The classroom remained dead silent.
Xuē Liuyue's slender finger pointed straight at Seo Yoori.
"She can hire him."
Seo Yoori slowly turned her head, the iciness in her gaze sharp enough to freeze over hell itself—yet her lips curled into a charming smile.
"Excuse me?" she said sweetly, never breaking character in front of the class.
Xuē smiled. Her lashes didn't flutter—she simply stared.
This was exactly what she wanted—corner Seo Yoori and force her into hiring Raizen, even if the two were clearly oil and water.
"I only meant… Miss Seo has an opening," Xuē's voice was light, almost amused.
"Word on the street is your company's launching a new city-based campaign—something resource-heavy?"
She tilted her head slightly, the glint in her eyes unmistakably playful.
"Seems like the perfect opportunity to help a struggling classmate… wouldn't you agree?"
Yoori's eyes narrowed.
She knew exactly what Xuē was doing. She'd looked into her—into everything.
She looked into me. She knows.
Internal reports, campaign drafts… brand pitches—she's dug into all of it. Someone's getting fired for this.
Is this her plan? Force me and Raizen together so I'll be too distracted to focus?
Her jaw clenched, her smile beginning to fade.
Her voice dropped, colder than before.
"That's confidential information."
Xuē tilted her head with faux innocence, her voice soft and teasing.
"Oh? I must've overheard it from one of your many admirers then."
A few students chuckled under their breath.
Raizen's patience began to fray.
"Why the hell are these women talking like I'm not even here? Like I'm some unwanted baggage?"
The old flame flickered inside him. As a former demon lord, this was beyond insulting. For once he was quiet, but this two are forcing his hand.
"These witches are really starting to piss me off," he muttered, eyes narrowing.
At the front, the The professor wanted to stop them… 'Hey, please sto—' But he was interrupted. Clearly, the situation was already out of his hands."
"In any case, what better way to nurture future talent than to… give him a chance?"
Xuē continued, voice soft but persistent—pushing her agenda.
She let the words linger before adding with a faint smirk,
"Your project does sound urgent. And expensive."
The last word drifted in the air like perfume-a scent that lingers.
"Surely someone with your wealth can afford one more part timer?"
Yoori's jaw tightened.
"Oh? I thought someone who runs a bar with 'premium hospitality services' would be a better fit for someone like… Hanazawa."
She leaned back, arms crossed.
"Unless your bar only hires professional sluts now?"
The class gasped.
Not from Xuē—this was the kind of venom they expected from her.
But from Seo Yoori? The composed, elegant ice princess?
She was cracking. Just a little.
Exactly as Xuē had intended.
Xuē's smile sharpened.
"Oh my," she murmured, brushing a finger along her jawline with mock shock.
"Such vulgar language… from the campus's most elegant princess?"
She also leaned back, graceful, poised—her words as poised as daggers.
"Well, if we're throwing accusations—I heard your company's been struggling to stay relevant lately. Losing sponsors, aren't you?"
She let that hit before casually adding:
"Maybe someone with Hanazawa's… adaptability could help you bounce back. Desperate times, after all."
Seo Yoori refused to be outplayed.
"I would love to hire him, actually. I know how capable he is."
She turned her smile toward Xuē, eyes gleaming with venomous charm.
"In fact… I recently heard about that little alleyway scuffle. The one where he saved you from another student? Quite the heroic husband, isn't he?" she added, mocking.
She didn't stop there. If Xuē was bold enough to challenge her in front of the whole class, she wasn't going to let her walk away untouched.
"I only just found out you two are already on a first-name basis."
The class froze.
If jaws had dropped earlier, now they'd slammed through the floorboards. Even the professor, previously watching, blinked in disbelief.
Xuē's smile didn't waver—but her eyes narrowed.
Every set of eyes in the room followed the tension like spectators at a high-stakes tennis match.
Two of the campus's most untouchable queens weren't just exchanging jabs—they were baring claws.
Xuē fired back, voice silky, eyes burning.
"Oh, obviously you know what he's capable of… don't you, Seo Yoori?"
She brushed her lips with her finger slowly—almost seductively.
"You've experienced it firsthand… haven't you?"
The words hit like lightning.
Not random. Not speculative.
Xuē had deduced something—and now, she wanted everyone to think about it.
Seo Yoori froze.
"This woman…"
She wanted to scream—to slam Xuē into the floor with her words.
But she couldn't.
Too many eyes. Too many ears. And the wrong reaction would only validate what Xuē was implying.
She tightened her grip around her pen, forcing the fury down like venom.
Before either could escalate further—
The professor coughed, louder this time.
Coffee in hand, he scanned the room. Everyone was frozen in place.
His eyes drifted: Xuē, composed and dangerous.
Seo Yoori, tense and fuming.
Raizen, stuck in the crossfire like a normal peasant between two armies that fought in-front of his yard.
"…I suppose this counts as class participation."
He took a sip. Cold coffee. Of course.
"Let's stop here," he said flatly, adjusting his glasses.
"You're both clearly disturbing Hanazawa. He might not even want to join either of your businesses at this rate."
He glanced at Raizen.
"Mr. Hanazawa. If you need witness protection, blink twice."
The class chuckled—softly, nervously.
The professor clearly wanted to put out the fire before it engulfed the entire room.
Xuē smiled faintly.
Seo Yoori rolled her eye.
Raizen's eyes flicked between Xuē and Yoori—like watching two tigresses fight over a scrap of meat. And that scrap… was him.
He clenched his fist beneath the desk, lips twitching into a grin.
"If I let them keep this up, I'll just be a pawn in their little tug-of-war," he thought. "No. If I'm going to be used—then I'm naming the goddamn rules."
His mind locked in. He would seize the moment. Not just play the game—own it.
Raizen stood.
Quietly. Confidently.
"Professor," he said calmly, "how about I just work for both of them?"
Silence.
"What!?" Xuē gasped, her composure slipping.
Seo Yoori nearly choked. "You what?"
Even the professor paused.
Raizen stretched slightly, then spoke with cool casualness.
"You said I needed a tough job to pass your assessment, right? You asked the class if anyone had openings."
He pointed lazily at both women. "Looks like there are two."
"And me? I'm greedy. I'll take both… at once."
"Guess I'm ambitious. I'll take them both. Together." He licked his lips slowly.
"You asked for initiative. So here it is: I'll work under both queens." Said while gesturing with open arms.
A pause.
Neither Xuē nor Yoori had expected that. For once, they looked genuinely… unsure.
That's right, make that face—both of you. I've let you girls have your fun… now it's my turn," he thought, glancing at them both.
The gasps that followed were immediate.
The professor hesitated. He didn't have the guts to order either of these girls—both from powerful families he couldn't afford to offend.
He glanced at them. Cold stares. He could feel their disregard.
They weren't serious about hiring Raizen. This was all a power game to them.
The professor let out a nervous chuckle, shifting awkwardly in place. He glanced at the two girls—Xuē with her cold, calculating stare, and Seo Yoori who radiated pure prestige.
"These two… even I have to watch my words," he thought bitterly. He tugged at his collar. "They treat this class like a joke. Skipping, talking back—and now dragging me into their petty war over some guy?"
His fingers tightened around his coffee cup, knuckles whitening. For a brief moment, the corner of his eye twitched. Raizen caught it instantly.
Raizen's fingers curled slowly into a fist under the desk. The professor was hesitating, eyes darting between the two girls like a frightened animal.
"Shit. He's folding… not surprising. Those two's families have more money than God. No way he'll help me."
But Raizen didn't have time to let things slide. Not now.
He gritted his teeth.
"Tch. Guess I'll use it…I was planning to use this to a woman, but I cant let this two have their way with me."
His body tensed, lust energy coursing up his spine like a coiled spring. This better be worth it.
SWAY—one of his most draining ability. It could twist someone's will, but only by tapping into a desire they already secretly harbored. It didn't create illusions. It didn't brainwash. It just… nudged. Whispered. Made them more confident to release their desire.
"High cost. Can't use it twice in a row at my current state."
"I have one chance, this will only works if the target's heart is already wobbling."
Raizen's eyes locked on the professor.
"C'mon old man… you've got something in there. Resentment? Regret? Show it to me."
Then he whispered, as energy slipped from his skin like steam:
"SWAY."
A ripple of invisible energy burst from him—subtle, but intoxicating. It flowed into the professor's head.
Sway tapped into the core of someone's suppressed feelings. Desires. Resentment. Pride.
And the professor?
"Why am I afraid of these girls?"
"Seo takes a leave in class without any prior notice, like she already knew i will let her."
"Xuē thinks I'm a pushover, not letting me finish my words."
"They're looking at me like I'm a goddamn errand boy."
He felt a rush.
His grip on the desk tightened.
It clicked. He was done being passive.
SWAY burned a lot of lust energy—but Raizen knew it was worth it.
Just as everyone thought the professor would shut it down—
He stood tall.
"I agree. He'll work for both of you."
The room froze.
"You want him? Then you can share him. No buts."
His voice sharpened, cutting the air like a blade.
"I've already let both of you disrespect me once. Not this time. Now you listen—
The only words I want from either of you are: 'Yes, sir.'
Am I clear?"
Silence.
Yoori didn't speak.
Xuē's eyes flared.
The class was paralyzed.
Raizen just leaned back, arms folded.
And smiled like the devil who'd just claimed his throne.
He didn't just win. He rewrote the rules—and made both queens play his game
"All those sleepless nights bar-hopping for energy? Totally worth it."