A gas that made people lose their sanity and go berserk upon inhalation.

Was it something like rabies or a rage virus? Either way, it was a serious problem.

The people still trapped inside the Enigma Auction were, without a doubt, innocent civilians who needed to be protected.

This incident wasn’t some shady illegal operation—it was a normal auction.

The attendees were simply victims who had been unfairly caught up in this disaster.

But the moment they inhaled the gas and started losing control, they were no longer just victims. They became threats that had to be dealt with.

And to make matters worse, they had to be subdued quickly without causing injury, all before the number of casualties grew any further.

A nightmare scenario with near-impossible conditions.

"Ugh… Hurry! Get outside! You can't afford to inhale any more of this gas!"

"Aaaaah! Run for it!"

"We're all gonna die! We're gonna dieee!"

Alice swiftly subdued a rampaging man with a sleeper hold.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she raised her voice and continued guiding people toward the exit.

But inside the auction hall, more and more people were losing control.

The chaos, once fully ignited, wasn’t about to die down anytime soon. The number of victims kept rising.

"This is bad! We have to help Alice—!"

Even from a distance, it was clear how serious the situation was.

Sabrina, her face pale with shock, tried to rush toward Alice.

Or at least, she would have—if I hadn’t thrown myself at her waist, clinging to her with all my strength.

"W-what are you doing, Yuria?! If this keeps up, Alice—!"

"…!"

Sabrina barely managed to keep her balance, looking down at me in confusion and frustration.

She probably thought that even for someone as strong as Alice, dealing with a horde of berserk people was too much.

That it was only logical to jump in and help.

But she was only seeing half the picture.

I pointed toward the other Fixers near Alice, directing her attention.

"Guh… k-koff…."

"Mask… I need a gas mask…."

"Hey! Snap out of it!"

"Ugh! D-don't tell me… even the Fixers inhaled too much gas?!"

Several Fixers were on their knees, clutching their throats.

Some had collapsed entirely, gripping their heads as if suffering from an unbearable headache.

They had been standing at the exit, talking non-stop while managing the crowd.

Naturally, they had been exposed to the gas leaking from inside.

Even skilled Fixers, capable of resisting most drugs and magic, couldn’t endure it.

If they couldn’t, there was no way Sabrina, who was merely physically strong, would stand a chance.

And judging by the way she bit her lip and broke into a cold sweat, she understood that all too well.

"Damn it… Alice…!"

"…."

That said, she wasn’t wrong.

The gas was still spreading, driving more people into a frenzy.

Dozens—no, hundreds—of civilians had to be evacuated through a cramped exit.

And the only one holding the situation together right now was Alice.

Even if Raven or Victor were here, it would be overwhelming.

Trying to protect rampaging civilians while keeping them from harming others?

Unless you were absurdly skilled, it was a near-impossible disaster to control.

Well… at least, in my case, dealing with gas attacks wasn’t exactly a bad matchup.

Alright. That was enough analysis.

No one was paying attention to me right now—this was my chance to act.

I released my grip on Sabrina’s waist and stood up.

Then, making sure only she could see, I subtly lifted my mask and pressed a finger to my lips.

Sabrina already knew I could use psychokinesis.

This was a silent request—asking her to keep my identity hidden and prevent any unnecessary interference.

"…Got it, Yuria! Hide behind me!"

"…!"

Thankfully, she understood immediately.

With a firm nod, she positioned herself like a shield, keeping watch on our surroundings while ensuring no one had a clear view of me.

This way, even if someone looked over, I wouldn’t seem suspicious.

After confirming there were no prying eyes, I focused—drawing out my psychokinesis properly for the first time in a while.

Then, extending an invisible hand connected to my body, I reached out and pulled the thick, spreading smoke downward toward the floor.

'I don’t need to solve everything. As long as people stop inhaling the gas, they’ll be able to escape safely.'

After all, the situation had only escalated because more and more people kept breathing in the gas and losing control.

If I could suppress the gas and prevent new victims, that alone would significantly reduce the damage.

And perhaps the people managing the evacuation had noticed the change.

Alice, who had been directing the crowd with a tense expression, widened her eyes and sharply scanned her surroundings.

After struggling with the swirling gas earlier, it must have been a shock to see it suddenly sink to the ground.

She was probably wondering who was responsible for this.

Luckily, she didn’t seem to suspect me.

But given how urgent the situation was, she must have decided to drop the matter and focus on the evacuation instead.

Raising her voice, she called out to the panicked crowd.

"Everyone, stay calm! The gas has settled! It’s safe now! Please follow the instructions and head toward the exit!"

Hearing her, the frenzied people finally seemed to register the thick smoke lying low on the ground.

Even those who had been aggressively shoving others aside in a desperate bid to escape calmed down and began following an orderly exit.

Fortunately, there were no further disturbances.

With the revived Fixers assisting in the evacuation, the flow of people leaving the auction was finally reaching its end.

At this pace, everyone who was still in control of their faculties would soon be outside.

As I directed the gas toward the windows, making it flow out of the building, a sudden scream erupted from within.

Then, through the gaps between the fleeing people, a dark shadow lunged forward.

"Kraaagh! Blood! I need blood!"

"Ugh?! W-what the hell?! This person—!"

The dark figure was a girl with long black hair cascading down to her waist.

She looked about high school age, but her rolling eyes and drooling mouth made it clear she was far from normal.

Like a wolf, the black-haired girl sprang at Alice.

Alice barely had time to react. Forced on the defensive, she raised her arms just in time to block the attack and tumbled backward.

"Alice!"

"Ugh… I’m fine! Fixers, get the remaining evacuees out of the auction hall!"

"Grrrrr!"

Trying to reassure Sabrina, Alice wrestled the frenzied girl down with raw strength.

Even among her peers, Alice possessed an overwhelmingly superior physique.

A surprise attack might have thrown her off balance, but if it came down to brute force, she wouldn’t lose.

But as I continued suppressing the gas, I realized something—the girl’s face looked familiar.

I had never seen her in person before, but I knew her.

She was a character from the original storyline.

‘That’s… the Academy’s Disciplinary Committee Chair?’

Come to think of it, the Academy’s Student Council President, Tamamo, was attending this auction.

If she was here, then it wasn’t strange for the Disciplinary Chair to be with her.

Wait a minute. If she’s lost control like this…

Does that mean Tamamo, the genius magician, is in a similar state?

That would be bad.

As I tried to make sense of the rapidly escalating situation, the Disciplinary Chair, still pinned under Alice, let out a furious shriek.

Then, in a frenzied struggle, she extended sharp claws from her fingertips and swung wildly.

"Kyaaah!"

"Damn it! Seriously?! How can someone capable of using magic fall victim to a gas?!"

Those black, glowing claws weren’t just sharp—they were magic.

They looked hot, but they didn’t actually generate heat. Instead, they were a form of dark magic designed to maximize cutting power.

Alice cursed and, realizing the danger, kicked the girl off her, putting distance between them.

The Disciplinary Chair’s claws, now lacking a target, instead carved deep gouges into the floor and walls, showcasing their sheer destructive power.

As expected of a student from the Academy—a prestigious international institution that gathered the most talented young elites from around the world.

Even though she was currently out of control due to the gas, Alice couldn’t afford to let her guard down.

If Alice had her twin swords with her, she’d have the advantage.

But right now, with only her bare hands while the other side could freely use magic, she was at a clear disadvantage.

‘Should I step in and help Alice? …No. If I let go of the gas now, more people will be affected. It’s better to get rid of the gas first. For now, I have to trust Alice to handle this.’

I reaffirmed my course of action and quickly funneled the remaining gas out of the building through the windows.

Once I clear the gas, I can focus on helping Alice—or whatever comes next.

Meanwhile, Fixers continued facing off against the dazed, staggering victims stumbling out of the auction hall, their sanity long lost.

Among them were not only civilians but also some beastfolk—and even Fixers who had succumbed to the gas.

Come on, you guys… hold out somehow! I’m counting on you!

But seriously, what was this gas?

And where the hell was everyone else?!

The situation was getting worse by the second, and I was getting really sick of it.