Chapter 11: Bell & Nexus
While the person in charge of the awakening was hesitating, Bell appeared like a savior, the absolutely reliable superior stepping in to save his subordinate.
"The final result is F-rank. We’ve used this awakening crystal sphere many times already. It was probably about time it broke, which is why something strange like that just happened. There’s no need for everyone to panic."
Unlike the overbearing attitude he had when talking to Mark, Bell now stood before the crowd as one of the brightest stars of the younger generation.
"So that’s what happened. It’s not like an awakening crystal sphere breaking has never happened before."
"Everything has a lifespan. Even a crystal sphere is no exception."
...
The whispers and discussions gradually shifted direction. No one paid any attention to Nexus anymore, and everyone’s focus was on the crystal sphere.
Then they realized an extremely serious problem. If the crystal sphere was broken, what were they supposed to use for their awakening?
"Then what about the awakening?"
After discussing it for a while, one person finally gathered the courage to speak up. He was the one standing right behind Nexus in line.
It was obviously almost his turn to awaken, only for something like this to happen. How could he possibly accept it?
Earlier, when he laughed at Mark, he was just laughing at someone else’s misfortune. But now he looked at Nexus with fury, as if he were his greatest enemy.
Even without looking, Nexus could feel it. He was a little surprised that he had already run into such a familiar look just after arriving on another plane.
"I’m sorry, but I have to announce that today’s free awakening event has come to an end. As everyone knows, awakening crystal spheres are very expensive and extremely rare. So we can’t immediately find a replacement."
Bell’s calm words sounded louder than thunder to the people waiting in line.
But what could they do? Protest? Unless they had water in their brains, no normal person would be crazy enough to pick a fight with a hunter guild.
Since they couldn’t hold a grudge against Bell, naturally everyone shifted their hatred onto Nexus. Right now they couldn’t do anything in such a crowded place, but once night fell, who knew what they might do?
"Why do you keep staring at me?"
Nexus could clearly tell there was something off about the way Bell was looking at him. Even though Bell tried to act like he didn’t care, that might fool ordinary people, but nothing more.
"You were the last person to touch the crystal sphere. Since it broke, you’re the biggest reason why. Don’t you plan on compensating us?"
Bell’s face turned cold, and a gust of wind spread from his body and rushed toward Nexus. The wind wasn’t very strong, but to those watching, it looked like Bell was furious.
The people who had just been hating Nexus now felt sorry for him instead. After offending the Wolf guild, did he really think he could live peacefully?
Based on basic logic, anyone taking part in a free awakening event definitely wasn’t well off financially. Because of that, everyone was certain Nexus was about to receive a lifelong ’slave contract’ to pay off this enormous debt.
After thinking it through, no one had any intention of beating up Nexus anymore. Attacking him would be no different from provoking the Wolf guild. But they still needed someone to vent their anger on, so everyone silently turned their attention to Mark.
"What do you want me to compensate for?"
Even with Lucifer’s emotions added to his own, Nexus was still Nexus. His face remained as expressionless as a rock unless he deliberately changed it.
That expression made Bell feel extremely looked down on, but he didn’t do anything that would damage his image in public.
"Come inside with me. This debt isn’t small, so we need to calculate it carefully."
Just like that, the two of them walked into the building. The crowd dispersed on its own since there was nothing worth staying for anymore.
Even the reporters who had been planning to break a sensational story lost interest.
Since Bell had already said that, the news about the first-ever G-rank no longer seemed all that meaningful. But the crystal sphere breaking during the awakening that produced the first G-rank could still count as an entertaining news story.
---
The entire way, Nexus didn’t say a single word. He simply followed Bell in silence all the way to Bell’s private office.
The room was completely soundproof. No matter how loudly someone screamed inside, not a single sound could escape.
There wasn’t a single surveillance system or piece of technology in the room. Other than magic, nothing could monitor what was happening inside.
Nexus had originally thought Bell would be like the people who chased him earlier and start everything with a fight, but Bell simply sat down on the sofa and looked at him.
"Are you really not afraid at all?"
Faced with such a pointless question, even though Nexus talked more than before, he couldn’t be bothered to answer.
Bell once again felt embarrassed, but surprisingly, he only frowned a little instead of getting angry.
"Fine. I admit that question was unnecessary. My wind never actually touched you."
Earlier, he had only been testing him a little, but he never expected such a huge surprise. The wind belonged to him, so naturally it wouldn’t lie to him.
"When you talked to Mark and when you talked to me, it was like you were two completely different people. I honestly thought you were just some arrogant, stupid brat."
Being cursed to his face so suddenly left Bell stunned. When was the last time someone had dared to insult him like this? It seemed there had never been such a precedent.
Bell glared at him with eyes wide open, his expression as terrifying as a humanoid demon. But Nexus remained completely expressionless.
Bell clearly remembered that his voice had been extremely quiet and his movements very subtle. Even a hunter might not have noticed, let alone someone who hadn’t even awakened yet.
Now, Bell began to suspect that Nexus’s true identity wasn’t human.
"What the hell is Mark? That piece of trash doesn’t deserve even a shred of respect from me, but you’re different."
"Do you only know how to talk nonsense? If you want something, just say it."
Once again, Nexus left Bell speechless with his attitude of looking down on everyone. That overbearing tone had to come from Lucifer’s personality. Someone as civilized as Nexus couldn’t possibly talk like that.