The next morning, Kurai went to the cafeteria, his mind still lingering on the runes.
Two cores.
The realization struck him again, just as sharply as before. For a moment, he had thought it was a mistake—some kind of illusion or misinterpretation. But no… it was real.
After a while, he exhaled slowly.
It must be because of my Divine aspect.
That was the only explanation that made sense.
The cafeteria was already crowded when he arrived. Voices overlapped, trays clattered, and the scent of warm food filled the air. Kurai silently filled his plate with whatever he could find and took a seat at an empty table.
He ate without distraction, his thoughts elsewhere.
Later, Kurai considered his class choices carefully.
Wilderness Survival.
He lacked it—badly. At the castle, everything had been about combat. Killing. Enduring. Surviving in the Dream Realm, however, required more than strength.
I can fight monsters… but I might still die like a fool.
After weighing his options, he made his decision.
He would take both.
Combat—and Wilderness Survival.
A week later, the Academy stirred with renewed activity.
Throughout the week, Kurai tested the limits of his flow. He discovered that when he faced the sun without any clothing, his skin began to burn. Yet when he wrapped himself in clothes—or even memories—the burning stopped. Still, deep within his soul, an unseen pain lingered, untouched and unrelenting.
New students had arrived.
Kurai followed the flow of Sleepers toward a low, modern building. Like most structures in the Academy, much of it was hidden underground. Only a few pristine white floors rose above the surface, their alloy walls gleaming softly under the daylight.
It must have looked beautiful in the summer, surrounded by greenery.
Now, however, the air was tense.
Dozens of Sleepers had already gathered inside, waiting for the induction ceremony. Nervous whispers spread through the crowd, mingling with restrained excitement.
The Academy's logistics were a nightmare.
The Spell chose its victims unpredictably. Some had months to prepare. Others had mere days. There was no order—only chaos. That was why these ceremonies happened so frequently.
Kurai's gaze drifted across the room—until a voice cut through the noise.
"Ascended? You received an Ascended Aspect?"
The tone was filled with disbelief.
"What… what was your Appraisal?!"
A young man stood at the center of attention, smiling modestly.
"...Excellent."
A ripple of murmurs spread.
Then, suddenly—
"Excellent? That's it?"
The voice was sharp, dismissive.
A pale boy stood nearby, his expression full of disdain.
"What's so impressive about that?"
Kurai blinked in surprise.
'Is he serious?'
His brows furrowed.
'An Ascended Aspect in the First Nightmare… and he calls it nothing?'
He almost spoke—but someone beat him to it.
"You clearly don't understand the Spell," another Sleeper said. "Caster's results are extraordinary."
A brief pause.
"He's a Legacy."
The pale boy scoffed.
"Extraordinary? You're joking."
The tension thickened.
"If that's not impressive," someone snapped, "then tell us—what did you get?"
All eyes turned to the pale boy.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then, with exaggerated confidence—
"My name is Sunless."
He paused, as if savoring the moment.
"My Appraisal was… glorious."
A few gasps slipped through the crowd.
"And my Aspect," he added lightly, "is Divine."
Silence.
Kurai felt something shift inside him.
'Divine…?'
His eyes narrowed slightly.
'Is he lying? Or…'
A quiet realization crept in.
If he's telling the truth… then he might be as strong as me. Or stronger.
Sunless continued casually, as if unaware of the storm he had caused.
"I'm not some noble Legacy. No training. No advantages."
He glanced toward Caster, smirking.
"And still—only 'excellent'? What were you doing? Sleeping through the Nightmare?"
A flicker of irritation crossed Caster's face—but he remained composed.
"'Glorious' is a bold claim," he said calmly. "What exactly did you achieve?"
Sunless grinned.
"Oh, nothing much."
A beat.
"I killed an awakened tyrant."
For a second—
Then laughter broke out.
"Yeah, right."
"And how did you do that?"
Sunless tilted his head, his smile widening.
"I didn't even lift a finger."
He paused for effect.
"I just spat—and it was torn apart."
More laughter.
Mocking this time.
Kurai watched quietly.
'If… even a fraction of that is true…'
His expression grew thoughtful.
A Divine Aspect holder would never be ordinary.
"Enough," someone snapped. "Stop wasting our time."
Kurai finally stepped forward.
"We shouldn't judge so quickly," he said calmly.
A few heads turned toward him.
"You believe him?" someone challenged.
Kurai met their gaze evenly.
"I believe that we don't know enough to dismiss him."
A pause.
"And impossible things happen in the Nightmare."
He let the words settle—then added, almost casually:
"I've killed awakened devils myself."
Silence fell again.
"Then what about you?" someone asked. "What did you achieve?"
Kurai hesitated.
Revealing everything would be foolish.
He needed leverage. Secrets.
So he gave them only a part of the truth.
"I'm Kurayami," he said.
"My Appraisal was Outstanding. My Aspect is of the Supreme rank."
A slight pause.
"And I have a True Name—Brave Knight."
Shock rippled through the hall.
Sunless's expression froze for a brief moment—before he quietly turned away and retreated into the corner.
Kurai watched him go.
'…Interesting.'
The ceremony passed quickly after that.
Later, Kurai noticed how the Sleepers had divided themselves—groups forming naturally. Strength, confidence, fear… it all shaped the invisible lines between them.
Some stood together.
Some stood apart.
And a few—like Kurai—remained alone.
Combat training began soon after.
The testing was simple.
Strength.
One by one, Sleepers struck a reinforced plate.
Numbers flashed.
Respectable.
Nephis stepped forward.
Her strike landed clean.
16
A murmur spread.
Caster followed.
His blow was heavier.
21
More reactions.
Then—
Kurai stepped forward.
He exhaled once… and struck.
20
A few eyes widened.
But he wasn't paying attention to them.
Someone's watching.
The feeling lingered.
Faint—but unmistakable.
Then came sparring.
Nephis stepped into the ring first.
Kurai followed.
For a brief moment, they faced each other in silence.
Then—
He moved.
Fast.
His strike forced her back—but she adapted quickly, deflecting and countering with precise movements.
She was skilled.
Very skilled.
But not enough.
Kurai pressed forward, his attacks relentless.
A final blow—
—and Nephis was thrown out of the ring.
The fight had lasted seconds.
Then came Caster.
This time, Kurai endured.
Blow after blow landed.
Caster was faster.
Sharper.
But—
At the critical moment—
Kurai caught his arm.
Turned.
And threw him out of the ring.
Silence followed.
Then whispers.
Instructor Rock simply nodded.
"Good."
----
Four weeks passed.
Training. Routine. Growth.
Kurai tested his storage Memory repeatedly.
It could hold up to twenty cubic meters.
Time inside it flowed slower.
Living beings… could not enter.
Useful.
Very useful.
Finally—
The day arrived.
Kurai lay inside the sleeping pod.
Darkness consumed everything.
Then—
A voice echoed through the void.
Cold.
Ancient.
Unavoidable.
[Welcome to the Dream Realm, Kurayami.]