The silhouette moved forward — and with every step its outline grew clearer.

  The same clothes.

  The same hair.

  The same gloves.

  Rosalin.

  Hiro dashed toward her, barely feeling the ground beneath his feet. His eyes were still glowing pink — fluorescent, unreal, as if they themselves were cutting through the darkness.

  Rosalin recoiled. Her hands shot forward — a sharp don’t come closer gesture.

  Instinct. Fear.

  But Hiro simply took her wrists.

  His face was bright. Alive. Happy — almost boyishly so.

  “You have no idea what I found!” he blurted out. “A gate! A real one! Our ticket out of this trial!”

  Rosalin heard the words… but not their meaning.

  Her head buzzed. The world felt like it was drifting.

  “W… what?..”

  And in that moment — an image.

  The very one from her childhood.

  An idol.

  A savior.

  A legend.

  The God of the Void.

  And he… overlapped with Hiro.

  The same gestures.

  The same walk.

  The same gaze.

  The same way of standing.

  Even that strange calm before anything.

  “How is this possible…

  The God of the Void — the legendary adventurer…

  …and Hiro — are the same person?”

  She had seen the similarities before.

  That was why he irritated her.

  Why she clung to him, pushed him away, got angry — because she refused to believe it.

  And then — click.

  The puzzle came together.

  “Wait… Hiro’s diary. I remember taking it back then, and then I think I fell asleep. I woke up when Hiro was fighting that assassin girl. After the battle I returned and saw the diary again. I lay down and started reading… I think I had the same reaction then — I couldn’t believe it. But his story… it affected me. Too much pain. Too lonely. Too adult. Then I fell asleep. And in the morning the diary was gone. I thought it was just a dream, that I hadn’t sobered up yet, that the diary was an illusion.”

  Rosalin slowly raised her gaze.

  “Why…” her voice was quiet, but steady.

  “Why didn’t you tell me that you are the God of the Void?”

  Hiro froze.

  His eyes widened — genuinely surprised.

  Then he laughed.

  “So you finally figured it out.”

  He reached under his sweater and pulled out a golden card.

  The metal softly glinted in the moonlight.

  He tossed it to her.

  Rosalin caught it.

  Adventurer

  Rank A

  God of the Void

  No. 1802

  Her fingers trembled as she examined the engraving.

  “You never asked,” Hiro said calmly. “Even though you knew I was an adventurer before the academy.”

  He snorted.

  “Though… I still am.”

  He took the card back and put it away.

  “There’s a portal arch. We need those plates. Come on — I’ll show you.”

  He had already turned, taking a step.

  And then the thought hit Rosalin like icy water.

  “Wait… if everything written in that diary is true, then…”

  “Why,” she said, “do you never look me straight in the eyes?”

  Hiro kept walking.

  “It’s nothing, just—”

  “Because you’re afraid I’ll run away?!” she snapped.

  He stopped.

  “Afraid I’ll turn away?! Call you a monster?! Get scared?! Beg for mercy pressed against a tree?!”

  The words burst out uncontrollably. Everything she had bottled up. Everything she had been afraid to say. It sounded like hysteria — or rage.

  Hiro slowly turned his head.

  “Yes.”

  One word.

  No excuses.

  A pause.

  “That’s what everyone does,” he added more quietly. “And I understand — they can’t help it.”

  His voice grew dark, hollow.

  “That’s why it’s easier not to look them in the eyes.”

  Rosalin stepped closer.

  She raised her hands. Took his face in her palms.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  And forced him to face her.

  She looked straight into his eyes.

  Without looking away.

  The gaze lasted only a few seconds.

  Hiro abruptly turned away and took several steps aside.

  “Why…” he muttered hoarsely.

  He was already bracing himself for a scream.

  Disgust.

  Fear.

  He was waiting for it.

  But instead—

  “They’re beautiful…”

  He flinched.

  Slowly turned back.

  Rosalin stood motionless, as if enchanted. Her gaze didn’t tremble. Didn’t dart away. It was calm. Deep.

  Hiro took a step toward her. Then another. Looked into her eyes again.

  “And now?” he asked softly.

  “Still beautiful,” she replied without hesitation.

  He frowned, confused.

  “How… Don’t you see?”

  Rosalin stepped closer.

  “I do,” she said. “Beauty. And loneliness.”

  Those words hit harder than any scream.

  Their breathing quickened.

  The world seemed to shrink to the few centimeters between them.

  Rosalin: “Those eyes… just like in childhood…”

  Her face, as if in a trance, drew closer. She rose onto her toes. Her lips parted slightly. Her eyes closed.

  At the same time Hiro closed his eyes and lowered his head.

  Their lips were a centimeter apart.

  And at that very moment—

  Hiro sharply turned away.

  His arm shot forward.

  A fiery blade slammed into it — crackling, furious. It hissed, bursting into sparks of flame, and vanished as if it had never existed.

  The silence shattered.

  Footsteps.

  Hiro stood staring into the darkness — where the spell had come from.

  The night was dense, as if it had absorbed all light.

  Footsteps again.

  Two figures emerged from the darkness.

  One was lean, with chestnut hair and glasses.

  The other had short red hair, matching red eyes, and a scar on his cheek.

  Hiro slowly raised his gaze.

  “Elmar… Martin…”

  Martin smirked.

  “We, Hiro… we.”

  Elmar adjusted his glasses and said coldly:

  “We thought the element of surprise would help.”

  “But it seems we’ll have to rely on numbers.”

  He clapped his hands.

  Three more students emerged from the darkness — a guy and two girls.

  Rosalin stood behind Hiro, tense but silent.

  Hiro stepped forward.

  “Why do you need this?” he said calmly. “I don’t want to fight.”

  “Let’s just get out of here together. We’ve already passed.”

  Martin suddenly raised his voice.

  “Shut up!”

  “It’s not enough for us to just pass. We want to be first!”

  “And for that…” — he clenched his teeth — “…we need to kill you.”

  Hiro’s expression darkened.

  He lowered his head slightly.

  “I see.”

  “Then don’t resist,” Elmar said.

  He stretched out his hand and began chanting:

  “O raging ele—”

  The phrase cut off.

  To the right, where one of the girls stood, a massive stone slab erupted from the ground for a split second.

  It appeared instantly.

  Her body vanished, as if crushed into blood by the pressure of the stone.

  Blood sprayed outward, staining the rock dark red.

  Elmar didn’t even have time to scream.

  Hiro had already extended his hand in the other direction.

  A stream of water, compressed to its absolute limit, tore forward.

  It passed around the second girl’s head at such speed that the sound came only after.

  Her body remained standing for a moment…

  Then — headless — collapsed to the ground.

  A second later the safety bracelet activated, and the body vanished, teleporting to the square.

  Elmar screamed and bolted backward.

  At that moment Martin drew his sword and rushed Hiro.

  He ran up, swung—

  Hiro simply extended his hand.

  An air strike of monstrous force slammed into Martin, throwing him back.

  He crashed into a tree.

  The air was knocked from his lungs.

  Blood spilled from his mouth.

  The third, unfamiliar student was already chanting, gripping a wand.

  Lightning struck from above.

  His body was incinerated in a fraction of a second, scattering into ash.

  Elmar, gasping, hid behind a tree.

  In panic, he rummaged through his bag of artifacts and scrolls.

  “Not this…

  Not this…

  No, no, no…”

  His hands trembled. Sweat streamed down his face. His breathing was ragged.

  And then — pain.

  A sharp stab in his chest and stomach.

  Looking down, Elmar saw two ice spikes protruding from his body.

  They had pierced him through and embedded themselves in the tree behind.

  The ice slowly turned the color of blood.

  Elmar’s eyes closed.

  When he opened them again, he was already lying on the cold stone of the square — among those eliminated from the trial.

  Meanwhile, Martin, coughing blood, struggled to his feet.

  He moved behind Hiro and lunged forward, swinging his sword.

  But in the next moment, a beam of light pierced his chest.

  It passed straight through Martin, flew on, and punched through trees, igniting them.

  His body hit the ground.

  And vanished.

  Hiro turned around in surprise.

  He looked toward where the beam had come from.

  Rosalin stood there.

  Her arm was extended, mana still trembling in the air.

  Hiro smiled.

  “Well then,” he said. “Guess you can do it when you want to.”

  ---

  Hiro and Rosalin reached the Star Lake.

  Rosalin stopped almost immediately. Her gaze changed — recognizing.

  She remembered this place.

  Hiro stepped forward and calmly walked across the water as if it were solid ground.

  Rosalin laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” he asked without turning.

  “Oh, nothing…” she smiled. “It’s just… exactly like back then.”

  Hiro didn’t know what had happened that night.

  But for some reason, he smiled too.

  He spread his arms.

  The water near the shore rippled — and began to part, as if obeying a command. The lake split, revealing a stone arch hidden beneath the surface.

  A portal.

  Rosalin knelt and pulled several plates from her bag.

  They rose into the air on their own, levitating, and fitted perfectly into the grooves of the arch.

  The portal lit up with a soft green glow.

  Hiro extended his hand.

  Rosalin placed hers into it.

  And they stepped forward.

  ---

  When Hiro opened his eyes, he heard noise.

  Applause.

  They stood in the square before a stage. Nearby, lined up, were similar portals — some already extinguished, others still inactive.

  Students applauded.

  Some watched with respect.

  Some with envy.

  Some with fear.

  High above, in an office overlooking the square, the director stood.

  Selveran silently observed the scene, then turned his gaze to a painting on the wall.

  It depicted two men — him and his brother. Young. Full of hope.

  Selveran quietly said:

  “At last… I did it, brother.”

  Spring arrived.

  And the Rose began to bloom.

  ---

  After the ceremony, Rosalin was summoned somewhere on very important business, and Hiro decided to walk through the academy’s fair streets.

  Hiro walked along the street and noticed Lia near her father’s café. She waved at him.

  “Congratulations,” she smiled. “I’m throwing a party today. Just friends.”

  “The house next to the café. Come.”

  Hiro felt a little awkward, but nodded.

  “I’ll come.”

  He left with a light feeling inside.

  By evening he cleaned himself up and headed to the house.

  Approaching the door, he raised his hand to knock…

  And froze.

  Voices came from inside.

  “Why did you even invite him?!” Martin said irritably.

  “Well…” Lia replied. “He’s kind of our friend, right?”

  “He’s dangerous,” Elmar cut in. “You should’ve seen what he did in the trial.”

  “Fuck,” Martin muttered. “He’s the last person I want to see today.”

  “I still get chills,” Elmar said quietly. “I couldn’t even move when he looked me in the eyes.”

  A short pause.

  “Well…” Lia said uncertainly. “He’s pretty willful. Maybe he won’t come. Don’t worry.”

  “Better if he doesn’t,” Martin said.

  Hiro stood silently.

  Then smiled.

  Quietly turned around — and left,

  never knocking.

  ---

  Hiro went to the park and sat on a bench.

  It was already dark.

  The lamps were sparse, their light not reaching the bench, leaving it in half-shadow. Leaves rustled softly in the wind. Somewhere far away came the hum of the city, but here it was almost empty.

  Hiro sat with his head lowered. Eyes closed. Brows drawn together.

  He blamed.

  But not them.

  Himself.

  “Of course…

  That’s how it should be.

  That’s how it will always be.

  How could I even think society would accept me?

  That I could have friends?

  My power is my curse.

  I shouldn’t have left the hut two years ago at Katsu’s request.

  I bet if I looked them in the eyes right now, they’d say the same things.

  I won’t make that mistake again.

  My goal was to see how the academy was doing — not to study or make friends.

  I’ve seen it.

  I have the information.

  That means my mission is over.

  Tomorrow I’ll leave.

  Maybe even go back to the hut.

  So I won’t bother anyone ever again.”

  “I’ve seen that look somewhere before.”

  A voice came from in front of him.

  Hiro didn’t react immediately.

  Ten meters away stood Rosalin. She held herself straight, arms folded, a sarcastic — almost victorious — smile on her lips.

  Hiro slowly opened his eyes.

  “What do you want?” he said dryly.

  “Just curious,” she replied, stepping closer. “Watching you retreat into yourself. Am I right?”

  “What’s it to you?” Hiro snapped.

  Rosalin adjusted her hair.

  “Oh, nothing…” she drawled. “I heard you were invited somewhere. To some kind of celebration. And you’re sitting here.”

  She tilted her head.

  “What’s the reason?”

  “I didn’t want to go,” he answered without lifting his gaze.

  Rosalin stepped closer — within arm’s reach.

  She loomed over him, proud, confident, with that same willful squint.

  “Is that true?” she asked softly, but insistently.

  Hiro frowned. Nervousness crept into his voice.

  “And where did you hear that?”

  “I am a princess,” she said calmly. “It’s my duty to know about my citizens.”

  “I’m not a citizen of Arcanum,” Hiro cut in.

  Rosalin raised an eyebrow.

  “And would you like to become one?”

  “What?” He jerked his head up. “That’s an inappropriate question.”

  Silence fell.

  Then Hiro quietly added:

  “Tomorrow I’m leaving the academy.

  And probably… Arcanum.”

  Rosalin turned around.

  “Come on.”

  Hiro blinked in confusion.

  “Where?”

  “We’re celebrating the end of the school year together,” she said over her shoulder. “That’s an order.”

  She walked forward without looking back.

  Hiro exhaled.

  Sat there for another second.

  Then stood up…

  and followed her.

  They entered the women’s dormitory, climbed to the third floor, and stopped in front of a door with a neat nameplate. Rosalin opened it without hesitation.

  The room was bright and unexpectedly calm. On the nightstand by the window, Hiro immediately noticed the embroidery hoop.

  The very same one.

  The fabric was already stretched tight, and a clear outline of a person had formed on it. The figure was visible, the lines of clothing, even the folds. The work had progressed further than he had expected.

  “Over here,” Rosalin called out.

  Her voice came from the balcony.

  Hiro walked farther in and, pulling aside the sheer curtains, stepped outside.

  A small table stood on the balcony. On it were a teapot, two mugs of hot tea, plates with pastries and cookies. Two chairs stood nearby.

  The night sky spread above the academy, scattered with stars.

  Hiro sat down opposite Rosalin.

  They began to eat in silence, enjoying the quiet. Only after a few minutes did Rosalin speak:

  “We make a great team.”

  She looked into her mug, then raised her gaze.

  “I was glad to spend time with you… and thank you for being there back at the estate. You saved me again. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

  “I’d guess you’d have gone insane,” Hiro said with a light smile.

  Rosalin snorted.

  “That’s for sure.”

  A short pause followed.

  Then she spoke again, more seriously:

  “The king wants to see you.”

  Hiro choked on his tea.

  “Wow…” he exhaled, setting the mug aside. “What’s with such an honor?”

  “There’s a matter to discuss,” Rosalin replied calmly.

  Hiro instinctively slipped his hand into his pocket and clenched the small pouch containing that very module — the one he had torn straight out of the smuggler’s head.

  “So do I,” he said quietly.

  Rosalin looked at him more closely.

  “Then don’t you dare go anywhere. And tonight, you’re staying here. Just in case.”

  She took a sip of tea.

  “Tomorrow, we leave for the capital.”

  “You too?” Hiro asked.

  “Of course,” she smiled. “I’m not about to leave you alone with my father, silly.”

  She looked straight into his eyes — calmly, warmly, without her usual sharpness.

  Hiro smiled back…

  then looked away, up at the star-filled sky.

  A little earlier. In the palace.

  A butler hurried up to Orien.

  “Your Majesty, they have arrived.”

  The king stood with his back to him, gazing at a stained-glass window.

  “Let them in,” he said.

  The butler bowed and quickly left.

  The doors swung open.

  Two men in adventurers’ attire entered the hall. One — young, with chestnut hair — stepped forward.

  “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

  Orien turned around.

  “You requested an audience with me. For what purpose?”

  The second man stepped forward — older, with gray hair. His voice was calm, slightly mocking, despite the seriousness of the matter.

  “Oh… we have very important news for you.”

  Orien’s gaze hardened, becoming sharp and focused.

  End of Volume 2 and Season 1