Professor Thorne’s graying eyebrows knitted together as he remained silent.
Just a moment ago, he had clearly sensed a violent mana fluctuation within the Black Dragon on the evaluation platform. However, it had lasted only a brief instant before settling down.
Then came the rolling and dodging.
Compared to a normal Black Dragon, the creature before them was far too restrained.
“The subject shows a certain stress response to sudden high-threat simulations,” Professor Hiram’s voice remained as flat as ever. “However, it prioritized evasion over an immediate counterattack and managed to regain its composure quickly after dodging. The aggression assessment is low-high, though a risk of stress remains.”
Villanelle quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
After a brief silence, Professor Hiram spoke slowly. “Stage Four: Investigation of Abyss Pollution and Mana Essence. Conducted by Father Malvorn.”
Here it comes.
Villanelle’s heart, which had just begun to settle, surged into her throat once more.
Ignis keenly noticed the change in the girl’s emotions behind him. This time, the shift was different from the previous three stages of testing; her tension had clearly spiked.
‘Is this priest with the tongue-twister name very strict?’
As he wondered, Father Malvorn, who had been praying with his eyes closed in the observation seats, slowly opened them. The piety in his eyes was quickly replaced by fervor and scrutiny.
Ignoring Professor Hiram, Malvorn took the Gilded Staff from beside his chair and slowly stood up, his tone solemn and majestic.
“Step One: Holy Light Radiance.”
The cold white glow above the room began to twist, faintly outlining a human figure as the light gradually turned into a sacred gold.
Ignis felt an inexplicable palpitation and discomfort.
‘Is this the Holy Light? Why does it feel so uncomfortable…’
In the next second, the figure’s radiance intensified. Golden light flooded the entire observation room in an instant.
The moment he came into contact with the Holy Light, Ignis was blinded and felt as if hundreds of needles were pricking his entire body. He couldn’t help but curl up.
Amidst the pain, he cursed wildly in his mind.
‘Damn it, did he just throw a flashbang?’
But almost immediately, the pricking sensation vanished. The Holy Light continued to shine, but when he tried to open his eyelids even a crack, the overwhelming gold forced them shut again.
Ignis could only keep his eyes closed, waiting patiently for Malvorn to stop the spell.
“Cough, cough,” Professor Hiram was the first to cough. “Father Malvorn, I believe you can stop now.”
The priest tapped the floor lightly with his staff, and the figure in mid-air extinguished instantly, reverting to cold white light.
Everyone in the room, except for Malvorn, looked a bit pale.
“The reaction… was initially intense but quickly smoothed out.” Malvorn announced the results, his tone carrying a faint trace of irritation and a touch of confusion. “Step Two: Holy Water Test.”
With that, he dipped a finger into a disk in front of him and flicked it.
A transparent drop, as dense as mercury, sprang from his fingertip. It traced a shimmering arc through the air, passed through the crystal wall, and flew accurately toward the evaluation platform.
A flash of disdain crossed Ignis’s molten-gold pupils.
‘It looks like he’s flicking a booger…’
Unfortunately, he couldn’t dodge.
A sense of threat flickered in his heart for a moment, but only for a moment. Under Ignis’s tense gaze, the drop of holy water, filled with a divine aura, soon landed on his back. And then—
Nothing happened.
There was no expected burning sensation, nor any discomfort. It was as if it were just a common drop of water.
Ignis cast a confused glance toward the observation seats. The priest on the platform still maintained his previous fervor and scrutiny, but his expression was clearly somewhat stiff.
‘Should I act like I’m in pain?’
When Villanelle was conducting his special training, she had indeed mentioned that Black Dragons were exceptionally repulsed by things carrying the aura of Holy Light, because Black Dragons themselves possessed a certain Abyss attribute.
However…
He could fake physiological reactions for the previous tests since the observers couldn’t perceive his internal neural signals, but this time was different. This test involved holy water, which would inevitably trigger a mana reaction. No matter how he tried to fake it, he wouldn’t be able to deceive the three high-level casters on the panel.
It was better not to overcomplicate things to avoid further trouble.
A Black Dragon that wasn’t repelled by Holy Light… wouldn’t that further prove the sample’s uniqueness?
Malvorn stared intently at the seemingly confused Black Dragon on the evaluation platform, trying to spot some clue, but he soon failed.
“Target… produced no rejection reaction. No Abyss pollution exists. Mana essence… normal.” The priest gritted his teeth as he squeezed out the results for the second step.
In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to say the words ‘Holy Light Affinity’; it was far too shocking. For a Black Dragon to accept the Holy Light Radiance and the baptism of holy water was something Malvorn had never imagined possible, yet it had happened right before his eyes.
‘No… it shouldn’t be like this…’
“The testing is complete.”
Professor Hiram adjusted her glasses. Ignoring the priest’s fluctuating expression, she announced the results for herself. Her calm voice echoed in the empty observation room.
“Based on our observations, the subject has performed excellently in basic obedience and threat-response control. Furthermore, it perfectly passed the Holy Light detection. I believe its anomaly and potential research value have been initially verified. At the same time, its danger does indeed exist, but it is in a controllable state.”
She paused and looked at Thorne beside her. “What do you think, Professor Thorne?”
Perhaps it was an illusion, but Villanelle felt a hint of schadenfreude and amusement in Professor Hiram’s tone.
Malvorn sat back down, his face gloomy and thoughtful.
Professor Thorne remained silent for a long time—so long that Hiram was almost about to urge him—before he slowly raised his head, his voice raspy.
“To maintain such astonishing restraint and calmness even under extreme stimulation… frankly, the aggression is indeed within controllable limits. This… is rare.”
“In summary, then, I believe we can consider setting the target’s danger rating to Level 2 for the time being—”
“I object!” Malvorn suddenly growled.
Both professors turned their gaze toward him. Hiram asked calmly, “Why?”
“Didn’t you two notice a detail?” Malvorn stared intently at Ignis, who was dozens of meters away. “During the third and fourth stages of testing, its mana fluctuated violently before settling down. This shows that it is suppressing its own reactions… its mind is incredibly deep—”
“That is enough, Father Malvorn,” Hiram interrupted him, her voice carrying a hint of a warning. “The tests have been passed, and there are no issues. To me, your behavior… seems like unreasonable harassment.”
Professor Thorne didn’t speak, but he nodded slightly, signaling his agreement with her.
Malvorn snapped his head toward Hiram, who met his gaze with a look of indifference. Eventually, he fell silent.
“Then, the results can be announced,” Professor Hiram cleared her throat. “First, the target’s danger rating is tentatively set at Level 2, and it must wear the corresponding level of suppression collar as per regulations.
“Second, its range of activity is not restricted. Provided that safety measures are in place, it may enter and leave public areas.
“Third, it must undergo a monthly re-examination for Abyss pollution, conducted by the Evaluation Group.
“Fourth, the applicant is required to assume guardianship responsibility. If there are any signs of loss of control, the Evaluation Group has the right to immediately take all necessary measures to contain and purify the target.
“Villanelle Adrian, do you agree to the above conditions?”
Within the red lines, Villanelle was nearly ready to jump for joy. Still, she suppressed her excitement and listened to the final results before nodding solemnly. “I agree, Professor.”
“Very well. It is over.” Professor Hiram let out a slow breath and took off her gold-rimmed glasses.
Professor Thorne nodded toward Villanelle, a faint smile appearing on his stern, rigid face.
Only Malvorn sat gloomily in his chair, lost in unknown thoughts.