"What's your name again?"
Zael asked it calmly.
Casually.
As though he genuinely couldn't remember.
For a brief second, silence fell over the group.
Then the Legendary-grade awakener's expression stiffened slightly.
The corners of his lips twitched almost imperceptibly while a strained vein surfaced faintly near his temple.
Clearly—
He recognized the insult hidden beneath the innocent question.
Still, the boy maintained his smile.
"Ben," he replied smoothly. "Ben Grimms. Nice to meet you."
As he spoke, he stretched out his hand confidently for a handshake.
Outwardly friendly.
But inwardly—
He had already planned to use the moment as a subtle display of strength.
A harmless little "accident."
Enough to remind Zael of the difference between them.
Yet Zael didn't even glance at the offered hand.
Instead, he calmly adjusted the cuffs of his black coat before asking again:
"So…"
"How can I help you?"
The sheer indifference in his eyes made Ben's smile stiffen slightly.
Not fear.
Not nervousness.
Not resentment.
Nothing.
Zael looked at him the same way one might look at a random passerby asking for directions.
And somehow—
That infuriated Ben far more than open hostility would have.
Still, he forced himself to remain composed.
After all, there were people watching nearby now.
"I learned from Phina here," Ben began casually while wrapping an arm around Seraphina's waist possessively, "that you two used to have something."
Seraphina's expression shifted slightly afterward, as though uncomfortable with where this was going.
But she said nothing.
Ben continued smiling.
"Though apparently she left you right after talent awakening."
A faint mocking amusement entered his tone afterward.
"You awakened a Common-grade talent and profession, right?"
He snapped his fingers lightly as though trying to remember.
"What was it again…"
"Ah right."
"Combat Theorist or something?"
The two girls behind him laughed awkwardly afterward.
Not fully mocking.
More nervous than anything else.
Because despite Ben's attitude—
Something about Zael's calmness felt strangely unsettling.
Meanwhile Zael himself remained expressionless.
Truthfully—
Hearing those words now felt almost surreal.
Common-grade.
Combat Theorist.
Those labels once defined his entire existence.
The reason people looked down on him.
The reason Seraphina left.
The reason teachers barely paid attention to him afterward.
Yet now—
The irony was almost amusing.
Ben continued speaking, clearly mistaking Zael's silence for humiliation.
"You know, I actually respected you a little back then."
"Dating someone way out of your league takes confidence."
Then his grin widened slightly.
"But honestly, seeing you now…"
"I kinda get why she left."
The atmosphere around the group became awkward afterward.
Even Seraphina frowned slightly.
"Ben…"
But before she could continue—
Zael suddenly smiled faintly.
Not angry.
Not bitter.
Just mildly amused.
Then he asked calmly:
"…Are you done?"
"Done?"
Ben laughed lightly.
"Actually… no."
He tightened the arm around Seraphina slightly before continuing casually.
"You see, my dear Phina here saw you and wanted to reach out, so I called your name."
Seraphina stiffened instantly at those words.
Her lips parted slightly as though she wanted to deny it.
Because in truth—
This entire interaction had been Ben's idea from the start.
She only recognized Zael briefly while exiting the station.
Ben was the one who insisted on stopping him.
Yet when she noticed the subtle warning look Ben gave her—
She hesitated.
Then ultimately remained silent.
It was easier that way.
Safer too.
Meanwhile Zael silently observed the interaction between them.
The slight tension in Seraphina's posture.
The controlling undertone in Ben's behavior.
The hesitation in her eyes.
Internally—
Zael almost smiled.
Outwardly though, his expression remained calm and unreadable.
"So…" he said quietly.
"Why?"
Ben's grin widened immediately.
"Well…"
"I wanted to give you an opportunity."
He spoke with the tone of someone offering charity to a beggar.
"You see, ever since I awakened a Legendary-grade profession, I've made connections."
"Friends."
"People in high places."
His voice carried unconcealed pride now.
"So I thought…"
"Why not help you out a little?"
He looked Zael up and down deliberately afterward before smirking.
"Maybe get you a decent job."
"A security guard perhaps."
Then he chuckled lightly.
"You know…"
"For Phina's sake."
Silence followed.
The surrounding atmosphere became strangely still.
Then—
Zael laughed.
Not loudly.
Not wildly.
Just a soft laugh.
Yet the moment it sounded—
Everyone's expressions changed instantly.
Because there was no warmth in it whatsoever.
Only coldness.
Bone-piercing coldness.
And then—
Kill intent erupted from Zael's body.
BOOM.
The temperature around them seemed to plummet instantly.
This was the kill intent...an aura nurtured from killing and battles. A presence forged from blood and iron..
Ben's pupils shrank violently.
For one horrifying second—
It felt like a monstrous predator had suddenly opened its eyes directly in front of him.
Blood.
Death.
Mountains of corpses.
An overwhelming pressure crashed onto his mind so violently that his legs gave out beneath him.
THUD.
Ben fell hard onto his backside.
His face turned pale instantly while cold sweat exploded across his body.
His breathing became ragged.
The two girls behind him screamed softly and stumbled backward in terror.
Even Seraphina's face lost color completely as instinctive fear surged through her body.
Meanwhile—
Zael simply stood there calmly.
One hand still inside his pocket.
His expression utterly indifferent.
But his eyes…
His eyes no longer resembled those of an ordinary student.
They looked like the eyes of something that had slaughtered countless enemies without hesitation.
Which—
Truthfully—
Wasn't far from reality anymore.
Zael looked down at Ben quietly afterward.
Then spoke in a calm voice that made everyone's spine turn cold.
"You should be grateful."
"Because if this were the battlefield…"
"You wouldn't have survived opening your mouth that many times."