The Extra's Rise-Chapter 247: Sophomore Ball (1)

After the declaration of war—because that’s what it felt like—by Seraphina and Rachel, the situation had somehow escalated further. Naturally, Cecilia and Rose had thrown their hats into the ring as well, because of course they had. And so, the four of them had spent the following days locked in a silent, unspoken cold war, each one making sure the others didn’t get an unfair advantage.

The result?

I didn’t technically have a date to the Sophomore Ball.

’I should not be worried, right?’ I thought, adjusting my tie as I finished getting ready.

The knock at my door interrupted that train of thought.

I opened it, only to be met with a head of deep navy-blue hair and an expression that screamed ’I have better things to do than be here.’

Clana Lopez, the Headmaster’s daughter.

She was wearing a sleek, midnight-blue dress, her usual messy bun replaced with a loose, wavy hairstyle that softened her usual sharp features. Not that she looked particularly interested in any of it. Just bored like usual.

"Hey. You ready?" she asked, folding her arms as if this were a completely normal conversation and not an increasingly surreal situation.

"Yeah… but why are you here?" I asked, already sensing the answer would be something ridiculous.

Clana exhaled, already looking exhausted. "I was told—" she stressed the word with clear exasperation, "—to be your ’date’ on paper so that you don’t seduce any other girls."

I blinked.

"…What?"

Clana yawned, as if this entire thing was barely worth her effort. "Come on, let’s go."

I followed her, my brain still catching up to the sheer absurdity of what I’d just heard.

’How the hell did they convince her?’

"So," I said as we made our way downstairs. "What exactly is your plan for the night?"

"I’m not dancing with you, obviously," she said flatly. "I’m too tired for that and I actually care about my life. I’ll just be making sure no stray girls get their claws into you."

"There is absolutely no need to go that far," I sighed, rubbing my temple, "Anyway, you look really pretty tonight, Clana. Your dress suits you so well. Like a mermaid."

She side-eyed me before muttering, "Looking at you, I can already tell they made the right choice."

I raised a brow. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Clana stopped at the bottom of the stairs, turned to me, and squinted, as if debating whether or not I was being serious. Then, in the most exasperated tone imaginable, she said, "You do realize you’re the problem, right?"

I frowned. "How am I the problem?"

She pointed at me. "You exist."

"…That’s a bit harsh."

"No, it’s not." She rubbed her temples. "You go around being all mysterious and powerful and nice, and somehow you make it look effortless. And then you have the audacity to say things like—" She deepened her voice in a bad impression of me, "’Oh, you look really pretty tonight, Clana. Your dress suits you so well. Like a mermaid.’"

I blinked. "…I mean, you do look nice tonight."

She groaned. "See?! That. That is why I understand why they sent me."

"I was just being honest!" I defended.

Clana gave me a long, judgmental stare before shaking her head. "You’re that kind of innocently flirty. The kind that doesn’t even realize what they’re doing. You just exist, and women around you lose their minds. It’s honestly terrifying. I understand though."

"I—" I paused. "That can’t be true."

Clana folded her arms. "Do I look like I’m joking?"

"…No," I admitted.

She huffed, muttering something under her breath about ’ridiculous protagonist energy’ before sighing heavily. "Anyway, I’ll just say this now: Try to survive tonight."

"That bad?"

"The four of them?" she said, raising an unimpressed brow. "You have no idea what they’re capable of when it comes to you."

A chill ran down my spine.

I nodded slowly. "Noted."

She gave me one last assessing look before stepping ahead. "Come on, the limo’s waiting downstairs."

I followed her, stepping into the sleek black car waiting outside, feeling—for some reason—like I was being driven to my own execution.

"Anyway, I don’t mind doing this," Clana said, eyeing me with something between amusement and resignation. "After all, an unworthy girl like me can only be with someone like you when something like this happens."

I sighed. "Can you stop joking?"

She exhaled dramatically. "I wish I was joking." Then she glanced out the window, the lights of the city flashing in her dark blue eyes. "You’re in for a very long night. Rose is still tame, but the three princesses…"

She actually shuddered.

I raised an eyebrow. "You make it sound like I’m about to enter a battlefield."

"That’s because you are," she said, dead serious. Then, with a sudden squint, she turned her gaze on me. "I still don’t understand how you managed this. What kind of brainwashing did you do to get all of them like that?"

"No brainwashing," I said dryly. "I guess they just… like me that much."

Clana groaned. "That’s true, but it’s really annoying to hear you say it, so sure of yourself."

I smirked, but before I could respond, she jabbed a finger at me. "Just remember—don’t talk to any other girls, okay?"

I blinked. "I don’t talk to many girls anyway."

That was true. Other than small talk or necessary interactions, I wasn’t exactly the type to go out of my way to start conversations with others. I didn’t have that much of an open personality.

Clana snorted. "Well, they won’t approach you with me around, which is my role basically. Only those four will—to rip you to pieces." She leaned back into the seat, stretching. "This Sophomore Ball is going to be so much fun."

I couldn’t tell if she was being sarcastic.

The limo slowed to a stop.

A second later, the door opened, and the cool night air hit us as we stepped out onto the red carpet. The flash of cameras—AI-controlled and precisely angled for optimal captures—lit up the scene in rapid bursts. Clana hooked her arm through mine, her posture effortlessly composed, as if she were just fulfilling a casual obligation.

"I guess they gave you some leeway?" I asked.

She yawned. "Yeah, yeah. Don’t get too used to it."

We moved forward, past the sea of flashing lights, past the hushed murmurs of students watching from the sides. Then, finally, we entered the venue.

Inside, chandeliers shimmered like galaxies overhead, their soft golden glow casting a warm haze over the extravagant ballroom. The entire space was filled with elegant decorations—floating orbs gently illuminating the corners, enchanted flowers shifting colors in response to the mood of the evening, a grand stage at the far end where music played in smooth, refined harmonies from the speakers.

It was every bit as breathtaking as expected, even more than the Freshman Ball in all honesty.

And then—

"Alright, get out now, Clana," a voice said.

Clana barely hesitated. She unhooked her arm from mine and retreated without complaint, waving lazily over her shoulder. "Try not to die," she yawned before disappearing into the crowd.

In her place, as if materializing from thin air, stood Cecilia.

She was wearing a crimson dress, one that matched the deep red of her eyes, the fabric hugging her figure just enough to leave an impression without being too revealing. Her golden hair cascaded down her back like molten sunlight, catching the light as she moved. She smiled, a mix of amusement and satisfaction playing at the corners of her lips.

"Hi, Arthur," she said smoothly, her voice warm, her fingers already looping through my arm as she pulled me closer.

"Hey, Cecilia," I greeted, a small smile tugging at my lips.

Before she could lead me anywhere, however, my other arm was claimed.

"Stop tricking," Seraphina’s voice was calm, but the grip on my arm was not.

Cecilia’s expression twitched. "Just when I managed to shake off that annoying Saintess," she muttered under her breath, her fingers tightening slightly around my wrist.

Seraphina, standing in an ice-blue gown that complemented her silver hair perfectly, simply gazed at her, impassive. "And just when I thought I wouldn’t have to deal with you first," she countered. Read new chapters at novelbuddy

The tension between them crackled like static.

I sighed.

The night had only just begun.

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