eyebrows in surprise.
"Oh?" Maren said slowly.
"So you are not even attempting to defend yourself."
She leaned forward slightly.
"Then explain why you committed such a disgraceful act."
Zevi made a helpless expression.
"Yes, it was indeed very shameless," he admitted. "And I feel deeply ashamed about it."
He paused before continuing.
"But unfortunately, the entire situation happened because of a personal challenge."
For a moment, nobody in the office spoke.
The professors simply stared at him.
The silence stretched long enough that even Nevil began wondering if Zevi had finally pushed his luck too far this time.
Maren leaned back slowly in her chair, her fingers interlocked on the desk while she studied Zevi's face with the kind of patience only someone in authority could maintain.
"A personal challenge," she repeated slowly.
"Yes, Headmaster," Zevi replied without hesitation, nodding as if he were explaining the most logical thing in the world.
"Before the duel started, that guy came to me and started bragging about how much stronger he had become. He said he was sharper than me now and asked whether I even had the courage to face him."
Zevi shrugged helplessly.
"He humiliated me in front of everyone and challenged my pride, so I responded the only way I could."
His hand moved vaguely as if demonstrating the action.
"That's why I hit him in the ba.."
He stopped mid-word, clearing his throat awkwardly.
"…his private part."
The room remained silent.
A few professors exchanged brief glances with one another.
Maren's expression did not change.
"And the second strike?" she asked.
Zevi scratched the back of his head while thinking for a moment.
"Well… I did that to make sure."
This time several professors visibly blinked.
"The first strike wasn't very strong," Zevi continued with complete seriousness, "but that guy looked like the type who would definitely try to make excuses later."
He lifted one finger.
"You know… something like 'I wasn't ready' or 'I didn't expect that move' or 'I was distracted.'"
Zevi shook his head firmly.
"So I decided to hit him a second time just to confirm it."
Nevil had to press his lips together to keep from laughing.
"I even reduced my speed a little so he might have a chance to protect his ba.."
Another cough.
"...his private part."
Zevi sighed deeply, spreading his hands in a helpless gesture.
"But unfortunately you all saw what happened. I was honestly hoping he would at least manage to defend himself."
He frowned slightly.
"It really made me question how someone like that managed to enroll in this academy if he couldn't even protect something so important."
A faint choking sound escaped from one of the younger professors.
Maren slowly pinched the bridge of her nose.
Beside Zevi, Nevil looked like a man fighting for his life as he tried not to laugh out loud.
Ashan, meanwhile, simply stared at Zevi with quiet disbelief.
'This guy… He's actually saying this straight to her face.'
'And somehow he's making it sound like a reasonable explanation.'
After a few seconds, Maren exhaled quietly and shifted her gaze toward the third student standing in front of her desk.
"Student Ashan."
Ashan immediately straightened slightly.
"Yes, Madam."
Maren observed him for a moment before speaking.
"Your case is different, but I still need an explanation. During the duel you stopped a lethal strike… and then slapped your opponent hard enough to knock her unconscious."
Her voice remained calm.
"Why did you do that?"
Ashan didn't hesitate.
"I was angry."
His tone was direct, but not disrespectful.
"That woman challenged me for a duel without any proper reason. Even during the battle, I avoided attacking her directly.. not because I couldn't hurt her, but because I don't like hitting women unless I absolutely have to."
A few professors exchanged glances again.
Ashan continued calmly.
"When the duel was practically over, I even stopped my final attack before it landed so she could surrender without getting seriously injured."
His eyes hardened slightly.
"But instead of accepting defeat, she attacked me again."
The room remained quiet.
"So I ended the fight."
Ashan's explanation was simple and straightforward.
Maren studied him for a few seconds longer before leaning back into her chair.
"I see."
She folded her hands together.
"In official duels, there are technically no rules stating that certain areas of the body cannot be attacked."
Her gaze shifted between the three students.
"However, experienced fighters understand that there are unspoken rules of conduct."
Her eyes stopped briefly on Zevi and Nevil.
"Attacking an opponent's private area is widely considered dishonorable unless it is absolutely unavoidable."
Zevi slowly lowered his head.
"Yes… Madam."
Maren continued.
"After discussing this matter with the professors present here, we have decided on an appropriate disciplinary action."
The tension in the room grew slightly heavier.
"Student Zevi will be prohibited from participating in official duels for three months."
Zevi froze.
"Student Nevil will be prohibited from participating in official duels for one month."
Nevil nodded immediately.
"I understand."
In truth, he felt almost relieved. Avoiding duels for a month sounded more like a vacation than a punishment.
Zevi, however, looked like someone whose soul had just left his body.
"T-Three months…?"
His shoulders collapsed dramatically.
"That's way too harsh!"
He grabbed his hair in disbelief.
"Do you know how many duels I'll miss during three months!? I'll go insane!"
Ashan patted his shoulder with a sympathetic expression.
"Don't worry too much."
Zevi turned to him with hollow eyes.
Ashan shrugged.
"Honestly… who in their right mind would challenge you to a duel anyway?"
Nevil snorted quietly.
Even one of the professors almost smiled.
Maren allowed the faintest hint of amusement to appear in her eyes before speaking again.
"Then the matter is settled."
Her voice returned to its calm authority.
"You are dismissed."
The three students turned toward the door.
They had barely taken two steps when Maren's voice echoed through the room again.
"Student Ashan."
Ashan stopped and turned back.
"Yes, Madam?"
Maren's gaze sharpened slightly.
"There is still another matter we need to discuss."
Her eyes briefly moved toward Zevi and Nevil.
"The two of you may leave."
Then she looked back at Ashan.
"But you will remain here."