CHAPTER 42: DEAD EYES

[24 years old. You made more progress in the Blood Scripture — but it was still negligible. To make a significant breakthrough, you could feel that more time was needed.]

[Six months passed. With your slow progress, Lilith still away for over a year, and Selena only showing up once a month at best, you began losing your temper more and more.]

[Your confidence, already shaken once after meeting Serah, now seemed to waver again.]

[In the end, unable to keep going like this, you approached Ryan — who was still monitoring and guarding you — and asked about Lilith’s situation once more.]

[His answer was the same as always, "She’ll come back soon."]

[You didn’t like that answer. But knowing you couldn’t do anything to him, you changedthe topic instead... and asked about Serah Noct.]

[This time, after a moment of hesitation, he gave you a reply. He said the dimension she entered after your last encounter was extremely dangerous. She had spent a full year there, and when she returned, she was seriously injured. Since then, there had been no further news about her.]

[Hearing such information about that lunatic girl stirred something complicated inside you — but you said nothing. You simply nodded, then returned to your training.]

[Four months passed. You were practicing as usual, finally sensing that basic mastery of the Blood Scripture was within reach... when suddenly, a guest arrived at your house, asking to meet you.]

[Everyone who were monitoring you in shadow, and Ryan too, quickly gathered, surrounding you.]

[They were clearly on edge around this sudden visitor. But the woman in gothic attire, with a doll-like beauty, paid them no attention.]

[Her curiosity-filled eyes were focused solely on you.]

[She stood there in silence for a long time before finally parting her lips and introducing herself as Elsa Ravelli. Then, with a smile, she said, "I came to take your life... but because of your handsome appearance, my heart softened a little."]

["So, do you have any last words you want me to deliver to Selena? I can at least do that for you."]

[At her words — and along with your sixth sense, which had been screaming since the moment you saw her, even more intensely than when you met Serah — your eyes narrowed, and you prepared to fight with everything you had.]

[But the gap between you was far too wide. Your struggle, and even the efforts of those meant to protect you, proved completely meaningless.]

[When Elsa finally made her move, the world turned white — and your body was frozen in place.]

[Your thoughts began to slow, buried under the sheer cold that assaulted you. And in that blurred moment, you seemed to hear Elsa’s regretful tone, "I thought I was doing you a favor, considering how dead your eyes were... Good intentions really are never rewarded."]

[You died.]

Noel blinked slowly.

A new record — he had survived until 24 years old... and even lived ten months beyond that. That was good, right?

But then...

Why did it feel like the number of people trying to kill him just kept increasing, despite him doing absolutely nothing to provoke them?

And...

Why did it seem like every single woman around him was just a little... off?

Noel exhaled slowly, as he returned to the screen, and with a narrowed eyes, he read Elsa’s final words again.

Dead eyes.

He stared at those two words.

When the pretense fades away...

When everyone distances themselves from him, driven by uncontrollable circumstances...

When he doesn’t have enough strength to hold anything or anyone close — apparently, those are the eyes he’ll end up with.

Without the Codex Null... that could have been his reality... or rotting in a some basement.

And that was fine.

He’d already accepted that part of himself.

But...

He was still pissed at how she worded it.

A gleam brewed in Noel’s eyes as he thought of the woman named Elsa.

He thought of how, she was an obstacle — one he’d need to surpass if he ever wanted to fix his body’s condition.

But then, with a breath, he shook his head.

There was more important business to deal with first.

[The simulation is over. You can choose two of the following:]

[1: Martial Growth (Seedling Talent)]

[2: Strengthened Soul (Slightly Recovered Soul)]

[3: Strengthened Physical Strength (First Stage of the Blood Refinement Path)]

[4: Initial Understanding over Blood Scripture]

[5: Memory of this Simulation]

Looking over the choices — aside from the fifth, the memory — which he still preferred to avoid...

Noel wanted all the others.

The fourth option, Initial Understanding of the Blood Scripture, was something he hadn’t considered valuable before.

But now... it felt necessary.

The third option was obvious.

Even if he had only made 10% progress in the simulation, it was still a meaningful ten percent.

Then there was the soul — slightly healed.

He had delayed choosing it for too long already.

And lastly, the talent.

Martial Growth — something that seemed quite useful for real combat.

The reason he had struggled in today’s fight wasn’t just his insufficient strength, or his lack of experience...

It was also because he didn’t yet know how to fight properly.

He had no actual technique.

So, getting this talent... it should help him figure things out.

With those thoughts in mind, Noel stayed quiet for a moment, then finally made his decision.

[You have selected: Martial Growth (Seedling Talent).]

[You have selected: Strengthened Soul (Slightly Recovered Soul).]

The sensation from his slightly healed soul didn’t hit as strongly as it had the first or second time.

And the talent didn’t cause any notable reaction either.

But as Noel recalled the fight he went through today...

He couldn’t help but feel that he could have dodged some of those attacks more cleanly.

He should have countered at a few moments too.

Those thoughts settled in.

And with them, he found himself feeling satisfied.

He had chosen these two options because they seemed most suited for his current situation — especially with the Null Points he had now.

But even without that...

It was worth it.