'As expected of the main characters, I worried for nothing.'
Raven thought to himself as his gaze swept over the scene in front of him.
Lana and Cenric were standing side by side, their backs straight, their breathing calm. Around them, bodies were scattered across the floor— terrorists sprawled out in awkward positions, unmoving, unconscious. The faint scent of mana still lingered in the air, proof of how fast the fight had ended.
There was no hesitation. No panic.
The two of them had handled the unawakened terrorists in an instant, and with frightening efficiency.
'They didn't even give them time to react.'
Raven narrowed his eyes slightly.
'The coordination and trust between the senior members of the [Student Council] is amazing. They probably formed a plan on the spot, adjusted to each other's movements, and executed it without a single word wasted.'
That kind of teamwork wasn't something built overnight.
It came from repeated training, shared danger, and complete faith in one another.
Raven felt a twinge of admiration— but he immediately brushed it off and shifted his focus.
Because the real problem wasn't on the floor.
It was standing.
Raven's eyes locked onto the woman.
Her brows were tightly furrowed, veins faintly visible at her temples. Her eyes burned with fury, fixed directly on them. The air around her felt heavy, unstable, as if her emotions were bleeding into her mana.
She looked like she was barely holding herself back.
Raven frowned.
'She's about to snap.'
There was no more time to observe.
"Lillen, Lana, Cenric! Evacuate everyone out of the hotel!"
His voice cut through the tension, sharp and commanding.
Lillen immediately turned toward him.
"We'll stay here, we can fight that woman together!"
Her response was fast, confident. Lana and Cenric instinctively shifted their stances, ready to back her up.
Raven opened his mouth to argue—
But he was a split second too late.
"DIEEEEEEE-!!!"
SWOOSH~!
The woman's scream tore through the hall as a massive black fireball formed in her hand and launched forward. It was as large as a human body, compressed mana roaring violently as it shot straight toward Lillen.
"...?!"
Lillen's eyes widened.
She moved her hands instinctively, mana surging as she began casting a shield.
'Too slow—!'
The distance was too short.
The fireball crossed it in an instant, closing in before the defensive spell could even take shape.
Lillen clenched her teeth and braced herself.
"[Slash]"
But then, a low voice cut through the chaos.
And in the next moment— Raven was there.
Lillen saw his back as he stepped in front of her without hesitation.
SLASH!
His sword flashed.
Electric sparks and compressed wind erupted as the blade tore cleanly through the fireball. The spell split apart and dissolved, its mana scattering harmlessly into the air.
The pressure vanished.
The heat disappeared.
Lillen stared, stunned.
And what pulled her back was Raven's voice.
"The three of you don't have your equipment. I know you're all strong, but that fact is a major factor in this fight."
His tone was calm, firm.
"Also, the students and people behind you need protection so they can get out of this building safely."
He added without looking back.
At his words, Lillen looked back behind her and finally noticed it.
The people behind them— students, hotel staff— were frozen in place. Some were shaking. Some were gripping each other's clothes. All of them were staring at her, at Lana, at Cenric.
Waiting. Trusting.
"..."
Lillen clenched her jaw.
She bit her lip hard, frustration burning in her chest.
And in an instant, she made a decision as the [Student Council President].
"Get some weapons, we'll leave this place to Raven and evacuate!"
Her shout echoed through the hall.
Lana and Cenric stiffened.
They didn't want to leave.
But they understood.
Staying would only slow Raven down.
Without another word, the two of them moved, grabbing a dagger and a gun each from the fallen terrorists.
The students and hotel staffs did the same.
And once they were ready—
"Everyone, follow Lana and Cenric outside, I'll be at the back!"
Lillen ordered that.
The people immediately obeyed as Lana and Cenric led them toward the double doors Raven had smashed through earlier.
Lillen stayed true to her words, positioning herself at the rear, eyes sharp, guarding against any sudden attack.
But before she followed—
She looked back.
Raven was still facing the majin woman, his posture relaxed but unyielding.
"Just hold on, we'll get our equipment and help you!"
Lillen shouted.
"..."
Raven didn't reply.
He simply smiled faintly to himself and waved his empty left hand without turning around.
And with that—
They left.
******
(Raven's POV)
Lillen and the others just left.
"Wow, it's so kind of you to stay still and let them leave."
I spoke casually as I stared at the majin woman standing several meters away.
She didn't respond.
She just glared at me, hatred so thick it felt like it could stab through my skin.
But then—
"Doesn't matter, nobody is leaving this place alive after all."
She opened her mouth and said that, her voice was cold.
"I'm going to kill you, then I'll go after them."
The killing intent pouring off her was real.
Very real.
I wanted to laugh it off.
But glancing at the floating system window in front of me...
[A- Rank]
"..."
All I could do was to
remain silent.
Eight ranks... That's how far apart we were.
Still, I kept my face calm.
After all, she doesn't know my real strength.
'She's cautious because of the aura I released earlier with [Emperor's Aura] and the brooch artifact.'
If she thinks I'm stronger than I really am—
Then I'll use that.
'I'll bluff and buy time until help arrives.'
SWISH~
I pulled [Nyx] from my [Quick Slot] and held it in my left hand.
The woman's eyes flickered toward it.
'Good.'
She's wary of me.
I glanced down at my hands.
[Emmeranne] in my right.
[Nyx] in my left.
My mana reserves were already drained from earlier fights outside the Human Domain, from breaking the barrier, from rushing here.
The gap between us was massive as well.
"Hah...!"
A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. The situation I'm in is just that absurd.
'Why am I acting like some hero? Am I stupid?'
I asked myself in my head.
Just then—
"Why are you laughing? Did you finally realize how dead you are now?"
I heard that in front of me.
I raised my gaze and saw the majin woman, she was preparing to fire off some spells.
FWIP-
I clenched the weapons in my hands tighter, and opening my mouth—
"Me? Dead?"
S W O O O O O S H~!!!
"Who decided that?"
I muttered that, asking as I pushed [Emperor's Aura] to its limit.
The pressure exploded outward.
"...?!"
The majin's body flinched.
The mana she was gathering in her hands wavered.
And I didn't waste that opening.
BAM!
I kicked off the ground and rushed straight at her without saying anything!
