Ch.30: The silence beneath the smile

Nyx returned to the academy dorm, only to find it empty. Not that he expected a party, but the quiet felt… heavier than usual.

Eventually, the door creaked open. His two roommates stepped in, looking a little surprised to see him there first.

"Where's Valon?" Nyx asked without wasting time.

Noah glanced at Bill before replying, "He left with the two girls he usually hangs out with. Haven't seen them since. Kinda weird, honestly."

"Hm. Alright," Nyx replied, brushing past them and heading out.

---

He arrived at the usual inn—the one they all agreed was their spot before the academy sucked the life out of them. He pushed the door open.

"Yo! Where were you all?" he greeted, tossing a lazy grin at the familiar faces.

The trio turned. Their smiles were genuine, but something lingered underneath—something quieter.

"Shouldn't that be our question, Mr. Disappiero?" Valon shot back with a smirk.

"Just went to hunt some monsters," Nyx shrugged. "Earned a few coins. That's all."

He wanted to say more. To explain, maybe. But the words sat too heavy in his throat, so he left them there.

The group, usually lively with banter and jabs, sat a bit more reserved than usual. The tension was faint but present. Maybe it was the pressure of the upcoming semester. Maybe Samantha's breakdown still echoed in the back of their minds.

Nyx wasn't so dense as to miss it. He forced a change in topic.

"So, when does this academy actually start? They sure are taking their sweet time."

"In two days," Ruby replied, a bit more talkative than usual. Maybe she was finally warming up to everyone… or maybe being here made her feel less alone.

"But wasn't it supposed to be a week?" Nyx asked, brows furrowed. "Why the sudden change?"

Valon smacked his arm lightly. "What are you talking about, dumbass? You were gone for four days. Don't tell me you forgot how the sun works."

"...Four days?" Nyx muttered, his voice low.

He remembered hunting the first day, then—system trial. Pain. OG Nyx. Soul-warping trauma. The whole cosmic blender thing.

'Oi, bitch—how the hell did four days pass?'

[Ah… well… time passed normally, but the Phase-2 integration took a bit longer than expected. Y'know, syncing stuff… upgrading core memory banks… little delays.]

'We're having a conversation tonight. Long one.'

He snapped back to the group, pushing away the System's nonsense.

"So... what were you all doing the last four days?"

The three exchanged glances—small, barely noticeable, but telling.

"...Okay," Nyx said flatly, letting the question hang and fall into the void unanswered. No pressure. No accusations.

---

"So... got any plans till then?" Nyx asked, this time more restrained than before. His voice lacked its usual edge.

He could tell something had happened while he was gone. The weight in the air between them wasn't just awkward—it was loaded. And judging by their silence, it was something they didn't want to share.

So he didn't pry.

Ruby, perhaps sensing the tension too, shifted gears.

"Have you decided yet, Nyx? Tomorrow's the last day to choose a professor."

Nyx tilted his head, then shook it with a shrug. "Not interested in following someone."

He leaned back in his chair, gaze drifting toward the window, where the moon was peeking through the clouds. The silence that followed wasn't hostile… but it was heavy. Almost suffocating.

Finally, Nyx stood.

"I'm gonna get some sleep. Enjoy yourselves."

And with that, he left the inn—annoyed, though he couldn't decide why. At them, or at himself.

---

The trio remained seated, watching the door as it clicked shut behind him.

Valon sighed and leaned forward, arms on the table.

"Shouldn't we have told him?"

Samantha, who had been quiet all evening, finally let out a breath.

"We can't involve him," she said, her tone low. "He's already got enough on his plate. If we dump this on him now… I don't think he'll even hesitate to help."

Her voice cracked slightly at the end. She didn't believe the excuse herself.

She knew him.

Nyx would throw away his own problems in a heartbeat to help them. And that—more than anything—terrified her.

She didn't want to see him get pulled into her mess.

Silence blanketed the table again as each of them sank into their own thoughts, burdened by the things unsaid.

But what they didn't know… was that someone had heard them.

---

Outside the inn, down the shadowed alley beside it, a figure leaned quietly against the wall.

Nyx stared up at the night sky, a sigh escaping him.

"Burden… huh?" he muttered under his breath.

He turned and walked away, this time not stopping.

---

The wind howled around him as he stood once more on that familiar cliff. The one the System always used as a backdrop when things got existential.

He crossed his arms, eyes fixed ahead.

"So," he said coldly, "wanna explain yourself?"

The air shimmered, and the blue translucent System screen flickered into place.

[What do you wanna know?]

Nyx's eyes narrowed.

"Everything, bitch. From the beginning."

The wind slowed. The air felt heavier.

And the System—playful, smug, ever-dodging—paused for once, as if it knew what came next wasn't just a conversation.

[Well, don't blame me. You're the one who told me to go through with the mission failure.]

"...okay, I get that."

[Phew... good to know.]

Silence followed. Then–

"Hey, Sys," he said, this time softer, quieter. "Can we bring that bastard back?"

His voice carried weight—something raw, uncertain, almost vulnerable.

The System didn't reply right away.

[...No. He can't be brought back.]

Nyx closed his eyes and exhaled. Deep. Slow. He already knew. But hearing it outright still stung.

"…Tch."

'Status'

[**SYSTEM INTERFACE**]

Name: Nyx Vaelthorn

Race: Human

Title(s): Newbie Trash, Lazy Bastard.

Alignment: None

System Points (SP): 58240

MP: 8200/8200

[ATTRIBUTES]

Strength (STR): 150

Agility (AGI): 130

Endurance (END): 110

Intelligence (INT): 100

Wisdom (WIS): 140

Constitution (CON): 120

Origin (OR): 12

Luck (LCK): ???

[SKILLS] 

[ABILITIES]

[INVENTORY] 

[SHOP]

---

"What's with that new stat?" Nyx asked seeing many changes in his stat window.

[Now that your soul's fully accepted this world, you've gained access to its unique energy structure. Origin is your link to it.]

"Seems spot on. Alright— convert 5830 SP into stats and integrate them and display the shop."

[Converting 5830 SP into stats. Distributing thr stats.]

Strength (STR): 200

Agility (AGI): 200

Endurance (END): 200

Intelligence (INT): 200

Wisdom (WIS): 200

Constitution (CON): 200

Origin (OR): 100

---

Nyx let the surge of raw power pulse through him. His body hummed—refined, lethal, and finally starting to feel like his.

"Damn. Almost feels too easy to upgrade now." He smirked.

"Say, Sys… let's head to the capital and blow up the palace."

[Sure. Just let me know how your funeral should be arranged. One flick from the King's personal guard, and you're getting express-mailed to Luci's front door.]

"…Ahem. That was a metaphor, obviously."

He adjusted his coat. "Let's just enjoy academy life for now.

Just as he turned to leave, something caught his eye—a bird soaring down through the night sky.

Its wings glowed faintly with blue runes. It landed cleanly in front of him, bearing a sealed message tied to its leg.

Nyx narrowed his eyes. He snatched the parchment, tore the seal, and unfolded it. Silence. Then—

A wicked grin crawled onto his face.

"The game's about to begin."