Chapter 4: The Price of Interference
The arena was still silent.
Smoke curled from the Rift Beast's corpse.
Students stared at me like I had just rewritten reality.
Because I had.
Elder Marov, the head of combat discipline, landed in front of the body with a thunderous impact.
His sharp eyes moved from the corpse… to me.
"You," he said.
Not praise.
Not gratitude.
Suspicion.
"He killed it instantly…"
"That was beyond Rank S…"
"Wasn't it a Year Two-level threat?"
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
Across the shattered arena floor, Caelum Ardent stood motionless.
Golden light slowly faded from his blade.
His gaze met mine again.
This time—
There was no curiosity.
Only calculation.
He had seen it clearly.
I wasn't just talented.
I was dangerous.
"Lucien Vaelthorne," Elder Marov spoke firmly. "Explain yourself."
In the original story, Lucien would have smirked.
Said something arrogant.
Fed the hatred.
Today—
I bowed slightly.
"The beast would have reached the students before the Hero."
A calculated statement.
Not denying Caelum's strength.
Just stating timing.
A few nobles nodded subconsciously.
Logic is powerful.
Elder Marov frowned.
"You reacted too quickly. Almost as if you anticipated the Rift."
Good.
They noticed.
That means the world is pushing suspicion early.
"I sensed abnormal mana distortion before the sky fractured," I replied calmly.
Not a lie.
Just not the full truth.
The golden eye was real.
But that secret was mine.
The elders formed a silent circle.
They were communicating telepathically.
I could feel the pressure of their evaluation.
In the novel, this event never happened.
There was no early Rift.
Which means—
Every step from now on is uncharted territory.
Dangerous.
Suddenly—
A slow clap echoed from the higher platform.
Everyone turned.
Caelum stepped forward.
He wasn't glowing.
He wasn't smiling.
But his voice carried easily.
"Regardless of intent, he saved students."
Simple.
Direct.
Supportive.
The crowd relaxed slightly.
The Hero's words carried weight.
Too much weight.
He's stabilizing the narrative.
Smart.
Very smart.
Our eyes locked again.
Unspoken understanding passed between us.
You are not what you're supposed to be.
And neither are you.
Elder Marov finally nodded.
"The incident will be investigated. All top-ranked students are dismissed."
Dismissed.
But not free.
As I turned to leave—
A faint whisper brushed my mind again.
"So predictable… yet not."
That ancient voice.
Amused.
Watching.
The golden eye might be part of the world.
But this voice…
Felt older.
That night, the academy corridors were unnaturally quiet.
Word had already spread.
"Lucien killed it in one strike."
"He might be stronger than the Hero."
Dangerous rumors.
Very dangerous.
[Fear Detected: 84 individuals]
+84 Sin Points
The system was pleased.
But something else wasn't.
The air felt heavy.
Unstable.
As I reached my dormitory—
The lights flickered.
Shadows stretched unnaturally long.
A crack formed in the wall.
No—
In reality itself.
A small tear opened.
And from within it—
A single golden pupil stared back at me.
Smaller than before.
But closer.
Much closer.
"You broke sequence," the voice said calmly.
"This event belonged to the Hero."
The air froze.
"So now," it continued softly, "we must adjust."
Behind me—
Footsteps echoed down the hallway.
I didn't turn.
I already knew who it was.
Golden mana radiated gently.
Caelum Ardent had arrived.
He stopped a few steps away.
"I need to ask you something," he said quietly.
At the same time—
The golden pupil in the crack widened.
Watching both of us.
Waiting.
Correction imminent.
And I realized something terrifying.
Saving the students didn't stop the narrative.
It merely delayed it.
If the world cannot push me toward villainy—
It might push the Hero toward hostility.
And that…
Would be far worse.
[Narrative Instability Rising]
Host is now central anomaly.
Probability of accelerated conflict: 41%
Caelum spoke again.
"When the Rift opened…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…what did you see first?"
The golden pupil blinked.
The crack began spreading across the wall.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
And I understood.
This isn't just about survival anymore.
The world wants balance.
And if it cannot correct me—
It will create something worse.
🔥 End of Chapter 4
Now the story is entering serious territory.
Next chapter options:
Private conversation between Lucien and Caelum
The golden entity fully manifests
Lucien discovers hidden path ability
Elders secretly decide to monitor or eliminate him
Which direction do you want to push?