Nex returned to the apartment dragging his steps slowly. The wounds left by the Nazagoul Serpent still ached, and his muscles felt as if they were pulled tight from the inside.
Yet despite that… he felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
He had fought a Rank D monster alone—and survived.
That alone made him think:
Maybe I'm not as weak as I thought… but the road ahead is still long.
He entered the apartment, took off his shoes, and headed straight to the bathroom. He turned on the hot water, letting the steam fill the room. As the water slid over his shoulders, the pain eased slightly.
He closed his eyes, thinking:
If it wasn't for that last trick… I'd be inside that damned serpent right now.
Strange… this body is truly strong, but not perfect. Power alone isn't enough—
I need to learn how to use it properly.
After a few minutes, he stepped out, drying his white hair with a towel. He approached the mirror and studied his reflection.
Soft strands of white hair, mismatched eyes, and a calm face despite the exhaustion…
He raised a brow and muttered lightly:
"Not bad… I have to admit. This face… is a bit too handsome."
He didn't say it with arrogance, but with genuine surprise.
He never thought he'd say something like that in his life.
He put on simple clothes, then sat on the bed with a sigh.
"I'm tired… I'll rest for a bit."
And the moment his head touched the pillow, sleep overtook him.
---
In the Capital of Meraciel – Valles Royal Palace
At that very moment, somewhere entirely different…
The Valles Royal Palace gleamed with sunlight spilling through its massive windows. Wide hallways, golden banners, and a noble air that filled the space—everything reflected the might of the royal family.
In one of those corridors, a young man walked with calm, confident steps. His blond hair swayed with each movement, and his golden eyes shone with a steady brilliance, as if they could see beyond the long hallway ahead.
This was Leander Valles—
the boy chosen by the Goddess of Light,
and the protagonist of the novel Nex had written in his previous world.
Leander stopped abruptly.
He raised his hand slightly and whispered:
"Status."
A transparent window appeared before him, its lines cleaner and more refined than those of ordinary people, decorated with a faint glow only granted to the chosen.
---
Status Window – Leander Valles
Age: 17
Primary Affinity: Light ★
Secondary Elements: Fire – Water – Wind
Current Rank: Advanced Mana Core
Mana Capacity: 190
Attributes:
• Strength: 37
• Agility: 41
• Endurance: 34
• Mana Control: 52
Unique Skill: Royal Light Aura
Description:
An innate blessing that greatly amplifies all elemental spells and increases resistance to spiritual corruption. Passed down once every generation.
---
Leander closed the window, murmuring:
"The entrance exam is tomorrow…"
He paused for a moment, then a faint, eager smile appeared.
"I wonder… will anyone be able to challenge me properly?
It would be fun to see."
He lifted his gaze toward the ceiling, as if imagining an unknown opponent standing before him.
Then he tightened his fist lightly.
"Perhaps… I should train a bit before sleeping."
He walked toward his private training arena.
Night had begun to fall, the air turning colder, but the training hall shone brightly inside the palace. He grabbed his long spear and guided mana through his body.
And here… the difference between him and others became clear.
His mana moved effortlessly, as if it were an extension of his limbs—light yet powerful.
He cast a simple Light spell.
Flash.
A white spark shot forward, shattering the wooden target into pieces.
But Leander frowned slightly.
"No… I can do better."
He began another round of training—precise movements, spear strikes faster than an ordinary person's eyes could follow, and spells woven seamlessly into each attack.
Before he realized it, a whole hour had passed.
He stopped, breathing lightly.
"That's enough for today… Tomorrow, everything begins."
---
Back to Nex
Around the same time, Nex was sleeping deeply.
The long battle, the exhaustion, the lingering venom from the Nazagoul Serpent—all combined to pull him into a heavy sleep.
Despite it all… he felt something strange within his body.
A calm energy quietly circulated inside him, like a warm thread coiling around his heart. His body was working to heal itself slowly, almost as if it were designed to recover far beyond the limits of normal humans.
Tomorrow… the exam is close.
I need to be ready.
Even in deep sleep, his mind clung to that thought.
---
The Calm Night Before the Storm
In Meraciel, the palace shone beneath the moonlight.
In Nex's tiny apartment, silence filled the room.
And in the forest where he had fought hours ago, the marks of battle still scarred the ground.
Tomorrow…
Nex and Leander would stand in the same place.
Tomorrow…
everything would begin.
And for the first time since his arrival in this world,
Nex slept without a single nightmare.