Evaluation, Miscommunication, and a Bowl of Noodles Delayed

"So… we nearly died because the training turned into some unrecorded mysterious experiment, and now we're being told to act like it's just a normal evaluation?" Kael raised his hand high while sitting in the briefing room, his face caught between confusion and irritation.

"That's a fairly accurate conclusion," Ryn replied calmly, opening his neatly written report prepared since the night before.

That morning, Nova Academy appeared calmer than usual—but it was only an illusion. Behind the steel walls of the academy, chaos was unfolding in an organized manner. The council chamber was filled with debate, the intel division was busy analyzing data from dozens of sensors, and tech vendors were being interrogated over a 'system breach'—all because of one thing: an anomalous creature appeared undetected, and an unknown cadet took it down using a self-made device.

"You encountered an unanticipated situation," said Sarka, standing tall in front of a hologram screen replaying yesterday's battle. In slow motion, it showed Deren leaping and throwing a knife precisely at the creature's weak spot. "However... your results are interesting. Very interesting."

Deren leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, eyes half-closed as if he was about to nap mid-meeting.

"Interesting? What's interesting would be me taking a nap in the back garden without being bothered by tech-enhanced cockroaches."

"Deren."

He lazily opened one eye. "Hm?"

"The tools you used. The knife, the smoke, and... ether pressure. None of it is recorded in the academy's system. No distribution logs, no usage licenses."

"Personal stuff. Memory collection. Some are self-made. Some… gifts from people who don't want me dead just yet. And some... well, experimental boredom."

Reiner, standing behind Sarka while holding a data tablet, quickly jotted something down. "Are you aware that the energy pressure pattern you emitted is identical to one of the ancient Core fragments discovered in the western ruins two years ago?"

"Swear on my morning coffee, I didn't even know there was a western ruin. The only ruin I know is the ramen stall behind the dorm that got demolished last week."

A few cadets chuckled. Sarka's expression didn't change.

Meanwhile, in a hidden workspace beneath the city, Clarice received an automated message from the field monitoring system:

[NOTIFICATION: One of the devices reacted to an unknown signal and activated fail-safe mode. Pattern analysis: most likely originates from an ancient-class entity.]

Clarice stared at the holographic display showing unstable energy pulses. She sipped her coffee slowly, suppressing the creeping sense of worry.

"Deren… you're living far more dangerously than you realize. And I'm starting to suspect… this isn't a coincidence anymore."

She activated the internal surveillance logs. A graph spiked dramatically the moment Deren activated one of the tools—tools he hadn't even named yet.

After the evaluation, Deren walked down a long hallway toward the cafeteria. Ryn followed quietly behind him.

"You know… they've started watching you. Not just regular monitors, but people with access to classified-level data."

"Let them. As long as they don't mess with my mealtime or steal my instant noodles, I'm at peace."

"But they might start linking you to the Eidolon organization. You know that, right? Your name's starting to show up in their reports."

Deren paused. He turned around with an innocent look. "Does that sound like a problem… or an opportunity?"

Ryn stared at him for a moment. "Depends on who's listening. And it depends on you, Der… whether you'll keep hiding, or be forced onto the main stage."

Elsewhere, Reiner stood before a specialized monitoring terminal directly connected to the academy's and military's main network. He observed Deren's recorded movements, comparing them to elite fighters of the past.

"He doesn't realize how far the ripple of his small actions spreads. But every system—old and new—reacted to his device's frequency. This isn't just coincidence. It feels like… a call that something beyond us has been waiting for."

Sarka entered the room with heavy steps.

"Do you think… he knows what he's awakening?"

"No. And that makes him more dangerous than someone who does. Because he moves without burden… and without control."

And back at the dorm, Deren opened his creaky door, pulled out a cup of instant noodles from the bottom drawer, poured in freshly boiled water, and sat down with a relieved expression—as if the world had finally returned to normal.

"At last… a peaceful moment."

He stared at the steam rising from his bowl with a rare sense of tranquility.

BRAAAKK!!

An emergency alarm blared loudly from the loudspeaker outside the window. Red lights flashed. A Metavore attack had been detected.

Deren looked at his noodle bowl, then at the window, then back at his bowl.

"…I'll kill anyone who interrupts this lunch. With a spoon, if I have to."