Escaping from the Soul Sea, Noctis felt only one thing—pure exhilaration.

  He never imagined he could get ahead of others by decades. Perhaps, he could become a great figure in this world, like those recorded in history.

  Yet, amidst the joy, he did not lose his clarity of mind. He couldn’t ignore one crucial detail—there were too many strange coincidences.

  First, why had he reincarnated into the body of a madman, just as the latter was about to perform a ritual?

  Second, why had the shadow in the mirror bestowed upon him a fragment of essence, allowing him to advance to the second cycle of the Seed of Blessings four years earlier than normal?

  Third, the sealed raven—why had it come to him? And why did it help him evolve to the third cycle a full fourteen years ahead of others? Even though it carried a curse that affected him, he couldn’t shake off his doubts.

  ‘Could there be some higher force orchestrating all of this?’ He didn’t know, nor did he wish to delve too deeply into the matter. Right now, there was something far more pressing—he was about to be late for class.

  Indeed, in just ten minutes, lessons would begin. If he hurried to wash up and get ready, he would have only five minutes left.

  Without wasting time, he sprinted down to the bathroom, taking the quickest shower possible. As he washed, he searched for the shortest route to the academy using [Living Nightmare] and his memories.

  Dashing into a narrow alley, he summoned [Living Nightmare], and what appeared before him surprised him. It was merely a blob of black slime, roughly the size of a human head.

  Ignoring its strange form, he immediately took action, activating the skill {Assimilation into Darkness}.

  The black slime, as if sensing its master’s intent, shot toward his chest, spreading across his body until he was completely engulfed in darkness.

  Curiously, he could still see his surroundings, albeit with a dimmer perspective. What shocked him even more was the sensation—it was as if he existed in two states at once, able to move yet unable to at the same time. It was bizarre but not unbearable.

  Suppressing his discomfort, he focused. He only had four minutes left.

  Transmitting the memory of the shortest route to [Living Nightmare], he confirmed that it indeed had its own consciousness—it understood everything he conveyed. Without hesitation, it moved through the shadows at the speed of light.

  By the time he arrived at the academy’s male restroom, his face was visibly drained. He had given precise coordinates to avoid appearing in the middle of the schoolyard. After all, he wasn’t eager to be executed by the Church just yet.

  As he made his way to class, he took a moment to enjoy the clear blue sky and the swaying branches. The sight brought him an unexpected sense of peace.

  But the tranquility didn’t last long.

  A teacher approached him and called him to the disciplinary office. It was none other than Mr. Jen—the man with sharp eyes and silver hair.

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  Although a bit surprised, Noctis followed behind him. As he walked, he tried to recall anything that might explain why he was being summoned but found nothing. Shaking his head, he resigned himself to whatever awaited.

  The disciplinary office was quite spacious, divided into areas for teachers to prepare lesson plans and resting spaces for breaks between classes. At this hour, with most teachers in class, the room was rather empty, save for a few lingering staff.

  As Mr. Jen and Noctis entered, a few teachers stood up and left, leaving them alone. They exchanged awkward glances before offering weak smiles.

  Mr. Jen gestured for Noctis to sit before pushing a cup of tea toward him. Taking a sip, Noctis didn’t hesitate to ask, “What did you want to see me about, sir?”

  The teacher regarded him with warmth—something Noctis was used to. While most in the academy despised or avoided him, Mr. Jen had always shown him kindness, believing he merely had a troubled mind.

  Of course, back then, Noctis had indeed lost himself completely to madness, caring for nothing but the ritual.

  Now, however, he was determined to change how others saw him, to make future plans easier.

  Mr. Jen took a sip of his own tea before replying, “Yesterday, I was quite surprised to see you in class. I wanted to ask about it.”

  Meeting his deep gaze, Noctis spoke earnestly, “I know what you’re thinking, but I’ve given it all up. I’m working on controlling my mind now, so you don’t need to worry.”

  A flicker of shock crossed Mr. Jen’s face. His voice held disbelief. “Truly, Noctis? You’ve abandoned those… foul practices?”

  Noctis nodded, a warm smile on his face.

  Seeing this, Mr. Jen’s expression shifted to pure joy.

  To him, Noctis had once been an intelligent, kind, and promising student—the best he had ever taught. Then, something changed, twisting him into an unrecognizable shadow of his former self. Mr. Jen had spent years trying to uncover the cause, hoping to bring his beloved student back to the light.

  And now, hearing these words, his efforts finally seemed to bear fruit. It was a happiness beyond words.

  Noticing the teacher’s dazed joy, Noctis chuckled, “Haha, sir, don’t just stand there in a trance. I’ve said all I needed to. Can I return to class now?”

  Snapping out of his thoughts, Mr. Jen studied Noctis before nodding. “Alright. But I hope what you say is true.”

  Giving another nod, Noctis left, his silhouette lingering in Mr. Jen’s mind. Watching him go, the teacher murmured, “I hope you truly change, my boy.”

  Noctis walked back to class in high spirits. He had shared his change with someone, and that alone was exhilarating. Sooner or later, he would prove himself.

  Lost in thought, the academy’s bell rang, signaling the end of a period. He blinked, mildly disappointed. The first lesson had only covered formulas for mages, priests, and knights—something he had no use for. What he needed now was a proper meal.

  Expending two-thirds of his Vitae had left him starving. His body screamed for sustenance, and if he didn’t eat soon, he might actually collapse.

  Heading toward the cafeteria, something caught his eye—a large board with an enticing title: “Join a Club!”

  One line, in particular, drew him in: “+200 Points.”

  In Solarius Arcanum Academy, students needed 10,000 training points to graduate and enter a top-tier institution. Fortunately, the point system was rather generous. Small activities like joining a club granted +200 points, while high exam scores earned +800 points. Major school events could yield even more. However, punishments were equally severe—skipping class deducted -100 points, while fighting, causing trouble, or damaging property resulted in deductions ranging from -200 to -500.

  And right now, his training points were dangerously low—only 450, thanks to excessive absences and other infractions.

  More than food, he craved points.

  Scanning the board, his eyes landed on an offer that was both lucrative and absurd:

  “Genius Club”

  Requirements: Passion for learning, top grades, minimal talking, some fame, willingness to clean, and… serve as our errand boy.

  Rewards: +500 points per semester.

  Apply below. Bring the form to Room 109, Building A for an interview.

  Noctis barely cared about the conditions—all that mattered were the points. Grinning greedily at the recruitment notice, he momentarily forgot his hunger.

  Still, skipping food for points was foolish. He needed to eat before facing what might be the toughest interview of both his lives.