Using Kamui, Ashan bent space around himself and stepped through it as though slipping between the folds of a curtain. The world blurred, spiraled inward, and in the next breath, he reappeared inside his room at the academy.
The faint scent of polished wood and clean linen replaced the stale dungeon air.
Sitting casually on the chair near his desk was his shadow clone.
The clone leaned back lazily, one leg crossed over the other, and when Ashan materialized, it grinned and raised a hand in greeting.
Ashan lifted his own hand in response, mirroring the gesture without a word.
The clone dissolved into smoke a second later.
A wave of memories crashed into him instantly.
Battle sequences. The subtle movements within the academy. Conversations overheard. Students panicking over rumors. Everything his clone had seen and experienced returned to him in layered clarity.
Ashan exhaled slowly.
He removed his mask first, then his outer clothes, sending both into his storage with a flicker of spatial distortion. His shoulders relaxed as he sat down heavily on the edge of his bed.
"Fuu…"
He leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
"What a tiresome day."
Yet a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"But every minute was worth remembering."
He closed his eyes briefly, sorting through the memories he had just received.
"Damn… so that's what happened here."
He let out a low chuckle.
"But I'm not surprised. Someone unknown appears, causes chaos, displays overwhelming strength.. of course students are going to stir up rumors and mess around."
His mind replayed fragments of whispers spreading through corridors.
He then snapped his fingers lightly.
"My reward."
His eyes opened. "I forgot about the wheel."
At his will, space behind him shimmered, and the wheel manifested.
It floated horizontally behind his head, suspended in perfect stillness. Eight curved metal handles extended outward like the spokes of a divine halo, each inscribed with intricate symbols and markings. The inscriptions pulsed faintly, breathing with a life of their own, as though responding to his very presence.
Ashan's eyes lit up.
"Wow…"
He stood slowly and turned slightly to inspect it more closely.
"It's exactly like the divine artifact Sukuna used."
His lips curved upward in genuine satisfaction.
'The aura farming… the adaptation… and that world-cutting slash.'
He could almost feel the weight of potential radiating from it.
'I can make one hell of an entrance with this.'
The wheel did not tremble.
It did not waver.
It remained fixed in space as if anchored to a higher dimension.
Ashan stepped forward and moved experimentally, but the wheel followed with precise alignment, maintaining its position relative to him without lag or drift.
'Interesting…'
He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
'Now I need to test it.'
He clenched his fist lightly.
'I need to confirm whether I can truly adapt to physical attacks.'
He paced once across the room.
"Hmm…"
Then his eyes brightened.
"Aha."
A grin spread across his face.
"Narasha."
He dismissed the wheel, and it vanished without a trace.
After changing into his academy uniform, he stepped outside into the hallway.
"According to the memories and the current time… she should be in her room."
He began walking down the corridor.
As he moved, something felt different.
Sharper.
The subtle hum of mana in the walls. The faint shift of air pressure from distant footsteps. Even the rhythm of students' breathing behind closed doors.
His senses had evolved.
"I feel it…"
He slowed slightly.
"My five senses are growing sharper."
He could detect presences with frightening precision now, like faint lights flickering in a dark field.
"I can pinpoint someone's location just by subtle fluctuations."
Then,
"Mwah…"
The sound sliced through the corridor. Ashan froze mid-step.
His entire body tensed instinctively.
Another soft sound followed.
"Mmm…"
His spine stiffened.
He was still in the men's dormitory section.
Ashan slowly turned his head toward the door beside him.
"What the hell?"
His brows furrowed.
"Is that a kissing sound?"
He blinked. "No way."
He glanced down the corridor.
"In broad daylight?"
Curiosity overcame restraint.
He stepped closer, careful and silent. His eyes flicked to the door number.
Recognition hit instantly.
"…Nevil's room?"
Ashan stepped back instinctively.
A faint bead of sweat formed at his temple.
He could clearly sense two distinct presences inside.
'T-This damn punk…'
His jaw tightened.
'There's no way.'
'There's no fucking way!'
His Byakugan activated without conscious thought, veins rising subtly at his temples as his vision pierced through the wooden barrier.
And then, His jaw dropped.
Inside, Nevil sat on his bed with a girl straddling his lap. Her legs wrapped loosely around his waist. Their arms were around each other, bodies pressed close in mutual affection. She cupped his face gently. They kissed deeply, unrestrained by the outside world.
Ashan immediately deactivated his vision and took two quick steps back.
A crooked smile twisted his lips.
'This unbelievable guy…'
He ran a hand through his hair.
"He's really doing it."
Curiosity won again. He activated his vision briefly.
The girl wore a mage uniform. A wand and several books lay scattered on the desk nearby.
Her status appeared within his perception.
'Elara Glowbringer. C-rank.'
He blinked.
'A year older than Nevil.'
He stared again.
'How did this guy manage that in such a short period?'
A reluctant smirk surfaced.
'She's pretty too.'
Then he frowned slightly.
'But aren't they being a little too bold?'
He glanced down the corridor again.
"What if someone hears?"
Inside, Nevil began trailing kisses along Elara's neck. She giggled softly, her face flushed.
Ashan bit down hard to suppress sudden laughter.
'Wow… I never thought he had it in him.'
He shook his head.
'I'll deal with him later.'
Just as he turned,
"What is.. mughh!"
Ashan moved on instinct.
In a flash, he covered Narasha's mouth with his hand. She hadn't even perceived him moving.
Her eyes widened in shock.
Ashan's heart jumped.
'Damn it. When did she get here? I was distracted…'
Narasha squirmed slightly, irritated, and pried at his hand.
He quickly leaned close and whispered urgently.
"I'm sorry. Please be quiet. Let's go somewhere else."
His face was red.
Very red.
Narasha narrowed her eyes.
"What's wrong with you? Why is your face like that? Are you sick?"
She kept her voice low instinctively.
"No, no, it's not that. Just.."
"Mwah…"
The sound grew louder from inside Nevil's room.
Narasha tilted her head toward the door.
"What is that sound?"
Ashan slapped his own forehead lightly.
'These idiots…'
He clenched his teeth. "They're getting louder."
Narasha pointed at the door.
"Isn't that your friend's room?"
Her brows furrowed thoughtfully.
"Those sounds are oddly familiar."
Ashan's internal alarms blared.
'Not good. She's remembering.'
He quickly scanned the corridor. No one was nearby.
Without hesitation, he scooped Narasha into his arms and vanished in a blur.
They reappeared inside her room.
Narasha blinked several times.
"Are you insane?" she demanded. "Why drag me like that?"
She paused.
"Wait… you're not the clone."
Her eyes sharpened. "When did you return?"
Ashan rubbed his temples, still slightly flustered.
"Not long ago."
He cleared his throat.
"I came to find you."
She crossed her arms.
"So? Did you clear the dungeon?"
He nodded.
"Yes. It was troublesome, but my objective was completed."
Narasha studied his face carefully.
"But why are you acting strange?"
She stepped closer.
"It's like you saw something you shouldn't."
Ashan forced an awkward smile.
"Well… Nevil is occupied."
He coughed lightly.
"Doing something important."
Narasha raised one eyebrow. "Important?"
"You don't need to pay attention to it."
Now she truly smirked.
His ears were red.
His posture slightly stiff.
His usual calm composure cracked.
'Interesting… This man who always acted composed and distant… is embarrassed?'
Her cheeks tinted faintly.
An idea formed.
'Why not make that expression even worse?'