CHAPTER 37: SNOW BENEATH ASH

Somewhere within a luxurious but plain room, a boy with snow white hair snapped open his crimson eyes.

His skin was so pale... it almost looked ethereal.

He was Noah Ashen Noctharion.

The twenty-second son of the Demon King—Velkaros Ashen Noctharion.

He was an illegitimate son, so for demons who valued purity of bloodlines above all, he was considered a stain.

And today was the day he hated the most—the day all his suffering started—his birthday.

His eyes scanned the status window, which had appeared in front of him for the first time.

[Congratulations, You Have Completed The Trial]

[Your Nexus Has Awakened]

[Rank → Unique]

His crimson eyes scanned the notifications without a single emotion.

"When will it all end?" He muttered, his voice hoarse.

He didn’t expect any answers, as no one else, except one maid, was even present within this small manor he had been exiled to.

And even the maid didn’t care about him—she only served because it was her duty.

Even a rank which was said to be beyond the world’s limit didn’t interest him in the slightest.

He just wanted everything to be over.

And yet he never tried to kill himself, nor did he try to give up in his trial, all because of a single promise.

A promise from the only person who smiled at him.

His mother.

He didn’t remember anything about her anymore, except the stupid smile she always had when she looked at him.

And the last words she spoke before vanishing.

"Don’t ever give up, Noah... I’ll meet you... I definitely will. So just continue... no matter how hard it may seem."

He didn’t even know where she vanished that night.

Maybe she had died somewhere... Or maybe she was out there living a new life, laughing while he suffered in the cold hell she left him in.

Still... whatever the truth was, he didn’t want to give up so easily.

At least not without a fight.

So he hoped.

Hoped that something strong enough would appear during the trial to end his story.

But even that didn’t kill him.

I hope I die soon... within the cursed Forest of Unmasked.

He thought quietly.

He had awakened only today, and yet, the Demon King showed no mercy, even to his own son.

Without a ceremony, he was ordered to enroll at Noxvalen Academy.

Noah didn’t care.

He just wished for something—anything—strong enough to kill him there... even if he fought his best to survive.

Because no matter how cruel life was, he refused to die running.

That... would be cowardice.

Just then—

The door to his room snapped open as a boy his age barged in.

He had the same features as Noah... but the luxurious clothes, the pristine appearance and the bright smile on his face told that his life was anything but like Noah’s.

He was the twenty-first son of the Demon King and Noah’s half-brother—Ronwel Ashen Noctharion.

He was just a few months older than Noah... and was born from one of the legitimate wives of the Demon King.

This was the first time Noah had even seen him, as nobody truly visited him.

"So, you are Noah... the one who is to be enrolled in Noxvalen with me." A haughty voice echoed from the boy.

Noah looked with indifference. He didn’t care what his so-called brother wanted

So, he didn’t reply.

"Are you mute or something?" Ronwel asked.

"What do you need?" Noah finally replied.

"Oh, so you can talk, huh?" Ronwel smiled politely.

Why is everything so annoying?

"What do you want?" Noah asked for a second time, his patience already running thin.

Ronwel frowned but didn’t say anything about it instead, he widened his smile even more. "How about you join my group for tomorrow’s exam... I’ll make sure you pass. You just need to help me with one small thing."

Noah narrowed his eyes. He could sense the greed in the voice of his half-brother.

Still, curiosity got the better of him. "And that is?"

"You just need to lure Arza into my trap." Ronwel’s voice was soft.

Noah couldn’t help as a cold smirk appeared on his face.

He got up from his bed and slowly walked towards the table just a few steps away.

"Pfftt... How much of a coward do you have to be, to kill someone through a trap?"

His voice was calm... almost unsettling.

Ronwel’s frown deepened.

"Don’t cross your limits." He warned.

But Noah didn’t have any intention to listen. "So what?"

There was a reason no one dared step into his mansion.

Not just because he was abandoned or forgotten.

No.

That alone wouldn’t have stopped some of his siblings from trying to take their anger out on him.

What stopped them... was the memory of how he once cut out his sister’s tongue and shattered his brother’s arm, just for trying to bully him.

The demon king’s response was simple.

"Matters between children should be resolved by them. And if any adult got involved, he would deal with them himself."

Ever since that incident, every sibling of his age stopped visiting him.

Even his older siblings—the one with an awakened Nexus left him alone—Not because they couldn’t beat him... but because beating him might awaken something far worse. Like their father’s attention

And Noah preferred it that way... but it seems that Ronwel had forgotten that old story.

"If you don’t mind, can you kindly leave my room? I have other matters to attend to." Noah asked politely.

It was a request.

But Ronwel considered that humiliation.

He had awakened months ago. His core had formed. His control over mana far exceeded that of Noah, who had only just awakened—likely only an hour or two ago.

And yet...

He was being asked to leave like a servant.

Ronwel snapped as he shot forward towards Noah. His fist coated in a shadowy mana.

A punch meant to cripple. To teach a lesson. To remind the bastard child who held authority in this bloodline.

But Noah? He didn’t move. Not yet.

They never learn, do they?

He reached for the table beside him, his fingers curling around a simple steel knife.

Just as the punch came forward, he ducked.

His movement was smooth and effortless, as if he had seen the attack before it happened.

Who needs mana to deal with fools like these?

The punch met nothing but air.

Noah rose, his hand moving in a clean arc.

And then—

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

A bloodcurdling scream filled the room.

A second later, a severed arm hit the ground with a sickening thud, blood pulsing from Ronwel’s shoulder like a fountain.

"Go cry to your mommy." His voice was still emotionless as if talking about something casual. "Maybe she can help you attach that back."

He turned and walked out of the room just as a maid rushed in with a healing potion in her trembling hands.

"Hey. Wait." Noah stopped her in her tracks.

She froze, then bowed quickly. "Y-Yes, Young Master?"

Noah glanced back once, his tone still eerily casual.

"Clean my room before you leave. I hate the smell of blood."

And with that, he walked down the hall without looking back