Ren carefully lifted the unconscious girl into his arms, her body still weak and cold.
"She's still alive… but barely," he whispered.
For a moment, he stood there, unsure of what to do next.
Then suddenly—
A faint presence.
Ren's instincts kicked in immediately.
His eyes sharpened.
"Right… the entrance test."
He had completely forgotten about it.
Gently placing the girl behind a thick tree, he moved forward silently.
Within seconds, he located the monster.
A wolf-type beast, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.
Ren didn't hesitate.
He dashed forward at full speed.
⚔️ One precise strike.
The beast collapsed instantly.
Ren crouched down and pulled out the Level 2 monster core from its chest.
"This should be enough to pass…"
But then his expression changed.
"…What about her?"
He looked back at the unconscious girl.
After a brief pause, he made his decision.
🏃 Return and Rush
Ren carried the girl all the way back to the capital city, Aetherion.
Even with her weight, his speed didn't slow down much.
Once inside the city, he quickly reached his rented room and gently placed her on the bed.
He covered her with a cloth.
"Stay alive…"
Without wasting another second, he rushed back toward the academy.
🏫 Judgment at the Academy
By the time Ren arrived, most of the students had already gathered.
The test was nearly over.
Kael Draven crossed his arms and smirked.
"Look who finally showed up."
Ryon Skyler laughed lightly.
"I thought he ran away."
Some students whispered among themselves.
"He doesn't even have magic…"
"Why is he even here?"
Ren ignored all of them.
He walked straight toward the examiner and placed the monster core on the table.
The examiner picked it up.
His expression froze.
"This… this is a Level 2 core."
A wave of shock spread instantly.
"Impossible…"
"He has no magic!"
Even Lyra Mistwood looked surprised.
The examiner took a deep breath.
"…Ren. You pass."
Some teachers hesitated, but none could deny the result.
👁️ The Silent Observer
Among them stood a man quietly watching everything.
Instructor Vareth Ignis
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"A boy without magic… defeating a Level 2 monster."
"…Interesting."
He turned and walked away slowly.
🌆 A New Feeling
Ren stepped out of the academy.
For the first time since coming to this world…
He felt happy.
Not forced. Not fake.
Real.
He stopped by a nearby market and bought some food.
Warm bread. Cooked meat. Simple things.
But suddenly—
His eyes widened.
"The girl!"
He immediately ran back toward his room.
🏨 The Awakening
Ren pushed the door open.
The girl was still lying there.
Unmoving.
A slight fear crept into his chest.
"Why hasn't she woken up yet…?"
He quickly moved closer and gently shook her.
"Hey… wake up…"
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
Her fingers twitched.
Slowly, her eyes opened.
Ren let out a breath of relief.
"You're finally awake…"
Without wasting time, he handed her a healing potion.
"Drink this."
She hesitated for a moment, but her body was too weak to resist.
After drinking it, her condition began to improve rapidly.
⚠️ A Sudden Reaction
But the moment she regained her strength—
She attacked.
Ren instantly stepped back.
"Wait! I'm not your enemy!"
Her movements stopped.
She looked around the room.
Confused.
Slowly… memories returned.
"…You saved me?"
Ren nodded.
"My name is Ren."
"This is Aetherion—the capital."
She sat down, still cautious.
"…Why did you save me?"
Ren looked at her quietly.
"Because I don't want to see anyone die in front of me."
"I want to create a world… where people help each other."
"No hatred. No discrimination."
Her expression changed slightly.
"…You're serious?"
"Yes."
🔗 The Impossible Truth
Her eyes suddenly sharpened.
"The chains… how did you break them?"
Ren scratched his head.
"I just used the sword that was there."
Her expression froze completely.
"That's impossible."
"That sword cannot be pulled out by anyone."
"If you're lying… I'll kill you once I recover my power."
Ren sighed lightly.
"What do I gain from lying?"
"If you don't believe me… see for yourself."
🌌 The Revelation
Ren opened his Item Box.
The girl's eyes widened in pure shock.
"…Item Box?"
"That means… you're a Hero."
Ren shook his head.
"I don't even have magic."
Then he pulled out the sword.
The moment she saw it—
Her entire body trembled.
⚔️ The Abyssal Blade
"This sword…"
"…This is the Abyssal Blade: Noctyra."
Ren blinked.
"…It has a name?"
She looked at him in disbelief.
"This blade was sealed inside the cave—"
🕳️ Umbra Vault
"No one… not even gods… could remove it."
Ren frowned slightly.
"…It didn't feel that hard."
🍽️ A Quiet Moment
Suddenly—
Her stomach growled softly.
She turned her face away.
Ren smiled faintly.
"Let's talk later. Eat first."
"I don't need your help—"
"Then treat it as a loan."
After a moment of hesitation…
She accepted.
She started eating.
And kept eating.
Ren kept handing her more food, watching silently.
For the first time—
She smiled.
👿 A Name Revealed
After a while, she spoke.
"My name is… Elyra Noctis."
"I am a demon."
Ren didn't react much.
"…I was sealed there by the Supreme God himself."
Her voice turned heavy.
"And the moment you freed me…"
"…you changed the fate of this world."
Ren looked at her calmly.
For a moment… he said nothing.
Then suddenly—
He started laughing.
"…A demon?"
He shook his head slightly.
"I know what demons look like."
"They have wings… horns… sharp fangs… and they kill humans without hesitation."
Elyra Noctis looked at him calmly.
"What you said… is not wrong."
"But it's not the whole truth either."
Ren's expression slowly changed.
👿 The Truth About Demons
"Not all demons are the same," Elyra continued.
"Yes… many of them look like monsters."
"But some… evolve."
"Demons who live for hundreds of years gain intelligence… control… and a human-like form."
She paused for a moment.
Then spoke in a quiet voice—
"I am the daughter of a Demon King."
"And… I am over a thousand years old."
⚠️ Fear
Ren froze.
"…What?"
For the first time, fear appeared on his face.
Then he forced a laugh.
"…That's not funny."
"This kind of joke is a bit too much."
Elyra didn't respond.
Instead, she slowly lifted her hand.
A dark symbol appeared on her skin—
A glowing Demon Mark.
The air around her became heavy.
Ren's smile disappeared instantly.
His body stepped back on its own.
"…You're… telling the truth…"
🕊️ No Fear
Seeing his reaction, Elyra lowered her hand.
"Don't be afraid."
"I won't harm you… or anyone else."
Her voice was calm… but different now.
"For 800 years… I was sealed in that place."
"Alone."
"No light. No sound."
"Just silence."
Ren stayed quiet.
🌌 A Change of Heart
Elyra looked down slightly.
"In that darkness… I realized something."
"Every life in this world matters."
"Everyone deserves to live."
Her eyes met Ren's.
"And from today…"
"I will stay by your side."
Ren blinked.
"…What?"
🤝 A Decision
"I will help you," Elyra said.
"To create the world you spoke about."
"A world without hatred… without discrimination."
Ren was surprised.
Then slowly…
A smile appeared on his face.
"…Thank you."
"But you're finally free now."
"You should live your own life."
❗ The Refusal
Elyra shook her head.
"No."
"I have already decided."
"I will stay with you."
Her voice was firm.
There was no hesitation.
🩸 The Contract
Before Ren could say anything—
Elyra raised her hand.
A sharp nail cut through her skin.
Blood dripped slowly.
Ren's eyes widened.
"What are you doing?!"
Ignoring him, Elyra used her blood to draw a glowing symbol in the air.
A magic circle formed instantly.
"This is a Demon Blood Contract."
She looked directly at Ren.
"From this moment…"
"I, Elyra Noctis, pledge my existence to Ren."
"I will stand by his side—"
"In life… and in death."
The magic circle glowed brightly.
Then—
It disappeared.
⚡ A Bond Beyond Fate
Ren stood there in silence.
He didn't fully understand what had just happened.
But he could feel it.
A connection.
Something deep… and unbreakable.
Elyra smiled faintly.
"For the first time in centuries…"
"I feel… free."
Ren looked at her.
And without realizing—
His journey had just taken a turn far beyond anything he imagined.