Congratulations, You’ve Been Promoted to Rank…!

The simulation sky turned orange. The digital sun began to slowly set, as if it knew that all the cadets in the exam zone were running out of energy. A breeze from the artificial wind rustled the holographic leaves, creating a sunset scene that almost felt peaceful—if we weren't so physically and mentally drained.

Silently, the system sent the final notification to our HUDs:

"Time's up. Simulation declared complete."

All teams automatically received orders to return to the extraction point. A soft guiding light lit up on each of our maps. Amid ragged breaths and dragging feet, one cheerful voice still stood out.

Kael did a small leap and pumped his fist."YES! We survived! No one got seriously hurt! No one got eaten by turrets! No one—"

"—except my reputation," I cut in, dragging my feet. Our training suits were filthy and covered in sensor tags, but Kael still had the energy to cheer.

Ryn just gave a quiet laugh. "For someone who wanted to fail, you did remarkably well."

All I could do was sigh and look up at the digital sky. Even a fake sky seemed to be mocking me today.

[Back at the Academy – Evaluation Hall]

All cadets gathered in the academy's main hall, waiting for the evaluation results to be displayed on the massive projection screen. Some looked exhausted, some proud, and some… asleep. (Kael was in the third category until Ryn pinched his shoulder.)

I sat in the back row. As always. Alone. Comfortable. Or at least, supposed to be.

Then, the names started appearing one by one.

"Cadet: Ryn Selvar – Rank Up: D → C""Cadet: Kael Varn – Rank Up: E → D""Cadet: Nala Yurein – Rank Up: C → B"

And then…

"Cadet: Deren Arkwright – Rank Up: F → C(Special Observation Candidate – Recommended for Technical and Tactical Track)."

Silence.

Every head turned toward me.

I slowly raised my hand. "Can I appeal this?"

"No," answered Tessan, who I didn't even realize was standing right behind me.

I nearly fell off my chair.

[Deren & Tessan's Conversation]

After the evaluation ended, Tessan asked me to stay behind. We sat in the now-empty observation room, accompanied only by the faint light of a dead projector and the stale scent of instant coffee. Outside, the echoes of cadets celebrating their results still lingered faintly.

"Why me?" I asked honestly. One hand in my pocket, gripping a leftover component from the device I had tinkered with during the simulation. Old habit—always keeping my hands busy so my thoughts wouldn't spiral.

"Because you showed a unique pattern. You didn't just survive. You fixed. Anticipated. And... adapted," Tessan replied. Her voice calm, nearly flat, but each word felt like it came from a long and careful analysis.

"I just... didn't feel like dying," I said flatly, half joking.

Tessan gave a small smile. "That's survival instinct. But you also can't leave things broken for too long, can you? Even if it's not your responsibility."

I didn't respond. But deep down, I knew she was right. Maybe that's the issue—I enjoy fixing things too much, even when all I really want is a peaceful life.

"The world is changing, Deren. We need people like you. Even if you refuse to be called a hero."

I stood slowly, looking around the dim room."I'm not a hero. I'm just a nap enthusiast who happens to know how to code… and hates seeing broken systems."

Tessan nodded softly. But before I opened the door, she added:

"And sometimes… the world is saved by someone who just can't tolerate bugs."

[End of Chapter – Team Reactions]

"DEREN! DUDE! RANK C?!"

Kael nearly lifted me off the ground in the hallway, his face glowing like he'd just won the lottery. He even spun in place once and shouted,"I'm friends with a Special Observation Candidate! Can I put this on my résumé?!"

Ryn smiled as usual, but this time, he gave me a quiet fist bump. His movements calm, but the look in his eyes said: I knew you weren't ordinary from the start.

Nala looked at me as she always did—calm, sharp, as if she could see through my thoughts. Then she said:

"You're not ordinary. Just admit it."

I let out a long sigh and raised my hands in surrender."I'll admit it… if all of you stop following me everywhere."

They didn't answer. But they kept walking behind me.

Kael even patted my shoulder."From now on, bro, you're our main character!"

"I'm a side character with anti-attention features," I replied.

They laughed. But they kept walking with me.

And somehow… it didn't feel so bad.

[Elsewhere]

Far away, amidst screens filled with evaluation data and strategic surveillance maps, someone typed swiftly inside a dark room lit only by dozens of transparent displays. Their fingers danced, typing out line after line of a report that would draw attention at the highest levels.

[Location: Classified Briefing Room – Eterna Central Intelligence Agency]

The room was dim, lit only by the glow of a large holographic table at the center. Three figures in black sat in silence, their faces obscured by automatic visual filters.

A file opened, showing lines of newly gathered data from Nova Academy. At the very top, one name appeared, marked in red highlight:

"Deren Arkwright – Subject of Special Surveillance. Indications of indirect affiliation with illegal organization: EIDOLON."

"This isn't a coincidence," one of them said. Their voice was modulated—cold and emotionless.

"87.4% design pattern match with technology we confiscated three years ago. And now that prototype appears… inside the academy's system?"

"What's more disturbing… is that the academy doesn't even realize their tech has been infiltrated."

The third tapped the screen.

"Eidolon. An organization that's considered legend even in the underworld. Source of chaos or shadow savior… still unknown. But if Deren is connected to them—even indirectly—this could trigger something far bigger."

[Location: Black Market Zone – Hidden Bar Beneath Andarell City]

Core fumes drifted from a purifier in the corner. In a bar's shadowy corner, two weapon dealers spoke in hushed, tense tones.

"You hear about it? That weapon… the one that showed up during the Nova exam… they say it's almost identical to Eidolon's work."

"I thought Eidolon was just a rumor. Like ghost stories to scare rookie traders."

"Then why did our top two bosses suddenly freeze all prototype deals?"

Their voices lowered. One of them glanced nervously at the exit.

"Some say… Eidolon doesn't like their creations being used carelessly. And if they get angry, no city will be safe."

[Location: Clarice's Private Office – Eidolon Main HQ]

Clarice stood before a large transparent window. Beyond it, hundreds of digital blueprints floated in the air, glowing faintly in soft blue light.

A new report arrived at her private terminal.

"Global awareness of Eidolon technology increased by 247%.Surveillance status on Deren Arkwright escalated.Organization reputation surged in the underworld, declined in official sectors."

Clarice exhaled. Her eyes sharp, but her expression calm.

"Deren… you always said you just wanted a quiet life. But every time you touch something… the world shifts."

She closed the display, then pressed a button.

"Alert all tracking divisions. Make sure… not a single weapon leaks out again."