"Can we dance?"
Her gentle words with a tempting tone reverberated across the Obelisk Center Hall, if other people would be asked by the woman behind Russell, most would definitely agree without a second thought, but he's different as he thought of possible circumstances that will befall him later.
"Hey, who is that?"
"He's one of our classmates on A-11, you know."
"But why though? Did they know each other?"
Different opinions resounded on different tables where other students sat, as well as different gazes were evident on them. Looks of stupefaction, confusion, envy, and so on were painted on their expressions, then Russell, who couldn't understand his present predicament, took a look behind him to make sure he wasn't dreaming… there he saw the woman with auburn hair which she didn't ponytail this time, revealing her long hair, brown eyes under her eyeglasses, and height of 169 cm.
'Samantha Hall… when did she get behind me?' he thought, though he swept away his sight from them for a minute, he didn't think she'd approach him much less ask for a dance!
"Are you going to make me wait?"
'F*ck!' his gaze swept across the Center Obelisk Hall, he saw her younger sister, Amelie, and Amery had different reactions. Freya has a shocked expression, wondering how the two knew each other, Amelie is smiling as if she ships the duo that's garnering the attention of everyone, while Amery has an unexplainable expression.
Russell Moon thought of the possible outcomes of this situation…
First, he has no choice as Samantha already approached him, making him a 'target' of Reinhardt.
Second, refusing to dance with Samantha would result in a more disadvantageous consequence as people will surely think that he is an arrogant bastard, who dared to refuse the daughter of the number 1 'Player' in the human domain.
Third, if he accepts the dance offered by her, some people will be wary of him having a connection with Samantha Hall, though there will still surely be people who are dumb enough to bully him after this.
And lastly, he will be able to make use of this situation to gather the attention of Reinhardt, justifying himself to get rid of him earlier than planned for the future harassment of whatever he will encounter that will cause by him, or instigated by the b*tch Ruina Elen Avalon.
As he decided, Russell stood up from his seat, face the expectant Samantha Hall who is wearing a white shirt dress that exposes her fair-colored legs, looked her in the eyes while his left hand placed on his lower back, and bowing in a gentlemanly manner while he extended his right hand, asking Samantha Hall for her permission…
"Shall we?"
Samantha's eyes produced a yellowish-brown luster as if it's shining with the night atmosphere, a smile formed on her expression as she took the hand extended to her, then the two proceeded to walk to the 'floor' specially made for dancing as the gazes, and whispers of people continued within this spacious hall.
…
"Hahahahaha! This night will surely be unforgettable!"
Elizabeth von Etherion laughed so much as one of her hands was touching her abdomen as she couldn't control her laughter.
"Do you know who is he?"
Han Jiho asked while they were at the round table with Leon, Rumia, and Anya who are also have different reactions on their faces.
"I don't know, hahaha! This is surely unexpected, well, I couldn't blame her, after all…" she paused, remembering Samantha's predicament in her home which is not entirely a secret to them.
'She just needs someone who can look at her genuinely without hidden intentions or purpose of doing any business.' She thought.
While the two; Han Jiho and Anya Amasawa were looking at Russell Moon, whose name they don't know, for now, thought of something as they spoke within their mind…
'This guy is suspicious…'
…
At a table where some seniors were sitting…
"Who is that bastard?"
Repressing his myriad emotions, Rein asked Ruina such a question even though he knew that Ruina didn't know him.
'You b*tch!!! Is he the one you're looking for earlier when I approached you?' His thoughts were getting messier as he heard Ruina's voice from his side…
"What do you plan on doing?" She asked, with a mischievous smile painted on her lips.
"Nothing… for now." Clenching his right fist, Reinhardt replied to her question while thinking something ominous…
'You bastard… I don't know who you are, but it's unfortunate…'
…
While dancing with Samantha, his left hand was touching her waist, while his right hand was on her shoulder, he felt like he could sneeze forever from the whispers he was getting behind his back.
'Even though we're running buddies during early mornings, some people still saw us, and even join us sometimes, but why did you ask me to dance?' He couldn't help but expressed a self-deprecating laugh inwardly.
He looked at Samantha as he widen his eyes because he didn't see her lips move…
"Telepathy?"
'How did you get such skill this early in the story!'
He wanted to protest but refrained from it as he remembered that she already has a Stigma which is at least a thousand times better than Telepathy skill.
She plainly answered while Russell extended his right hand, supporting her as she spun while dancing.
'I'm not sure if we're on Opera or what!' he couldn't help but want to dig himself below the ground right now, though he had no choice from the beginning, and just made a justifying reason for accepting to dance with her.
'Freya!!! Where are you!!!???"
He screamed inside as he took glances from a specific round table; there he saw Freya sitting with Amelie, and Amery, looking at him with an unknown expression, different from her initial shocked expression, but as she understood his older brother's gaze, she stood up from her seat and approach the dance floor where her older brother is.
…
"Hi, may I cut in?"
Freya interjected between Samantha and Russell, and as soon Samantha saw her, a frown formed on her face, but she recognized the woman who asked, and asked her back something while still dancing…
"Do you two know each other?"
"Yes, she's my younger sister."
"Yes, she's my older brother."
The siblings answered almost instantly, causing Samantha to have a blank expression, not knowing what to make with the sudden awkwardness.
"Oh… is that so? Okay…" She said with a smile as she let go of Russell, letting Freya to take over.
"See you on the OTF," Samantha said as she went back to her seat.
After a few seconds of silence in the siblings' atmosphere, Freya started the conversation…
"Oppa, could explain what's going on? Is she the one you talk about that we can befriend at least? She's the daughter of the Number 1 Ranked 'Player'!"
She repressed herself from shouting at her older brother while still feeling myriad emotions.
"Well, you heard her… we met on Obelisk Tracking Field (OTF) by chance last week while running there, so we get acquainted… that's all," he replied, telling his younger sister the truth.
"I see…" she replied, thinking of something, and as if Russell knew what she was going to say, he decided to say it first…
"You could come, too, you know, it's just early mornings, like 4:00 A.M."
Freya smiled at her older brother's words while thinking she should also invite Amelie and Amery.
"Okay…" she said, retaining her smile as the siblings continue to dance.
…
10:30 P.M, one and a half hours passed since the start of the 'Dance Floor' event.
"We would like to thank the following people who contributed greatly to the construction of the great Obelisk Center Hall…"
On the stage, Vice-Chancellor Dexter Rainfall said words of acknowledgment while the names of great contributors flashed on a holographic screen, there names of the Guildmasters of the TOP 5 Guild, and other benefactors were seen.
1. Makoto Amasawa
2. Artorious Hall
3. Queen Eliana von Etherion
4. Queen Rosalin Flora
5. Albert von Obreyon
6. …
7. …
8. … …
…
"Whoa, Anya's father is a number one contributor!"
"They're rich as hell, you know."
…
Various reactions and whispers entered Anya's ears while sitting on one of the round tables designated for the A-1 class…
"Tsk… Dad…" she couldn't help whether she should admire her Dad or scold him for using too much money on a mere building.
"I hope every one of you at least made an acquaintance…"
As the Vice-Chancellor said that, he looked to where Russell at with a gentle expression on his face, not showing what he was really thinking.
'Stop staring, Sir, I have no choice okay? Okay!? It's like what I've read on different webnovels in my previous life, I'm courting death… unintentionally…' Russell couldn't help but lampoon inwardly.
"Tomorrow is a moment of rest! Thus, no classes will be held tomorrow. This marks the end of the 'Banquet of Obelisk', thank you for everyone's participation!"
…
Inside Russell Moon's dorm, thirty minutes after the end of the banquet.
Russell slumped down on his bed, seemingly relaxed but alert as he thought of something about the novel he wrote in his previous life…
'I know the characteristics of the villains I wrote about…'
His thoughts were cut off as he sensed some presence approaching him from the shadows.
'I see… he sure is quick… I wonder how many are there?'