"You weren't this nervous when we went to that afterparty back at the auction," Yelena whispered, giving Lumine an exasperated look.

"Well... I was nervous. But back then we had Instructor Ranni with us... Now we haven't even seen her since she came back."

The two walked side by side, heading toward the hall where the dinner would be held.

"I'm sure it will be fine..." Yelena said, though her expression was hesitant. Then she added, "We're already one minute late... We should hurry. Especially after we promised the Count and the Countess we'd be on time."

"It's not like these things start exactly on time."

"You'll say that right up until we're forced to walk in last with everyone's eyes on us."

Knowing how awkward, uncomfortable, and unwanted that kind of attention would be—definitely not a good thing considering the powerful and crazy people they'd be dining with—Lumine and Yelena exchanged a look before quickening their pace.

Eventually they arrived, and for a moment both of their hearts dropped into their stomachs—only to be pulled back up in relief when they saw that, although the doors were already open and a butler stood at the entrance greeting guests, people were still arriving.

After the butler greeted them, he quietly told them to sit near the Countess.

Yelena nodded and stepped into the room with Lumine at her side.

"Oh..."

Both Lumine and Yelena let out a small sound.

Immediately, they noticed the change. It felt like stepping into another world. The air was heavier; the hairs on their arms stood on end. Yelena's [Instinct] was screaming at her, warning of danger from the glances thrown in their direction.

It was insane. The people here weren't necessarily the strongest humanity had to offer... yet every single one of them felt special. What truly stood out was perhaps the sheer amount of bloodlust hanging in the room, pressing down on everyone.

Trying to keep himself composed, Lumine's gaze swept over the table. At one end sat the Count; at the opposite end, right in front of them, sat the Countess. The table was extremely long and already crowded. He recognized the four heirs. He recognized the Saintess. He recognized faces he had seen in passing at the afterparty after the auction.

He could feel the powerful auras of some of them...

The auras of Masters.

It felt like he had stumbled into a warzone.

Luckily, the Countess turned her head. Though her face looked a little pale, she offered them a gentle smile and gestured for them to take the seats at her right.

Lumine and Yelena did as they were told. Yelena sat at the Countess's right, and Lumine took the chair beside Yelena—which, coincidentally, placed him right next to Liliane.

"Good evening, Lumine. I hope the Ten have blessed you with a good day today?" she asked.

"Ah, yes. Lili— I mean, Saintess, thank you, they did. And I hope the same has been true for you."

Trying to sound formal, Lumine forced a polite smile.

Liliane nodded and said that they had indeed blessed her day, but Lumine barely heard the rest. While Yelena, wearing a strained smile, focused on chatting with the Countess and carefully ignoring everyone else, Lumine could only think about the person standing behind Liliane's chair. His heartbeat grew faster and heavier.

'That... that man is a Master... I think his name was... Jegudiel. A Heavenly Knight of the Ten Heavenly Churches...'

The man was staring to his right—or rather, glaring at a certain red-haired man standing behind Azriel and Jasmine's seats.

Another Master.

Someone Lumine recognized from having refused to let him into Azriel's room a few days ago.

Lumine gulped. He really wished he could sit somewhere—anywhere—else...

Until his gaze shifted ahead and he noticed, on the opposite side of the table, directly across from Liliane, a certain girl.

She sat with a lazy, leaned-back posture, both feet propped up on the table, smoking a cigarette.

Puffing out a cloud of smoke, the girl looked at Lumine with a mocking smile. Jegudiel turned his head toward her with a dark expression, and Liliane's face tightened in discomfort.

"Well, well. If it isn't the goody two-shoes who cried at his lover's side for months."

"Anastasia..." Lumine muttered.

Anastasia looked at them with a smile, yet her eyes were full of nothing but disgust. Disgust for everyone. Her smile turned cruel as she took another drag and blew the smoke right in front of the Saintess and the Heavenly Knight.

Her words were clearly heard by the Countess and Yelena; both of them frowned, but Anastasia ignored their reactions completely.

"What is it, Saintess?" she asked.

"Am I making you uncomfortable by smoking?"

"...A bit," Liliane replied softly.

"I do find it a little disrespectful for someone to smoke at the table while we're about to eat. Though I admit I'm not used to the smell, since it's prohibited where I am from."

"Is that so? Well, I can see a bunch of people drinking wine, which is alcohol—and isn't that also prohibited in America? I don't see you being uncomfortable with that."

"So you are aware of our laws...?"

"Of course." Anastasia shrugged, before her eyes grew colder.

"My father was born in America."

Liliane's eyes widened slightly at that, and Lumine and Yelena both glanced at Anastasia with renewed curiosity.

"Oh, I was unaware," Liliane said gently.

"What church—or churches—did your father belong to, then?"

"None."

Anastasia looked at them again as if they were a joke.

"He felt the Ten Gods were all... well... bullshit. Just like I do."

"..!"

Liliane's eyes widened as the Heavenly Knight behind her glared at Anastasia.

"Foolish girl, mind your tongue! Both you and your father may have lost your way, but do not forget: the Ten may be forgiving, no matter what your sins are—but if you refuse to repent, they can be just as vindictive!"

Anastasia rolled her eyes and, with her free hand, made a quacking gesture like a duck while she smoked.

Then she puffed again.

"See? Bullshit."

Lumine watched the Heavenly Knight grit his teeth in frustration, but contrary to what he expected, Liliane looked at Anastasia with gentle understanding.

"I suppose everyone has different beliefs and views of life," she said quietly.

"Some have found their way in the gods, while others haven't—or have lost it. If we all thought the same, we wouldn't be human, after all."

Hearing her words, Anastasia stared at her with open disgust, while the Heavenly Knight sighed and forced himself to calm down.

"Saintess, you are as kind and wise as ever," he said.

"Truly as expected from a child blessed by the gods."

Anastasia turned her head away. Yelena went back to speaking with the Countess. The Heavenly Knight resumed glaring at the red-haired Master behind Azriel and Jasmine, who were talking among themselves. Liliane, meanwhile, turned to speak with the person on her other side.

'I don't see Nol here... Someone like him, who may have done the most, would definitely be invited... And Verg—'

"Yo, Lumine."

Lumine sighed.

'Speak of the devil.'

The empty chair opposite him was finally occupied as its owner sat down.

"Vergil."

"How have you been?"

"Fine. You?"

"As normal as always."

Once they were done with the bare minimum of greetings, Lumine opened his mouth to say more—but someone else spoke first from the other end of the table.

The Count.

"Now that everyone is here, the doors can close," he said.

"Let us begin this dinner."

Immediately after his words, dozens of servants came in with plates in their hands, setting the table and placing food in front of everyone.

Looking at the dishes, Lumine felt like he was about to eat the kind of meal only a king would receive. The food at the Count's estate had never been bad, but... it had never been this level. It seemed the Count had decided to go all out tonight.

It would've been a lie to say his mouth wasn't watering.

"Please, enjoy the food, and don't hesitate if you want mo—"

"There is a lot to discuss."

Lioren suddenly spoke over the Count. The Count's expression tightened in displeasure, but Lioren ignored it as everyone turned their attention to him.

"For all of us to have finally gathered like this is already a miracle in itself," Lioren said calmly.

"There might be more participants scattered across these lands, and there are certainly more participants inside this very estate... yet they are not seated at this table. I told the Count who to invite and who not, for the simple reason that I consider everyone who is not in this room tonight to be incompetent."

As everyone's attention focused fully on him, their faces grew serious.

'So if Yelena and I hadn't come today... we would've been branded as incompetent, huh...'

"I believe everyone here has their use. Has value. Is competent enough to carry their own weight. Though there are some here, it seems, who invited themselves, and whom I do not know or recognize. So if you feel like I am speaking about you, know that I do indeed find you useless—dead weight who should be sitting with the others in this estate, waiting for us to complete the scenario for them."

With nothing else to do, Lumine's face darkened, as did the expressions of several others who looked extremely displeased with Lioren.

"I have some news for you all that you might find helpful in getting back to your own lands and completing your mission."

The Count spoke up then, trying to take over again and calm the mood.

"There have been some concerning rumors floating around these days..."

His face was serious as he propped his chin on his intertwined hands.

"From the Saintess of the Moon and the Saintess of the Sun not making any appearances lately—supposedly ill, or worse... to the King of Nymira being killed and replaced by the Revolutionary Army. The Forest of Eternity releasing a deadly gas, killing hundreds of commoners in the Black Circle. And... one I am one hundred percent sure is true: Duke Ronan Halvar has fallen in battle against the Revolutionary Army."

Everyone here had already educated themselves at least a little on this world and its politics, so they understood the weight of his words.

The war... was coming to an end.

The balance... was coming to an end.

The scenario... was coming to an end.

And...

It looked like the Revolutionary Army was winning.

Naturally, there were participants in this world who had joined either the Revolutionary Army or the Royal Army. But right now, Lumine could hear whispers from around the table—some already discussing leaving here to join the Revolutionary Army.

'No wonder...'

They really might win. And if people at this table started joining them as well, it might become inevitable.

The Count wasn't finished.

"Next week, there will be a summit," he continued.

"At a neutral zone in the desert, where all the kings will meet... the kings who are still alive, of course. And since the Supreme Leader has taken over Nymira, he will be there as well—as will the King of Ismyr."

"We are grateful for this information, Count," Lioren said, thanking him without the slightest change in expression.

Lumine had almost forgotten about the food, until Yelena nudged him lightly. Seeing others beginning to eat while listening, he finally picked up his utensils and started as well.

"Now," Lioren went on, "I will go over the plan we will follow to get out of this scena—"

"Hold on."

Lioren was suddenly interrupted by someone else.

Lumine frowned, as did several others, turning to look at the person who had stood up and was now staring at Lioren with a cold expression.

"I mean absolutely no disrespect to you, Prince Lioren," the man said, "but why are you acting as the leader? You might be a Master, but there are other Masters here. And as for you being a prince... we are not in our world anymore, it seems. So I do not think the privileges of the great clans should be assumed to hold the same weight here."

Instantly, all those belonging to the four great clans looked at the man coldly.

Lioren, looking more aloof than cold now, asked in an even tone,

"You are the guild master of the Waterspears. Your name is Gere, correct?"

The man called Gere nodded.

"I might be a grade 2 advanced," Gere said.

"So I might not be the strongest, but having been the guild master of my guild, I can at least guarantee my leadership skills. If we're going to do this together, then quite frankly it should be under someone with experience in leading—not just someone strong. We will have to place our trust and our lives in that person's hands. And you being an heir of a great clan, being royalty, is not really the same as being a king like your father."

At this point, many people were holding their breath.

Some looked at Gere like he was a fool. Some seemed to agree with his words. Some were neutral and simply watched.

And some, like Azriel, were just calmly eating their food.

"Are you suggesting," Lioren asked, "that you want to take the lead of everyone here?"

For some reason, a cold wave swept through the room at those words, and Lumine, along with others, began to shiver.

Gere tried to hold Lioren's gaze and open his mouth to answer, but found it difficult under that stare.

"Is it really such a bad idea?"

But it wasn't Gere who said that.

Lumine's eyes widened, as did many others', at the sound of the new voice—someone still seated, looking at Lioren calmly.

'Instructor Ranni! She's here!?'

There were so many people that Lumine hadn't even noticed her until now.

"Master Ranni," Lioren replied, unbothered, "then who do you suggest should be the leader? I hope you didn't speak up just to nominate yourself?"

Ranni shook her head.

"I feel that my mind is not the sharpest," she said evenly, "and I would rather prioritize my cadets and the other participants you call incompetent. But the words of the guild master of Waterspears are not untrue. There should be a leader everyone can trust. And while you are a prince, as long as we are in this scenario, that title does not hold as much value."

"Oho? Well, that is where you're wrong, Master Ranni."

Caleus suddenly spoke, watching her with an amused smile as Ranni narrowed her eyes at him.

Lioren continued, his tone unchanged.

"The lives of anyone from a great clan are more valuable than the lives of anyone else here. We are not equal—even in this scenario. Tell me, what do you think would happen if an heir of a great clan dies? We here have proven our competence by merit. So what happens if we return to our world at the cost of the heirs of the great clans? Would you rather have someone incompetent take our place? Who will truly be capable of leading humanity?"

His gaze swept the table.

"This isn't just about your survival. The lives of the great clans cannot be thrown away so recklessly. That is the reason why we haven't made any selfish moves yet and tried to complete the scenario alone. The very risk of humanity having no competent leader in the future hangs over us. If that happens, humanity will be destroyed, which means even if you survive now, you are as good as dead if any one of us dies here."

His words silenced Ranni and made many others think—including Lumine.

'...An incompetent leader, huh...'

Yes. Perhaps Lioren was right.

Someone like Lumine truly wasn't equal to a royal.

To bear the responsibility of leading humanity... If the wrong person took that role, it would be over.

"So," Lioren said calmly, "as everyone who belongs to the great clans has already agreed to me being the leader, I assume there are no objections?"

Lioren didn't care about the opinion of the Ten Heavenly Churches, which was displeasing to both Liliane and Jegudiel. Many didn't care about how openly they were speaking about the scenario either—using terms the Count and Countess didn't understand, yet the two nobles didn't dare interrupt under Lioren's oppressive presence.

And it wasn't just them.

No one spoke.

No one objected.

"Then it's decided. I will be taking command."

Lioren concluded, and Gere sat down again, lips pressed into a thin line.

Even though the decision had been made without a single voiced objection, Lumine could see from many of their faces that frustration still simmered beneath the surface.

But...

Who would be mad enough to go against him now? They would die.

By saying his life mattered more than Ranni's, Lioren had also said that Ranni's life was not worth enough to be preserved at all costs—that she was a pawn to be sacrificed if necessary.

To think like that about the lives of other humans... yet no one was willing to risk angering him.

"Now, as for my plan..." Lioren continued.

"First of all, I would like you all to understand something. This battle between the Revolutionary Army and the royal family... is not just about the throne."

Many people now looked confused.

"It is about something much bigger," he went on.

"It is a battle to kill and to steal something that the revolutionaries, the royal family and... we possess. There is a legend I learned, which is the cause behind all their actions."

Lioren narrowed his eyes, and another wave of cold seemed to pass through the room.

"Should the Thirteen Teeth rest once more in the Maw of the Divine, then shall the ancient Seal be sundered, and one wish—boundless and terrible—be granted."

As he listened to the ominous words, Lumine felt a chill creep down his spine.

'The Thirteen Teeth...? The Maw of the Divine...?'

He didn't understand what those meant.

But...

'And one wish—boundless and terrible—be granted...'

That part he understood all too well.

"It is my belief," Lioren said, "that seated at this table are some who were positioned in excellent roles with the sole purpose of gathering the Thirteen Teeth—that this was intended by the scenario to aid us. We may not have all thirteen, but we have enough. Enough to decide the outcome of who will win this race toward breaking the Seal."

"...How sure are you that this legend is true? That this is truly their goal...?"

The Count asked the question with a doubtful look.

To say that all this bloodshed—all this war and fighting—was not to conquer lands, not to rule kingdoms or the world, but...

To break a seal and be granted a wish?

Lioren's face didn't change. It never did. Yet Lumine could've sworn...

For a split second, he thought Lioren's lips curved.

"...Because the Supreme Leader told me himself."

"...What!?" The Count shot to his feet in shock.

"Why would he— No, when did you meet him!?"

Others also reacted, chairs scraping softly as they shifted.

"It was at the beginning, when I first entered this scenario," Lioren replied, "and was forced to fight the captain of the royal knights in the hot desert, far from everyone else. A formidable opponent—but I was, naturally, victorious and killed him. Though I do not recall meeting the Supreme Leader, I remember a memory, for some reason... one I must have inherited as the role I am playing, given to me by the scenario."

A new, heavy dread settled over the table, coiling in the hearts of many.

"The role… of being one of the Nine High Commanders of the Revolutionary Army."

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