"What a weird way to welcome someone."

When everyone heard Raven's words, they froze even more than before.

The already tense air tightened, like an invisible rope pulling at their chests. Nobody dared to move, and not a single word left their lips.

But then...

FWOOOSH~!

A sudden, powerful wave of mana burst through the area, colliding head-on with Raven's overwhelming aura!

The clash shook the atmosphere, like two storms fighting for dominance. And in that instant, both forces canceled each other out completely.

SWAAAAH!

The suffocating pressure vanished.

"Ugh..."

"Koff...! coff..."

Students who were kneeling or gasping for air suddenly found themselves able to breathe again. They straightened their backs, though their bodies still trembled uncontrollably.

Their legs wobbled as if the ground beneath them was unsteady. Some clutched their chests tightly, still hearing their heart pounding as though it would burst out.

Even if it had only lasted a few seconds, just being subjected to Raven's aura drained them. It left them mentally exhausted, like they had fought an unseen battle that their bodies weren't prepared for. Their stamina had been eaten away by fear alone.

And at that moment—

"Care to explain why you did that?"

Kendy's calm but sharp voice cut through the silence!

TAP-

The professor stepped forward, walking steadily until he was right beside Raven. The air around him carried authority, and the mana from him was clearly the source of the wave that had freed the students.

Raven shifted his eyes toward Kendy.

'Creepy… when did he get here without me noticing?'

He thought that to himself, though outwardly he remained calm, his expression unshaken.

"What do you mean?"

Raven asked back in a casual tone, his voice steady.

Kendy frowned in response. Without another word, he raised his hand and pointed toward the students gathered in the crowd.

"I'm talking about that."

Raven followed the direction of his finger.

And what entered his sight made him pause.

Students shaking uncontrollably. Faces pale and dripping with sweat. A few still gasping desperately for air, while several had collapsed to the ground unconscious.

His eyes sharpened slightly.

Then with the help of <Calm Thinker> and <Understanding>...

"Oh."

It only took him a second to piece it together.

'It's the [Monarch's Presence]... so that's what it was.'

'They weren't kneeling out of respect. They were being crushed by my aura. And here I thought they were just acting weird...'

Realization sank in, and Raven quietly brought his gaze back to Kendy, who was now glaring at him with clear annoyance.

Kendy's eyes demanded an explanation.

"Well…"

Raven started, but no continuation followed.

Inside, he frowned.

'I can't just say that my skill is too strong and I can't control it yet. He wouldn't accept that. It'll sound like a poor excuse.'

Raven rubbed the back of his mind, thinking of how to defend himself without worsening the situation. He was carefully choosing his words when...

"He got a lot stronger after killing the final boss monster, and he still can't control his strength."

A familiar, serious voice suddenly spoke up on his behalf!

Raven and Kendy both turned their heads toward the sound.

"..."

Standing there was Eve, her face composed and her eyes sharp. She wasn't joking. Her tone carried truth.

And right behind her were Alec, Adelle, Curtis, Aoi, and Blake.

They didn't need to say anything— their very presence was overwhelming on its own. Clean clothes, composed expressions, and a quiet dignity that made every student around the area focus on them.

For a brief moment, the crowd was captivated, staring at the group as if they were heroes walking straight out of a storybook.

But as quickly as awe rose, it was pushed aside by Eve's words.

The meaning sank in.

'Wait… Raven wasn't intentionally releasing his presence?'

'That terrifying pressure was just his aura leaking out uncontrollably?!'

Shock and disbelief filled the students' thoughts. If what Eve said was true, then what they felt was nothing compared to what Raven could do if he unleashed it intentionally.

Kendy's eyes narrowed.

"Is that true?"

He looked at Raven directly, asking for confirmation.

Raven didn't hesitate. He gave a calm, simple nod.

Kendy's gaze shifted to the others—Alec, Curtis, Adelle, Aoi, Blake. They all nodded silently in unison, backing Eve's words.

"Sorry for causing you guys trouble."

Raven suddenly apologized, lowering his tone slightly, his expression carrying a touch of concern.

The crowd blinked in surprise. The Raven they knew wouldn't usually show that kind of worry.

Kendy softened just a little.

"Listen... it's not your fault."

He tried to console him, shaking his head slightly.

But right after those words—

"Oh, I'm off then."

Raven's calm face returned to normal, his concern vanishing like it had never been there.

"Wha–"

Kendy's voice caught in his throat. Raven had already turned away, nonchalantly walking off without a second thought.

"...!"

Kendy was left speechless, his mouth slightly open. It didn't take him long to realize what just happened. Raven had manipulated him—got him to admit it wasn't his fault, then walked away before he could reconsider.

Kendy clenched his teeth.

"What the hell... Sir Kendy just got tricked by that bastard."

Curtis mumbled from a distance, his tone half annoyed, half impressed.

"Fufu... he's really good at shifting the blame away from himself."

Adelle said with a light chuckle, her eyes glittering with amusement.

"He's also really great at acting!"

Blake added cheerfully, clearly entertained by the entire exchange.

Meanwhile...

Alec, Eve, and Aoi stayed silent, each of them wearing complicated expressions. They had seen everything— Raven pulling himself out of a problem with nothing but a few words, smoothly dodging any consequences.

And even if they didn't admit it aloud, they were impressed.

*****

At the same time, away from Kendy's gaze and the chaos he left behind...

Tap- Tap- Tap-

Raven walked forward with steady, confident steps.

The crowd had regained composure thanks to Kendy's mana barrier, so they could now look at Raven properly. But none of them dared to hold his gaze for long. Fear lingered in their chests, making their eyes dart away whenever Raven's figure came closer.

Tap- Tap- Tap-

Yet despite the hesitation, Raven's stride had a gravity to it. Each step echoed clearly, and slowly, unwillingly, the eyes of the students were drawn to him again.

Tap- Tap- Tap-

His walk wasn't just movement. It was presence. Dominance. The weight of his aura may have been suppressed, but his sheer confidence commanded respect.

Looking at where he was heading, the students immediately realized what he wanted.

And without needing to be told, they began moving aside, creating a clear path for him. It was as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do.

Silence descended again.

This time, the silence wasn't suffocating. It wasn't born from fear, but from awe. A quiet acknowledgment of the man walking past them.

Tap- Tap- Tap-

Raven didn't look left or right. His eyes stayed forward. He didn't seem surprised by the path made for him, nor did he thank anyone. He simply accepted it, as though this treatment was only normal.

...

Tap-

He reached the end of the path, stopping at last.

And right before him, waiting patiently, were two women who looked at him with eyes that carried warmth and longing.

Ruby. Keara.

Raven's lips curled into a rare, gentle smile.

"I'm back."

He declared with a warm voice and opened his arms.

Fwish–

Without hesitation, Keara rushed into his embrace, throwing her arms around him tightly.

"I missed you a lot…"

She whispered, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her eyes.

Raven held her close. He discreetly used [Celestria] to wipe away the tears before anyone else could see them.

"The entire time I was in the labyrinth…"

"I've been thinking of you."

He whispered back softly.

Keara's face immediately flushed, her heart skipping as his words sank in.

'Ah… I missed this reaction of hers.'

Raven thought as he watched her struggle with the embarrassment.

After a few more moments, they finally let go. Keara pulled back, suddenly realizing how openly she had acted in front of so many people.

Her cheeks burned red as she avoided everyone's eyes.

Then Ruby stepped forward.

"How about me?"

She asked teasingly, though beneath her tone was a tinge of jealousy.

Raven turned to her, and with a calm face—though faintly blushing—he answered.

"Every piece of me missed you."

"....."

Ruby froze. Her cheeks turned crimson, her usual confidence melting away.

"Wha–"

Before she could gather herself, Levina shot out from Ruby's top with a burst of energy.

"Wha–?! Hey!"

Ruby yelped as she was dragged forward.

Thud–

Raven caught her smoothly, pulling her into his arms.

"Got you."

He whispered.

Ruby blinked rapidly, embarrassed.

"Erm… it wasn't me."

She mumbled quickly.

"I know."

Raven replied without missing a beat, his arms still wrapped around her.

Then he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.

"You smell really nice, by the way."

Ruby shut her eyes tight, her face burning red.

-I missed you so much, Raven!

Levina's voice rang in Raven's head, muffled as she buried herself deeper into his chest between the two of them.

Raven's eyes softened.

'Levina… I can't wait to see your beautiful face again.'

He answered her through thought alone.

-Heh! I've become much prettier while you were away!

Levina bragged loudly, though Raven could feel the embarrassment she was trying to hide.

'It's really nice to be back…'

Raven thought. His exhaustion, the weight of the labyrinth, the lingering tension—it all melted away as he stood there with Keara, Ruby, and Levina close to him.

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