The Return Of The Exiled Villain

”W–wait. Wait.”

She leaned forward so quickly that her chair screeched on the floor. Her eyes widened, pupils were practically trembling.

”Gray... don’t tell me... you don’t know what fireworks are?”

”...No?” Gray blinked.

Selveria’s jaw dropped.

”WHAT—?”

She slapped both hands onto the table.

”What were your parents even doing?! How do you not know something as basic as fireworks?!”

People at nearby tables turned their heads from the sudden shout, but Selveria ignored all of them.

She kept going, waving her hands around wildly.

”Have you—have you ever gone to a festival? A summer celebration? A birthday party? Anything with lights? Sounds? Crowds—Gray, anything?!”

Gray stayed completely silent.

Selveria waited, breath high in her chest.

Finally, he answered with one simple word.

”...Never.”

Her mouth fell open again.

”...Never?” she repeated, softer this time, like she couldn’t believe it.

He nodded once and started thinking about the reasons.

’They always locked me at home... saying that I was too precious’, he thought, looking down at his ice cream.

’...That was, at least until they took my talent away.’

He lifted a spoonful of ice cream again, but didn’t eat it. He seemed like he was thinking... searching for something

’After that, they forced me to act like a useless playboy... and honestly, I don’t feel anything about it anymore.’

His eyes locked on the ice cream that was melting...

’I guess this is how it feels to lose all emotions...?’ he thought.

Looking at his blank expression, Selveria pressed a hand against her chest, trying to steady the strange ache she felt.

Then she pushed her chair back, stood up, walked around the table, and leaned down until her face was right in front of his.

”Gray,” she whispered, her voice trembling with something deeper than shock, ”you’re telling me you’ve never seen fireworks. Not even once?”

He nodded.

Her expression instatnly twisted with anger, sadness, disbelief, all mixed in one.

”...Those idiots,” she muttered under her breath, her fists clenching.

”How could they—”

She stopped herself and took a deep breath before crouching down beside him so she could look straight into his eyes.

”Gray,” she said gently, ”look at me.”

He did.

Selveria smiled at him.

It was small, soft, but a little sad at the edges.

”Then I’m going to fix that.”

He blinked.

”You’re going to see fireworks today,” she said firmly.

”With me.”

Gray tilted his head again, confused by her sudden determination.

Selveria didn’t care.

She grabbed his hand, squeezing it tight.

”I’m not letting you go through another day of your life without knowing what real joy looks like.”

He stared at her calmly.

Selveria smiled wider, standing up and tugging him with her.

”Come on,” she said with a spark in her eyes, ”I’m going to show you something beautiful. The kind of thing they should’ve shown you years ago.”

Gray let her pull him to his feet, the warmth of her hand strangely grounding.

”I know a place. Nobody goes there. It’s perfect,” she added brightly.

Gray blinked, letting her pull him along the narrow stone path behind the shops, then up a quiet staircase hidden between two tall walls.

Selveria kept glancing back at him, making sure he followed, her long silver hair swaying behind her like a trail of bright light.

They climbed one more small set of steps, and then she pushed open an old wooden door that creaked softly.

Warm night air rushed in.

She pulled him outside.

The rooftop spread before them.... a high, lonely stretch of stone with a small barrier around the edge.

No one else was there.

The sky above was open and wide, painted with early stars, and the whole academy sat below them like a glowing kingdom.

Selveria stepped forward, breathed in deeply, then pointed toward the horizon with a little proud smile.

”This is my secret spot,” she muttered.

”I found it by accident one night. I come here when I need to think... or when I want peace.” Her voice softened, and she looked at him from the corner of her eye.

”And now I’m sharing it with you.”

Gray stared at the view, silent, hands in his pockets. It truly was calm... quiet... untouched. A perfect place to watch the world without being part of it.

Selveria moved closer until her shoulder brushed against his.

”And the best thing,” she whispered, ”is that you can see every firework from here.”

Her eyes brightened with a childlike glow.

”They’ll start soon. You’ll see all of them. I promise.”

Gray didn’t speak, only nodded slowly.

Then, Selveria lifted her arm and pointed forward, her breath soft with excitement.

”Look... right there.”

A thin whistle cut through the air.

Fwwweeehhh...

Gray’s eyes lifted.

BANG!

The sky burst open in a shower of red, gold, and deep blue.

The sudden light washed across their faces, and Gray’s eyes widened, almost trembling at the shock of it.

More explosions followed like blooming lights that spread like flowers of fire.

”...These are fireworks?” he asked quietly, even though the truth was obvious in his voice.

”Yes.” Selveria’s answer came with a warm smile, and without hesitation, she slid her fingers between his, holding his hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.

She didn’t seem to remember, or maybe didn’t care, that Gray already had someone in his life. Right now, there was only him, her, and the sky breaking open above them.

”Do you like them...?” she asked, hope filling her eyes, shining almost as bright as the lights above.

Gray stayed silent for a few seconds. The colors changed with each firework, from a soft pink to a sharp white, and then a gentle green that looked like falling leaves.

Then he nodded a little.

”...It’s beautiful. Probably one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen until today...”

Selveria exhaled, almost trembling in relief.

”That’s... great...” she murmured.

Then she leaned in closer, slowly resting her head on his shoulder.

Her hair slid down his arm in a gentle wave, and her fingers tightened just a bit around his, as if anchoring herself to him.

Gray didn’t move.

His gaze stayed on the sky, watching each burst with quiet focus, as if each one was a rare treasure he’d only get to see once.

However... at that single moment, he felt a strange drowsiness wash over him, and he instantly knew what was happening.

And somehow... for the first time, he didn’t want to change with Gray... not now, at least.

He looked down at Selveria, who had closed her eyes, with a faint smile on her lips, holding onto him as if afraid he would disappear.

[...The Emotion of Sadness has been recuperated.]

A panel suddenly appeared in front of his eyes, making the early drowsiness dissipate in a single instant.

[Would you like to continue cultivating the Shadowless Sword Art? If so, the Emotion of Sadness will be removed accordingly.]

Gray didn’t hesitate at all.

”Yes.”

[The emotion has been removed.]

The faint warmth he had felt earlier, the little sting in his chest, the strange heaviness in his breathing, disappeared completely, wiped clean like dust on a window.

Empty and cold again.

The drowsiness returned at once, washing over him like a black wave.

His eyelids dropped halfway, and he let out a slow breath, speaking in a quiet voice meant only for himself... words that slipped out without emotion, without hesitation, like a truth carved deep inside him:

”...Feelings are useless weight.”

Bang!

Another firework burst. Its light reflected in his empty eyes.

”People cling to emotions... then cry when those same emotions crush them. How foolish.”

His fingers relaxed around Selveria’s hand.

”I won’t be bound by that... ever.

He breathed out slowly, as if speaking a simple fact.

”If my friends fall, I will move forward. If my lovers break, I will move forward. If I lose myself... even that is fine.”

His eyes darkened, steady and calm like a man watching the world burn without blinking.

”All things are tools. All things can be cut away. As long as the path ahead stays clear... There is nothing I won’t sacrifice.”

A cold smile touched his lips.

”...That is the only way to reach what I want.”

And with that final thought, the drowsiness pulled him into the switch completely, and his body leaned to the side without warning.

Selveria’s breath hitched.

”H-Hey—Gray?!”

She caught him before he hit the ground, her voice trembling as she pulled him close.

Her hands moved fast, almost frantic, and soft green light bloomed from her palms, spreading over his whole body like a warm mist.

Her heart pounded as she checked every part of him... his pressure, breath, heartbeat, and even his mana flow.

Then her shoulders dropped.

”...He’s... just asleep?”

A long sigh escaped her lips, almost weak with relief.

Her tense fingers loosened around him.

But as she looked down at his resting face, her eyes froze.

Gray was smiling.

Not the cold, sharp arc he normally wore awake... but something gentle.

Soft... almost ”boyish”.

”...Huh...?”

Her cheeks warmed without her consent. For a moment, she just stared, confused at how such a dangerous young man could look so... peaceful.

She lifted him carefully, settling his head on her lap. Her fingers brushed his hair back, slow and unsure, as if she worried he might break if she touched him wrong.

Her teeth pressed into her lower lip.

Then she leaned down.

Her lips pressed to his forehead in a soft, shaky kiss.

”...Good night, Gray,” she whispered, a sweetness she couldn’t hide slipping into her voice.

The fireworks kept blooming above them.

But Selveria only watched him.