Morning mist still hung low between the trees.
But for Noc.
the world no longer felt the same.
He stood there for a moment, staring into the forest where Augustus had disappeared.
Silent.
Too silent.
"…This is bad."
He muttered under his breath.
His hand was still pressed against his head, fingers digging lightly into his temple as if trying to keep his thoughts from unraveling.
"He's clearly… misunderstood."
There was no other possibility.
It made no sense.
It wasn't logical.
It wasn't…
"…but…"
Noc went quiet.
His brows slowly furrowed.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…he's too serious."
That was the problem.
"If this were just a joke, or politeness, or some small misunderstanding."
"There should be a gap."
"A flaw."
"Something that shows it can be fixed with a simple explanation."
"But there isn't."
Everything Augustus had shown.
"His gaze."
"His tone."
"His posture."
"That's not a normal misunderstanding."
"That's… conviction."
"And conviction like that… doesn't form overnight."
"It's built from experience."
"From comparison."
"From things he has seen… and judged."
"Which means…"
Noc's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…he's already compared me to something."
"Not just an ordinary person."
"But something he has encountered before."
"And the result…"
"…I still appear higher."
Noc didn't smile.
But for the first time.
he began to understand the role he was "playing."
"And I know something like that…"
"…doesn't change easily."
He exhaled slowly.
Measured.
"…If I explain now…"
He imagined it.
Standing in front of that man.
Saying everything was wrong.
That he was no one.
That there was no "blessing."
No power.
Nothing at all.
Silence.
A few seconds.
Then…
He shook his head.
"…stupid."
One word.
Flat.
"If he believes I'm something great…"
"And I say I'm nothing…"
"…that's the same as calling him wrong."
And if that happened…
the consequence formed instantly in his mind.
Fast.
Clear.
Emotionless.
"Someone like him…"
"…won't like being deceived."
"Someone like him would value honor above all."
"Someone like him wouldn't tolerate being made a fool."
The outcome?
Not hard to imagine.
Noc fell silent.
Then slowly.
his expression changed.
Calm.
Deeper.
Colder.
"…Then there's only one choice."
He looked toward the forest again.
Empty.
"Let it be."
The words came out naturally.
But this time.
not from confusion.
But from decision.
"As long as he believes…"
"…I'm safe."
"But belief…"
He paused.
"…has form."
"Not all belief is the same."
"Some are blind."
"Some are hopeful."
"Some are… conditional."
"And from the way Augustus spoke…"
"This isn't blind faith."
"It's a conclusion drawn from observation."
"Which means…"
"…if I deviate too far from his expectations…"
Noc exhaled slowly.
"…he'll start questioning."
And when that happened…
everything could collapse.
"So it's not just letting him believe…"
"…it's making sure what he sees stays consistent."
Silence.
The wind moved softly.
And for the first time.
Noc wasn't panicking.
He was thinking.
Truly thinking.
He began walking slowly away from the hut.
His steps were light, but deliberate.
"He's strong."
That was obvious.
No explanation needed.
No proof required.
Even Noc.
who didn't understand aura or power.
could feel it.
"If someone like that…"
"…sees me as his superior…"
He stopped.
His gaze dropped slightly.
"…that can be used."
"But using it doesn't mean controlling him."
"I know my limits."
"Someone like Augustus isn't a tool."
"He's not something that can be directed easily."
"…More like…"
"…I have to become a reference point."
Not giving orders.
but becoming something that makes Augustus choose on his own.
And those choices.
had to benefit Noc.
"If he moves…"
"…it has to feel like his own decision."
Not force.
Not visible manipulation.
But an outcome that feels… inevitable.
Silence.
That thought lingered.
Cold.
Without hesitation.
Without guilt.
As if it were the most natural conclusion in the world.
But…
a few seconds later…
Noc let out a small breath.
"…Tch."
He scratched the back of his head.
Slightly annoyed.
"Can't be careless."
Reflex.
His survival instinct reacted immediately.
"If I make a mistake…"
"…he could turn from protector into threat."
And that…
was far more dangerous.
than anything he had ever faced.
Noc closed his eyes for a moment.
Regulating his breathing.
His thoughts.
"So…"
"Don't lie too much."
"Don't promise anything."
"Don't take unnecessary risks."
His eyes opened again.
Sharper.
More focused.
"…and most importantly."
"Don't become the center of attention."
"Because attention… invites observation."
"And observation… creates patterns."
"Patterns create understanding."
"And understanding…"
"…will become my greatest enemy right now."
"At least… I need to survive."
"As long as he doesn't understand me…"
"…I still have room to move."
Noc lifted his chin slightly.
"…and that space will be more valuable than strength."
He gave a small nod.
As if confirming it to himself.
Something moved lightly.
and settled on his shoulder.
Light.
Barely noticeable.
Noc glanced sideways.
The small horned creature.
sat there.
As always.
Still.
Its tiny eyes stared forward.
Expressionless.
Yet somehow.
its presence felt… different today.
Noc watched it for a few seconds.
"…You."
He spoke quietly.
Not really expecting an answer.
"Last night…"
He stopped.
Exhaled.
"…forget it."
The creature didn't react.
Didn't move.
Didn't respond.
But…
its small tail swayed slightly.
For a brief moment.
Almost like…
it acknowledged him.
Noc looked away.
"…Weird."
He muttered.
But didn't continue.
Because…
something else mattered more now.
He walked deeper into the forest.
But this time.
his goal wasn't traps.
Not food.
Not routine.
But…
observation.
He moved without sound.
Careful steps.
His eyes scanning the surroundings.
"If he's really hunting…"
"…I need to know what he considers 'prey.'"
"That matters."
"A lot."
"Because from that…"
"I can measure…"
"…how far this misunderstanding has gone."
"And… how big of a problem I'm dealing with."
"And from the way he spoke… about testing his strength…"
"…I need to prepare for every possibility."
A few moments later.
he stopped.
His body lowered instantly.
Instinct.
Natural.
From behind a bush.
he saw something.
Tracks.
Deep imprints in the soil.
Heavy.
Too heavy.
"…This…"
Noc narrowed his eyes.
Those weren't from a deer.
Not a boar.
Bigger.
Heavier.
More…
"…dangerous."
Silence.
The wind stilled.
And within the forest.
something moved.
Slow.
Heavy.
Dragging against the ground.
Noc didn't move.
Didn't breathe too loudly.
Didn't make a sound.
But in his mind.
one thing became clear.
"…If that's what he meant…"
He swallowed.
Slowly.
"…I'm in trouble."
And yet.
instead of panic.
the corner of his lips lifted slightly.
Thin.
Barely visible.
"But…"
His eyes sharpened.
Focused.
"…as long as I'm not the target…"
He stepped back.
Silently.
"…this can still be used."
But "used" didn't mean approaching.
Quite the opposite.
The further he stayed from the center of conflict.
the more space he had to read the situation.
"I'm not strong."
"…I just need to know who is."
And more importantly.
when they move.
And why.
Noc stared into the mist.
Not with fear.
But with something calmer.
Calculation.
The mist no longer felt foreign.
No longer threatening.
It was simply… part of something larger.
Something he was slowly beginning to understand.
And for the first time.
Noc wasn't just surviving.
He was starting to…
use it.
The mist shifted again.
Covering part of his view.
Hiding more than it revealed.
But Noc didn't move.
Didn't retreat.
Noc Valeir.
did not try to fight.
Did not try to fully understand.
He simply observed.
Calculated.
Waited.
Still.
Patient.
Because he knew.
the world was never truly clean.
From the very beginning.
it had been rotten.
And in a place like that.
the one who survives is not the strongest.
But.
the one who adapts best.
And slowly.
a realization formed.
Simple.
Cold.
Undeniable.
"If the world cannot change…"
"Then I will adapt to it."
He paused.
His eyes still empty.
"If necessary…"
"I will become a maggot."
Not anger.
Not despair.
Just… acceptance.
Too calm.
"Because from the start…"
"This world was already rotten."
"And…"
"This is where I live."
The mist closed in completely.
And Noc…quietly shed a tear.