Airen stood in front of the spinning wheel — the same wheel that decided how someone begged, suffered, and died.
But now… silence ruled the room.
Every teenager was holding their breath.
Airen suddenly noticed a movement in the corner.
One girl, shaking uncontrollably, was trying to unlock her phone behind another boy's back.
Her fingers slipped again and again — she couldn't even tap the numbers properly because of fear.
No one warned her.
No one dared to speak.
They were too afraid of Airen to even stop her.
Airen walked directly toward her.
Step by step.
She didn't notice until he was right beside her — his shadow swallowing her completely.
He leaned close and whispered:
"Who are you calling?"
She froze like ice, her phone slipping out of her trembling hand.
Airen caught it mid-air and glanced at the screen.
She was calling… her dad.
"Does your father know what you do down here?"
he asked, voice quiet like cold steel.
The girl shook her head rapidly.
"N-no…"
Min-ji stepped forward and held out her hand.
"Give me the phone. I'll call the police."
Airen hesitated.
He didn't move — eyes lowered slightly as thoughts raced through his mind.
Hansung capital is already targeting me.
If the police come, more eyes will notice me.
And when I sleep… I'm defenseless.
Getting exposed now is dangerous.
Before he could speak, one arrogant boy scoffed weakly, trying to act tough through his fear.
"Police won't do anything… Our parents are high officials. Elites. We're untouchable."
Airen didn't reply.
His expression didn't change.
But a horrifying idea passed through his mind — cold and efficient.
He leaned down, whispering so only the shadows could hear:
"Nyx. Kill the ones I left downstairs… and destroy every device."
The shadows rippled and disappeared instantly.
Not a single teen noticed it.
But Min-ji caught the brief change in Airen's eyes.
"You're worried the police will question you too?"
she asked gently.
"My dad knows the police chief. He won't let them bother you. I promise."
Airen blinked once.
"…Is that so," he said quietly.
Meanwhile — in the lower floors — Nyx carried out the command.
Every unconscious criminal took their last breath
And every piece of evidence was destroyed.
Clean. Silent. Perfect.
Min-ji dialed again. This time her father answered — initially suspicious of the unknown number.
But the moment he heard his daughter's voice, panic and anger mixed.
She explained everything…
Except Airen.
The call ended.
Help was on the way — just a few minutes.
The room grew silent again.
But not peaceful — tense.
The teenagers huddled together, whispering. Eyes darting toward the exit.
They thought Airen wasn't paying attention.
They were wrong.
Like a triggered swarm, all ten teenagers jumped at him at once.
A desperate attack.
Airen didn't even look surprised.
His aura exploded silently.
He swung his arm once — too fast for the eye to follow.
BAM!
To the sisters, it looked like the air itself slammed into the teens at the same time.
They flew back, crashing to the floor. Blood dripped from broken noses, cracked lips, and chipped teeth.
Someone cried out:
"E-even my parents never hit me!"
Airen didn't react to the complaint — as if it wasn't worth acknowledging.
Just then — Seo-yeon's phone rang.
Her hands still shaking, she answered.
"D-Dad?! …You're here?"
But after a few seconds, she turned to Airen.
"My father… he can't find the stairs to the underground."
Airen didn't respond with words.
He simply lowered his eyes at the teens scattered on the floor.
And they understood immediately.
One boy raised his hand quickly, nodding like his life depended on it.
"I–I know the exit… I'll show you!"
Airen stared down at him.
"Then lead the way."
The boy nearly stumbled as he turned around.
The other nine hesitated — but all it took was one glance from Airen…
and they followed quietly like frightened shadows.
They reached a plain wall.
The boy placed his trembling palm against one specific brick — click.
That brick sank inward and the entire wall slid sideways, revealing a hidden staircase.
They all walked up.
The narrow steps led to a room filled with stacked boxes — food, beer cans, alcohol bottles.
A storage room. Completely ordinary.
Airen opened the door quietly…
Music.
Flashing lights.
Teenagers dancing, laughing, living carefree — completely unaware of the horror beneath their feet.
A man in a black suit saw the door open.
He froze.
Then quickly signaled to the DJ — the lights and music stopped instantly.
People turned, confused.
Min-ji and Seo-yeon scanned the crowd —
Their fathers were already rushing toward them.
"Min-ji!"
"Seo-yeon!"
The two girls broke down the moment they were in their fathers' arms.
Tears rolled freely — the kind that come from horror finally escaping the body.
Both fathers listened as the sisters explained what happened.
They didn't mention the Awakener part — they twisted the story just enough:
"He… he saved us."
"He's the one who stopped everything."
Their fathers turned to Airen.
Their eyes — full of gratitude and disbelief.
One of them stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"Young man… thank you. Truly. If it weren't for you… I don't know what would have happened to my daughter."
Airen didn't react much — just a small nod.
The father continued, "My driver is outside. Please come with us. You deserve rest and safety."
The police arrived shortly after — sirens outside, officers flooding the place.
Nyx returned silently to Airen's shadow — mission complete, unseen.
Airen observed silently.
It was clear —
Min-ji and Seo-yeon's families really had influence.
The police listened to them with complete respect, immediately securing the area.
But something else caught Airen's attention…
Those ten teenagers he had knocked down earlier…
They actually looked relieved to see the police.
As if the officers were their shield from him.
Airen didn't smile.
He didn't need to.
Because they understood one thing now —
even with the entire law behind them…
they still feared Airen more.
But Airen wasn't planning to leave them so easily.
Outside, police lights cut the night. Four shiny black cars sat nearby, reflecting the flashing reds and blues. Airen glanced at them — the kind of cars that spoke of power and untouchable people — but he didn't linger or name whose they were. He only noticed the status they represented.
The police escorted the teenagers toward a waiting van, treating them like victims, like fragile people who needed protection. They weren't being read as criminals — they were being sheltered. That thought settled in Airen's mind like cold iron: if the law shields them now, they'll be free to cause trouble to him.
He said nothing aloud. He leaned into the dark and whispered, just to the shadows:
"Nyx. Remove them. Quietly. No blood."
Nyx obeyed like a ripple through the night.
Moments later, inside the police van, the teenagers slumped as if sleep finally took them. Heads lolled, breathing even, eyes closed — a sudden, inexplicable calm. Officers thought shock or fainting; nobody saw what actually happened.
Nyx returned to the shadow at Airen's feet. No mess. No alarms. Just silence.
Airen watched the scene unfold for a heartbeat, then turned away.