Files incomplete. Identity fragmented. The deeper they dig—
the more it seems this student may have never existed.
—
Athena Institute · Academic Affairs Archive Room
Late at night, the lights in the administrative tower were still on.
Inside a ground-floor office, several supervisory faculty members were retrieving this quarter's evaluation reports—
Specifically, those for the experimental admission students.
Chief Supervisor James flipped open one file.
His eyes landed on ID: 22-F03.
Name: Elric
Age: —
Place of Origin: —
Family Contact: None
Data Custodian: Encrypted under Central System Authority
He paused.
Other students had sparse records too.
But each at least had a listed guardian or country of origin.
This one—
"It's like the system's intentionally avoiding someone."
—
"Where is he from?" James asked quietly.
The assistant from the administrative AI support team shook her head.
"We couldn't trace it either. All we know is he qualified through the Global Cognitive Modeling Challenge. His file was redirected to the Human Trust Committee's 'green channel.'"
James narrowed his eyes.
"Human Trust? That group only handles… candidates with grey-background flags."
"Yes."
Silence settled briefly over the room.
—
A few seconds later, James stood up.
He walked to the archive cabinet and began flipping through the hard-copy files.
When he found the page labeled Elric, he frowned.
The entire sheet contained only one line:
"This student's development path falls under Special Observation Protocol. All access requests must go through internal top level review."
He murmured under his breath—
"This isn't hidden."
"This is… forbidden to exist."
—
Meanwhile, on Floor 22, Elric sat alone in the dormitory's study lounge.
A new task invitation had just appeared on his terminal.
Task Title:
Global Youth Simulation Enterprise Challenge · Urban Systems Co-Training Project
Reason for Selection:
Top 3% in Non-Standard Logic Construction. High potential in 'Unpredictable Scenario Resolution'.
He stared at the screen for a long time.
There were no mentor signatures.
No assigned teams.
Only one line:
"You may choose to join. Or remain within the original system."
—
He didn't hesitate long.
He tapped [Accept].
—
Meanwhile, in the study room of the Zane residence, Liu stood by the desk, delivering his update.
"Someone in the central system has started looking into Elric's background."
Zane didn't turn around.
He was slowly flipping through an old magazine.
"He's drawing too much attention," Liu said quietly.
"If we don't set boundaries, they'll eventually trace it back to the origin."
Zane closed the magazine.
"The origin doesn't matter."
"Then what's your move?"
Zane's voice was calm.
"If he's going to enter the real world, he can't be raised by the system."
"Next—let him learn how to handle a world that doesn't want him."
—
Back in the dorm room, Elric was tidying his desk.
He had no idea someone was digging into his records.
An unknown big shot from behind the scenes had setting up a path for Elric towards the society.
He simply slipped the pocket watch into his coat—
The one that Zane had given to him that night
on the rooftop of the hotel restaurant.
The night he'd quietly said,
"I'm afraid of turning dirty too."
—
"Simulation Enterprise Challenge begins tomorrow."
The terminal flashed the confirmation notice.
Elric stared at the words.
And quietly said—
"It has to start somewhere."
——
[Chapter Epigraph]
Some are system oversights.
Some are system redactions.
But he—he grew his claws in the space left blank on purpose.
⸻
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Chapter 20 · Trial Zone Zero
Urban core. Simulated corporate battlefield.
Who are you? And what are you worth?