After the inspection was complete, one by one the participants began to leave Hall C.
The atmosphere turned chaotic.
Students who had scored Spirit Initiate Stage 4 and below were imdiately dismissed on the spot. There was no ti for goodbyes, no brief ceremonies or words of encouragent.
Only panic.
So fainted.
So cried.
So laughed while crying.
So slamd their heads against the walls like they were testing their own strength.
And so ran frantically to the restroom—either from panic or because they’d been holding it in since the start of the test.
Sylphia and Reyhan simply watched it all without expression.
"Pretty normal," they muttered almost in unison.
They had seen far stranger things.
In the hallway leading out of Hall C, they walked slowly, observing their surroundings. On the other side, the students who passed weren’t any quieter. So were dancing like they’d just escaped execution. Others shouted in joy. So hugged each other tightly. So openly mocked their failed peers. And others were busy collecting their winnings from earlier bets.
Reyhan glanced at a group of elven teens arguing over who won the bet about the test results.
"I don’t know if they’re future warriors or future gamblers."
He floated a little closer to Sylphia and said, "Sweetheart—"
Before he could finish, a booming voice filled the air through the loudspeakers.
"Congratulations to all participants who have passed the first stage. You will now have one hour to rest before continuing to the next..."
The announcent continued, but Reyhan’s attention had already been drawn elsewhere.
At the end of the hallway, he saw Elwenna Thiralis walking briskly, her face serious, as if she were heading sowhere important.
"Looks like sothing’s about to happen," Reyhan whispered to himself.
"Once again, congratulations to all participants... and may the spirit guide you."
After the announcent ended, Reyhan floated ahead, stopping in front of Sylphia, who was still walking.
"Sweetheart, let’s stop for a mont."
Sylphia frowned. "What’s wrong, Father?"
"Just wait here for a bit, okay? Sit on that bench," he said, pointing to a long silver bench by the hallway.
Sylphia eyed him suspiciously. "What’s going on?"
"I’ll tell you later," Reyhan replied, trying to sound casual as he gently reached for her hand he couldn’t really touch. "Now sit and be a good girl, okay?"
Sylphia sat down calmly, though clearly still unconvinced. "Alright, Father. But don’t take too long."
"I won’t, sweetheart."
As soon as she sat, Reyhan took off.
"System, locate Elwenna Thiralis."
[Host request in progress]
[Locating Elwenna Thiralis...]
[Location found: Professor Varneth’s Faculty Office]
[Sending coordinates to host]
[Host may now transfer consciousness]
Without delay, Reyhan shifted his awareness to the designated location.
The room he arrived in was narrow but clean. Stone walls mixed with tall bookshelves full of spirit-related docunts. A soft blue light glowed from a crystal lamp on the ceiling. In the center, a large dark wooden desk was covered in scrolls and spirit asuring stones.
On one side of the room, Elwenna stood straight. Across from her sat a middle-aged elven man in a robe embroidered with a water emblem—a dark blue spiral on his right chest.
Professor Varneth.
His face was gaunt, his jaw sharp. His hair, dark greenish, was slicked back. His gaze was cold, like he evaluated the entire world through a lens of disappointnt. The calm aura around him made the room feel a few degrees colder.
Reyhan positioned himself quietly beside the two.
"You said that boy Verin reached Stage 9?" Professor Varneth’s voice was low, flat... and annoyed.
Elwenna nodded eagerly. "Yes, sir. And he’s only six years old."
Varneth stared at her intently.
"So, Stage 9..." He slamd his hand against the desk hard enough to make one of the spirit stones shake. "...and only six years old?"
His voice rose. Reyhan narrowed his eyes, noting the man’s emotional shift.
But Varneth quickly regained his composure. He took a deep breath, then smiled.
Not a friendly smile. More like the grin of a predator spotting prey.
"That’s... impressive," he said slowly. "Let’s hope he survives the next stages."
Reyhan sneered internally. ’Okay, I really don’t like this guy.’
Elwenna felt sothing was off—she couldn’t explain it, but her instincts were screaming.
’I hope that child will be okay...’
"You may go now," Varneth said flatly, leaning back into his chair.
Elwenna was about to nod when the professor added,
"Oh, and send for Senior Examiner Bernath."
Elwenna froze.
’Bernath? Isn’t he the one assigned to monitor the theoretical exam for Stage 8 and 9 students? Why is he being called now...’
She pressed her lips together, then dared to speak.
"U-um... excuse , but..." her voice trembled. "...may I ask what for?"
Varneth placed his hand on his chin and stared straight at her. No shouting. Instead—worse—his voice dropped in pitch.
"Are you questioning my orders now?"
His stare cut deep—flat, cold, and subtly threatening.
Elwenna couldn’t move.
Her feet were frozen in place. Her breath shallow. She wanted to respond, but her throat locked up.
Finally, with great effort, she managed to speak, stamring.
"N-no... I-I apologize, sir."
Varneth closed his eyes, sighed deeply... then smiled faintly.
"Good."
Without wasting another second, Elwenna bowed and left the room as quickly as she could.
Beside Professor Varneth, Reyhan still hovered, concern growing in his chest.
"Geez, even his breathing feels like it lowers the room temperature. Is this guy a person or a walking freezer..."
But Reyhan chose to remain.
A few seconds after Elwenna’s departure, Professor Varneth spoke again—but not to himself.
"Number One."
No footsteps, no shadows. But from sowhere, a male voice replied,
"I’m here, sir."
Reyhan flinched. He looked left, then right, then under the desk, then—
"Whoa, don’t tell this guy crawled out of the wall like an elite poltergeist."
He mumbled, then spoke in his mind,
"System, where did that voice co from?"
[He’s on the ceiling.]
Reyhan’s eyes widened.
"You couldn’t tell sooner?!"
[Host didn’t ask.]
Reyhan sighed deeply.
"Fine..."
Professor Varneth didn’t seem to care who was watching. Calmly, he lifted his chin slightly.
"Monitor the boy nad Verin. Every move he makes."
"Understood."
There was no further sound. Even the air seed still, as if the voice never existed.
[The man on the ceiling has left.]
Reyhan panicked for a mont.
"Oh no—what if he’s already heading for my kid?!"
But he quickly cald down. ’No... it’s just surveillance for now. No direct threat. I can jump in if anything happens.’
He remained in the room, ready to act.
Professor Varneth leaned back in his chair, staring at the small window on the back wall. He murmured to himself.
"I can’t let Verin pass. Damn it... if that kid Sirton recomnded succeeds..."
His face hardened.
"...Rosalia will definitely appoint him as Vice Representative."
His tone shifted as he spoke that na. His eyes widened slightly... and then ca a smile that didn’t belong.
"...Rosalia..." he whispered, full of admiration—or more precisely... obsession.
Reyhan, who knew Rosalia Larnia—an elven professor with the face of royalty and the body of a fertility goddess—sighed deeply.
"Well... makes sense. Everyone’s a fan of Rosalia."
Just as Varneth closed his eyes to enjoy his fantasy, there was a knock on the door.
Knock knock knock.
"Excuse , sir. Senior Examiner Bernath reporting as ordered."
"Yes, co in," Varneth replied coolly, regaining his icy deanor.
Reyhan braced himself.
"Alright, one more conversation, then back to Sylphia."
Senior Examiner Bernath entered the room, his steps steady. He stopped in front of the desk, bowed briefly, and stood tall facing Professor Varneth.
Varneth wasted no ti.
"I want you to give this test paper to the participant nad Verin later," he said, holding out a large docunt folder—the kind used for job applications or official files.
Bernath took it. He slowly opened the folder, took a deep breath, and pulled out its contents—ten sheets of tightly printed questions.
He only read one page before his expression changed.
The confident, composed look in his eyes faded. His brows rose, and his mouth parted slightly.
"This... this is—"
"Yes," Varneth interrupted, leaning back in his chair with folded arms. "That’s the final exam for third-year middle school students. And not a single student has ever scored full marks."
He smirked, eyes gleaming with cold satisfaction.
anwhile, Reyhan nearly burst out from above.
"You wrinkly old elf fossil!" he growled. "That kid’s six years old! Just started elentary! How the hell is he supposed to solve a middle school exam?!"
[Calm down, Host. The system can handle it.]
Reyhan paused.
"...Seriously?"
[Very seriously.]
He gave a small wave at the air, as if thanking soone. "You’re aweso, System."
[◉‿◉]
Below, Bernath still stood, clearly conflicted. He knew the test was ridiculous. But as Varneth t his gaze again, the professor added one more hook.
"If this plan works, I’ll recomnd you as Head Examiner of the academic division. Full benefit package."
Bernath froze. His eyes widened. His lips tightened.
But the temptation was too great. At last, he nodded, swallowing his hesitation.
"I understand, sir. I’ll make sure everything goes according to plan."
"Good." Varneth nodded slightly.
Bernath bowed again, then left the room quickly.
Once the door shut, Professor Varneth chuckled. Softly at first, then gradually louder.
Like soone preparing to watch his favorite show.
"Haha... I can’t wait to see Sirton’s face when his golden boy fails miserably."
Beside him, Reyhan also laughed—but with a very different tone.
"Heh... and I can’t wait to see your face when your dirty little sche goes up in smoke. Let’s see who laughs last, you scheming fossil."
He prepared to transfer his consciousness back to Sylphia, eyes narrowing with resolve.
"Wait for , Sylphia. Father’s coming back."
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