"WELCOME TO the hunter association of Arandas!" Lucy and Hunin speak in chorus.
"But the association in Brail was still bigger than this," Hunin added, which earned him a hard pinch from his cousin.
Wren was so busy getting amazed as he looked around the Hunter Association that he had forgotten about these two. Different from what he had expected, from the outside, the tall skyscraper that he was anticipating was a wide, two-story building.
The middle part was structured a bit higher, looking like the building's foundation. If you look at it, you wouldn't think this is the private building of the Hunter Association but a wide school because of how it was constructed. If not for the big screen that flashed the Hunter Association's logo, Wren would have thought they were lost.
It was still the outside and Wren was already very amazed. When he entered, despite getting stopped by the security assigned at the entrance, he was still excited and couldn't calm down while he was being checked.
Wren was asked for his ID when they asked him for his system profile. And since he is still unregistered, he can't show his identification system. With that, the security took his ID card, which was only used by the unawakened citizens, and gave him a number.
That's all and they finally allowed him to enter. And the moment he stepped his foot inside, his attention was once again captured by the inside of the association.
"I didn't know that you had been an ordinary citizen, Wren. I thought you were only going to update your class rank but you were actually just getting registered," Lucy exclaimed in amazement but when she realized how rude her words were, she immediately added, "Please don't misunderstand my words, Wren. I didn't mean anything bad with that. I am just genuinely surprised."
"It's fine. I don't mind. After all, it's the truth so there's nothing to hide. Anyway, everyone will know it sooner or later, and there's nothing wrong if you've got to know it ahead of time."
His answer put a smile on Lucy's face, which made her beauty glow. If this was an animated scene, Wren might have covered his face because of the blinding light exuded from her angelic beauty.
"Then, can I come as well? I also want to see what your rank will be. Can I, Wren?" Lucy excitedly asked.
"If you are allowed, then go ahead." Wren agreed immediately.
Aside from the fact that he can't resist the pleading look on her face, Wren already said that there's nothing wrong if others know about his situation. So having others see his current rank and status was just the same.
"Yes!" Lucy happily exclaimed.
"Look at how easy you've become. Just that and you're this happy?" The ever-antagonist in Lucy's life, Hunin, said while looking back at his cousin with a smirk.
Lucy scoffed, ignoring her cousin as she matched Wren in walking. Now, Wren was in the middle of the two. And he didn't know what to do, especially when he could feel the stares specifically aimed at him.
He clearly knew just how pretty this pair of cousins were, and maybe these two were also popular just for their beauty alone. So, being seen as the only man close to them, Wren could already see their envious glare towards him.
"By the way, Wren, can I ask you questions? Don't worry, I can also answer your questions in return," Lucy asked, linking her white arms to his left arm.
He unconsciously stiffened because of the feeling. He just wished that Lucy hadn't noticed that. And luckily for him, it seemed that his facial muscles had become so numbed that they couldn't change their expression however he wanted. But he was still unaware of how his ears would blush easily.
As an answer to her question, Wren could only nod his head, followed by a small hum.
"Okay, so my first question is related to the reason why you are just going to register now. Oh, if you find my question too personal and can't answer it, then don't force yourself."
Wren once again nodded his head in acknowledgment. "If you're curious about why I'm only just registering now, it was because it was only now that I awakened a system."
Both Lucy and Hunin stared at him in surprise. Wren could still understand Lucy's shock but he expected that Hunin already knew about this.
"How old are you?" Hunin suddenly asked.
"I'll be twenty-one five months from now."
"What? And you've just got to awaken?"
Lucy hit Hunin on the head. "Watch your words, Luca!"
"I'm sorry for my cousin's words, Wren. But I assured you that he didn't mean bad with his word. He's just shocked, just like me. You know, at your age, it was already said that you'd no longer awaken a system. But you miraculously did! That's really amazing. Congrats, by the way!"
"No problem, and thanks. I guess the venerable gods have finally taken pity on me. This wasn't actually the first time I came here. I was a frequent visitor here before, taking the test in the hope that I'd really awaken a system. The venerable gods probably felt compassion and blessed me with a system after years of my unrelenting pursuit."
This was supposed to be a funny joke but the two didn't laugh at his words. Hunin looked away and kept his silence, while Lucy straightened her back and smiled at Wren.
"Maybe it's god's favor. Anyway, we have to separate now because we are not allowed to enter the testing room with you. But we'll be watching in the observation room."
Wren could only nod since Lucy had pulled Hunin into the other hallway. Since he already knows where he has to go, Wren doesn't take the way and watches the pair of cousins.
Fortunately, he did, because he just saw that Lucy and Hunin looked back at him. Together, they cheered him on with their right fist and mouthed good luck.
Hunin, who got embarrassed first, was the one who turned away first and started running. Lucy quickly followed after her cousin until their figure completely disappeared from his sight.
That's only when Wren takes the other hallway. He only walked for a few minutes before he spotted the end, where a group of twenty or so people were standing. They might be the same as him, waiting for their name and number to be called to take the test.
When he came, everyone had their eyes set on him. It was awkward but the envious stares and glares he received in the lobby had made him immune to getting this attention that he could ignore.
Wren could already see the reason for their stares at him. It was probably full of contemplation, curiosity, and ridicule towards him. After all, everyone looks younger in their teens, while he has already passed that age.
In other words, he was already old enough for him to awaken a system yet he's still here trying.
This wasn't even new to him, especially the original. It was always like this every time the original tried taking the test for the past few years. He would receive the same criticism and the same ridiculing looks, and there's someone who would pity him.
All of that had become the reason that, slowly, the original had crumbled. His hope, his light, and his only salvation were broken the longer he became the receiver of these unwanted looks. And the moment he did, he also fell into such darkness that even he, himself, decided to just remain in that darkness—his will to live dissipated, bringing him to his death. Ending his suffering.
It was both regretful and, at the same time, thankful for the original. Regretful that he let himself succumb to darkness, unable to live the life that he deserves, and thankful that he no longer needs to suffer in this life.
Wren both feel that way about the original as well. But he was thankful as well that he had given him the chance to live this wonderful life. So Wren decided to live this life according to the dreams that the original was unable to achieve.
Wren was brought back from his reverie when he heard that the room was getting noisy. When he looked up, he saw that the door to the testing room was open and that a man wearing a white lab gown was holding an electronic tablet-like item in his hand.
He looked around the waiting room before he looked down at the e-tablet again. Using his available pointed finger, he pushes up his black-rimmed glasses.
"Is Wren Adams finally here?" The man asked.
When this question was asked again, almost everyone who had been there for a while now looked at the newcomer.
Wren was surprised, but he still raised his hand. The man in the lab gown nodded at him. "Then come in."
He stood up from his seat, who didn't even get to get warm and he followed the man inside. He successfully ignored the stares that were once again thrown at him.
The door automatically closed the moment he entered. What welcomed him was the view of big machines operated by advanced technologies. All of it was so unfamiliar to Wren that even the original could not describe how amazing it was.
"We are already aware that you have awakened a system. But we will still take you to the test for us to get a record of your system class. Please remove your clothes."
"Eh?!" Wren subconsciously put his arms around his chest like a maiden.
The man turned back at him. Then he did the action of looking at him from head to foot before staring back at his eyes.
"Don't exaggerate. I'm only asking you to remove your top. I don't have the time to take an interest in your body."
Wren quickly put his hands down. "Harsh," he whispered.
He removed his jacket first before removing his t-shirt. Then he helped himself lay down on the machine, like the MRI scanner in his old world.
"You are not the first person to have had a late awakening like this but it is still a surprise to know that, especially that you are an orphan. Most of those who had a late awakening were from a wealthy family, doing their best, using all of their money as a stake, only to get an awakening. If they had heard your situation, they might have died in envy."
Wren didn't react or answer. He just put his hands on top of his tummy and closed his eyes.
"It seems like this wasn't really your first time, as you already know what to do next. Then maintain that position and just make yourself relax."
The table where he was lying slowly moved. That's the only thing he felt in the whole process of the test. When he was allowed to open his eyes, he was back on the outside of the scanner.
"Let's see," the man said, moving the holographic screen before him.
Wren quickly reacted as he remembered the reminder of the system to him. Before the contents are processed in front of them, he quickly allows the information that isn't questionable to be seen and recorded.
——
Name: Wren Adams
Gender: Male
Age: 20
Species: Federal Human
Class Identification: Legal Orphan
Parents: Unknown
GS Number: God System 00
——
"Fortunately, you didn't fake your identity," the man commented as he checked if the details shown by the scanner were the same as the information provided by the original. "What's with your system name? Zero-zero? Is that for real?"
Wren shrugged as his answer. Even he himself had no idea why his system had that name. He couldn't ask his system about it, as systems are not sentient beings.
"Whatever. Let's just see what this system got for you," The man let it go and decided to get to the next page.
——
GS Class: SSS
GS Archetype: Unknown
GS Total Summon: Unknown
Summoning Inventory
Total Summon: 2
Available Summon: 2
Current Summon: Amarok Wolf (F/D)
——
"What? What the fuck is with this god system? Triple S-class? Unknown archetype and there's even a possibility of more than one summon! Just look at that summon inventory. There are already two available summons. What the heck? Is this for real?"
Well, that was fast. He was still indifferent and kind of sarcastic and now he had become a loud mouth.
"Please, let's keep it a secret, Dr. Noah and the team. I already informed the main headquarters as well as the association heads about this. You will be called to the headquarters to report tomorrow or later. What you need to do now is completely take a record of all the test results of Mr. Adams."
Dr. Noah as well as Wren take a look at Hunin, who suddenly entered the testing area. Behind him was Lucy, who was smiling and waving at him. He smiled back and looked at Hunin again.
He was very thankful that Hunin came in to save him. He was really getting overwhelmed, as he didn't know how to answer the doctor.
As much as he wanted, he wanted to edit the identity class of his system but he wasn't allowed to. Even if he tried to put an 'unknown' tag on the other details, it couldn't hide the fact that he still has a powerful system.
The highest recorded system aside from the very first people who awakened the god system was S-class and yet, his had three 'S', which was already surprising enough.
Right now, Wren could already imagine the chaos his system would bring to the world and to his new life. He just wishes that whatever Hunin says to the association will help him have at least a stable and free life until he gets stronger.