CHAPTER 42: [SIMULATION ROOM]

"M-Me? Wait... what—"

Eli barely had time to process what Caelen just said when the beautiful woman—the staff member Caelen called Lorraine—gestured toward him.

"Come with me then," she said with a practiced smile as she turned on her heel, heels clicking softly against the polished floor.

In her hand was a small rectangular device, sleek and minimal, adorned with a few color-coded buttons.

She pressed one, lifting it closer to her lips.

"Everyone in the simulation room," she spoke clearly into the device. "Please clear out. I repeat, please clear out. Hunter Caelen will now be using the simulation room."

The message echoed across the facility’s intercom in perfect clarity.

Eli’s eyes widened even more—he didn’t think it was possible.

’This is really happening. He’s really dragging me into this?’

"Thank you, Lorraine," Caelen said from behind him, voice rich with charisma.

Eli turned just in time to see him flash her a smile. It was dazzling—practiced, princely, and enough to make anyone swoon.

Lorraine wasn’t immune.

A faint shade of red colored her cheeks, and her posture straightened just slightly.

"Of course, Sir Caelen," she responded warmly.

They stopped in front of a tall metallic door, its frame lined with blue LED lights that pulsed faintly. Lorraine typed a short sequence into the keypad beside it—beep, beep, click—and the door slid open with a smooth hiss.

Immediately, a gust of warm, post-combat air hit Eli’s face—sweaty, charged, filled with the faint scent of ozone and synthetic monster blood.

From inside, several hunters emerged, toweling sweat from their necks and laughing among themselves.

One of them looked up—and his face lit up in surprise.

"Oh, Caelen!" the man greeted brightly. His tone was casual, familiar. "What a surprise—it’s been a while since you used the simulation room."

Eli watched him approach, tall and broad-shouldered, clearly just coming down from an intense session.

He didn’t recognize him, but judging by the way he addressed Caelen so openly, he was probably high-ranked. A-Class, maybe.

Caelen gave him a brief nod. "I thought I’d test something out today," he replied smoothly, his gaze flicking to Eli for only a moment.

Eli’s heart dropped.

’Wait. No. He’s not testing something. He’s testing me.’

The realization slammed into him like a punch to the gut.

It wasn’t just a suspicion—it was fact. His eyes shot toward Caelen, but the man was already striding forward with an unnerving calmness, hands clasped behind his back like this was a routine walk in the park.

The hunter who’d greeted Caelen earlier tracked his gaze—and finally noticed Eli standing there like a stunned deer.

"You look familiar," the man said, squinting. "Where have I—?"

Before he could finish the thought, Punzo’s voice piped up from behind, tone light and laced with mischief. "He’s the one from that viral video. Y’know... with you-know-who."

There was a pause.

And then—a collective moment of recognition.

"Ohhh," the hunter said, dragging the sound out as understanding bloomed on his face.

His eyes flicked back to Eli with newfound interest, this time scanning him head to toe like a puzzle piece that suddenly made sense.

"Oh."

Then—he smirked.

"Well then. Good luck, beautiful."

Eli blinked. "Wh—"

But the man was already moving past him, casually patting Eli on the shoulder like they were old friends.

The rest of the hunters followed, a few smirking, some offering subtle nods or sideways glances filled with amusement and silent commentary.

Eli didn’t need to hear the words—they were already echoing in his head.

And just before the main hunter disappeared through the exit, he leaned in close, voice low and thick with laughter.

"You’re really gonna need it."

The door slid shut behind them with a mechanical hiss.

Silence.

And then—

A firm shove from both sides.

Eli stumbled forward, nearly tripping over his own feet as Arman and Punzo gave him a not-so-gentle push toward the center of the room.

"Inside you go, sweetheart," Punzo teased, flashing a wink.

"Don’t die," Arman added in mock solemnity.

"Rooting for you," Jabby chimed in sweetly, her voice laced with a quiet sympathy that didn’t make Eli feel any better.

The three of them peeled off toward the observation deck—a raised glass enclosure overlooking the simulation field.

They took their seats, looking far too comfortable as they prepared to watch whatever came next.

Eli slowly turned around.

His eyes widened.

Caelen was already standing at the center of the room, bathed in soft white light that poured from above.

The polished floor reflected the glow like a battlefield stage.

Ambient lines of tech shimmered faintly against the steel walls, while racks of training weapons lined the perimeter.

Scorch marks, dented panels, and faint cracks across the flooring spoke of brutal past simulations. This wasn’t just a "training room."

It was a crucible.

A controlled battlefield where elite hunters sharpened their fangs.

And Eli?

He didn’t belong here.

Caelen glanced back at him, his expression unreadable. "Follow me," he said simply.

Then he started walking.

Eli didn’t move.

His legs felt glued to the floor.

’Why am I doing this? This is so fucking stupid. The simulation is only for offensive hunters—’

But then he remembered.

The system.

The mission.

’I need to get him to trust me. Even just a little bit.’

Right now, Caelen didn’t trust him. He was wary. On edge. Watching Eli like a threat wrapped in silk and smiles.

And if Eli didn’t find a way to lower that wariness—if he didn’t survive this twisted game—then the mission would fail.

And failing meant punishment.

Worse than anything Caelen could throw at him.

Even worse than that dagger.

Even worse than the fear curling cold and sharp in his gut.

’If this is what it takes... then fine.’

He took a breath.

Then followed.

"Alright, Lorraine, give me a simulation of S-Class elves along with a boss," Caelen commanded, his voice calm, too calm.

Eli’s breath caught.

’Elves? Seriously?’

His eyes widened as he instinctively took a step back.

Elves were among the most difficult monsters to deal with—not only were they fast and vicious, but they also wielded powerful magic.

They weren’t brutes—they were intelligent.

Deadly.

There was no warm-up. No countdown.

Caelen didn’t even give him a second to process it before turning to him, eyes sharp.

"Whatever you did with Kairo, you’re doing with me."

"D-Do what... exactly? I just—" Eli stammered. He knew what Caelen meant. Knew what he wanted.

But this wasn’t the same.

Him and Kairo had been in a life-or-death situation.

This? This was a simulation.

But the danger was real.

And it was coming.

Suddenly, flickers of magic formed at the edge of the room.

Hazy silhouettes took shape—long ears, slender frames, glowing eyes.

Elegant and deadly.

Elves.

’One, two, three, four, five, six...’

His stomach dropped.

There were six of them. Six S-Class elves.

Not even four, but six!

And then the air shimmered again, heavier this time.

A towering figure emerged, taller than the others. His long silver hair flowed like water, and atop his head sat a crown of thorns and gold.

The boss.

The Elven King.

Eli barely had a second to react before one of the elves raised a bow, its arrow already glowing blue with frost magic. The shimmering tip hummed with lethal energy—

And it was aimed directly at him.

’Wait, wait... why didn’t I detect tha—’

The arrow launched.

Too fast.

Too fast.

’Fuck. Am I actually going to die—’

But before the thought could finish, something yanked him sideways.

Hard.

An arm locked around his waist and pulled him close, just as the icy arrow shot past his head with a sharp shwip, slicing a strand of hair as it slammed into the floor behind them and exploded in a burst of frost.

Eli gasped.

His body trembled, chest heaving.

He looked up—

Caelen.

Of course.

Caelen was the one holding him, and he hadn’t even broken a sweat.

He’d grabbed Eli with one arm—like he weighed nothing—and shielded him from certain death without blinking.

Eli’s hands clutched at Caelen’s coat, his heart trying to claw its way out of his chest.

"Fuck, fuck, what the fuck?" he muttered under his breath, panic rising.

Caelen didn’t release him.

He looked down at Eli with the same expression he might’ve worn while observing a mildly disappointing science experiment.

"What the fuck indeed," he said flatly. "Why aren’t you dodging?"