"I love you."
A special sentence, filled with immeasurable weight, was spoken by a young woman leaning against the shoulder of a young man.
Their fingers were intertwined, hands held tightly, and with her silver ash-blonde hair draped over his shoulder and her golden eyes gleaming darkly, the two of them looked like they had stepped out of a painting.
A painting that promised an eternal love… and an eternal obsession!
But the handsome man, Noel Cross, seemingly unaware of the many hidden layers beneath her gaze and her smile, wore only a gentle, content expression of his own.
In this quiet, comfortable moment… or at least what appeared to be one, Selena Everen suddenly raised her head as a car pulled up a short distance away.
She turned to Noel and said with a soft smile, "It seems my ride has arrived."
"You're not going to get sad just because your new girlfriend's already leaving, are you?"
Faced with this kind of question, Noel replied calmly, "I would always be sad when you are not by my side, though."
Selena simply chuckled at his bluntness, then slowly lifted herself from the bench.
She didn't walk toward the expensive-looking car right away, though.
Instead, she stood still for a moment, staring at Noel, before finally asking,
"You've expressed your feelings… your intention for us to date officially for years now, Noel."
"Do you think your feelings won't change, going forward?"
Noel didn't need to hesitate. It was a question he had already been asked countless times before.
"Of course," he replied.
But seemingly still not satisfied, Selena pressed further, "And you will only love me?"
"Naturally," Noel said with a confident tone.
This time, Selena didn't continue doubting him. Instead, her gaze slowly moved to her left hand, to one of her fingers.
For a brief moment, her eyes gleamed darkly, and something about her aura changed. But just as quickly as it appeared… it vanished.
Then she stepped forward and hugged him tightly, before finally turning away and walking toward the waiting car.
Left alone now, Noel stood in silence, watching the car as it drove off.
His smile gradually faded, and his eyes narrowed.
He looked deep in thought, his mind clearly occupied, when suddenly, someone interrupted him.
"Noel?"
He turned toward the sound, finding one of his fellow students, a girl, standing nearby, looking at him a little bashfully.
He smiled at her politely and responded, "Yes?"
"It seems like you're not with Selena?" the girl asked, somewhat hesitantly.
"Well…" Noel began, but he had only spoken that one word when he suddenly paused.
[Binding with Codex Null: Complete.]
[You have one free simulation available, currently.]
Despite the message window appearing before him, out of nowhere, Noel continued unbothered, as if he hadn't even noticed it.
"Selena just went back home."
The girl's eyes lit up a little at that, and after a small, tentative exchange, she eventually worked up the courage to ask if he wanted to hang out, since today's lessons had already ended.
But Noel, who was quietly observing her expression, subtly searching for any unnatural change, only offered her a polite refusal.
After that, he was finally on his way back home, where despite walking on foot, he somehow ended up spending less time than usual on the road.
And when he finally entered his house?
A girl with long black hair, eyes crimson like blood, and a body far too mature for her eighteen years of age, was standing by the entrance, as if she had been waiting for him.
"Noel."
Lilith, his younger sister, called out in a loud voice the moment she saw him, and then ran forward and hugged him tightly.
She frowned slightly when she caught the scent on him, but with her face buried against his neck, he didn't notice her reaction.
Noel simply wrapped his arms gently around his clingy sister.
And after, not a very short time, when they finally separated, Lilith narrowed her eyes and asked, "You seem happier than usual. Did something happen?"
At her words, Noel's smile widened.
"Actually, today… Selena finally agreed for us to officially date."
Lilith's smile immediately cracked.
For a moment, it looked like she would scowl in open displeasure.
But she held herself back, hummed nonchalantly… and turned away, walking off without another word.
And that was when Noel was finally able to go to his room.
After he entered?
His relaxed, casual demeanor vanished, replaced by a far more serious expression.
He immediately locked the door behind him, moved to the window and did the same there, then pulled the curtains shut.
Only then did he finally walk over to his desk, sit down on the chair in front of it, and turn his eyes toward the message windows that had appeared some time ago.
[Binding with Codex Null: Complete.]
[You will receive one free simulation every seven days.]
[Premium simulations may be conducted at any time using Null Points.]
[Null Points are harvested when the host offers anything bearing traces of soul or law power.]
[You have one free simulation available, currently.]
[Do you want to start the simulation?]
Codex Null. Simulation. Null Points. Law… and then, Soul Power.
Assaulted by all these unfamiliar terms, Noel forced himself to remain calm.
Simulation. That one, at least, he had an inkling of what it could be.
But that was it.