Oliver stood in one of the many rooms inside the Mystic Association. On the coffee table in front of him, a steaming cup of tea and a few pastries were placed. In one of his hands was a document containing the assignment he decided to take on.

"So my goal this time is a Fissure that opened up inside a public park. It's been classified as a Rank 1 Fissure, the same ranking as the one I was dragged into. The payout for this Fissure itself is 50,000, while any byproducts brought from the fissure will be mine. Of course, it seems the Mystic Association takes 15%, whether it's in resources or currency." Oliver took a small sip of tea and continued, "Well, whatever. I just need to wait for my items from Fenrir, and I should be able to make a pretty penny. Although, I must admit I didn't expect to be visiting so soon." Oliver spoke with soft eyes as he looked at the location of the Fissure. It was in a small local park inside the city; moreover, the park was owned by the Blue Sky Orphanage, the place he was raised until only a few years ago.

Oliver took a few more sips of his tea, fully finishing it. He then stood up and decided to finally leave Amano City and started to make plans. While Oliver was helplessly ordinary in looks, physique, and even personality, he had a single thing going for him: strong academics. He had applied to multiple schools throughout the nation, and most were highly prestigious. Considering the time that has passed since applying, he should have gotten a response from at least one school.

He left the Mystic Association with the same carefree attitude he had since entering. He rode the same flying train back to the structure he learned was named the Veiled Elevator. He left the training center and walked along the empty streets. As he walked along the empty streets, he slowly looked up towards the empty night sky, and a sudden sense of anxiety engulfed him.

His eyes quickly darted around the streets, yet he couldn't find anything. Yet, the feeling of something gripping his heart only got stronger with each step towards his house. Eventually, he arrived in front of the place he had called home for the last few years. It was relatively small, with only two rooms: a single bedroom, a living room connected with a kitchen, and a single bathroom. It was small, tidy, and pleasant to the eyes. Yet, the small mailbox in front of such a heartwarming house seemed to bring a halt to Oliver's steps.

His arms reached out, yet he couldn't stop his palms from sweating or his fingers from shaking. Although he had faced a life-or-death situation not too long ago, his body and mind felt the situation in front of him was worse. His mailbox, which had finally been opened, was filled with mail, an unusual sight for Oliver. Yet, the hand holding his heart didn't ease up; instead, it seemed to get tighter. With sudden unease, he quickly rushed inside his house and forcefully tore open the multiple pieces of mail he had received. His eyes scanned the letters with extreme scrutiny, and the feeling of unease, along with the tight grip on his heart, dissipated.

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"Haha! I got admitted!" Oliver held a piece of mail overhead with a large smile on his face. While he had had many experiences and feelings in this new body of his, without a doubt, this was the widest his smile had reached. Oliver looked at the bright golden words on the paper in front of him, showcasing its prestigious name: Immortal Institution!

Oliver's eyes quickly focused on the bottom of the page, and he murmured out loud the words that the entire institution abides by, "We alone shall be eternal!" As he felt a great bond with the words that now encompassed him, Oliver suddenly felt weird. His eyes twitched slightly as he took a good look at the name, the slogan, and even the over-the-top design.

"H-hey, this can't be controlled by the Supernatural World, r-right?" He quickly scrambled through his pockets and dialed the number he had listed for the Mystic Association.

As the phone rang, he waited with an uneasy heart and thoughts of self-doubt. When he heard a human voice, he didn't even let them finish talking before he asked, "Hey! Is the Immortal Institution part of a supernatural force!?"

"Hm? I'm sorry, sir, but I'm not sure what you mean?"

"I'm a Rank 2 Associate, so I must have enough clearance for such information, right?"

"Please wait a moment, sir. I'll need to talk with my supervisor. However, I can tell you that it's not part of any supernatural force."

Although the human on the other side of the phone seemed to quench his thirst, Oliver knew that wasn't a straight answer. He paced around his living room, clutching his phone until he heard a man's voice.

"Ah, yes, Oliver, the new Rank 2 Associate in Amano City, correct?"

"That would be me. So, can I have a straight answer?"

"Very well, that institution is jointly managed by the 5 Great Powers of the Supernatural World; our Association is of course included in that."

"I-I see."

"However, that doesn't mean only the supernatural are admitted. Whether it's those that might have talent for the supernatural, or those that are talented in various ways, it's a massive pool of talent that is carefully cultivated."

"…"

"Oliver?"

"I-I need to know something."

"That depends on your request. Usually, information has a price; however, I'll waive such a thing, but it will only happen once. Understood?"

"Mhm, I understand. I-I would like to know if Oliver was admitted because of his supernatural identity or his own academic talent."

The other side of the phone went quiet for a few moments. Each second that passed seemed to go on for an eternity, and each eternity that passed, Oliver's heart rate increased. Eventually, the other side let out a sigh and said with a reluctant tone, "I genuinely don't want to tell you this; however, I've already started this task. An orphan inside Midnight City and from Blue Sky Orphanage had an amazing academic record, but was ultimately admitted due to becoming a Rank Two Associate of the Mystic Association. This report was created, and your admission letter was sent on June 3."

"S-so today. T-Then? W-was it all for nothing? I-I-I have to go."

XIII