Test end??

Cough cough.

The instructor cleared his throat, trying to get the attention of the monstrous younglings before him.

He glanced at the assistant, who immediately understood and announced:

"Noir Vaishrava."

"Mana Attribute: Null."

"Mana Affinity: SSS+."

The crystal's glow, indicating an SSS+ rank mana affinity, was blinding—yet something about it felt… wrong. This was the first time in history that anyone had an SSS+ rank mana affinity, and the entire hall fell silent.

The students stared at Noir's group with a mix of emotions—skepticism, awe, confusion—but none could ignore the weight of the moment. Yet, the group itself seemed unfazed.

Noir, Oliver, Sirius, and Shyamal walked calmly to their designated seats in the front row, paying no heed to the murmurs around them.

Miraya and Demetria, however, kept sneaking glances at them for reasons unknown.

The test continued, one by one, as each student took their turn.

Once everyone had finished, the instructor approached the podium and began to speak:

"Tomorrow, the second test will be conducted. It will be a battle against a monster."

"A monster?" A noble girl asked, horrified. "This early?"

"Early? Haven't you fought monsters before?" another girl retorted.

The room split into two reactions—some students had never fought a monster before and looked horrified, while others found it disgusting. The fear of facing real danger was evident in many.

Oliver, as usual, became excited. A dangerous glint appeared in his eyes as he muttered, "So, killing those maggots, huh? Hehe." His usual excitement had doubled.

Sirius, overhearing him, replied, "They never said to kill them. It's just a test. Not everyone can kill or even defeat a monster. They'll just assess our combat strength, so don't get overexcited."

Oliver shrugged. "You're right. I'll just do what I always do."

"Like slaughtering them, huh?" Sirius muttered under his breath.

Noir, listening to their exchange, glanced at Oliver from the side.

He knew exactly why Oliver was so eager—why his eyes gleamed with bloodlust—but he could only sigh at this point.

Then, his gaze shifted to Sirius.

Always the same. Ever-serious, analyzing everything, measuring everyone.

With his qualifications and background, he should have been arrogant, acting like the self-proclaimed "dog king" of a nearby alley. Yet, Sirius remained level-headed, never underestimating anyone.

Probably memorizing everyone's details, huh? Guess he really takes after his grandmother.

Sirius, feeling Noir's gaze, asked, "Why are you staring at me like that?"

Before Noir could answer, Oliver leaned in dramatically and teased, "Maybe he thinks you're cute~ Maybe he wants to smooch you, you know? Right on your glassy cheek." He made a perverse face.

Smack!

Shyamal, who had been sitting beside Noir on the left, suddenly stood up, went behind Oliver, and smacked him on the head before sitting back down.

"Ahhh! Why would you hit me?!" Oliver whined, rubbing his head with a hurt look.

"Hmph," Shyamal pouted. "Why would my brother kiss him when I'm—"

Her voice trailed off into a whisper, too low for most to hear, but Noir, Oliver, and Sirius caught it clearly with their enhanced senses.

They could already guess what she was about to say.

Sirius, realizing what was happening, sighed and pinched Noir's right hand. Noir looked at him, then shook his head lightly.

Understanding the silent exchange, Sirius turned to Oliver and said, "You deserved that."

"Heh, like I don't know how much you missed him," Oliver retorted sarcastically.

Sirius frowned but didn't deny it. "We haven't seen him in over two years. We're meeting him directly at this academy test. Though Shya met him earlier at the academy gates and latched onto him, we only got to meet him properly now."

Oliver's playful expression faded as he added, "We didn't even know where he was, what he was doing, or how he was. Most of all… why didn't he tell us anything?"

Sirius wanted to ask Noir the same things. He wanted to shake him, demand answers.

But he knew.

Here, in the academy, surrounded by ears and eyes, this was not the place. He had suppressed his excitement just to avoid drawing attention. More than anything, he needed to ask why Noir hadn't reacted when the crystal failed to shine—why he wasn't worried about being attributeless.

Any other person would have been shocked to death upon being declared attributeless. Especially someone from Noir's background.

In normal cases, it would mean social death.

And after that? Real death.

This society worked that way.

Noir opened his mouth to speak but no words came out.

Cough… cough…

Even after clearing his throat, he found it difficult to say anything. What could he even say?

Sirius watched his expression closely.

Something was wrong.

Noir was always the calm type, but he should have hugged them both upon meeting again. Yet, he seemed weighed down, as if something unseen was crushing him.

On the outside, he was smiling.

But inside?

A storm was raging.

Sirius didn't know what Noir had gone through in the past two years. He didn't want to press him, not here, not now.

So instead, he simply said, "Let's talk later. We're in the academy right now."

Noir understood.

Oliver, too.

Shyamal had been listening the entire time.

She wanted to ask, more than anyone.

No—she wanted to pounce on him. Then slap him. Once, twice, a thousand times. But after each slap, she wanted to kiss him, to soothe the pain she herself had inflicted.

Slap. Smooch. Slap. Smooch.

After all, he had left her.

That day, right after she had placed a garland of flowers around his neck, saying—

"I… I… W-wouve you… ahhh, I mean, I… I would… marry you… ahhhh, no! I mean… I… love you… please… please marry me… huhhh…"

She had proposed to him, standing over the bloodied bodies of their enemies, a garland soaked in their blood.

Just remembering it made her cheeks turn red.

And then… he disappeared.

She had thought it was because of her. Noir's father had assured her otherwise, telling her he had to leave for important reasons. He had even smiled as he approved of their marriage.

But that didn't stop her from doubting.

From feeling abandoned.

Her expression shifted as the memories played in her mind—first love, crazy smile, anger, love, sadness, love, happiness…

The trio noticed her strange behavior.

Oliver whispered, "Uh… what's wrong with her?"

Sirius glanced at her briefly, then dismissed it. "Ignore her. She's been like this since Noir abandoned her."

Noir blinked in confusion. "I abandoned her??"