Aren stared at the paper.
"…Why do these questions feel so easy?"
His pen moved.
Fast.
Precise.
It didn't stop.
One question.
Then another.
Then another.
From the back—
Eyes began to turn.
"…Is he already on question three?"
"No way…"
While others were still stuck on the first question—
Aren was almost done.
The surveillance monitors zoomed in.
"…Who is that kid?"
His pen stopped.
…He was done.
Aren stood up.
Silence followed him as he walked to the front.
Some stared.
Some chuckled.
The examiner glanced up lazily, sipping his coffee.
"Yeah?"
"What's the matter?"
Aren placed the paper on the table.
"What?"
The examiner raised an eyebrow.
"Giving up already?"
"…No."
"…I finished."
PFFT—
The examiner spat out his coffee.
"WHAT!?"
The entire hall turned.
Aren didn't say anything.
He just walked out.
Time taken: 1 minute 18 seconds.
—Meanwhile—
In the hall marked with the triangle symbol…
Whispers filled the room.
"Why isn't he writing?"
"Is it that hard…?"
"He's just a kid…"
Rorin sat still.
His eyes locked onto the paper.
The pen rested between his fingers—
unmoving.
A faint heat rose around him.
…Smoke curled from his ears.
"…Tch."
An hour passed.
Time was up.
The examiner moved row by row, collecting the papers.
She stopped in front of Rorin.
"…Hey, kid."
"Are you going to hand it over?"
Rorin didn't respond.
His eyes were still fixed on the paper.
The pen in his hand… unmoving.
The examiner narrowed her eyes.
"…I see."
She reached forward and took the paper herself.all
"I'll take that as a submission."
One by one, the candidates left the hall
Soon—
It was almost empty.
A boy near the exit stopped.
He glanced back at Rorin.
"…Is he still there?"
He walked closer.
"Hey."
"Hey—are you alive?"
He grabbed Rorin's shoulder and shook him.
"—Huh?"
Rorin suddenly snapped out of it.
"Yeah!"
His eyes darted around.
"Where is everyone?"
"…Wasn't there supposed to be an exam?"
The boy scratched his head awkwardly.
"…Yeah…"
"…About that…"
"It ended five minutes ago."
Rorin slowly turned his head.
"…What?"
"WHAT!?"
The sound of a bell echoed through the hall.
The speaker crackled to life.
"It's time, everyone."
Lewer's voice rang out.
"You will now have a one-hour break."
"The canteen is located on Floor A8."
"After the break…"
"…the exam results will be posted on the notice board."
"Be on time for the next phase."
Beep.
The speakers went silent.
A wave of students began moving toward the exits.
Aren walked slowly with the crowd.
Tap.
He felt a hand on his shoulder.
He turned.
"Hey, kid."
Belon stood there, smiling.
"You crushed that exam, didn't you?
Aren let out a small laugh.
"Yeah…"
"…It was kind of easy."
Belon blinked.
"…Seriously?"
"I thought you gave up when you stood up that early."
He sighed, scratching the back of his head.
"Man… I didn't even finish half of it."
Aren glanced at him.
"…Just forget it."
"Let's eat something."
"I'm starving."
Belon grinned.
"Now that sounds like a good idea."
Aren looked away.
So not everyone found it easy…
—
An hour passed.
The crowd gathered around the notice board, pushing and squeezing for a better look.
Aren forced his way through.
His eyes scanned the list—
…starting from the bottom.
His gaze stopped.
"…Zero?"
Who even gets zero on a test like that…?
He glanced at the name.
Rorin Sential.
Aren frowned slightly.
…Weird.
He didn't think much of it.
He moved on.
Names passed.
One after another.
"Did you find yours?"
Belon appeared beside him.
Aren didn't answer.
His eyes kept moving.
Faster.
"Hey—Aren."
Belon grabbed his shoulder.
"I found it."
Aren froze.
"…What?"
"…Where?"
Belon's voice lowered.
"…Top of the list."
"…Ranked—"
"…Number One."
Aren's eyes widened.
"…Number one…"
He whispered under his breath.
Silence—
Then…
Whispers.
"…That kid?"
"No way…"
"He's ranked first?"
The murmurs spread like wildfire.
"There has to be a mistake."
"I didn't even see him in the exam…"
"He finished early, right?"
"…So he just gave up?"
More eyes turned toward him.
Judging.
Questioning.
Doubting.
"…Cheater?" someone muttered.
Aren's fingers tightened slightly.
The noise grew louder.
"There's no way a kid like him beat everyone."Q
"This exam is rigged…"
"Who even is he?"
The pressure built around him.
But—
Aren didn't look away.
—Main Office—
Lewer stood by the window, looking down at the crowd below.
The door opened.
"Sir…"
Tasha stepped in.
"I told you before—"
"…that boy might have cheated."
Lewer didn't respond immediately.
Tasha continued, her voice firm.
"No one gets full marks on a test like that."
"…And he's only fifteen."
Lewer finally turned.
"Do you really believe that?"
Silence.
"…Yes."
Lewer's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Then where's your proof?"
Tasha exhaled.
"…We monitored the entire hall."
"There was nothing suspicious."
She looked away slightly.
"…But the higher-ups are already questioning it."
Lewer's expression didn't change.
"…A Vana technique?"
Tasha asked.
Lewer glanced at his hand.
"…Possible."
"…But his scan results were low."
"He became an Occultist during the eclipse ten years ago…"
"Which makes it even stranger."
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Anyone with that much time…"
"…should've grown stronger."
"…But he didn't."
Tasha's eyes sharpened.
"…So he's hiding something?"
Lewer let out a quiet breath.
"…Maybe."
"…Or maybe…"
He turned back toward the window.
"…he's just that good."
"…Keep an eye on him."
The speakers crackled once again.
"Attention, all candidates…"
Tasha's voice echoed throughout the building.
"We will now proceed to Phase Three of the exam."
A pause.
"All participants are to report to the stadium…"
"…on Floor A21."
Beep.
The announcement ended.
Aren slowly lifted his head.
Phase three…
He murmured