Harem Online: My Party Is Full of Beautiful Celebrities-Chapter 50: Emperor’s Roar

[You have killed The Dark Blue Goblin Boss (Elite) Lv. 5]

For one heartbeat, nobody moved. The throne room, which had been filled with crystal storms, roars, and flying steel only a second ago, fell into such sudden silence that even the faint clatter of settling shards sounded unnaturally loud.

The Dark Blue Goblin Boss was gone.

No roar followed. No desperate last swing came. No new wave of pressure crashed over them. The empty space where that monstrous body had stood made the truth hit harder than the system message did.

"HELL YEAHHHHHHHHHH!"

The moment Martin saw the elite boss’s corpse vanish and the system notification confirm the kill, a rush of adrenaline and excitement tore through him. For a second, it felt like his real emotions alone could burn away every debuff on his body and give him the strength to roar.

His victory roar felt like the perfect match for his name: Emperoar.

Martin’s roar hit all three women at once, and then the feeling spread fast. Surprise flashed first, only to be swallowed by the same fierce triumph burning through him.

Like a spark racing through dry grass, that shout lit up the rest of the party.

NukEncore jolted on the spot like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on. Then her whole face lit up. Her eyes went wide, her lips parted, and for a second she looked too stunned to breathe before a huge smile burst across her face.

Her joy was so open and bright it was almost impossible not to get swept up in it.

Chaosgraphy let out a slow breath through her nose as the tension finally drained from her shoulders. Her twin swords dipped to her sides, and she tipped her head back toward the ceiling with the faintest curl of a smile, sharp and satisfied. It wasn’t wild excitement.

It was the smile of someone who knew a beautiful finish when she saw one.

Even Kill Clause’s usual cold smile softened. It was a tiny change, easy to miss, but real. Her gaze lingered on Martin a moment longer than usual, free of its usual calculation, and the quiet warmth in her eyes said more than a shout ever could.

"We did it, Martin!" NukEncore skipped over to him and threw herself into his arms, looping hers around his neck and pressing herself tight against him as if she had every right to be there.

She hit him with all the force of her joy, warm, breathless, and glowing, and Martin caught her on instinct. His arms closed around her back at once, firm from the fading rush of battle, and before either of them could think, he had already lifted her off the ground and spun her around.

"We fucking did it!" he roared.

NukEncore burst into bright laughter as he spun her, the sound ringing through the throne room. At first, it was pure excitement, but once the turns kept going, her delight softened into something more playful. Now that the danger was gone, she could actually enjoy this for what it was.

And oh, what a way to celebrate.

His chest was broad and solid against hers, his arms strong enough to keep her up as if she weighed nothing, and every turn kept her tucked close enough to make her pulse skip. She should have been embarrassed by how tightly they were pressed together, but instead, a teasing little thrill rose inside her. In real life, she knew exactly how to work a moment when all eyes were on her, and maybe that side of her slipped out now, because instead of pulling back, she leaned into him just a little more and let herself enjoy how unfairly strong he felt.

Only then did Martin begin to notice the same thing from his side.

A moment ago, all he had cared about was the rush of winning and the fact that she had leaped into his arms. But now, with the throne room finally quiet, her softness became impossible to ignore. NukEncore fit against him almost too naturally, warm and soft and clinging to him with a kind of trust that made his pulse jump.

The press of her body against his was not something he could brush aside anymore, especially not when she stayed wrapped around his neck as if she belonged there.

Seeing the way he kept holding her, NukEncore’s smile turned sweeter. A faint flush warmed her cheeks, but it only made her look brighter.

"Well," she said, her voice light and breathless, "I guess this is what happens when a superstar lands the finishing blow."

Her tone was playful, but the way she looked at him was not entirely a joke.

She could feel how solid he was through every point of contact, in his chest, his shoulders, and the arms keeping her lifted with such easy strength. It made her feel smaller in a way that should have embarrassed her, yet all it really did was leave her flushed and strangely thrilled. Even the soft crush of her chest against him, which usually would have made her self-conscious, only made her more aware of how close they really were and how little she wanted the moment to end.

He’s holding me so tightly... and wow, he is not in a hurry to let go.

The thought made the corners of her lips curl.

Her eyes still shone with excitement, but now there was mischief in them too, as if she had caught onto exactly how dangerous this hug was becoming for him and had decided not to make it any easier. It was the first time a man had ever held her like this, not by accident and not in passing, but fully, securely, like keeping her close felt natural to him.

She liked that much more than she probably should have.

"Yes!" NukEncore shouted back, though her voice came out brighter and softer than before. Then, with a grin that was all diva charm, she added, "Try not to get addicted, okay? Victory hugs from me are premium content."

Chaosgraphy watched the two of them with a smile that was far too knowing to be innocent. She said nothing, but the amused glint in her eyes made it very clear she had noticed exactly how long Martin had taken to put NukEncore down.

Kill Clause, for her part, looked away for half a second and then back again, as if she had decided that pretending not to notice would only make it more obvious that she had.

That was enough to make NukEncore a little more aware of herself all over again.

She was still in his arms, still pressed close, still looped around his neck in front of everyone.

A warmer blush rose into her cheeks, though whether it came from embarrassment or satisfaction was something even she did not want to examine too closely.

By the time Martin finally slowed, he still did not set her down right away.

Then the cost started catching up to him.

The arm that had held the shield steady felt heavy all at once, and a deep ache dragged across his shoulders and back. Even his legs, which had carried him through the final push on pure stubbornness, suddenly felt far less reliable now that the fight was over.