“Ahahaha…….”
A flustered Anakin curved the corners of his lips into an awkward smile.
“Mad dog” might be a bit of an extreme expression, but unfortunately, all the students of the 45th class, including Sarin, called Jack that.
It was a nickname born from his usual conduct and way of speaking.
Though, Jack himself didn’t seem to care much.
Sarin believed that once Anakin experienced Jack—who exuded the vibe of an untamed wild beast—this little kid would understand immediately.
“Do you want to be on a team with Jack?”
“……It’s not like that, but I was just curious.”
“Hmm, alright. Before I answer that, I have one question for you.”
“What is it?”
As Sarin gestured for him to come up to the viewing stands, Anakin glanced once at the two still fighting, then walked over.
When it was quiet enough for only the two of them to talk, Sarin stared at the 46th-class students and asked.
“Why do you insist on wearing that hood indoors? It’s stuffy.”
Anakin couldn’t answer that. Sarin stLocked his chin as if puzzled by Anakin’s reaction.
“Well, you see…….”
Anakin hesitated, wearing a slightly troubled expression.
Sarin, being quick-witted, tried to just let it go, but Anakin spoke up first.
“Are you perhaps a Beta?”
“Huh? Yeah. Why?”
Anakin seemed to deliberate for a moment, then slightly pushed back his hood.
It was close enough that only Sarin could see.
The white skin and the red eyes that looked as if they could steal a soul away.
“…….”
The beauty was so unrealistic that Sarin couldn’t help but stiffen.
“……That’s why.”
After Anakin put his hood back on and gave a sheepish smile, Sarin, unlike him, couldn’t laugh.
The moment he made eye contact, he felt as if he had been cursed and couldn’t move.
‘I’m someone who isn’t easily swayed even by the most beautiful people…….’
It was only natural to hide if one possessed such dangerous beauty.
“Anakin. Why did you show your face to me just now?”
Under Sarin’s sharp gaze, Anakin avoided his eyes and mumbled, “Well…… you seemed trustworthy…….”
‘Trustworthy? Despite us having exchanged words for the first time only minutes ago.’
“……’Sigh’. Anakin. Listen to me carefully.”
Sarin, his face now a bit serious, turned Anakin to face him.
“Never take off that hood. Even after you become an official disciple, keep it on as much as you can.”
“…….”
I couldn’t just pass by after seeing this face.
It was because the future that awaited him flashed before my eyes.
Exposing a face like this in a jungle like Pasadian was the same as walking around holding a ticking bomb.
“Hide it unconditionally until you have the power to protect your own body.”
“……I understand.”
“Right, you’re not an Omega, by any chance?”
“…….”
Because of Anakin’s ominous silence, Sarin let out a dry laugh.
“……You’re serious?”
Anakin, who was feeling completely cowed, checked Sarin’s reaction before carefully nodding.
“My god. Oh, heavens…….”
Sarin closed his eyes and leaned his forehead on his hand, as if lamenting.
That’s how unbelievable the situation was.
There is nothing that cannot happen in Pasadian.
This annex was a place where one could commit any crime—murder, rape, anything—to their heart’s content.
It was a space thoroughly isolated from a society that didn’t care about anyone.
Having friendly relations with senior classes, Sarin knew this annex quite well.
Sarin spoke in a voice of disbelief.
“Anakin. Do you know how many Alphas there are among the official disciples right now?”
Unlike ordinary people, Alphas possessed superior and powerful physical abilities.
Consequently, Alphas occupied most of the positions in the upper hierarchy.
“…….”
Seeing Anakin, who was at a loss and shifting his eyes here and there, Sarin let out a sigh.
“It’s too dangerous. Even right now.”
In Sarin’s eyes, this precarious beauty overlapped with his younger brother from the past.
In the way he was both precarious and beautiful.
What he really couldn’t understand was Anakin’s background.
“Even if you’re from a high-ranking noble family and a collateral branch, unless you were a discarded child, there’s no way they would have sent an Omega to Pasadian.”
“……It was my choice to come. I wanted to learn magic. And I’m not from a collateral branch.”
“……Not a collateral branch?”
Sarin’s eyes widened.
He had naturally assumed he was a discarded child from a collateral branch.
He thought that was why he entered Pasadian, wanting to prove himself.
It wasn’t just Sarin; everyone in this annex would think so.
But the fact that he was a child of the direct line came as a huge shock to Sarin.
Nobles are cold-blooded and have no blood or tears, but they cherish their own children terribly.
At least, that was the case in the past Sarin had experienced.
‘With this level of beauty and being an Omega, why on earth…… in Pasadian.’
“You, you really love magic, don’t you?”
That was the conclusion Sarin reached. Anakin brightened and nodded.
“…….”
Because they were close, Anakin’s face was visible even with the hood on.
The curving, rosy lips and half-moon eyes.
At that sight, Sarin quickly covered his line of sight with his hand.
“Your face, it’s showing…….”
Just by meeting his eyes, my heart races.
If I kept seeing a face like this, it was clear what would happen to me as well.
At Sarin’s reaction, Anakin hurriedly pulled his hood down further.
“Anyway, it’s fascinating that you’re from the direct line.”
He couldn’t believe the fact that he was standing in front of a direct descendant of a high-ranking noble.
And that this direct descendant was an Omega and incredibly beautiful.
There was no reason for him to worry about him or pay attention, but once he heard his story, he couldn’t help but keep his eyes on him.
Because he possessed a charm where his defenseless and bright appearance made even the viewer feel good…….
Sarin briefly recalled the face Anakin had when he was smiling broadly.
“……Anakin, from now on, if you’re going to take off your hood, ask me before you do it.”
“……Yes?”
“You must be feeling stuffy too, right?”
“…….”
It was an obvious thing to say, but for some reason, Anakin didn’t answer.
Only his two clear pupils were shining silently.
Sarin had a premonition that he wouldn’t be able to just pass by Anakin from now on.
……This has become a headache.
A training ground gathering the 45th, 46th, and 47th classes.
Standing in front of them were Chris and Morkan, senior disciples holding image orbs.
“The sparring teams have been decided.”
At those words, a few of the children swallowed dryly.
Since it was a team battle, the luck of the draw was the most important situation.
Anakin checked his team with trepidation.
Team 1: Jack / James / Renya / Mantis / Hess
Team 2: Sarin / Comult / Jeffrey / Lucien / Locke
Team 3: Bran / Kainon / Austin / Lana / Henry
Team 4: Thomas / Zail / Darin / Kayla / Hilde
Skipping over many familiar names, Anakin finally discovered the team that contained his name.
Team 5: Darek / Benric / Paul / Anakin / Lute
‘Oh, I’m on the same team as Lute.’
It was unexpected good news.
Lute was the child who had taken 1st place in the fierce first selection exam for apprentices.
“You are welcome to gather as a team to strategize. You will gather as teams to practice for a total of 5 days, and for the sparring, you will be matched with an opponent designated by the team that decides the first attack.”
‘Practicing for 5 whole days.’
It was clearly a sparring session that would be significantly reflected in their grades.
“Then, go ahead and familiarize yourselves with each other.”
As Chris and Morkan finished speaking, the children began to huddle together by team.
Anakin looked around, searching for Team 5.
“Anakin.”
“Lute!”
He had been worried because, except for Lute, it was all unfamiliar people.
“I think it’s over there. Team 5.”
Lute said, pointing to the three people gathered in the corner.
“I guess so. Let’s go.”
Anakin and Lute walked over there together.
But the atmosphere…… is it just my imagination, or does it seem gloomy?
“Is this…… Team 5?”
When Anakin asked cautiously, Darek, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, nodded.
“Let’s start by introducing ourselves. My name is Darek. I’m from the 45th class, same as Benric here.”
‘So there are two people from the 45th class.’
Having two people from the 45th class meant they were evaluated as a “weak team,” unlike the other teams that only had one person from the 45th class.
Lute and Anakin were in the top tier of the 47th class, but since they hadn’t been here long, it seemed the evaluations were harsh.
“I’m Paul. Looks like I’m the only 46th-class student on this team.”
“Please just call me Anakin. I’m 47th class.”
“Lute. 47th class.”
As soon as Lute’s simple self-introduction ended, Paul said with surprise.
“Wait, if it’s Anakin, isn’t that the noble?”
At Paul’s words, Benric, who had recognized Anakin, sneered.
“Looks like it. Precious bodies can get hurt easily, so I wonder if he’ll even be able to spar.”
At that, Anakin let out a small sigh, thinking this sparring session was going to be an uphill battle.
“Benric. Don’t start trouble for no reason.”
At Darek’s mediation, Benric frowned.
Even though they were both 45th-class students, it seemed he couldn’t stand up to him.
“Noble or commoner, it’s all the same inside Pasadian. In the end, you have to prove it with skill, that’s what I’m saying.”
Darek glanced toward Anakin and continued.
“Well, if you entered Pasadian on your own strength, you must have something to show.”
“…….”
Anakin blinked at his gaze.
‘They’re the ones looking at me with the prejudice of being a noble……. Meanwhile, I don’t have any such prejudices.’
Still, Anakin found this situation quite interesting.
Because it was the first stage of proof where he could show his skills to the other classes.
