I Own the Evolution Domain

Staring at the expectant expression on the Sword Princess' face, Novus couldn't help but shake his head as a helpless smile appears on his face, feeling like he was suddenly being used for reasons he doesn't know why.

Still, that doesn't change the fact that he sees no reason not to try, after all, not only does Medea took interest on the ornamental hairpin, but he also took interest in trying to figure the inner workings of this mana gun out.

As soon as he put his hands on the trigger, Novus felt like a very small part of his mana is gradually being siphoned by the device, prompting him to expand his senses as he tries to figure out where it is trying to go.

The rubber bullet is already waiting to be fired, a small magic circle engraved at the end of the chamber, prepared to release whatever magic was accumulated by the device's wielder as soon as they pull the trigger.

'Let's see… maybe just like throwing arrows…'

Novus recalled the times he had been using his opponents' weapons against them in his time in the Evolution Domain, prompting him to lift the device as he lines the barrel eye level, making sure the other end is being held by his shoulders as he shoots.

Despite the lack of experience using devices such as this one, the two watches as the rubber bullet travels in a straight line, hitting its intended target.

"You… how…"

Initially, Medea merely wanted to let Novus experience what she just has to go through shooting time and time again and missing every single time, after all, it would be pretty embarrassing for her to spectacularly fail without dragging him down with her.

Her idea is that given that they are so used to the same way of combat, that is close quarter melee, she assumed that he would be terrible with ranged shooting as well.

A very inaccurate assumption, to say the least.

However, it wasn't all that much of a loss to her as she watches the ornamental hairpin she was previously gunning for now landing on Novus' hand, a faint smile sneaking through her lips as the prize they won was handed to them by the student manning the stall.

"Hm? Maybe a bit of luck?"

Seeing her baffled expression, Novus merely smiles as he reaches out to the hairpin now handed to them, before grabbing Medea's hand as he gave it to her.

"T-thank—"

It is only the faint yet warm, familiar smile on his face that occupies her entire attention right now, her lips opened as she allows words of gratitude to escape out of them, only for her to be interrupted as a feminine voice with an owner she is quite familiar with, snapped her out of her entranced daze.

"Oh? Medea? Fancy meeting you here."

Feeling the dainty, gentle hand holding her on the shoulders, the Sword Princess couldn't help but turn her head around, already having an idea of who this new person is, yet still taking a good look just in case she is wrong.

She isn't.

A familiar small, round face that leaves so little to be judged the large, languid eyes radiating calm and peace being the first thing that anyone unfamiliar, or even familiar with her, will notice once their attentions are pulled into her being.

Long eyelashes decorate those eyes, and partnered with her graceful, arcing eyebrows, it certainly does elevate the air of warmth she is radiating.

Medea, being closer to this lady right now than anyone else, had her attention temporarily on the lady's adorable nose connecting her ocean blue eyes and her light crimson lips, a feature that the Sword Princess had to admit is pretty much equal with hers.

"Elena! Where were you previously? I feel like you've been gone from the academy longer this time~~"

Meeting with an acquaintance, or better yet, a friend that she made when she was just a freshman herself, Medea couldn't help but show a big smile on her face, turning into a lady excited meeting with her friend after being separated for a long time.

"Haha~ how would you even see me when you're the only senior who's no longer taking that much missions outside?"

This lady emanating a serene atmosphere around her laughs as she heard her friend's question, moving one of her fair hands to cover her lips as she giggles, her eyes closing as she laugh, giving off an extremely refined, yet nonetheless relaxed vibes.

"I've been busy too, you know~~?" Medea replies with a high tone, clearly glad to have met this classmate.

But before she could celebrate more, said classmate already replied with a clearly teasing intent in mind.

"Hm~~? I see… busy it is, haha~"

The serene beauty moves from behind Medea and revealed herself completely in front of her friend's companion in this festival, her eyes closed from all the giggling and laughter now opening, but not as wide as before, as she starts looking at the young man in front of her.

"T-that…"

Caught off-guard by her friend's remarks, Medea couldn't help but stutter as she opens her lips in an attempt to reply, the words in her mind refusing to come out forcing her to give up, eventually shifting her attention to introducing them to each other instead.

"Novus, this here is Elena, Elena, Novus…"

The Sword Princess introduced these strangers to each other, with her classmate and friend making the first move as she reaches her hand out, the smile on her face a bit contained, as if there's something about him that she is checking out.

It was like she is scrutinizing each and every part of his being, and Novus can tell it as well, as if this lady in front of her is trying to dismantle is entire being layer by layer.

The feeling doesn't last long however as Novus felt like the peaceful air around the lady returns once again, a graceful smile on her face as she reaches her hand out, seamlessly introducing herself to him.

It was as if she had already done such introduction hundreds, if not thousands of times before.

"Kalli Elena Harmonius, or just like Medea here called me, Elena, nice to meet you, Junior Novus~"

If Medea's tone is that of a teasing, playful one that catches him off-guard more than anyone else did in his life, this lady's consistent, serene voice whispers to his ears like wind chimes in windy fall, peaceful, calming, yet ever-so-attention catching.

"Novus Helion van Argenta, simply Novus, pleasure to meet you, Senior Elena." Novus responded with a faint smile as he also reaches his hand out, not quite expecting a lady who clearly came from nobility as well, performing such greeting towards someone she just met for the first time.

It was as if she is more used to this kind of etiquette rather than acting in a lady-like manner that most noble houses engraved upon their daughters.

'I guess that's one reason why they seem to be close friends…'

He thought to himself as he realized that these two seniors share quite the similarity in the way they act, their open, unfettered manner, still with etiquette but without care to whatever anyone else around them thinks of their action.