CHAPTER 376: A STRANGE SCENT

Silvanus had barely landed when he tossed his jacket straight toward Matthew. Matthew fumbled a little but managed to catch it.

Silvanus walked over to rinse his face, and Matthew trailed behind him, lips pressed tightly together.

Over the past year, Matthew seemed to have finally absorbed enough nutrients and had begun to grow taller. Although still a bit shorter than Silvanus, he no longer looked as small and frail as before.

He remained quiet and reserved, but more people had begun to notice him — a diligent bookworm, not outstanding but always maintaining a top-five position in class, primarily since he was known as Silvanus’s close friend.

Matthew pushed his glasses up. He no longer had the appearance of a poor boy, yet in front of Silvanus, he always seemed timid and fragile.

"Silvanus, you’re not playing anymore? Did I bother you?"

Silvanus shook his hair, sending droplets flying everywhere. Matthew could only shut his eyes.

When he opened them again, his glasses were covered with water droplets, making everything before him blurrier than usual. He took them off to wipe them, but the moment he put them back on, he flinched — Silvanus was suddenly right in front of him, very close.

Matthew froze, though a bit of joy secretly bubbled up inside him. He was just about to say something when Silvanus’s nose twitched, as if sniffing something.

Silvanus frowned. He grabbed his uniform jacket from Matthew’s hands, sniffed it, then tossed it aside, muttering, "Not sweat..."

Then he looked at Matthew again and suddenly grabbed Matthew’s arm to sniff it as well.

Matthew practically turned into a stiff wooden plank. But Silvanus’s following words nearly made his knees buckle: "I wasn’t mistaken. Matthew, lately, you’ve had some kind of smell on you. Did you stop bathing?"

Silvanus released his arm.

Matthew’s lips trembled as he shook his head furiously. "How could I..." He quickly lifted his sleeve to sniff it himself.

There was clearly no smell at all.

Even so, he instinctively looked toward Silvanus, anxious. "What scent did you smell?"

Silvanus lowered his eyes at Matthew. Seeing Matthew’s panicked, frantic expression, he finally shook his head and walked off. "It’s nothing."

Silvanus hoped he had imagined it. Because the scent on Matthew was identical to the faint smell of a swamp filled with countless rotting corpses. Even though it lasted only a moment, it was enough to make one feel terrified and nauseous.

Matthew hurried after Silvanus, so distressed that he was nearly crying. Instinctively, he said, "There really is a smell? Silvanus, but no one’s ever said anything to me..."

Silvanus waved his hand. "Maybe I misheard it. Go take another shower."

Matthew stared at Silvanus’s retreating figure, so close yet already slipping away. His steps froze. As Silvanus walked farther and farther, Matthew felt only numbness spreading through his chest.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails pierced into his own flesh. Fresh blood dripped down. His bones creaked, his teeth ground together, and his eyes filled with crimson veins. Tears pooled in his eyes, rage burning within them.

"Why? Is this a side effect? Why is this happening?!"

Matthew was sure there was no smell on him — except for the fact that he had been constantly consuming darkness to strengthen himself.

No one else sensed anything strange, but Silvanus seemed to have noticed something. Silvanus’s sensitivity to darkness had always been terrifying.

The Outer God heard Matthew’s snarling, tear-choked voice and mocked him: "No one should’ve been able to smell it. Too bad that ’someone’ happened to be Silvanus."

Matthew’s voice chilled. "So what if it’s Silvanus? Get rid of that filthy stench right now!"

He had grown increasingly arrogant, though he never showed it outwardly — or at least, Silvanus had never seen it.

He had begun raising his voice at the Outer God, even giving orders. Yet the Outer God felt no anger, only delight.

It chuckled. "Unfortunately, I can’t. But there is a method."

Matthew went silent, clearly waiting for it to continue.

"I told you this method a long time ago. See those people walking around you? Eat their flesh and drink their blood. The scent on you will be covered perfectly, leaving no trace."

Matthew said nothing. His nails dug deeper into his own skin. This time, he didn’t immediately refuse.

At that very moment, Silvanus’s voice suddenly echoed from behind him: "What’s wrong? Not coming?"

Matthew jolted violently. His breath caught, and he suddenly realized his heart was twisting with excitement — excitement at the thought of eating human flesh.

No. This was madness. Impossible!

Matthew blinked rapidly as tears overflowed at once.

He rushed forward, head bowed, wiping his tears in a panic.

It had been a long time since Silvanus saw Matthew cry like this.

He couldn’t help feeling speechless. "It’s just taking another shower. Why are you crying already?"

Matthew shook his head frantically, whispering through trembling lips, "I’m sorry, Silvanus. I’m disgusting..."

Just then, Ariana suddenly appeared. Seeing Silvanus, she immediately called out, "Silvanus, the headmaster is looking for you!"

Then she looked over at Matthew. Seeing him lowering his head with tears falling, she fell silent for a moment before walking closer and asking, "What happened?"

Silvanus quickly said, "Go comfort Matthew for me. By the way, why is the headmaster calling me?"

Ariana shook her head. "I don’t know either."

Silvanus gave Matthew’s shoulder one more pat before leaving.

Ariana also stepped forward, but before she could ask anything, Matthew suddenly raised his head. Tears still clung to his cheeks, but only his eyes were dry. The corners of his eyes and the whites were bloodshot, yet there was no emotion in them at all.

He looked at Ariana, his gaze faintly empty, mixed with disgust.

Ariana couldn’t help being startled, but when she blinked, Matthew had already lowered his eyes again, returning to his usual weak and sorrowful appearance.

Ariana frowned slightly. In the end, she only asked, "Are you okay?" Though she still felt something was off. Just moments ago, when Silvanus was here, Matthew had been sobbing. So why did he raise his head without a single tear?

But Matthew’s face looked gentle and harmless. Ariana felt she might just be overthinking it.

Matthew pushed up his glasses and said softly, "It’s nothing."

After a pause, he added, "Do I... smell like anything?"

Ariana sniffed lightly, then shook her head. "Nothing."

Then she suddenly burst out laughing as if something came to mind. "Did Silvanus say you stink and that made you cry? Ha ha ha."

Matthew pressed his lips together as if feeling embarrassed.

Ariana stepped forward and pulled his arm, smiling. "Ignore Silvanus. He loves nitpicking."

Then she muttered with some dissatisfaction, "But Vivian plays in the mud all day, and he never nitpicks her. Tch."

Matthew followed Ariana’s pull as they walked forward and fell silent for a moment.

Vivian— that stupid fox —had somehow become a celebrity at school alongside Silvanus.

Just because she managed to learn elemental spells, everyone believed she would become a powerful beast in the future.

And even if Silvanus couldn’t summon Lumin, he always had his own way of standing out.

Inside both Matthew and Ariana, the same thought unexpectedly surfaced at the same time.

How annoying.