Harem System In A fantasy World - Chapter 157: Probe

Chapter 157: Probe

Julian adjusted his jacket casually and began walking toward the other end of the restaurant.

To anyone watching, he looked like a confident young man simply moving across the room without a care in the world.

At Elion’s table, Tessa was mid-sentence.

“I’m telling you, if that Warbeast had been just a little slower, I would’ve finished it myself.”

“You nearly did,” Aria said softly.

“You needed help,” Mira corrected.

Elion was about to reply when his eyes shifted slightly toward the approaching figure.

Julian stopped beside their table, with his hands in his pockets, and his posture relaxed.

“Evening,” he said casually.

The conversation at the table paused.

Tessa looked up first, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“Evening,” she replied evenly.

Julian’s gaze drifted over the group one by one before settling briefly on Elion.

“You first years from the academy?” he asked, though it was obvious he already knew.

Tessa crossed her arms loosely. “Depends who’s asking.”

Julian smirked faintly. “Just someone curious.”

Elion leaned back slightly in his chair, calm as ever.

“And what are you curious about?”

Julian held his gaze for a second longer than necessary.

“I heard some first years cleared Floor Fifteen today.”

There was no accusation in his voice. But it only took a moment for Elion and the girls to realise that this guy had been eavesdropping on them.

Sure, they hadn’t made a point to be quieter about it, but who would disregard common courtesy like that?

Tessa leaned forward slightly. “And?”

Julian shrugged. ” That’s impressive.”

His eyes returned to Elion.

“Especially for someone who looks like he barely broke a sweat.”

The table grew a little quieter.

Across the restaurant, Xavier watched without appearing to watch at all.

Ezra rested her chin lightly in her palm, eyes sharp with interest.

Julian tilted his head slightly.

“So,” he said, still casual. “Mind if I ask how you pulled that off?”

Tessa let out a sharp snort at his question.

“How did we pull it off?” she repeated, leaning back in her chair with clear annoyance. “None of your business, that’s how.”

Her tone was not polite.

“Even if you are our senior,” she added bluntly, “you can get lost. We’re trying to enjoy our meal.”

The words were direct and unapologetic.

His face darkened. What meal was she talking about? The food was clearly not here yet!

He looked down at Tessa, who did not flinch under his gaze.

“Oh?” he said quietly. “That’s how first years speak now?”

Tessa didn’t move.

“That’s how I speak,” she replied.

Julian took a step forward.

Mira’s eyes sharpened slightly. Aria straightened in her seat. Isolde’s fingers twitched faintly on the table.

Julian walked toward Tessa’s chair.

But before he could get too close, Elion stood up.

It wasn’t dramatic. He simply rose smoothly and stepped into Julian’s path, blocking him without touching him.

Now the two young men stood face to face.

Elion’s expression was calm.

Completely calm.

“Do we have a problem, senior?” Elion asked evenly.

There was no mockery in his voice. Just a simple question.

Julian looked at him closely now, measuring him properly for the first time. The relaxed posture. The steady eyes. The lack of tension in his shoulders.

“You tell me,” Julian replied.

Across the room, Xavier placed his glass down carefully.

“Ezra,” he said calmly without looking at her. “Go.”

She raised a brow slightly. “To do what?”

“To observe,” he added. “And make sure Julian does not cause a scene.”

Ezra’s lips curved faintly.

“You worry too much.”

“Go,” Xavier repeated, still composed.

“Fine.” Ezra rose smoothly from her chair. Unlike Julian, she did not carry even the slightest hint of irritation in her posture.

Her movements were measured, elegant, and unhurried as she crossed the restaurant floor.

Back at Elion’s table, Julian had not stepped back yet.

“You’re bold,” he said quietly to Elion. “I’ll give you that.”

“And you’re interrupting our dinner,” Elion replied evenly.

The calmness in his voice did more than anger ever could.

Tessa leaned back in her chair again, though her eyes never left Julian.

“If you’re done flexing, go away,” she said flatly.

Julian’s jaw tightened slightly.

Just then, a new voice entered the space.

“That’s enough, Julian.”

Ezra stopped beside him, her posture straight and composed, her eyes already scanning the table with sharp interest. Up close, her presence felt more refined than Julian’s, less impulsive, but no less proud.

Julian glanced sideways at her.

“I was just talking.”

Tessa took one look at her and leaned back in her chair with a crooked grin.

“Well,” she said loudly enough for both of them to hear clearly, “you must be this oaf’s friend.”

Elion closed his eyes for half a second.

Mira’s fingers tightened around her seat.

Aria’s shoulders stiffened.

Isolde inhaled slowly.

This girl is nothing but trouble. They all thought it at the same time.

Elion had always believed that, despite Tessa’s abrasive tongue, she had a decent sense of when to stop. Apparently, he had overestimated her.

Julian’s face darkened instantly.

“Oaf?” he repeated.

Ezra did not smile.

“What did you say?” she asked, stepping forward slightly.

Her tone had dropped.

“What?” Tessa replied lazily. “You didn’t hear clearly?”

Elion’s eye twitched.

Mira shot Tessa a warning look, but it was too late.

“You two must share a single brain cell between the two of you,” Tessa added casually.

The words landed like a thrown gauntlet.

Ezra’s expression changed completely.

Her face darkened, and the air around her seemed to sharpen as her glare locked onto Tessa with enough intensity to cut through stone.

“What did you say? Don’t compare me with this oaf!” Ezra said coldly, not even glancing at Julian.

Julian turned toward her in disbelief.

“Excuse me?”

Tessa burst out laughing.

“See?” she said, pointing between them. “You do agree with me. That is the right word for him.”

Julian’s jaw clenched.

Ezra’s glare deepened.

For a brief moment, it truly looked like someone was about to lose control.

Elion stepped forward, placing himself slightly in front of Tessa without making it obvious that he was shielding her.

“Alright,” he said calmly, but his tone carried weight now. “That’s enough.”

Tessa opened her mouth again.

He didn’t look at her.

“Tessa.”

Just her name.

She clicked her tongue but leaned back in her chair again, though her eyes were still lit with amusement.

Ezra’s gaze shifted to Elion.

“You let her speak like that?” she asked, still visibly irritated.

Elion met her eyes evenly.

“I don’t control what she says.”

Julian scoffed.

“That much is obvious.”

Mira finally spoke, her voice cool.

“She’s blunt,” Mira said. “But she’s not wrong about you interrupting us.”

Aria nodded softly, though she looked far less confrontational.

“We were just having dinner.”

Isolde’s eyes moved between Ezra and Julian calmly, assessing both.

Ezra took a slow breath.

“You’re the ones who were speaking openly about clearing Floor fifteen,” she said. “In a public place. So we got curious.”

Tessa rolled her eyes.

“Oh no, someone overheard us in a restaurant.”

Julian stepped forward again.

“You think this is a joke?”

Tessa tilted her head.

“I think you’re too sensitive.”

Elion stepped slightly more between them.

“Senior,” he said evenly, directing his gaze toward Ezra this time rather than Julian. “If you came here to test us, then you’ve seen enough.”

Ezra’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“You’re intriguing.”

He didn’t deny it.

“Your friend, however, is reckless,” she countered.

“Maybe,” he replied calmly. “But that’s our problem.”

The tension hung thick for a moment longer.

Across the restaurant, Xavier watched without moving, his fingers resting lightly against the table as if none of this concerned him at all.

Ezra finally straightened.

“We’re leaving,” she said coolly.

Julian looked like he wanted to argue, but one glance at her expression made him swallow it.

Tessa leaned back again with a grin.

“Good choice.”

Mira pinched the bridge of her nose.

Aria sighed quietly.

Isolde closed her eyes for a moment.

Elion exhaled slowly.

As Ezra turned to leave, she cast one final look at Tessa.

This time, the hostility had cooled slightly.

“You’ll see us again,” she said.

Elion nodded once.

“I’m sure.”

Julian shot Tessa one last glare before following Ezra back across the restaurant.

When they were finally out of earshot, Mira leaned toward Tessa.

“You are impossible.”

Tessa shrugged.

“They started it.”

“They asked a question,” Aria corrected softly.

“And now they have an answer,” Tessa said proudly.

Elion sat back down slowly.

For a peaceful dinner, this had escalated fast.

…

The rest of the evening in the restaurant passed without trouble.

After the short confrontation, the seniors finished their meals and left quietly without saying another word. There was no more tension after that.

Elion and the girls received their food soon after. The meal was warm and filling, and the earlier jolly mood slowly returned. They talked lightly while eating, and the atmosphere became relaxed again.

Once they were done, Elion reluctantly paid for everyone’s meal while his wallet was screaming at him from the corner of his mind, and then they left the restaurant together.

The walk back to the academy was calm, with no incidents along the way. The city was quiet at night, and the cool air felt refreshing after the warm restaurant.

When they reached the dorms, they went their separate ways without much fuss.