Chapter 228: Are You Cheating?

"???"

Is this some kind of joke?

Tomie frowned slightly. In terms of beauty, she never thought she could lose to anyone.

These girls clearly didn't understand the power of their looks—or rather, her looks—over boys.

"Hmph!"

Fine, laugh all you want.

It won't be long before you're crying.

In Tomie's mind, these girls were laughing because they were ignorant.

Let's see how long that smugness lasts.

"Well then!"

Without hesitation, Tomie turned her attention back to Ryuji.

"As long as you get rid of these girls, I'll give you a chance to date me."

Her tone remained as arrogant as ever, as if she were granting him a rare privilege.

The atmosphere in the room shifted noticeably.

The laughter that had filled the Service Club earlier faded, replaced by silence.

The girls weren't laughing anymore, but their expressions didn't show anger or embarrassment either. Instead, they all looked at Tomie with an amused, almost indulgent curiosity.

One had to admit that Tomie possessed a unique kind of charm.

It was the kind of allure that could easily overwhelm most boys, making it hard for them to resist.

But Ryuji wasn't like most boys.

"???"

For reasons she couldn't explain, Tomie suddenly felt as if all the attention in the room was focused on her.

In her mind, these girls should've been panicking by now, fearing that Ryuji might actually consider her offer.

Instead, their relaxed, entertained expressions made her feel uneasy. It was like they were watching a comedy unfold.

Could she really just walk away after coming this far?

That would be humiliating.

Her gaze locked on Ryuji, as if demanding an answer.

"Come here."

From the start, Ryuji hadn't said a word.

He had been quietly watching her, taking his time to size her up. Now, with a casual wave of his hand, he motioned for her to approach him.

"You…"

Tomie bristled at the commanding tone.

How dare a boy order her around like this?

Hmph.

Just wait. Once you're completely entranced by me, I'll make sure to put you in your place.

Even though she was annoyed, Tomie still moved toward him, her steps light and deliberate.

In terms of appearances, Tomie's beauty was undeniably captivating, with her delicate features and perfect composure.

Ryuji remained unfazed. Calmly, he lifted a hand and tilted her chin upward.

"You truly are the most extraordinary figure among urban legends, Kawakami Tomie," he said, his tone unflinching.

Had he not known about her beforehand, it would've been difficult to detect anything unusual about her.

Even standing this close, there wasn't the slightest trace of an unnatural aura.

She looked and felt just like an ordinary high school girl.

And yet...

[Successfully contacted the target: Kawakami Tomie! Golden Entry Triggered. Would you like to load it?]

So, it worked.

Tomie had a rare golden entry. Beyond her unique charm, she also possessed an immortal regeneration ability.

Which one had been triggered, though?

Ryuji wasn't in a rush to find out.

For now, he focused on Tomie's reaction.

The moment he spoke, her face turned visibly sour.

She slapped his hand away and glared at him.

"What are you talking about? I don't understand!"

Even though Tomie wasn't afraid of death, having someone casually expose her true identity made her deeply uncomfortable.

The other girls in the room had gone quiet, watching the scene unfold with intense interest.

No one stepped in. They all seemed confident that Ryuji had everything under control.

"You're such a boring guy. I'm leaving!"

For reasons she couldn't quite put into words, Tomie felt an unfamiliar emotion creeping into her chest—panic.

It didn't make sense.

Fear? There was no way she, Kawakami Tomie, could feel fear.

Nothing in this world could scare her.

Or so she told herself.

But her body betrayed her. Without looking back, she turned and began walking toward the door.

The next moment—

"Shadow Manipulation."

Ryuji raised one hand.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

The shadows in the room shifted unnaturally, twisting and warping until they sealed off the doorway completely.

"…"

Tomie's expression darkened.

She quickly realized that her identity wasn't just exposed, Ryuji had already taken measures to deal with her.

But so what?

Turning back, she fixed her gaze on him, her expression defiant.

"Do you really dare to fight me here?"

Her eyes flickered toward the girls surrounding them.

"There are so many girls here. Aren't you afraid they might get hurt if you start something now?"

She was clearly trying to provoke him.

Even if Ryuji was a sorcerer, even if he was strong, protecting all these girls while dealing with her? Surely, that was a stretch.

"Don't worry about that."

The response didn't come from Ryuji, but from the girls themselves.

"Flame!"

Yumiko was the first to step forward, a blazing flame igniting between her hands.

Yukino followed right after, her icy energy filling the air as frost began to form.

While their raw talent couldn't compare to seasoned sorcerers, they'd worked hard to grow stronger.

In just a short time, they had reached a level that was nearly second-tier.

The other girls, including Utaha, also moved into position.

They didn't say anything—they didn't need to.

Instead, they unleashed their own cursed energy, forming a protective barrier around the group.

"???"

Tomie froze, stunned.

She was utterly speechless.

What was going on?

This was completely outside of anything she'd anticipated.

Sorcerers were supposed to be rare. Weren't there supposed to be just a handful in the entire city?

And yet here they all were.

Was this some kind of joke?

Was he cheating?