Art spent the next ten days staying with them.Just like Yuh's father had said, the registration for the Grand Magus test began three days after Art's arrival. He had already registered a few days ago.Initially, he had planned to leave the day after he arrived, but Yuh’s parents insisted he stay at least until the test began. After all, he was still young and pretty much homeless. Yuh wasn’t sure if her parents would have let him stay had they known what he was capable of.Still, they offered him a roof over his head and plenty of food.With no other alternatives, he accepted. They were good people, and he wasn’t about to reject their kindness. But he wasn’t a freeloader either. The next day, he found a merchant willing to buy some of his items.The merchant couldn’t determine the exact value of the feathers Art had collected, so he offered a low price. Art was convinced they were worth much more, so he held onto them. Instead, he sold some low-grade mana cores—as absorbing them at

Under Art's watch, the shop owner loosened the fabric covering the box, exposing its design. The moment it was revealed, an ominous wave of mana surged outward."You might need to protect yourself with mana. It's dangerous," the man warned, raising his gaze to Art.Art wasn’t a newbie in dealings like this. In his former life, he had been exposed to similar situations since childhood. He had learned how to read people—their intentions, their unspoken words.The shop owner was conducting one final test to see if Art was truly worthy of the mask.If Art followed his advice and shielded himself with mana, it would signal that he wasn’t strong enough to naturally endure its aura. That would shatter the illusion of overwhelming strength he had carefully crafted. Someone at A or S-rank wouldn’t even flinch at something of this level, no matter how impressive it was.That said, Art could tell the mask's aura was genuinely dangerous. But he wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip away."Yo

Art navigated more carefully as he searched for the blacksmith.He couldn’t afford to reveal his identity. He paid close attention to his surroundings, making sure he wasn’t being followed.So far, nothing seemed out of place.But he knew his abilities in the outside world still weren’t sharp enough to trust completely.It took longer than if he had just asked openly, but he finally found the building the boy described. A massive, bleached dragon skull hung above the door, suspended by chains that glowed faintly with runic symbols. Its eye sockets flickered with soft blue light, as if watching everyone nearby.He glanced around cautiously."That must be it," he muttered, eyeing another building nearby before walking over.Art stopped in front of the building, now confident he’d found the right place.The building was tucked between two larger structures, yet it had a more special presence.Made from polished blackstone and silverwood, the shop had faintly glowing etchings across its s

"How did he find out?" Art mumbled while chewing on a fruit. Garron had seen right through him before leaving—clearly, a man who'd dealt with plenty of children and teenagers in his life.Night had fallen, and the synchronized chorus of insects performed a gentle orchestral hum across the forest.Art was currently lying on the thick branch of a large tree, his gaze fixed on the dark sky overhead.This tree would serve as his home for the night, as he had decided not to return to Yuh’s family house. At this point, there wasn’t much reason to go back.Maybe they were expecting him tonight, which, disappointing them on his part, wasn’t great—but sometimes, plans got ruined by circumstance.After everything he had learned, wandering around—especially at night—wouldn’t be the safest move for him anymore.He stared down at the fruit in his hand, his expression shifting into a frown. Not long ago, he was indulging in mouth-watering meals and warm beds. Now, he was stuck with fruit.Sure, he

Hurried footsteps echoed through a corridor, each one a sharp reminder of how much still needed to be done.The footsteps belonged to a man who barely registered the sound. His mind was far too preoccupied, and his body showed clear signs of exhaustion. As he moved, clipboards levitated around him. With a pen in hand, he scribbled quickly on the one before him, handing it to the assistant trailing behind—who was already weighed down with stacks of papers and documents—before grabbing another. Over and over, he repeated the process.One clipboard reported incomplete formations. Another flagged a lack of security in the northwest. This man was the event overseer of the Grand Magus Test. Today was shaping up to be one of the busiest days of his life.The Grand Magus Test was held every two years, and he had already made the usual preparations.But yesterday, everything changed.Word arrived that, instead of sending representatives, the leaders of the top three guilds were attending in