The ceiling above me was unfamiliar.
…Where am I?
A sharp pain stabbed through my head.
"Ugh—!"
My left eye.
Ah… I remember now.
The potential test.
And then—
"I can't remember anything after that…"
The realization left a bitter taste in my mouth.
This must be the infirmary. I probably collapsed.
Cring— cring—
Hm? Footsteps?
Tok. Tok.
A knock echoed from outside.
"Are you awake?"
A woman peeked in—and her eyes widened.
"Ah—you're awake!"
"Iych!"
"Waaah—!" She rushed in and hugged me tightly. "I was so scared! Your injuries were really bad! I thought we'd never see each other again!"
"I'm fine, really," I said, gently patting her back. "It's just a small injury."
"But your left eye…"
She pulled back slightly, staring at the bandage.
"It's okay. The bleeding will stop on its own," I replied with a weak smile.
Tok. Tok.
The door was knocked again.
"Hello."
"Ah—Doctor. Thank you for helping me," I said as a man in a white coat entered.
"No need to thank me. It's my duty to care for students during the potential test," he replied calmly while preparing his tools.
"How's your eye?"
"It still hurts a little… but I can endure it."
"I see. For now, do not use your ability," he instructed. "Focus entirely on recovery."
"Yes!" I answered firmly.
"Hah… For a beginner, your payment was quite severe," the doctor added.
"Payment…?" I frowned. "Does that mean other students didn't get hurt like this?"
He paused, thinking.
"They all receive some form of payment," he explained. "Physical injuries. Mental trauma. But usually, those who finish the test only suffer minor wounds."
I wanted to ask more—
But my throat felt tight, as if the words were locked inside me.
"…Um," I forced myself to speak.
"Can a contract with an ability be broken?"
The doctor fell silent again.
"It's possible," he said slowly. "But it depends on the terms of the original agreement. Many who tried to sever their contract ended up dead."
He looked at me seriously.
"So I advise you to think very carefully before attempting such a thing."
Ah…
So that's how it is.
So this… really is my fate.
"I'll step out for a while," the doctor said. "Iych, please watch over Rinne."
"Yes!"
-------------------------------------------------
After nearly two hours in the infirmary, I was finally allowed to return to class.
But something was wrong.
The corridor—normally loud and crowded—was completely empty.
Grek.
I opened the classroom door.
Everyone was sitting still.
No chatter.
No movement.
Just students frozen in silence, staring blankly ahead.
"What happened…?" I whispered to Iych.
"They're scared," she replied quietly.
"Of what…?"
"Only the students who passed are still here," she explained. "We're waiting for the teacher to make an announcement."
Passed…?
"…Then where did the others go?" I asked, my voice trembling.
BAM!
A desk slammed violently at the back of the room.
"HEY!" a student shouted, standing up.
"TELL ME THIS IS ALL A DREAM! SAY IT! NOW!"
"SHUT UP!" someone else yelled near the door.
"WE'RE GRIEVING TOO!"
"YEAH!" another voice joined.
"HALF OF OUR CLASS IS GONE!"
"W-wait…" I spoke up hesitantly.
"What do you mean… gone?"
"HAAH? YOU DON'T KNOW?" a boy sneered from the corner.
"Ahhh, so you're from the lower districts, huh? THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU DISAPPEAR INSTEAD?!"
My body stiffened.
Before I could respond—
"YOU DON'T BELONG HERE!" he screamed, walking toward me.
"BECAUSE YOU'RE HERE, WE LOST OUR FRIENDS!"
"YEAH!"
"YOU'RE JUST A BURDEN!"
"GET OUT!"
…What did I do wrong?
Why was all of this being thrown at me?
"Is this… my fault…?"
BANG!
The classroom door slammed open.
"Enough. Sit down."
A teacher entered.
"First," sh said coldly,
"Congratulations to those who passed the potential test. You are exceptional compared to those who failed."
Her tone was almost mocking.
"But don't get complacent," he continued.
"Passing this test means you've entered the real competition."
Competition…?
"In this competition," the teacher said, smiling cruelly,
"you will gamble your status, your authority—
and your lives."
Her eyes swept across the room.
"And you are not allowed to withdraw."