Artificial Souls (1)

As I made my way toward the cafeteria, still reeling from my strange encounter with the Second Headmaster, a familiar voice cut through the crowd.

"Ray! There you are!" Samuel shouted, already halfway into a sprint toward me.

"Wait—wait! Stop right there for a second," I called out, raising a hand in urgency. I wasn't sure if the spell the headmaster had cast was still lingering. "Just answer me this—do you, by any chance, want to learn sorcery?"

"...No? I'm a wizard. And a metahuman. Why would I want to learn sorcery?" Samuel responded, furrowing his brows as he halted roughly four feet away.

"...Phew," I exhaled, shoulders easing as the tension bled out of me. I gave him a quick rundown of what had happened—though I left out the part about meeting the Second Headmaster.

"So... you're saying we were tested, and now everything's just back to normal?" Samuel asked. "But it's only the second day. Why would they give us a test so soon?"

"I haven't the slightest clue," I said, shaking my head.

"...Are you sure you're not just making all this up to justify skipping two classes?" Samuel asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

"Look, I hate being stuck in a room listening to lectures all day—but I wouldn't skip combat training for no reason," I replied, voice steady.

"...Right. Did you drink too much wine or something?" he muttered, still unconvinced.

"Believe me or don't. I'm not here to persuade, only to inform," I said, tone even. "But it's the truth. The academy prides itself on its unforgiving standards—they can administer a test whenever the mood strikes, and there won't be so much as a whisper of warning beforehand. That said… even I find it curious they'd thrust another ordeal on us just two days after the entrance exam nearly turned into a massacre."

"Maybe they're being rushed or something," Samuel offered. "You think the Shadows are demanding more soldiers?"

"Perhaps," I mused, folding my arms. "Though I find it difficult to imagine beings of their particular menace troubling themselves over the crop of fresh recruits on a peripheral training world like Earth. No, I'd wager the frontlines keep them amply occupied—wrestling with horrors we'll likely only hear about in cautionary tales and casualty reports."

"...Why are you talking like that again?" Samuel asked, tilting his head.

"Bit stressed out," I replied plainly. "I'll go grab my lunch now—if there's still any left."

"You definitely should. I heard an empty stomach can cause hallucinations," he said over his shoulder, already turning to leave.

There were still twenty minutes left before lunch ended, so the cafeteria was mostly quiet, the clatter of utensils reduced to scattered echoes. I didn't have to rush.

Just as I was about to sit down with my tray, I spotted Sylvia sitting alone, her plate untouched, still full.

"What are you doing?" I asked, taking the seat beside her.

"Apparently waiting for someone who vanished for two classes," Sylvia said, turning her face away from me.

"You could've just eaten without me... Where's Tommy?" I asked, a prickle of guilt rising in my chest.

"He waited for a while, but got bored and went to train," she replied, still not meeting my eyes. "Where were you?"

"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you," I muttered, shaking my head.

"Of course I won't—if you don't tell me what happened," she said, arms folded.

"...Fine. I'll tell you after you've eaten," I replied, suppressing a grin as I dug into my food.

"The wavelength matches yet again," Ryuk and Moriarty muttered in unison from a distance, their giggles eerily synchronized.

…Moriarty was already enough—and now I've got another child to handle?

After we finished eating, I explained the situation to Sylvia—leaving out the last part once again. Her reaction, however, wasn't quite what I expected.

"They gave a surprise test this early? Isn't there a risk of suicide from that?" she asked, frowning with genuine concern.

"The academy has its ways of protecting students. They won't let us die—not while we're still inside the campus walls," I replied.

Though, truth be told, I nearly killed myself earlier. I'm assuming the Second Headmaster would've intervened if I had taken things too far.

"Then… that means I failed this one," Sylvia muttered, her expression falling. "The student council meeting is coming up. If I show up with a failure on record this soon after enrolling, they might pick someone else to fill the role. This is… troubling. Why would they hold it so early?"

She sighed, rubbing her temples in frustration.

Hm… That's a complication I hadn't considered. I don't have any allies in the student council, and for the future, Syl's my only real connection to them. I'll need that bridge—eventually.

"How about this..." I began, pointing at myself. "You could prove your combat ability by defeating someone who did pass the test."

"I'm not going to fight you unless you're actually using your ability," Sylvia replied flatly. "And if you do, then I wouldn't stand a chance."

"Stop being so honorable when your future's on the line," I said, leaning in slightly. "The world isn't pure white, Syl. Even within the light, there are shadows. If you can't adapt to that..."

I caught myself, realizing she wasn't going to bend, not this time.

"Fine," I said, straightening up. "Let's take a B-rank mission."

"...Just because our combat power is ranked B doesn't mean we can handle a B-rank mission on our own," Sylvia replied, still sounding cautious. "...But if you bring a couple of others, it might be doable. Still, the time limit is—"

"Let me worry about that," I interrupted, rising from my seat. "Time is my responsibility, after all."

"Why do you even care if I get kicked from the council?" Sylvia asked as she stood up from her seat.

"Why did you wait for me?" I shot back, smiling.

"I waited because that's what friends do. You're doing this to make me feel indebted," she replied, her tone sharp but quiet.

"What? I'm not that conniving… I think?" I said with a chuckle, brushing it off. "I'm just returning the favor—for waiting for me, that's all."

"...I don't believe you in the slightest," Sylvia said, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.