'I'm the Villain, But the System Made Me OP'-Chapter 13: The Calm Before

Chapter 13: The Calm Before

One Week Until Expedition

Monday morning began with preparations.

The academy’s armory was packed with students scrambling for equipment. Enchanted weapons. Protective gear. Potions stocked floor to ceiling.

Draven arrived early. Avoiding the rush.

"Looking for something specific?" The armory master was an old dwarf named Grendel. Former adventurer. Lost his leg to a dungeon trap twenty years ago. Now he maintained the academy’s arsenal.

"Spatial storage ring. Large capacity. And high-grade healing potions. At least twenty."

Grendel raised an eyebrow. "Planning to die?"

"Planning not to."

"Smart." The dwarf retrieved a silver ring from a locked case. "Five cubic meters storage. Military grade. Costs three gold marks. Academy subsidy covers half for expedition students."

"I’ll take it."

Grendel handed it over. "Bind it with your blood. Don’t lose it. Replacement cost is fifty gold."

Draven pricked his finger. Drop. Blood absorbed into the ring. It hummed. Connected to his mana signature.

[New Item: Spatial Storage Ring (Tier-4)]

[Capacity: 5 cubic meters]

[Bound to: Draven Arclight]

He loaded it with supplies. Potions. Rations. Extra weapons. Rope. Climbing gear. Everything an experienced adventurer would bring.

"First time?" Grendel asked, watching him pack. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"No. But first time in B-Rank dungeon."

"Velkari Ruins. Nasty place." The dwarf’s expression darkened. "I lost two teammates there. Twenty-three years ago. Fourth floor. Ambush by shadow wraiths. Never even saw ’em coming." He tapped his wooden leg. "This is all I brought back."

"Any advice?"

"Yeah. Don’t go past floor three. Whatever’s down there ain’t worth your life."

Draven finished packing. "Noted. Thanks."

"You’re still going to floor seven, aren’t you?"

"Probably."

Grendel sighed. "Kids these days. Alright, take this too." He pulled out a small crystal. Glowing red. "Emergency beacon. Crush it if you’re about to die. Sends a signal to the surface. We’ll extract whoever’s still breathing. Only works once, so don’t waste it."

"How much?"

"Free. Call it insurance." Grendel’s expression was serious. "Come back alive, kid. You’ve got potential. Be a shame to waste it."

That afternoon, Duke Valerius summoned Seraphina to his estate.

Draven accompanied her. Uninvited but unwilling to let her go alone.

The duke was a stern man in his fifties. Graying hair. Sharp eyes. A-Rank power barely contained. He sat in his study like a judge on a throne.

"Father," Seraphina greeted. Formal. Distant.

"Seraphina. And Mr. Arclight. How... unexpected." The duke’s gaze fixed on Draven. Assessing. "You’re the one courting my daughter."

"I am."

"Bold. Most nobles would ask permission first."

"I’m not most nobles."

"Clearly." Duke Valerius leaned back. "Crown Prince Aldric has made an offer. Marriage alliance between House Valerius and the royal family. Substantial benefits. Tax reductions. Military support. A seat on the Royal Council for me."

Seraphina’s hands clenched. "Father—"

"I’m considering it."

Silence. Heavy. Suffocating.

"Seraphina deserves to choose her own future," Draven said carefully.

"Does she? She’s nobility. Daughter of a duke. Personal desires are secondary to house obligations." The duke’s tone was ice. "Unless, of course, someone can offer better terms. Can you, Mr. Arclight? What does your house bring to the table? You’re a third son. No inheritance. Your uncle controls the Arclight fortune. What exactly do you offer my daughter besides... companionship?"

A trap. Designed to make Draven look inadequate.

"I offer her freedom," Draven said. "The Crown Prince wants a trophy wife. A political tool. I want a partner. An equal. Someone who stands beside me, not behind me."

"Pretty words. But words don’t pay debts or protect borders."

"Give me one year. By then, I’ll have the power and resources to match any offer the prince makes. And I’ll do it without forcing Seraphina into servitude."

The duke studied him. Long moment.

"One year. Ambitious timeline for a teenager, regardless of rank." He stood. "Very well. I’ll delay the Crown Prince’s proposal. But understand this, Mr. Arclight—if you fail to deliver, Seraphina will marry Aldric. The alliance is too valuable to pass up indefinitely."

"Understood."

"Then we’re done here. Seraphina, stay. We need to discuss other matters."

Draven left. Waited in the hallway.

Ten minutes later, Seraphina emerged. Face pale. Shaken.

"What happened?"

"He’s serious. About the marriage. If you don’t succeed, I’ll be sold to the prince like property." Her voice cracked. "I hate this. I hate nobility. I hate politics."

Draven pulled her close. Rare public display. "I won’t let that happen."

"You can’t promise that."

"Watch me."

She held him tight. "One year. Don’t waste it."

"I won’t."

[QUEST UPDATED: "Prevent Seraphina’s Arranged Marriage"]

[Time Limit: 1 year]

[Objective: Acquire power/wealth to rival Crown Prince’s offer]

[Reward: 10,000 VP, Seraphina’s Complete Trust, Political Victory]

[Failure: Lose Seraphina]

That evening, in the capital’s underground district, three figures met in a warehouse.

Crown Prince Aldric. A hooded figure. And a Dungeon Guild representative.

"The arrangements are complete," the guild rep said. A weaselly man named Torven. "Floor four will trigger an elite spawn. Shadow dragons. Normally floor six enemies. Your target team won’t be prepared."

"And floor seven?" Aldric asked.

"The Abyss Core chamber has been... modified. We’ve activated the guardian. Ancient construct. S-Rank power equivalent. Designed to kill anyone who reaches it."

"Can it be stopped?"

"No. Once activated, it defends the core until destroyed or the intruder dies. No exceptions."

"Perfect." Aldric smiled. "What about evidence? Can this be traced back to me?"

"Dungeon Guild has plausible deniability. Ancient dungeons are unstable. Spawns shifting floors, traps activating randomly—all documented phenomena. No one can prove manipulation."

The hooded figure spoke. Voice distorted. Female. "And the backup plan?"

"If they somehow survive the guardian, I have operatives in extraction teams. They’ll ensure no one reports what they found. Clean disposal."

Aldric handed over a bag. Heavy. Clink. Gold coins.

"Good. Make sure this is foolproof. I can’t have Draven Arclight returning. He’s becoming too problematic."

"He won’t," Torven assured. "The ruins will claim him. And everyone will think it was just bad luck."

After they left, the hooded figure remained. Pulled back her hood.

Lady Elara Sunweaver. The Holy Maiden. One of the original novel’s main heroines.

She’d been watching Draven for weeks. Curious about the changed villain. The man who defied fate.

And now, she was conflicted.

Should I warn him?

Wednesday. Three days before the expedition.

The team ran drills in the academy’s advanced training hall. Full combat simulations. No holds barred.

"Formation Delta!" Draven commanded. "Kai, vanguard! Seraphina, support! Marcus, intercept!"

They moved. Fluid. Practiced. A week of brutal training had forged coordination.

Kai engaged the summoned construct. D-Rank High Stage now. Close to breakthrough. His golden aura flickered. Protagonist power building.

CLANG! His sword met the construct’s blade. He held. Barely. But held.

Seraphina cast from behind. "[Ice Prison]!" CRACK. Ice formations trapped the construct’s legs. Immobilizing it.

Marcus charged. "[Earth Spike]!" BOOM. A stone lance erupted from below. Piercing the construct’s core.

It shattered. Crash.

"Time: forty-three seconds," Astrid announced. "Acceptable. Again. Harder enemy."

She summoned three constructs. B-Rank equivalent.

The team engaged. Fought. Coordinated.

Draven watched from the sidelines this time. Analyzing. Looking for weaknesses.

Lyra was perfect in her role. Stealth assassin. She’d appear from nowhere, strike vital points, vanish. But against multiple enemies, she struggled. Solution: pair her with Marcus for protection.

Vera’s fire magic was powerful but wasteful. She burned through mana too fast. Solution: teach her to channel smaller, more efficient spells.

Marcus was strong but predictable. Always charged straight. Solution: have Seraphina direct him like a guided missile.

Kai was adapting fastest. His protagonist instincts kicked in during danger. The more desperate the fight, the stronger he became. Solution: push him to his limits every session.

Seraphina was the glue. Ice magic for control. Tactical mind. She called shots when Draven couldn’t. Solution: give her command when he had to engage directly.

"Stop!" Draven called. "Break. Five minutes."

They collapsed. Exhausted. But smiling. Proud.

"We’re actually getting good at this," Kai panted.

"Good isn’t enough," Draven said. "We need perfect. Floor four and below won’t forgive mistakes."

"Can we even reach floor seven?" Vera asked. "Most teams turn back at three."

"Most teams lack A-Rank leadership and an A-Rank professor. We’re not most teams."

"Confidence or arrogance?" Marcus grunted.

"Both. I’m confident we’re capable. Arrogant enough to try anyway."

Lyra laughed. "At least you’re honest."

"Always."

After training, Astrid pulled Draven aside.

"They’re ready," she said quietly. "As ready as a week can make them. But Draven, I’ve been reading reports. Velkari Ruins has killed A-Rank adventurers. Experienced ones. We’re taking students. Children, really."

"Kai is seventeen. Seraphina is eighteen. They’re not children."

"You know what I mean. This is dangerous. More dangerous than you’re letting on."

"I know." Draven met her eyes. "But it’s necessary. The Abyss Core—if I claim it, I jump to S-Rank. Maybe higher. With that power, I can protect everyone. Stop the prince. Prevent Seraphina’s marriage. Save my mother from his threats."

"And if you die trying?"

"Then make sure they get out alive."

Astrid’s expression tightened. "Don’t talk like that."

"Someone has to. We need contingencies." Draven pulled out the emergency beacon. "If things go bad, you use this. Extract whoever’s still breathing."

"What about you?"

"I’ll be fine. I have the System. Plot armor. Protagonist-adjacent powers." He smiled. Dark humor. "I’m too important to die yet."

"That’s not funny."

"Wasn’t trying to be."

She kissed him. Quick. Fierce. "Come back to me. To all of us."

"Promise."

That night, Elise came to Draven’s room.

She looked worried. Exhausted. Like she hadn’t slept.

"I heard about the duke’s threat," she said. "About the dungeon being manipulated. About everything."

"How did you—"

"I have sources. Servants talk. Nobles gossip." She sat on his bed. "Draven, don’t go. Please. It’s a trap. They want you dead."

"I know."

"Then WHY?!"

"Because if I don’t, they win. The prince marries Seraphina. Duke Valerius threatens you. I’m powerless to stop any of it. But if I succeed—if I claim the Abyss Core—I become S-Rank. At that level, even the royal family can’t touch me easily."

"You could die."

"I could. But I’d rather die trying than live as their pawn."

Elise’s tears fell. "You sound like your father. Stubborn. Reckless. Brave and stupid in equal measure." She grabbed his hands. "I can’t lose you. Not after just finding you again."

"You won’t."

"You can’t promise that."

"I can try."

She held him. They sat in silence. Mother and son. Forbidden lovers. Both.

"If you’re really going," Elise said finally. "Then take this." She removed a necklace. Silver chain. Blue pendant. "It was your father’s. A protection charm. A-Rank enchantment. It can block one fatal blow. Only once, but..."

Draven put it on. Felt the magic activate. Warm. Comforting.

"Thank you."

"Promise me," Elise whispered. "Promise you’ll use it if you have to. Don’t be a hero. Survive."

"I promise."

They held each other until she fell asleep. Exhausted from worry.

Draven stayed awake. Watching over her.

Two days left.

Friday. Day before the expedition.

Classes were canceled. Students prepared. Made peace with families. Some wrote wills.

Draven spent the day checking equipment. Triple-checking. Spatial ring loaded with supplies. Weapons sharpened. Potions organized.

The System was quiet. No snarky comments. Even it seemed to recognize the gravity.

Evening came. Draven stood at his window. Watching the sunset.

Tomorrow, they’d enter Velkari Ruins.

Tomorrow, everything changed.

A knock. Seraphina entered. Then Lyra. Then Astrid. And finally, Elise.

His four women. All here.

"We wanted to see you," Seraphina said. "Before tomorrow."

"All of us," Lyra added.

"Together," Astrid finished.

Elise just looked at him. Eyes full of fear and love.

They sat together. Talked. Laughed. Avoided discussing the expedition directly.

It was peaceful. Warm.

The calm before the storm.

As midnight approached, they left one by one. Except Elise.

"Stay," Draven said. "Tonight. Just... stay."

She did.

They lay together. Clothed. Not sexual. Just close.

"If something happens—" Elise started.

"It won’t."

"But if it does. I want you to know. These past weeks. They’ve been the happiest of my life. Worth any scandal. Any risk. You gave me purpose again. Love again. Don’t regret that."

"I don’t."

"Good."

They fell asleep holding hands.

Saturday morning.

Expedition day.

Draven woke before dawn. Elise was gone. Left a note: "Come back to me."

He dressed. Combat gear. Weapons. Ring loaded.

The System chimed. First time in days.

[Ready?]

As I’ll ever be.

[Velkari Ruins awaits. Seven floors. Monsters. Traps. Ancient guardians. The Abyss Core. And the Crown Prince’s schemes. The odds of survival are... not great.]

When have I ever cared about odds?

[Fair point. Alright, let’s do this. Time to become a legend. Or die trying.]

Preferably the first one.

[Agreed. Now get moving. Your team’s waiting.]

Draven left his room. Walked through empty halls. Other students were gathering too. Different teams. Different destinations.

At the academy gates, Team Seven assembled.

Astrid. Seraphina. Lyra. Marcus. Vera. Kai.

All armed. All ready.

"Everyone set?" Draven asked.

"Set," they replied.

"Then let’s go. Time to conquer a dungeon."

They walked toward the teleportation array. It would transport them to Velkari Ruins’ entrance.

The sun rose behind them. Golden light.

A new day.

A new challenge.

And possibly, their last.

[END OF Chapter 13]