Eternal Freedom's Ascension

Chapter 202: Nirad System: Wish-granting System?

Ysabella blinked, her expression clearing briefly.

"Whose... fault?"

Hazel’s gaze bore down on her, like a silent judgment of a higher being.

"Yes. Whose fault? Do you think there would have been any chance to win this evaluation by doing something different from what we did?"

She stepped forward, her face inches away from Ysabella.

"If you were blind to it before, I hope you can see it now. Compared to the other classes, our Class-E is pathetically weak."

She paused, closing her eyes and taking a breath.

"If you don’t have anything to contribute to the overall growth of the class, then you shouldn’t complain."

Liam remained silent, his head slightly lowered.

Every one of Hazel’s words was true, and they struck a chord in his heart.

Hazel glanced at him, then turned around.

"I’ll be needing a break for myself. If you need anything, you can message me, but please don’t call. Thank you."

Slipping her phone back into her pocket, she waved casually, and walked away.

The sound of her shoes clicking against the ground grew distant, until it could no longer be heard.

Ysabella’s head remained lowered, causing Liam to think she was saddened.

He hesitantly raised a hand, then patted her shoulder.

"Don’t worry, Ysabella. I know we’re all aiming for the good of the class. Let’s just relax for now. I’ll set a class meeting to be held next week. Okay?"

Before she could reply, Kiera walked over, a suspicious glint in her eyes.

"Liam, Instructor Natalie announced a full break until next week. Let’s make plans already!"

Her expression was excited, and she immediately dragged him away.

Liam followed with a bitter smile, leaving Ysabella standing alone.

The blonde girl clenched her fists, her green eyes swirling with darkness.

’Hazel...’

There was unmistakable hatred boiling in her heart at the mention of that name. At first, she had simply disliked the girl’s superior attitude.

However, that dislike snowballed into hate when Hazel rejected all of her advances, maintaining a cold facade.

Now—

’Now... Hazel, we can’t stay in this same school anymore. I’ll make sure you’re expelled. Even if I have to betray the entire class.’

"Ysabella? Is everything alright?"

A girl from Class-A came over, looking at her worriedly.

Ysabella raised her head smoothly, a bright smile on her angelic face.

"Ah, Tiara. Sorry, I was just being moody about my class’s results."

Still, she grinned.

"However, that’s in the past now, and I can only look forward to the future."

Tiara smiled and nodded. "I’m glad you’re feeling better. By the way, do you want to hang out with us? We decided to visit the game center. I thought you might want to tag along."

Ysabella’s eyes lit up. "The game center? Hm, sure. Let’s go."

The two girls walked off, unaware that they were being watched by a silver-haired boy.

’Ysabella is close friends with students from other classes. Her network of connections is truly wide.’

The boy watched them disappear into the corridor, then quietly left the Arena too.

............

Maya and Kaiser headed to the school library as usual, settling in a quiet corner to read.

The familiar wooden scent of books filled the air, different from the heated tension in the Arena. It was a nice contrast, more relaxing and more comfortable.

"Are you sure it’s alright for you? I thought you might want to go and rest in your room after the evaluation has concluded."

The girl asked, her green eyes resting on Kaiser.

Initially, she had only intended to walk with him halfway to the dormitory, then come to the library alone.

However, Kaiser had caught onto her intentions and decided to follow her to the library.

"It’s fine, though. The library is quite comforting too."

Kaiser said to her, opening a book he had picked from the horror section.

Maya glanced at the book, pressing her elbows on the wooden table to peek at its contents.

"You know, I was never a fan of fantasy or things like becoming an Awakened. I used to think I’d grow up to become a police officer or a detective."

Kaiser tilted his head, listening.

"However, I guess fate had other plans for me. I became an Awakened. Still, can you guess the ironic thing?"

She smiled, a melancholic look on her face.

"Even after becoming an Awakened, my desire manifested into my ability—Insight."

Kaiser’s eyes widened subtly, a slight tremor in his heart.

Her ability... was related to her desire? Wasn’t that the same thing that occurred to him?

’Could it be an actual theory? That a person’s desire becomes the ability they eventually awaken?’

He wasn’t sure, but it felt like a point to consider.

Looking at Kaiser’s complicated expression, Maya’s smile dimmed.

"Kai, I said all these so you can understand what I wanted."

The two locked eyes, every other thing around them becoming insignificant.

"I have never seen you strive for something. You don’t participate in the class competition, and you’re always carefree. But I can tell, Kai. You have a burden you’re carrying—a kind of obsession. And it’s collapsing on you."

She stretched out her hand, placing it gently on his own.

"What is your desire? I... want to know."

After a moment of silence, Kaiser lowered his gaze.

"You won’t understand. It’s not—"

"I know," Maya interrupted him. "I might not understand you. But I know expressing yourself would relieve you."

Kaiser fell silent again, closing his eyes and leaning into the chair.

It felt comfortable, yet not. There was an impulse to let it all out—more than he had exposed to Hazel, even.

’That’s obviously not going to work. I will only be involving her in something dangerous.’

Even as he had that thought, her words rang in his mind.

’But I know expressing yourself would relieve you.’

Kaiser opened his eyes, measuring the sincerity in Maya’s eyes.

His shoulders eased, and he finally spoke to her.

He explained everything. His background, his desire, his sins, his achievements, and his burdens.

Everything was laid bare before her.

It was an impulsive decision, but when he was done, he truly felt relieved.

A different kind of relief he hadn’t felt in years.