When the music stopped, the whole venue was drowned out by silence. The audience seemed to have not realized that the performance had ended.

"Huff... Huff..."

Rayen, as well as his teammates, could only hear their loud heartbeat and breathing. They glanced below them, watching for the reactions of the audience.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Finally, this one clap broke the silence. Soon, dispersed applause resounded throughout the whole venue.

"D-Did we do well or not?" Nana asked, stammering.

Rayen bit his lips. He wasn't expecting this kind of reaction at all. This scattered applause and cheers didn't give him an exact answer to Nana's question.

Did the audience like it or not? Did they do well or not? Will they win or will they disappear tonight?

Actually, even the audience did not know the answer to this question.

Soon, even the applause gradually faded.

Iris tapped the dazed Rayen on his shoulder. "Let's go."

Rayen absentmindedly glanced back at her. She had already started walking to the side along with their other teammates. Rayen could only follow silently, his heart falling down with every step.

His hands couldn't help but sweat.

'Am I going to survive tonight?'

Yeon Miwol, Han Jeongwoon and the members from the other team also ascended the stage. Like the members of Team 1, Team 2 also had dark faces.

It wasn't just Rayen and his team that was feeling dreadful.

"What a spectacular performance from our two groups for tonight's round! Isn't it, Jeongwoon-ssi?" Yeon Miwol remarked.

"Yes," Han Jeongwoon replied, his lips also curved in a gentle smile.

However, his eyes shortly lingered on Yeo Haru, whose head was bowed, standing among his teammates.

Yeon Miwol noticed this subtle gesture.

"Who do you think will win the group battle, Jeongwoon-ssi?" she asked.

Finally, Han Jeongwoon's gaze left Yeo Haru's figure. He glanced back toward Yeon Miwol, the smile never leaving his face.

"It's a bit hard to say, Miwol-ssi. Both teams displayed such good performances."

"Isn't Jeongwoon-ssi a bit too cold? Aren't you gonna wish good luck to your junior at all?"

Han Jeongwoon laughed her words off. "I'm wishing him good luck, of course!"

He stared at Yeon Miwol with subtle sharp eyes — only enough that the cameras wouldn't capture it.

He continued, "Enough of this, Miwol-ssi. I'm sure the audience is already excited for the battle's result! Aren't you?"

Yeon Miwol only responded with her own laughter. "Well, I guess Jeongwoon-ssi is also excited to know the results of his junior's performance."

Han Jeongwoon's gaze shifted from Yeon Miwol toward the camera. Determined to ignore her jabs, his smile remained unfazed.

'This woman...'

Sparks seemed to be flying tonight.

But Yeon Miwol seemed oblivious to this, her smile turned even wider. "Anyway, since all of you can't wait anymore, let us start the voting for tonight's group battle!"

Rayen was in no mood to listen to the banter of these two emcees. When he heard Yeon Miwol's last lines, his consciousness returned to his body. He stared at the screen stage behind them.

Han Jeongwoon explained the scoring rules.

"For the group battle, out of the 500 judges, half would be from the venue, and half were chosen from the livestream.

The judges will be given 1 minute to decide. Whoever scores higher would get 50,000 points. As for the loser... they would get 0 points."

Rayen and his teammates gulped.

Yeon Miwol lifted her mic once again and stared at the cameras. "Now, let the judging begin!"

Simultaneously, the two teams' names appeared on the screen.

[Bullet Rain: 0]

[Afterclass: 0]

The counter beside both teams' names immediately changed as the votes kept coming in.

Of all the methods to show the results, they just had to show it like this. Rayen was sure this was Plotter's doing once again.

He just had to torment them until the end!

'Damn Plotter!'

Still, Rayen refused to look away. He kept staring at the counter. The reaction to their performance earlier couldn't give him the assurance he needed. Only by watching the scoreboard would he know.

'Did they like it or not?'

The numbers beside both teams' names slowly turned up. It was so slow, it was agonizing.

He cursed Plotter inside his mind once more.

...

Meanwhile, the audience who received the voting device when they entered the venue earlier felt conflicted.

The first performance tonight was straightforwardly impactful. However, the second performance… they couldn't describe it.

It did leave a lasting mark in their minds and hearts, but they didn't know.

Did they like it or not?

Minji could only watch on enviously as these people pondered over their decision. If she was one of these people who got these devices, she would surely vote for Rayen.

Mostly, the people who came to watch tonight were fans of certain participants. However, Plotter made sure that the people who received the voting devices weren't these normal fans, to make sure that the votes would be impartial.

It was also the same case for the livestream watchers.

He's a Scribe, so it was rather easy to see which names are recorded in their Life Books.

It wasn't just the participants agonizing over the results but also their fans.

Together, they cursed whoever came up with this method.

Minji could only grab Seoyun's hands.

"Seo, I'm so nervous. Rayen's team would win, right?"

"I don't know..."

She responded that way, but she was also deeply rooting for the same team. Afterall, Navin was there too.

The both of them watched the counter beside the two teams' names.

[Bullet Rain: 65]

[Afterclass: 69]

The two scores were tight, but the 2nd team's score was currently higher.

"Ahh, Seo... I'm so nervous..."

Seoyun nodded.

The ticking of the timer echoed in their hearts loudly.

Unable to take the pressure anymore, Minji just closed her eyes and joined her palms together.

She whispered a prayer, "I don't know. Just let Rayen win."

As soon as she uttered those words, she heard gasps and curses everywhere. Still, she ignored it and continued praying.

"Please, please, please. Let Rayen win..."

Until Seoyun screamed.

"Minji, Minji! Look! Look!"

Minji was shaken by Seoyun.

"Ah, stop shaking! What's happening?!"

When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Rayen's open mouth. He was staring at the screen with wide eyes, seemingly unable to believe what he was seeing.

Minji followed his gaze.

She gasped.

"We're winning?"

Seoyun nodded, but Minji ignored her. Her eyes locked onto the counter beside Team 1's name.

The slow changing numbers earlier had suddenly shot up rapidly.

Watching this scene, Minji's smile couldn't even be wider. She jumped up and down in excitement.

"We're winning!" she exclaimed.

Once the minute was over, the final result was out.

[Bullet Rain: 398]

[Afterclass: 102]

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