Not the Hero, Not the Villain — Just the One Who Wins
Chapter 37: Student Council War 3

Chapter 37: Student Council War 3

The moon hung low over the obsidian treetops as I reached our faction fortress nestled deep within Sector D. The twisted forest that protected it groaned beneath the weight of magical tension. We were on the eve of war, and every breath in the air tasted like electricity and blood.

I stepped over the wards etched around the entrance and pushed through the crude stone gates. The interior bustled with nervous energy—squad formations being reviewed, mana potions brewed in haste, summoned beasts pacing in sync with their masters. Crimson Dawn was preparing.

Layla stood near the map table, arms folded, posture tense. Her silver braid was frayed at the edges—rare for someone so composed.

"Hey Layla," I called as I approached. "How has it been? Any casualties?"

She turned toward me, eyes sharp as razors. "I hope your little expedition wasn’t just a moonlit stroll. I hope you’re still playing for the team."

I smirked. "Oh, come on. I always play for the team. And good to hear we haven’t lost anyone."

Before she could respond, Eren stormed in, his cloak soaked with sweat and urgency. "We have intruders," he said. "Scouts hiding in the treetops."

"Who? Did you spot them?" I asked, my tone sharpening.

Eren shook his head. "We couldn’t get a good look. But one of them—definitely a girl. Agile. We’re chasing her now."

A thrill surged through me. Hit the jackpot.

"Where was she last seen?"

"Northeast quadrant. Moving fast."

"Perfect," I muttered. Then louder: "Volkin, to me."

From my shadow, the silver-furred beast leapt forth with a growl that sent nearby trainees scrambling. I patted his head. "Let’s hunt some fox."

As we dashed through the shifting trees, my thoughts churned. This was it. The same moment from the original timeline. Rin and Seraphina caught red-handed while scouting our territory. They’d escape, of course, and relay all our terrain, traps, and weak points to Rayne. In the morning, he’d launch a coordinated strike that would almost break us.

But not this time.

This time, the hunter is me.

I caught up with our patrol just as they were losing her trail. The northeast woods were denser here, thick with arcane fog and echoing mana.

Then I saw her.

A blur of silver and green, leaping between branches as if she had wings. Seraphina Loire. The elven archer. Grace incarnate.

"Volkin. Go." My voice was ice.

Like a bolt of silver lightning, Volkin surged ahead. With a snarl, he launched from the underbrush and slammed into her mid-flight with a headbutt that echoed through the forest.

Seraphina crashed through two branches and landed hard, tumbling into the dirt with a hiss of pain.

From the distance, I saw Rin freeze mid-leap. He turned, eyes wide as he saw her fall. Then he vanished into the treeline, a coward’s retreat. Predictable.

I stepped out from the shadows and approached the fallen elf, her limbs tangled in leaves and thorns, her bow lying shattered nearby.

"Wow," I said, hands in pockets, smirking down at her. "We finally caught the bird."

She glared up at me, blood running down her cheek, her lip curled in defiance. "You think you can cage me?"

I crouched beside her. "I don’t need to catch you. I just need to stall. In a few minutes, my entire team will be here. And as for running? That ship has sailed. Consider yourself eliminated."

She scoffed. "I don’t care about this stupid battle. I came to have some fun. But I guess now... I won’t live to see the winner with my own eyes. Doesn’t matter. I can still take out a dozen of your members before I fall."

I chuckled. "Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you see the end."

She furrowed her brow in confusion, but before she could respond, I lunged forward with my shadow blade. She parried with grace, her blade meeting mine in a clash of sparks. The fight exploded into motion.

We exchanged blows like seasoned predators. Her movements were fluid, trained. My attacks were unpredictable, shadow-infused, aggressive. Deadlock. Again and again we struck, dodged, danced in a brutal waltz of steel and shadow.

Minutes passed in silence save for the hiss of clashing mana and the crackle of enchanted blades. Neither of us could gain ground. Every time I tried to subdue her, she slipped away with elven agility. Every time she struck, I melted into shadows.

Then, just as she began chanting a dual-elemental barrage—ice and water spiraling together like a tidal storm—a blast of mana struck her from the side.

She hit the ground hard.

I turned to see Noora and Eren emerging from the fog, spell runes still glowing around their hands. Behind them, the rest of our squad arrived one by one.

I raised an eyebrow. "Took you long enough."

Lucielle shrugged. "We don’t have a fast familiar like you."

Then she turned toward Seraphina, her eyes gleaming with battle-lust. "One down. Nine to go. We’re in the lead."

Lucielle drew her katana, the blade gleaming with expulsion magic designed to send eliminated players out of the arena safely. She raised it above Seraphina’s stomach.

But before the blade could fall, I stepped in front of her.

"How dare you try to hurt my friend," I said coldly.

Gasps spread through the squad. Seraphina looked just as stunned.

I turned to her and leaned in. For three minutes, I whispered into her ear. Not actual words, just movements of my lips. To everyone else, it looked like a secret plan was unfolding.

When I stepped back, I turned to my squad. "Everything’s fine now. We’re letting her go. She’s an asset to us. No one lays a finger on her. Understood?"

Then, before anyone could protest, I leaned in and kissed Seraphina lightly on the forehead.

She turned scarlet. "H-How dare you!"

I grinned. "Take care. Don’t get hurt again."

Then I turned and walked away, our squad falling in behind me, too stunned to speak.

In the distance, Rin watched everything from behind a thick trunk. His fists clenched.

Back at their fortress, he reported to Rayne, recounting every word, every movement.

Rayne’s face twisted in fury. "That bitch... how dare she betray us." He slammed his fist into the table, splintering it in two.

The game had changed.

And this time, the script wasn’t theirs to write.

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