The Nameless Extra: I Proofread This World

Despite the unease gnawing at the back of his mind, Ruvian remained calm and composed, keeping his guard up and his senses sharp.

He didn’t know what kind of pressure it was, but it clearly signaled danger. From where, from what, or from whom, he couldn’t yet be sure—though he had a rough guess.

’So, he’s here.’

Several seconds later, he heard footsteps approaching from the front.

When the dim light finally fell on the figure, Ruvian cast his gaze toward him. The man was tall, his frame was lean, and he was wrapped in a dark coat.

His face came into view next.

Sharp lines, neither aged nor youthful. His eyes were dark, lacking curiosity, and surprise. They swept the room once, briefly, then settled on Ruvian.

There was no visible weapon on him. Yet the pressure in the room did not ease a bit. If anything, it felt entrenched.

’So this is their leader...’

Droiger.

”Quite the mess going on here.” His voice carried easily through the warehouse. He took another step forward and let his gaze drift past Ruvian.

”How did the four of you end up like that? Brought low by a mere kid, no less. How disappointing.”

Droiger sighed and rubbed a thumb across his knuckles, as though smoothing out an irritation he’d rather not acknowledge.

”Save us, boss!” Vible shouted.

”Hmm?” Slowly, the man’s gaze slid to Ruvian, tracing him from head to toe. His brow lifted a fraction in mild interest.

”You don’t look frightened at all. How did that not affect you? That’s very strange. But wait... You don’t seem strong either. So how? Are you one of the guild’s men?”

’Not affect me? What did he mean by that? Did he do something to me?’

If it was a mental attack, then of course, it wouldn’t affect Ruvian due to his high mental strength and his blessing.

Ruvian remained silent for a while. Finally, he looked straight at the man. His face showed no warmth at all, and his eyes were cold.

”No. I’m not affiliated with anyone.”

”I see...”

Then, the man smiled, his face full of relief and genuinely pleased with the answer.

”Good. That makes things easier once you’re dead then.”

In the next instant, it happened so quickly that Ruvian couldn’t tell what the man had thrown at him.

But something was flying at him!

The motion was a blur—his hand was moving faster than Ruvian’s eyes could follow. There was no warning, no time to react, and Ruvian could not deny the sensation that followed...

Death was closing in!

Pang!

And yet, something intervened, and the attack was parried aside.

The sound rang sharp and sudden.

And that was when a blonde-haired woman appeared in front of him, cutting off his view and shielding him from the sudden attack.

’I... I almost died.’

Ruvian swallowed, his expression cold with aftershock. He stared at the weapon laying down on the floor, and cursed.

[You have received +20 Plot Points!]

’A damn knife? Haa, shit. I couldn’t see it coming at all.’

”So you’ve brought company with you. Haa~ What the hell did the four of you do to have all these sorts of people coming here?”

”S-sorry...” Vible mumbled.

”And I take it the girl behind is with you as well.”

He pointed past Ruvian, his finger settling on the calm figure approaching from behind. Ruvian didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

’...I suppose fighting this man isn’t something I can handle. I’ll have to leave this to them.’

*****

[Silvena’s POV]

’That’s a close call.’

If not for Irene’s intervention, that young man would already be dead. Fortunately, she had read the intent before the strike.

’Still, that ominous pressure from earlier.... What was it?’

The pressure was so intense that even she felt goosebumps rise along her skin, and her body weakened under its weight.

Silvena approached them from behind, her steps catlike and smooth. After she came to stand beside the black-haired man, she spoke while her expression edged with concern.

”Stand back. That man over there is not someone you can face. We’ll take care of this.”

’But still... surprisingly, whoever this young man is... he did well to defeat the four of those thugs. That was quite a show.’

However, this one... is a different story.

Without hesitation, Ruvian calmly nodded.

’...’

Right then, Silvena realized something—Wasn’t this man far too calm for the situation? Despite Irene’s and her sudden appearance, he showed no reaction at all, let alone any sign of questioning it.

Shouldn’t he be questioning who they were and why they were here first?

Or was it because he had already assumed she was his ally the moment they protected him?

’Anyway, this isn’t the time to worry about that...’

Soon, Silvena cast a glance at the dangerous man.

”Irene... from your side of it, how strong is he? And what sort of magic did he use to create that pressure before?”

Somehow, hearing Irene’s name, Ruvian slightly flinched.

But Silvena entirely ignored it.

Before Irene could reply, Silvena noticed that Irene’s right hand was trembling, and at the sight of it, a sudden, unwelcome feeling settled deep in her chest.

”He is strong, my lady, but not stronger than me. Of that, I am certain.”

”However... there was something peculiar about that man’s magic—no, his mana. It was unlike anything I have encountered before, and that is what troubles me.”

Both Silvena and Ruvian quietly listened to her. Silvena also realised that his gaze had grown darkened.

Something that she had never encountered before? What could possibly trouble Irene enough to say that? And does this young man know something about it?

Somehow, Silvena didn’t like that answer.

Although Irene was not as strong as the other Golden Ciphers, she was still capable. And for someone like her to show even a hint of worry, to be so cautious that her hands trembled, was itself a testament to how dangerous their opponent must have been.

Then, with a glint of madness burning in his dark eyes, the mysterious man suddenly spoke, viciously.

”I wasn’t expecting to see someone as strong as a First-Class Magus here. Hmm. This is very difficult now, isn’t it?”

But later, the man smiled darkly.

”And you, young lady with black hair, or is it emerald...”

Silvena froze, surprise flashing across her face.

’What...? He can see it through my disguise?’

She frowned.

If he had truly seen through her disguise, then his eyes, and more troubling still, his mana sense, must have been honed to a level that rendered most concealments meaningless.

’How vexing... could it be that he’s probably as strong as Irene?’ she wondered.

But the man continued.

”For someone like you to be guarded by a woman of that calibre, you must be quite an important noble. So how about this... hand that young man over, along with the four of my subordinates, and we pretend none of this ever happened. A generous offer, wouldn’t you say?”

’A bargain...?’ Silvena slightly chuckled. ’Is he serious?’

Still, she considered it nonetheless, measuring the cost against the promise of safety, but the thought unraveled just as quickly, leaving her with the cold certainty that he had never intended to let her go unharmed in the first place.

More than that, she can’t just trade someone else’s life for her own safety.

’There is no other way for this...’

They had to fight. But before Silvena could form a reply, the man standing beside her raised his voice first.

”How about this...”

”I have an even better proposal.”

Startled by the man’s sudden words, Silvena felt a silent scream rise within her. Part of her was intrigued, but mostly she was shocked.

’What is he planning now?’

Even Irene, who had been fully focused on the man before her, slightly shifted her gaze toward the back.

”Oh? An even better one?” Droiger let out a short laugh.

”Sure. I’m listening.”

Then, Ruvian calmly spoke:

”How about you and your subordinates surrender yourself, and we pretend none of this ever happened.”

A thin smile slowly crept on his face.

”A much more generous offer, wouldn’t you say?”

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[Chapter 21: A Much More Generous Offer]