Test, it's a word that many students feared.
Was there a double test in the book? No. I've heard of double dungeons but double test? Especially in a book when the MC is an airhead? Definitely not.
'This is very unexpected.'
Tap. Tap. Tap.
I kept thinking of these things as I tapped my arms. It was a habit of mine that I thought was left back in my past world.
Polly and I along with the other two were being led outside by Sir Deus. It was a silent walk, but I can feel the auras all around me. It was a steadily increasing pressure.
'They're getting ready for a fight.'
Sir Deus who was in front of us suddenly stopped so we stopped as well.
"We're here," he said.
Then he pushed the door open.
SHWOOOOO!
A warm breeze moved past us with some dust. I squinted my eyes to clearly see outside but I saw nothing because of the blinding lights. I only heard gasps around me.
A moment later, I could finally open my eyes.
Paaaaaaaat.
I finally get why they gasped. There was light in front of me, no, wherever I looked. The world was so bright. But it was night.
I heard the others reacting as well as mine own voice.
"…Is this real?"
"The plant says it's surprising this is not an illusion."
"Seaweed-head, the most surprising part here is that blackie-bastard talked first."
"The moon building sure is a mysterious place."
Moon Building.
That was how Sir Deus called the whole Crescent Moon Company building and that was also what he told us to call it.
Why was it called the Moon Building? Simple.
The whole building is literally shaped like a crescent moon. A transparent elevator connected the two tips, the upper and lower, and this is supposedly the only entrance to the top private floor which is only accessible to the owner of the company, Sir Deus, and now the four of us to use on our own accord if we ever pass the second test.
Right now, we were located outside the middle floor, the one that had the largest space. This platform outside commonly serves as a landing platform for decently sized airway transportation like choppers. We were using it for the upcoming test.
"Holy hell! That is some serious shit."
"Mm."
I never knew how late it was until I looked outside. I thought it was still morning since, in the room, the black-haired kid was staring at the sun outside the window. But I was wrong. We were all wrong.
It's night and the moon is up high, watching over us.
"H-How is this possible?"
The black-haired kid asked in a shocked voice. He was trying to look nonchalant, but it wasn't working.
I was understandable.
Even though he's trying so hard to look mature, he was still a kid, the youngest of us.
"Because it is the Moon Building."
Sir Deus smiled and ushered us outside after he replied.
We stood there in a horizontal line. He was standing opposite to us, hands at the back like a military at rest.
"The Moon Building is like a different world from the rest. Anything can happen inside the Moon building, it is the territory where the Moon watches over."
The green-haired woman was the one who spoke after.
"The plant is asking to define the term different world."
"I mean exactly what I say, Miss Ilya. Moon Building is a different world. The place where you were tested, you might have thought that was my power but that was all Luna."
< I am blushing. >
The mechanic voice appeared again.
"I figured something was weird with the spatial ability," the black-haired kid murmured.
I agreed with him. I thought it was from Sir Deus too. There were many surprising things but yeah, my mind was focused only on one.
'Oh, so her name is Ilya.'
Then Polly spoke with a voice everyone heard.
"If there's a world, then is there's a God too?"
Sir Deus gave us the friendly smile again but didn't answer. It was the black-haired his who gave a response.
"Idiot, of course there would be none. It's not a real world."
"Shut up, you damn..! Ugh, stop bitching to me just because you're nervous, you blackie-bastard!"
"No, you shut up you idiot! You're the nervous one here!"
"I'm not like you, you blackie-bastard!"
"I've had it with that nickname!"
It was impressive that he was able to hold it in the first place.
I flinched.
'Uh-oh.'
I stepped away from Polly because I felt her aura shouting. I also did not get near the black-haired kid because his aura is also shouting.
'Right. Ilya is the safest place.'
Let's be casual.
"Hi Ilya, I'm Kaven."
I introduced myself like how I would in front of an old relative, which I never knew how to do since I was an orphan and didn't have any relatives at all.
Ilya looked at me and smiled.
"The plant said, you're not like that pinky brat over there so it is fine to protect you."
"O-Oh really? Uhm…"
'Protect what now?'
I said whatever came up on my mind.
"Thanks?"
"The plant says it's not free. You owe me now."
"That, I can trust."
Realistic people who ask for something back are always the least suspicious. People were never good for me without a reason, so I never trust good people.
"Is it fine to call you Ilya? You look older than me."
She paused and looked at the plant before nodding to me.
"The plant is okay with it."
"I... see. So Ilya, what do you know about that black-haired kid?"
"The plant says not much apart from the fact that half of his vocabulary is the space for the term idiot. He was the first one in the room. He was mumbling idiot all the time until the pink-haired kid came."
"Really? The other half must be silence."
One side of her lips curved up. But it was gone in a split second so I thought I imagined it.
"The plant is asking information about the pink-haired kid in exchange."
"I don't really know much too. What I know is probably what you know."
"The plant says it is fine."
If I resist now, will she think that I wasn't being fair? I don't think Ilya is like that but still, even I have some sense of shame in my new body.
"Her name is Polly. I don't know her ability but she's able to get a rough view of a person's strength since she is sensitive to special particles."
'…Like me.'
I wanted to add but stopped myself.
Ilya nodded at my explanation. Both of our eyes were focused on the two who, unlike what I thought would be people who would just pass by each other without saying anything, are now fighting like cats and dogs.
Ilya spoke all of a sudden.
"The plant is sure that a huge part of that mess is because of Polly. She must've been so pushy that the black kiddo had no choice but to reply."
"Mm. Just don't let her hear that."
It was this time that it happened.
BAAAAAANG!
The ground vibrated.
'What the hell?!'
Our eyes gazed at the part of the platform.
FWOOOOOOOOOOSH!
There was a breeze entering the huge hole where Sir Deus used to stand.
"Up there!"
Polly pointed up.
Right now, the old man was floating while looking down at us. He was still smiling, and we still couldn't see his eyes, but nevertheless, it was still scary.
The two kids walked over to us, they were shaking subconsciously.
"Stop clutching on my clothes, blackie-bastard!"
"I'm just clutching! What's the matter with that?!"
"Just say that you're scared!"
"I'm not, you idiot!"
I almost snickered at the two in denials. They definitely suited each other like siblings. It's obvious how scared they were but they were the type to never admit it. Ilya chuckling beside me was hinting that she knew it too.
"Hey boy, what's your name?"
"…Huh?"
The black-haired kid looked at me. His gaze is firm, unlike his shaking body.
"Who is the new idiot?"
"Wow. I'm older than you."
"So?"
Mm. Another one that needs to be taught about manners.
Then a mechanic voice destroyed the slightly less chaotic atmosphere that enveloped us four.
< It seems they do not understand, Half-Moon. >
"Ho-ho-ho. It seems that is the case, Luna."
We looked at the source of this madness and saw Sir Deus. I definitely wasn't the only one who heard that mechanical voice.
'Half-moon?'
I opened my mouth to speak.
"An alias?"
He smiled, no, more like smirked.
"Correct. Half-Moon is an alias, my professional name. For all of your information, the alias of the Boss of this company is Crescent. You can address him as Crescent once you pass. You must speak his alias with wonder."
Polly scoffed.
"Wonder? Eww! That old-baldie sounds like a creepy fanatic. Hey! Are you saying that one of the rewards is being able to address him and not see him?! It sounds like a fucking scam! I came here just to meet him!"
"Being able to address him at all is a blessing of the moon."
This time it was the black-haired kid who spoke.
"I don't understand. He's saying as if addressing people is a must when we pass."
< It is a rule. >
The system answered.
"Yes, yes, a rule! Rule! Absolute. And once you pass, the four of you will need to call me Gramps."
Silence echoed throughout the platform.
Polly looked like she was about to puke, the black-haired kid looked like he saw a ghost, while Ilya beside me smiled a little sweeter before speaking.
"The plant wants to decline the disgusting offer."
I nodded my head in agreement. I'm nervous. I'm not used to calling someone so familiarly. I feel like I would make weird faces every time I would call him Gramps.
'Oh, that's not a good sight. It might bother others.'
I spoke out subconsiously.
"Honestly, I would feel slightly relieved if I did not pass this test."
Polly looked at me with wide eyes.
"Sharp-eyes, you just lowkey told the old-baldie that losing was better than calling him, Gramps."
"…Huh? I did?"
"The plant is sorry for the old-baldie."
"…What?"
"You might be older than me but you are rude. Even if I'm rude, I'm not that rude."
"…Eh?"
My pupils started to shake.
'But I was just being concerned for everyone!'
Then a mechanical voice interrupted us once again.
< The final test will begin. Survive the attacks for one hour. Start. >
BOOOOOOM!
Before I could complain, the ground beneath us shook as if there was an earthquake. It was so scary that even Polly is holding on to Ilya's clothes.
"The plant feels something huge coming our way!"
"That damn plant is blind! I can't see anything!"
'Me too!'
I don't see it. I don't anything too but I can feel a pressure that can easily squash us if we don't move.
Ilya and I looked at each other and nodded. She grabbed Polly's clothes while I grabbed the black-haired boy's clothes and we both jumped away from each other. One second later the shaking ground shook even more.
BAAAAAAANG!
"Ouch! The hell?!"
I looked at the black-haired kid that was thrashing beside me.
"You idiot, you just ruined my clothes!"
"Oh. My bad."
He said that, but his breathing is slowly returning to normal.
Our gazes were stuck on where we were standing in just a few seconds ago. There was no more platform on that part.
Gulp.
Only a huge hole that was much larger than what we saw earlier.
Then we both looked at each other.
"Hmm?" I smiled at him. "Aren't you glad? I just saved you from falling to your death."
I'm very glad I was able to save him.
I smiled but quickly flinched again.
'Hmm? What's wrong with him?'
I was quite confident in my words before I saw him glaring at me.
"You sarcastic idiot. I'm thankful but can you stop sneering at me?"
I frowned.
'But this is my smile though?'
Why is it so difficult to smile?
"Place me down."
"Okay."
He patted his clothes and set him down.
He was looking at the old man, same as me, who was floating in the air while attacking Ilya and Polly. The other two were barely defending while exchanging curses and wisdom of a plant.
I was still looking at them when I asked, "Hey, what's your ability?"
"Why would I tell an idiot?" he replied.
My forehead creased as I started wondering why he stated the obvious.
"Because I want to survive. Money is everything to me. I want money and I can't get it until I pass."
I looked at him in the eyes. I didn't smile this time. If I smile he might see it as a sneer and he'll think I'm saying a joke or something.
"You probably have your own reason but all I want is money. The only thing we both want right now is to pass, right? Same goal. We need to know each other's abilities to formulate a plan to survive him."
"You.. what about your ability?"
"I'm a hypnotist. My ability is not suited for this test."
Not to mention, the many restrictions.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw Polly creating a thread-like barrier. Ilya was inside too. Looks like they're safe for now.
The black-haired kid was also looking at the barrier when he spoke.
"Do you know about Devil Flames?"
Devil Flames?
"The greatest flames that went extinct. Black flames that swallow everything. The hottest flames to exist."
I looked at him.
"You? Someone like you have it?"
That's too powerful for a child's body to handle.
"Hmm?" My forehead started creasing even more. "Why are you glaring at me?"
"That disbelief is so insulting, you idiot."
"Really? Oh… sorry, I didn't mean to sound like that."
"Right. Anyway, I can't control my flames. If I try to light a fire, I end up engulfing the building. I want to throw a fireball at that old man but then I'll end up lighting the whole platform on fire."
I nodded as I listened to him.
'If that's the case then it's not impossible.'
"So basically, you can't control it."
"Yes. That's about it."
"I see. Then maybe I can help."
"What kind of impossible acts are you saying now?"
"Hehehe."
I remembered being very excited upon learning something in Kaven's ability. It was the first time I read SMOAH.
'Kaven's ability is very simple and at the same time really complicated.'
It's weak whenever the conditions are fulfilled but when it is fulfilled, it becomes very strong. The conditions vary depending on what I'm trying to hypnotize. It only works on certain distances and lasts at a certain time.
"Hey, what do you mean?"
"Mm. It's complicated when I'm not close with the victim, especially human, but it'll be doable with you."
"What?"
"What's your name again?"
"I never said it."
"That's why I'm asking. It's important."
"Tsk. It's Jashan. Why are you asking? Is it going to help me with the Devil Flames or something?"
I smiled while he frowned when he saw me.
"What now?!"
'Yup. I'm sure he's assuming that I'm sneering at him again.'
But I don't care.
'I've always wanted a sibling.'
I opened my mouth to speak.
"If I help you, you'll need to call me Noo---I mean, Hyung. Get it?"
"Hah?!"
He looked at me with wide eyes. I'm sure he's flabbergasted. We're having, what he thinks, an awfully useless conversation in the middle of a serious situation.
"What nonsense is this?"
"Just agree. You don't believe me anyway."
He looked at me with suspicious eyes before shaking his head.
"I don't get it but sure. If it's impossible anyway, why not?"
"Hah! Jashan, trust your Hyung."
"What?"
"I'll help you control your ability."
Pat. Pat. Pat.
I bent down and patted him on the shoulder. My head lowered to his ear. I was still smiling as I whispered to him.
"Jashan, throw a small fireball from behind him."
"What are you---? Ugh!"
His eyes glowed as he stopped speaking. Veins started to bulge on his forehead. Then he turned around and raised his hands.
FWOOOOOOOOOOSH!
Black flames grew from his hands and into the air. It was small at first, but it slowly became violent enough that it engulfed his entire palms. The flames rose to the air and slowly formed into a condensed fireball. He used one hand to touch this fireball.
"Hihihi."
I giggles when he bent the arm that held the fireball back. Then he arched it like a crescent moon in the air.
"Hukkkk!"
FWOOOOOOOOSH!
The fireball he threw flew in the air while maintaining its shape.
"A-Ah!"
Jashan stared at me with wide eyes.
"H-Hey... how did I? When did that...? Y-You... idiot! Why are you bleeding?!"
I didn't answer him because I was busy trying to cover my nose. My mind was in complete disarray as if someone hit me at the back of my head with a hammer.
'Damn OP characters!'
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Hot, red fluid dripped down my nose. I can't believe I was only able to control him for a few seconds. Normally, I could control people for minutes and only feel tired.
'I guess this just shows how much power a kid like him is.'
Haaaa. Even an unknown character is OP.
"H-Haha.."
This unbelievable situation is making me feel really concerned about my life. I wonder if I made the right decision back then.
'Can I even survive here? On my own?'
Then I heard a voice that snapped at me. It was still rude but there was a sliver of concern coming from the person who shouted.
"What's wrong with you, you idiot?!"
'Idiot? You can't call me idiot anymore, you brat.'
I smiled wide at the person who yelled at me.
"Call me Hyung, Jashan."