The class erupted into murmurs. "No way!" someone whispered. "Ren? There's no way this is true! I knew he was an attention whore but to this extent."
Suddenly, everyone who wasn't even interested in him started to look at him like he was a strange specimen.
Kaito gaped at him. "Dude, seriously? When did this happen? Why didn't you tell us?"
Both Kaito and Greg were a little disappointed that their best friend kept this a secret from them, his best friends but they were not going to make a fuss about it.
Ms. Jenny adjusted her glasses, regaining her composure. "This is unexpected, Ren. Awakening outside of the standard procedures or without any signs... we'll need to verify this. But if it's true, that's remarkable. Everyone, quiet down! Class is over and Ren you're coming with me."
Meiling's eyes lingered on Ren longer than usual, a flicker of curiosity—or was it something else?—crossing her face before she looked away. Did that get her attention? Ren wondered, sitting back down as the class buzzed with excitement.
Luxy, who had invisibly followed him whole through out the way, whispered in his ear, unheard by others. "Ren, that was bold. I didn't expect you to confess about it like this,"
Ren looked around, noticing that Ms. Jenny had put some distance between them, before answering Luxy. "It wasn't something I did without thinking. If I just kept my power a secret, I'd be stuck attending those boring household management classes, and our goal of meeting strong women would only remain a dream. But now... now I can hopefully attract the attention of some powerful parties—ones I can use for myself."
Ms. Jenny, who was walking a few steps ahead, suddenly slowed and came to a halt as if she wanted to say something. She had always been a stern teacher toward her students, but that didn't mean she lacked care. In truth, she cared for her students more deeply than most of the other teachers in the academy.
Ren's eyes drifted to her back almost instinctively. The subtle sway of her hips, the roundness of her ass beneath the fabric of her tight skirt—it caught his gaze and held it.
His throat tightened, and a familiar heat stirred within him. For a moment, his thoughts wavered from ambition to something far more primal, his mind painting images of what it would be like to touch her, to have her stern eyes narrow not in scolding, but in something far more intimate.
*Sigh
He sighed at the realization that Ms. Jenny wasn't worth it. After all, if the next woman his eyes landed on didn't possess power comparable to Meiling, then she wouldn't be worth his attention either—unless he genuinely liked her, which he doubted would ever happen in this twisted world of romance.
After all, he knew that no matter who fell in love with him, they would eventually turn crazy enough to ruin his life.
As Ms. Jenny came to a halt, neither of them said anything. Then, she slowed her steps, her shoulders tightening ever so slightly.
"…Ren," she said softly, her voice lacking the usual sharpness she had when addressing her students.
Ren blinked, a little surprised at the gentleness in her tone. "Yes, Ms. Jenny?"
She stopped walking altogether and turned halfway toward him. Her glasses reflected the hallway light, hiding her eyes, but he could hear something unusual—hesitation—in her voice.
"I… I want to apologize."
Ren tilted his head. "Apologize? For what?"
Jenny's lips pressed into a thin line. Her usually strict, perfect posture seemed to waver for once.
"That incident…" she muttered, voice low. "When you were assaulted during your first month here. That should never have happened under my watch. You were my student. You were under my protection. And yet, I failed to keep you safe."
Ren froze. He hadn't expected her to bring that up. That incident had been etched in his memory—ugly, humiliating, and scarring. But when he remembered it, what he felt wasn't fear, but anger. He was glad that he had regained his hatred toward crazy bitches.
Jenny clenched her fists. "I regret it more than you know. I regret not being there for you when you needed me most. For all my strictness, for all my lectures… I let you down when it truly mattered."
Her voice trembled on the last word, and Ren suddenly realized—she meant it. This wasn't just a teacher's formal apology. It was genuine, raw guilt.
Ren exhaled slowly, forcing a small smile. "It's fine, Ms. Jenny. Really. It wasn't your fault."
Her head snapped toward him, eyes finally visible behind her lenses, wide with disbelief. "How can you say that? Of course it was my fault. If I had taken better precautions, if I had—"
Ren shook his head. "No. It was their fault. Not yours. You couldn't have been everywhere, watching everything. I've already… accepted it."
His voice was calm, but firm. Jenny stared at him, lips trembling as if she wanted to argue more, but then she sighed, adjusting her glasses again to hide her expression.
"…You are strong, Ren," she said quietly. "Stronger than I thought."
Ren smirked faintly. "I have to be. Otherwise, I'd be crushed in this twisted world."
Jenny gave him a long, unreadable look, then straightened her back and resumed walking. "Come on. We're going to the Headlady's office."
Ren blinked. "The Headlady? Gonzalous?"
"Yes."
Ren frowned. "I've only seen her once during the opening ceremony…How is she?"
Jenny hesitated, her steps slowing for just a second. Then she whispered under her breath, "…She's not a bad person… but not a good person either."
Ren heard it clearly, though she probably hadn't meant for him to hear that last part.
He raised an eyebrow. Not a good person either, huh?
Before he could ask, Jenny stopped in front of a massive double door carved with strange sigils.
"…We're here." She reached forward, knocking once before pushing it open.
Inside, the air smelled faintly of incense and something sharper—cigarette smoke.
At a large desk sat an old woman, her presence filling the room without her saying a word. Her hair was silver, tied neatly in a bun, and her sharp eyes pierced Ren the moment he entered. Instinctively, he felt danger radiating from her.
But what drew his attention even more was the woman seated casually in front of the desk. She wore a long brown coat over a tight black suit that hugged her figure. Her slightly brown hair framed her sharp features, and a cigarette dangled from her lips as she exhaled smoke lazily.
Jenny froze for a moment before her eyes narrowed. "…Amanda Marquez?"
Ren's breath hitched. He knew that name. Everyone did. She appeared often on television—an infamous figure tied to the National Dungeon Authority.
Amanda turned her head slightly, giving Jenny a thin smile. "It's been a while, Ms. Jenny."
Jenny glanced at Gonzalous, as if demanding an explanation. The old woman merely muttered, "So this is the boy who awakened?"
Jenny nodded stiffly. "Yes."
"Good." Gonzalous's gaze shifted to Ren. "Come forward and sit. Ms. Jenny, you may leave."
Jenny stiffened. "But—"
"That will be all, Ms. Jenny," Gonzalous repeated, tone sharp.
Jenny hesitated, eyes flickering toward Ren with clear reluctance. But after a long moment, she bowed slightly and walked out, the door clicking shut behind her.
Ren swallowed, suddenly aware of how quiet the room had become.
"Sit," Gonzalous ordered.
He obeyed, sitting in the chair next to Amanda. The woman was still smoking, her eyes cool but faintly curious as they swept over him.
"I am Pamela Gonzalous," the old woman introduced, her voice firm. She gestured toward Amanda. "And this is Amanda Marquez. You've heard of her, I presume?"
Ren nodded silently.
"Good." Gonzalous leaned forward slightly. "Now tell me, child. Why do you think you are an Awakener?"
Ren straightened his back. "Because… I felt it. The phenomenon everyone describes. The surge. The… change. It wasn't something I could mistake."
Gonzalous's sharp eyes narrowed. "Did you use your power?"
"…No." Ren admitted honestly. "I don't even know what I awakened to yet. But I know I awakened."
"That alone is not enough," Gonzalous said coldly. Then her lips curved faintly. "But we are fortunate today. Amanda here is an expert at determining who is truly awakened."
Amanda chuckled lightly, flicking ash into a tray. "I wouldn't call myself an expert."
"Don't be humble," Gonzalous cut her off. "You are the Chief of the NDA Division for a reason."
Ren glanced at Amanda, who smirked slightly. "Give me your hand, boy."
He extended his hand cautiously. Amanda took it, her grip firm yet oddly warm. She closed her eyes, inhaled slowly, and held his hand for several long minutes.
Then her eyes opened, sharp and knowing. "He's definitely an Awakener."
Gonzalous's lips stretched into a smile. "Excellent. Then it's confirmed. We now have our second male Awakener right here in our academy. This… will be huge news."
Ren's heart skipped a beat. Second male?
Amanda, however, frowned faintly. Gonzalous caught it. "Do you know what his power is?"
Amanda shook her head. "No. That much, he'll have to discover himself."
"Very well." Gonzalous nodded in approval. She turned back to Ren. "From now on, you will undergo a special course. You will be trained alongside the other male Awakener. I expect great things from you."
Ren unsure how to respond, so he simply nodded.
Amanda leaned back in her chair, exhaling smoke through her nose. She didn't say it out loud, but she knew exactly what Gonzalous meant.
Unlike normal men, awakened males weren't just rare—they were valuable beyond measure. Their genes were sought after, coveted, weaponized. And in this cruel system, they weren't treated as heroes. They were used.
Amanda sighed softly, her eyes lingering on Ren for a moment. This boy… He's going to be used until he breaks.
But she said nothing. Because that was the bitter truth of this world.