"So? Why are you here...?" I asked skeptically.

I stared at the crimson-haired beauty in front of me, who was hanging her head and sulking silently. We were currently in the waiting room of the Arena. After we defeated Xuan Kun, we were sent back here. However...while this time was supposed to be for resting, I wasn't the least bit relaxed. The reason for that being none other than the sudden, uninvited guest in front of me right now.

I sighed, seeing how I wasn't going to get a reply out of her. "Well, whatever. I'll look over you not listening to me this time, Mei Gui."

She tilted her head up to look at me in confusion. "...Why?"

I shrugged. "If you didn't jump in there, we probably never would've been able to defeat that monster. So, uh...thank you."

She looked at be blankly, then blushed and looked downwards again. I raised an eyebrow at her actions since she wasn't supposed to have human emotions, but I would confront her about that sometime in the future, if I don't forget.

"However," I continued with a stern tone. Mei Gui looked back up at me with a flinch, clearly nervous of what's to come next. Then, I suddenly softened my voice and gave a tiny smile. "Don't just go charging straight into danger like that next time, okay?"

Mei Gui averted her gaze, a faint pink still coloring her cheeks. "Master...you need not care for me so..."

"Huh? What was that?" I asked, since her voice was so low I couldn't make out what she had been saying.

"N-Nothing," Mei Gui replied. "I am very sorry, master. However...given the same situation, I would still go in without a second thought. Master's safety is my top priority."

I stood up, sighed, and patted her head slightly. Mei Gui was surprised at my sudden action for a second, but quickly relaxed and gave in to the sensation.

"Look...I know you don't consider yourself a human or whatever, but to me, you're just as important as any of the other girls. You've saved me twice now, and have taught me many useful things. And...I believe you will continue doing so, yeah?"

Mei Gui, finally dropping all her burdens, nodded happily. "Mm...!"

While she didn't let such emotions show on her face, I could tell thanks to our telepathic connection that she was truly happy. Despite being so expressionless and deadpan most of the time, she really in fact does have human emotions after all, huh?

"That's why...even if it's for me, put your own safety as your highest priority," I continued with a smile.

"...Okay," Mei Gui replied after a short pause.

I sat back down on the couch directly after, as the other girls all watched this exchange, dumbfounded. The four of them were all staring at me with surprised expressions.

After a while, I couldn't stand it anymore. "What is it?"

"Oh! Uh, nothing..." Feng Mian was the first to snap back to her senses and quickly denied everything.

"Nothing, my ass. The four of you have been staring at me like you've seen a ghost for the past 5 minutes."

"Well, it's just that...you said, we were important to you?" Yu An Yan spoke up, fidgeting nervously.

"Well, yeah," I replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "What, you think I'm just going to abandon you after all you've helped me with?"

"Oh, so that's what you meant..." Feng Mian sighed, slightly disappointed. Similarly, Yu An Yan and Yu An Xue also sighed, dejected. Qing Yue wasn't affected that much, but she also furrowed her brows a bit when she heard what I said.

As for the meaning behind their actions...I see what they're trying to say here, but...I don't think I am eligible for a romantic relationship, much less with multiple girls at once. It's true; all of them are important to me, and there's is essentially nothing flawed about them. They are all world-class beauties, kind, and strong. Every man's dream, isn't it? Yeah, well...as much as I would like to, I just can't form a relationship like that with anyone.

My path is one of revenge. It is one filled with blood and death. It is one I must travel down alone. I can't drag anyone else into this, despite knowing how they feel. And so...that's why, the only option I have here is to act dense and pretend I didn't know what she was hinting at.

"Well? What did you think I meant?" I replied with the most dense expression I could muster.

"Nevermind..." Feng Mian shook her head and looked away.

Mission successful, I guess? Just when I was thinking this, three knocks came at the door. I already knew who it was and what he was here for, but I didn't really want to answer. I barely had time to even rest yet...!

Nevertheless, what's meant to come will come in the end. Feng Mian, our professional door opener, welcomed the boy inside.

"Greetings once again, everyone," the butler said with a slight bow. Yep, the same butler from before. And without a doubt, the reason he was here... "I came to inform you all that the judges are finished evaluating all the contestants today. It is time to head to the Arena once more to receive your rewards."

...As expected.

*****

- Meanwhile, The Speaker Room -

"Liu Jian, are you satisfied now?" Song Qian Long asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Satisfied? Hmph."

"...It should be very clear from this tournament that the boy doesn't have any special powers," Song Qian Long continued, anger boiling within him. "You even went to the point of forcing them to fight that monster alone, despite it being a clear infraction of the rules! The monster...from what I can see, it was at the very least on par with an early stage Golden Monarch! That is something for the security staff to handle, not the students!"

"Calm down, my friend," Liu Jian muttered quietly. "It is as you say - the monster was indeed extremely strong. However...that boy and his companions made it out just fine, no?"

Song Qian Long clenched his fists. "That is purely because it was a five on one."

Liu Jian clicked his tongue. "Not five, Qian Long. It was six. Six on one."

"You mean that red-haired girl that joined in at the end?" Song Qian Long asked. "That is something we have already investigated. The girl is an artifact - a golem. That boy's golem, in particular, given to him by his late parents."

Liu Jian laughed slightly. "Hmm...golem, huh?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Liu Jian sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Qian Long, have your senses weakened over the years? That girl's aura is extremely abnormal. I do not know what exactly it is, but she is certainly not a golem."

"..."

"Heh. I assume you have noticed it as well, then?"

"...Still, that does not prove anything," Song Qian Long desperately fought back. "The boy could very well be oblivious to the her abnormality."

Liu Jian patted Song Qian Long on the shoulder. "But did he not personally tell you the girl was just a golem? Otherwise, how would you be able to reach that conclusion?"

This caused Song Qian Long to go stiff. "You..."

"Hahaha...worry not, Qian Long. I will not make a move...just yet. Still, it seems my evaluation was correct. That boy, Xuan Kai...there is definitely something off about him. And it isn't anything small either, haha..."

Saying this, Liu Jian exited the speaker room, leaving behind a stressed and frustrated Song Qian Long.

"Xuan Kai...you have many troubles coming your way," Song Qian Long spoke sadly. "I, your godfather, could not prevent any of these from happening...I am truly sorry. I can only wish you...good luck."

*****

- Meanwhile, a Certain Bathroom in the Arena Facility -

"DAMN IT!" Xuan Yang yelled in anguish, kicking over the trash can in the corner of the bathroom. "That bastard...he DARES to kill MY SON!"

"Hey now...calm down a bit, will you?" a second voice said exasperatedly.

"HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO STAY CALM?!" Xuan Yang yelled in return. "My son was KILLED! MURDERED in front of my very eyes!"

"Oh, now you're acting like a caring father?" the second person scoffed. "What were you thinking when you agreed to use him as a test subject for my elixir?"

"That's..." Xuan Yang gritted his teeth. "It was for the benefit of the family."

"Hmph. You can lie to yourself all you want. You knew the elixir was a prototype, filled with danger, yet you still agreed to use your own son as the first lab rat. Hell, you even told me to impersonate your father just to convince the kid."

Xuan Yang glared at the second person, who was wearing a black hooded cloak and a dark mask. On the right sleeve of the cloak was the ominous and unforgettable dragon-like insignia of the Midnight Syndicate.

"Whatever," Xuan Yang muttered. "I just want to get rid of that bastard."

"Who, Xuan Kai?"

"Who the fuck else?!"

"Heh, and you want me to help you?" the voice asked smugly.

"I helped you test your elixir. You help me with this. It's an even trade," Xuan Yang proposed.

"Very well. I will get rid of him," the masked man agreed without hesitation. "However..."

"What, you still want more test subjects?!"

"Ahaha, precisely. The elixir is almost complete...I just need a few more experiment results."

"You greedy bastard..." Xuan Yang clenched his fists. "Fine. I will trick my father into drinking this elixir, and report the symptoms to you."

"Oh...? Your father? But can you handle killing him once things get out of hand?"

"Hmph. Don't fucking underestimate me."

"Heheh....what a sinister man. To use not only your son but also your father as test subjects for a stranger, all for your own personal gain."

"Don't judge me, Midnight Syndicate member," Xuan Yang said dangerously. "Just do your job, and I'll do mine."

"Very well. I am looking forward to your results," the masked man said with a chuckle.

"Likewise..." Xuan Yang sneered, an evil smile creeping up his face.

The two of them shook hands, and the masked man disappeared into the shadows as if he hadn't been there at all. However, just before Xuan Yang felt his presence leave completely, the voice came back once more.

"By the way...I have an alias. I'd prefer it if you address me by that in the future."

Xuan Yang didn't seem the least bit fazed as the voice seemingly rang out from nowhere, since he had already seen this gimmick many times before. "Oh yeah? What is it?"

"Heheh...you can call me...Plague."