But as soon as the status screen appeared, her smirk vanished. Her face paled as red flashing text filled her vision.

For a moment, she stood completely still. Her face was blank, devoid of any expression. Slowly, she walked toward the window, her steps quiet and deliberate. She opened it, letting the cool air brush against her face. Then, her expression shifted, and she clenched her fists.

"FUCK YOU, STAR CONSTELLATION!" she roared at the sky, her voice echoing through the quiet morning.

The sudden outburst broke the silence, and for a second, it felt almost comedic. Esdeath panted lightly, trying to calm down, her frustration spilling out all at once.

Her shout startled Selene awake. The little girl rubbed her eyes, blinking groggily as she sat up.

But before Esdeath could fully recover, another notification appeared before her eyes:

<20,000 SP Points Received>

Esdeath's eyes widened slightly. She stared at the screen in disbelief. "Twenty thousand SP points?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Her thoughts raced. "What should I do with them now? Should I wait until I reach 100k, or use them to upgrade my skills and strength?"

She frowned, her logical side taking over. "If the system says the consequences may be severe, I should focus on strengthening myself now. What's the point of saving points if I can't survive the present?"

With a sigh, she decided to hold off for now. "I'll think about it tonight when I have time," she muttered, closing the status screen.

From behind her, Selene's sleepy voice interrupted her thoughts. "Mother, my body is stinking again. I want to take a bath!"

Esdeath turned, raising an eyebrow. "Brush your teeth before the bath, or no food!" she warned, scooping Selene up and carrying her to the sink.

Both of them stood side by side, brushing their teeth. Esdeath glanced at Selene, who was half-awake and lazily moving the brush in her mouth. The sight made her chuckle softly—it was almost like they were a real mother-daughter duo.

After finishing, Esdeath led Selene to a small wooden tub she had bought from the market on her way back to the academy. It wasn't big enough for Esdeath herself, but it was perfect for Selene.

Using a water essence stone, she filled the tub with warm water. Selene climbed in, her small body sinking into the water, while Esdeath knelt beside her, carefully scrubbing her back.

Esdeath's hands moved gently, her fingers running through Selene's wet hair as she washed it. "When are you going to learn to bathe by yourself?" Esdeath asked with a teasing hiss.

Selene pouted, splashing the water lightly with her hands. "When I grow up," she replied cheekily, sticking out her tongue.

-----------

In one of the academy's dorm rooms, a seductive girl stirred from her sleep. Her tanned skin glowed softly in the dim light, her curves accentuating her mature aura.

It was Maruti—Her heavy chest rose and fell as she half-sat up, still half-asleep.

"Aliens, boss, I've finally caught you! You can't escape me now!" she mumbled, chuckling as if she had won a great victory. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, only to find herself staring at her bed.

"Aliens? Where did they go?" she muttered, dazed. A moment later, she realized she had been dreaming.

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"What bad luck. I almost defeated the boss!" she sighed dramatically, rubbing her face before sitting up fully.

Maruti, like Esdeath, wore a loose white T-shirt. But unlike Esdeath, her enormous chest stretched the fabric to its absolute limit, making it seem like it could tear apart at any moment.

She swung her legs off the bed and stood, stretching with a soft groan. Walking over to the mirror, she splashed cold water on her face. Droplets clung to her lips, and her damp hair framed her face, giving her a sultry look without her even trying.

Staring at her reflection, she tilted her head. Something looked different. She touched her hair thoughtfully.

"My hair's getting longer… and more brown. Even the yellow highlights at the front are turning brown," she murmured. Running her fingers through the strands, she added, "And the rest is getting darker—almost a reddish, vermillion brown, like it used to be."

She sighed, pouting at herself in the mirror. "The color's not the problem, but who's going to take care of all this long hair? Ugh, I need to make time to leave the academy and get a badass haircut!" A bright smile lit her face at the thought.

With a quick decision, she grabbed a set of her academy clothes. "Let's head to the bath," she said to herself, her mood lifting.

---

The public bath area in the academy had a different atmosphere now.

With all students—nobles and commoners alike—living in dorms, everyone had to share the same bath facilities. This meant that even the academy's most prominent figures, like Princess Ravenna, Sylvania, Claus, and Lortell, would be bathing here.

Because of this, many students deliberately timed their visits to coincide with these big names, hoping for a chance to talk or at least be noticed.

As Maruti reached the door to the bath, she nearly collided with Princess Ravenna, who was also entering.

Maruti stopped abruptly, stepping back just in time. Ravenna's piercing pink gaze landed on her, sharp and intense. The princess didn't say a word, but her glare was enough to make anyone freeze in place.

Maruti, however, wasn't one to back down. She met Ravenna's fierce gaze with a playful smirk. "Don't look at me like that. You might end up falling in love with me," she teased, brushing past her into the bath with a carefree stride.

Ravenna's glare didn't waver, but a faint twitch in her eyebrow suggested she wasn't amused.

But who cared?

Maruti shrugged it off, changed into her bathrobe, and entered the steamy bathing area. As she stepped in, she spotted Esdeath sitting comfortably in the warm water.

"Ah, I knew you'd be here!" Maruti grinned, walking over and giving Esdeath a playful high-five before sinking into the water with a sigh. She leaned back, closing her eyes to relax.

Her moment of peace didn't last long. A cold hand suddenly rested on her shoulder.

Maruti jolted, spinning around to see what—or who—it was. Her vision was completely blocked by two enormous… well, assets.

"Who the hell—" Maruti stammered, stepping back to get a proper look.

Her eyes flickered in recognition. Standing tall and regal, with a slightly bitter smile, was none other than Lortell.

"Didn't I warn you to keep your distance from Esdeath?" Lortell said, her voice calm yet commanding.

"Lortell?" Esdeath's face flushed red in an instant. She quickly crossed her arms over her chest as though trying to hide herself.

This reaction was odd. Esdeath was never shy about her body, regardless of who was around. But for some reason, being exposed in front of Lortell made her feel… different. Embarrassed, even. It was like she saw Lortell as the opposite gender rather than just another girl.

"Huff… these two lovebirds," Maruti muttered with a sigh, throwing her hands up in surrender.

"Alright, alright. My bad! I'm leaving!" she said playfully, walking away with slow, deliberate steps, leaving Esdeath and Lortell alone.

Maruti found a spot not too far away, settling into the warm water and glancing around the bustling bath area.

The place was chaos. Groups of students surrounded the academy's big figures, particularly Princess Ravenna. Some were trying their hardest to strike up conversations, hoping to strengthen their connections with her.

Others even approached Maruti, now a figure of equal fame to Esdeath. Many saw her as a potential ally—or a powerful warrior worth recruiting in the future.

But Maruti had no interest in any of it. She hissed, her eyes narrowing. "Back off, or I'll beat you up!" she snapped, sending her would-be conversationalists scattering.

Finally, with a relieved sigh, she leaned back against the edge of the bath. Her expression was blank as her gaze drifted to Esdeath, who was sitting a little further away. Lortell was behind her, gently washing Esdeath's back.

Maruti shook her head. "I could wash your back too!" a familiar voice chirped behind her, startling her out of her thoughts.

Her body stiffened. That voice was way too familiar.

Turning her head slowly, she saw none other than Kaelith, smiling mischievously.

Maruti let out a strained laugh, raising her hand as if to refuse. "No, no, I'm fine—"

But before she could finish, Kaelith plopped down behind her. "I'll take that as a yes!" she said cheerfully, grabbing a cloth and starting to scrub Maruti's back without waiting for permission.

Maruti sat stiffly as Kaelith continued washing her back. Her brows furrowed, her thoughts uneasy.

"Why does this girl keep popping up in my life? She always gives off such weird vibes," Maruti thought, staying alert despite the seemingly harmless situation.

Kaelith's hands moved methodically, scrubbing Maruti's back, arms, and belly. But then, her hand accidentally brushed against Maruti's chest.

Kaelith paused, her eyes widening slightly in amazement. "I wonder… how did you manage to grow them this big?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.

Maruti scoffed, crossing her arms. "It's not like I wanted to, you know. And yours aren't exactly small either!"

Kaelith laughed lightly. "Not as big as yours, though." Her mischievous smile returned. "Can I wash them too?" she teased.

Maruti's face turned red as she immediately shrugged off Kaelith's hands. "No need! I can handle it myself," she snapped, scooting a few inches away.

But Kaelith simply followed her, slipping into the water to close the distance again.

"She's like a magnet!" Maruti thought in frustration, glaring at Kaelith, who seemed completely unfazed by the tension.

---

Meanwhile, on the other side of the bath, Lortell was struggling to keep her composure.

Drool threatened to escape her mouth as her eyes roamed over Esdeath's bare back. She quickly turned her head to the side, trying to hide her flushed face.

"I can touch almost any part of her right now," Lortell thought, her excitement building with every movement of her hands. Her fingers glided across Esdeath's smooth skin, tracing the curves of her waist and hips.

But her gaze kept darting to Esdeath's exposed neck. Her breath hitched as an overwhelming urge rose within her. "I want to suck her blood," Lortell thought, struggling to stop herself. She shook her head violently. "Endure. Endure," she muttered under her breath, tightening her body to suppress her impulses.

Esdeath, oblivious to Lortell's internal turmoil, gulped nervously and mustered the courage to speak. "I-I can wash your back—"

Before she could finish, Lortell's hand shot up, gently stopping Esdeath from turning around.

"Don't turn back. I'm not done yet," Lortell said quickly, her voice steady despite the chaos inside her. She couldn't let Esdeath see her drooling, flushed face.

Taking a deep breath, Lortell forced herself to focus on the task at hand. Her hands moved down to Esdeath's legs. She couldn't help but marvel at the length and shape of them.

Esdeath's legs were stunning, long enough to cover 60% of her height and toned, with thick, smooth thighs that would make anyone with a thigh fetish lose their mind. Lortell's lips curled into a lustful smile as she admired them.

Unable to resist teasing, Lortell leaned closer to Esdeath and whispered, "Spread your legs."

Esdeath froze, her face heating up. "W-What?" she stammered, her voice rising slightly in embarrassment.

Lortell chuckled, leaning back just enough to seem innocent. "Relax. I just meant spread your legs a little so I can wash all of your thighs."

Esdeath let out a shaky breath, her cheeks still flushed. "O-Oh, okay," she muttered, reluctantly doing as Lortell asked.

Lortell's smile deepened as she continued, her eyes glinting mischievously. "I wonder when I'll get to put my fingers in there?" she thought, biting her lip to stop another wave of drool.