"Wahhhh—"
Ron stretched and sat up after a long sleep, glancing around the bed he had just been lying on.It was his own room. Everything looked perfectly normal, just like before he left.
However, when his eyes moved toward the bookshelf, he noticed something missing—One of the books was gone.
Thud.
Before he could make sense of it, a sound came from the living room.
Standing there was a short-haired blonde woman in a long black coat, with a golden nameplate pinned to her chest.[Star Pholen]
Ron hurriedly fixed his messy clothes, wiped the drool from his face, and was just about to greet her when she extended a hand.
"Hello, Ron. I'm Star, in charge of your psychological evaluation. Nice to finally meet you."
He awkwardly shook her hand. "Nice to meet you too, but… why are we here exactly?"
While speaking, his eyes briefly drifted to the book she had placed on the couch—then quickly away again.Its title read: History of the Empire.
Star took out a file, scribbled a few notes, and then looked up.
"Since it's already quite late, I'll be straightforward, Ron."
"You've been unconscious for five hours since the test began."
"…Huh? Five hours? You mean... five full hours?"
Ron froze. From what he knew, the psychological test usually took ten to twenty minutes for a normal person.But five hours? That sounded absurd.
'Wait—then what about my score?'
"First, do you remember anything from the test?"
He stayed silent for five seconds, eyes closed, trying to recall something—anything."I don't think I do. That's… strange."
"That's expected," Star replied calmly. "We cast a memory-sealing spell on all participants."
"This helps counteract the effect of the Level Two Mystic Zone,
'So that was a mystic domain… and she really used a mind spell on everyone.'
Star poured tea from a porcelain pot, sliding a cup toward him."When you enter the room, the spell keeps your emotions calm, so your psyche remains stable. We evaluate each participant based on their body condition and the time it takes for them to awaken."
Ron took a sip of the tea, trying to appear calm.In truth, he was uneasy—not only because he'd just woken up, but also because he feared they might have seen something in his dreams.
Star didn't notice his anxiety. She lifted her cup and drained it in one smooth motion.
"Based on our observation, your endurance against mental intrusion is quite remarkable. The average youth can only last thirty minutes before collapsing. Adults might endure an hour. But you… five hours."
She paused, her tone serious."Those who've been through a lot tend to last longer."
Ron's breath grew shallow. He knew about his mental state—but hearing it said aloud made him uneasy.
"However," Star continued, "after one hour, emotional saturation occurs. It's like approaching a physical limit—the closer you are, the harder it becomes to push further. Someone who lasts thirty minutes has far weaker mental fortitude than one who lasts an hour. But between two hours and five hours, the difference narrows drastically."
'Still… my score must be high, right? That should help—'
"But listen carefully, Ron."Her voice cut through his thoughts. Her eyes were sharp, almost piercing.
"This—depends entirely on you…"
Sigh… I've only just arrived at the academy, and things are already a mess.
After Star left, I sat there in silence, replaying everything that had happened.
It's only been two weeks since I got here, and trouble's already knocking.Well, at least I did prepare for this possibility.
Still, things are moving a bit too fast. Usually, protagonists get time to explore the world slowly after joining the academy.Me? I'm already knee-deep in chaos by week two.
After making sure nothing in my room was amiss, I started my work.
I set up a mana barrier, sat on the sofa, and pulled open a hidden compartment beneath the seat—something I'd installed myself.
Inside lay a wooden eagle I'd carved by hand.It was about half the length of my forearm, painted carefully with precise strokes.
If sold at a market, it could fetch two to three hundred gold coins—not a huge amount for its craftsmanship, but fair enough in this extraordinary world.
I poured a measured amount of mana into its eyes. Slowly, its wings twitched, its wooden body softening as if it were alive.It took flight, gliding smoothly through the air—if not for its silent wings and dull colors, it could easily pass for a real bird.
From beneath the floorboard, I retrieved a sealed letter. Channeling my mana into the paper, it curled up into a shining marble.I slipped it into the eagle's… well, rear compartment. Being wood, it didn't matter much.
Finally, I took out a small black cloak, infused it with mana, and draped it over the eagle.In an instant, it melded into the shadows and flew out through the window toward its destination.
With that done, I dismissed the barrier and went to eat dinner.
'…'
I barely ate—just rice, sesame, and a fried egg.It's been my usual meal ever since coming to this world. Not because I disliked other dishes, but… eating alone took all the flavor out of it.
Good food felt emptier when there was no one to share it with.
Maybe it was the stress from the test, or maybe the news had drained me—but I felt utterly exhausted.'Guess I'll sleep early tonight… too much happened today.'
For the first time since arriving at Blue Light, I tried to sleep like a normal person.Or at least—I tried.
(You said you needed to unwind, right?)"Yeah."(And you wanted me to help you relax?)"Exactly."(Then why did you call me at midnight? This is my sleep time!)"Sorry, Macrus, but you're the only one I know. Please, just help me out."(Are you insane? Why should I help you? I'm tired.)"If you're free, let's go to Five Fingers. I'm a regular there."(I couldn't care less—)Ding.(Huh? What's this?)"My membership card for the place. You could—"Ding.(Forget it. Download the game I just sent. We're pulling an all-nighter.)"Haha, that's the spirit."
In a luxurious, spacious room filled with ornate decorations,a tall glass cabinet on the right displayed trophies, medals, and awards.
A man with dark brown hair and deep ocean-blue eyes stood before it, gently polishing a cup.Even at midnight, he showed no sign of fatigue—neat, composed, alert.
He sat down on a sofa, poured himself a cup of black coffee, and waited.
Knock knock.
"Come in," he said softly, yet his tone carried the weight of authority.
The door opened, revealing a short-haired blonde woman in a black coat.She carried a file in her hands as she entered.
"Sir Lloyd, here's the report on the boy you requested."
"Thank you, miss Star. As promised, take this to the accounting office and claim what you need."
He handed her a small white card—one that allowed access to confidential resources.
"…Thank you, Sir Lloyd. I hope our cooperation continues smoothly. Goodbye."