The following morning, the academy dormitories were already awake.
Students moved through the corridors, preparing for their first practical training session.
Some carried wooden swords, while others carried books and training equipment.
Inside Nihil’s dormitory, however, everything was quiet.
Mimi opened the curtains.
“Master, wake up.”
Nihil was already sitting at his desk, reading.
Mimi stared at him.
“You’re awake already?”
“Yes.”
“When did you wake up?”
“Before sunrise.”
Mimi sighed.
“You really don’t know how to rest.”
“I rested.”
“How long?”
“Three hours.”
“Three hours isn’t enough.”
“It was sufficient.”
Mimi shook her head.
“Come on.
Breakfast.”
Nihil closed his book.
“Very well.”
When they stepped outside, Seraphina was already waiting.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes,” Mimi answered.
Nihil simply nodded.
The three of them walked toward the dining hall.
THE FIRST PRACTICAL CLASS
The academy’s training grounds were enormous.
Hundreds of students had gathered across the field.
Reinforced barriers surrounded the area, designed to withstand magical attacks.
Teachers stood around the edges while students from different kingdoms and noble families prepared themselves.
Some practiced with swords.
Others trained hand-to-hand.
Several students were already activating their Shinkai.
Colored mist spread across the training grounds.
Golden.
Silver.
Blue.
Purple.
White.
Nihil walked onto the field.
The conversations immediately changed.
“That’s him.”
“Nihil Mora.”
“The Perfect Human.”
“The Prodigy of Augustus.”
“I heard he got the highest entrance score.”
“I heard he’s never failed an examination.”
Mimi glanced at Nihil.
“Everyone is talking about you again.”
“I know.”
“Doesn’t it bother you?”
“No.”
Mimi sighed.
“Of course it doesn’t.”
Their instructor stepped forward.
“Everyone, listen.”
The students became quiet.
“Today’s lesson is practical combat.”
He looked across the field.
“You’ve spent the last few days learning theory.
Now you’re going to put it into practice.”
Several students became excited.
“Knowledge means nothing if you can’t apply it.”
The instructor continued.
“Students may challenge one another.
This is training, so don’t let your pride get in the way of learning.”
A young student immediately walked toward Nihil.
“Prince Nihil.”
Nihil looked at him.
“Yes?”
“Would you train with me?”
“Certainly.”
The student smiled.
“Thank you.”
They took their positions.
The instructor raised his hand.
“Begin.”
The student immediately charged.
Nihil moved once.
CLACK.
The student’s wooden sword flew from his hand.
Before he could react, Nihil’s wooden sword was already resting against his shoulder.
“You’re defeated.”
The student stared at him.
“I didn’t even see you move.”
Another student stepped forward.
“Then fight me.”
Nihil turned toward him.
“Very well.”
The second student activated his Shinkai.
Mist surrounded his body.
He rushed forward.
Nihil stepped aside.
The attack missed.
Nihil struck his wrist.
The wooden sword fell to the ground.
“You’re defeated.”
Another student stepped forward.
Then another.
One after another, students challenged Nihil.
None of them could defeat him.
Some lasted several seconds.
Others lasted barely one.
Nihil never looked excited.
He never became angry.
He never became frustrated.
He simply watched.
Moved.
And won.
Eventually, the entire training ground became quiet.
The instructor looked at him.
“You’ve defeated twelve students.”
“Yes.”
“And you haven’t activated your Shinkai once.”
“It wasn’t necessary.”
The instructor studied him for a moment.
“Then I’ll give you a stronger opponent.”
He turned toward the strongest student on the field.
“You.”
The student looked around.
“Me?”
“Yes.
Come forward.”
The student stepped into the training area.
“I accept.”
The instructor raised his hand.
“Begin.”
The student’s Shinkai exploded outward.
A powerful mist spread across the field.
Several students stepped backward from the pressure.
The student rushed toward Nihil.
Nihil avoided the strike.
Again.
And again.
And again.
The student’s frustration continued to grow.
“Fight me!”
Nihil calmly looked at him.
“I am fighting you.”
The student gritted his teeth and attacked with everything he had.
Nihil finally stepped forward.
One strike.
The wooden sword hit the student’s chest.
He fell backward.
Nihil lowered his weapon.
“Your strength is considerable.”
The student looked up at him.
“Then why did I lose?”
“Your emotions controlled your movements.”
The student went silent.
Nihil continued.
“Control yourself before attempting to control your power.”
The instructor nodded.
“Remember that.”
The student slowly stood.
“I understand.”
LUNCH
The dining hall was packed.
Students surrounded Nihil’s table.
Some wanted to speak with him.
Others simply wanted to see the famous Perfect Human up close. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Mimi placed a plate in front of Nihil.
“Eat.”
Seraphina placed another plate beside him.
“You should try this.”
Nihil looked at both of them.
“I can eat by myself.”
“We know.”
Mimi picked up her fork.
“But you won’t.”
Several students nearby laughed.
“The Perfect Human is being treated like a child.”
“He’s ten.”
“Still.”
Mimi held the fork toward Nihil.
“Eat.”
Nihil looked at her for a moment before accepting it.
“I suppose.”
Seraphina looked at Mimi.
“I was going to feed him.”
“You were too slow.”
“You did that deliberately.”
“Perhaps.”
Nihil continued eating while the two of them argued.
He didn’t seem bothered at all.
THE LIBRARY
Later that afternoon, Nihil entered the academy library.
Seraphina followed him, carrying several books.
Mimi walked beside them.
“You finished those already?”
“Yes.”
“All of them?”
“Yes.”
Mimi sighed.
“You’re impossible.”
Nihil opened another book.
“That statement has no practical value.”
Mimi frowned.
“You really do speak like that all the time.”
Nihil continued reading.
At another table, the two students who had been reading the mysterious historical books were sitting together.
The curious student looked toward Nihil.
“There he is.”
The tired student barely lifted his head.
“Who?”
“Nihil.”
“I know.”
The curious student lowered his voice.
“Everyone calls him perfect.”
The tired student yawned.
“After everything we’ve read, I don’t think I’d want that title.”
The curious student smiled.
“Maybe that’s exactly why we should keep reading.”
He opened another book.
The tired student sighed.
“Fine.”
NIGHT — NIHIL’S DORMITORY
The academy had become silent.
Moonlight entered through the dormitory window.
Nihil sat quietly on his bed.
Mimi sat beside him.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Mimi broke the silence.
“Master.”
Nihil looked toward her.
“Yes?”
“I’ve never seen you excited.”
Nihil remained silent.
Mimi continued.
“I’ve never seen you really happy either.”
She tilted her head.
“Or sad.”
Nihil looked at her.
“I wonder why.”
Mimi hesitated before finally asking:
“Master…
what are you exactly?”
Nihil looked at her.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Mimi lowered her voice.
“I heard you smile once.”
Nihil remained silent.
“Once in your entire life.”
She looked directly at him.
“That means you have emotions.”
Nihil didn’t answer.
“So why hide them?”
She hesitated.
“And I can sense things because I’m a demi-human.
I can smell things humans can’t.”
Mimi looked confused.
“But your scent is different from humans.”
She tilted her head.
“Why is that?”
Nihil stared at her for a moment.
Then he calmly said:
“So you figured it out.”
Mimi’s eyes widened.
“Master…”
Nihil looked toward the window.
“Well.”
He paused.
“I am a monster, I suppose.”
Mimi became quiet.
“An emotionless monster.”
He looked down at his hands.
“An undead.”
He paused again.
“Or perhaps…”
Nihil shrugged slightly.
“I don’t know.”
Mimi stared at him.
Nihil continued.
“Well, I can tell you now, I suppose.”
A strange mist slowly began surrounding his body.
Mimi’s eyes widened.
Nihil’s body began to change.
His appearance became taller.
Two horns slowly emerged from his head.
A long dragon-like tail appeared behind him.
His presence changed.
He looked neither completely human nor completely draconic.
Mimi stared in silence.
Nihil calmly looked at her.
“I am a hybrid.”
Mimi blinked.
“A hybrid?”
“After some experiments back home, I ended up like this.”
He looked at his horns.
“I suppose that’s what I became.”
Mimi slowly approached him.
Nihil looked down at her.
Then he gently patted her head.
“You are so lucky to have such a furry tail and cute ears.”
Mimi’s ears immediately moved.
She smiled.
“Your horns and tail are beautiful as well.”
Nihil looked at her.
“Thanks.”
He gently touched one of her ears.
“But these are nothing compared to yours.”
Mimi’s tail moved happily.
Nihil looked toward her.
“I really want this world to remain perfect.”
Mimi immediately noticed the seriousness in his voice.
“Master…”
She looked at him.
“Is it changing?”
Nihil didn’t answer immediately.
Mimi quickly asked:
“We aren’t leaving each other, are we?”
Nihil looked at her.
“No.”
He paused.
“Not now, at least.”
Mimi’s ears lowered.
“What do you mean by ‘not now’?”
She looked suspiciously at him.
“Do you mean you’ll leave me after your marriage with Seraphina?”
Nihil stared at her.
“No.”
He shook his head.
Mimi blinked.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Nihil looked toward the window.
“And I doubt anyone else in this era will have that kind of future.”
He paused.
“Even my brother.”
Mimi became confused.
“Why, Master?”
Nihil’s expression became distant.
“Because this generation is not so lucky.”
Mimi’s ears slowly lowered.
“This era is cursed.”
“Cursed?”
“Yes.”
Nihil looked at her.
“And no one is lucky.”
He gently touched her ears.
“But you…”
He smiled faintly.
“You were lucky to have such wonderful ears and a beautiful tail.”
Mimi smiled slightly.
“But…”
Nihil’s expression became serious again.
“…you were unlucky to be born in this era.”
Mimi looked at him.
“Master…”
Nihil continued.
“But don’t worry.”
His voice remained calm.
“I will create a world of peace and perfection for you.”
Mimi stared at him.
“And for my family.”
He looked through the window at the peaceful academy.
“Before the storm starts.”
Mimi didn’t speak.
Nihil continued quietly.
“So everyone can live without regret.”
The room became silent.
Outside, the Imperial Academy remained peaceful.
Students were sleeping.
Teachers were preparing for another ordinary day.
The kingdoms beyond the academy were still celebrating their age of peace.
Nobody knew what the future would bring.
But Nihil did.
Or at least…
he believed he did.
He looked toward the moonlit sky.
For now, the world was still perfect.
For now, everyone was still together.
And Nihil intended to keep it that way.
Even if the peace itself was already beginning to crack.
THE LIBRARY
The academy library was quiet.
Only the sound of turning pages could be heard between the enormous shelves.
The curious student slowly closed his book.
The tired student looked up from his desk.
“So…”
“What?”
The curious student stared at the book in front of him.
“That chapter was different.”
The tired student frowned.
“Different how?”
“It wasn’t really about Nihil fighting anyone.”
“True.”
The curious student leaned back.
“It was about what he actually is.”
The tired student became more interested.
“You mean the hybrid thing?”
“Yes.”
He looked toward the shelves.
“First everyone thought he was simply a perfect human.”
“Then we learned about his power.”
“Then the President.”
“And now…”
The curious student lowered his voice.
“…he says he’s a monster.”
The tired student stared at him.
“An emotionless monster.”
“An undead.”
“And apparently a hybrid.”
The curious student nodded.
“After experiments.”
The tired student rubbed his forehead.
“That’s a lot to reveal in one night.”
The curious student smiled slightly.
“But that’s not what bothers me.”
“What does?”
“The way he talked about the future.”
The tired student stopped turning the page.
“You mean the cursed era?”
“Yes.”
The curious student looked toward the dark windows.
“He said this generation is unlucky.”
“And that the era is cursed.”
The tired student frowned.
“But everything looks peaceful.”
“Exactly.”
Silence.
The curious student slowly opened the book again.
“That’s what makes it strange.”
The tired student leaned forward.
“He wants to create a world of peace and perfection.”
“Before the storm.”
“Yeah.”
The tired student stared at the words.
“Do you think he knows something?”
The curious student didn’t answer immediately.
“I think he knows more than he’s telling everyone.”
The tired student sighed.
“Of course he does.”
The curious student continued reading.
“And did you notice something else?”
“What?”
“He didn’t say he wanted to rule the world.”
The tired student looked at him.
“He said he wanted to protect it.”
“Exactly.”
A pause.
“That makes him more interesting.”
The tired student shook his head.
“Or more dangerous.”
The curious student looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because someone who wants power is predictable.”
He closed his book.
“But someone who believes they can create a perfect world…”
He paused.
“…might do anything to achieve it.”
The curious student became silent.
Neither student spoke for several seconds.
Then the tired student glanced back toward the book.
“And Mimi?”
“What about her?”
“She seems to trust him completely.”
The curious student nodded.
“She does.”
“Even after finding out he’s a monster.”
“Apparently.”
The tired student smiled faintly.
“Maybe that’s why Nihil told her.”
The curious student looked confused.
“What do you mean?”
“Maybe he wanted at least one person to know what he really was.”
The curious student stared at the book.
“Maybe.”
He turned another page.
“But I don’t think we’ve reached the real story yet.”
The tired student groaned.
“Don’t tell me there’s more.”
The curious student smiled.
“There is always more.”
He looked at the final line of the chapter.
Before the storm starts.
The tired student stared at it.
“I don’t like that sentence.”
“Neither do I.”
“Then why are you smiling?”
The curious student slowly closed the book.
“Because now I really want to know what happens next.”
The tired student sighed.
“Of course you do.”
The library became quiet again.